On May 8, Sec. Mark Esper and Sec. Deborah Lee James, Co-Chairs of the Atlantic Council’s Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption, co-wrote an article in Defense One discussing two key recommendations from the Commission’s recently released interim report. First, DoD needs more flexibility to reprogram funds within fiscal years without congressional approval. Second, DoD program managers should have fewer but larger portfolios so they can shift resources and technologies, threats, and priorities evolve.

Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.