Pentagon Creates New Drone Czar Office to Consolidate Unmanned Systems Programs
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established a Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to centralize all Pentagon drone, counterdrone, and autonomous systems programs across air, land, and sea. The office, reporting to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg, inherits a $53.6 billion budget and holds milestone decision authority, budget-shifting power, and direct hiring ability. It consolidates existing groups like Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group. The move aims to accelerate fielding but faces oversight concerns after GAO reported cuts to independent testing.
Editorial summary awaiting refresh
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Pentagon Establishes New Drone Office to Consolidate Unmanned Systems Programs
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has created a new office called the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate nearly all Pentagon drone programs under a single authority. The office will oversee a wide range of uncrewed systems including small one-way attack drones, drone boats, underwater vessels, ground robots, autonomous AI systems, drone swarming technology, and counter-drone systems. It will also manage the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group. The move aims to accelerate procurement and fielding of drones, addressing what Hegseth described as slow US adoption compared to adversaries who produce millions of unmanned systems annually. Exceptions include major programs like the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The initiative is part of a broader $74 billion budget request for drones and counter-drone systems.
All Content from Business InsiderHegseth creates powerful new drone office, pulling authority from the military services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), consolidating nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single office that reports directly to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg. The office will oversee development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of unmanned systems across air, ground, and sea domains, as well as counter-drone systems and AI software. Major acquisition programs like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft and MQ-25 Stingray remain with the services. The office has significant authorities including milestone decision authority, contracting power, and the ability to reallocate funds. It is exempt from hiring freezes. The reorganization is part of Hegseth's broader 'speed to delivery' initiative, which the Government Accountability Office warned may outrun oversight capacity. The Pentagon's latest budget includes $53.6 billion for autonomous drone platforms.
Defense NewsHegseth Creates Powerful New Drone Office, Pulling Authority from Military Services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single office. The office, reporting to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg, will oversee development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of unmanned systems across air, ground, and sea domains, including small drones, unmanned boats, ground robots, and counter-drone systems. It also covers AI and swarming software. The office inherits a $53.6 billion budget and holds significant authority, including milestone decision authority, top buying power, and the ability to shift funds between programs. It centralizes congressional engagement and is exempt from hiring freezes. The move is part of Hegseth's broader 'speed to delivery' initiative, though a GAO report warns that fast-tracking weapons may outrun oversight. Two existing organizations, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, will move under the new office.
Defense NewsPentagon creates powerful new drone office under Hegseth
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth established a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), consolidating nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single office. The office reports directly to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg and will oversee development, acquisition, and fielding of drones in air, ground, and sea domains, as well as counter-drone systems and AI. It exempts major acquisition programs like the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The move centralizes authority, including milestone decision power, budget shifts, and congressional engagement. The office inherits a $53.6 billion budget request for autonomous platforms. The reorganization is part of Hegseth's 'speed to delivery' initiative, but a GAO report warns the Pentagon's independent testing office has been cut so severely it now only monitors 15 of 110 active fast-track programs, risking oversight gaps.
Military TimesHegseth Creates Powerful New Drone Office, Pulling Authority from the Military Services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), a powerful new office that consolidates nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single director reporting to Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg. The office oversees development, acquisition, and sustainment of small drones, unmanned boats, ground robots, counter-drone systems, and their AI software, while excluding major programs like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft and MQ-25. It inherits a $53.6 billion budget allocation and holds authority to make milestone decisions, direct service funding shifts, and halt systems before fielding. The reorganization is part of Hegseth's 'speed to delivery' initiative, but a recent GAO report warns that cuts to independent testing oversight risk outrunning safeguards. The office is exempt from hiring freezes and must deliver an organizational plan within 60 days of a director's appointment.
Military TimesHegseth creates powerful new drone office, pulling authority from the military services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single office. The office, reporting to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg, will oversee development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of unmanned systems across air, ground, and sea domains, including counter-drone systems and AI software. It inherits a $53.6 billion budget and significant authority, including milestone decision power and the ability to shift funds between service programs. Major acquisition programs like the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Navy's MQ-25 remain with the services. The move is part of Hegseth's 'speed to delivery' initiative, though a GAO report warns that cuts to independent testing oversight may risk accountability.
Defense NewsHegseth Creates Powerful New Drone Office, Pulling Authority from Military Services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), a new office consolidating nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single authority reporting directly to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg. The office oversees small drones, unmanned boats, ground robots, counter-drone systems, and related AI, excluding large acquisition programs like the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft. It has sweeping powers over development, acquisition, and fielding, including budget authority, hiring exemptions, and requirement to clear all drone-related congressional engagement. The reorganization is part of Hegseth's broader 'speed to delivery' initiative, but has drawn warnings from the GAO about weakened independent oversight after cuts to testing staff.
