860 
SEC. 1412. CONSULTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ENVIRON-
MENTAL REVIEWS OF PROJECTS THAT WILL 
INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF STRATEGIC AND 
CRITICAL MATERIALS FOR ACQUISITION FOR 
NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCKPILE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall con-
sult with the head of any agency responsible for the develop-
ment of an environmental document for a project that will 
result in an increase in the availability of strategic and 
critical materials for acquisition for the Stockpile. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 551 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(2) ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT.—The term ‘‘en-
vironmental document’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 111 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4336e). 
(3) STOCKPILE.—The term ‘‘Stockpile’’ means 
the National Defense Stockpile established under sec-
tion 3 of the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock 
Piling Act (50 U.S.C. 98b). 
(4) STRATEGIC AND CRITICAL MATERIALS.—The 
term ‘‘strategic and critical materials’’ means mate-
rials, including rare earth elements, that are nec-
essary to meet national defense and national security
861 
requirements, including requirements relating to sup-
ply chain resiliency, and for the economic security of 
the United States. 
Subtitle C—Other Matters 
SEC. 1421. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES FOR FUNDING AND 
MANAGEMENT OF JOINT DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS MEDICAL FACILITY DEMONSTRATION 
FUND 
FOR 
CAPTAIN 
JAMES 
A. 
LOVELL 
HEALTH CARE CENTER, ILLINOIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1704(e) of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 
111–84; 123 Stat. 2573), as most recently amended by sec-
tion 305 of division B of the Continuing Appropriations 
and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 118–83, 138 Stat. 
1539), is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 2025’’ and 
inserting ‘‘September 30, 2026’’. 
(b) AUTHORITY FOR TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—Of the 
funds authorized to be appropriated for section 1405 and 
available for the Defense Health Program for operation and 
maintenance, $162,500,000 may be transferred by the Sec-
retary of Defense to the Joint Department of Defense–De-
partment of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Demonstra-
tion Fund established by subsection (a)(1) of section 1704 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
862 
2010 (Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2571). For purposes 
of subsection (a)(2) of such section 1704, any funds so 
transferred shall be treated as amounts authorized and ap-
propriated specifically for the purpose of such a transfer. 
(c) USE OF TRANSFERRED FUNDS.—For the purposes 
of subsection (b) of such section 1704, facility operations 
for which funds transferred under subsection (b) of this sec-
tion may be used are operations of the Captain James A. 
Lovell Federal Health Care Center, consisting of the North 
Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Navy Ambula-
tory Care Center, and supporting facilities designated as 
a combined Federal medical facility under an operational 
agreement covered by section 706 of the Duncan Hunter Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Pub-
lic Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4500). 
SEC. 1422. ELIGIBILITY OF SPACE FORCE OFFICERS FOR 
MEMBERSHIP ON ARMED FORCES RETIRE-
MENT HOME ADVISORY COUNCIL. 
(a) SPACE FORCE CHIEF PERSONNEL OFFICER.—Sec-
tion 1502(5) of the Armed Forces Retirement Home Act of 
1991 (24 U.S.C. 401(5)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
863 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(F) the Deputy Chief of Space Operations 
for Human Capital of the Space Force.’’. 
(b) SPACE FORCE SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFI-
CER.—Section 1502(6) of such Act (24 U.S.C. 401(6)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(F) The Chief Master Sergeant of the 
Space Force.’’. 
SEC. 1423. ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME: AVAIL-
ABILITY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS. 
Subsection (c) of section 1513 of the Armed Forces Re-
tirement Home Act of 1991 (24 U.S.C. 413) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) AVAILABILITY OF LICENSED PRACTITIONERS.— 
(1) In providing for the health care needs of residents at 
a facility of the Retirement Home under subsection (b), the 
Retirement Home shall have appropriate licensed practi-
tioners, as determined under paragraph (2), available dur-
ing the daily business hours of the facility and on an on- 
call basis at other times. 
‘‘(2) In accordance with accrediting organization 
standards pursuant to section 1511(g), the Chief Operating 
Officer, in consultation with the Medical Director, shall en-
864 
sure that the skills, experience, and availability of the prac-
titioners are suited to residents of the facility.’’. 
SEC. 1424. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR 
ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME. 
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2025 from the Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust 
Fund the sum of $100,520,000 for the operation of the 
Armed Forces Retirement Home. 
TITLE XV—CYBERSPACE- 
RELATED MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Cyber Operations 
Sec. 1501. Modification of prohibition on purchase of cyber data products or serv-
ices other than through the program management office for De-
partment of Defense-wide procurement of cyber data products 
and services. 
Sec. 1502. Department of Defense Information Network subordinate unified com-
mand. 
Sec. 1503. Establishment of the Department of Defense Hackathon program. 
Sec. 1504. Support for cyber threat tabletop exercise program with the defense in-
dustrial base. 
Sec. 1505. Accounting of cloud computing capabilities of the Department of De-
fense. 
Subtitle B—Cybersecurity 
Sec. 1511. Termination of reporting requirement for cross domain incidents and 
exemptions to policies for information technology. 
Sec. 1512. Information technology programs of the National Background Inves-
tigation Service. 
Sec. 1513. Guidance for application of zero trust strategy to Internet of Things 
hardware used in military operations. 
Sec. 1514. Management and cybersecurity of multi-cloud environments. 
Sec. 1515. Protective measures for mobile devices within the Department of De-
fense. 
Subtitle C—Information Technology and Data Management 
Sec. 1521. Usability of antiquated and proprietary data formats for modern oper-
ations. 
Sec. 1522. Modernization of the Department of Defense’s Authorization to Operate 
processes. 
Sec. 1523. Update of biometric policy of Department of Defense.
865 
Subtitle D—Artificial Intelligence 
Sec. 1531. Artificial Intelligence Human Factors Integration Initiative. 
Sec. 1532. Advanced computing infrastructure to enable advanced artificial intel-
ligence capabilities. 
Sec. 1533. Cost budgeting for artificial intelligence data. 
Sec. 1534. Evaluation of Federated Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Weapon Sys-
tems Center of Excellence. 
Subtitle E—Reports and Other Matters 
Sec. 1541. Oversight and reporting on the Mission Partner Environment and as-
sociated activities within the Department of Defense. 
Sec. 1542. Extension of certification requirement regarding contracting for mili-
tary recruiting. 
Sec. 1543. Prohibition on disestablishment or merger of officer career paths with-
in the Cyber Branch of the United States Army. 
Sec. 1544. Independent assessment of cyber organizational models. 
Sec. 1545. Limitation on availability of funds for the Joint Cyber Warfighting 
Architecture. 
Sec. 1546. Risk framework for foreign mobile applications of concern. 
Sec. 1547. Joint partner-sharing network capabilities for Middle East defense in-
tegration. 
Subtitle A—Cyber Operations 
SEC. 1501. MODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION ON PURCHASE 
OF CYBER DATA PRODUCTS OR SERVICES 
OTHER THAN THROUGH THE PROGRAM MAN-
AGEMENT OFFICE FOR DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE-WIDE PROCUREMENT OF CYBER DATA 
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. 
Section 1521(c) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 
2224 note) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and in-
serting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
866 
(3) by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(3) such component submits to such office a jus-
tification for such component to independently pro-
cure such product or service that such component de-
termines as demonstrating— 
‘‘(A) the compelling need for such product 
or service; and 
‘‘(B) either the urgency for such product or 
service or the need to ensure competition in the 
market for such product or service supports such 
independent procurement by such component.’’. 
SEC. 1502. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INFORMATION NET-
WORK SUBORDINATE UNIFIED COMMAND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall designate the Joint Force Headquarters-Department 
of Defense Information Network as a subordinate unified 
command under the United States Cyber Command. 
(b) DESIGNATION NOTICE.—On the date on which the 
Secretary of Defense makes the designation required by sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall issue to the Secretary of each 
military department (as defined in section 101(a) of title 
10, United States Code), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff, the Under Secretaries of the Department of Defense,
867 
the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the General Coun-
sel of the Department of Defense, the Director of Cost Assess-
ment and Program Evaluation, the Inspector General of the 
Department of Defense, the Director of Operational Test 
and Evaluation, the Chief Information Officer of the De-
partment of Defense, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Legislative Affairs, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, the Chief 
Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Depart-
ment of Defense, the commander of each combatant com-
mand, and the head of each Defense Agency and Depart-
ment of Defense Field Activity (as such terms are defined, 
respectively, in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
Code) a notice regarding— 
(1) the designation of the Joint Force Head-
quarters-Department of Defense Information Network 
as a subordinate unified command under the United 
States Cyber Command; and 
(2) the mission of the Joint Force Headquarters- 
Department of Defense Information Network as the 
lead organization for the network operations, security, 
and defense of the Department of Defense Information 
Network.
868 
SEC. 1503. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE HACKATHON PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Digital and Ar-
tificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, 
in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff and the Chief Information Officer of the Department 
of Defense, shall establish a program (to be known as the 
‘‘Department of Defense Hackathon Program’’) under 
which the commanders of combatant commands and the 
Secretaries of the military departments shall carry out not 
fewer than four Hackathons each year. 
(b) PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.—The Chief Digital and 
Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense 
shall develop and implement standards for carrying out 
Hackathons, provide supporting technical infrastructure to 
the host of each Hackathon, and determine the hosts each 
year under subsection (c)(1). 
(c) HOSTS.— 
(1)(A) Each year, two commanders of combatant 
commands shall each carry out a Hackathon and two 
Secretaries of military departments shall each carry 
out a Hackathon, as determined by the Chief Digital 
and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department 
of Defense in accordance with this subsection.
869 
(B) The commanders of combatant commands 
and the Secretaries of military departments carrying 
out Hackathons pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall 
change each year. 
(C) Each host of a Hackathon shall— 
(i) provide to the participants invited to 
participate in such Hackathon a per diem allow-
ance in accordance with section 5702 of title 5, 
United States Code, or section 452 of title 37, 
United States Code, as applicable; and 
(ii) not later than 60 days after the comple-
tion of such Hackathon, make available to the 
Department of Defense a report on such 
Hackathon. 
(2) Any commander of a combatant command or 
Secretary of a military department may carry out a 
Hackathon in addition to the Hackathons required 
under paragraph (1). 
(d) HACKATHON OBJECTIVES.— 
(1) The host of each Hackathon shall establish 
objectives for the Hackathon that address a critical, 
technical challenge of the combatant command or 
military department of the host, as applicable, 
through the use of individuals with specialized and 
relevant skills, including data scientists, developers,
870 
software engineers, and other specialists as deter-
mined appropriate by the Chief Digital and Artificial 
Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense or 
the host. 
(2) In addition to the objectives established by 
the host of a Hackathon under paragraph (1), the ob-
jectives for each Hackathon shall include— 
(A) fostering innovation across the Depart-
ment of Defense, including in military depart-
ments and the combatant commands; and 
(B) creating repeatable processes enabling 
the commanders of combatant commands and the 
Secretaries of the military departments to more 
rapidly identify and develop solutions to critical, 
technical challenges across the Department of De-
fense. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘Hackathon’’ means an event car-
ried out under the Program at which employees 
across the Department of Defense meet to collabo-
ratively attempt to develop functional software or 
hardware solutions during the event to solve a crit-
ical, technical challenge determined by the host; 
(2) the term ‘‘host’’, with respect to a Hackathon, 
means the commander of the combatant command or
871 
the Secretary of the military department carrying out 
the Hackathon; 
(3) the term ‘‘military department’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, 
United States Code; and 
(4) the term ‘‘Program’’ means the program es-
tablished under subsection (a). 
SEC. 1504. SUPPORT FOR CYBER THREAT TABLETOP EXER-
CISE PROGRAM WITH THE DEFENSE INDUS-
TRIAL BASE. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT OF CYBER THREAT TABLETOP EX-
ERCISE PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense, acting through the Assistant Secretary of De-
fense for Cyber Policy, shall establish a program (to 
be known as the ‘‘Cyber Threat Tabletop Exercise 
Program’’) to prepare the Department of Defense and 
the defense industrial base for cyber attacks preceding 
or during times of conflict or wars through the use of 
tabletop exercises. 
(2) PARTICIPATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the pro-
gram, the Secretary of Defense, acting through 
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Pol-
872 
icy, shall consult and coordinate with the fol-
lowing: 
(i) The Chief Information Officer of the 
Department of Defense. 
(ii) The Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Sustainment. 
(iii) The Commander of the United 
States Cyber Command. 
(iv) The Commander of the United 
States Northern Command. 
(v) The Commander of the Army Inter-
agency Training and Education Center. 
(vi) The Director of the Defense Cyber 
Crime Center. 
(vii) Such other individuals and enti-
ties as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Cyber Policy determines appropriate. 
(B) SOLICITATION.—The Assistant Sec-
retary of Defense for Cyber Policy may solicit 
such individuals and entities in the Department 
of Defense and the defense industrial base as the 
Assistant Secretary determines appropriate to 
participate in the program. 
(3) CYBER THREAT TABLETOP EXERCISE PRO-
GRAM.——
873 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The program shall con-
sist of the following: 
(i) A series of tabletop exercises that 
simulate cyber attack scenarios affecting the 
defense industrial base, which the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy shall 
carry out on a biannual basis beginning 
not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act until December 30, 
2030, and in which the Department of De-
fense and entities in the defense industrial 
base shall participate. 
(ii) A series of tabletop exercises for use 
by individual entities or collections of enti-
ties in the defense industrial base that sim-
ulate cyber attack scenarios affecting the de-
fense industrial base and which are de-
signed to test and improve the responses 
and plans of such entities to such scenarios. 
(B) TABLETOP EXERCISE DEVELOPMENT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Sec-
retary of Defense for Cyber Policy shall de-
velop and update the tabletop exercises de-
scribed in subparagraph (A).
874 
(ii) REALISTIC ATTACKS.—The Assist-
ant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy 
shall ensure that the cyber attacks simulated 
by the tabletop exercises described in sub-
paragraph (A) are based on the cyber attack 
capabilities and activities of current and 
potential adversaries of the United States. 
(4) 
PROCEDURES
FOR
IDENTIFICATION
OF 
VULNERABILITIES AND LESSONS LEARNED.—Not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Pol-
icy shall establish procedures to— 
(A) identify vulnerabilities in the cybersecu-
rity of the Department of Defense and the defense 
industrial base pursuant to the tabletop exercises 
carried out under the program; and 
(B) identify other lessons learned that can 
improve national security or the quality of such 
tabletop exercises. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 
2025, and annually thereafter until the October 1, 2029, 
the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Assistant Sec-
retary of Defense for Cyber Policy, shall submit to the con-
gressional defense committees a report describing the activi-
875 
ties of the Department of Defense pursuant to this section 
during the preceding year. 
(c) PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘program’’ means the program established under subsection 
(a). 
SEC. 1505. ACCOUNTING OF CLOUD COMPUTING CAPABILI-
TIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than October 15, 2025, 
and every six months thereafter, the Chief Information Offi-
cer of the Department of Defense shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees a report containing each covered 
cloud contract of the Department of Defense. 
(b) REPORT CONTENTS.—Each report under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) the covered cloud contracts submitted by the 
Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretaries of 
the military departments, the head of each Depart-
ment of Defense Field Activity, and the commander 
of each combatant command under subsection (c); 
(2) a list of the cloud capabilities and services 
acquired across the Department of Defense under con-
tracts other than covered cloud contracts; and 
(3) for each current or planned cloud contract of 
the Department of Defense, the information described 
in the memorandum described in subsection (f) to
876 
show where cloud environments under such contracts 
are being used and the costs incurred by the Depart-
ment outside of contracts authorized by the Chief In-
formation Officer of the Department of Defense for 
cloud capabilities. 
(c) COLLECTION OF CLOUD CONTRACTS.—Upon the re-
quest of the Chief Information Officer of the Department 
of Defense, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Secre-
taries of the military departments, the head of each Depart-
ment of Defense Field Activity, and the commander of each 
combatant command shall each submit to the Chief Infor-
mation Officer of the Department of Defense the covered 
cloud contracts of such office, military department, Depart-
ment of Defense Field Activity, or combatant command, re-
spectively. 
(d) REPORT.—The Secretary of Defense shall include 
the information required to be contained in the report under 
subsection (a) for the covered cloud contracts of the Depart-
ment of Defense in the budget justification materials (as 
defined in section 3(b)(2) of the Federal Funding Account-
ability and Transparency Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C. 6101 
note)) submitted by the Department of Defense with respect 
to the budget of the President submitted to Congress pursu-
ant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for fiscal 
year 2027, and for each fiscal year thereafter.
877 
(e) SUNSET.—This section shall terminate on Decem-
ber 31, 2030. 
(f) COVERED CLOUD CONTRACT DEFINED.—The term 
‘‘covered cloud contract’’ means a contract entered into 
under the multiple award contract described in the memo-
randum of the Chief Information Officer of the Department 
of Defense titled ‘‘Department of Defense Joint Warfighting 
Cloud Capability and Next Steps to Rationalize Cloud Use 
Across the Department of Defense’’ and dated July 31, 
2023. 
Subtitle B—Cybersecurity 
SEC. 1511. TERMINATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENT 
FOR CROSS DOMAIN INCIDENTS AND EXEMP-
TIONS 
TO 
POLICIES 
FOR 
INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY. 
Section 1727 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub-
lic Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 4117; 10 U.S.C. 2224 note) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION DATE.—The requirement of the 
Secretary of Defense to submit a monthly report under sub-
section (a) shall terminate on December 31, 2025.’’.
878 
SEC. 1512. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS OF THE 
NATIONAL 
BACKGROUND 
INVESTIGATION 
SERVICE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the authorizing official of the Defense Counter-
intelligence and Security Agency, in coordination with the 
Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, 
shall— 
(1) take such actions as may be necessary to en-
sure that the National Background Investigation 
Services are in compliance with the relevant stand-
ards and guidelines published by the National Insti-
tution of Standards and Technology in NIST Special 
Publication 800–53, Revision 5 (relating to security 
and privacy controls for information systems and or-
ganizations), or successor publication or revision 
thereto; and 
(2) submit to Congress a notice either— 
(A) certifying that such services are in com-
pliance with such standards and guidelines; or 
(B) explaining why the authorizing official 
of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security 
Agency is unable to certify that such services are 
in compliance with such standards and guide-
lines.
879 
SEC. 1513. GUIDANCE FOR APPLICATION OF ZERO TRUST 
STRATEGY TO INTERNET OF THINGS HARD-
WARE USED IN MILITARY OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Information Of-
ficer of the Department of Defense shall develop guidance 
for how— 
(1) the zero trust strategy of the Department of 
Defense developed under section 1528 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 
U.S.C. 2224 note) applies to Internet of Things hard-
ware, including human-wearable devices, sensors, and 
other smart technology used by the United States in 
military operations; and 
(2) the role identity, credential, and access man-
agement technologies serve in enforcing such zero trust 
strategy. 
(b) INTERNET OF THINGS DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘Internet of Things’’ has the meaning given such 
term by the National Institution of Standards and Tech-
nology in NIST Special Publication 800-172 and any 
amendatory or superseding document relating thereto. 
SEC. 1514. MANAGEMENT AND CYBERSECURITY OF MULTI- 
CLOUD ENVIRONMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense
880 
shall, acting through the Chief Information Officer of the 
Department of Defense, develop a strategy for the manage-
ment and cybersecurity of the multi-cloud environments of 
the Department. 
