Department of War Finalizes Realignment of Defense Security Cooperation Agency and Defense Technology Security Administration
February 10, 2026
The U.S. Department of War (DoW) has officially announced a major organizational realignment involving the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA). This strategic restructuring places both entities under the oversight of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (USW(A&S)), aiming to streamline key defense functions and enhance cooperation with U.S. allies and partners.
Unifying Key Defense Functions for Greater Efficiency
The realignment, directed by the Secretary of War, consolidates critical components related to acquisition, sustainment, industrial base policy, security cooperation, defense sales, and arms transfer programs under a single organizational umbrella. By doing so, the Department intends to improve operational efficiency, strengthen the U.S. industrial base, and facilitate an increased share of defensive responsibilities by allied nations.
Michael Duffey, the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, emphasized the importance of this change, stating:
"The President has laid out a clear vision for aggressive promotion of U.S. defense sales through his groundbreaking America First Arms Transfer Strategy. This realignment will increase and accelerate the delivery of lethal weapons and advanced capabilities to our allies and partners, empowering them to shoulder a greater share of their self-defense. By unifying our arms transfer enterprise with our acquisition system, we will move with the purpose and speed required to strengthen our alliances and ensure the United States remains the partner of choice in global arms sales."
Establishing Clear Lines of Authority
A central feature of this reform is the establishment of a clear, unambiguous line of authority that unites defense sales efforts from the inception of acquisition planning through to final production and delivery. This integrated approach is part of the Department’s broader initiative to enhance the speed, accountability, and responsiveness of the arms transfer process.
Aligning DSCA and DTSA under USW(A&S) merges technology security considerations directly into the early phases of the defense acquisition life cycle. This integration improves the Department’s ability to forecast global demand, optimize production schedules, and swiftly deliver cutting-edge warfighting capabilities—an important factor in maintaining U.S. technological supremacy.
Supporting the National Defense Strategy and Industrial Base Revitalization
This organizational change supports key priorities set forth in the 2026 National Defense Strategy and reflects the President’s commitment to revitalizing the defense industrial base. Enhanced arms transfer processes will unlock new strategic opportunities to leverage investments from allies and partners, boosting American job creation and strengthening readiness across U.S. forces and allied militaries.
The realignment is also aligned with recent Executive Actions aimed at accelerating arms transfers and ensuring that the United States remains the dominant and preferred supplier in the global defense market.
Looking Ahead
As the DoW implements this realignment, it expects to achieve:
- Improved coordination across acquisition, technology security, and security cooperation domains
- More effective, timely delivery of defense articles and services to allied forces
- Stronger U.S. alliances through enhanced burden-sharing on defense needs
- Sustained protection of critical technologies while enabling faster production cycles
This transformation reflects the Department’s strategic orientation toward a unified, agile, and globally integrated defense enterprise that prioritizes partnership, innovation, and national security.
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