C4ISRNetHegseth consolidates Pentagon drone programs under new powerful office
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS), a new office that consolidates nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single authority reporting directly to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg. The office covers small drones, unmanned boats, ground robots, counter-drone systems, and related AI software, but excludes major acquisition programs like the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Navy's MQ-25 and MQ-4C. Existing organizations JIATF 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group will move under the new office. DRPM-UxS holds significant power over acquisition decisions, budgeting, and congressional engagement, and is exempt from hiring freezes and personnel cuts. The reorganization is part of Hegseth's 'speed to delivery' initiative, backed by a $53.6 billion budget request, though a recent GAO report warns that the Pentagon's push to field weapons faster may be outrunning its own oversight capacity.
C4ISRNetHegseth Creates Powerful New Drone Office, Pulling Authority from Military Services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single office. The office reports directly to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg and will oversee development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of unmanned systems across air, ground, and sea domains, including counter-drone systems and AI software. It excludes major defense acquisition programs like the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Navy's MQ-25 Stingray. The office inherits a $53.6 billion budget and holds significant authority, including milestone decision power, direct hiring, and the ability to shift funds between programs. Two existing organizations, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, will move under the new office. The reorganization is part of Hegseth's 'speed to delivery' initiative, though a recent GAO report warns that oversight may be compromised due to cuts in independent testing staff.
C4ISRNetHegseth creates powerful new drone office, pulling authority from the military services
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established a new Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single office reporting to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg. The office oversees small drones, unmanned boats, ground robots, counter-drone systems, and AI/swarming software, but excludes major acquisition programs like the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft and Navy's MQ-25 Stingray. It inherits a $53.6 billion budget and holds significant authority, including milestone decision power, contract oversight, and the ability to shift funds between service programs. The reorganization is part of Hegseth's broader 'speed to delivery' initiative, though a recent GAO report warns that cuts to independent testing staff may outpace oversight capacity.
Military TimesPentagon Establishes New Czar for All Drone and Counterdrone Programs
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the creation of a new direct reporting portfolio manager for unmanned offensive and defensive systems (DRPM-UxS), consolidating all Pentagon drone and counterdrone efforts across air, land, and sea under a single director who will report to the deputy defense secretary. The reorganization, announced via a June 29 memo released July 1, 2026, brings together the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, and relevant programs from the Defense Innovation Unit and military departments. The DRPM-UxS will oversee acquisition, development, and fielding of unmanned systems, manage existing and future drone marketplaces, and can only approve new marketplaces. The move mirrors the Air Force's 2025 consolidation of major weapons programs under a similar portfolio manager role. The position's Senate confirmation status and appointee remain unclear. The memo also creates an executive board chaired by the deputy defense secretary to oversee the portfolio.
Defense One - All ContentPentagon Establishes New Oversight Czar for Unmanned and Autonomous Systems
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the creation of a new direct reporting portfolio manager for unmanned offensive and defensive systems (DRPM-UxS), consolidating all Pentagon drone and counterdrone efforts for air, land, and sea under a single director who reports to the deputy defense secretary. The memo, dated June 29 and released July 1, 2026, establishes the DRPM-UxS as a strategic priority to maintain military advantage. The new czar will oversee the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, and efforts under the Defense Innovation Unit and military departments. The Defense Innovation Unit will serve as the primary liaison with commercial companies. The move mirrors an Air Force reorganization of major weapons programs and aims to streamline acquisition, development, and fielding of unmanned systems. First tasks include hiring, creating an organizational chart, outlining service programs, and developing an implementation plan. An executive board chaired by the deputy defense secretary will oversee the portfolio.
Defense One - All ContentPentagon Establishes New Oversight Office for Unmanned and Autonomous Systems
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the creation of a new direct reporting portfolio manager for unmanned offensive and defensive systems (DRPM-UxS) to consolidate all Pentagon drone and counterdrone efforts across air, land, and sea. The new czar will oversee the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, and related programs under the Defense Innovation Unit and military departments. The director will report to the deputy defense secretary and will steer all associated programmatic funding lines. The move mirrors a similar Air Force reorganization for major weapons systems and aims to streamline the Pentagon's acquisition, development, and fielding of unmanned systems. The DRPM-UxS will also manage existing and future marketplaces for drone and counterdrone systems, with new marketplaces requiring its approval. Key initial tasks include hiring, creating an organization chart, and outlining program impacts.
Defense One - All Content