Secretary of War Unveils Major Acquisition Reform to Strengthen U.S. Defense
November 10, 2025 | Washington, D.C. — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced a series of sweeping acquisition reforms designed to speed up the delivery of advanced military capabilities to U.S. forces. The announcement came during his address at the National War College on Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., on November 7.
New Directives to Modernize Defense Acquisition
During his speech, Secretary Hegseth referenced several key memorandums that define the next stage of the Department of War’s acquisition strategy. The documents include:
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“Transforming the Defense Acquisition System into the Warfighting Acquisition System to Accelerate Fielding of Urgently Needed Capabilities to Our Warriors.”
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“Reforming the Joint Requirements Process to Accelerate Fielding of Warfighting Capabilities.”
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“Unifying the Department’s Arms Transfer and Security Cooperation Enterprise to Improve Efficiency and Enable Burden-Sharing.”
These directives aim to strengthen national deterrence, rebuild the defense industrial base, and ensure that warfighters receive critical equipment faster than ever before.
A Unified Approach to Defense Efficiency
Together with the newly introduced Acquisition Transformation Strategy, these memorandums establish a new framework for how the Department defines operational needs, manages defense programs, and collaborates with industry partners.
Secretary Hegseth emphasized that the reforms mark a decisive shift toward a “warfighting acquisition system”—a model focused on rapid capability delivery and streamlined coordination across all branches of the Department.
Goal: Speed and Readiness
The Department’s updated strategy underscores the importance of efficiency and innovation to maintain America’s defense advantage. By integrating acquisition, requirements, and arms transfer processes, the Department aims to deliver essential technologies to U.S. troops at what officials describe as “the speed of relevance.”
Accessing the Full Strategy
The complete Acquisition Transformation Strategy and related memorandums are available through the Department of War’s official channels:
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Acquisition Transformation Strategy
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Transforming the Defense Acquisition System into the Warfighting Acquisition System
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Reforming the Joint Requirements Process
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Unifying the Department’s Arms Transfer and Security Cooperation Enterprise
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