Department of War launches Force Agility and Streamlining Team to cut red tape and prioritize warfighters

The Department of War has created the Force Agility and Streamlining Team, or FAST, within the office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer to root out waste, cut unnecessary bureaucracy, and align resources with top warfighting priorities.

Formed at the direction of Deputy Secretary of War Steve Feinberg, the team reports to Under Secretary of War – Comptroller / Chief Financial Officer Jules W. Hurst III. FAST is tasked with identifying duplicative programs, unnecessary administrative processes, inefficient spending, and organizational structures that no longer contribute to the Department’s mission.

FAST will coordinate with the Military Departments, the Joint Staff, Defense Agencies and Field Activities, and other Department leaders to recommend eliminating, realigning, consolidating, or modifying programs and processes. The initiative also aims to foster greater cost awareness across the defense enterprise and institutionalize a more agile, accountable approach to managing taxpayer resources.

“Every dollar we spend should make our military stronger, more ready, and more lethal, which is why good stewardship is not separate from warfighting. For too long, layers of bureaucracy and outdated processes have consumed time and resources that belong with our warfighters. Through FAST, the Department is establishing a disciplined mechanism to challenge the way we do business, identify where taxpayer dollars are not producing sufficient value, and act on those findings,” said Under Secretary of War – Comptroller / Chief Financial Officer Hurst. “Under the Secretary of War’s leadership, we will work tirelessly to reduce unnecessary overhead, improve accountability, and put resources where they matter most — building the force we need to deter our enemies and win our Nation’s wars.”

The team will provide recommendations to senior leaders as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fiscal accountability, modernize business practices, and ensure every taxpayer dollar contributes to a more ready and lethal force.

“Success will be measured by results, not by another layer of process,” Hon. Hurst said. “If a program is duplicative, we should eliminate it. If a process can be streamlined, we should streamline it. And if resources can be put to better use supporting the warfighter, we have an obligation to make that happen.”