Latest news with #DanDriscoll
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
SENS WARREN, SHEEHY: Pentagon wastes billions with devastating repair rules. We're working together to stop it
Our defense industrial base is stumbling. For years, the U.S. Department of Defense – under both Republicans and Democrats – failed to address one of the most fundamental issues within our military industrial complex, perverse incentives for contractors. But with the recently announced Army Transformation Initiative, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and General Randy George are taking a major step to stand up for soldiers and strengthen our military readiness. Driscoll's plan will help end one source of waste, fraud, and abuse. Every other military branch should follow their lead – and, if they do, they will have our bipartisan support. The Department of Defense is the largest federal agency, consuming half the discretionary budget the federal government spends every year. In 2023, for example, DoD spent almost $450 billion on contracts. But buried down deep in the fine print, many of those contracts included restrictions that prevent our troops from fixing their own weapons and equipment. That fine print means that every time something breaks, DoD must call the contractor, schedule a repair visit, and pay a hefty fee. For some contracts, the repairs are more profitable than the original sale – a dynamic that represents how years of broken bureaucracy has slowed our acquisition process and driven costs higher and higher. Our military buys a lot of gear – from tanks to helicopters to night vision goggles, and the process to buy that gear is longer and more complicated than ever. Even worse, because our service members often can't make any repairs, they can be stuck waiting weeks or months, even for simple problems they could fix themselves with a little know-how and a 3D printer. Driscoll has identified these problems in the Army, but right to repair restrictions have spread across the military. The Navy was forced to rely on flying contractors out to sea for maintenance. The Air Force is struggling to keep its planes ready for combat because of restrictions and companies that won't even negotiate. Every hour these servicemembers can't fix their own weapons undermines their readiness to meet their assignments. Instead of working to help the military be ready for battle, these contractors are focused on squeezing out more revenue. These restrictions lead to three critical problems: readiness, cost and lack of competition. First, when contractors stop soldiers from fixing their own equipment, it threatens military readiness. All around the country, maintainers were struggling to keep the F-35 flying because Lockheed Martin won't give them the data they need to fix damage to basic parts. When our military could fix a helicopter in Korea themselves, they saved 207 days and roughly $1.8 million. Our military can't afford to wait 207 days to get a helicopter back online. And, in the most extreme cases, our military can't afford to have soldiers unable to repair equipment in the heat of battle, either because the contract has tied their hands or because they haven't had the chance to learn how. Imagine how frustrating it would be to be in the field up against an enemy, suffer an equipment breakdown, and there would be nothing to do about it. We need to end these dangerous right-to-repair restrictions so that our military is always ready. Second, repair restrictions waste billions of dollars. If Boeing got the Pentagon to agree that only Boeing can repair equipment, what stops them from charging whatever they want for that fix? Suddenly a $0.16 clip costs $20, and the defense budget rises even higher. That is a terrible deal for the taxpayer. By some estimates, giving the military the right to repair would save us billions. But more importantly, it would reinvigorate the operational resilience of our forward-deployed elements and allow them to self-sustain. And third, letting a contractor monopolize repairs doesn't just hurt taxpayers, it hurts small businesses that otherwise could compete for the repair work, depressing competition and thinning out our industrial base. Why would a small business start manufacturing a safety clip when the military is forced to go to its larger competitor to buy it? And equally alarmingly, if that big contractor decided one day to stop producing the part, the military would be out of luck because the contractor had the only game in town. To be sure, the military created this monopolistic environment, incentivizing consolidation through decades of bureaucratic process. Now they are reaping the whirlwind. We need a more diverse array of contractors who can bring free market competition to our defense space, driving costs down and efficiencies up. Until now, the military has enabled a broken status quo, handing over billions of dollars and hoping that there is no emergency when the equipment they need is sidelined. Meanwhile, over 70% of voters support giving the military the right to repair their own equipment. But Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll showed real leadership. He stood up to a broken bureaucracy and announced that every new Army contract would explicitly guarantee the right of the Army to fix its own equipment. That's a big deal. Every hour these servicemembers can't fix their own weapons undermines their readiness to meet their assignments. Instead of working to help the military be ready for battle, these contractors are focused on squeezing out more revenue. The new Army policy is a breakthrough in our fight to empower soldiers, but unless