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Senate Panel OKs $852B FY26 Defense Appropriations Bill
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The Pentagon. A Senate panel approved the fiscal year 2026 defense appropriations bill.

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday voted 26-3 to pass a bill that would appropriate $851.9 billion in discretionary defense funding for fiscal year 2026.

Weapons Systems Procurement

The committee said Thursday the proposed FY 2026 Defense Appropriations Act would allocate $171.3 billion for weapon systems procurement and $140.5 billion for platform research, development and testing.

The measure includes a $280 million increase in funding for F-135 spare engines and an additional $500 million for F-35 sustainment spare parts; an additional $216 million for drone and counter-drone tech capabilities; $4.6 billion more for air and missile defense efforts; and a funding increase of $5.2 billion to purchase additional munitions across the services.

Senate Panel OKs $852B FY26 Defense Appropriations Bill

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Navy Procurement, R&D Funding

The bill would provide $70.8 billion for the U.S. Navy’s procurement efforts and $27.4 billion for the service’s R&D initiatives.

The proposed legislation would provide a total of $29.3 billion in funding for shipbuilding efforts. The Columbia-class submarine program would receive an additional $1.3 billion, and the Virginia-class submarine program would receive $1.9 billion.

The Senate panel also approved a $1.4 billion budget increase for the Navy’s sixth-generation strike fighter program and an additional $100 million to advance the development of a hypersonic air-to-surface missile, called Multi-Mission Affordable Capacity Effector, for the service’s fixed-wing aircraft.

Space Force Procurement 

U.S. Space Force would get $3.6 billion in procurement funding and another $15.1 billion for R&D initiatives. 

The measure would provide $500 million in additional funding for the continued development of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 3 Transport Layer and allocate $256 million more for classified space control initiatives.

Under the bill, efforts to transition the commercial procurement of tactical ISR to the Space Force would secure a $50 million funding increase.

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NASA Seeking Industry Partners to Accelerate Development of New Space Tech
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Space. NASA wants to collaborate with industry on new space technologies

NASA wants to team up with industry to develop advanced space technologies for future commercial or government use. The space agency on Wednesday issued an announcement of collaboration opportunity, or ACO, to solicit partnership proposals.

Managed by the Space Technology Mission Directorate, the ACO gives industry partners access to NASA subject matter expertise, facilities, software and hardware to accelerate and enhance capability development.

According to NASA, the ACO will be open for five years and will serve as an umbrella opportunity for topic-specific appendices that would be released every six to 12 months to address evolving needs. For the 2025 appendix, proposals are due on Sept. 24.

The agency will host a webinar to discuss the collaboration opportunity on Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Interested parties may submit questions and comments ahead of the webinar.

NASA’s Industry Partnerships Over the Years

NASA has been collaborating with industry for years. Since 2015, the agency has been involved in approximately 80 ACO projects.

Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1, or MK1, lunar lander is one example of an ACO project. The space technology company founded by Jeff Bezos secured multiple ACOs to mature the lander’s design. NASA provided Blue Origin with technical assessments and supported testing of the technology at multiple centers to advance the development of the lander’s stacked fuel cell system.

NASA also worked with SpaceX on propellant transfer methods between two Starship spacecraft in low Earth orbit. The agency worked with SpaceX engineers to conduct in-depth computational fluid analysis of the proposed methods. Data from the analysis and from previous NASA research and development enabled SpaceX to identify and mitigate risks with orbital propellant transfers.

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Oracle, Other Health Companies Pledge to Create Patient-Centric Digital Ecosystem
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Health IT. Companies commit to a patient-centric digital health ecosystem at a White House event

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., head of the Department of Health and Human Services, and other government and healthcare technology leaders have committed to delivering a patient-centric digital health ecosystem.

At an event hosted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at the White House, over 60 companies pledged to collaborate and deliver results that benefit the public in the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, 11 health systems and providers said they will support patient use. Seven electronic health record companies pledged to facilitate data exchange.

According to Kennedy, bureaucrats and entrenched interests have made health data inaccessible to patients, preventing them from taking better control of their health..

“We’re tearing down digital walls, returning power to patients, and rebuilding a health system that serves the people,” he added. “This is how we begin to Make America Healthy Again.”

What Was the White House Health IT Event?

The event, called Make Health Tech Great Again, was attended by healthcare and technology firms, such as Oracle, Apple, Amazon, Google, Anthropic and OpenAI.

In a press release, Seema Verma, executive vice president and general manager at Oracle Health and Life Sciences and a Wash100 winner, thanked the administration for leading efforts to remove “the walled gardens that have thwarted true healthcare data interoperability.” 

