Shift funding to DOD mission-focused innovation organizations

What has happened

1. Dec 18, 2025 Partially done

   The FY2026 NDAA sec. 913 gives the Defense Innovation Unit authority to stand up regional outreach centers at home and abroad, and sec. 1833 creates the Bridging Operational Objectives and Support for Transition (BOOST) program under the DIU Director to move commercial technology into programs of record. Funding and authority enhanced; no documented shift of money out of program-specific stovepipes.

   • National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public Law 119-60)

     Primary Congress Dec 18, 2025

2. Jul 4, 2025 Partially done

   Public Law 119-21 sec. 20006 appropriates outside the annual defense bill for exactly these organizations: $2 billion to expand Defense Innovation Unit scaling of commercial technology, $50 million for DIU OnRamp Hubs, $650 million for Mission Capabilities Office joint prototyping and experimentation, $600 million to accelerate Strategic Capabilities Office programs and $1 billion to expand programs accelerating the procurement and fielding of innovative technologies.

   • Public Law 119-21, title XX (defense reconciliation appropriations)

     Primary Congress Jul 4, 2025

3. Apr 9, 2025 Attempted

   EO 14265 orders a first preference for commercial solutions and a general preference for Other Transactions Authority, application of Rapid Capabilities Office policies "and any other authorities or pathways to promote streamlined acquisitions," and a review of every major defense acquisition program with cancellation candidates sent to OMB. A directive; nothing had moved yet.

   • Executive Order 14265, Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base

     Primary Executive branch Apr 9, 2025