US DAWG chief warns of lost momentum without funding
In Washington, United States, the head of the Pentagon’s Defense Autonomy Working Group (DAWG), Lieutenant General Stephen Marks, said the program could lose the momentum it has gained if it does not receive funding in fiscal year 2027. As Breaking Defense reports, the administration of President Donald Trump requested $54.6 billion for DAWG.
Budget request
Of this amount, the administration proposed allocating $53.6 billion through the congressional budget reconciliation process. The same mechanism was intended to fund other administration priorities, including the Golden Dome missile defense system. Another $1 billion was requested through the regular base budget.
If budget reconciliation is not approved by Congress, DAWG may receive only $1 billion. This is approximately four times more than the $226 million the group received in fiscal year 2026, but less than 2% of the initially planned funding volume.
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System unification
Marks also serves as deputy commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. He said he is concerned by developments in Ukraine and Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East. According to him, U.S. adversaries can use a $100,000 drone to attack a $2 billion vessel, creating an unfavorable cost ratio for the United States.
DAWG is an initiative of the Trump administration that effectively absorbed the Replicator program from the Joe Biden administration. Replicator envisioned the acquisition of thousands of low-cost drones, including for use in the Pacific region. According to the outlet, the Pentagon seeks to increase investment in various platforms and developments in collaborative autonomy.
Marks did not disclose specific DAWG programs, citing their classified nature. At the same time, he emphasized the need to unify systems, control interfaces, and training. During a visit to the 20th Special Forces Group in Alabama, he heard that it uses between six and eight systems, whereas one or two should be selected to standardize across the entire formation.
