The Department of War said Thursday it is restructuring two key arms-transfer and technology-security offices, consolidating them under the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment in a move aimed at accelerating foreign military sales and strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base.
The reorganization places the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the Defense Technology Security Administration under the authority of the acquisition chief, creating a unified chain of command overseeing defense sales from procurement through production and delivery.
Officials said the realignment is intended to streamline decision-making, integrate technology-security reviews earlier in the acquisition cycle and improve coordination between arms sales and domestic production planning.
“The President has laid out a clear vision for aggressive promotion of U.S. defense sales through his America First Arms Transfer Strategy,” said Michael Duffey, the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment. “By unifying our arms transfer enterprise with our acquisition system, we will move with the purpose and speed required to strengthen our alliances and ensure the United States remains the partner of choice in global arms sales.”
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency manages foreign military sales and security cooperation programs, serving as the primary conduit for government-to-government weapons transactions. The Defense Technology Security Administration oversees export controls and technology-transfer decisions, balancing foreign sales with the protection of sensitive capabilities.
The restructuring comes amid heightened global demand for U.S. weapons systems, driven by conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. foreign military sales have climbed in recent years, though lawmakers and defense contractors have criticized the approval and delivery process as slow and fragmented.
By consolidating authority under the acquisition office, the department aims to align arms-transfer decisions more closely with industrial-base policy and production capacity. Officials said the shift will also improve forecasting of allied demand, potentially allowing manufacturers to scale production more efficiently and reduce delivery timelines.
The department said the change supports the National Defense Strategy and broader executive actions designed to revitalize domestic manufacturing and expand burden-sharing with allies. Defense officials argue that accelerating arms deliveries enables partner nations to assume greater responsibility for their own security while reinforcing U.S. geopolitical influence.
Industry analysts say the move could benefit major defense contractors by providing greater clarity on demand signals and export approvals, though they caution that export-control safeguards and congressional notification requirements remain significant checkpoints in the process.
The department characterized the overhaul as a structural reform intended to improve accountability and responsiveness in the arms-transfer enterprise while safeguarding U.S. technological advantages.
By: DNU staff