Several months into the Department of War’s (DoW) suspension of the next phase of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program, contractors are continuing to navigate uncertainty relating to the program. With the Department’s review underway, this post takes stock of where the program stands, what remains in effect, and what contractors should be considering.
Continue Reading CMMC Reform Task Force Updates September 2026Department of War
The Pentagon’s New Sub-Unified Command for Autonomous Warfare: What It Means and Where It Might Land
On April 29, 2026, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told the House Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon will “shortly announce a sub-unified command of autonomous warfare.” The announcement came as the Department of War (DoW) unveiled its fiscal year (FY) 2027 budget request, which proposes approximately $54 billion for the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG)—a dramatic increase from the roughly $226 million the DAWG received previously. When all DoW drone and counter-drone related budget lines in the FY 2027 budget request are aggregated, the total approaches $74 billion—an amount Pentagon officials have described as the largest investment in such technologies in U.S. history.
Beyond the headline numbers, Secretary Hegseth’s reference to a “sub-unified command” is institutionally significant. It raises fundamental questions about how the DoW intends to organize autonomous warfare inside the joint force and warrants a closer look at what a sub-unified command actually is.
Continue Reading The Pentagon’s New Sub-Unified Command for Autonomous Warfare: What It Means and Where It Might Land