The Defense Department would get limited authority to start working on urgent new programs before they are officially funded under a provision in the proposed fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The legislative proposal, referred to as “quickstart,” would cap at $100 million the spending allowed under this proposal. Before a service can use some of these funds to start a program, it will have to spell out to the defense secretary what the urgent or emergency national security need is, the cost, and why the program can’t wait until the budget is finished.
The final version of the NDAA, which House and Senate lawmakers hashed out in conference last week, would cap at $100 million the spending allowed under this proposal. Andrew Hunter, the service’s acquisition chief, told Defense News in September the Senate’s inclusion of the quickstart provision was “wonderful,” calling the $100 million it would authorize “a good start.” The quickstart proposal would let the Air Force move forward with initial contract work and early-stage program activities, even if a budget has not yet passed. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News.
