ClearedHot

Irony.

Politicians and pundits having been calling for acquisition reform for decades. Having worked in that world I've seen only marginal changes, until yesterday. Hegeseth dropped a bomb on the system and wants to end the 8(a) contract system. If this happens it will shake up a lot of things in the "business." There is a simplified definition of 8(a) contracts below which basically states these are set aside contract for supposedly small disadvantaged businesses and tribes. What started as an effort to help groups like Indian tribes turned into a yet another way for people to make money doing nothing. Most of these contracts were awarded to companies in name only, owned by a wife with enough native American blood to qualify, a huge fee was taken then they subcontract it to another company or consulting firm. I dealt with several range management contracts that were exactly like this. I am not in favor of everything he has done but this is a good step towards reform and getting the most of the taxpayers dollars spent on defense. His full statement is below. "When President Trump appointed me as your Secretary of War, I made you a series of promises. I promised that every single one of your taxpayer dollars would go toward one thing and one thing only: building the most lethal fighting force on the planet. And I promised we would gut the corruptive, unconstitutional, non-merit-based DEI programs that have weakened our military and distracted us from our primary mission. And I promised we would hunt down the waste, the fraud, and the abuse that has run rampant in this department for decades, and to instead redirect that money to President Trump's America First priorities. Well, today we are once again taking action on these promises. We’re actually taking a sledgehammer to the oldest DEI program in the federal government, a program few people outside of Washington have ever heard of, that I hadn’t heard of. It’s called the 8(a) program. Now, if you're like me, you're asking yourself what is an 8(a)? It’s a great question. 8(a) refers to the Small Business Administration’s program to assist "small disadvantaged businesses owned by a socially disadvantaged individual or tribe." Providing these small businesses with opportunities is a laudable goal. But over the decades, as it happens, the 8(a) program has morphed into swamp code words for DEI race-based contracting. And here’s the worst part: in many, many instances, these socially disadvantaged businesses, they don't even do work. They take a 10%, 20%, sometimes 50% fee off the top and then pass the contract off to a giant consulting firm, commonly known as "Beltway Bandits." For decades, this program—8(a)—has been a breeding ground for fraud. And this administration is finally doing something about it. The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, recently exposed half a billion dollars in 8(a) fraud. Treasury, led by Secretary Bessent, found another quarter billion, and their investigation is just beginning. Treasury, Justice, and the Small Business Administration under Administrator Loeffler are all actively investigating their 8(a) contracts right now. Now, in the Pentagon, $100 million sole-source contracts go out the door to these 8(a) firms almost every day. One hundred million dollar sole-source contracts go out our door to these 8(a) firms almost every day without any competition or opportunity for anyone else to bid. The Department of War is required by law to do almost a hundred billion dollars’ worth of contracts per year with small businesses, including 8(a) firms. Seems 8(a) is quite important. But we're not required to pay enormous brokerage fees only to have these firms pass those contracts along to giant consulting companies, and we won't. We're not doing this anymore. So effective immediately, I’m ordering a line-by-line review of every small-business sole-source 8(a) contract that is over $20 million. And we’ll look at everything smaller than that too. The Department of War has the biggest chunk of 8(a) spending by far, ten times more than any other agency. So our cleanup, it’s going to be ten times tougher. It’s a two-stage mission. First, if a contract doesn’t make us more lethal, it’s gone. We have no room in our budget for wasteful DEI contracts that don’t help us win wars, period, full stop. Second, we’re doing away with these pass-through schemes. We’ll make sure that every small business getting a contract is the one actually doing the work, and not just some shell company funneling your money to a giant consulting firm. This approach is of course not meant to hurt small businesses, and that's not the point. America’s full of great, amazing small businesses. This is part of a larger effort to transform our acquisition ecosystem into one that makes sense for the threats we face in the 21st century. I gave a long speech about this back in November. Our goal is to spend your money to build our defense industrial base with businesses, large and small, that share our mission, not to line the pockets of Beltway fraudsters or to advance the agenda of DEI apologists. Only lethality, and we’re going to look at every single contract."

What drives a supposed doctor who is training to follow science to such a woke response. Saying a yes no answer is political. What is wrong with saying a biological man can't give birth? I fully accept that people identify as the opposite sex...there is likely something physical driving those thoughts and you are free to be who you want in the land of the free...but you can't give birth and you should not compete against biological women.

My bad....he is FROM New York...which explains even more. In other news there is movement on Machine Guns.

This beatdown was Freaking EPIC!

Dems launching another attack on the 2nd amendment. Senator Chris Murphy (D) NY), is pushing an amendment that will raise the NFA Tax Stamp to $4709 per item.

Personally I think the pain is coming in 24-48 hours.

The Navy is stressed right now...to say the least.