(b) STRATEGY.—The strategy required under sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) align with the zero trust strategy of the De-
partment of Defense entitled ‘‘DoD Zero Trust Strat-
egy’’ and dated October 21, 2022, or any successor 
thereto; 
(2) provide the Department with network visi-
bility and interoperability across the entirety of the 
multi-cloud environments of the Department; 
(3) rationalize user identities across such multi- 
cloud environments, including through the implemen-
tation of identity, credential, and access management 
technologies; 
(4) maintain the same means to secure endpoints 
across the Department; 
(5) provide means for improving the identifica-
tion and resolution of security concerns for each cloud 
environment prior to and during the adoption of such 
cloud environment by the Department;
881 
(6) assess means to increase the adoption of arti-
ficial intelligence applications into the multi-cloud 
environments of the Department; 
(7) increase the transparency of the reporting by 
the Department on the usage of such multi-cloud envi-
ronments by the Department to improve planning for 
capacity demand, budgeting, and predictability for 
users and the contractors of the Department pro-
viding such multi-cloud environments and the goods 
and services related to such multi-cloud environments; 
(8) identify opportunities to improve the plan-
ning of the Department for data use and storage in 
such cloud environments, including policies and proc-
esses to enforce protection of data provided by the 
Government when such data is used to train artificial 
intelligence models or other commercially developed 
software systems; 
(9) identify opportunities to streamline certifi-
cation processes related to the provision of cloud serv-
ices for cloud service providers; and 
(10) include a plan for training the necessary 
personnel of the Department on how to— 
(A) incorporate the use of multi-cloud envi-
ronments into the performance of the functions of 
the Department; and
882 
(B) effectively leverage cybersecurity capa-
bilities in such multi-cloud environments. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 240 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Information Officer 
of the Department of Defense shall submit to the congres-
sional defense committees the strategy developed pursuant 
to subsection (a) and, concurrent with such submission, pro-
vide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on 
such strategy. 
SEC. 1515. PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR MOBILE DEVICES 
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
carry out a detailed evaluation of the cybersecurity products 
and services for mobile devices to identify products and 
services that may improve the cybersecurity of mobile de-
vices used by the Department of Defense, including miti-
gating the risk to the Department of Defense from cyber 
attacks against mobile devices. 
(b) CYBERSECURITY TECHNOLOGIES.—In carrying 
out the evaluation required under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall evaluate each of the following tech-
nologies: 
(1) Anonymizing-enabling technologies, includ-
ing dynamic selector rotation, un-linkable payment 
structures, and anonymous onboarding.
883 
(2) Network-enabled full content inspection. 
(3) Mobile-device case hardware solutions. 
(4) On-device virtual private networks. 
(5) Protected Domain Name Server infrastruc-
ture. 
(6) Extended coverage for mobile device endpoint 
detection. 
(7) Smishing, phishing, and business text or 
email compromise protection leveraging generative ar-
tificial intelligence. 
(8) Any other emerging or established tech-
nologies determined appropriate by the Secretary. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—In carrying out the evaluation re-
quired under subsection (a), for each technology described 
in subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) assess the efficacy and value of the cybersecu-
rity provided by the technology for mobile devices; 
(2) assess the feasibility of scaling the technology 
across the entirety or components of the Department 
of Defense, including the timeline for deploying the 
technology across the entirety or components of the 
Department of Defense; and 
(3) evaluate the ability of the Department of De-
fense to integrate the technology with the existing cy-
bersecurity architecture of the Department of Defense.
884 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report of 
the findings of the evaluation carried out under subsection 
(a), including a determination whether the Department of 
Defense or any component thereof should procure or incor-
porate any of the technologies evaluated pursuant to sub-
section (b). 
Subtitle C—Information Technology 
and Data Management 
SEC. 1521. USABILITY OF ANTIQUATED AND PROPRIETARY 
DATA FORMATS FOR MODERN OPERATIONS. 
(a) STRATEGY AND ROADMAP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the mili-
tary departments, shall develop— 
(A) a strategy for the Department of De-
fense, including each of the military depart-
ments, to identify, implement, and use modern 
data formats as the primary method of electronic 
communication for command and control activi-
ties and for weapon systems, including sensors 
associated with such weapon systems; and
885 
(B) an associated five-year roadmap for the 
Department of Defense, including each of the 
military departments, to implement modern 
data formats under the strategy described in sub-
paragraph (A). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The strategy and roadmap re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall include the fol-
lowing elements: 
(A) The activities of the Chief Digital and 
Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department 
of Defense to increase and synchronize the use of 
modern data formats and modern data sharing 
standards across the Department of Defense. 
(B) Development of standard definitions for 
modern and antiquated data formats, including 
a representative catalog of the types of data for-
mats that fall under each category. 
(C) The activities of the military depart-
ments to increase the use of modern data formats 
and modern data sharing standards for com-
mand and control systems, weapon systems, and 
sensors associated with such weapon systems. 
(D) An identification of barriers to the use 
of modern data formats and modern data shar-
ing standards within weapon systems and sen-
886 
sors associated with such weapon systems across 
the Department of Defense. 
(E) An identification of barriers to the use 
of modern data formats and modern data shar-
ing standards within command and control sys-
tems across the Department of Defense. 
(F) An identification of limitations on com-
bined joint all-domain command and control ca-
pabilities resulting from the use of antiquated 
data formats. 
(G) An identification of policy documents, 
instructions, or other guidance requiring an up-
date pursuant to such strategy. 
(H) The sources of funding for each mili-
tary department with respect to implementation 
of such strategy. 
(3) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Upon comple-
tion of the strategy and roadmap required under this 
subsection, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives such strategy. 
(4) MODERN DATA FORMATS.—For the purposes 
of this subsection, the term ‘‘modern data formats’’ 
includes—
887 
(A) the JavaScript Object Notation data 
format; 
(B) the Binary JavaScript Object Notation 
data format; 
(C) the Protocol Buffers data format; and 
(D) such other data formats that the Sec-
retary of Defense determines would meet the re-
quirements in this section. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAMS.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days 
after the completion of the strategy required by sub-
section (a)— 
(A) the Secretary of Defense shall establish 
a pilot program under which the Department of 
Defense, other than the military departments, 
shall use modern data formats to improve the 
usability and functionality of information stored 
or produced in antiquated data formats, includ-
ing by the automated conversion of such infor-
mation to modern data formats; and 
(B) each Secretary of a military depart-
ment shall establish a pilot program under 
which such military department shall use mod-
ern data formats as described in subparagraph 
(A).
888 
(2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after 
the completion of the strategy required by subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the 
military departments shall each submit to the Com-
mittees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a briefing on the progress of 
the pilot program established by such Secretary under 
this subsection, including specific examples of the use 
of modern data formats under such pilot program to 
improve the usability and functionality of informa-
tion stored or produced in antiquated data formats. 
(3) SUNSET.—Each pilot program established 
under this subsection shall terminate on the date that 
is five years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(c) MILITARY DEPARTMENT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘military department’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 1522. MODERNIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE’S AUTHORIZATION TO OPERATE PROC-
ESSES. 
(a) ACTIVE
DIRECTORY
OF
AUTHORIZING
OFFI-
CIALS.—
890 
tion that has already been authorized by another au-
thorizing official in the Department of Defense in 
order to more rapidly adopt and use such cloud- 
hosted platforms, services, and applications, at the 
corresponding classification level and in accordance 
with the existing authorization conditions, without 
additional authorizations or reviews. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The Secretary shall ensure that 
the policy implemented under paragraph (1)— 
(A) ensures the development of standardized 
and transparent documentation of the security, 
accreditation, performance, and operational ca-
pabilities of cloud-hosted platforms, services, and 
applications to enable decision making by mis-
sion owners of such cloud-hosted platforms, serv-
ices, and applications; 
(B) provides for an intuitive and digital 
workflow to document acknowledgments among 
mission owners and system owners of use of the 
operational capabilities of cloud-hosted plat-
forms, services, and applications; 
(C) directs a review by mission owners of 
existing authorization information, at the appro-
priate classification level, regarding the status of 
the operational capabilities of cloud-hosted plat-
891 
forms, services, and applications, including 
through management dashboards or other man-
agement analytic capabilities; and 
(D) defines a process, including required 
timelines, to allow authorizing officials that dis-
agree with the security analysis of a cloud-hosted 
platform, service, or application that such offi-
cial would be required to adopt under such pol-
icy to present such disagreement to the Chief In-
formation Officer of the Department of Defense, 
or such other individual or entity designated by 
the Chief Information Officer, for adjudication. 
(3) APPLICABILITY.—The policy implemented 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall apply to— 
(A) all authorizing officials in the Depart-
ment of Defense, including in each military de-
partment, component, and agency of the Depart-
ment; and 
(B) all operational capabilities of cloud- 
hosted platforms, services, and applications, in-
cluding capabilities on public cloud infrastruc-
ture, as authorized through the Federal Risk and 
Authorization Management Program established 
under section 3608 of title 44, United States 
Code, and the Defense Information Systems
892 
Agency, and capabilities on private cloud land-
ing zones managed by the Department of Defense 
that are authorized by Department accrediting 
officials. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report on the status 
of the implementation of subsections (a) and (b). 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘Authorization to Operate’’ has the 
meaning given such term in the Office of Management 
and Budget Circular A-130; 
(2) the term ‘‘authorizing official’’ means an of-
ficer who is authorized to assume responsibility for 
operating an information system at an acceptable 
level of risk to organizational operations (including 
mission, functions, image, or reputation), organiza-
tional assets, individuals, other organizations, and 
the United States; 
(3) the term ‘‘military departments’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, 
United States Code; 
(4) the term ‘‘mission owner’’ means the user of 
a cloud-based platform, service, or application; and
893 
(5) the term ‘‘system owner’’ means the element 
of the Department of Defense responsible for acquiring 
a cloud-based platform, service, or application, but 
which is not a mission owner of such cloud-based 
platform, service, or application. 
SEC. 1523. UPDATE OF BIOMETRIC POLICY OF DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Intelligence and Security shall update the policy 
of the Department of Defense regarding the protection of 
biometric data. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The policy updates required by sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Standards for encrypting and protecting 
data on biometric collection devices. 
(2) A requirement to sanitize biometric data 
from collection devices and hard drives prior to dis-
posal of the devices and hard drives. 
(3) A requirement that components of the De-
partment maintain records that they have sanitized 
all data from biometric collection devices when the de-
vices are turned in for disposal.
894 
Subtitle D—Artificial Intelligence 
SEC. 1531. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HUMAN FACTORS IN-
TEGRATION INITIATIVE. 
(a) INITIATIVE REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary of De-
fense for Research and Engineering, in coordination 
with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition 
and Sustainment and the Chief Digital and Artificial 
Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, 
shall establish an initiative— 
(A) to improve the human usability of arti-
ficial intelligence systems and information de-
rived from such systems through the application 
of cognitive ergonomics techniques; and 
(B) to improve the human usability and 
cognitive effectiveness of artificial intelligence 
systems adopted by the Department of Defense by 
ensuring that design tools and metrics are avail-
able for artificial intelligence and machine 
learning programs that ensure human factors 
considerations are included for such systems. 
(2) DESIGNATION.—The initiative established 
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘‘Ar-
tificial Intelligence Human Factors Integration Ini-
tiative’’ (in this section the ‘‘Initiative’’).
895 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Research and Engineering, the Under Secretary of De-
fense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the Chief Dig-
ital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department 
of Defense shall jointly brief the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services 
of the House of Representatives on the following: 
(1) Existing research and development work 
within the Department of Defense laboratories relat-
ing to human-machine teaming, human-centered de-
sign, cognitive load, cognitive ergonomics, and simi-
lar topics that are currently being used or could be 
used to inform or enhance Department personnel 
usability of artificial intelligence systems and artifi-
cial intelligence-derived information. 
(2) Identification of gaps in research with re-
spect to interactions of personnel of the Department 
with artificial intelligence systems in warfighting and 
nonwarfighting environments that may necessitate 
additional research within the Federal Government, 
industry, or academia. 
(3) Identification of relevant tools, methodologies, 
testing processes or systems, and evaluation metrics 
that may be of use to the Department in improving
896 
the cognitive ergonomic and human usability features 
of artificial intelligence systems for personnel of the 
Department. 
(c) PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date on 
which the briefing required by subsection (b) is provided, 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineer-
ing, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment, and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intel-
ligence Officer of the Department of Defense shall jointly 
develop and implement a plan to— 
(1) work with the military departments (as de-
fined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
Code) and other components of the Department to en-
sure human factors and human systems integration 
elements are considered early in the development or 
evaluation process with respect to the procurement, 
adoption, or use of artificial intelligence systems or 
artificial intelligence-derived information; 
(2) convene research meetings or other forums to 
coordinate cognitive ergonomics research or related re-
search challenges with a broad community of aca-
demic, commercial, and international partners; 
(3) work with the Chief Digital and Artificial 
Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense to 
review commercial toolsets to assess the level of
897 
human factors integration investment of such com-
mercial toolsets; and 
(4) develop guidance based on the research and 
development work identified pursuant to subsection 
(b)(1) regarding how to create a framework or tax-
onomy for characterizing the exercise of appropriate 
levels of human judgment within Department of De-
fense Directive 3000.09 (relating to Autonomy in 
Weapons Systems), or successor directive, for artifi-
cial intelligence programs in the Department. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise limit the author-
ity of the Secretary of Defense to research, develop, improve, 
or acquire any weapon system or other capability that is 
enabled, empowered, enhanced, or improved by artificial in-
telligence, machine learning, or a large language model. 
SEC. 1532. ADVANCED COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO 
ENABLE 
ADVANCED 
ARTIFICIAL 
INTEL-
LIGENCE CAPABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall es-
tablish a program, or designate an existing program, to 
meet the testing and processing requirements for next gen-
eration advanced artificial intelligence capabilities. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF HIGH-PER-
FORMANCE COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE.—
898 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Under the program estab-
lished or designated under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall expand the infrastructure of 
the Department of Defense for development and de-
ployment of military applications of high-perform-
ance computing and artificial intelligence capabilities 
that are located at installations of the Department or 
accessible through commercial cloud or hybrid-cloud 
environments. 
(2) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS.— 
(A) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that a por-
tion of the infrastructure added pursuant to para-
graph (1) is— 
(i) dedicated to providing access to modern 
artificial intelligence accelerators for training, 
fine-tuning, modifying, and deploying large arti-
ficial intelligence systems; and 
(ii) configured in accordance with industry 
best practices. 
(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall ensure, to the extent practical, 
that the Department of Defense does not use the por-
tion of the infrastructure described in such subpara-
graph for the development of new artificial intel-
ligence systems to the extent that such infrastructure
899 
is duplicative of readily available commercial or open 
source products or services that meet or are reason-
ably capable of meeting the physical and data secu-
rity standards of the Department. 
(c) HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ROADMAP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Under the program estab-
lished or designated under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Defense shall develop a roadmap that de-
scribes the high-performance computing infrastructure 
needed for the Department of Defense to research, test, 
develop, and evaluate advanced artificial intelligence 
applications projected over the period covered by the 
future-years defense program. 
(2) ASSESSMENT.—The roadmap required by 
paragraph (1) shall include assessments of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The anticipated processing for advanced 
artificial intelligence applications of the Depart-
ment of Defense during the period covered by the 
roadmap, including the computing needs associ-
ated with the development of such advanced arti-
ficial intelligence applications. 
(B) The physical and data security stand-
ards required for the infrastructure for the re-
search, development, testing, and evaluation of
900 
advanced artificial intelligence applications, in-
cluding data handling requirements. 
(C) 
The 
evaluation, 
milestones, 
and 
resourcing needs to maintain and expand the 
computing infrastructure necessary for the com-
puting needs described in subparagraph (A). 
(d) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM DEVELOP-
MENT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Using the infrastructure 
added under the program established or designated 
under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall 
develop advanced artificial intelligence systems that 
have general-purpose military applications for mul-
tiple data formats, including text, audio, and graph-
ical. 
(2) TRAINING OF SYSTEMS.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall ensure that advanced artificial intel-
ligence systems developed pursuant to paragraph (1) 
are trained using datasets curated by the Department 
of Defense using general, openly or commercially 
available sources of such data, or data owned by the 
Department, depending on the appropriate use case. 
Such systems may use openly or commercially avail-
able artificial intelligence systems, including those 
available through infrastructure located at installa-
901 
tions of the Department or cloud or hybrid-cloud en-
vironments, for development or fine-tuning. 
(e) COORDINATION
AND
DUPLICATION.—In estab-
lishing or designating the program under subsection (a), 
the Secretary of Defense shall consult with the Secretary 
of Energy to ensure that none of the activities carried out 
under this section are duplicative of any activity of a re-
search entity of the Department of Energy, including the 
following: 
(1) The National Laboratories. 
(2) The Advanced Scientific Computing Research 
program. 
(3) The Advanced Simulation and Computing 
program. 
SEC. 1533. COST BUDGETING FOR ARTIFICIAL INTEL-
LIGENCE DATA. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Digital and 
Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, 
in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Ac-
quisition and Sustainment and the Under Secretary of De-
fense for Research and Engineering, shall develop a plan 
to ensure that the budgeting process for programs con-
taining artificial intelligence components or subcompo-
nents, including artificial intelligence support systems,
902 
models, or analysis tools, includes estimates for the types 
of data required to train, maintain, or improve the artifi-
cial intelligence components or subcomponents contained 
within such programs and estimated costs for the acquisi-
tion and sustainment of such data. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The plan required under 
subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the current programs of the 
Department of Defense containing artificial intel-
ligence components or subcomponents, such as large 
language models, including the sources and costs for 
structured and unstructured training data for such 
artificial intelligence components. 
(2) An estimate of the costs associated with the 
data required to train, maintain, or improve artifi-
cial intelligence models or systems for programs that 
are ongoing or proposed as of enactment of this Act 
and which are not otherwise currently accounted for 
in a program of record. 
(3) An estimate of the costs associated with pro-
viding access to capabilities for data preparation, in-
cluding tooling, indexing, and data tagging or label-
ing, including for the protection of data provided by 
the Government from unauthorized use during the al-
903 
gorithm training process and the ongoing control by 
the Government of such data during such process. 
(4) Mapping of the acquisition lifecycle for the 
programs described in paragraph (1) to align budg-
eting milestones with critical design or decision 
points in the budgeting and execution processes of the 
Department of Defense. 
(5) A framework for estimating the costs de-
scribed in paragraph (2) and ensuring the costs asso-
ciated with the data required to train, maintain, or 
improve artificial intelligence models or systems are 
appropriately incorporated into lifecycle sustainment 
estimates for future programs containing artificial 
intelligence components or subcomponents. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
begin implementing the plan required by subsection (a) not 
later than 90 days after the date on which development of 
the plan required by subsection (a) is completed. 
(d) BRIEFINGS.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently 
than once annually thereafter until 2027, the Secretary 
shall provide the congressional defense committees a briefing 
on the implementation of the plan developed pursuant to 
subsection (a).
904 
SEC. 1534. EVALUATION OF FEDERATED ARTIFICIAL INTEL-
LIGENCE-ENABLED WEAPON SYSTEMS CEN-
TER OF EXCELLENCE. 
(a) EVALUATION OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall determine the advisability and 
feasibility of establishing a center or centers of excellence 
to carry out the functions described in subsection (b) to sup-
port the development and maturation of artificial intel-
ligence-enabled weapon systems by organizations within the 
Department of Defense that— 
(1) were in effect on the day before the date of 
the enactment of this Act; and 
(2) have appropriate core competencies relating 
to the functions described in subsection (b). 
