The Lawmakers Fighting to Modernize the Pentagon
Military adaptation depends less on slogans about innovation than on who can alter the purchasing rules.
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June 8, 2026
Rep. Pat Ryan, Rep. Rob Wittman, and Jonathan Panter June 8, 2026
Congress rarely moves fast, but Reps. Rob Wittman and Pat Ryan are trying to change that. The two lawmakers founded the bipartisan House Defense Modernization Caucus in 2024 and have driven reforms through two consecutive defense authorization acts, targeting acquisitions and other bottlenecks. Jonathan sits down with both congressmen to discuss their initiatives, how a caucus without markup power actually moves legislation, and whether bipartisan cooperation on defense can last.
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