Defense Research and Engineering: Action Needed to Improve Management and Oversight of Technology Investments

Abstract

The Department of Defense (DOD) seeks to outpace foreign adversaries’ capabilities by quickly adopting innovative technologies. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD[R&E]) has responsibility for managing, overseeing, and improving technology development efforts across DOD to help reach that goal. In the President’s fiscal year 2026 budget submission, DOD requested nearly $180 billion for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) activities aimed, in part, at developing technologies that meet both the short-term and long-term needs of current and future warfighters. This request included more than $20 billion for science and technology (S&T) activities and more than $40 billion for advanced component development and prototyping efforts, funding for which OUSD(R&E) is responsible for providing management and oversight.