10 U.S.C. § 284 (ARMED FORCES)
§ 284. Support for counterdrug activities and activities to counter transnational organized crime
(a) Support to Other Agencies.—
The Secretary of Defense may provide support for the counterdrug activities or activities to counter transnational organized crime of any other department or agency of the Federal Government or of any State, local, tribal, or foreign law enforcement agency for any of the purposes set forth in subsection (b) or (c), as applicable, if—
(1) in the case of support described in subsection (b), such support is requested—
(A) by the official who has responsibility for the counterdrug activities or activities to counter transnational organized crime of the department or agency of the Federal Government, in the case of support for other departments or agencies of the Federal Government; or
(B) by the appropriate official of a State, local, or tribal government, in the case of support for State, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; or
(2) in the case of support described in subsection (c), such support is requested by an appropriate official of a department or agency of the Federal Government, in coordination with the Secretary of State, that has counterdrug responsibilities or responsibilities for countering transnational organized crime.
(b) Types of Support for Agencies of United States.—
The purposes for which the Secretary may provide support under subsection (a) for other departments or agencies of the Federal Government or a State, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies, are the following:
(1) The maintenance and repair of equipment that has been made available to any department or agency of the Federal Government or to any State, local, or tribal government by the Department of Defense for the purposes of—
(A) preserving the potential future utility of such equipment for the Department of Defense; and
(B) upgrading such equipment to ensure compatibility of that equipment with other equipment used by the Department.
(2) The maintenance, repair, or upgrading of equipment (including computer software), other than equipment referred to in paragraph (1) for the purpose of—
(A) ensuring that the equipment being maintained or repaired is compatible with equipment used by the Department of Defense; and
(B) upgrading such equipment to ensure the compatibility of that equipment with equipment used by the Department.
(3) The transportation of personnel of the United States and foreign countries (including per diem expenses associated with such transportation), and the transportation of supplies and equipment, for the purpose of facilitating counterdrug activities or activities to counter transnational organized crime within or outside the United States.
(4) The establishment (including an unspecified minor military construction project) and operation of bases of operations or training facilities for the purpose of facilitating counterdrug activities or activities to counter transnational organized crime of the Department of Defense or any Federal, State, local, or tribal law enforcement agency within or outside the United States.
(5) Counterdrug or counter-transnational organized crime related training of law enforcement personnel of the Federal Government, of State, local, and tribal governments, including associated support expenses for trainees and the provision of materials necessary to carry out such training.
(6) The detection, monitoring, and communication of the movement of—
(A) air and sea traffic within 25 miles of and outside the geographic boundaries of the United States; and
(B) surface traffic outside the geographic boundary of the United States and within the United States not to exceed 25 miles of the boundary if the initial detection occurred outside of the boundary.
(7) Construction of roads and fences and installation of lighting to block drug smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States.
(8) Establishment of command, control, communications, and computer networks for improved integration of law enforcement, active military, and National Guard activities.
(9) The provision of linguist, intelligence analysis, and planning services.
(10) Aerial and ground reconnaissance.
(c) Types of Support for Foreign Law Enforcement Agencies.—
(1) Purposes.—
The purposes for which the Secretary may provide support under subsection (a) for foreign law enforcement agencies are the following:
(A) The transportation of personnel of the United States and foreign countries (including per diem expenses associated with such transportation), and the transportation of supplies and equipment, for the purpose of facilitating counterdrug activities or activities to counter transnational organized crime within or outside the United States.
(B) The establishment (including small scale construction) and operation of bases of operations or training facilities for the purpose of facilitating counterdrug activities or activities to counter transnational organized crime of a foreign law enforcement agency outside the United States.
(C) The detection, monitoring, and communication of the movement of—
(i) air and sea traffic within 25 miles of and outside the geographic boundaries of the United States; and
(ii) surface traffic outside the geographic boundaries of the United States.
(D) Establishment of command, control, communications, and computer networks for improved integration of United States Federal and foreign law enforcement entities and United States Armed Forces.
(E) The provision of linguist and intelligence analysis services.
(F) Aerial and ground reconnaissance.
(2) Coordination with secretary of state.—
In providing support for a purpose described in this subsection, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of State.
(d) Contract Authority.—
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary may acquire services or equipment by contract for support provided under that subsection if the Department of Defense would normally acquire such services or equipment by contract for the purpose of conducting a similar activity for the Department.
(e) Limited Waiver of Prohibition.—
Notwithstanding section 276 of this title, the Secretary may provide support pursuant to subsection (a) in any case in which the Secretary determines that the provision of such support would adversely affect the military preparedness of the United States in the short term if the Secretary determines that the importance of providing such support outweighs such short-term adverse effect.
(f) Conduct of Training or Operation To Aid Civilian Agencies.—
In providing support pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may plan and execute otherwise valid military training or operations (including training exercises undertaken pursuant to section 1206(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101–189; 103 Stat. 1564)) for the purpose of aiding civilian law enforcement agencies.