every single military service follows his lead, taxpayers will keep getting ripped off. And, because this is a directive from the secretary, a subsequent secretary could go back to the way things were before. But we have a plan to solve that problem. In the coming weeks, we will be introducing a bipartisan bill that would make changes to right to repair permanent. With a single change in the law, we can boost military readiness and cut costs by allowing servicemembers to repair their own equipment. On both sides of the aisle, many of us agree that waste, fraud and abuse are real problems in our government – and it's worse when it threatens our military readiness. It's time to show servicemembers we've got their backs and restore their right to fix their own equipment. Republican Tim Sheehy represents Montana in the United States Senate. He is a father, husband, former Navy SEAL team leader, aerial firefighter and entrepreneur. Sheehy completed several deployments and hundreds of missions as a Navy SEAL officer and team leader, earning the Bronze Star with Valor for Heroism in Combat and the Purple Heart.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here Are All the Big Cuts and Changes Coming to the Army
The Army is heading for a major reorganization that includes eliminating at least 2,000 positions -- a combination of civilian and troop roles -- and cuts to planned purchases in various drone and vehicle programs that are considered outdated, according to internal documents reviewed by Senior Army officials outlined the plan to top officials across the force earlier this month, the documents show. The undertaking amounts to one of the Army's most significant structural transformations in decades. The service's aim is to streamline the force while investing in emerging technologies that Army officials say are critical to preparing for modern conflicts, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Read Next: From Star Wars to Golden Dome: Trump Pushes US Missile Shield Despite Funding and Technology Hurdles "Every role must sharpen the spear or be cut away," Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Randy George, the service's top officer, said in a joint memo to the force earlier this month. The plan calls for eliminating 1,000 Army staff roles in the Pentagon and nixing various air cavalry squadrons -- specific units were not listed -- along with combining and deactivating other units that will result in reducing personnel. For example, U.S. Army Japan Headquarters will combine with the 4th Multidomain Task Force, with the total size of that element being cut by 170 positions. As for hardware, the Army plans to end purchases of the Gray Eagle drone and reduce purchases of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle by $498 million, in addition to other cuts, according to the documents. All commands will be directed to reduce temporary duty funding by 20%, and the service will slash funding for collective training barracks by $346 million. Those barracks are typically living quarters for major training exercises, basic training and various schools. However, it was still unclear what the changes could mean for the total size of the Army. The plan outlines reductions to "responsibly balance end strength" in pursuit of a "leaner, more lethal Army." The Army declined request for interviews to add context to the cuts. The service is still juggling multiple options for how many soldiers it plans to keep in its formations, with unfinished plans for cuts. In the meantime, it has already imposed limits on soldiers' reenlistment options. Major cuts may need to be made to pay for President Donald Trump's Golden Dome missile defense system, which is expected to cost at least $175 billion, and cuts would likely have to come from the Army, which is the largest component of the Pentagon. Meanwhile, recruiting has seen a dramatic upswing in 2025. That follows two years of targeted reforms including the introduction of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course. The prep courses, which help candidates meet academic and physical standards, have played a key role in revitalizing the Army's pipeline, bringing in one-quarter of its enlistments last year. Next year, the service plans to invest more in the program, adding the capacity for an additional 189 trainees -- the program right now has the ability to graduate 23,500 recruits into basic training annually. As part of the plan briefed to officials, the Army will also shift away from electric vehicles and fuel-saving programs, stripping all research from those efforts. Electric vehicles have often been scoffed at by Republicans for their feasibility on the battlefield, though traditional fuel logistics are incredibly expensive and complicated, and large diesel trucks are usually very loud and not conducive to reconnaissance or low-profile operations. "No more climate change worship. No more electric tanks," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in April at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. "No more woke bull----." Here are more major cuts and changes planned by the Army: Cut funding for Army Prepositioned Stocks by $337 million. Reduce funding for the Defense Language Institute by $30 million. Cut the budget for the Army Geospatial Center by $50 million. Cut various virtual reality training programs by $52 million. Cease procurement of TOW wire-guided missiles equipped to vehicles and tripods for base defense. Terminate the pursuit of "anti-idle" technology for vehicles, which would automatically cut power to vehicles during extended idling as a means to save fuel. Create a skill identifier for robotics and autonomous systems-related training. 