House panel wants independent look at how Pentagon funds testing – By Courtney Albon (Defense News) / June 7, 2022
WASHINGTON — House lawmakers called for an independent review of the Pentagon’s test and evaluation resourcing strategy in light of a growing infrastructure and equipment shortfall.
The House Armed Services cyber, innovative technologies and information systems subcommittee released its version of the fiscal 2023 defense policy bill June 7. Among its recommendations, to be considered as part of the panel’s formal markup process this week, are two provisions aimed at bolstering the test and evaluation community.
One provision would require the U.S. Department of Defense to contract with a federally funded research and development center to conduct an independent review of its “Strategic Plan for Test Resources” — the 30-year planning tool the department uses to identify resource needs. The report should consider whether that planning mechanism is adequate and how past needs forecasts have aligned with actual DoD investments.
A second reporting provision calls on the department’s top weapons tester to select at least one major program within each military service and evaluate whether testing resources are sufficient.