Congressional Representatives Pushing for Pentagon Reform and Modernization

Summary

Representatives Rob Wittman and Pat Ryan are working to accelerate the traditionally slow pace of congressional action on defense matters by co-founding the bipartisan House Defense Modernization Caucus in 2024. The caucus has already demonstrated measurable impact by successfully pushing reforms through two consecutive National Defense Authorization Acts, with a particular focus on streamlining acquisition processes and eliminating systemic bottlenecks within the Pentagon. In a discussion with journalist Jonathan Panter, both lawmakers elaborated on their specific reform initiatives and explained how their caucus manages to influence legislation despite lacking direct markup authority. The conversation also explored the broader question of whether genuine bipartisan cooperation on defense modernization issues can be sustained over the long term in an otherwise polarized political environment. The article is part of the "Cogs of War" series on War on the Rocks, which covers defense industry and industrial policy topics for national security professionals.