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions described in this sub-
section are the following: 
(1) Capturing, analyzing, assessing, and sharing 
lessons learned across the Department of Defense re-
garding the latest advancements in artificial intel-
ligence-enabled weapon systems, countermeasures, tac-
tics, techniques and procedures, and training meth-
odologies. 
(2) Facilitating collaboration among the Depart-
ment of Defense and foreign partners, including 
Ukraine, to identify and promulgate best practices, 
safety guidelines, standards, and benchmarks.
905 
(3) Facilitating collaboration among the Depart-
ment, industry, academia, and not-for-profit organi-
zations in the United States, including industry with 
expertise in autonomous weapon systems and other 
nontraditional weapon systems that utilize artificial 
intelligence as determined by the Secretary of Defense. 
(4) Serving as a focal point for digital talent 
training and upskilling for the Department, and as 
the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, pro-
viding enterprise-level tools and solutions based on 
these best practices, standards, and benchmarks. 
(5) Carrying out such other responsibilities as 
the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(1) submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report on the determination of the Secretary re-
quired under subsection (a) and, if such determina-
tion is that establishing a center or centers of excel-
lence described in such subsection is advisable and 
feasible, a plan for establishing such center or centers; 
and 
(2) if the Secretary submits a plan under para-
graph (1), provide the congressional defense commit-
tees a briefing on such plan.
906 
(d) ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE-ENABLED
WEAPON 
SYSTEM DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘artificial in-
telligence-enabled weapon system’’ includes autonomous 
weapon systems, as determined by the Secretary of Defense. 
Subtitle E—Reports and Other 
Matters 
SEC. 1541. OVERSIGHT AND REPORTING ON THE MISSION 
PARTNER ENVIRONMENT AND ASSOCIATED 
ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF DE-
FENSE. 
(a) LIMITATION.—Of the funds authorized to be appro-
priated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal 
year 2025 for the Mission Partner Environment program, 
not more than 90 percent may be obligated or expended 
prior to the date on which the Secretary of Defense makes 
the certification required by subsection (b). 
(b) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
certify to the congressional defense committees that— 
(1) the Secretary of the Air Force, in conjunction 
with the Chief Information Officer of the Department 
of Defense, has developed an executable implementa-
tion plan for the Mission Partner Environment to 
meet the operational requirements of the Department 
for command and control information sharing net-
works, including a modernization plan that reduces
907 
nonstandardized hardware solutions, sunsets legacy 
hardware, and fully integrates into the combined 
joint all-domain command and control initiative; and 
(2) in coordination with the commander of each 
geographic combatant command, the Secretary of the 
Air Force is implementing defined and measurable 
actions to meet the operational planning, implemen-
tation, and ongoing operational Mission Partner En-
vironment requirements for global and regional proc-
essing nodes to sustain existing information networks 
for the area of responsibility for each such combatant 
command. 
(c) ANNUAL BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than October 1, 
2025, and annually thereafter until October 1, 2030, 
the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Vice Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief Information Of-
ficer of the Department of Defense, the head of the In-
formation Security Risk Management Committee of 
the Department of Defense, the director of the Mission 
Partner Capability Office, the Executive Agent for the 
Mission Partner Environment, and a senior military 
service representative for each of the Armed Forces 
shall provide to the congressional defense committees 
a briefing on the Mission Partner Environment and
908 
related activities within the Department of Defense, 
including the modernization of the Mission Partner 
Environment. 
(2) COMBATANT COMMANDS.—A senior represent-
ative from each unified combatant command shall at-
tend and participate in each briefing required by 
paragraph (1). 
(d) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing required by subsection 
(c) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of all efforts of the Department 
of Defense for the Mission Partner Environment. 
(2) A description of the overall progress on im-
plementation and modernization of the Mission Part-
ner Environment across the entirety of the Depart-
ment of Defense as of the date of the briefing and, for 
each such briefing after the first such briefing, the 
progress made on such implementation and mod-
ernization since the preceding briefing under such 
subsection. 
(3) An explanation of any changes in policy nec-
essary to execute on the Mission Partner Environ-
ment, including changes made during the period cov-
ered by the briefing and changes that are planned as 
of the time of the briefing.
909 
(4) An explanation of any changes to the govern-
ance of the Mission Partner Environment within the 
Department of Defense, including changes made dur-
ing the period covered by the briefing and changes 
that are planned as of the time of the briefing. 
(5) A detailed programmatic table of the funding 
for the combined Mission Partner Environment efforts 
of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military 
departments, and the combatant commands as set 
forth in the budget of the President most recently sub-
mitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code. 
(e) MODIFICATION TO CJADC2 BRIEFING REQUIRE-
MENT.—Section 1076 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
(Public Law 116–283; 134 Stat. 3866), as amended by sec-
tion 1504 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 538), is fur-
ther amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) BIANNUAL BRIEFINGS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—During the period beginning 
on October 1, 2021, and ending on October 1, 2028, 
the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Vice Chairman 
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief Digital and Ar-
tificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of De-
910 
fense, the Chief Information Officer of the Department 
of Defense, and a senior military service representa-
tive for each of the Armed Forces shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees biannual briefings 
on the progress of the Joint All Domain Command 
and Control (in this section referred to as ‘JADC2’) 
effort of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL PARTICIPATION BY CERTAIN COM-
BATANT COMMANDS.—For each fiscal year during the 
period specified in paragraph (1), a senior represent-
ative from each of the United States Indo-Pacific 
Command, United States Central Command, and 
United States European Command shall participate 
in the provision of the first biannual briefing under 
such paragraph following the submission of the budget 
of the President to Congress under section 1105 of 
title 31, United States Code, for that fiscal year.’’. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the terms ‘‘Defense Agency’’ and ‘‘military 
departments’’ have the meanings given such terms, re-
spectively, in section 101(a) of title 10, United States 
Code; 
(2) the term ‘‘Mission Partner Environment’’ 
means the operating framework enabling command 
and control, information sharing, and the exchange of
911 
data between the Department of Defense and partners 
and allies of the United States participating in a 
military or other operation for the purposes of plan-
ning and executing such operation through the use of 
common standards governance and procedures, in-
cluding activities the Office of the Secretary of De-
fense, military departments, unified combatant com-
mands (as defined in section 161 of title 10, United 
States Code), and Defense Agencies relating to the op-
eration, modernization, implementation, or oversight 
of, or resourcing of networks or applications designed 
for such framework; and 
(3) the term ‘‘unified combatant command’’ has 
the meaning given such term in section 161 of title 
10, United States Code. 
SEC. 1542. EXTENSION OF CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT 
REGARDING CONTRACTING FOR MILITARY 
RECRUITING. 
Section 1555(c) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 
581; 10 U.S.C. 503 note) is amended by striking ‘‘one year’’ 
and inserting ‘‘two years’’.
912 
SEC. 1543. PROHIBITION ON DISESTABLISHMENT OR MERG-
ER OF OFFICER CAREER PATHS WITHIN THE 
CYBER BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES 
ARMY. 
(a) NOTICE REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Army 
may not initiate a covered activity until the date that is 
270 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to 
the congressional defense committees a notice described in 
subsection (b) with respect to such covered activity. 
(b) NOTICE ELEMENTS.—The notice described in this 
subsection is a written notice of the intent of the Secretary 
of the Army to initiate a covered activity and includes— 
(1) an explanation of such covered activity; 
(2) an estimate of the costs associated with such 
covered activity; 
(3) an explanation of the effects associated with 
such covered activity, including any changes to per-
sonnel training; and 
(4) a timeline for the covered activity. 
(c) COVERED ACTIVITY DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘‘covered activity’’ means any actions to disestablish 
or merge the Cyber Warfare Officer and Cyber Electro-
magnetic Warfare Officer career paths within the Cyber 
Branch of the Army.
913 
SEC. 1544. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF CYBER ORGANI-
ZATIONAL MODELS. 
(a) AGREEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
seek to enter into an agreement with the National 
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (in 
this section referred to as the ‘‘National Academies’’) 
for the National Academies to conduct an evaluation 
of alternative organizational models for the cyber 
forces of the Armed Forces. 
(2) TIMING.—The Secretary shall seek to enter 
into the agreement described in paragraph (1) by the 
date that is not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(b) EVALUATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The evaluation of alternative 
organizational models conducted by the National 
Academies under an agreement entered into pursuant 
to subsection (a) shall include— 
(A) refining and further evolving the cur-
rent organizational approach for the cyber forces 
of the Armed Forces; 
(B) the feasibility and advisability of estab-
lishing a separate Armed Force in the Depart-
ment of Defense dedicated to operations in the 
cyber domain;
914 
(C) consideration of adoption or adaptation 
of alternative organizational models for the cyber 
forces of the Armed Forces; 
(D) consideration of an organizational 
model combining the refinement and evolution 
described in subparagraph (A) and the establish-
ment of a separate Armed Force described in 
subparagraph (B); and 
(E) any other organizational models for the 
cyber forces of the Armed Forces determined fea-
sible and advisable by the National Academies. 
(2) SCOPE.—In carrying out the evaluation de-
scribed in paragraph (1), for each organizational 
model evaluated the National Academies shall con-
sider— 
(A) the effects of the organizational model 
on— 
(i) the ability of the Department of De-
fense to effectively conduct military cyber 
operations, including offensive, defensive 
and analytical missions; 
(ii) the ability of the Department to 
organize, train, and equip military cyber 
operations forces (including military, civil-
ian and other enabling personnel);
918 
shall provide to the congressional defense committees 
a briefing on the opinions of the Secretary with re-
spect to such evaluation. 
SEC. 1545. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR 
THE JOINT CYBER WARFIGHTING ARCHITEC-
TURE. 
(a) LIMITATION.—Of the funds authorized to be appro-
priated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal 
year 2025 for the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture, not 
more than 95 percent may be obligated or expended until 
the date on which the Commander of United States Cyber 
Command provides to the congressional defense committees 
the plan required in subsection (b). 
(b) PLAN.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commander of United 
States Cyber Command shall provide to the congres-
sional defense committees a plan to transition the De-
partment 
of 
Defense 
from 
the 
Joint 
Cyber 
Warfighting Architecture to the successor to the Joint 
Cyber Warfighting Architecture. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The plan required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) Details for ceasing or minimizing con-
tinued development on the current Joint Cyber 
Warfighting Architecture components, including
919 
a timeline for stabilizing the current architecture 
of the Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture 
within 12 to 18 months of the date on which the 
Commander of United States Cyber Command 
submits such plan to the congressional defense 
and the resources available across the future- 
years defense plan as a result of such actions. 
(B) Requirements and an initial plan for a 
successor to the Joint Cyber Warfighting Archi-
tecture, including timelines, coordination with 
the military departments, descriptions of pro-
posed new capability sets, mapping of current 
Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture capabili-
ties to proposed new capabilities, and any addi-
tional authority or resource required to transi-
tion to such successor beyond those available 
under the rephasing of the program. 
(c) JOINT CYBER WARFIGHTING ARCHITECTURE DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Joint Cyber Warfighting 
Architecture’’ has the meaning given such term under sec-
tion 1509 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263; 136 
Stat. 2886; 10 U.S.C. 167b note).
920 
SEC. 1546. RISK FRAMEWORK FOR FOREIGN MOBILE APPLI-
CATIONS OF CONCERN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Information Of-
ficer of the Department of Defense, in coordination with 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Secu-
rity, shall submit to Congress a report on— 
(1) the feasibility and advisability of developing 
comprehensive guidance on personal mobile devices 
and mobile applications for personnel of the Depart-
ment of Defense; 
(2) the feasibility and advisability of developing 
categorical definitions of mobile applications of con-
cern with respect to personnel or operations of the De-
partment of Defense; 
(3) the feasibility and advisability of creating, 
and updating not less than annually, a risk frame-
work with respect to Department personnel or oper-
ations that assesses mobile applications or groupings 
thereof for potential risks to the personnel or oper-
ations of the Department, including— 
(A) the collection, retention, sale, and poten-
tial misuse of data; 
(B) 
exposure 
to 
misinformation 
and 
disinformation; 
(C) software bill of materials; and
921 
(D) ownership, origination, authorship, or 
other relationship of an application with the 
governments of the Russian Federation, the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of 
Iran, or the Democratic People’s Republic of 
Korea; 
(4) a description of any statutory or policy re-
strictions affecting ability of the Department to pro-
vide guidance to personnel of the Department regard-
ing personal mobile devices and applications, includ-
ing any variations of such guidance based on loca-
tion, status, visibility, or work role; and 
(5) such other information as the Chief Informa-
tion Officer of the Department of Defense determines 
appropriate. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually there-
after until December 31, 2027, the Chief Information Offi-
cer of the Department of Defense, in coordination with the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, 
shall provide to Congress a report describing— 
(1) not fewer than 10 mobile applications or ap-
plication groupings of particular concern to the De-
partment of Defense, including a description of the
922 
problematic characteristics of such applications or 
application groupings; 
(2) the current guidance of the Department re-
lated to personal mobile devices and mobile applica-
tions and, except for the first report submitted under 
this subsection, including a description of any 
changes to such guidance during the period since the 
previous report was submitted under this subsection; 
(3) the current and planned workforce education 
efforts undertaken by components of the Department 
that provide best practices, guidance, requirements, or 
other relevant material to personnel of the Depart-
ment regarding personal mobile device and mobile ap-
plications, and, except for the first report submitted 
under this subsection, a description of any changes in 
such efforts during the period since the previous re-
port was submitted under this subsection; and 
(4) any changes to the assessments of feasibility 
and advisability in the report required under sub-
section (a). 
(c) UPDATE BRIEFING.—Not later than April 30, 
2025, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of 
the Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Intelligence and Security, shall provide to Con-
923 
gress a briefing on the status of the report required under 
subsection (a). 
(d) REPORT FORM.—The reports required under this 
section shall be in an unclassified form, but may include 
a classified annex. 
SEC. 1547. JOINT PARTNER-SHARING NETWORK CAPABILI-
TIES FOR MIDDLE EAST DEFENSE INTEGRA-
TION. 
(a) INITIATIVE REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on how to improve cooperation be-
tween the Department of Defense and allies and part-
ners of the United States located in the Middle East 
to improve the use of partner-sharing network capa-
bilities to facilitate joint defense efforts among the 
United States and such allies and partners to protect 
the people, infrastructure, and territory of the United 
States and such allies and partners from state and 
non-state actors determined by the Secretary to un-
dermine the national security interests of the United 
States. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted pursuant 
to paragraph (1) shall include the following:
924 
(A) A summary of ongoing efforts by 
United States Central Command, or in which 
United States Central Command is partici-
pating, to implement a joint partner-sharing 
network capability integrated with the assets of 
allies and partners of the United States who are 
located in the Middle East. 
(B) A summary of challenges to further fa-
cilitate the implementation of a joint partner- 
sharing network capability integrated with the 
assets of Middle Eastern allies and partners, in-
cluding actions or decisions that need to be taken 
by other organizations. 
(C) A recommendation of actions that can 
be taken to address the challenges summarized 
pursuant to subparagraph (B). 
(D) An assessment of how the implementa-
tion of a joint partner-sharing network capa-
bility that would be available to integrate with 
allies and partners of the United States in the 
Middle East— 
(i) could demonstrate new tools, tech-
niques, or methodologies for data-driven de-
cision making;
925 
(ii) accelerate sharing of relevant data, 
data visualization, and data analysis im-
plemented through cryptographic data ac-
cess controls and enforcing existing data 
sharing restrictions across multiple security 
levels; and 
(iii) leverage current activities in 
multi-cloud computing environments to re-
duce the reliance on solely hardware-based 
networking solutions. 
(E) A recommendation of actions that can 
be taken to implement a joint partner-sharing 
network capability integrated with allies and 
partners of the United States in the Middle East, 
including identification of policy, resource, work-
force, or other shortfalls. 
(F) Such other matters as the Secretary of 
Defense considers relevant. 
(3) METRICS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
include in the report required by paragraph (1) rec-
ommended metrics for assessing progress towards im-
proving the use of partner-sharing network capabili-
ties to facilitate the joint defense efforts described in 
such paragraph.
926 
(4) FORM.—The report required by paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may 
include a classified annex. 
(5) PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION.— 
No activity may be carried out under this section 
without an approved program protection plan and 
overarching classification guide to enforce technology 
and information protection protocols that protect sen-
sitive information and the national security interests 
of the United States. 
(b) ASSESSMENT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COM-
BATANT COMMAND WARFIGHTER FORUM FOR ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE.— 
(1) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Data 
and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department 
of Defense shall determine the policies and procedures 
required to establish a forum for warfighters in the 
combatant commands on artificial intelligence that 
would help promote coordination and interchange on 
issues relating to artificial intelligence tools, meth-
odologies, training, exercises, and operational research 
within and among the combatant commands. 
(2) PURPOSES FOR CONSIDERATION.—In devel-
oping the policies and procedures required by para-
927 
graph (1), the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence 
Officer of the Department of Defense shall consider the 
following as primary purposes of the forum: 
(A) Identification of use cases for the near- 
term application of artificial intelligence tools, 
including commercially available artificial intel-
ligence tools, data, methodologies, or techniques. 
(B) Categorization of risk for the use cases 
identified pursuant to subparagraph (A), and 
consideration of risk-management process or 
other procedural guidelines for enforcing current 
policy. 
(C) Identification and prioritization of cur-
rent artificial intelligence tools or emerging tech-
nologies applicable to the use-cases identified 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) that also meet 
policy guidelines and standards set by the De-
partment. 
(D) Identification of shortfalls in training 
or billets for artificial intelligence-related exper-
tise or personnel within the combatant com-
mands. 
(E) Coordination on training and experi-
mentation venues, including with regional part-
ners and allies.
928 
(F) Identification of opportunities for en-
hanced cooperation with regional partners and 
allies. 
(G) Identification of opportunities for the 
combatant commands, working with other ele-
ments of the Department of Defense, such as the 
Defense Innovation Unit, to better procure com-
mercial artificial intelligence capabilities, in-
cluding from partner and allied industrial bases. 
(3) REPORT.—(A) Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the assessment described in para-
graph (1). 
(B) The report submitted pursuant to subpara-
graph (A) shall include the following: 
(i) A summary of the policies and proce-
dures needed pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(ii) A summary of the efforts described in 
paragraph (1) to fulfill each of the purposes con-
sidered under paragraph (2). 
TITLE XVI—SPACE ACTIVITIES, 
STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, AND 
INTELLIGENCE MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Space Activities 
Sec. 1601. Modification of Air Force space contractor responsibility watch list.
929 
Sec. 1602. Establishment of Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve. 
Sec. 1603. Space Force satellite ground systems. 
Sec. 1604. Modification of notification of foreign interference of national security 
space. 
Sec. 1605. Modifications to National Security Space Launch program. 
Sec. 1606. Comptroller General review regarding Global Positioning System mod-
ernization and other positioning, navigation, and timing sys-
tems. 
Sec. 1607. Senior Advisor for Space Command, Control, and Integration. 
Sec. 1608. Pilot program to demonstrate hybrid satellite communication architec-
ture. 
Sec. 1609. Middle East integrated space and satellite security assessment. 
Sec. 1610. Annual briefing on commercial space strategy of the Space Force. 
Subtitle B—Defense Intelligence and Intelligence-Related Activities 
Sec. 1611. Extension and modification of authority to engage in certain commer-
cial activities as security for intelligence collection activities. 
