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Navy Secretary axes contracts for fleet maintenance software, 'DEI,' climate in $300M purge
Navy Secretary axes contracts for fleet maintenance software, DEI, climate in $300M purge
John Phelan's memos come only a few weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth published a memo directing the termination of $5 billion worth of contracts.
By CARLEY WELCH
on April 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM

The Secretary of the Navy, the Hon. John C. Phelan, gives a speech over the pilot house 1MC to the crew of the worlds largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), April 11, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly)
WASHINGTON Secretary of the Department of the Navy John Phelan has released two memos cancelling a slew of grants and contracts aimed at what he called eliminating wasteful spending in the DoD, including those related to ship and aircraft maintenance software.
I commend the DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] team for finding these opportunities to help save the Navy and increase our readiness and war-fighting capability, he said. Between the two memos the Pentagon will save almost $300 million, Phelan said in a video posted to X.
In the memo related to maintenance, Phelan directed the termination of all contracts under the DONs Naval Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (NMRO) logistics program. The NMRO program was established to help predict potential system failures on ships and aircraft using artificial intelligence, digital twins and other predictive analytics.
The NMRO logistics program is critical software for the Navy. However, for 5 years systems integrators have over-engineered the software to the point where it is unusable. Upon the recommendation of Navy leadership, the current contracts under the NMRO program shall be terminated. This will allow the Program Office to apply the savings towards a new strategy to meet our needs, Phelan wrote.
{snip}
John Phelan's memos come only a few weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth published a memo directing the termination of $5 billion worth of contracts.
By CARLEY WELCH
on April 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM

The Secretary of the Navy, the Hon. John C. Phelan, gives a speech over the pilot house 1MC to the crew of the worlds largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), April 11, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly)
WASHINGTON Secretary of the Department of the Navy John Phelan has released two memos cancelling a slew of grants and contracts aimed at what he called eliminating wasteful spending in the DoD, including those related to ship and aircraft maintenance software.
I commend the DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] team for finding these opportunities to help save the Navy and increase our readiness and war-fighting capability, he said. Between the two memos the Pentagon will save almost $300 million, Phelan said in a video posted to X.
In the memo related to maintenance, Phelan directed the termination of all contracts under the DONs Naval Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (NMRO) logistics program. The NMRO program was established to help predict potential system failures on ships and aircraft using artificial intelligence, digital twins and other predictive analytics.
The NMRO logistics program is critical software for the Navy. However, for 5 years systems integrators have over-engineered the software to the point where it is unusable. Upon the recommendation of Navy leadership, the current contracts under the NMRO program shall be terminated. This will allow the Program Office to apply the savings towards a new strategy to meet our needs, Phelan wrote.
{snip}
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Navy Secretary axes contracts for fleet maintenance software, 'DEI,' climate in $300M purge (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Saturday
OP
SWBTATTReg
(25,200 posts)1. Idiot. Lots of software is maintained on a regular basis, and not all situations are not coded (code is limited, so
needs modifications like all software does). Just wait, it's only a matter of time something will break and they'll have to do a more expensive fix or enhancement, which will cost more.
Turbineguy
(38,981 posts)2. Computer based maintenance systems save money
and improve reliability. But it does need careful management and strict rules must be followed.
The Russians must be happy,