Advancements in SPEED and the FoRGED Act provisions progressing in the 2026 military budget bill
Two key defense acquisition reform proposals, the SPEED Act and the FoRGED Act, have been included in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2026. These acts aim to modernize and streamline the defense acquisition process, addressing the need for rapid innovation and efficiency to keep pace with adversaries like China and Russia.
The SPEED Act
Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the SPEED Act in the House. Its focus is on streamlining and modernizing the Department of Defense's (DoD) acquisition system, with an emphasis on cutting red tape, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles, and encouraging innovation to ensure that warfighters receive the necessary tools on time.
The SPEED Act prioritizes rapid, mission-driven innovation and includes several key sections. Section 825 requires the comptroller general to examine the management, training, and development of the acquisition workforce. Section 821 loosens post-employment restrictions for people who come into DoD through the public-private talent exchange program. Section 823 requires the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment to set up a program to appoint members of the Defense Civilian Training Corps to civil service positions in DoD.
Section 1832 requires the Defense Department to negotiate access to the technical data and software needed before signing a contract, and the SPEED Act formally defines the program executive officer (PEO) role and outlines specific responsibilities. Section 826 requires the defense secretary to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Defense Acquisition University. Lastly, Section 1842 establishes the Defense Industrial Resilience Consortium to "enhance the resilience, innovation, and competitiveness of the U.S. defense industrial base."
Tim Brennan, vice president of government relations at the Professional Services Council, praised the SPEED Act for its coherent and well-thought-out approach.
The FoRGED Act
The FoRGED Act, the Senate's version of defense acquisition reform, aims to foster reform and government efficiency in defense acquisition, though specific details on its mechanisms are less detailed in the available literature. It was included in the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) version of the NDAA and sponsored by Chairman Wicker.
The FoRGED Act concentrates on driving a commercial-first mindset and lowering barriers to bring more commercial firms and nontraditional contractors into the defense space. It renames and redefines the role of the PEO as the portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) and provides PAEs with greater authorities and responsibilities for requirements, resourcing, and acquisition.
Section 807 gives the combatant commands the authority to conduct experimentation, prototyping, and technology demonstrations to "support the development and testing of innovative technologies and capability solutions to address operational needs identified by the combatant command." Section 862 requires DoD to conduct an independent study of the department's acquisition workforce. Section 803 of the Senate version of the defense policy bill mandates the use of Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) in major defense programs.
The Senate's version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes the FoRGED Act, which seeks a more sweeping overhaul of defense acquisition. The FoRGED Act also directs the Defense Department to reorganize certain budget materials around major capability activity areas (MCAAs) and find at least two PEOs as pathfinders to manage them.
Both acts share the goal of modernizing the defense acquisition system to better support the military's needs. Despite their differences, they both expand the authority of acquisition leaders and direct a move toward portfolio-based management of military capabilities.
The SPEED Act, within the proposed NDAA for FY 2026, intends to modernize the Department of Defense's acquisition system, including a focus on technology. Section 833 of the Act requires the Defense Civilian Training Corps to be appointed to civil service positions in DoD, emphasizing the integration of technology in the civil service.
The FoRGED Act, also part of the NDAA for FY 2026, aims to foster reform and government efficiency in defense acquisition, with a focus on technology. Section 803 of the FoRGED Act mandates the use of Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) in major defense programs, underlining the importance of technology in modern defense acquisition.