Sec. 1612. Cyber intelligence capability. 
Sec. 1613. Authority of Army counterintelligence agents. 
Sec. 1614. Extension and modification of defense intelligence and counterintel-
ligence expense authority. 
Sec. 1615. Intelligence advice and Department of Defense support for Government 
of Israel in the defeat of Hamas. 
Subtitle C—Nuclear Forces 
Sec. 1621. Establishment of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, 
Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs; im-
provements to processes of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 
Sec. 1622. Extension and modification of certifications regarding integrated tac-
tical warning and attack assessment mission of the Department 
of the Air Force. 
Sec. 1623. Periodic updates on the modernization of the Strategic Automated 
Command and Control System. 
Sec. 1624. Modified requirements for report on the plan for the nuclear weapons 
stockpile, nuclear weapons complex, nuclear weapons delivery 
systems, and nuclear weapons command and control system. 
Sec. 1625. Matters relating to pilot program on development of reentry vehicles 
and related systems. 
Sec. 1626. Expansion of nuclear long range standoff capability. 
Sec. 1627. Matters relating to the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile. 
Sec. 1628. Availability of Air Force procurement funds for heat shield material 
for Mark 21A reentry vehicle. 
Sec. 1629. Conditional requirements for Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile 
program. 
Sec. 1630. Prohibition on reduction of intercontinental ballistic missiles of the 
United States. 
Sec. 1631. Limitation on use of funds for altering Air Force Global Strike Com-
mand. 
Sec. 1632. Limitations on use of funds to dismantle B83–1 nuclear gravity bomb. 
Sec. 1633. Limitation on availability of funds pending submission of plan for de-
creasing the time to upload additional warheads to the inter-
continental ballistic missile fleet.
930 
Sec. 1634. Limitation on availability of funds pending submission of information 
on options for enhancing National Nuclear Security Administra-
tion access to the defense industrial base. 
Sec. 1635. Defense Industrial Base workforce development strategy. 
Sec. 1636. Long-term plan for strategic nuclear forces during delivery vehicle 
transition. 
Sec. 1637. Reports and briefings on recommendations of the Congressional Com-
mission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. 
Sec. 1638. Sense of Congress with respect to use of artificial intelligence to sup-
port strategic deterrence. 
Subtitle D—Missile Defense Programs 
Sec. 1641. Expansion of certain prohibitions relating to missile defense informa-
tion and systems to apply to People’s Republic of China. 
Sec. 1642. Additional missile defense site for protection of United States home-
land. 
Sec. 1643. Advice and assistance regarding enhancement of Jordanian air and 
missile defense. 
Sec. 1644. Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system and Israeli cooperative 
missile defense program co-development and co-production. 
Sec. 1645. Limitation on availability of funds with respect to certain missile de-
fense system governance documents, policies, and procedures. 
Sec. 1646. Congressional notification requirement with respect to incidents that 
affect availability of United States homeland missile defenses. 
Sec. 1647. Plan for comprehensive ballistic missile defense radar coverage of 
Guam. 
Sec. 1648. Annual briefing on missile defense of Guam. 
Sec. 1649. Organization and codification of provisions of law relating to missile 
defense. 
Subtitle E—Other Matters 
Sec. 1651. Cooperative threat reduction funds. 
Sec. 1652. Temporary continuation of requirement for reports on activities and 
assistance under Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Re-
duction Program. 
Sec. 1653. Modification to annual assessment of budget with respect to electro-
magnetic spectrum operations capabilities. 
Sec. 1654. Modification of milestone decision authority for space-based ground 
and airborne moving target indication systems. 
Sec. 1655. Designation of a senior defense official responsible for establishment of 
national integrated air and missile defense architecture for the 
United States.
931 
Subtitle A—Space Activities 
SEC. 1601. MODIFICATION OF AIR FORCE SPACE CON-
TRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY WATCH LIST. 
(a) CLARIFICATION
OF
WATCH
LIST
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—Chapter 135 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 2271 the following: 
‘‘§ 2271a. Space Contractor Responsibility Watch List 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Assistant Secretary of the 
Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, acting as 
the service acquisition executive for the Air Force for space 
systems and programs, shall maintain a list of contractors 
with a history of poor performance on space procurement 
contracts. 
‘‘(b) BASIS FOR INCLUSION ON WATCH LIST.—(1) The 
Assistant Secretary shall place a contractor, which may 
consist of the entire contracting entity or a specific division 
of the contracting entity, on the watch list based on a deter-
mination made under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2)(A) In considering whether to place a contractor 
on the watch list, the Assistant Secretary shall determine 
whether there is evidence of any of the following: 
‘‘(i) Poor performance on one or more space pro-
curement contracts, or award fee scores below 50 per-
cent.
932 
‘‘(ii) Inadequate management, operational or fi-
nancial controls, or resources. 
‘‘(iii) Inadequate security controls or resources, 
including unremediated vulnerabilities arising from 
foreign ownership, control, or influence. 
‘‘(iv) Any other failure of controls or perform-
ance of a nature so serious or compelling as to war-
rant placement of the contractor on the watch list. 
‘‘(B) If the Assistant Secretary determines, based on 
evidence described in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of sub-
paragraph (A), that the ability of a contractor to respon-
sibly perform is meaningfully impaired, the Assistant Sec-
retary shall place the contractor on the watch list. 
‘‘(C) The Assistant Secretary shall establish written 
policies for the consideration of contractors for placement 
on the watch list, including policies that require that— 
‘‘(i) contractors proposed for placement on the 
watch list shall be provided with notice and an op-
portunity to respond; 
‘‘(ii) the basis for a final determination placing 
a contractor on the watch list shall be documented in 
writing; and 
‘‘(iii) at the request of a contractor, the con-
tractor shall be removed from the watch list if the As-
sistant Secretary determines that there is evidence
933 
that the issue resulting in placement on the list has 
been satisfactorily remediated. 
‘‘(c) EFFECT OF LISTING.—(1) The Assistant Sec-
retary may not solicit an offer from, award a contract to, 
consent to a subcontract with, execute a grant, cooperative 
agreement, or other transaction with, or exercise an option 
on any space procurement contract with, an entity included 
on the watch list unless the Assistant Secretary makes a 
written determination that there is a compelling reason to 
do so. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 10 days after the Assistant Sec-
retary makes a determination under paragraph (1), the As-
sistant Secretary shall notify the congressional defense com-
mittees and the Interagency Committee on Debarment and 
Suspension constituted under sections 4 and 5 of Executive 
Order 12549 (51 Fed. Reg. 6370; relating to debarment and 
suspension) of the determination. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION
ON DELEGATION.—The Assistant 
Secretary may delegate the authority to make a determina-
tion under subsection (b)(2)(B) or subsection (c)(1) only if 
the following criteria are met: 
‘‘(1) The delegation is to the suspension and de-
barment official of the Air Force. 
‘‘(2) The delegation is made on a case-by-case 
basis.
934 
‘‘(3) Not later than seven days after the date on 
which such determination is made, the Assistant Sec-
retary notifies the congressional defense committees of 
the delegation. 
‘‘(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed as preventing the suspension or de-
barment of a contractor, but inclusion on the watch list 
shall not be construed as a punitive measure or de facto 
suspension or debarment of a contractor. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘contract’ includes a grant, coop-
erative agreement, or other transaction. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘contractor’ means any individual 
or entity that enters into a contract. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘watch list’ means the watch list 
maintained under subsection (a).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 1612 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Pub-
lic Law 115–91; 10 U.S.C. 2271 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 1602. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMERCIAL AUGMENTA-
TION SPACE RESERVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 963 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting before section 9532 
the following new section:
935 
‘‘§ 9531. Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve. 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary may carry out a pro-
gram to be known as the ‘Commercial Augmentation Space 
Reserve’ program. Under the program, the Secretary may 
include in a contract for the procurement of space products 
or services one or more provisions under which a qualified 
contractor agrees to provide additional space products or 
services to the Department of Defense on an as-needed basis 
under circumstances determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) SECURITY MEASURES.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under subsection (a), the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) shall ensure that each contract under, and 
qualified contractor participating in, the program 
complies with applicable security measures, including 
any security measures required under the National 
Industrial Security program (or any successor to such 
program); and 
‘‘(2) may establish and implement such addi-
tional security measures as the Secretary determines 
appropriate to protect the national security interests 
of the United States. 
‘‘(c) COMMITMENT OF SPACE PRODUCTS OR SERVICES 
AS A BUSINESS FACTOR.—In determining the quantity of 
business to be received under a space product or services 
contract pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may use 
as a factor the relative amount of space product or service
936 
committed to the program under subsection (a) by the 
qualified contractor involved. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘citizen of the United States’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) an individual who is a citizen of the 
United States; 
‘‘(B) a partnership each of whose partners 
is an individual who is a citizen of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(C) a corporation or association organized 
under the laws of the United States or a State, 
the District of Columbia, or a territory or posses-
sion of the United States. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘qualified contractor’ means a 
contractor that is a citizen of the United States. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of 
Defense. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘space products or services’ means 
commercial products and commercial services (as 
those terms are defined in section 2.101 of the Federal 
Acquisition Regulation) and noncommercial products 
and noncommercial services offered by commercial 
companies that operate to, through, or from space, in-
cluding any required terrestrial ground, support, and
937 
network systems and associated services that can be 
used to support military functions and missions.’’. 
(b) STUDY AND REPORT.— 
(1) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of the Air Force, shall seek 
to enter into an agreement with a federally funded re-
search and development center or university-affiliated 
research center to conduct a study on— 
(A) the availability and adequacy of com-
mercial insurance to protect the financial inter-
ests of contractors providing support services to 
space-related operations and activities of the De-
partment of Defense, taking into account the 
risks that may be anticipated to arise from such 
support; 
(B) the adequacy of any existing authorities 
under Federal law that would enable the Federal 
Government to protect such interests in the event 
commercial space insurance is not available or 
not available on reasonable terms; and 
(C) potential options for Government-pro-
vided insurance similar to existing aviation and 
maritime insurance programs under titles 49 
and 46 of the United States Code, respectively.
938 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of De-
fense shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the results of the study conducted 
under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 1603. SPACE FORCE SATELLITE GROUND SYSTEMS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Chapter 135 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2275b 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 2275c. Space Force satellite ground systems 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Assistant Secretary of the 
Air Force for Space Acquisitions and Integration, acting 
as the service acquisition executive for the Air Force for 
space systems and programs, may not authorize a launch 
associated with a Space Force satellite acquisition program 
unless— 
‘‘(1) the associated ground systems and modifica-
tions are completed and ready for operation at the 
time of the launch; and 
‘‘(2) the applicable satellite capabilities may be 
used on completion of the launch. 
‘‘(b) WAIVER.—(1) The Secretary of the Air Force may 
waive the requirement under subsection (a) if the Secretary 
determines that such waiver is necessary for reasons of na-
tional security.
939 
‘‘(2) Not later than 10 days after making a waiver 
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall notify the congres-
sional defense committees of such waiver.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Such chapter is further 
amended by striking section 2275. 
SEC. 1604. MODIFICATION OF NOTIFICATION OF FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE 
OF 
NATIONAL 
SECURITY 
SPACE. 
Section 2278 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 
(2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; 
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), as redesignated— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘critical’’ before ‘‘na-
tional security space capability’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘The Commander of 
the United States Space Command’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(1) Except as provided by para-
graph (2), the Commander of the United 
States Space Command’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph (2):
940 
‘‘(2) With respect to intentional attempts by a foreign 
actor to disrupt, degrade, or destroy a United States critical 
national security space capability that are continuous or 
repetitive in nature, the Commander shall— 
‘‘(A) provide the notice and notification regard-
ing the first attempt by such foreign actor in accord-
ance with paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(B) during the period in which such foreign 
actor continues or repeats such attempts, provide to 
the appropriate congressional committees a consoli-
dated monthly notice and notification of such at-
tempts by not later than the tenth day of each month 
following the month in which the first notice under 
paragraph (1) was provided.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’ means the following: 
‘‘(A) The congressional defense committees. 
‘‘(B) With respect to a notice or notification 
relating to an attempt by a foreign actor to dis-
rupt, degrade, or destroy a capability that is in-
telligence-related, the Permanent Select Com-
mittee on Intelligence of the House of Represent-
941 
atives and the Select Committee on Intelligence 
of the Senate. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘United States critical national 
security space capability’ means a national security 
space capability of the United States provided by an 
asset on the critical asset list established by the Com-
mander of the United States Space Command pursu-
ant to Department of Defense Directive 3020.40, De-
partment of Defense Instruction 3020.45, Joint Publi-
cation 3-01 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or such other 
relevant requirements of the Department of Defense.’’. 
SEC. 1605. MODIFICATIONS TO NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE 
LAUNCH PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION
OF
POLICY
ON
CONTRACTS
FOR 
LAUNCH SERVICES.—Section 1601 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117– 
81; 10 U.S.C. 2276 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘2024’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2029’’; and 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘phase two con-
tracts’’ and inserting ‘‘the National Security Space 
Launch program’’. 
(b) NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES IN PHASE THREE AC-
QUISITION STRATEGY.—Not later than seven days before 
implementing any modification to the final phase three ac-
943 
SEC. 1606. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW REGARDING 
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM MODERNIZA-
TION AND OTHER POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, 
AND TIMING SYSTEMS. 
Subsection (c) of section 1621 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114– 
92; 129 Stat. 1109; 10 U.S.C. 2281 note) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(c) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW AND ASSESS-
MENT; BRIEFING.— 
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENTS.—The Comptroller General 
shall— 
‘‘(A) review and assess the efforts of the De-
partment of the Air Force with respect to Global 
Positioning System modernization and other po-
sitioning, navigation, and timing systems; and 
‘‘(B) provide to the congressional defense 
committees a briefing on— 
‘‘(i) the progress made by the Space 
Force in fielding military code from the 
Global 
Positioning 
System 
(commonly 
known as ‘M-code’); 
‘‘(ii) the efforts the Department of the 
Air Force has planned or made to develop 
complementary or alternative solutions for 
M-code to obtain positioning, navigation,
944 
and timing information through new sig-
nals, systems, and subsystems; and 
‘‘(iii) the extent to which the military 
departments have developed and fielded user 
equipment with the ability to use M-code 
and complementary or alternative solutions. 
‘‘(2) TIMING.—The Comptroller General shall 
provide to the congressional defense committees— 
‘‘(A) not later than March 1, 2025, the 
briefing required by paragraph (1)(B); 
‘‘(B) a report on the matters described in 
that paragraph, to be submitted on a date agreed 
upon at such briefing; and 
‘‘(C) any subsequent briefing on the matters 
described in that paragraph, as the Comptroller 
General considers appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 1607. SENIOR ADVISOR FOR SPACE COMMAND, CON-
TROL, AND INTEGRATION. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary 
of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, act-
ing as the service acquisition executive for the Air Force 
for space systems and programs, shall designate from 
among qualified officers and employees of the Department
945 
of Defense a Senior Advisor for Space Command, Control, 
and Integration. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Senior Advisor shall be 
responsible for conducting oversight of all acquisition efforts 
within the authority of the Assistant Secretary with respect 
to developing, upgrading, deploying, and sustaining space 
command, control, and integration to meet the space com-
mand, control, and integration requirements of the combat-
ant commands, including by monitoring system-level inte-
gration of each of the following: 
(1) Space domain sensors. 
(2) Space catalog. 
(3) Target recognition. 
(4) Weapons system selection and control. 
(5) Battle damage assessment. 
(6) Associated communications among elements 
of the space control and command architecture of the 
Department of Defense. 
(c) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 10 days after the 
date on which a designation is made under subsection (a), 
the Assistant Secretary shall notify the congressional de-
fense committees of such designation. 
(d) ANNUAL REVIEW.—Not later than June 30 of each 
year, the Space Acquisition Council established by section 
9021 of title 10, United States Code, shall review whether
946 
the requirements of the United States Space Command with 
respect to space command, control, and integration are 
being fulfilled. 
(e) ANNUAL BRIEFING.—At the same time as the sub-
mission of each budget of the President under section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, through fiscal year 
2029, the Assistant Secretary, in consultation with the 
Commander of the United States Space Command, shall 
provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing 
on the status of all space command, control, and integration 
activities to support the missions of the Armed Forces. The 
briefing shall include— 
(1) accomplishments achieved in the year prior 
to the submission of the respective budget; and 
(2) actions to meet the requirements of the 
United States Space Command with respect to space 
command, control, and integration that will be taken 
during the period covered by the most recent future- 
years defense program submitted under section 221 of 
title 10, United States Code, as of the date of the 
briefing. 
SEC. 1608. PILOT PROGRAM TO DEMONSTRATE HYBRID SAT-
ELLITE COMMUNICATION ARCHITECTURE. 
(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—Beginning in fiscal year 
2025, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space
947 
Acquisition and Integration shall carry out a pilot program 
to demonstrate a hybrid satellite communication architec-
ture at the Space Systems Command of the Space Force. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS.—In car-
rying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Assist-
ant Secretary shall include in the hybrid satellite commu-
nication architecture at least one military satellite commu-
nications system, such as the Wideband Global Satcom sys-
tem or the Micro Geostationary Earth Orbit system. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall 
provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing 
that includes— 
(1) a description of the hybrid satellite commu-
nication architecture developed under the pilot pro-
gram under subsection (a) and a summary of the re-
sults of the program as of the date of the briefing; and 
(2) a plan for supporting the transition of the 
hybrid satellite communication architecture efforts to 
a program of record within the Space Force and the 
Space Systems Command. 
(d) HYBRID SATELLITE COMMUNICATION ARCHITEC-
TURE.—In this section, the term ‘‘hybrid satellite commu-
nication architecture’’ means the network of integrated 
United States Government, allied Government, and com-
948 
mercially owned and operated capabilities both for on-orbit 
communication constellations and ground systems. 
SEC. 1609. MIDDLE EAST INTEGRATED SPACE AND SAT-
ELLITE SECURITY ASSESSMENT. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, shall conduct 
an assessment of space and satellite security for the 
purpose of identifying mechanisms, such as improved 
multilateral data-sharing agreements, that may be 
implemented to better protect ally and partner coun-
tries in the area of responsibility of the United States 
Central Command from hostile activities conducted by 
adversaries against space systems of the United States 
or such countries. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The assessment 
required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the threats posed to 
the United States and ally or partner countries 
in the area of responsibility of the United States 
Central Command by adversaries, including 
Iran and its proxies, from conducting hostile ac-
tivities— 
(i) against space systems of the United 
States or such countries; and
951 
(J) Other matters the Secretary of Defense 
considers relevant. 
(3) METRICS.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
identify and propose metrics to assess progress in the 
implementation of the assessment required by para-
graph (1). 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the results of the assessment con-
ducted under subsection (a). 
(2) FORM OF REPORT.—The report required by 
paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form 
but may include a classified annex. 
(c) PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION.—Any 
activity carried out under this section shall be conducted 
in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive informa-
tion and the national security interests of the United States. 
(d) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate committees 
of Congress’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Com-
mittee on Appropriations, and the Committee on For-
eign Relations of the Senate; and
952 
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Com-
mittee on Appropriations, and the Committee on For-
eign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 1610. ANNUAL BRIEFING ON COMMERCIAL SPACE 
STRATEGY OF THE SPACE FORCE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that the strategy of the 
Space Force titled ‘‘U.S. Space Force Commercial Space 
Strategy’’ published in April 2024, indicates that the Space 
Force intends to focus future efforts and resources on the 
following mission areas: 
(1) Satellite communications. 
