Rep. Johnson Introduces Bill to Improve Pentagon Acquisition

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today introduced the Rapid Fielding Defense Capabilities and Risk Assessment Act along with Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.-2) and Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA-53).

This legislation will improve the Department of Defense's (DOD) acquisition processes and lead to refining how a Department capability is developed. In turn, the Department will develop and field capabilities more efficiently, which will enable the Department to deliver a needed capability to the warfighter faster.

"Defense acquisition is a complex process, and over time the Department of Defense has used a more nimble oversight framework, which was provided by Congress," said Johnson. "If we can apply best practices from that framework to the Department's traditional, more rigid process, the Department will be able to develop more major weapon systems on schedule and stretch our defense dollars further. That means we can do a better job defending our nation."

"The Rapid Fielding Defense Capabilities and Risk Assessment Act requires the Secretary of Defense to keep Congress apprised of best practices for major defense acquisition programs," said Wilson. This will allow for improved readiness, risk-assessment, and budgeting for our military. I am grateful to work alongside Representatives Dusty Johnson and Susan Davis on this important legislation."

"Acquisition reform remains an ongoing process," said Davis. "That is why I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with Rep. Dusty Johnson and Rep. Joe Wilson in a bipartisan manner on this important effort. Hopefully, this will build on our past efforts at reform and will help push the Pentagon to more critically assess risk in procurement decision making."

This bill would require DOD to lay the foundation to improve its acquisition framework by applying best practices from the Department's Middle Tier Acquisition authority to its traditional acquisition framework and consider risk as a factor in determining the ideal acquisition framework to apply to a needed capability.