Currently, many major defense contractors spend billions of dollars on stock buybacks and dividends to keep their stock prices high, which critics argue takes money away from research, development, and manufacturing. If this bill becomes law, it would force a massive shift in the business model of the American defense industry, prioritizing product performance over short-term financial gains for Wall Street.

For voters, this is about how their tax dollars are used. If a company is late on delivering a new fighter jet or a fleet of ships, this bill would theoretically prevent them from rewarding their executives with big bonuses until they fix the problems. It addresses the long-standing frustration with 'cost-plus' contracts and project delays by using a company's profit-sharing ability as leverage for better performance.