(2) Space domain awareness. 
(3) Space access mobility and logistics. 
(4) Tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and 
tracking. 
(5) Space-based environmental monitoring. 
(6) Cyberspace operations. 
(7) Command and control. 
(8) Positioning, navigation, and timing. 
(b) BRIEFING REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 10 days after 
the date on which the budget of the President for each 
of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 is submitted to Con-
gress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code, the Chief of Space Operations, in coordi-
953 
nation with the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force 
for Space Acquisition and Integration, shall provide 
to the congressional defense committees a briefing that 
includes the information described in paragraph (2) 
with respect to each mission area specified in sub-
section (a). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing under paragraph 
(1) shall include, with respect to each mission area 
specified in subsection (a) for the fiscal year con-
cerned, the following: 
(A) Of the funds requested for the mission 
area, the percentage that are expected to be used 
to fulfill requirements through the provision of 
commercial solutions compared to the percentage 
that are expected to be used to fulfill such re-
quirements through programs of record. 
(B) A description of the requirements for 
each mission area and an explanation of whether 
and how the use of commercial solutions has been 
considered for fulfilling such requirements. 
(C) A description of any training or 
wargaming exercises that are expected to inte-
grate commercial solutions and include the par-
ticipation of providers of such solutions.
954 
(D) Any force designs of the Space 
Warfighting Analysis Center for which commer-
cial solutions were considered as part of a force 
design analysis from the previous fiscal year. 
(E) An update on the status of any efforts 
to integrate commercial systems into respective 
Government architecture. 
(F) With respect to the contracts entered 
into to support the mission area— 
(i) the number of such contracts; 
(ii) the types of contracts used; 
(iii) the length of time covered by such 
contracts; and 
(iv) the amount of funds committed 
under such contracts. 
(c) COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘commercial solutions’’ includes commercial 
products, commercial services, and providers of such prod-
ucts and services.
955 
Subtitle B—Defense Intelligence 
and Intelligence-Related Activities 
SEC. 1611. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY 
TO ENGAGE IN CERTAIN COMMERCIAL AC-
TIVITIES AS SECURITY FOR INTELLIGENCE 
COLLECTION ACTIVITIES. 
Section 431 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘December 31, 
2024’’ and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2028’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (1) 
and inserting the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(1)(A) be pre-coordinated with the Director of 
the Central Intelligence Agency using procedures mu-
tually agreed upon by the Secretary of Defense and 
the Director; and 
‘‘(B) where appropriate, be supported by the Di-
rector; and’’. 
SEC. 1612. CYBER INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Chapter 21 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 430c, as 
added by section 921, the following new section: 
‘‘§ 430d. Cyber intelligence capability 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than October 1, 2026, 
the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director
956 
of National Intelligence, shall ensure that the Department 
of Defense has a dedicated cyber intelligence capability in 
support of the military cyber operations requirements for 
the warfighting missions of the United States Cyber Com-
mand, the other combatant commands, the military depart-
ments, the Defense Agencies, the Joint Staff, and the Office 
of the Secretary of Defense with respect to foundational, sci-
entific and technical, and all-source intelligence on cyber 
technology development, capabilities, concepts of operation, 
operations, and plans and intentions of cyber threat actors. 
‘‘(b) NONDUPLICATION.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary may not unnecessarily duplicate intel-
ligence activities of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(c) RESOURCES.—(1) The Secretary shall ensure the 
defense budget materials submitted for each fiscal year be-
ginning with fiscal year 2027 include a request for funds 
necessary to carry out subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall carry out subsection (a) using 
funds made available for the United States Cyber Command 
under the Military Intelligence Program. 
‘‘(3) The National Security Agency may not provide 
information technology services for the dedicated cyber in-
telligence capability under subsection (a) unless such serv-
ices are provided under the Military Intelligence Program 
or the Information Systems Security Program.
957 
‘‘(d) DEFENSE BUDGET MATERIALS DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘defense budget materials’, with respect 
to a fiscal year, means the materials submitted to Congress 
by the Secretary of Defense in support of the budget for 
that fiscal year.’’. 
(b) REPORT AND BRIEFING.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than January 1, 2026, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report containing 
an implementation plan for ensuring the dedicated 
cyber intelligence capability under section 430d of 
title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a). The implementation plan shall include— 
(A) an articulation of the requirements for 
such capability, including with respect to the 
number and type of intelligence analysts or other 
personnel required to fulfill those requirements; 
(B) an assessment by the Director of Cost 
Assessment and Program Evaluation with re-
spect to the estimated annual cost for developing 
and maintaining such capability, including the 
initial budget requirements for such capability 
for fiscal year 2027; and
958 
(C) an initial staffing plan, including the 
development of specific career identifiers, a re-
cruiting plan, and a career progression plan. 
(2) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date on which the Secretary submits the report under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the ap-
propriate congressional committees a briefing on the 
implementation plan contained in the report. 
(3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate 
congressional committees’’ means the congressional de-
fense committees and the Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 1613. AUTHORITY OF ARMY COUNTERINTELLIGENCE 
AGENTS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE WARRANTS AND MAKE 
ARRESTS.—Section 7377 of title 10, United States Code, 
is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘Civil-
ian’’ and all that follows through the colon and in-
serting ‘‘Certain civilian special agents:’’ ; 
and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Subsection 
(a) applies’’; and
959 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2) In addition to paragraph (1), during the four- 
year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, 
subsection (a) applies to any employee of the Department 
of the Army who is a special agent of the Army Counter-
intelligence Command (or a successor to that command) 
whose duties include conducting, supervising, or coordi-
nating counterintelligence investigations in programs and 
operations of the Department of the Army.’’. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT AND BRIEFING.—Not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
not less frequently than annually thereafter through 2028, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees and the Committees on the Judiciary 
of the House of Representatives and Senate an annual re-
port, and shall provide to such committees an annual brief-
ing, on the administration of section 7377 of title 10, 
United States Code, as amended by subsection (a). 
SEC. 1614. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF DEFENSE IN-
TELLIGENCE 
AND 
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE 
EXPENSE AUTHORITY. 
(a) CODIFICATION.—
960 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1057 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub-
lic Law 116–92; 133 Stat. 1593) is— 
(A) transferred to subchapter I of chapter 
21 of title 10, United States Code; 
(B) inserted after section 429 of such title; 
and 
(C) redesignated as section 429a. 
(2) 
SECTION
HEADING
TYPEFACE
AND 
TYPESTYLE.—Section 429a of title 10, as added by 
paragraph (1), is amended— 
(A) in the enumerator, by striking ‘‘SEC.’’ 
and inserting ‘‘§’’; and 
(B) in the section heading— 
(i) by striking the period at the end; 
and 
(ii) by conforming the typeface and 
typestyle, including capitalization, to the 
typeface and typestyle as used in the section 
heading of section 430b of such title. 
(b) PERMANENT EXTENSION.—Subsection (a) of sec-
tion 429a, as added by subsection (a)(1) of this section, is 
amended by striking ‘‘for any of fiscal years 2020 through 
2025’’.
961 
(c) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Subsection (d) of such section 
429a is amended by striking ‘‘Not later than December 31 
of each of 2020 through 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘Not later than 
December 31 of each year’’. 
(d) LIMITATION ON DELEGATIONS.—Subsection (e) of 
such section 429a is amended by striking ‘‘$100,000’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$200,000’’. 
(e) EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Such section 429a is amend-
ed— 
(A) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (e) the fol-
lowing new subsection (f): 
‘‘(f) NONAPPLICATION OF SECTION 127.—The author-
ity provided by subsection (a) shall be the exclusive author-
ity available to the Secretary of Defense to expend amounts 
made available for the Military Intelligence Program for 
intelligence and counterintelligence objects of a confidential, 
extraordinary, or emergency nature.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 127(a) 
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘The authority 
to expend amounts made available for the Military 
Intelligence Program for intelligence and counterintel-
962 
ligence objects of a confidential, extraordinary, or 
emergency nature is provided by section 429a of this 
title instead of this section.’’. 
SEC. 1615. INTELLIGENCE ADVICE AND DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT OF 
ISRAEL IN THE DEFEAT OF HAMAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense and the 
Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency are authorized 
to continue, as directed by the President of the United 
States, to jointly cooperate with the Government of Israel 
on defense intelligence, advice, and support, to the extent 
practicable and consistent with United States objectives, to 
support Israel’s pursuit of the lasting defeat of Hamas. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
once every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall 
provide to the congressional defense committees, the Perma-
nent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
Senate a briefing on the intelligence, advice, and support 
provided to assist the Government of Israel in achieving the 
objectives described in subsection (a). 
(c) SUNSET.—The authority under subsection (a) shall 
terminate on the date that is two years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
963 
Subtitle C—Nuclear Forces 
SEC. 1621. ESTABLISHMENT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF 
DEFENSE 
FOR 
NUCLEAR 
DETERRENCE, 
CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE POL-
ICY AND PROGRAMS; IMPROVEMENTS TO 
PROCESSES OF THE OFFICE OF THE SEC-
RETARY OF DEFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 138(b)(4) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) One of the Assistant Secretaries is the Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and 
Biological Defense Policy and Programs. The Assistant Sec-
retary is the principal civilian adviser to the Secretary of 
Defense on nuclear deterrence policies, operations, and asso-
ciated programs within the senior management of the De-
partment of Defense. The principal duty of the Assistant 
Secretary shall be the overall supervision of nuclear deter-
rence policy, resources, and activities of the Department of 
Defense. 
‘‘(A) Subject to the authority, direction, and con-
trol of the Secretary of Defense, the Assistant Sec-
retary shall— 
‘‘(i) advise and assist the Secretary of De-
fense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Under 
Secretary 
of 
Defense 
for 
Acquisition 
and
964 
Sustainment, and the Under Secretary of De-
fense for Policy in the development and super-
vision of policy, program planning and execu-
tion, and allocation and use of resources for the 
activities of the Department of Defense on all 
matters relating to the sustainment, operation, 
and modernization of United States nuclear 
forces as defined in section 499c(d) of this title; 
‘‘(ii) communicate views on issues within 
the responsibility of the Assistant Secretary di-
rectly to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy 
Secretary of Defense without obtaining the ap-
proval or concurrence of any other official with-
in the Department of Defense; 
‘‘(iii) serve as the Staff Director of the Nu-
clear Weapons Council established by section 179 
of this title; 
‘‘(iv) serve as the principal Department of 
Defense civilian responsible for oversight of port-
folio management for nuclear forces established 
by section 499c of this title; 
‘‘(v) serve as the principal interface with 
the Department of Energy on issues relating to 
nuclear fuels;
966 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘; 
and’’ and inserting a semicolon; and 
(B) by adding after subparagraph (C), the 
following: 
‘‘(D) chairman of the Nuclear Weapons 
Council established by section 179 of this title; 
and 
‘‘(E) co-chairman of the Council on Over-
sight of the National Leadership Command, Con-
trol, and Communications System established by 
section 171a of this title;’’; and 
(2) by amending paragraph (6) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(6) overseeing— 
‘‘(A) the sustainment and modernization of 
United States nuclear forces, including the nu-
clear command, control, and communications 
system; and 
‘‘(B) military department and Defense 
Agency programs to develop defenses against 
chemical and biological weapons and capabilities 
to counter weapons of mass destruction;’’. 
(c) MODIFICATION OF DUTIES FOR UNDER SECRETARY 
FOR DEFENSE FOR POLICY.—Section 134(b)(2) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended—
967 
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end, the following new sub-
paragraph (F): 
‘‘(F) the development of strategic policy guidance 
for the Department of Defense to enable the achieve-
ment of Presidential objectives outlined within the 
nuclear weapons employment guidance of the United 
States, as described in section 491 of this title.’’. 
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The following provi-
sions of law are amended by striking ‘‘Nuclear, Chemical, 
and Biological Defense Programs’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biologi-
cal Defense Policy and Programs’’: 
(1) Section 179(c) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(2) Section 492b(b)(2) of such title. 
(3) Section 2284(b)(3)(E) of such title. 
(4) Section 1412(m) of the Department of De-
fense Authorization Act, 1986 (50 U.S.C. 1521(m)). 
(5) Section 1067(a)(1) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (50 U.S.C. 
1528(a)(1)).
968 
SEC. 1622. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF CERTIFI-
CATIONS REGARDING INTEGRATED TACTICAL 
WARNING AND ATTACK ASSESSMENT MIS-
SION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR 
FORCE. 
Section 1666 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 
2617) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘2026’’ and inserting 
‘‘2030’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the Commander of the 
United States Strategic Command’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisi-
tion and Sustainment, the Commander of the 
United States Strategic Command,’’; 
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) INABILITY TO CERTIFY.—If the Commander of 
the United States Space Command does not make a certifi-
cation under subsection (a) by March 31 of any year in 
which a certification is required under such subsection, the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall— 
‘‘(1) not later than June 30 of that year, consoli-
date all terrestrial and aerial components of the inte-
969 
grated tactical warning and attack assessment system 
of the Department of the Air Force that are survivable 
and endurable under the major command of the De-
partment of the Air Force commanded by the single 
general officer that is responsible for all aspects of the 
Department of the Air Force nuclear mission, as de-
scribed by Air Force Program Action Directive D16– 
01, dated August 2, 2016; and 
‘‘(2) not later than April 30 of that year, submit 
to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional de-
fense committees a report describing a plan to achieve 
such certification, and the status of programs and 
plans to meet the requirements of Presidential direc-
tives and Department of Defense policies applicable to 
integrated tactical warning and attack assessment 
systems that are survivable and endurable.’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
(d); and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following 
new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Defense 
may waive the requirement of paragraph (1) of subsection 
(b), if the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense 
committees that—
970 
‘‘(1) the plan described in paragraph (2) of that 
subsection is sufficient to ensure that the Department 
of the Air Force is able to satisfy the criteria under 
subsection (a); 
‘‘(2) resourcing for executing such plan shall be 
addressed, to the maximum extent possible, within the 
current fiscal year; and 
‘‘(3) any additional resources necessary to exe-
cute such plan shall be included in future budgetary 
requests of the Department of Defense.’’. 
SEC. 1623. PERIODIC UPDATES ON THE MODERNIZATION OF 
THE STRATEGIC AUTOMATED COMMAND AND 
CONTROL SYSTEM. 
Section 1644 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 
598) is amended by adding at the end the following sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) PERIODIC UPDATES.—Beginning not later than 
March 1, 2025, and not later than each of March 1 and 
September 1 annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Air 
Force shall provide to the congressional defense committees 
a briefing on the progress of the modernization effort de-
scribed in subsection (a).’’.
971 
SEC. 1624. MODIFIED REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORT ON THE 
PLAN FOR THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS STOCK-
PILE, 
NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS 
COMPLEX, 
NU-
CLEAR WEAPONS DELIVERY SYSTEMS, AND 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMMAND AND CON-
TROL SYSTEM. 
Section 492a of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Annual’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Biennial’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘the 
odd-numbered’’ after ‘‘for each of’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)(G), by striking 
‘‘year’’ both places it appears and inserting ‘‘re-
port’’; and 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3); 
(B) by striking ‘‘BUDGET OFFICE.—’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘Not later than July 1’’ 
and inserting ‘‘BUDGET OFFICE.—Not later than 
July 1’’; 
(C) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), 
(B), (C), and (D) as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), 
and (4), respectively;
973 
‘‘(2) expand the availability of operationally 
qualifiable vendors within the defense industrial 
base;’’; and 
(D) by striking, ‘‘reentry vehicles’’ each 
place it appears and inserting ‘‘reentry vehicles 
and reentry systems’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the Secretary’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘each Secretary’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and systems’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘and reentry systems’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—If the Secretary of the Army, the 
Secretary of the Navy, or the Secretary of the Air Force, 
acting jointly or separately, carries out a pilot program 
under this section, such Secretary or Secretaries shall en-
sure that the activities under the pilot program are carried 
out in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Research and Engineering and the Director of the Mis-
sile Defense Agency.’’; 
(4) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(e); and 
(5) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 
new subsection (d):
974 
‘‘(d) SEMIANNUAL BRIEFINGS.—Not later than March 
1 and September 1 of each year in which the Secretary of 
the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, or the Secretary of 
the Air Force, acting jointly or separately, carries out a 
pilot program under this section, such Secretary or Secre-
taries shall provide to the congressional defense committees 
a briefing on the activities of the pilot program.’’. 
SEC. 1626. EXPANSION OF NUCLEAR LONG RANGE STAND-
OFF CAPABILITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Air Force may 
reconvert the B–52 bombers that had been modified to carry 
only conventional weapons to conform to the Treaty between 
the United States of America and the Russian Federation 
on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of 
Strategic Offensive Arms signed on April 8, 2010, and en-
tered into force on February 5, 2011 (commonly known as 
the ‘‘New START Treaty’’), to be able to carry nuclear 
weapons. 
(b) CONVERSION OF B–52 BOMBERS.—If the Secretary 
elects to exercise the authority under subsection (a), the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) not later than 30 days after the expiration 
of the New Start Treaty, commence the process of 
making available for nuclear certification the B–52 
bombers described in subsection (a); and
975 
(2) ensure the reconversion of B–52 bombers de-
scribed in such subsection is complete by not later 
than December 31, 2029. 
(c) FUNDING PROFILE FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION 
OF THE LONG RANGE STANDOFF WEAPON.—Not later than 
120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the funding profile nec-
essary, by fiscal year, to expand by one-third the planned 
purchase of the Long Range Standoff Weapon. 
SEC. 1627. MATTERS RELATING TO THE NUCLEAR-ARMED 
SEA-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE. 
(a) JAMES M. INHOFE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHOR-
IZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.—Section 1642 of the 
James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2945) 
is amended by striking ‘‘W80–4 warhead’’ each place it ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘W80–4 ALT or an alternative war-
head’’. 
(b) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
FISCAL YEAR 2024.—Section 1640 of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118– 
31; 137 Stat. 595) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (3)—
976 
(i) by striking ‘‘nuclear weapon project 
for’’ and inserting ‘‘nuclear weapon system 
project with’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘(or an alternative 
warhead in accordance subsection (e))’’ 
after ‘‘W80–4 ALT warhead’’; 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘W80–4 
ALT’’; and inserting ‘‘nuclear weapon system’’; 
and 
(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘W80–4 
ALT nuclear weapon project’’ and inserting ‘‘nu-
clear weapon system’’; 
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘W80–4 ALT 
project’’ and inserting ‘‘nuclear weapon system 
project described in subsection (a)(3)’’; 
(3) by redesignating subsections (e) through (g) 
as subsections (f) through (h), respectively; and 
(4) by inserting after subsection (d) the following 
new subsection (e): 
‘‘(e) SELECTION
OF
A NUCLEAR WEAPON SYSTEM 
WITH AN ALTERNATIVE WARHEAD.— 
‘‘(1) BRIEFING, CERTIFICATION, AND
WAITING 
PERIOD.—For purposes of subsection (a)(3), the Sec-
retary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary 
of Energy, may carry out a nuclear weapons system
977 
project with an alternative warhead to the W80–4 
ALT warhead, if— 
‘‘(A) the Secretaries jointly provide to the 
congressional defense committees a briefing that 
includes— 
‘‘(i) a description of the alternative 
warhead to be developed under the project; 
‘‘(ii) an estimate and description of the 
balance among the costs, schedule, and pro-
grammatic impacts for the research, devel-
opment, and production of such alternative 
warhead; 
‘‘(iii) an explanation of the reasons the 
Secretaries intend to develop a nuclear 
weapon system with such alternative war-
head instead of— 
‘‘(I) the W80–4 ALT warhead; or 
‘‘(II) any other warhead options 
that may have been considered; 
‘‘(iv) a written certification from the 
Secretaries that— 
‘‘(I) if selected as the preferred op-
tion, the nuclear weapon system with 
the alternative warhead is expected to 
more favorably balance military effec-
978 
tiveness, 
cost, 
schedule, 
and 
pro-
grammatic impacts than the nuclear 
weapons system with the W80–4 ALT 
warhead; and 
‘‘(II) any funds required for such 
alternative warhead will be included in 
the materials submitted by the Secre-
taries in support of the budget of the 
President (as submitted to Congress 
pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, 
United States Code) until the selected 
warhead achieves full operational ca-
pability, as determined by the Com-
mander of United States Strategic 
Command; and 
‘‘(B) a period of 45 days has elapsed fol-
lowing the date on which such briefing was pro-
vided. 
