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MITRE Publishes Defense Acquisition Survey Results
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Current contracting procedures at the Department of Defense hinder companies, particularly nontraditional contractors and small- and medium-sized businesses, from participating in the defense acquisition process, according to MITRE’s Defense Acquisition Survey.

More than half of the 1,004 respondents from the defense acquisition ecosystem, including government and military officials and private sector executives, pointed to the inflexibility and complexity of DOD acquisition processes as the most significant challenge to participation, with cost-type contracts and supply chain reliability identified as other critical barriers, MITRE said Wednesday.

Acquisition Workforce Development

All respondents see the need for reform to improve the speed, responsiveness or efficiency of defense acquisition. Survey results showed that reducing bureaucracy and adopting modern digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, are key to achieving an agile and effective defense acquisition ecosystem that attracts startups and small businesses, said Keoki Jackson, senior vice president and general manager of MITRE National Security. The DOD has taken steps to engage with such companies; however, their participation is hindered by negative perceptions and outcomes of the acquisition process, he added.

The survey identified other areas for improvement, including contracting flexibility, acquisition workforce development, and enhanced collaboration between government and industry.

According to Jackson, addressing systemic challenges is essential for a strong national defense, noting that modern technology adoption and strategic reforms could accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities to U.S. warfighters.

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Senate Bill Seeks to Protect Federal Data From Adversarial AI Tech
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US Senate's seal

Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., have introduced the Protection Against Foreign Adversarial Artificial Intelligence Act of 2025 to protect federal data from adversarial artificial intelligence technologies, such as DeepSeek.

Under the proposal, companies would be prohibited from using DeepSeek to fulfill contracts with federal agencies, according to a Tuesday press release from Cassidy’s office. DeepSeek poses a potential national security threat as it is required by Chinese law to share the data it collects with the government, the statement added.

Protecting Sensitive Federal Data

“AI is a powerful tool which can be used to enhance things like medicine and education. But in the wrong hands, it can be weaponized. By feeding sensitive data into systems like DeepSeek, we give China another weapon,” Cassidy said.

“This bipartisan legislation would prevent federal contractors from using Deepseek, a CCP-linked AI platform, when carrying out government work,” Rosen noted. “The U.S. must take steps to ensure Americans’ data and our government systems are protected against cyberthreats from foreign adversaries,” she stressed.

AI Bill Provisions

If enacted into law, the act would direct the secretary of commerce to work with the secretary of defense and submit a congressional report on the national security and economic espionage threats posed by AI platforms from China, North Korea, Iran and Russia. The measure would also authorize the secretary of commerce to issue a waiver for national security-related or research purposes.

In February, Rosen co-sponsored a related Senate bill that would ban DeepSeek from all government devices and networks to address concerns that the platform collects data and shares it with the Chinese government.

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Ashworth, Allvin & Saltzman Emphasize 2026 Budget Priorities
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U.S. Department of the Air Force seal

Three top officials of the Department of the Air Force have informed the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense that there is a critical need for resources, creative thinking and advanced capabilities to address emerging threats, emphasizing that “the strategic landscape has shifted dramatically.”

The Air Force said Wednesday acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman appeared before the congressional panel on May 6 to present the priorities for the fiscal 2026 budget.

White House Budget Requests

On May 2, the White House previously released an overview of its requests for the new budget. This includes a $1 trillion budget for the Department of Defense to prioritize the development of the F-47 fighter, the Golden Dome missile defense system, space dominance capabilities and nuclear deterrence modernization.

“We are engaged in a fast-paced race for technological superiority against a well-resourced strategic opponent,” said Ashworth. “However, we simultaneously face personnel and platform challenges affecting our immediate readiness. We must balance our requirement to generate readiness and project power today with the imperative to rebuild our military and develop capabilities so that we can continue deterring our adversaries tomorrow,” he added.

“We now operate in a world where the [People’s Republic of China] is not only rapidly modernizing its military but is doing so with a clear intent to coerce its neighbors and reshape the international order. In parallel, we are seeing unprecedented threats to our homeland and a PRC nuclear ‘breakout’ that demands unmatched nuclear deterrence capabilities,” stated Allvin.

“Space gives us an incredible strategic advantage, but any advantage can become a vulnerability when held at risk,” said Saltzman, a three-time Wash100 Award winner. “In the future, defending the homeland will demand that we first defend the satellites that make that defense possible. To be successful in this effort, we must be able to control the space, protecting our capabilities in space while denying an adversary the ability to use space against us. That, in essence, is why we have a Space Force.”

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Defense Summit and gain invaluable insights on air and space defense.

