A modernization of the U.S. defense innovation ecosystem is underway following a 90-day review of War Department laboratories and research centers. Thirty site visits, representing nearly one-third of the research and development enterprise, revealed systemic challenges hindering the delivery of new technologies to warfighters. Researchers are striving to advance 21st-century technologies, according to Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology Joseph Jewell, using facilities originally built when the cathode-ray tube and jet propulsion were new technologies. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth mandated the assessment to ensure the U.S. can keep pace with a rapidly evolving, commercially driven global technology landscape, and the resulting recommendations aim to eliminate bureaucratic friction and optimize resource allocation.
War Department Lab Review Identifies Siloed R&D Enterprise
A related request seeks to significantly increase the limit on minor military construction funds, which laboratories require to respond quickly to new demands for integrated research and enhanced security. Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael emphasized how siloed the R&D enterprise has become over the past half-century, noting that the labs are increasingly focused on individual services, and the networks and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers are not as integrated as they should be. The review deliberately avoids recommendations for consolidation or elimination of institutions, concluding that existing overlap is generally driven by mission requirements; instead, the focus is on fixing systemic issues related to authority, funding, decision-making, and governance. Jewell said that the findings are reassuring, confirming that the research enterprise is fundamentally sound. The resulting recommendations aim to optimize resource allocation and empower the Department’s scientific workforce, establishing a blueprint to maintain a technological advantage.
On one hand, our findings are reassuring, confirming that the research enterprise is fundamentally sound, with an unmatched concentration of world-class scientists, engineers and researchers who continue to drive capabilities to the tactical edge.
Dedicated MILCON Funding Sought for Aging R&D Infrastructure
These on-site evaluations went beyond broad overviews, providing detailed insights into systemic challenges hindering innovation and identifying opportunities for substantial reform across the entire network of laboratories, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and University-Affiliated Research Centers. A primary recommendation stemming from the 90-day review is a request to Congress for a dedicated military construction (MILCON) appropriation specifically for research, development, test, and evaluation infrastructure; this would safeguard these funds from being diverted to general construction projects. Simultaneously, officials are seeking to significantly raise the cap on minor MILCON funds, allowing labs to swiftly respond to evolving research demands and bolster security measures. This aging infrastructure is not merely an aesthetic concern; it actively impedes progress, hindering labs and test centers attempting to adapt to changing missions and explore emerging technologies. Dr.
We have researchers pushing the boundaries of 21st century technologies in facilities built when the cathode-ray tube and jet propulsion were the state of the art.
