War Department Changes Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Requirements

July 13, 2026 | By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News |

The War Department today announced the suspension of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification phase two requirements, initially scheduled to take effect in November, and launched a comprehensive review of the entire CMMC program.

While the change eliminates costly and time-consuming bureaucracy, said Kirsten Davies, War Department chief information officer, it doesn't weaken the focus on cybersecurity.

"The Department of War is taking decisive action to clear bureaucratic roadblocks and revitalize our defense industrial base in support of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's directive to aggressively scale warfighter readiness," Davies said. "[But] I want to be clear, across the Department of War and our defense industrial base, investing in and dynamically maintaining robust cybersecurity remains a critical, nonnegotiable priority."

Companies interested in doing business with the department, Davies said, will still need to comply with cybersecurity requirements and safeguard government information according to regulations. Companies will also need to continue to meet requirements under CMMC phase one.

"We're taking this step today because reindustrializing America is a key and critical component of Secretary Pete Hegseth's vision for the arsenal of freedom across the department," Davies said.

Ensuring America's warfighters have the tools they need means ensuring the defense industrial base is agile and able to accelerate production when needed, she said, adding that for many small businesses, the bureaucratic requirements of CMMC keep them from being agile and drive them away from doing business with the department.

"The data we are seeing, including recent reports from the Small Business Administration, makes one thing clear: the current CMMC requirements, including the future planned requirements, are creating prohibitive compliance costs and unacceptable bureaucratic burdens, especially to small businesses," Davies said.

The War Department also announced the creation of a CMMC review and reform task force, which has 60 days to conduct a top-to-bottom review of the CMMC program.

"This task force will serve as the central hub for synthesizing industry feedback from our public request for information — which will be released today," Davies said. "Using these insights, the task force will recommend realistic, scalable security measures that prioritize speed-to-capability and lower barriers for small and nontraditional businesses, while still providing insights on [defense industrial base] cybersecurity and operational resilience."

Michael Duffey, undersecretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, said reform of the CMMC program is an important move toward getting the defense industrial base ready to produce things the War Department needs at the speed the department needs them.

"Rebuilding our military's competitive edge starts with a simple reality: we must put our acquisition system on a wartime footing," Duffey said. "We cannot expect our industries to build at the speed of relevance if they are drowning in peacetime paperwork and administrative bureaucracy."

By suspending onerous CMMC phase two requirements, he said, more private-sector businesses — especially small businesses — will choose to pursue doing important work for the department.

"This is about unleashing the arsenal of freedom," Duffey said. "For too long, overly burdensome cybersecurity regulations have acted as a barrier to entry, locking out the very startups, small businesses and nontraditional manufacturers across the country who drive American innovation. By pausing phase two implementation, we are keeping more companies in the DIB who would otherwise be forced out of the market at a time when we need them most."

The CMMC program, first announced in early 2020, was designed to ensure that private-sector companies working with the War Department could demonstrate their ability to securely handle sensitive government information. The program used a system of private-sector, department-approved assessors to evaluate a private company's cybersecurity compliance.

Davies said the number of available assessors is not large enough to conduct all the evaluations needed in time for the upcoming November deadline.

Department of War Announces $25 Million Investment With ReElement Technologies to Expand U.S. Critical Minerals Refining Capacity

July 13, 2026 |

The Department of War's Economic Defense Unit (EDU) in partnership with the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSW(A&S)) today announced a $25 million investment with ReElement Technologies Corp. to expand domestic refining capacity for rare earth elements and other defense-critical minerals at the company's Marion, Indiana facility. This investment will strengthen the U.S. industrial base by securing domestic access to materials essential for advanced defense systems, aerospace components, and secure communications.

"Strengthening our domestic refining capacity for rare earth elements and other critical minerals is a national security imperative," said HON Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy. "Executed by the Economic Defense Unit (EDU) and financed by the OASW(IBP) Industrial Base Fund, this investment actively rebuilds a domestic, mine-to-magnet supply chain. This effort guarantees the joint force has reliable access to the critical materials required for advanced defense systems."

The Department of War is funding equipment, installation, and working capital to help ReElement expand its production lines. The effort will focus on processing end-of-life magnets and other recycled materials to produce high-purity rare earth oxides, yttrium, gadolinium, germanium, and gallium.

The effort reflects the successful partnership between OUSW(A&S) and EDU. The ability to identify industrial bottlenecks, combined with commercial-sector best practices, enables the rapid execution of agreements that continue to enhance national security and military might.

