DoD Announces First Ever Strategy for a Modernized Defense Industrial Ecosystem
Client Alert | 1 min read | 01.16.24
On January 11, 2024, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced its first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) focused on building a modernized industrial ecosystem that provides a sustained competitive advantage to the US over its adversaries. Specifically, the NDIS provides a strategic framework to guide the DoD’s engagement, policy development, and investment in the industrial base over the next three to five years. As part of this investment strategy, the NDIS highlights several investment tools and opportunities that DoD is already using to spur growth and innovation in key industries.
The DoD identified four strategic priorities to guide industrial action and resource prioritization: (i) resilient and secure supply chains; (ii) workforce readiness; (iii) flexible acquisition to lead to the development of strategies that strive for dynamic capabilities while balancing efficiency, maintainability, customization and standardization in defense platforms and support systems; and (iv) economic deterrence to promote fair and effective market mechanisms that support a resilient defense industrial ecosystem among the U.S. and close international allies and partners, economic security, and integrated deterrence. The DoD also outlined associated actions with, and potential risks of not achieving, each priority.
Finally, the DoD highlighted systemic risks that may impact achieving these priorities, including an inadequate workforce and skilled workers in manufacturing and engineering careers, inadequate domestic production of key materials and production capacity, instability of procurement (e.g., compliance burdens, changing procurement priorities, and technological obsolescence), and funding uncertainty.
Contacts
Senior Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP | Vice President of Growth & Strategy, Crowell GovCon Strategies LLC
- Washington, D.C.
- D | +1.202.624.2697
Insights
Client Alert | 5 min read | 12.12.25
Eleventh Circuit Hears Argument on False Claims Act Qui Tam Constitutionality
On the morning of December 12, 2025, the Eleventh Circuit heard argument in United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC, et al., No. 24-13581 (11th Cir. 2025). This case concerns the constitutionality of the False Claims Act (FCA) qui tam provisions and a groundbreaking September 2024 opinion in which the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida held that the FCA’s qui tam provisions were unconstitutional under Article II. See United States ex rel. Zafirov v. Fla. Med. Assocs., LLC, 751 F. Supp. 3d 1293 (M.D. Fla. 2024). That decision, penned by District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, was the first success story for a legal theory that has been gaining steam ever since Justices Thomas, Barrett, and Kavanaugh indicated they would be willing to consider arguments about the constitutionality of the qui tam provisions in U.S. ex rel. Polansky v. Exec. Health Res., 599 U.S. 419 (2023). In her opinion, Judge Mizelle held (1) qui tam relators are officers of the U.S. who must be appointed under the Appointments Clause; and (2) historical practice treating qui tam and similar relators as less than “officers” for constitutional purposes was not enough to save the qui tam provisions from the fundamental Article II infirmity the court identified. That ruling was appealed and, after full briefing, including by the government and a bevy of amici, the litigants stepped up to the plate this morning for oral argument.
Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25
Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office
Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.10.25
Creativity You Can Use: CJEU Clarifies Copyright for Applied Art
Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.10.25
Federal Court Strikes Down Interior Order Suspending Wind Energy Development