Update for those using (or attempting to use), the new Electronic Form 4 with ATF. The system has crashed multiple times since they went live the first of the year, they did not anticipate the increased demand caused by lowering the tax stamp to )$....morons. I bought a quick disconnect suppressor for my Sig MPX and a new 5.7X28 from SPARTAC with an integrated ans sheathed with suppressor. When I completed the form the website crashed multiple times while trying to submit, was successful the next day. I am at Day 5 with no change in status. I've heard reports of 1-7 days for individual and longer for trusts. Totally subjective but the broker told me for the ones he is processing, if someone has a security clearance (a lot of military where I live), it is taking twice as long as the others with out. No idea why that would be the case....and could just be his experience locally as a one off. Pictures when complete.

Elon turned Starlink on for free, thought to be difficult to jam until the IRGC rolled out the big jammers yesterday cutting 80% of the flow. If you look at the intel, this would be a smaller operation than you might think. The IRGC has lost grip and we would not need large scale strikes so we are not looking at big attacks on infrastructure, more likely targeted hit on IRGC and their control mechanisms. I think there could also be a limited ground presence (which is scary), but an effort to secure the nuke sites/material.

I think they are walking a fine line having learned the lesson of Iraq 2003. If you remove the entire apparatus at once, maybe wishful thinking on my part. Huge implication for Cuba as well. They have been getting most of their oil from Venezuela at a 50% discount. Growing up in Miami I have many friends with deep connections and family members still in Cuba, the situation even before this latest dust up with Venezuela a was quite dire. One very good friend has a brother still there and has been physically sending him $400 worth of food each month rather than money because there is little food to buy.

They should be the favorite, they are very complete team and they've had a dream season. However, they are not perfect with some VERY close games...Old Dominion kept it close and put 14 on them.

They are but I think Miami can run on them and that will be the key. I didn't really care who won last night (aside from the implications of Mario playing the program he built), so I watched it with my son and we broke it down like my coaches used to do at Miami. I think Miami can run up the middle, the A game is where Mario has invested all his stock and it shows especially the A gap. The right side of Miami's O line will all be playing on Sundays, especially Francis Mauigoa who is one of three Miami players expected to go int he first round. Oregon had success running outside on Indiana which was very surprising, their ends were not able to set and lack of speed on the edge could be their only weakness. Their zone left the short slant open which is exactly how Carson Beck picked apart Ohio State and Ole Miss. On the other side of the ball it is all about getting pressure on Mednoza...that dude can throw the rock...his accuracy is unreal, even when scrambling. It is up to Bain and Mesidor, if they are successful we will have a game. The last piece is the intangible. If you play the game you can feel it on the field, the way the ball bounces on a fumble or a tip...some days things just go your way. Miami dropped four certain interceptions with Ole Miss. The intangible could play a big part in a close game. It was a great year (for some), I am proud of my team that almost got left out again, win or lose they should be proud.

Elections have consequences and now that Virginia had gone back blue they are going full RETARD. A new house bill (HB-217), epically intrudes on the 2nd amendment be taking away your right to own a firearm for three years for a MISDEMEANOR...I say again, you can lose your right to own a gun if convicted of jaywalking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtEcMBn2Gyc

That is exactly what my son said last night. He can't go, his college starts classes on the 19th, but he thinks I should go. Sort of, you forget I was on the field for two (87/89), and at the Rose Bowl in Jan 2002 when we crushed Nebraska.

Miami started strong but Ole Miss made some great adjustments and it turned into an epic battle. I was really torn because...F@ck Lane Kiffin. Was great to see Beck get some redemption with the run in touchdown. Tonight will be interesting, Indiana is a freaking machine but Oregon played them tough the first game. Planning on going to Miami for the Championship but tickets are outrageous.

Slightly switching gears...Trump put Raytheon on notice yesterday. Raytheon was recently awarded a $50B IDIQ awarded but they have been slow to respond to the government's request to speed deliveries. Instead of investing in infrastructure and capital improvement to improve production, Raytheon has poured $10B into stock buy back. These buybacks tend to drive stock price up which is good for stockholders but even better for Raytheon executives who have bonus and compensation plans tied to stock price. Trump outright said, no more buybacks if you want to do business with the U.S. Government. Also, in case you missed it, Trump is proposing a $1.5 TRILLION Defense budget for 2027. That is a $600B increase from 2026.

Senior IRGC and Iran leaders families have fled Iran...to France of all places. This might really happen.

Document, document and document EVERYTHING!

Appears to be all internal and organic at this point (I am not naive to think CIA and Mossad haven't been helping), but Israeli leadership just approved an attack on the IRGC...would prefer they stay out of it.

Sorry but I had to post it.

While the news has been covering Venezuela Iran is in the middle of a revolution regime change. Reports indicate Khamenei plans exit to Moscow.

Shawn is no angel...I wanted to puke when I watched his video about owning your Sh*t. He let his buddy Eric Prince go on his show and tell outright LIES about AFSOC..."Gunships refused to fly during the day" and refuses to correct the record. Shawn is indignant only when convenient.