Yep total BS , bean counters BS’d & bribed .......the H&K 416 is IMHO the best thing that has happened to the M16 family since it was introduced.. I have carried everything from the old XM177’s to the M4 when I retired and our company uses the HK416 now for a reason. They work. And we really really tried to make em fail, we hate new and improved with a passion thus a lot of the folks desire to pack M1A’s until we ran the 416 thru it’s paces. Good weapon albeit critics who have never carried one or relied on one seek to trash it........
The HK416 isn’t going anywhere IMO. This is a bump in that procurement road.
Thanks for the ping Eeeeek !
Stay safe !
It was ever thus. 
Not only the bean counters, but our “friends” in congress that force procurement laws on those of us involved in acquisition that leave no legal outs from stupid decisions such as this. Rep Coburn made a stand, but he is swimming uphill against all his cohorts in the house.