House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), the House panel’s ranking member, on Tuesday pledged to pass this year the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act amid the coronavirus pandemic, The Hill reported Tuesday.
The two lawmakers said they think the COVID-19 pandemic will affect how the House panel marks up the defense policy bill and are now in discussions with the leadership of both parties to address the issue.
“At the same time, we remain committed to the principles that have guided the bill in the past — regular order through the committee, transparency and bipartisanship,” Smith and Thornberry said in a joint statement.
The two House committee leaders said they hoped to have a bill ready for consideration by Friday, May 1, so the panel can mark up the measure as soon as the lower chamber reconvenes.
Related Articles
When government and industry leaders gathered at the 2025 Space and Missile Defense Symposium last week, the Department of Defense placed a moratorium on officials speaking in public sessions about Golden Dome, President Trump’s Iron Dome-inspired missile protection and alert initiative. However, news from private sessions between military leaders at the Missile Defense Agency and the industrial base have become known, with help from reporting by Breaking Defense. The most significant of this information is about the Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, a.k.a. SHIELD, contracting vehicle, which MDA released a pre-solicitation paper for at the very end of July. SHIELD is estimated
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to help streamline regulations and promote competition in the commercial space industry. Streamlining Launch Licenses The White House said Wednesday the EO will help streamline commercial license and permit approvals for U.S.-based operators by directing the secretary of Transportation to accelerate environmental reviews for launch and reentry licenses and permits. The policy also directs the secretary of Transportation to evaluate regulatory requirements to eliminate redundant, outdated or overly restrictive rules for launch and reentry vehicles. The order mandates the creation of a position within the Department of Transportation to advise on
Jules Hurst III has been appointed to perform the duties of the Defense Department’s under secretary (comptroller) and chief financial officer. The OUSD (C) announced Wednesday that he assumed the acting-capacity role on Aug. 11. Who Is Jules Hurst III? Before his appointment, Hurst was performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs. He also performed the duties of under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness and held various leadership roles under the same office. He also became the defense adviser and legislative director at the Office of the Speaker of the U.S. House