McKeon Taps Thornberry to Lead Reform Effort

Statement

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon today announced that Vice Chairman Mac Thornberry will lead a long-term effort to reform the Department of Defense including a hard look at acquisition.

At an Armed Services Committee hearing today, Chairman McKeon said:

"While this Committee has led successful efforts to improve the way the Department acquires items and services, there are still significant challenges facing the defense acquisition system. We cannot afford a costly and ineffective acquisition system, particularly when faced with devastating impacts of repeated budget cuts and sequestration. The Congress, together with the Department of Defense and industry, must be willing to do the hard work to find root causes, look past band-aid fixes and parochial interests, and have the courage to implement meaningful, lasting reform. To this end, I have asked our Vice Chairman, Mr. Thornberry, in consultation with our ranking member, to engage in a long-term DOD reform effort that includes a hard look at acquisition."

Source