Racing Against Time: Realizing a True Defense Industrial Enterprise

The United States' defense industrial base is dangerously slow, struggling to produce capabilities at the speed required for modern warfare and to counter adversaries like China. This critical shortfall was identified nearly a decade ago, yet despite countless studies, the bureaucracy has failed to implement meaningful changes, leaving the nation facing the same munitions constraints. To accelerate, the rigid defense budget must be reformed by consolidating programs into flexible portfolios, allowing leaders to quickly shift funds to the most promising technologies. This requires the Pentagon, Congress, and industry to act as a unified team, providing consistent demand signals that enable companies to scale production effectively.