Government software is usually bought by asking several companies to bid. A department writes down what it needs, suppliers compete, and the file records why the winner won.
A memo drafted inside the US Defense Department on 4 August did something different. It named the supplier first.
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg directed subordinates to buy up to $243.9m of services from Palantir by 31 March 2027, without a competitive process, The Register reported, citing a source. The subject line is “Funding Palantir”.
The memo goes further than that single figure. It also tells the department’s acquisition and comptroller chiefs to work with military leaders on finding more money for the company, covering April 2027 to the end of 2028.
What the memo says, and what it leaves out
