Hegseth Establishes Powerful New Drone Office, Centralizing Command Away from Military Services

Pentagon Consolidates Drone Command Structure with Powerful New Office

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the consolidation of nearly all Pentagon drone and autonomous systems programs under a single new office reporting directly to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg. Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell described the move as "the most consequential battlefield innovation of our generation."

Office Responsibilities and Structure

According to a June 29 memorandum released by the Pentagon on Wednesday, the Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems (DRPM-UxS) will serve as the Department of Defense's "single joint integration authority for all unmanned and autonomous systems programs." Its director has yet to be named and will oversee the research, development, acquisition, deployment, and sustainment of military unmanned systems across air, ground, and maritime domains.

The new office's jurisdiction is broad, covering Group 1–3 small unmanned aircraft, unmanned surface vessels, ground robots, and counter-drone systems, as well as the artificial intelligence (AI) and swarm warfare software that guides these systems. Unmanned underwater vehicles will be co-managed with the Pentagon's submarine portfolio management office.

Scope of Authority and Exceptions

The new office's authority is not unlimited. Major defense acquisition programs that follow independent approval processes under existing law fall outside its purview. These include the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), the Navy's MQ-25 Stingray, the MQ-4C Triton, and medium unmanned surface vessels — all of which remain under their respective service-led structures.

Integration of Existing Units

Two existing organizations will be absorbed into the new office:

• Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401): Previously focused on countering small unmanned aerial systems, it will expand its mandate to counter unmanned threats across all domains.
• Defense Autonomous Warfare Group (DAWG): Originally established to mass-produce low-cost drones for the Pentagon, it will become a subordinate unit of the new office.

The memorandum specifies that personnel and positions from both organizations will not be relocated.

Record-Breaking Budget

The new office inherits one of the fastest-growing line items in the Pentagon's budget. The latest budget request allocates $53.7 billion for autonomous unmanned platforms — what Pentagon officials are calling an "unprecedented commitment" to drone and counter-drone systems.

The memorandum also designates the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) — the Pentagon's bridge to commercial technology companies — as the sole commercial liaison for the new portfolio management office.

Centralized Acquisition Authority and Congressional Engagement

The new office holds considerable authority:

• It serves as the Milestone Decision Authority for programs under its purview, determining whether weapon systems advance through development stages.
• In drone acquisition matters, it ranks second only to Hegseth and Feinberg.
• It can act as the senior contracting official, direct military services to transfer funds between programs through the Pentagon comptroller, and block any system from proceeding to deployment.
• It serves as the unified congressional liaison for drone-related matters — all DoD components must notify DRPM-UxS before engaging with lawmakers on unmanned systems programs.

Personnel Exemptions and Recruitment Timeline

The memorandum explicitly exempts the new office's programs, positions, and personnel from the DoD's current hiring freezes, workforce reductions, and layoff measures. Its director will also have direct hiring authority.

Following the appointment of a director:

• Within 30 days: Initiate recruitment
• Within 60 days: Complete organizational planning
• Within 90 days: Submit a full transition plan

Audit Warning: Accelerated Procurement May Introduce Risks

The reorganization is the latest step in Hegseth's "speed to delivery" policy — but it has drawn warnings from government auditors.

According to Defense News, a report released Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Pentagon's independent testing office has been reduced by Hegseth from 126 civilian staff to just 30. Under one rapid acquisition pathway, only 15 of approximately 110 active programs are currently overseen by that office.

This is the newest and broadest of several Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager offices established by the Hegseth team, aimed at centralizing the DoD's highest priorities under Feinberg. The memorandum does not specify how existing service-level drone programs will be reorganized.

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