The New Acquisition Reform Effort: Back to the Future

Abstract

The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act makes clear Congress's frustration with an acquisition system characterized by ever-increasing costs and schedule growth. Reform is sorely needed, but Congress' proposed solution �" yet another reorganization of a broken system �" is unlikely to be effective. Today's defense acquisition system is a product of decades of reform initiatives, legislation, reports and government commissions. Major reform efforts began in earnest in the 1960s with Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.