Wittman, Ryan Deliver Key Defense Modernization Caucus Wins in FY27 NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY), founding co-chairs of the House Defense Modernization Caucus, announced several key wins they secured to bolster the defense innovation ecosystem in the House Armed Services Committee's draft of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027. Early this year, Wittman and Ryan released a form to solicit policy proposals and focus areas from industry and academia in an effort to help inform their submissions and give a voice to the defense innovation community.

"As our adversaries continue to rapidly evolve their military technologies, it is imperative that we provide our service members with the tools they need to accomplish their missions safely and effectively, while ensuring they can keep pace with emerging threats," said Rep. Wittman. "Too often, bureaucratic red tape and outdated acquisition practices create barriers that slow the adoption of new technologies and discourage innovation across the defense industrial base. The provisions included in this year's NDAA will remove these barriers to innovation, strengthen competition, and ensure that the Department can more quickly identify and acquire emerging technologies. I am proud to work alongside Congressman Ryan and our House Defense Modernization Caucus members to advance reforms that will help ensure America continues to be a global leader in defense innovation."

"This year's NDAA builds on the strides we made last year - to break down bureaucratic barriers, overhaul cumbersome acquisition processes, and ensure the Department can rapidly adopt the technologies that will define the future fight. From fast tracking prototype to production timelines, opening flexible funding for the PAEs, and strengthening collaboration between DIU and the Services, this bill pushes the Department to innovate, iterate, and scale. It will drive the cultural and institutional change necessary to ensure America remains the most innovative and capable military force in the world," said Rep. Ryan. "I'm grateful to Congressman Wittman for his continued partnership and to our HDMC members for their vision and support - the work continues."

Co-chairs Wittman and Ryan successfully fought for initiatives that will:

• Transfer Authority for Rapid Transition of Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Prototypes

  • Allows PAEs to transfer research and development funds to procurement to scale the production and adoption of new defense technologies

• Modifications to the Responsibilities of the Defense Innovation Unit

  • Codifies coordination between DIU and PAEs to identify and transfer new platforms, capabilities, and solutions that fill capability gaps

• Modernization of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) Requirements

  • Expands adoption of MOSA during the design and development of defense capabilities to increase interoperability and enable more iterative updates to systems

• SCIF Accreditation and Pilot Program Delays

  • Requires reports on delayed accreditation for SCIFs and an update on the shared SCIF pilot program

• Military Doctrine for Autonomous Systems

  • Requires the DAWG to develop US military doctrine for the use of unmanned autonomous systems and autonomous formations.

• Low-Cost Munitions

  • Requires DoD to consider alternative, lower-cost munitions designs when meeting requirements for major weapons programs that could complement existing munitions.

• Quantum Acquisition Strategy

  • Requires the DOD to use DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to inform the development and acquisition of quantum computing systems.

• Software Accountability for Sustainment

  • Incorporates software sustainment frameworks into the responsibilities of product support managers and incentivizes PAEs to incentivize the use of software-enabled solutions for sustainment.

• Prioritizing Commercial Acquisition Regulations

  • Requires the Department to prioritize the issuance of acquisition guidance from the FY26 NDAA related to commercial products and services.

• PAE Contract Management Authorities

  • Grants PAEs additional authorities to address underperforming contractors and requires the DOD to establish contractor performance metrics.

• Pre-Award Guidance

  • Requires the Department to establish pre-award guidance for small businesses and non-traditional defense companies to facilitate better communication and prevent the disclosure of sensitive and classified information.

Reps. Wittman and Ryan founded the House Defense Modernization Caucus to accelerate innovation across the Department of Defense and deliver capabilities to the warfighter at speed and at scale. Wittman's deep ties to Virginia's shipbuilding ecosystem and leadership on the Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee, along with Ryan's experience as a military intelligence officer and tenure in the startup world, bring two uniquely valuable perspectives, each keenly aware of the importance of modernization and apt to collaborate on the HDMC goals:

1. Software-Centric Pentagon

1. Leveraging Private Capital to Accelerate Technology Adoption

1. Strengthening DoD's Role as a Commercial Buyer and Industry Partner

1. Reforming Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) & Acquisition Processes

Other members of the House Defense Modernization Caucus who serve on HASC and helped champion these and additional efforts include: Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Ed Case (D-HI), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), Rep. John McGuire (R-VA), Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA), Rep. John James (R-MI), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN), Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA), Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO), Rep. John Carter (R-TX), and Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-CA).