Players/The 1947-2026 Defense-Industrial Capital Architecture (Report #87, May 8 2026)
Hegseth Arsenal of Freedom + Warfighting Acquisition System (Nov 2025-)
Genesis-Era Acquisition Reform — Speed-to-Delivery Replaces FAR Discipline
November 7 2025 speech at the National War College / Fort McNair: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the redesignation of the Defense Acquisition System (1994 founding) as the Warfighting Acquisition System (WAS).
Structural Effect: the WAS reform structurally bypasses the FAR Cost Principles for nontraditional contractors, shielding firms from rigorous DCAA audits. The reform was enabled by the FY26 NDAA (P.L. 119-60, signed Dec 18 2025), which overhauled the DOD acquisition lifecycle and requirements process for major systems, shifting to a portfolio-based acquisition model. Granted larger and longer contracts to companies for systems that have demonstrated their merit.
Combined With the Pentagon Economic Defense Unit + Deal Team Six (Q1 2026, Stephen Feinberg / Cerberus leadership), the post-Trump-2 architecture represents the most aggressive consolidation of defense-acquisition power into operator-class direct control since the Last Supper 1993.
Also in The 1947-2026 Defense-Industrial Capital Architecture (Report #87, May 8 2026)