“We look forward to working across the healthcare ecosystem to deliver a secure, interoperable, standards-based and [artificial intelligence]-enabled medical records system that will foster medical breakthroughs and support better outcomes and experiences for patients and the medical professionals that care for them,” she commented.  

CMS Interoperability Framework

One of the event’s agenda is the introduction of the CMS Interoperability Framework, which promotes information-sharing between patients and providers. According to CMS, 21 networks have already committed to meet framework requirements and become CMS Aligned Networks.

Involvement in the framework is voluntary and is open to any network.

New Health IT

At the event, 30 companies also committed to delivering real-world health outcomes through technologies that utilize secure digital identity credentials to access medical records from CMS Aligned Networks.

The technologies will include a tool for diabetes and obesity management; a conversational AI assistant for checking symptoms or scheduling appointments; and a platform that can replace paper forms with digital check-in methods.

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University of Dayton Research Institute Wins $98.5M Air Force Contract to Develop Counter-Targeting Capabilities
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UDRI Logo. The Air Force tapped UDRI for a counter-targetting research effort.

The University of Dayton Research Institute, or UDRI, has booked a potential $98.5 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to conduct research focused on improving counter-targeting capabilities, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

Air Force Contract Terms

The cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract supports the development and refinement of emerging technologies in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and counter-targeting and counter-ISR capabilities. Under the terms of the contract, an initial task order valued at $22.7 million will be obligated. The funds will be sourced from the 2025 budget allocated for research, development, test, and evaluation. The Air Force Research Laboratory Wright Research Site in Ohio is the contracting activity. The contract was competitively bid and one offer was received. The work is scheduled for completion by July 31, 2030 and will be conducted in Dayton, Ohio.

Air Force Research Laboratory Contract

In April 2019, UDRI landed a contract valued up to $46.7 million to support the Air Force Research Laboratory in upgrading materials and processes for production and maintenance. Under the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, AFRL will set aside $508K in fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation activities for the initial task activities. The work will be conducted in Dayton Ohio and is expected to be completed in May 1, 2026.

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CISA Announces Availability of Malware, Forensic Analysis Platform
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Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency logo. CISA released the Thorium malware and forensic analysis platform.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a new open-source malware and forensic analysis platform designed to help analysts automate large-scale threat detection.

Developed in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories, the platform, called Thorium, allows users to integrate custom, commercial and open-source analysis tools and enables automated, customizable analysis workflows, CISA said Thursday.

CISA Announces Availability of Malware, Forensic Analysis Platform

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Thorium Accelerates Malware Analysis

Cybersecurity teams can also filter tool results using tags and full-text search; use strict group-based permissions to control access to submissions, tools and results; scale with hardware using Kubernetes and ScyllaDB to meet workload requirements; and import and export tools for ease of sharing across cyber defense teams.

The platform can ingest over 10 million files per hour and run more than 1,700 jobs per second, while maintaining a fast results query. Thorium is now publicly available through GitHub.

“The Thorium framework underscores CISA’s focus and commitment to provide valuable services and resources at scale that help government and critical infrastructure protect against cyber threats and strengthen their cybersecurity,” said Jermaine Roebuck, CISA associate director for threat hunting. “By publicly sharing this platform, we empower the broader cybersecurity community to orchestrate the use of advanced tools for malware and forensic analysis.” 

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Docusign to Grant Discounts to Government Clients Under GAO’s OneGov Strategy
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Josh Gruenbaum. General Services Administration secures government discounts on Docusign services; Gruenbaum comments.

Electronic signature technology provider Docusign will offer discounts to federal customers through an agreement under the General Services Administration’s cost-cutting OneGov Strategy.

A discount of 70 percent will be available for Docusign eSignature plans and 50 percent discount for Intelligent Agreement Management, or IAM, plans up to Jan. 31, 2027, GAO said Thursday.

Cloud-Based DocuSign Tools

The cloud-based Docusign eSignature enables users to sign and manage documents electronically, including contracts and agreements. The company’s IAM cloud software platform is designed to help customers originate and organize their agreements from creation to file administration. The tools support organizations’ technological infrastructure on procurement to help speed up vendor onboarding and improve vendor management.

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, conveyed GSA’s appreciation on Docusign’s collaboration in providing federal workforce tools streamlining government processes. “GSA’s OneGov is driving efficiency in operations and delivering significant savings for taxpayers,” Gruenbaum commented.

