CMMC Phase 2 Paused: Why the DoD's Reasoning Doesn't Add Up, and What to Expect After the 60-Day Review

Submit any questions you would like answered on the podcast!The Department of War's pause on CMMC Phase 2 sparked a wave of panic, and a wave of misinformation right behind it. In this episode, Stacey and Brooke go deeper than the headline: what the pause actually changes, why the stated justification (cost, assessor capacity) doesn't hold up against the numbers, and what's realistically likely to come out of the 60-day review.In this episode:What "Phase 2 is paused" actually means (it's the third-party certification requirement on new contracts, not your obligation to be compliant)The biggest misconception floating around: "CMMC is suspended" vs. what's actually trueWhy the capacity argument (claims of "only 100 assessors") doesn't match reality (there are over 1,000 CCAs)Why the cost argument conflates "cost of certification" with "cost of actually being compliant," which have always been expensiveWhy self-assessments may face MORE scrutiny, not less, while third-party validation is pausedHistorical precedent: every incoming DoD/DoW CIO has paused and retooled this program since 2021, and it's never been canceledWhat to actually do this week if you're mid-remediation, mid-contract, or have a mock or certification assessment already scheduledThe open RFI (Request for Information) the DoD posted, and why submitting a response mattersJustice IT Consulting's own CMMC Level 2 certification newsThe mark-your-calendar date: September 14th is when the 60-day window closes and we should learn more about what comes next. Read the actual DoD memo here: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/CIO-CMMC-Reform-Memo_26-P-1023.pdf?hss_channel=lcp-348902 Submit your own response to the DoD's RFI here: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/89ef9bfb0834473791e991c712698d94/view