‘‘(2) FORM OF BRIEFING.—The briefing under 
paragraph (1)(A) may be submitted in classified 
form.’’. 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM ELEMENT.—Begin-
ning on the date of the submission of the budget of the Presi-
dent for fiscal year 2026 in accordance with section 1105(a)
979 
of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of the Navy 
shall— 
(1) establish a separate, dedicated program ele-
ment for the development of a nuclear-armed, sea- 
launched cruise missile within the budget program 
elements for Navy Strategic Systems Programs; and 
(2) ensure that Navy activities in support of 
such development are executed within such program 
element. 
(d) FUNDING LIMITATION.—Of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act 
for fiscal year 2025 for operations and maintenance, Navy, 
and made available to the Secretary of the Navy for the 
travel of persons, not more than 90 percent may be obligated 
or expended until the date on which the Secretary of the 
Navy submits to the congressional defense committees a cer-
tification that the Department of the Navy— 
(1) has established and staffed a program office 
for the development of a nuclear-armed, sea-launched 
cruise missile required by section 1640 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2024; and 
(2) is taking the steps required to comply with 
the direction promulgated by Under Secretary of De-
fense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum
980 
titled ‘‘Nuclear-Armed, Sea-Launched Cruise Missile 
Program Material Development Decision Acquisition 
Memorandum,’’ dated March 21, 2024. 
SEC. 1628. AVAILABILITY OF AIR FORCE PROCUREMENT 
FUNDS FOR HEAT SHIELD MATERIAL FOR 
MARK 21A REENTRY VEHICLE. 
The Secretary of the Air Force may enter into con-
tracts for the life-of-program procurement of heat shield ma-
terial and related processing activities for the Mark 21A 
reentry vehicle. 
SEC. 1629. CONDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SENTINEL 
INTERCONTINENTAL 
BALLISTIC 
MISSILE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Sustainment shall ensure, to the maximum 
extent practicable that— 
(1) the contract structure for the Sentinel inter-
continental ballistic missile (previously referred to as 
the ‘‘ground-based strategic weapon’’) program allows 
for maximum Federal Government oversight of— 
(A) the Aerospace Vehicle Segment program 
area; 
(B) the Launch Control Center program 
area; and
981 
(C) the Launch Control Facility program 
area; 
(2) such Federal Government oversight includes 
Federal Government control of— 
(A) preliminary and critical design reviews 
entrance criteria, exit criteria; and 
(B) certification of completion at the sub-
system level through total system architecture; 
and 
(3) there are opportunities for competition 
throughout the lifecycle of the Sentinel interconti-
nental ballistic missile program, including competi-
tion across each of the program areas specified in 
paragraph (1). 
(b) REPORT.—If the Under Secretary completes a re-
vised Milestone B approval for such program, the Under 
Secretary shall, not later than 60 days after the date on 
which the Under Secretary completes such approval, submit 
to the congressional defense committees a report that in-
cludes a description of how the Under Secretary intends to 
satisfy the requirements of subsection (a). 
(c) MILESTONE B APPROVAL DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Milestone B approval’’ has the meaning 
given in section 4172 of title 10, United States Code.
982 
SEC. 1630. PROHIBITION ON REDUCTION OF INTERCONTI-
NENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this 
Act for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may 
be obligated or expended for the following, and the Depart-
ment may not otherwise take any action to do the following: 
(1) Reduce, or prepare to reduce, the responsive-
ness or alert level of the intercontinental ballistic mis-
siles of the United States. 
(2) Reduce, or prepare to reduce, the quantity of 
deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles of the 
United States to a number less than 400. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition in subsection (a) 
shall not apply to any of the following activities: 
(1) The maintenance or sustainment of inter-
continental ballistic missiles. 
(2) Ensuring the safety, security, or reliability of 
intercontinental ballistic missiles. 
(3) Facilitating the transition from the LGM– 
30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile 
to the LGM–35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic 
missile.
983 
SEC. 1631. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR ALTERING 
AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND. 
(a) LIMITATION.—None of the funds authorized to be 
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act for 
fiscal year 2025 for the Department of the Air Force may 
be obligated or expended to alter or adjust the existing com-
position, roles, or responsibilities of Air Force Global Strike 
Command in the— 
(1) development of military requirements relat-
ing to strategic deterrence; or 
(2) execution of Joint Forces Air Component 
Command operational and planning support for 
United States Strategic Command. 
(b) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than April 30, 
2025, the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordination with 
the Commander of United States Strategic Command, shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report out-
lining a plan for ensuring that any future adjustments to 
the composition, roles, or responsibilities of Air Force Glob-
al Strike Command will not adversely affect the missions 
of the Air Force Global Strike Command in supporting the 
operational requirements of the United States Strategic 
Command or activities of the Department of Defense to 
achieve Presidential nuclear employment guidance objec-
tives.
984 
(c) TERMINATION.—The limitation under subsection 
(a) shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the Sec-
retary of the Air Force submits the report required by sub-
section (b). 
SEC. 1632. LIMITATIONS ON USE OF FUNDS TO DISMANTLE 
B83–1 NUCLEAR GRAVITY BOMB. 
(a) LIMITATION ON TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Of the funds 
authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made 
available for fiscal year 2025 for operation and mainte-
nance, Defense-wide, and available for the Office of the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering 
for travel expenses, not more than 80 percent may be obli-
gated or expended until the Secretary of Defense submits 
to the congressional defense committees the proposed strat-
egy required by paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of section 
1674 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263). 
(b) LIMITATION ON USE TO DISMANTLE.—Except as 
provided in subsection (c), none of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available 
for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Energy may be 
used to dismantle B83–1 nuclear gravity bombs. 
(c) EXCEPTIONS.—The limitation on the use of funds 
under subsection (b) shall not apply—
985 
(1) if the Commander of the United States Stra-
tegic Command submits to the congressional defense 
committees a certification that— 
(A) the use of funds described in such sub-
section to dismantle B83–1 nuclear gravity 
bombs is in the best interest of the United States; 
and 
(B) there are no gaps as of the date of the 
submission of such certification in the strategic 
deterrence posture of the United States; or 
(2) with respect to the dismantlement of B83–1 
nuclear gravity bombs for the purpose of supporting 
safety and surveillance, sustainment, life extension or 
modification programs for the B83–1 or other weap-
ons currently in, or planned to become part of, the 
nuclear weapons stockpile of the United States. 
SEC. 1633. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS PEND-
ING SUBMISSION OF PLAN FOR DECREASING 
THE TIME TO UPLOAD ADDITIONAL WAR-
HEADS TO THE INTERCONTINENTAL BAL-
LISTIC MISSILE FLEET. 
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act 
for fiscal year 2025 for operation and maintenance, Air 
Force, and available for the Office of the Secretary of the 
Air Force for the travel of persons, not more than 80 percent
986 
may be obligated or expended until the date on which the 
Secretary of the Air Force submits the plan required by sec-
tion 1650 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 601). 
SEC. 1634. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS PEND-
ING SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION ON OP-
TIONS FOR ENHANCING NATIONAL NUCLEAR 
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ACCESS TO THE 
DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE. 
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act 
for fiscal year 2025 for operation and maintenance, De-
fense-wide, and available to the Office of the Assistant Sec-
retary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy for the travel 
of persons, not more than 90 percent may be obligated or 
expended until the date on which the Assistant Secretary 
provides the briefing on options for enhancing National Nu-
clear Security Administration access to the defense indus-
trial base required by the report of the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate accompanying S.2226 of the 118th 
Congress (Senate Report 118–58). 
SEC. 1635. DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE WORKFORCE DEVEL-
OPMENT STRATEGY. 
(a) STRATEGY.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in 
consultation with the Administrator for Nuclear Security
987 
and other individuals as the Secretary determines appro-
priate, shall commence the implementation of a strategy for 
promoting the development of a skilled manufacturing and 
high-demand vocational trade workforce to support the ex-
pansion of the national technology and industrial base and 
nuclear security enterprise. 
(b) REPORT; BRIEFINGS.— 
(1) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 
development of the strategy under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives and the Sen-
ate a report that outlines the strategy and includes a 
detailed description of measures to implement the 
strategy, including planned schedules and progress 
milestones. 
(2) BRIEFINGS.—Beginning in 2026, and on a 
biennial basis until 2032, the Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Industrial Base Policy shall provide to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate a briefing on progress 
made in implementing the strategy under subsection 
(a). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
988 
(1) The term ‘‘national technology and indus-
trial base’’ has the meaning given that term in sec-
tion 4801 of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) The term ‘‘nuclear security enterprise’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 4002 of the 
Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2501). 
SEC. 1636. LONG-TERM PLAN FOR STRATEGIC NUCLEAR 
FORCES DURING DELIVERY VEHICLE TRANSI-
TION. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and biennially there-
after through 2031, the Commander of the United States 
Strategic Command shall submit to the congressional de-
fense committees a plan for deployed strategic nuclear war-
heads over the covered period, during which changes are ex-
pected to be made to strategic delivery systems. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each plan under subsection (a) shall 
include the following: 
(1) A baseline strategy for maintaining a min-
imum of 1,550 nuclear warheads deployed on land- 
based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine- 
launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, and 
counted for deployed heavy bombers (as defined under 
the New START Treaty) during the covered period.
989 
(2) For each year of the covered period, an esti-
mate of the number of available strategic delivery sys-
tems, by type, and the number of deployed warheads 
associated with such systems. 
(3) A summary of operational considerations, 
including, as necessary, the identification of areas in 
which greater risk is being accepted. 
(4) A description of contingency plans in the 
event of reduced strategic delivery system availability 
due to programmatic delays, aging, or other such fac-
tors. 
(5) A review of the importance and impact of 
nuclear risk and reduction arms control. 
(6) Any other matters the Commander of the 
United States Strategic Command determines appro-
priate for inclusion in the plan. 
(c) COORDINATION.—In preparing each plan required 
under this section, the Commander of the United States 
Strategic Command shall coordinate with— 
(1) the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisi-
tion and Sustainment; 
(2) the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; 
and 
(3) the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff.
990 
(d) DEFINITIONS.— 
(1) The term ‘‘covered period’’ means the period 
beginning on January 1, 2028, and ending on Janu-
ary 1, 2036. 
(2) The term ‘‘New START Treaty’’ means the 
Treaty between the United States of America and the 
Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Re-
duction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, 
signed on April 8, 2010, and entered into force on 
February 5, 2011. 
(3) The term ‘‘strategic delivery system’’ means 
land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, sub-
marine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, 
long range air-launched cruise missiles, and nuclear- 
capable heavy bomber aircraft. 
SEC. 1637. REPORTS AND BRIEFINGS ON RECOMMENDA-
TIONS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION 
ON 
THE 
STRATEGIC 
POSTURE 
OF 
THE 
UNITED STATES. 
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States that— 
(1) the deterrence of strategic attacks, and in 
particular nuclear attacks, against the United States 
and its allies is the highest defense priority of the 
United States; and
991 
(2) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Energy are provided with all necessary authorities 
and resources required to ensure the maintenance of 
a modern, effective strategic deterrent to meet the 
emerging suite of unprecedented strategic threats 
against the United States. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 31 of each 
of years 2025 through 2030, the Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Chairman of 
the Nuclear Weapons Council, shall provide to the congres-
sional defense committees a briefing on the progress of each 
such Secretary with respect to implementing the rec-
ommendations made by the Congressional Commission on 
the Strategic Posture of the United States established under 
section 1687 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) in the document ti-
tled ‘‘America’s Strategic Posture: The Final Report of the 
Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the 
United States’’ (and dated October 2023). 
(c) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing required by subsection 
(b) shall include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the extent to which the im-
plementation of each recommendation may contribute 
to the deterrence of particular threats anticipated 
during the period covered by such document.
992 
(2) A determination of whether each rec-
ommendation has been, or will be, implemented by the 
Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Energy. 
(3) For each recommendation that has been, or 
will be, implemented— 
(A) the plan for such implementation, or, if 
applicable, a description of how such rec-
ommendation was implemented; 
(B) an estimate of the cost of implementa-
tion; 
(C) the timeline for such implementation; 
and 
(D) a description of any additional re-
sources the Secretary concerned determines nec-
essary for such implementation. 
(4) In the case of a recommendation the Sec-
retary concerned determines the relevant Department 
is already implementing through a separate effort, the 
analysis and justification of the Secretary for such 
determination. 
(5) A description of any anticipated impacts to 
the Defense Industrial Base or the Nuclear Security 
Enterprise required to support a recommendation, 
and any projected net benefits to the economic com-
petitiveness of the United States.
993 
(6) A description of the impact, if any, of imple-
menting a recommendation with respect to other ac-
tivities of the Department of Defense or the Depart-
ment of Energy. 
(7) Such other information as the Chairman of 
the Nuclear Weapons Council determines relevant. 
SEC. 1638. SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO USE OF 
ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE 
TO 
SUPPORT 
STRATEGIC DETERRENCE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) the considered use of artificial intelligence 
and machine learning tools presents opportunities to 
strengthen the security of critical strategic commu-
nications and early warning networks, improve the 
efficiency of planning processes to reduce the risk of 
collateral damage, and enhance U.S. capabilities for 
modeling weapons functionality in support of stock-
pile stewardship; and 
(2) even with such applications, particular care 
must be taken to ensure that the incorporation of ar-
tificial intelligence and machine learning tools does 
not increase the risk that our Nation’s most critical 
strategic assets can be compromised.
994 
(b) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 
United States that the use of artificial intelligence efforts 
should not compromise the integrity of nuclear safeguards, 
whether through the functionality of weapons systems, the 
validation of communications from command authorities, 
or the principle of requiring positive human actions in exe-
cution of decisions by the President with respect to the em-
ployment of nuclear weapons. 
Subtitle D—Missile Defense 
Programs 
SEC. 1641. EXPANSION OF CERTAIN PROHIBITIONS RELAT-
ING TO MISSILE DEFENSE INFORMATION AND 
SYSTEMS TO APPLY TO PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC 
OF CHINA. 
Section 5551 of title 10, United States Code, as added 
by section 1649, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘or the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China’’ after ‘‘the Russian Federa-
tion’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting ‘‘or the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China’’ after ‘‘the Russian Federa-
tion’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘or the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China’’ after ‘‘the Russian Federa-
tion’’.
995 
SEC. 1642. ADDITIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE SITE FOR PRO-
TECTION OF UNITED STATES HOMELAND. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL INTERCEPTOR 
SITE.—Subject to the availability of appropriations for 
such purpose, not later than December 31, 2030, the Direc-
tor of the Missile Defense Agency shall establish a fully oper-
ational third continental United States interceptor site on 
the East Coast of the United States. The Director shall es-
tablish such site at a location optimized to support the de-
fense of the homeland of the United States from emerging 
long-range missile threats. 
(b) COORDINATION.—In establishing the interceptor 
site required under subsection (a), the Director shall coordi-
nate with the commander of the relevant combatant com-
mand. 
(c) PLAN AND UPDATES.—Concurrent with the sub-
mission of the budget of the President to Congress pursuant 
to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for each 
of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, the Director shall submit 
to the congressional defense committees— 
(1) a plan for establishing the interceptor site re-
quired under subsection (a); and 
(2) an update on the progress of the Director in 
establishing such site.
996 
SEC. 1643. ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE REGARDING ENHANCE-
MENT OF JORDANIAN AIR AND MISSILE DE-
FENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of State and the Commander of 
the United States Central Command, may seek to advise 
and assist the Kingdom of Jordan in enhancing capabilities 
for countering air and missile threats from Iran and groups 
linked to Iran, including the threat from unmanned aerial 
systems, that threaten the United States, Jordan, and other 
allies and partners of the United States. 
(b) PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY AND IN-
FORMATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that any advice 
or assistance provided under this section appropriately pro-
tects sensitive technology and information and the national 
security interests of the United States and Jordan. 
(c) MIDDLE EAST INTEGRATED AIR AND MISSILE DE-
FENSE.—Pursuant to section 1658 of the James M. Inhofe 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
(Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2951), the Secretary of De-
fense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall as-
sess the feasibility of including Jordan in a multinational 
integrated air and missile defense architecture to protect 
the people, infrastructure, and territory of Jordan from 
cruise and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned aerial
997 
systems, and rocket attacks from Iran and groups linked 
to Iran. 
SEC. 1644. IRON DOME SHORT-RANGE ROCKET DEFENSE 
SYSTEM AND ISRAELI COOPERATIVE MISSILE 
DEFENSE PROGRAM CO-DEVELOPMENT AND 
CO-PRODUCTION. 
(a) IRON DOME SHORT-RANGE ROCKET DEFENSE 
SYSTEM.— 
(1) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Of the funds au-
thorized to be appropriated by this Act for fiscal year 
2025 for procurement, Defense-wide, and available for 
the 
Missile 
Defense 
Agency, 
not 
more 
than 
$110,000,000 may be provided to the Government of 
Israel to procure components for the Iron Dome short- 
range rocket defense system through co-production of 
such components in the United States by industry of 
the United States. 
(2) CONDITIONS.— 
(A) 
AGREEMENT.—Funds 
described 
in 
paragraph (1) for the Iron Dome short-range 
rocket defense program shall be available subject 
to the terms and conditions in the Agreement Be-
tween the Department of Defense of the United 
States of America and the Ministry of Defense of 
the State of Israel Concerning Iron Dome De-
998 
fense System Procurement, signed on March 5, 
2014, as amended to include co-production for 
Tamir interceptors. 
(B) CERTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 
days prior to the initial obligation of funds de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the Under Secretary of 
Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees— 
(i) a certification that the amended bi-
lateral international agreement specified in 
subparagraph (A) is being implemented as 
provided in such agreement; 
(ii) an assessment detailing any risks 
relating to the implementation of such 
agreement; and 
(iii) for system improvements resulting 
in modified Iron Dome components and 
Tamir interceptor sub-components, a certifi-
cation that the Government of Israel has 
demonstrated successful completion of Pro-
duction Readiness Reviews, including the 
validation 
of 
production 
lines, 
the 
verification of component conformance, and 
the verification of performance to specifica-
999 
tion as defined in the Iron Dome Defense 
System Procurement Agreement, as further 
amended. 
(b) ISRAELI COOPERATIVE MISSILE DEFENSE PRO-
GRAM, DAVID’S
SLING
WEAPON
SYSTEM
CO-PRODUC-
TION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), of 
the funds authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2025 for procurement, Defense-wide, and available for 
the Missile Defense Agency not more than $40,000,000 
may be provided to the Government of Israel to pro-
cure the David’s Sling Weapon System, including for 
co-production of parts and components in the United 
States by United States industry. 
