The chefs of the latest efforts to reform Pentagon procurement practices met uniform skepticism Tuesday from Senate Armed Services Committee lawmakers who say there’s been no improvement in the past two decades. Noting that problems cited in the 1980s still remain, panel Chairman John Warner (R-Va.) said, “most weapons systems still cost too much and still take too long to field.” Ranking Member Carl Levin (D-Mich.) maintained the lack of the Pentagon’s ability to follow its own policies simply “cries out for oversight.” (This form the group that can’t move the defense authorization bill.) The Pentagon has long cried foul over what it terms excessive oversight. Everyone seems to agree that the procurement process needs to be less bureaucratic—but that in itself could take years. Retired USAF Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish, who is chairing a DOD acquisition assessment, said, “There is no quick solution; this is just hard work.”
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
