Hegseth delivered a speech to executives in the defense industry at the National War College on Friday, introducing a new plan by the Pentagon to reform the weapons procurement process, lamenting the "lack of urgency" and "fundamental lack of trust" between the military and the defense industry. This is considered his most substantive and cohesive policy speech since taking office, marking the launch of an ambitious new initiative aimed at accelerating the delivery of weapons, a problem that has plagued successive governments for decades. Hegseth detailed the contents of the reform plan, with a tone that marked a significant shift from previous ones. This speech was far removed from his usual focus on cultural war issues - topics often directed at MAGA supporters and centered on criticizing the "dangers" of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. This time, Hegseth said: "I'm not here to punish, I'm here to liberate. I'm not here to reform, I'm here to transform and empower. We must free the bureaucracy from its own constraints." It remains unclear whether Hegseth can fulfill his reform goals, as these goals reflect deep-seated problems that have long existed within the Pentagon. Although Hegseth promised to cut through layers of bureaucracy, many aspects of his reform ideas include renaming existing institutions within the "War Department," adding oversight functions, and attempting to overturn decades of policy in just a few months. This is also a major test for Hegseth, the "newcomer" at the Pentagon, who was called a potential "disrupter" of the system by Vance. The defense industry generally welcomed these measures, as they align with the reform direction that industry representatives have lobbied for years.
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Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848293953525066/
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