(2) AGREEMENT.—Provision of funds specified 
in paragraph (1) shall be subject to the terms and 
conditions in the bilateral co-production agreement, 
including— 
(A) a one-for-one cash match is made by 
Israel or in another matching amount that oth-
erwise meets best efforts (as mutually agreed to 
by the United States and Israel); and 
(B) co-production of parts, components, and 
all-up rounds (if appropriate) in the United 
States by United States industry for the David’s
1000 
Sling Weapon System is not less than 50 per-
cent. 
(3) 
CERTIFICATION
AND
ASSESSMENT.—The 
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees— 
(A) a certification that the Government of 
Israel has demonstrated the successful completion 
of the knowledge points, technical milestones, and 
Production Readiness Reviews required by the 
research, development, and technology agreement 
and the bilateral co-production agreement for the 
David’s Sling Weapon System; and 
(B) an assessment detailing any risks relat-
ing to the implementation of such agreement. 
(c) ISRAELI COOPERATIVE MISSILE DEFENSE PRO-
GRAM, ARROW 3 UPPER TIER INTERCEPTOR PROGRAM CO- 
PRODUCTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), of 
the funds authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2025 for procurement, Defense-wide, and available for 
the Missile Defense Agency not more than $50,000,000 
may be provided to the Government of Israel for the 
Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program, including
1001 
for co-production of parts and components in the 
United States by United States industry. 
(2) CERTIFICATION.—The Under Secretary of 
Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a certifi-
cation that— 
(A) the Government of Israel has dem-
onstrated the successful completion of the knowl-
edge points, technical milestones, and Production 
Readiness Reviews required by the research, de-
velopment, and technology agreement for the 
Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program; 
(B) funds specified in paragraph (1) will be 
provided on the basis of a one-for-one cash match 
made by Israel or in another matching amount 
that otherwise meets best efforts (as mutually 
agreed to by the United States and Israel); 
(C) the United States has entered into a bi-
lateral international agreement with Israel that 
establishes, with respect to the use of such 
funds— 
(i) in accordance with subparagraph 
(D), the terms of co-production of parts and 
components on the basis of the greatest 
practicable co-production of parts, compo-
1002 
nents, and all-up rounds (if appropriate) 
by United States industry and minimizes 
nonrecurring engineering and facilitization 
expenses to the costs needed for co-produc-
tion; 
(ii) complete transparency on the re-
quirement of Israel for the number of inter-
ceptors and batteries that will be procured, 
including with respect to the procurement 
plans, acquisition strategy, and funding 
profiles of Israel; 
(iii) technical milestones for co-produc-
tion of parts and components and procure-
ment; 
(iv) a joint affordability working 
group to consider cost reduction initiatives; 
and 
(v) joint approval processes for third- 
party sales; and 
(D) the level of co-production described in 
subparagraph (C)(i) for the Arrow 3 Upper Tier 
Interceptor Program is not less than 50 percent. 
(d) NUMBER.—In carrying out paragraph (2) of sub-
section (b) and paragraph (2) of subsection (c), the Under 
Secretary may submit—
1003 
(1) one certification covering both the David’s 
Sling Weapon System and the Arrow 3 Upper Tier 
Interceptor Program; or 
(2) separate certifications for each respective sys-
tem. 
(e) TIMING.—The Under Secretary shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees the certification and as-
sessment under subsection (b)(3) and the certification under 
subsection (c)(2) not later than 30 days before the funds 
specified in paragraph (1) of subsections (b) and (c) for 
the respective system covered by the certification are pro-
vided to the Government of Israel. 
(f) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means the following: 
(1) The congressional defense committees. 
(2) The Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate. 
(3) The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives.
1004 
SEC. 1645. LIMITATION ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS WITH 
RESPECT TO CERTAIN MISSILE DEFENSE SYS-
TEM GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS, POLICIES, 
AND PROCEDURES. 
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act 
or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering 
for travel, not more than 90 percent may be obligated or 
expended until the date on which such Under Secretary sub-
mits to the congressional defense committees a certification 
that a notification to repeal, replace, or supersede the Direc-
tive-type Memorandum 20–002 has been submitted— 
(1) in accordance with section 205(b) of title 10, 
United States Code; and 
(2) pursuant to section 1667 of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public 
Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 205 note). 
SEC. 1646. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT 
WITH RESPECT TO INCIDENTS THAT AFFECT 
AVAILABILITY OF UNITED STATES HOMELAND 
MISSILE DEFENSES. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—If the Secretary of Defense deter-
mines that an incident has affected the availability of the 
ground-based midcourse defense system, or has impeded the 
function of such system, in a manner that inhibits the capa-
bility of such system to adequately respond to the oper-
1005 
ational mission of such system as required by the Com-
mander of the United States Northern Command, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the appropriate Members of Congress 
a notification of such incident by not later than 24 hours 
after the Secretary makes such determination. 
(b) APPROPRIATE
MEMBERS
OF
CONGRESS
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate Members of 
Congress’’ means each chair and ranking member of the 
congressional defense committees. 
SEC. 1647. PLAN FOR COMPREHENSIVE BALLISTIC MISSILE 
DEFENSE RADAR COVERAGE OF GUAM. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commander of the United States Indo-Pa-
cific Command, in coordination with the Secretary of the 
Army, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment, and the Director of the Missile Defense Agen-
cy, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
plan, including an implementation schedule, for— 
(1) providing simultaneous radar coverage of 
ballistic missile threats against Guam from the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s 
Republic of Korea; and 
(2) enabling the effective engagement of Terminal 
High Altitude Area Defense interceptors against in-
coming ballistic missile attacks on Guam, as required.
1006 
SEC. 1648. ANNUAL BRIEFING ON MISSILE DEFENSE OF 
GUAM. 
(a) BRIEFINGS REQUIRED.—Concurrent with the first 
submission to Congress of a budget pursuant to section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and with each submission of a 
budget to Congress pursuant to such section until the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment de-
termines that the missile defense system protecting Guam 
achieves full operational capability, the Under Secretary 
shall provide to the congressional defense committees a 
briefing on the missile defense of Guam. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—Each briefing under subsection (a) 
shall cover the following: 
(1) The current architecture of the missile de-
fense system protecting Guam as compared to the 
prior year. 
(2) A consolidated list of funds estimated within 
the most recent future-years defense program under 
section 221 of title 10, United States Code, for the 
missile defense of Guam as compared to the prior fis-
cal year, including with respect to— 
(A) missile defense systems; 
(B) missile defense interceptors; 
(C) network and communications systems;
1007 
(D) research, development, test, and evalua-
tion; 
(E) software development; 
(F) military construction; 
(G) operations and maintenance, including 
advanced 
planning 
and 
infrastructure 
sustainment, 
renovation, 
and 
maintenance 
funds; 
(H) civilian and military personnel, in-
cluding quality of life supporting functions; and 
(I) such other matters as the Under Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
(c) MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS.—Each briefing under sub-
section (a) shall include notable highlights and changes af-
fecting the progress towards initial and full operational ca-
pability of the missile defense system protecting Guam. 
SEC. 1649. ORGANIZATION AND CODIFICATION OF PROVI-
SIONS OF LAW RELATING TO MISSILE DE-
FENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
part:
1008 
‘‘PART VI—ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS 
‘‘Subpart A—Elements 
‘‘CHAPTER 551—MISSILE DEFENSE 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—ORGANIZATION 
‘‘5501. National missile defense policy. 
‘‘5502. Missile defense agency. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—BUDGET AND ACQUISITION MATTERS 
‘‘5511. Ballistic missile defense programs: program elements. 
‘‘5512. Ballistic missile defense programs: display of amounts for research, devel-
opment, test, and evaluation. 
‘‘5513. Unfunded priorities of the missile defense agency: annual report. 
‘‘5514. Acquisition accountability on the missile defense system. 
‘‘5515. Missile defense and defeat programs: major force program and budget as-
sessment. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—MISSILE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES 
‘‘5531. Technical authority for integrated air and missile defense activities and 
programs. 
‘‘5532. Hypersonic defense capability development. 
‘‘5533. Required testing of ground-based midcourse defense element of ballistic 
missile defense system. 
‘‘5534. Integration and interoperability of air and missile defense capabilities. 
‘‘5535. Development of requirements to support integrated air and missile defense 
capabilities. 
‘‘5536. Testing and assessment of missile defense systems prior to production and 
deployment. 
‘‘5537. Limitation on Missile Defense Agency production of satellites and ground 
systems associated with operation of such satellites. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISSILE DEFENSE INFORMATION 
‘‘5551. Prohibitions relating to missile defense information and systems. 
‘‘5552. Biannual briefing on missile defense and related activities. 
‘‘5553. Provision of information on flight testing of ground-based midcourse na-
tional missile defense system. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—ORGANIZATION 
‘‘§ 5501. National missile defense policy 
‘‘It is the policy of the United States— 
‘‘(1) to research, develop, test, procure, deploy, 
and sustain, with funding subject to the annual au-
1009 
thorization of appropriations for National Missile De-
fense, systems that provide effective, layered missile 
defense capabilities to defeat increasingly complex 
missile threats in all phases of flight; and 
‘‘(2) to rely on nuclear deterrence to address 
more sophisticated and larger quantity near-peer 
intercontinental missile threats to the homeland of the 
United States. 
‘‘§ 5502. Missile defense agency 
‘‘(a) APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR.—The Director of 
the Missile Defense Agency shall be a general or flag officer 
appointed for a six-year term. 
‘‘(b) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—(1) There is a Deputy Di-
rector of the Missile Defense Agency, who shall be appointed 
by the Secretary of Defense from among the general officers 
on active duty in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, or 
Space Force, or from among the flag officers on active duty 
in the Navy. In selecting an individual to serve as the Dep-
uty Director, the Secretary of Defense shall select an indi-
vidual who serves in a different armed force than the armed 
force in which the Director serves. 
‘‘(2) The Deputy Director shall be appointed for a term 
of not fewer than two, and not more than four years.
1010 
‘‘(3) The Deputy Director shall be under the authority, 
direction, and control of the Director of the Missile Defense 
Agency. 
‘‘(4) The Deputy Director shall— 
‘‘(A) carry out such responsibilities as may be 
assigned by the Director; and 
‘‘(B) serve as acting director during periods of 
absence by the Director, or at such times as the office 
of the Director is vacant. 
‘‘(c) NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO NON-STANDARD 
ACQUISITION AND REQUIREMENTS PROCESSES AND RE-
SPONSIBILITIES.—(1) The Secretary of Defense may not 
make any changes to the missile defense non-standard ac-
quisition and requirements processes and responsibilities 
unless, with respect to those proposed changes— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary, without delegation, has taken 
each of the actions specified in paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(B) a period of 120 days has elapsed following 
the date on which the Secretary submits the report 
under subparagraph (C) of such paragraph. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary proposes to make changes to the 
missile defense non-standard acquisition and requirements 
processes and responsibilities, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) consult with the Under Secretary of Defense 
for Research and Engineering, the Under Secretary of
1011 
Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under 
Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Secretaries of the 
military departments, the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, the Commander of the United States 
Strategic Command, the Commander of the United 
States Northern Command, and the Director of the 
Missile Defense Agency, regarding the changes; 
‘‘(B) certify to the congressional defense commit-
tees that the Secretary has coordinated the changes 
with, and received the views of, the individuals re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(C) submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report that contains— 
‘‘(i) a description of the changes, the ration-
ale for the changes, and the views of the individ-
uals referred to in subparagraph (A) with re-
spect to the changes; 
‘‘(ii) a certification that the changes will 
not impair the missile defense capabilities of the 
United States nor degrade the unique special ac-
quisition authorities of the Missile Defense Agen-
cy; and 
‘‘(iii) with respect to any such changes to 
Department of Defense Directive 5134.09, or suc-
cessor directive issued in accordance with this
1012 
subsection, a final draft of the proposed modified 
directive, both in an electronic format and in a 
hard copy format; and 
‘‘(D) with respect to any such changes to Depart-
ment of Defense Directive 5134.09, or successor direc-
tive issued in accordance with this subsection, provide 
to such committees a briefing on the proposed modi-
fied directive described in subparagraph (C)(iii). 
‘‘(3) In this subsection, the term ‘non-standard acqui-
sition and requirements processes and responsibilities’ 
means the processes and responsibilities described in— 
‘‘(A) the memorandum of the Secretary of De-
fense titled ‘Missile Defense Program Direction’ 
signed on January 2, 2002, as in effect on the date 
of the enactment of this subsection or as modified in 
accordance with this subsection, or any successor 
memorandum issued in accordance with this sub-
section; 
‘‘(B) Department of Defense Directive 5134.09, 
as in effect on the date of the enactment of this sub-
section (without regard to any modifications de-
scribed in Directive-type Memorandum 20–002 of the 
Deputy Secretary of Defense, or any amendments or 
extensions thereto made before the date of such enact-
ment), or as modified in accordance with this sub-
1013 
section, or any successor directive issued in accord-
ance with this subsection; and 
‘‘(C) United States Strategic Command Instruc-
tion 538–3 titled ‘MD Warfighter Involvement Proc-
ess’, as in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
subsection or as modified in accordance with this sub-
section, or any successor instruction issued in accord-
ance with this subsection. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—BUDGET AND ACQUISITION 
MATTERS 
‘‘§ 5511. Ballistic missile defense programs: program 
elements 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM ELEMENTS SPECIFIED
BY PRESI-
DENT.—In the budget justification materials submitted to 
Congress in support of the Department of Defense budget 
for any fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the 
President under section 1105(a) of title 31), the amount re-
quested for activities of the Missile Defense Agency shall be 
set forth in accordance with such program elements as the 
President may specify. 
‘‘(b) SEPARATE PROGRAM ELEMENTS FOR PROGRAMS 
ENTERING ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING DEVELOP-
MENT.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each 
ballistic missile defense program that enters engineering
1014 
and manufacturing development is assigned a separate, 
dedicated program element. 
‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘engineering and 
manufacturing development’ means the period in the course 
of an acquisition program during which the primary objec-
tives are to— 
‘‘(A) translate the most promising design ap-
proach into a stable, interoperable, producible, sup-
portable, and cost-effective design; 
‘‘(B) validate the manufacturing or production 
process; and 
‘‘(C) demonstrate system capabilities through 
testing. 
‘‘(c) MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.—The amount re-
quested for a fiscal year for any program element specified 
for that fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) shall include 
requests for the amounts necessary for the management and 
support of the programs, projects, and activities contained 
in that program element. 
‘‘§ 5512. Ballistic missile defense programs: display of 
amounts for research, development, test, 
and evaluation 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Any amount in the budget sub-
mitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31 for any 
fiscal year for research, development, test, and evaluation
1015 
for the integration of a ballistic missile defense element into 
the overall ballistic missile defense architecture shall be set 
forth under the account of the Department of Defense for 
Defense-wide research, development, test, and evaluation 
and, within that account, under the subaccount (or other 
budget activity level) for the Missile Defense Agency. 
‘‘(b) TRANSFER CRITERIA.—(1) The Secretary of De-
fense shall establish criteria for the transfer of responsibility 
for a ballistic missile defense program from the Director 
of the Missile Defense Agency to the Secretary of a military 
department. The criteria established for such a transfer 
shall, at a minimum, address the following: 
‘‘(A) The technical maturity of the program. 
‘‘(B) The availability of facilities for production. 
‘‘(C) The commitment of the Secretary of the 
military department concerned to procurement fund-
ing for that program, as shown by funding through 
the future-years defense program and other defense 
planning documents. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall submit the criteria estab-
lished, and any modifications to those criteria, to the con-
gressional defense committees. 
‘‘(c) NOTIFICATION OF TRANSFER.—Before responsi-
bility for a ballistic missile defense program is transferred 
from the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to the Sec-
1016 
retary of a military department, the Secretary of Defense 
shall submit to the congressional defense committees notice 
in writing of the Secretary’s intent to make that transfer. 
The Secretary shall include with such notice a certification 
that the program has met the criteria established under sub-
section (b) for such a transfer. The transfer may then be 
carried out after the end of the 60-day period beginning 
on the date of such notice. 
‘‘(d) CONFORMING BUDGET AND PLANNING TRANS-
FERS.—When a ballistic missile defense program is trans-
ferred from the Missile Defense Agency to the Secretary of 
a military department in accordance with this section, the 
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that all appropriate con-
forming changes are made to proposed or projected funding 
allocations in the future-years defense program under sec-
tion 221 of this title and other Department of Defense pro-
gram, budget, and planning documents. 
‘‘(e) FOLLOW-ON RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, 
AND EVALUATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
that, before a ballistic missile defense program is trans-
ferred from the Director of the Missile Defense Agency to 
the Secretary of a military department, roles and respon-
sibilities for research, development, test, and evaluation re-
lated to system improvements for that program are clearly 
delineated.
1017 
‘‘§ 5513. Unfunded priorities of the missile defense 
agency: annual report 
‘‘(a) REPORTS.—Not later than 10 days after the date 
on which the budget of the President for a fiscal year is 
submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, 
the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall submit to 
the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, and to the congressional defense committees, 
a report on the unfunded priorities of the Missile Defense 
Agency. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each report under subsection 
(a) shall specify, for each unfunded priority covered 
by such report, the following: 
‘‘(A) A summary description of such pri-
ority, including the objectives to be achieved if 
such priority is funded (whether in whole or in 
part). 
‘‘(B) The additional amount of funds rec-
ommended in connection with the objectives 
under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(C) Account information with respect to 
such priority, including the following (as appli-
cable): 
‘‘(i) Line Item Number (LIN) for ap-
plicable procurement accounts.
1018 
‘‘(ii) Program Element (PE) number 
for applicable research, development, test, 
and evaluation accounts. 
‘‘(iii) Sub-activity group (SAG) for 
applicable operation and maintenance ac-
counts. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITIZATION OF PRIORITIES.—Each re-
port under subsection (a) shall present the unfunded 
priorities covered by such report in order of urgency 
of priority. 
‘‘(c) UNFUNDED PRIORITY DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘unfunded priority’, in the case of a fiscal year, 
means a program, activity, or mission requirement of the 
Missile Defense Agency that— 
‘‘(1) is not funded in the budget of the President 
for the fiscal year as submitted to Congress pursuant 
to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code; 
‘‘(2) is necessary to fulfill a requirement associ-
ated with an operational or contingency plan of a 
combatant command or other validated requirement; 
and 
‘‘(3) would have been recommended for funding 
through the budget referred to in paragraph (1) by the 
Director of the Missile Defense Agency in connection 
with the budget if additional resources had been
1019 
available for the budget to fund the program, activity, 
or mission requirement. 
‘‘§ 5514. Acquisition accountability on the missile de-
fense system 
‘‘(a) BASELINES REQUIRED.—(1) In accordance with 
paragraph (2), the Director of the Missile Defense Agency 
shall establish and maintain an acquisition baseline for— 
‘‘(A) each program element of the missile defense 
system, as specified in section 223 of this title; and 
‘‘(B) each designated major subprogram of such 
program elements. 
‘‘(2) The Director shall establish an acquisition base-
line required by paragraph (1) before the date on which 
the program element or major subprogram enters— 
‘‘(A) engineering and manufacturing develop-
ment (or its equivalent); and 
‘‘(B) production and deployment. 
