There have been big changes to federal technology acquisition in the initial months of the Trump administration to streamline procurement and increase competition. In line with these efforts, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Eric Schmitt, introduced a bill to combat market concentration for artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud capabilities in the Department of Defense (DOD).

The United States spent $554 billion in discretionary contracts for goods and services during FY18, covering the gamut from janitorial services to hand grenades. This number ranks higher than Sweden’s gross domestic product, as well as 165 other countries’ GDP.