Pete Hegseth to unveil changes to Pentagon’s weapons acquisition amid growing global threats
An attendee walks past a Lockheed Martin video presentation during the Association of the United States Army annual meeting and exposition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. REUTERS
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce major reforms to how the Pentagon buys weapons on Friday, aiming to speed up the military’s ability to acquire advanced technology amid rising global threats.
Hegseth will outline the overhaul during a speech to defense industry leaders, military commanders, and senior officials at the National War College. According to a draft memorandum obtained by Reuters, the reforms stem from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April and are designed to fix what Pentagon leaders describe as “unacceptably slow” procurement practices.
The current system, they argue, suffers from excessive bureaucracy, fragmented accountability, and misaligned incentives that delay the deployment of new technology to U.S. forces.
Under the restructuring plan, newly created Portfolio Acquisition Executives will have direct authority over major weapons programs, cutting out multiple layers of red tape. Program managers will now report straight to these executives, who in turn answer to each military service’s top acquisition officials.
The memo also mandates that every critical program maintain at least two qualified suppliers during the early stages of production, ensuring competition and resilience in the defense supply chain.
Major defense firms such as Lockheed Martin and RTX are expected to attend Friday’s announcement, along with emerging technology players like Palantir Technologies, Ursa Major Technologies, maritime drone maker Saronic, and electronic warfare company Epirus.
This marks the latest step in a broader modernization push. Earlier this year, the Pentagon overhauled its software acquisition process, making commercial off-the-shelf products the default option to simplify and speed up procurement.
The new framework also introduces time-based contract incentives that reward companies for early delivery and impose proportional penalties for delays. To ensure accountability, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment—the Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer—will lead monthly Acquisition Acceleration Reviews to monitor progress, clear obstacles, and promote healthy competition within the defense industrial base.
About Post Author