‘‘(3) Except as provided by subsection (c), the Director 
may not adjust or revise an acquisition baseline established 
under this section. 
‘‘(b) ELEMENTS
OF BASELINES.—Each acquisition 
baseline required by subsection (a) for a program element 
or major subprogram shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) A comprehensive schedule, including— 
‘‘(A) research and development milestones;
1020 
‘‘(B) acquisition milestones, including de-
sign reviews and key decision points; 
‘‘(C) key test events, including ground, 
flight, and cybersecurity tests and ballistic mis-
sile defense system tests; 
‘‘(D) delivery and fielding schedules; 
‘‘(E) quantities of assets planned for acqui-
sition and delivery in total and by fiscal year; 
and 
‘‘(F) planned contract award dates. 
‘‘(2) A detailed technical description of— 
‘‘(A) the capability to be developed, includ-
ing hardware and software; 
‘‘(B) system requirements, including per-
formance requirements; 
‘‘(C) how the proposed capability satisfies a 
capability requirement or performance attribute 
identified through— 
‘‘(i) the missile defense warfighter in-
volvement process, as governed by United 
States Strategic Command Instruction 538– 
03, or such successor document; or 
‘‘(ii) processes and products approved 
by the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Joint Re-
quirements Oversight Council;
1021 
‘‘(D) key knowledge points that must be 
achieved to permit continuation of the program 
and to inform production and deployment deci-
sions; and 
‘‘(E) how the Director plans to improve the 
capability over time. 
‘‘(3) A cost estimate, including— 
‘‘(A) a life-cycle cost estimate that sepa-
rately identifies the costs regarding research and 
development, procurement, military construction, 
operations and sustainment, and disposal; 
‘‘(B) program acquisition unit costs for the 
program element; 
‘‘(C) average procurement unit costs and 
program acquisition costs for the program ele-
ment; 
‘‘(D) an identification of when the docu-
ment regarding the program joint cost analysis 
requirements description is scheduled to be ap-
proved; and 
‘‘(E) an explanation for why a program 
joint cost analysis requirements description has 
not been prepared and approved, and, if a pro-
gram joint cost analysis requirements descrip-
1022 
tion is not applicable, the rationale for such in-
applicability. 
‘‘(4) A test baseline summarizing the comprehen-
sive test program for the program element or major 
subprogram outlined in the integrated master test 
plan. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON REVISION.—The 
Director may adjust or revise an acquisition baseline estab-
lished under this section if the Director submits to the con-
gressional defense committees notification of— 
‘‘(1) a justification for such adjustment or revi-
sion; 
‘‘(2) the specific adjustments or revisions made 
to the acquisition baseline, including to the elements 
described in subsection (b); and 
‘‘(3) the effective date of the adjusted or revised 
acquisition baseline. 
‘‘(d) OPERATIONS
AND SUSTAINMENT COST ESTI-
MATES.—The Director shall ensure that each life-cycle cost 
estimate included in an acquisition baseline pursuant to 
subsection (b)(3)(A) includes— 
‘‘(1) all of the operations and sustainment costs 
for which the Director is responsible;
1023 
‘‘(2) a description of the operations and 
sustainment functions and costs for which a military 
department is responsible; 
‘‘(3) the amount of operations and sustainment 
costs (dollar value and base year) for which the mili-
tary department or other element of the Department 
of Defense is responsible; and 
‘‘(4)(A) a citation to the source (such as a joint 
cost estimate or one or more military department es-
timates) that captures the operations and sustainment 
costs for which a military department or other ele-
ment of the Department of Defense is responsible; 
‘‘(B) the date the source was prepared; and 
‘‘(C) if and when the source was independently 
verified by the Office for Cost Assessment and Pro-
gram Evaluation. 
‘‘§ 5515. Missile defense and defeat programs: major 
force program and budget assessment 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF MAJOR FORCE PROGRAM.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall establish a unified major 
force program for missile defense and defeat programs pur-
suant to section 222(b) of this title to prioritize missile de-
fense and defeat programs in accordance with the require-
ments of the Department of Defense and national security.
1024 
‘‘(b) BUDGET ASSESSMENT.—(1) The Secretary shall 
include with the defense budget materials for each of fiscal 
years 2019 through 2030 a report on the budget for missile 
defense and defeat programs of the Department of Defense. 
‘‘(2) Each report on the budget for missile defense and 
defeat programs of the Department under paragraph (1) 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) An overview of the budget, including— 
‘‘(i) a comparison between that budget, the 
previous budget, the most recent and prior fu-
ture-years defense program submitted to Con-
gress under section 221 of this title (such com-
parison shall exclude the responsibility for re-
search and development of the continuing im-
provement of such missile defense and defeat pro-
gram), and the amounts appropriated for such 
missile defense and defeat programs during the 
previous fiscal year; and 
‘‘(ii) the specific identification, as a budg-
etary line item, for the funding under such pro-
grams. 
‘‘(B) An assessment of the budget, including sig-
nificant changes, priorities, challenges, and risks. 
‘‘(C) Any additional matters the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate.
1025 
‘‘(3) Each report under paragraph (1) shall be sub-
mitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
annex. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘budget’, with respect to a fiscal 
year, means the budget for that fiscal year that is 
submitted to Congress by the President under section 
1105(a) of title 31. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘defense budget materials’, with 
respect to a fiscal year, means the materials sub-
mitted to Congress by the Secretary of Defense in sup-
port of the budget for that fiscal year. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘missile defense and defeat pro-
grams’ means active and passive ballistic missile de-
fense programs, cruise missile defense programs for 
the homeland, and missile defeat programs. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—MISSILE DEFENSE 
CAPABILITIES 
‘‘§ 5531. Technical authority for integrated air and 
missile defense activities and programs 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Missile De-
fense Agency is the technical authority of the Department 
of Defense for integrated air and missile defense activities 
and programs, including joint engineering and integration 
efforts for such activities and programs, including with re-
1026 
spect to defining and controlling the interfaces of such ac-
tivities and programs and the allocation of technical re-
quirements for such activities and programs. 
‘‘(b) DETAILEES.—(1) In carrying out the technical 
authority under paragraph (1), the Director may seek to 
have staff detailed to the Missile Defense Agency from the 
Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Mis-
sile Defense and the Joint Integrated Air and Missile De-
fense Organization in a number the Director determines 
necessary in accordance with subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(2) In detailing staff under subparagraph (A) to 
carry out the technical authority under paragraph (1), the 
total number of staff, including detailees, of the Missile De-
fense Agency who carry out such authority may not exceed 
the number that is twice the number of such staff carrying 
out such authority as of January 1, 2016. 
‘‘§ 5532. Hypersonic defense capability development 
‘‘(a) EXECUTIVE AGENT.—The Director of the Missile 
Defense Agency shall serve as the executive agent for the 
Department of Defense for the development of a capability 
by the United States to counter hypersonic boost-glide vehi-
cle capabilities and conventional prompt strike capabilities 
that may be employed against the United States, the allies 
of the United States, and the deployed forces of the United 
States.
1027 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Di-
rector shall— 
‘‘(1) develop architectures for a hypersonic de-
fense capability, from detecting threats to intercepting 
such threats, that— 
‘‘(A) involves systems of the military de-
partments and the Defense Agencies; and 
‘‘(B) includes both kinetic and nonkinetic 
options for such interception; and 
‘‘(2) not later than September 30, 2017, establish 
a program of record to develop a hypersonic defense 
capability. 
‘‘§ 5533. Required testing of ground-based midcourse 
defense element of ballistic missile defense 
system 
‘‘(a) TESTING REQUIRED.—Except as provided in sub-
section (c), not less frequently than once each fiscal year, 
the Director of the Missile Defense Agency shall administer 
a flight test of the ground-based midcourse defense element 
of the ballistic missile defense system. Beginning not later 
than five years after the date on which the next generation 
interceptor achieves initial operational capability, the Di-
rector shall ensure that such flight tests include the next 
generation interceptor.
1028 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Director shall ensure that 
each test carried out under subsection (a) provides for one 
or more of the following: 
‘‘(1) The validation of technical improvements 
made to increase system performance and reliability. 
‘‘(2) The evaluation of the operational effective-
ness of the ground-based midcourse defense element of 
the ballistic missile defense system. 
‘‘(3) The use of threat-representative targets and 
critical engagement conditions, including the use of 
threat-representative countermeasures. 
‘‘(4) The evaluation of new configurations of 
interceptors before they are fielded. 
‘‘(5) The satisfaction of the ‘fly before buy’ acqui-
sition approach for new interceptor components or 
software. 
‘‘(6) The evaluation of the interoperability of the 
ground-based midcourse defense element with other 
elements of the ballistic missile defense systems. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTIONS.—The Director may forgo a test 
under subsection (a) in a fiscal year under one or more 
of the following conditions: 
‘‘(1) Such a test would jeopardize national secu-
rity.
1029 
‘‘(2) Insufficient time considerations between 
post-test analysis and subsequent pre-test design. 
‘‘(3) Insufficient funding. 
‘‘(4) An interceptor is unavailable. 
‘‘(5) A target is unavailable or is insufficiently 
representative of threats. 
‘‘(6) The test range or necessary test assets are 
unavailable. 
‘‘(7) Inclement weather. 
‘‘(8) Any other condition the Director considers 
appropriate. 
‘‘(d) CERTIFICATION.—Not later than 45 days after 
forgoing a test for a condition or conditions under sub-
section (c)(8), the Under Secretary of Defense for Research 
and Engineering shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a certification setting forth the condition or con-
ditions that caused the test to be forgone under such sub-
section. 
‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 45 days after forgoing 
a test for any condition specified in subsection (c), the Di-
rector shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report setting forth the rationale for forgoing the test and 
a plan to restore an intercept flight test in the Integrated 
Master Test Plan of the Missile Defense Agency. In the case 
of a test forgone for a condition or conditions under sub-
1030 
section (c)(8), the report required by this subsection is in 
addition to the certification required by subsection (d). 
‘‘§ 5534. Integration and interoperability of air and 
missile defense capabilities 
‘‘(a) INTEROPERABILITY OF MISSILE DEFENSE SYS-
TEMS.—The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and 
the chairman of the Missile Defense Executive Board (pur-
suant to section 1681(c) of the John S. McCain National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public 
Law 115–232), acting through the Missile Defense Execu-
tive Board, shall ensure the interoperability and integra-
tion of the covered air and missile defense capabilities of 
the United States, including by carrying out operational 
testing. 
‘‘(b) ANNUAL DEMONSTRATION.—(1) Except as pro-
vided by paragraph (2), the Director of the Missile Defense 
Agency and the Secretary of the Army shall jointly ensure 
that not less than one intercept or flight test is carried out 
each year that demonstrates interoperability and integra-
tion among the covered air and missile defense capabilities 
of the United States. 
‘‘(2) The Director and the Secretary may waive the 
requirement in paragraph (1) with respect to an intercept 
or flight test carried out during the year covered by the
1031 
waiver if the chairman of the Missile Defense Executive 
Board— 
‘‘(A) determines that such waiver is necessary for 
such year; and 
‘‘(B) submits to the congressional defense com-
mittees notification of such waiver, including an ex-
planation for how such waiver will not negatively af-
fect demonstrating the interoperability and integra-
tion among the covered air and missile defense capa-
bilities of the United States. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION OF COVERED AIR AND MISSILE DE-
FENSE CAPABILITIES.—In this section, the term ‘covered 
air and missile defense capabilities’ means Patriot air and 
missile defense batteries and associated interceptors and 
systems, Aegis ships and associated ballistic missile inter-
ceptors (including Aegis Ashore capability), AN/TPY–2 ra-
dars, or terminal high altitude area defense batteries and 
interceptors. 
‘‘§ 5535. Development of requirements to support inte-
grated air and missile defense capabili-
ties 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with the memorandum 
of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of January 
27, 2014, regarding joint integrated air and missile defense, 
the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall oversee
1032 
the development of warfighter requirements for persistent 
and survivable capabilities to detect, identify, determine the 
status, track, and support engagement of strategically im-
portant mobile or relocatable assets in all phases of conflict 
in order to achieve the objective of preventing the effective 
employment of such assets, including through offensive ac-
tions against such assets prior to their use. 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE OF REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements 
developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used and up-
dated, as appropriate, for the purpose of informing applica-
ble acquisition programs and systems-of-systems architec-
ture planning that are funded through the Military Intel-
ligence Program, the National Intelligence Program, and 
non-intelligence programs. 
‘‘(c) SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES.—The Vice Chairman 
shall also oversee the development of the enabling framework 
for intelligence support for integrated air and missile de-
fense, including concepts for the integrated operation of 
multiple systems, and, as appropriate, the development of 
requirements for capabilities to be acquired to achieve such 
integrated operations. 
‘‘§ 5536. Testing and assessment of missile defense sys-
tems prior to production and deployment 
‘‘(a) SUCCESSFUL TESTING REQUIRED PRIOR
TO 
FINAL PRODUCTION OR OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT.—The
1033 
Secretary of Defense may not make a final production deci-
sion for, or operationally deploy, a covered system unless— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary ensures that— 
‘‘(A) sufficient and operationally realistic 
testing of the covered system is conducted to as-
sess the performance of the covered system in 
order to inform a final production decision or an 
operational deployment decision; and 
‘‘(B) the results of such testing have dem-
onstrated a high probability that the covered sys-
tem— 
‘‘(i) will work in an operationally ef-
fective manner; and 
‘‘(ii) has the ability to accomplish the 
intended mission of the covered system; and 
‘‘(2) the Director of Operational Test and Eval-
uation has carried out subsection (b) with respect to 
such covered system. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENT
BY DIRECTOR
OF OPERATIONAL 
TEST AND EVALUATION.—The Director of Operational Test 
and Evaluation shall— 
‘‘(1) provide to the Secretary the assessment of 
the Director, based on the available test data, of the 
sufficiency, adequacy, and results of the testing of 
each covered system, including an assessment of
1034 
whether the covered system will be sufficiently effec-
tive, suitable, and survivable when needed; and 
‘‘(2) submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a written summary of such assessment. 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to alter, modify, or otherwise affect 
a determination of the Secretary with respect to the partici-
pation of the Missile Defense Agency in the Joint Capabili-
ties Integration Development System or the acquisition re-
porting process under the Department of Defense Directive 
5000 series, or to diminish the authority of the Secretary 
of Defense to deploy a missile defense system at the date 
on which the Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(d) COVERED SYSTEM.—In this section, the term 
‘covered system’ means a new or substantially upgraded in-
terceptor or weapon system of the ballistic missile defense 
system. 
‘‘§ 5537. Limitation on Missile Defense Agency produc-
tion of satellites and ground systems asso-
ciated with operation of such satellites 
‘‘(a) PRODUCTION OF SATELLITES AND GROUND SYS-
TEMS.—The Director of the Missile Defense Agency may not 
authorize or obligate funding for a program of record for 
the production of satellites or ground systems associated 
with the operation of such satellites.
1035 
‘‘(b) PROTOTYPE SATELLITES.—(1) The Director, with 
the concurrence of the Space Acquisition Council established 
by section 9021 of this title, may authorize the production 
of one or more prototype satellites, consistent with the re-
quirements of the Missile Defense Agency. 
‘‘(2) Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
the Space Acquisition Council concurs with the Director 
with respect to authorizing the production of a prototype 
satellite under paragraph (1), the chair of the Council shall 
submit to the congressional defense committees a report ex-
plaining the reasons for such concurrence. 
‘‘(3) The Director may not obligate funds for the pro-
duction of a prototype satellite under paragraph (1) before 
the date on which the Space Acquisition Council submits 
the report for such prototype satellite under paragraph (2). 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—MISSILE DEFENSE 
INFORMATION 
‘‘§ 5551. Prohibitions relating to missile defense infor-
mation and systems 
‘‘(a) CERTAIN ‘HIT-TO-KILL’ TECHNOLOGY AND TE-
LEMETRY DATA.—None of the funds authorized to be appro-
priated or otherwise made available for any fiscal year for 
the Department of Defense may be used to provide the Rus-
sian Federation with ‘hit-to-kill’ technology and telemetry 
data for missile defense interceptors or target vehicles.
1036 
‘‘(b) OTHER SENSITIVE MISSILE DEFENSE INFORMA-
TION.—None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or 
otherwise made available for any fiscal year for the Depart-
ment of Defense may be used to provide the Russian Federa-
tion with— 
‘‘(1) information relating to velocity at burnout 
of missile defense interceptors or targets of the United 
States; or 
‘‘(2) classified or otherwise controlled missile de-
fense information. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION.—The prohibitions in subsections (a) 
and (b) shall not apply to the United States providing to 
the Russian Federation information regarding ballistic 
missile early warning. 
‘‘(d) INTEGRATION.—None of the funds authorized to 
be appropriated or otherwise made available for any fiscal 
year for the Department of Defense may be obligated or ex-
pended to integrate a missile defense system of the Russian 
Federation or a missile defense system of the People’s Re-
public of China into any missile defense system of the 
United States. 
‘‘§ 5552. Biannual briefing on missile defense and re-
lated activities 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—On or about June 1 and December 
1 of each year, the officials specified in subsection (b) shall
1037 
provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate 
and the House of Representatives a briefing on matters re-
lating to missile defense policies, operations, technology de-
velopment, and other similar topics as requested by such 
committees. 
‘‘(b) OFFICIALS SPECIFIED.—The officials specified in 
this subsection are the following: 
‘‘(1) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Ac-
quisition. 
‘‘(2) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Space Policy. 
‘‘(3) The Director of the Missile Defense Agency. 
‘‘(4) The Director for Strategy, Plans, and Pol-
icy of the Joint Staff. 
‘‘(c) DELEGATION.—An official specified in subsection 
(b) may delegate the authority to provide a briefing re-
quired by subsection (a) to a member of the Senior Execu-
tive Service who reports to the official. 
‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—The requirement to provide a 
briefing under subsection (a) shall terminate on January 
1, 2028.
1038 
‘‘§ 5553. Provision of information on flight testing of 
ground-based midcourse national missile 
defense system 
‘‘(a) INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED TO CONGRES-
SIONAL COMMITTEES.—The Director of the Missile Defense 
Agency shall provide to the congressional defense committees 
information on the results of each flight test of the ground- 
based midcourse national missile defense system. 
‘‘(b) CONTENT.—Information provided under sub-
section (a) on the results of a flight test shall include the 
following matters: 
‘‘(1) A thorough discussion of the content and ob-
jectives of the test. 
‘‘(2) For each such test objective, a statement re-
garding whether or not the objective was achieved. 
‘‘(3) For any such test objective not achieved— 
‘‘(A) a thorough discussion describing the 
reasons that the objective was not achieved; and 
‘‘(B) a discussion of any plans for future 
tests to achieve that objective.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEALS.—The following provisions 
of law are repealed: 
(1) Sections 130h, 205, 222b, 223, 224, 225, 
239a, 487 of title 10, United States Code.
1039 
(2) Subsection (a) of section 1662 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Pub-
lic Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 4022 note). 
(3) Subsection (a) of section 1681 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub-
lic Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note). 
(4) Subsection (a) of section 1686 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Pub-
lic Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note). 
(5) Section 1687 of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– 
328; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note). 
(6) Section 1689 of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– 
328; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note). 
(7) Section 1675 of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114– 
92; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note). 
(8) Section 1687 of the National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114– 
92; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note). 
(9) Section 1662 of the Carl Levin and Howard 
P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Public Law 113–291; 10 
U.S.C. 4205 note).