Ashworth, Allvin & Saltzman Emphasize 2026 Budget Priorities
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Jerry Ma to Resign as USPTO Chief AI Officer, Emerging Tech Director
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Headshot of Jerry Ma, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Jerry Ma announced on LinkedIn Tuesday that he is stepping down as chief artificial intelligence officer and director of emerging technology at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The executive leaves USPTO after four and a half years serving in the dual role. He is set to return to the private sector.

Who Is Jerry Ma?

Before becoming the first ever CAIO and director of emerging technology at USPTO, Ma briefly served as policy adviser and economist to the assistant attorney general for antitrust under the Department of Justice. He provided insights on technical, economic and policy direction, resulting in the division’s approach to AI and digital platforms.

Ma worked at Hummingbird, overseeing technology initiatives for financial regulatory compliance. He also spent a year at Meta as a staff research engineer and engineering manager of Facebook AI Research. Before that, Ma spent two years at Harvard University as a course assistant and teaching fellow.

The executive was a machine learning engineer at Quora for a year. He served as the technical leader for the machine learning group. Ma completed several internships, including stints at Hudson River Trading, Two Sigma, D. E. Shaw Research and Palantir Technologies.

“It has been deeply rewarding to serve under three administrations, all of which have recognized AI as a national priority,” stated Ma. “The current administration will likely preside over the most consequential period thus far in AI’s history,” he added.

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US Tariffs on Foreign Parts Could Drive Up F-35’s Price
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The F-35 fighter jet on a runway

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the Trump administration’s trade policies could make the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 fighter jet more expensive. The aircraft program relies on more than a thousand suppliers from about a dozen countries for parts and raw materials that may now be subject to U.S. tariffs.

F-35’s Reliance on Foreign Parts

According to WSJ, F-35 uses components sourced from various countries.

Denmark-based Terma said it has produced 30,000 parts for the F-35 program, including pods for the machine gun on some aircraft models.

Australia’s defense industry has received F-35 contracts valued at more than $3.2 billion, including for components for the aircraft’s propulsion and avionics systems.

U.K. companies also contribute parts for the aircraft program, including ejector seats, fuselages, control sticks and other technologies.

GovCons Looking Into Supplier Contracts

Dak Hardwick of the trade group Aerospace Industries Association said defense companies are reviewing supplier contracts and looking for a provision, called Chapter 98, that allows duty-free imports if a product has been deemed “emergency war material” by the government.

Lockheed said it has an approach to mitigate the tariffs’ potential impact.

“For the vast majority of our external contracts, we’ve got mechanisms to recover impacts,” Lockheed Chief Financial Officer Evan Scott said during a recent call with analysts.

Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman said overseas only accounts for 5 percent of its supply chain spending.

According to the report, the fighter jet has contributed to the dominance of the U.S. in the global arms trade. More than 1,100 F-35 units have been sold to 20 countries since 2015.

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GSA, Partners Unveil Website for Federal Acquisition Regulation Reform
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Headshot of Josh Gruenbaum, GSA FAS Commissioner

The General Services Administration has announced the launch of a website that will provide updates on efforts to modernize the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, to streamline the federal procurement process.

GSA said Tuesday it collaborated with the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Defense and NASA to launch the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul page at Acquisition.gov.

“This overhaul is a game-changer for industry,” said Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service.

“By cutting red tape and making the rules clearer and more flexible, we’re opening the door for more innovation and faster partnerships. GSA and our industry partners are excited for a competitive and responsive federal marketplace,” added Gruenbaum, a 2025 Wash100 awardee.

What Is the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Initiative’s Goal?

The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul initiative seeks to eliminate non-statutory and duplicative regulations; speed up procurement; and remove burdensome requirements and adopt straightforward buyer guides.

GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian said the initiative will help foster competition and accelerate innovation by transforming how the government works with the private sector.

FAR Buying Guide Development

The effort includes the development of buying guides or category-specific resources designed to help agencies make better procurement decisions in technology, national defense, infrastructure and other areas.

The agencies are integrating the feedback of the acquisition workforce into the resources, which will evolve into interactive tools to provide real-time insights and guidance.

The first buying guide will focus on software-as-a-service.

The website contains the first set of class deviations that were released by the Trump administration as part of the comprehensive FAR overhaul.

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TraCSS & SpaceX Expand CRADA Partnership
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TraCSS logo

The Office of Space Commerce’s Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS, has announced the significant expansion of its cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, with SpaceX. 

Enhancing TraCSS With Collision Avoidance Technology

OSC said Tuesday the CRADA, initially revealed in January 2024, will integrate Launch Collision Avoidance, or LCOLA, screenings into the ongoing collaborative work on advanced screening techniques.