Allan Thygesen, Docusign’s CEO, noted that given that the company’s eSignature product is FedRAMP-authorized and Impact Level 4-certified, it can help streamline critical processes and deliver faster results with greater efficiency and security.

In another recent OneGov initiative, the GSA awarded Uber in July a five-year blanket purchase agreement to provide ridesharing services for federal employees, military personnel and government contractors supporting mission-related activities worldwide. The BPA will help the federal government reduce travel costs, the agency said.

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Navigating New Federal Acquisition Regulations: What GovCons Need to Know
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The sweeping procurement reform of the FAR Overhaul brings many things GovCons need to understand and implement.

In what’s being described as the most significant procurement reform in over 40 years, the federal government has launched the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Initiative, aimed squarely at improving speed, clarity and competition in the acquisition process. For government contractors, this means a more streamlined Federal Acquisition Regulation, new compliance expectations and a shift toward market-based practices.

Driven by Executive Order 14275, titled Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement, the initiative is being executed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy in coordination with the FAR Council, GSA, the Defense Department and NASA. According to Wiley Rein, the effort centers on simplifying the FAR by eliminating duplicative, outdated or non-statutory rules and placing greater trust in acquisition professionals’ judgment.

You can certainly find some procurement and acquisition opportunities online. But many of the most fruitful public-private partnerships are born during in-person interactions at Potomac Officers Club events. The company’s monthly summits bring together top-ranking members of government, military, industry and academia to discuss the most pressing topics of the day and how new tech advancements can help solve them. Check out POC’s upcoming slate of events and get involved.

How Was the FAR Overhaul Implemented?

The overhaul is being implemented using a two-track approach. First, agencies are expected to adopt model class deviations—simplified, pre-approved versions of updated FAR parts—within 30 days of their release. Second, formal rulemaking will follow based on feedback gathered during this interim phase, according to the Defense Acquisition University.

For contractors, this means that new rules are taking effect now, even as the official FAR language is still being finalized. That creates a moving target for compliance, particularly in high-volume sectors like IT modernization, defense systems and infrastructure.

Recent updates cover FAR Parts 1, 10, 11, 18, 34, 39, 43 and 52—areas critical to GovCon operations. FAR Part 1 now includes a sunset clause: any provision not mandated by statute will expire after four years unless renewed by the FAR Council. According to Cohen Seglias, that creates significant long-term flexibility but demands heightened awareness in the near term.

What Is the Goal of the FAR Overhaul?

A major goal of the overhaul is reducing complexity to make it easier for new vendors to compete for federal work. The new rules rely more on commercial best practices, plain language and flexible guidance rather than rigid mandates. For example, the revised FAR Part 11 removes prescriptive language around brand-name justification and instead encourages use of market research.

While this benefits competition, especially for emerging tech providers and small businesses, it also puts more onus on vendors to understand and apply procurement best practices without as much top-down instruction. To support this transition, the government is rolling out nonbinding “buying guides,” practical resources that accompany the new rules but exist outside the regulatory framework. These are part of a new Strategic Acquisition Guidance model.

Overhaul’s Impact for Defense and National Security Contractors

For defense contractors, the implications are particularly critical. Revisions to FAR Part 34 remove some of the procedural hurdles around Earned Value Management Systems and major system acquisition, opening the door for greater agility but also shifting some risk onto contractors.

The changes also come at a time when the Defense Department is doubling down on agile procurement, commercial technology integration and joint all-domain operations. GovCons operating at the tactical edge or in rapid innovation cycles may find the new FAR structure aligns more closely with their delivery models—but only if they stay ahead of the evolving rules.

How Should GovCons Respond to the FAR Changes?

Contractors should take the following steps to stay competitive and compliant:

Monitor model deviation text posted to Acquisition.gov and ensure internal contracting teams and compliance officers are reviewing each update.

Engage with the process by submitting feedback on revisions and participating in ongoing industry discussions. Informal comments during the deviation phase will help shape final rulemaking.

Leverage DAU’s Practitioner Albums, which offer continuing education credit and explain the practical application of each new deviation. This is especially helpful for primes with large proposal and capture teams.

Update internal policies and training, as many longstanding acquisition procedures may no longer apply.

Josh Gruenbaum, Federal Acquisition Service commissioner and 2025 Wash100 winner, underscored the administration’s aim during a recent GSA-hosted webinar: “We’re not just looking to clean up the FAR—we’re trying to give agencies and vendors the space to operate in a more agile and mission-driven way.”

FAR Overhaul Next Steps

FAR revisions are being released in rolling waves, and more parts are expected to follow before the end of the year. Agencies are required to implement model deviations within 30 days, with a full target date for initial implementation set for Oct. 13.