"Critical minerals are fundamental to sustaining our warfighting capacity," said George K. Kollitides II, Director of the Economic Defense Unit. "The Economic Defense Unit was created to act quickly and decisively to address economic vulnerabilities and strengthen our military advantage. This agreement helps secure domestic capacity, protect the industrial base behind the warfighter, and ensure the United States has reliable access to the materials that make deterrence credible and military advantage possible."

The agreement includes robust safeguards to protect U.S. interests, including restrictions on transactions with foreign entities of concern. This $25 million investment reflects the Department's performance-driven approach: pairing targeted government support with private-sector execution to move critical industrial capabilities from concept to production at the speed of relevance.

Department of War Publishes Fourth Release of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Files on WAR.GOV/UFO

 July 10, 2026 |

Statement Attributable to Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell:

Today, the Department of War is publishing the fourth release of declassified and historical Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) files as part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). The collection continues to be housed on WAR.GOV/UFO, and the Department will release additional files on a rolling basis.

The Department of War and our agency partners are actively working on the next release of UAP files. The fourth release of UAP files are available now on WAR.GOV/UFO.

Joint Interagency Task Force 401 Publishes Counter-Drone Handbook

uly 8, 2026 | By Joint Interagency Task Force 401 |

Joint Interagency Task Force 401 recently published a practical handbook designed to aid audiences across government, industry and academia in building a shared understanding of the drone threat and the basic principles of protecting against illicit drones.

The task force developed the guide, titled "Small Drones, Big Problems: A First Principles Approach to Countering-UAS," as part of its mission to synchronize counter-unmanned aircraft systems efforts across the War Department and federal interagency partners.

The handbook also establishes a common vocabulary and incorporates the latest information about UAS, including lessons learned from operations in the Middle East and on battlefields in Europe. It explains how adversaries can use drones, outlines the key components of a layered drone defense and examines the factors that enable successful counter-UAS operations.

"It is crucial to build a common foundation for counter-drone efforts as we work with the entire government and interagency partners to respond to this growing threat," said Army Maj. Joe Amoroso, deputy chief of strategic initiatives for JIATF 401. "This guide shares vital first principles and direct feedback from warfighters employing [counter]-UAS systems so the entire community has the means, methods and concepts for countering the defining threat of our time."

The handbook emphasizes a layered approach as the most effective defense against illicit drones, with a variety of tools available to counter threats. It reinforces the importance of capabilities that go beyond technological solutions, including training for warfighters that equips them with the knowledge and permissions they need to respond to drone threats in real time.

Through this publication, JIATF 401 continues its mission to expand counter-UAS capability to warfighters at home and abroad.

"While there is no silver bullet to protect against drones, the threat can be mitigated if we are proactive, work with partners across the government and build a layered defense," said Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, task force director. "We have faced novel challenges before, and we should not be intimidated by this one. We should lean in and take every possible step to prepare ourselves to dominate on the modern battlefield."

Department of War Invests $16M for 45nm Silicon-on-Insulator Qualification

July 7, 2026 |

The Department of War announced today a July 2, 2026, investment of $16 million in Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III funds to BAE Systems. The investment will expand the domestic production capability for radiation-hardened microelectronics (RHM) necessary for national defense. This investment supports the Secretary of War's priorities to reestablish deterrence and rebuild the military by investing in key defense industrial base capabilities that increase supply chain resilience.

"Radiation-hardened microelectronics are critical for DoW missile, space, and strategic systems," said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, the Honorable Michael Cadenazzi. "This project ensures qualified products are available to the DoW."

These DPA Title III funds will enable BAE Systems to create, maintain, protect, and expand domestic industrial base processing and production capabilities and capacity that are essential for RHM components. Specifically, the project will reestablish BAE Systems' RH45® Storefront capability for trusted Radiation Hardened by Design 45nm Application Specific Integrated Circuit and Application Specific Standard Product offerings. Once reestablished, BAE Systems' RH45® Storefront will be a self-sustaining hub where customers can access a range of standard processing products and resources to develop and produce their own custom chips.

"This effort ensures that 45nm silicon-on-insulator technology remains available to DoW systems," added Mr. Jeffrey Frankston, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience, who oversees the Warfighting Investment, Resourcing, and Execution (WIRE) directorate. "This provides cost-avoidance, so programs are not forced to redesign and requalify their systems."

This is one of five DPA Title III investments totaling $102.6 million made by the WIRE directorate since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026. For more information on the WIRE directorate, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/wire.html.

