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On November 7, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared that acquisition is now a warfighting function, fundamentally changing the role of acquisition professionals. The new approach emphasizes empowering program managers with decision-making authority and accountability for outcomes, aligning responsibility with the necessary control over their programs.

This shift aims to reduce operational risks by accepting acquisition risks, allowing for faster delivery of capabilities. Program managers will be involved throughout the delivery cycle and will work closely with operational partners to balance speed and capability. This model seeks to attract talent by creating high-accountability, high-authority positions, fostering a culture where acquisition professionals are treated as key contributors to mission effectiveness.