56th Theater Fires Command will combine with 2nd Multidomain Task Force, with a reduction of 10 positions. 18th Field Artillery Brigade will combine with 5th Multidomain Task Force; 20 positions will be cut. 4th Infantry Division's armored brigade combat team will transition to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. 3rd Cavalry Regiment will transition from Strykers to Abrams tanks, becoming an Armored Brigade Combat Team. Three unnamed Army National Guard units will be converted from Armored Brigade Combat Teams to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams, which are effectively standard infantry formations but with the new Infantry Squad Vehicle. Additionally, two National Guard Stryker Brigade Combat Teams will also convert to Mobile Brigade Combat Teams. All Army Reserve Air Cavalry and Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades will be deactivated. All MEDEVAC units will move from 15 aircraft capacity to 12. Army Training and Doctrine Command and Futures Command will combine into a single entity. About 400 positions will be cut. Cancel the planned activation of two reserve artillery units. Cancel the planned activation of three reserve electromagnetic warfare companies. Move 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to Fort Bliss, Texas. Shut down the 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade and 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade. Army Reserve will get two High Mobility Artillery Rocket System battalions and three HIMARS batteries. Establish Western Hemisphere Command by combining U.S. Army North, Forces Command and U.S. Army South; 339 positions will be eliminated. Related: Soldiers Face Tougher Reenlistment Rules as Army Plans Troop Reductions
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘One of the biggest generational changes': Army Secretary explains Redstone Arsenal's role in new initiative
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (WHNT) — Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll visited Redstone Arsenal for the first time Monday. After a tour, the secretary told reporters he wants the nation's war fighter to be more efficient, and he believes Redstone will play a role in that process. Longtime Decatur city councilman announces run for mayor Under the direction of the Department of Defense, Driscoll is implementing the Army Transformation Initiative. The program, like others created under the Trump administration, prioritizes cutting programs and positions deemed 'obsolete,' while bringing in the private sector to 'innovate.' 'We do not do a good job with our requirements and our funding, and we know that,' Driscoll said. 'We are trying to get better.' Driscoll said improvement will come from more communication with other agencies, like the partnerships that exist on the Arsenal between the Army, FBI and ATF. He told News 19 that a push for fast solutions could also mean opportunities for new defense contractors. 'Small and medium businesses around the country are going to be able to create things for the United States Army, and if it is the best, we're going to put it on to our new platforms going forward,' Driscoll said. 'Things like open AI and these other big tech companies that are in the news every single day, we are not quite ready at scale to be a customer of theirs, but we think in the next six to 12 months, we will be in that because a lot of the work that's happening down here.' Authorities on scene of 'weather-related' fire at old LaGrange Elementary School The secretary said he wants to take the best practices from the commercial sector, particularly in areas like transportation and logistics. 'We just don't do things all that quickly,' Driscoll said. 'If you look at modern warfare with what's going on in Ukraine with drones and cyber and just this data layer that's being overlaid on to warfare, we knew that we needed to be able to move faster.' On Monday, Driscoll said he met with the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) on the Arsenal, which is responsible for making sure critical combat materials are delivered quickly. 'I'm even more optimistic after learning about it,' Driscoll said. 'I think a lot of the things that they're touching today will start to hit the war fighter in six to 12 months.' During his visit, Driscoll said Redstone Arsenal has talent and resources that could lead to growth in the area down the line. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Army cancels the M10 Booker, a ‘light tank' that was too heavy
The Army has officially killed further delivers of the M10 Booker, canceling not just a billion-dollar program to build a heavily-armed vehicle for fast-moving infantry units, but also putting a final answer to an age-old question: is the M10 Booker a tank? 'Now that we're canceling, you can call it whatever,' Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told reporters Friday, confirming the program's end. Cancelling the Booker matches one element of an overhaul ordered by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in how the Army develops and buys weapons. In a 4-page memo released April 30, he ordered the service to 'divest outdated formations, including select armor and aviation units across the Total Army.' That apparently included the Booker, which discussed Driscoll Friday. 'We got the Booker wrong,' said Driscoll, adding that the Army already has taken delivery of roughly 80 of the tanks. 'We wanted to develop a small tank that was agile and could do [airdrops] to the places our regular tanks can't.' But the Booker, at 38 tons, can't be airdropped. 