How the Pentagons Fear of Risk Is Stifling Innovation

Abstract

To Trae Stephens, a partner at the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Founders Fund and the chairman of tech company Anduril Industries, risk-averse leaders at the Pentagon "for sticking to their go slow approach" are like dumb gamblers. The discussion highlighted the challenge for Congress amid the widely held perception that rigid regulations and a risk-averse culture within the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill have hindered innovation in American weapons programs just as Pentagon leaders worry about America losing its technological edge to Russia and China.