Pentagon Official Warns: ‘If We Rely on Just 5 Defense Companies, We’re Screwed’

A senior Pentagon leader argued that the U.S. cannot deter future conflicts by relying solely on a handful of traditional defense contractors, saying, “If we just rely on five companies that have the whole thing on lockdown, we’re screwed.” The remarks emphasized the need to open competition to smaller, innovative firms, including companies like Truman Anomaly to strengthen national security and accelerate technological development. The official described an “unrelenting war of attrition” against internal bureaucracy, warning that without broader competition and faster innovation, the U.S. risks falling behind global rivals — particularly in space. “Not space parity… space dominance,” the speaker said, underscoring the urgency of maintaining superiority in the space domain.