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Policy

Paper Trail: the White House wants your supply chain mapped

Jul 23, 2026

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5 min read

Paper Trail: the White House wants your supply chain mapped

♠️ A new executive order starts rulemaking that would make contractors chart their critical suppliers. Plus the reconciliation bill behind the drone money is shrinking.

Justin Nerdrum

Policy

Mass Production: missiles by the family, drones by the half-billion

Jul 21, 2026

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4 min read

Mass Production: missiles by the family, drones by the half-billion

♠️ The Pentagon signed three companies to build cheap cruise missiles at volume. Read it beside last week's drone buys, and the pattern looks like policy.

Justin Nerdrum

Policy

Red Tape: CMMC Phase II is suspended. Your 800-171 duties are not.

Jul 16, 2026

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5 min read

Red Tape: CMMC Phase II is suspended. Your 800-171 duties are not.

The certification your company budgeted for is shelved. The standard behind it remains enforceable, and four deadlines fall next week.

Justin Nerdrum

Funding

Fixed Terms: cost-plus becomes the exception tomorrow

Jul 14, 2026

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5 min read

Fixed Terms: cost-plus becomes the exception tomorrow

Non-fixed-price work needs a justification starting July 15, even on some existing contracts.

Justin Nerdrum

Policy

Fine Print: The Senate wants to flip the default on your data rights.

Jul 9, 2026

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5 min read

Fine Print: The Senate wants to flip the default on your data rights.

The FY27 NDAA compliance list is taking shape. Plus your poll results and a Friday due date reminder.

Justin Nerdrum

Twelve Years: GAO just told you which programs are exposed

Jul 7, 2026

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5 min read

Twelve Years: GAO just told you which programs are exposed

GAO's annual weapons assessment names the exposed programs. Plus, the Drone Czar memo is public, and it goes further than announced.

Justin Nerdrum

Policy

Jul 2, 2026

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5 min read

Drone Czar

Hegseth centralizes unmanned programs while recent strikes in the Strait show why speed matters now.

Justin Nerdrum

Funding

Jun 18, 2026

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3 min read

Production Surge

Defense industrial base ramps up after Iran drawdowns, plus autonomy gains momentum in Europe.

Justin Nerdrum

Funding

Jun 11, 2026

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5 min read

Capacity Drives Capability

Drone programs, industrial base investments, and procurement priorities all point toward a common theme.

Justin Nerdrum

Archive

Paper Trail: the White House wants your supply chain mapped

Mass Production: missiles by the family, drones by the half-billion

Red Tape: CMMC Phase II is suspended. Your 800-171 duties are not.

Fixed Terms: cost-plus becomes the exception tomorrow

Fine Print: The Senate wants to flip the default on your data rights.

Twelve Years: GAO just told you which programs are exposed

Drone Czar

Production Surge

Capacity Drives Capability

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