The expansion will empower both the OSC and SpaceX to leverage modern tools to develop advanced approaches to LCOLA screening. This initiative supports the objectives outlined in the Space Policy Directive-3, which stresses the need to accelerate the development of advanced space situational awareness technologies.

Furthermore, TraCSS is working on onboarding SpaceX as a beta user. This step is in anticipation of the system’s scheduled production launch in January 2026.

Under the CRADA, In February 2024, SpaceX oversees the development of the automated collision avoidance technology. OSC is tasked with conducting an astrodynamics evaluation of the software, including satellite conjunction evaluation screenings.

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ORNL, University of Oklahoma to Establish Additive Manufacturing Center
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The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Oklahoma have agreed to establish a metal additive manufacturing center in Norman, Oklahoma.

Once operational, the center will develop new manufacturing technologies to meet U.S. aerospace and defense requirements, ORNL said Tuesday. Under the partnership, the DOE lab and OU’s Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute will advance research, training and workforce development in metal additive and hybrid manufacturing, machining and data analytics.

Innovation Ecosystem

The collaborative effort will combine ORNL’s advanced manufacturing expertise with OU’s academic and research foundation to create “a dynamic ecosystem for innovation,” according to Craig Blue, ORNL’s chief manufacturing officer and director of Defense Manufacturing Programs. “This collaboration is not only about advancing technology—it’s about accelerating the transition of breakthrough solutions into real-world defense applications where speed, precision, and readiness matter most,” he added.

“Our deliberate push to advance additive manufacturing research is fueling innovation and economic prosperity in Oklahoma and reducing risk to our nation’s defense,” noted OADII Executive Director Robin Rand.

Air Force Center Support

ORNL and OU will provide the tools and talents that would enable the manufacturing center to drive innovation. The ORNL-OU center is expected to support sustainment and mission readiness at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and other critical centers, including the Air Force Sustainment Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

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Study Says Cost of Building Missile Interceptors in Orbit 40% Lower Than in 2004
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Missiles and missile interceptors over Earth

A recent study from the Congressional Budget Office found that the current cost of space-based interceptors, or SBIs, is up to 40 percent lower compared to earlier estimates, but the satellite requirements of the administration’s Golden Dome are expected to offset any savings. The findings published Monday revealed that the cost of deploying and operating an SBI constellation in 2025 would only be $161 billion, down from $264 billion according to the CBO’s estimate in 2004. 

CBO conducted the study on the behest of the request of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. 

The study took into consideration multiple options for SBI, with the most expensive alternative examined costing about $542 billion. For comparison, based on CBO’s 2004 projection, the most expensive option was $831 billion. 

Golden Dome Potential Price Increases

The cost of launching spacecraft into orbit is lower today due to the availability of very large rockets such as SpaceX’s Starship, allowing organizations to deploy more satellites in a mission. However, the shape and volume of the proposed missile interceptor would impact final launch costs. 

Each satellite will also need to be “precisely located in relation to one another in different orbits,” study authors wrote, making smaller launchers more suited for the project. 

The study also noted that launch makes up only a small percentage of a constellation’s total cost. 

CBO also looked at changing requirements due to the recent activities and growing capabilities of U.S. adversaries. The SBI constellation assessed for the study can only counter one or two intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, fired by North Korea. Over the years, Pyongyang has updated its arsenal and has fielded solid-fuel missiles, which are more difficult to intercept. The East Asian country may also be capable of launching a volume of missiles that can overwhelm an SBI constellation, the study warned. 

China and Russia present bigger threats to the Golden Dome and U.S. national security. The CBO said an SBI constellation that can effectively shield the U.S. from attacks would need to be much bigger than previous projections and, as a result, more costly.

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US Agencies Urge Critical Infrastructure Owners to Secure OT Networks From Cyber Actors
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Cybercriminal hunched at computer

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a fact sheet providing critical infrastructure asset owners and operators guidance on reducing cybersecurity risks amid increasing cyberattacks on industrial control systems of critical infrastructure entities.

While the threat comes from unsophisticated cyber actors, who use basic and elementary intrusion techniques, failing to address poor cyber hygiene and system vulnerabilities could lead to significant consequences such as defacement, configuration changes, operational disruptions and physical damage, CISA said Tuesday.

Defending Against OT Cyber Threats

Authored by CISA, the FBI, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, the fact sheet urged critical infrastructure owners and operators to implement recommended mitigations, including removing operational technology, or OT, connections to the public internet; changing default passwords to strong, unique ones; and securing remote access to OT networks.

The authoring organizations advised critical infrastructure organizations to work with their third-party managed service providers, system integrators and system manufacturers who could provide system-specific configuration guidance for securing OT.

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