NDAA is DOA at OMB
Statement of Administration Policy: S. 2943 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, OMB
“If the President were presented with S. 2943, his senior advisors would recommend he veto the bill. …
… Multiple Provisions Imposing Restrictions on the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program: The Administration strongly objects to sections 1036, 1037, 1038, and 1611. Section 1036 would restrict DOD’s authority to use RD-180 engines, eliminate the Secretary’s authority to waive restrictions to protect national security interests, and — with section 1037 — disqualify a domestic launch service provider from offering a competitive, certified launch service capability. Section 1038 would repeal the statutory requirement to allow all certified providers to compete for launch service procurements. Section 1611 would redirect funds away from the development of modern, cost-effective, domestic launch capabilities that will replace non-allied engines. The combined effect of these provisions would be to eliminate price-based competition of EELV launch service contracts starting in FY 2017, force the Department to allocate missions, inhibit DOD’s ability to maintain assured access to space, delay the launch of national security satellites, delay the on-ramp of new domestic launch capabilities and services, and increase the cost of space launch to DOD, the Intelligence Community, and civil agencies. The authorization to use up to 18 RD-180 engines is necessary and prudent to expeditiously and affordably transition to the new domestic launch capabilities currently under development.”
Use of Surplus Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Motors for Commercial Space Launches: Section 1607 would direct the Comptroller General to conduct an analysis of the costs and benefits of providing surplus ICBMs to the private sector for commercial space launch purposes. Both Federal law and the Administration’s National Space Transportation Policy currently prohibit such transfers for commercial use. The Administration continues to support this long-standing policy, which seeks to avoid undermining investment, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the launch market.”
There are other military space-related issues of concerns listed as well.
“the bill attempts to micromanage DOD”
So NASA isn’t the only agency Congress tries to micromanage. It would be nice if OMB would object as strongly when they do it to NASA.
IMO the OMB critique is pretty accurate. It makes no sense for Congress to tell DOD whether it can buy RD-180s. DOD knows that it is unlikely Russia would cut off the supply, and even if they did we would be no worse off then we would be if we cut off the supply ourselves.
Well, if not OMB on the issue of RS-180s, then who?
Obviously the brass hasn’t taken the lead on this issue. In fact that our need to buy Russian engines isn’t seen as odiously ludicrous is the true unknown in this whole saga.
The solution is to enable US development, not cut off trade.
Exactly and much clearer than my comment.
And I’d argue that Congress does not know best how to pick “winners and losers” when it comes to funding US development. A well run “commercial launch” program ought to be patterned after NASA’s (so far successful) commercial cargo and commercial crew programs. This approach has been proven to spur innovation, save money, and insure multiple suppliers are available to fulfill the requirements of the missions.