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Cost Estimating NewsBrief: September 4, 2026
Department of War Launches OpenAI’s ChatGPT Mil on GenAI.mil
(U.S. Department of War) The Department of War today launched OpenAI’s ChatGPT Mil, marking it as the next frontier AI capability housed on GenAI.mil, the Department’s premier generative AI platform. This milestone represents the adoption phase of an enterprise partnership established between the Department and OpenAI in 2025. Accredited for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) at Impact Level 5 (IL5), ChatGPT Mil is engineered for secure, consistent enterprise use. ChatGPT Mil brings a familiar commercial experience into the Department’s secure environment, tailored to warfighter needs. The core experience centers on chat, files, projects, and custom GPTs, with additional features sequenced over time. Read More
Navy Readiness: Actions Needed to Address Costly Attack Submarine Maintenance Challenges
(U.S. Government Accountability Office) The U.S. Navy’s attack submarines gather intelligence undetected and attack enemy targets. 10 years of maintenance delays for these submarines have resulted in over 15,000 lost operational days and an estimated $3.4 billion in costs. Additional delays are on the rise as submarines wait to be decommissioned—taken out of service—because shipyards don’t have the capacity to start that process. With more submarines needing to be decommissioned in the next 5 years, decommissioning delays could cost the Navy more than $3.1 billion. Finding alternative ways to reduce backlogs could save the Navy billions of dollars. Read More
House panel subpoenas Oracle heads over VA health record overhaul’s ballooning costs
(NextGov/FCW) The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously voted on Wednesday to subpoena two top Oracle officials amid the Department of Veterans Affairs’ move to modify its contract with the tech giant for the ongoing deployment of its new electronic health record system. VA announced last month that it was extending its current 10-year, $10 billion modernization deal with Oracle to include an additional $17 billion ceiling and three option-year periods. The extension comes after VA and Oracle faced extensive issues implementing the system across the agency’s nationwide network of 164 medical facilities, which have resulted in numerous tech glitches, usability concerns and patient safety questions. Read More
DoD asks for encryption software to protect military data
(Federal News Network) The Defense Department is looking to the commercial sector to encrypt its data on major weapon systems and other acquisition programs. The department wants data packet-protection software it can use as a stepping stone on the way to adopting post-quantum cryptography by the early 2030s, according to a recent solicitation. Software-based encryption can be easier to adopt than using hardware, which may not be compatible with the machine it needs to protect. Products must not require the “replacement, modification or augmentation of existing hardware components,” like chips or radios, the Aug. 27 request said. Read More
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