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP)

The OASW(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the Warfighter, now and in the future. OASW(IBP) also uses a new Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) to solicit new ideas for research or prototype project solutions for critical supply chain resiliency focus areas. This OTA underscores the Department's ongoing dedication to safeguarding the integrity of our crucial supply chain and promptly giving our Warfighters the materials and technologies they need to accomplish their missions. To learn more about the DIBC OTA, please visit: https://www.dibconsortium.org.

Launch Your Cyber Career: Department of War Cyber Apprenticeship Applications Now Live!

July 6, 2026 |

Earn While You Learn and Defend the Nation's Digital Frontlines on USAJOBS

The U.S. Department of War (DoW) Office of the Chief Information Officer launched today one the most highly anticipated apprenticeship programs in modern defense history: applications for the DoW Cyber Apprenticeship Program (Cyber RAP) are now officially open on USAJOBS.

This groundbreaking initiative represents a critical step in forging a new generation of elite cyber professionals dedicated to defending the nation's digital frontlines and supporting the warfighter.

The application window for this round of applicants is now open and closes on July 17, 2026. Interested candidates will start their journey on USAJobs at: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/875318000.

Following its initial preview in late April, the program went "viral" across social media platforms, capturing the public's imagination and generating an unprecedented 70,000 + inquiries from candidates nationwide. This overwhelming surge highlights a massive, untapped demand for alternative, skills-based training pathways into national security roles.

"To maintain our decisive advantage and support the warfighter on the modern battlefield, the Department of War must recruit differently," said the Honorable Kirsten Davies, Chief Information Officer. "President Trump and Department of War Secretary Hegseth have issued a clear mandate to advance skills-based hiring. This program bypasses traditional academic gatekeeping to value what truly matters: raw aptitude, patriotic drive, and hands-on capability over traditional academic credentials. By unlocking this untapped potential, we are actively forging America's elite cyber workforce of the future from the ground up."

This pilot is a 12-month paid program designed to rapidly develop and employ cyber professionals within the DoW. Apprentices will receive rigorous, competency-based education that blends online learning, immersive hands-on labs, and on-the-job training under the guidance of senior DoW mentors. Successful completion provides industry-recognized certifications and direct pathways into high-demand DoW civilian cyber roles, such as Cyber Defense Analysts and Incident Responders. These professionals will be on the front lines, ensuring the cybersecurity of DoW operations and the broader Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

The Department of War is committed to skills-based hiring, offering pathways for talented Americans from all educational backgrounds. No prior professional cyber experience is required—only the raw aptitude and desire to learn. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, and deeply committed to a cyber career.

To accommodate different agency missions and standards, the program offers two distinct developmental pathways. The core Technical Specialist Pathway focuses on rapid, hands-on technical skill acquisition for general DoW civilian cyber roles and explicitly does not require a college degree. Alternatively, the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Agency Pathway is tailored for specialized placements within the DMDC and requires candidates to hold an accredited degree to meet that specific agency's qualification standards.

For more information on the program and eligibility requirements, applicants can visit the DoW Cyber Apprenticeship Webpage or contact the program office at osd.mc-alex.dod-cio.mbx.cyber-rap@mail.mil.

DOW Launches BuildFreedom.US, Announces $10M Skilled Trades Investment With Mike Rowe and Forge the Next-Generation Industrial Workforce

July 2, 2026 |

The Department of War today announced the launch of the Build Freedom workforce development initiative. Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey will present a $10 million investment to skilled trades advocate Mike Rowe to support the mikeroweWORKS Foundation Scholarship program.

"On behalf of everyone at the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, I'm honored to accept this donation from BuildFreedom.US. Every penny will be spent on training the next generation of skilled workers for a long list of essential jobs - specifically the hundreds of thousands of good jobs currently open in the defense industrial base," said Mike Rowe, CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. "Closing America's skills gap has become a matter of national security, and initiatives like BuildFreedom.US are precisely what our country needs to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce. I'm excited to participate in this effort and looking forward to helping thousands of Americans get the training they need to start a meaningful career in the skilled trades."

Created through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy's Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, BuildFreedom.US is a national initiative designed to address critical talent shortages across the defense industrial base. The program unites government, industry, and educational institutions to increase awareness of purpose-driven careers and provide scholarships for Americans pursuing high-paying, AI-proof jobs in the skilled trades.

"America's strength has always been forged by people who build, manufacture, and innovate," said Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment. "BuildFreedom.US will bridge talent with opportunity to build meaningful careers, ensuring our workforce is ready for the challenges of tomorrow."

This announcement marks a significant milestone in expanding workforce pathways for students, young adults, veterans, and transitioning service members. By empowering the next generation of American builders, makers, and innovators, the Department of War aims to directly bolster the nation's manufacturing capacity, economic resilience, and long-term national security.