That pace leaves little room for delay. For GovCons, proactive adaptation will separate the companies that thrive in the new acquisition landscape from those that fall behind.

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DOD IG Reports Inefficiencies in Handling of Continuing Resolutions for Acquisition Programs
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Department of Defense logo. The DOD's internal watchdog issued the results of its new audit

A new report found that the Department of Defense is not effectively managing acquisition programs operating under continuing resolutions. In the Audit of the Impact of Continuing Resolutions on DOD Acquisition Programs, published Thursday, the department’s Office of Inspector General, or OIG, the Pentagon did not track or adequately communicate the impact of CRs on acquisition programs.

DOD OIG’s Report Findings

One of the issues the OIG found is the lack of guidance for requests to exempt programs from CR. In fiscal 2024, military services submitted a total of 87 acquisition-related anomaly requests, but only one was approved by Congress.

Officials also reported a lack of clarity on whether programs undergoing administrative change would be considered a new start. The OIG said the problem stemmed from the Pentagon not communicating how the new start constraint could apply to existing programs.

Moreover, the DOD’s budget execution reviews did not take into account delayed or limited funding under CRs.

As a result, CRs led to program delays, which could affect national security and defense. Officials also shared that CRs created additional administrative burdens and cost inefficiencies.

As a result, CRs led to program delays, which could have a negative effecy on national security and defense. Officials also shared that CRs created additional administrative burdens and cost inefficiencies.

“Because the DOD did not track the impact of CRs, the impact on national security, the Defense Industrial Base, and program costs and schedules across the DoD is unknown,” commented Brett Mansfield, deputy inspector general for audit at the Pentagon. “Better processes for tracking the actual impacts will help the DoD to communicate to Congress the consequences of CRs on DOD acquisition programs.”

How DOD Can Improve

The OIG made several recommendations to the under secretary of defense (comptroller) and the department’s chief financial officer.

One recommendation is to develop a method to track the impacts of CRs on acquisition programs. The OIG also advised the DOD to establish parameters for anomaly requests.

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Senate Confirms Joseph Kent as National Counterterrorism Center Director
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Joe Kent. Kent has been confirmed by the Senate as the next director of NCTC.

The Senate on Wednesday voted 52-44 to confirm Joseph Kent as the new director of the National Counterterrorism Center, after President Donald Trump nominated him in February. In his role, Kent will be managing the agency established to collect and analyze intelligence aimed at preventing acts of terrorism and overseeing a workforce of over 1,000 personnel, according to the Washington State Standard. He will also report to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Senate Confirms Joseph Kent as National Counterterrorism Center Director

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Who Is Joseph Kent?

Kent is a Republican candidate who lost his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in southwest Washington twice to Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, both last November and in 2022.

He is also a project manager for a technology start-up and a security consultant and sole proprietor at Perpetual. In 2018, he became an operations officer of the intelligence community. Before that, he was a troop commander at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He served in the Army’s 5th Special Forces Group for nearly a decade as a detachment commander, intelligence sergeant and weapons sergeant. He began his career as a soldier in the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. 

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Navy Unveils Software Containerization Policy
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DON CIO Jane Rathbun. Rathbun signed a memo establishing a software policy on containerization tech usage.

The Department of the Navy has issued a memorandum establishing a software containerization policy to boost operational agility and drive resiliency and optimization of DON investments.

Jane Rathbun, DON’s chief information officer and a two-time Wash100 awardee, signed the Containerization Technology Usage memo with Brett Seidle, acting assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition.

Navy Unveils Software Containerization Policy

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In a LinkedIn post published Wednesday, the Office of the DON CIO said the document applies to all new software development and modernization initiatives operating in cloud environments with enterprise container platforms or DevSecOps pipelines.

Transforming DON’s IT Infrastructure Through Software Containerization

According to the memo, software containerization could help transform DON’s software deployment and IT infrastructure by enabling it to deploy applications across highly varied environments while accelerating development cycles, improving security and reducing computing resource overhead.

Prioritizing containerization tech usage supports DON’s mission-critical operations and aligns with its software modernization goals.

Exceptions to Software Containerization Policy

The memo states that potential exceptions to the policy may include alternative cloud scaling capabilities, production representative digital twins or virtualization technologies for hardware in the loop. 

All requests for exceptions must include a detailed justification that addresses tech limitations, mission impacts, cost and cybersecurity risk assessment, and should be submitted to the designated cybersecurity technical authority.

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