'We got a heavy tank,' said Driscoll. 'What's historically happened is we would have kept buying this to build out some number of Bookers, and then in decades in the future we would have switched. Instead, we went to the Pentagon leadership and we said, 'we made a mistake, this didn't turn out right. We're going to stop. We're going to own it.'' Another issue that irked both Army officials and lawmakers stuck with the bill for the Booker was the so-called Right-to-Repair terms in its maintenance plans. The contract under which the Booker was purchased required that the Army use the Booker's builder, General Dynamics, to address a wide range of parts and maintenance issues that Army mechanics could have addressed on their own. 'If you look at kind of comparable industries for the civilian sector, I think tractors went through this five, eight years ago,' said Driscoll. 'You had farmers who were having a hard time repairing their equipment. The exact same thing is true for soldiers. We have many instances where, for two dollars to twenty dollars, we can 3D-print a part. We know how to 3D print a part. We have the 3D printer, but we have signed away the right to do that on our own accord, and that is a sinful activity for the leadership of the Army to do to harm our soldiers. And so that is the type of thing that we are no longer going to be willing to concede to the private industry.' Sen. Elizabeth Warren was a particular critic of the Booker's Right-to-Repair language, citing it in Driscoll's January confirmation hearing. 'When right-to-repair restrictions are in place, it's bigger profits for giant defense contractors, but also higher prices for DoD and longer wait times for service members who need to get equipment repaired so they're ready to go,' Warren said in the hearing. The tracked M10's armament includes a 105mm main gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and a .50 caliber machine gun. At under 40 tons, it is light enough that an Air Force C-17 can fly two of them, versus the plane's limit of a single M1 Abrams at a time. The M10 was the first major weapons system in the U.S. military named for a service member from the post-9/11 wars. The name Booker honors two soldiers killed in combat, including one from the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker was a tank commander posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions during the Thunder Run raid on Baghdad that opened the Iraq war. Pvt. Robert D. Booker, an infantryman in World War II, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat in Tunisia in 1943. Developed beginning in 2018 as the Next Generation Combat Vehicle, the Army awarded a $1.14 billion contract to General Dynamics in June 2022 to build the first 96 vehicles for the service. The Army planned to buy roughly 500 of the tanks, with the goal of equipping each of the service's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams with 14 of them.
Business Insider
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
The US Army says it's scrapping a new light assault vehicle that got 'too heavy'
The US Army is canceling its M-10 Booker light assault vehicle program as part of efforts to focus on advanced weaponry like drones. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed the move, calling the assault vehicle approved under the previous administration "a mistake," and citing issues with its 42-ton weight and design. "What came out of our procurement system wasn't good," he told reporters on Thursday, adding that the Army would learn from what had happened. Driscoll said it was too heavy for many of its intended missions, including operations like airdrops from US Air Force transport aircraft. The M-10 Booker, designed by General Dynamics Land Systems, is technically classified as an infantry support vehicle or "assault gun," rather than a traditional light tank. Development on it began in 2022, after General Dynamics was awarded a $1.14 billion contract. The Army originally planned to acquire over 500 M-10s, and initial deliveries took place in February 2024. It was the US Army's first new major armored vehicle in two decades, with the Army saying that it would allow "light maneuver forces to overmatch adversaries." Although initially conceptualized as relatively lightweight and air-droppable, its design evolution resulted in a vehicle too heavy to operate as intended. An issue realized only after it was too late, Defense One reported in late April. "This is not a story of acquisition gone awry," Alex Miller, the Army's chief technology officer, told the outlet. "This is a story of the requirements process creating so much inertia that the Army couldn't get out of its own way, and it just kept rolling and rolling and rolling." The cancellation of the M-10 Booker program is part of a wider restructure ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In an official memo released on Thursday, Hegseth called for a strategic move away from many longstanding assets like Humvees and helicopters toward areas like advanced drone capabilities. As part of this, Hegseth said that every division of the US Army should be equipped with drones by the end of 2026. He called for crewed attack helicopter formations to be restructured and augmented with "inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries." The memo instructed Army leadership to aggressively reassess inventory, terminate funding for "obsolete systems," and cancel or reduce programs deemed "ineffective or redundant." Beyond the M-10, areas targeted for cuts include some crewed aircraft, ground vehicles, and older generations of unmanned aerial vehicles.
