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Appropriators press Air Force and Space Force on acquisition problems, from Sentinel to F‑47
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Summary
Lawmakers pressed service leaders on long‑running acquisition issues, citing Nunn‑McCurdy breaches, cost overruns on Sentinel, delays on space programs, and program office continuity concerns.
House appropriators used the oversight hearing to press senior Air Force and Space Force officials about persistent acquisition problems that have driven cost overruns, schedule slips and program restructures.
Members repeatedly cited the Sentinel program’s Nunn‑McCurdy breach and questioned how the department will restructure the program to control costs. “Sentinel grama, as been mentioned, is ballooning $141,000,000,000 and that's from an original estimate of $78,000,000,000,” Ranking Member Betty McCollum said. Acting Secretary Frank Ashworth summarized the department’s current position: the program has been pulled back into an earlier acquisition phase to evaluate root causes and options.
Committee members also pressed about the department’s broader acquisition system and turnover in program management. Chairman Ken Calvert invoked Admiral Hyman Rickover’s 1977 testimony criticizing rapid rotation of program managers: “program managers… have only the shallowest knowledge of the theory of the techniques they must deal with,” Calvert quoted, and he asked whether that churn contributes to poor performance. Ashworth and General David Alvin agreed continuity and stronger technical expertise in program offices are important; Alvin said operators and technical staff should be blended into offices to preserve both technical depth and operational relevance.
Members cited other acquisition problems including more than seven years of delay for a space acquisition (GPS OCX was referenced by name in testimony), production and schedule pressure on next‑generation air dominance efforts (F‑47/NGAD), and prior cost growth on the F‑35 program as a cautionary example. Space Force leaders described multi‑year delays on some space systems and emphasized the need for stable resourcing to field resilient constellations and counterspace capabilities.
Officials described department steps: reviewing acquisition authorities following an executive order directed at acquisition reform, engaging industry to reexamine Sentinel’s command and launch segment construction approach, and applying lessons from the F‑47 program where Ashworth said the service had improved program stability and operator engagement.
Members asked for follow‑up documentation. Committee chairs and ranking members signaled they expect detailed acquisition reform proposals and program‑specific plans when the department submits the full FY‑26 request.
