QUICK HITS
Shutdown breakthrough: Senate strikes agreement to reopen Federal agencies.
$6.8M verdict: Jury awards LinTech Global after ex-manager diverted FAA contract.
[Listen] Restructuring federal procurement: Consolidation, commercial access, and the FAR overhaul.
Treasury probe: Agency investigates small-business contracting program tied to $9 billion in federal deals.
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DEFENSE & AEROSPACE
Army wants to buy 1 million drones over the next 2-3 years.
The U.S. Army plans to purchase at least one million drones over the next two to three years, seeking to radically expand its unmanned systems inventory. This ambitious ramp-up will be supported by a pilot program called “SkyFoundry” and aims to boost domestic drone production while adapting battlefield tactics to the drone-heavy conflicts seen in Ukraine.
DOD releases “revised” plan to boost cyber talent, domain mastery.
DOD has unveiled a revised plan aimed at boosting its cyber workforce by establishing three new organizations dedicated to talent management, advanced training, and rapid operational capability development. The strategy emphasizes domain mastery, mission agility, and specialized skills.
DOD acquisition reform: New structure, new mandates.
SecDef Hegseth has announced a sweeping transformation of the DOD acquisition system, replacing PEOs with portfolio acquisition executives empowered to accelerate procurement and improve accountability.
ICYMI:
USAF RFI: Security System Upgrade, Maintenance, and Monitoring Services.
USSF astronauts? New report says guardians in space would be an asset.
Air Force expansion goal: 30% more jets, few clear answers.
Four defense giants unite to work on campus systems for AUKUS submarines.
Defense Contract Awards
Obviant won a $99M DIU AI Acquisition Data Analytics contract.
11 companies move to second stage of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking initiative.
BAH scores USAF AFTC Lead System Design Integrator IDIQ.
By Light awarded DISA Full Content Inspection/Trinity Cyber Managed Srvs.
Follow the Defense Leaders
BWX Technologies names a new SVP, General Counsel.
Evolver welcomed its new Cybersecurity VP.
Defense Job Openings
USAF needs an Executive Director.
USACE wants a Program Manager.
FUNNY
INTEL COMMUNITY
CBO systems accessed in “security incident” possibly tied to foreign hackers.
CBO confirmed a security breach potentially tied to foreign hackers and has increased monitoring and security controls. The incident raises concerns about exposure of sensitive legislative data and possible exploitation of congressional communications.
DHS ditches auto-archiving; officials new “screenshot or be forensic” to meet record-keeping rules.
DHS stopped using its automatic message-archiving software in April and now requires senior staff to manually screenshot and upload texts, Signal chats and other communications for records compliance. According to recent sworn testimony, the agency has yet to fully replace the automation.
ICYMI:
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CIVILIAN
IRS drops “Direct File” and goes back to relying on tax prep companies.
The IRS is abandoning its pilot “Direct File” service and returning to a model where free tax-filing options are delivered through partnerships with private tax-prep companies. The agency highlighted low usage rates and resource strain as reasons for the shift, signaling a retreat from the idea of a government-run free filing system.
Proposed NASA chief’s vision on spreading civilization to other worlds.
The billionaire-piloted nominee for NASA has laid out an expansive vision that imagines spreading human civilization across the solar system, prioritizing commercial spaceport infrastructure, mining on asteroids, and full-scale lunar and Mars settlements. He argues the agency must pivot from traditional science missions toward becoming an architecture builder for humanity’s long-term future in space—shifting from exploration to expansion.
SAM registration: FAR Council clarifies single-point requirement.
The FAR Council has finalized a long-awaited rule confirming that SAM registration is required only at the time of offer—not again at award. The clarification resolves years of ambiguity and streamlines compliance for contractors navigating federal procurement.
ICYMI:
CBP RFI: Level III Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
VA RFI: Contract Writing System Modernization.
CFPB’s cybersecurity program is “not effective” after staff cuts.
Civilian Contracts Awards
Cherokee Nation Solutions Link wins $4M OPM Internal Services Mod contract.
FDA may have terminated the $34M JAADE2 BPA.
Follow Civilian Leaders
DOE named its third permanent CIO since January.
Conti Federal announces several leadership appointments.
Rigil recruits longtime Fannie Mae strategy leader as new CGO.
Civilian Job Openings
PTO is seeking a CPO, DIA.
DOC is hiring a Chief Administrative Trademark Judge.
M&A CORNER
SpaceX buys EchoStar’s AWS-3 spectrum portfolio for $2.6B.
SpaceX has agreed to acquire EchoStar’s full portfolio of unpaired AWS-3 spectrum licenses for approximately $2.6 billion in SpaceX stock. The nationwide AWS-3 licenses operating in the 1695-1710 MHz uplink, 3GPP Band 70n, will support SpaceX’s efforts to develop its next-generation Starlink Direct to Cell network.
SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿
Shutdown turbulence: 1,000+ flights cancelled across the U.S. SOURCE↗︎
Check out NASA’s new innovation challenge! The agency is seeking tire tech from citizen innovators. SOURCE↗︎
Are 50 year mortgage loans on the horizon? Huge interest rates on long-term loans mean banks cash in more, owners have less equity. SOURCE↗︎
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