Last week, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee released his fifth proposal aimed at reforming the Department of Defense. Read more on Thornberry's proposals here.
Since 2015, The House Armed Services Committee has led Congress in enacting significant defense reforms with strong bipartisan support. Among these reforms are over sixty of Rep. Thornberry's proposals that have been enacted by Congress. As a result of these and other efforts, anyone entering military service today will reap the benefits of these reforms over the course of their career. Specifically, these reforms will improve agility, cut bureaucracy, promote justice, provide better benefits, and save the taxpayer billions.
Thornberry's 2020 Reform proposals are already making headlines:
DEFENSE NEWS: 3 Takeaways From Thornberry's 2020 DoD Reform Agenda: "After years of pushing new reforms for the Pentagon, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee wants to ensure defense officials are following them…"
SPACE NEWS: Thornberry Bill Would Help Venture-Backed Startups Compete for DoD Small Business Awards: "Thornberry told reporters on Thursday that he is concerned innovative small businesses are being barred from the SBIR program precisely for being successful as their technologies are attracting private sector investment. 'A company that develops technology with both commercial and military applications is appealing to investors but that should not be an obstacle to DoD having access to that technology,' Thornberry said. The message DoD is sending now is that 'if you are successful, you're thrown out.'"
FCW: Thornberry's Proposes Consequences for DOD's Failed Reforms: "Next year, the Defense Department will have to account for its unfulfilled business reforms. That's if Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), the House Armed Services Committee's ranking member, has anything to say about it. "
FEDERAL NEWS NETWORK: Thornberry Unveils Potential Punishments for DoD's Slow Implementation of Acquisition Reforms: "After spearheading the passage of dozens of reforms to the defense acquisition system over the last five years, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) is proposing some measures to speed up the Defense Department's implementation of those changes… The House Armed Services Committee took note of the issue in its 2019 defense authorization committee report too. These types of delays often do not allow 'the acquisition and contracting communities within and outside the government' to 'take full advantage of recent reforms and improvements to acquisition and contracting procedures,' the report stated."
INSIDE DEFENSE: Thornberry's New Bill Would Pressure DOD to Deliver Acquisition Reforms: "Thornberry applauded the Army for establishing its own intellectual property policy, but said DOD needs a department-wide policy as well as a cadre of experts to assist acquisition officers who must haggle with defense contractors… Thornberry said recent concerns about price gouging stemming from DOD's dealings with TransDigm could be traced to bad intellectual property deals."