(g) Relationship to Other Support Authorities.—
(1) Additional authority.—
The authority provided in this section for the support of counterdrug activities or activities to counter transnational organized crime by the Department of Defense is in addition to, and except as provided in paragraph (2), not subject to the other requirements of this chapter.
(2) Exception.—
Support under this section shall be subject to the provisions of section 275 and, except as provided in subsection (e), section 276 of this title.
(h) Congressional Notification.—
(1) In general.—
Not less than 15 days before providing support for an activity under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a written and electronic notice of the following:
(A) In the case of support for a purpose described in subsection (c)—
(i) the country the capacity of which will be built or enabled through the provision of such support;
(ii) the budget, implementation timeline with milestones, anticipated delivery schedule for support, and completion date for the purpose or project for which support is provided;
(iii) the source and planned expenditure of funds provided for the project or purpose;
(iv) a description of the arrangements, if any, for the sustainment of the project or purpose and the source of funds to support sustainment of the capabilities and performance outcomes achieved using such support, if applicable;
(v) a description of the objectives for the project or purpose and evaluation framework to be used to develop capability and performance metrics associated with operational outcomes for the recipient;
(vi) information, including the amount, type, and purpose, about the support provided the country during the three fiscal years preceding the fiscal year for which the support covered by the notice is provided under this section under—
(I) this section;
(II) section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763);
(III) peacekeeping operations;
(IV) the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement program under section 481 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291);
(V) Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs;
(VI) counterdrug activities authorized by section 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105–85); or
(VII) any other significant program, account, or activity for the provision of security assistance that the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State consider appropriate;
(vii) an evaluation of the capacity of the recipient country to absorb the support provided; and
(viii) an evaluation of the manner in which the project or purpose for which the support is provided fits into the theater security cooperation strategy of the applicable geographic combatant command.
(B) In the case of support for a purpose described in subsection (b) or (c), a description of any small scale construction project for which support is provided.
(2) Coordination with secretary of state.—
In providing notice under this subsection for a purpose described in subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the Secretary of State.
(3) Quarterly reports.—
(A) In general.—
Not less frequently than once each quarter, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on Department of Defense support provided under subsection (b) during the quarter preceding the quarter during which the report is submitted. Each such report shall be submitted in written and electronic form and shall include—
(i) an identification of each recipient of such support;
(ii) a description of the support provided and anticipated duration of such support;
(iii) a description of the sources and amounts of funds used to provide such support;
(iv) a description of the arrangements, if any, for the sustainment of the support, project, or purpose and the source of funds to support sustainment of the capabilities and performance outcomes achieved using such support, if applicable;
(v) a description of the objectives for the support, project, or purpose; and
(vi) information, including the amount, type, and purpose, about the support provided to the agency during the fiscal year for which the support is provided with respect to—
(I) this section; or
(II) counterdrug activities authorized by section 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105–85; 111 Stat. 1811).
(B) Appropriate committees of congress.—
Notwithstanding subsection (i)(1), for purposes of a report under this paragraph, the appropriate committees of Congress are—
(i) the congressional defense committees; and
(ii) any committee with jurisdiction over the department or agency that receives support covered by the report.
(i) Definitions.—
In this section:
(1) The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) The term “Indian tribe” means a Federally recognized Indian tribe.
(3) The term “small scale construction” means construction at a cost not to exceed $1,000,000 for any project.
(4) The term “tribal government” means the governing body of an Indian tribe, the status of whose land is “Indian country” as defined in section 1151 of title 18 or held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Indian tribe.
(5) The term “tribal law enforcement agency” means the law enforcement agency of a tribal government.
(6) The term “transnational organized crime” means self-perpetuating associations of individuals who operate transnationally for the purpose of obtaining power, influence, monetary, or commercial gains, wholly or in part by illegal means, while protecting their activities through a pattern of corruption or violence or through a transnational organization structure and the exploitation of transnational commerce or communication mechanisms.
(Added § 384 and renumbered § 284, Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, § 1011(a)(1), title XII, § 1241(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2381, 2497; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, § 1731(a)(14), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1813; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, § 1011, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3839; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title X, §§ 1010, 1011, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 380; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, § 1010, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1030.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: Section 376 of this title, referred to in subsecs. (e) and (g)(2), was renumbered section 276 of this title by Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2497.
Section 1206(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991, referred to subsec. (f), is section 1206(a) of Pub. L. 101–189, which is set out as a note under section 124 of this title.
Section 375, referred to in subsec. (g)(2), was renumbered section 275 of this title by Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title XII, § 1241(a)(2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2497.
Section 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998, referred to in subsec. (h)(1)(A)(vi)(VI), (3)(A)(vi)(II), is section 1033 of Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1881, which is not classified to the Code.
heading: Amendments
text: 2025—Subsec. (h)(3)(A)(iv) to (vi). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1010(1), added cls. (iv) to (vi).
Subsec. (h)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1010(2), substituted “the congressional defense committees” for “the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives”.
2023—Subsec. (b)(9). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1010, substituted “linguist, intelligence analysis, and planning” for “linguist and intelligence analysis”.
Subsec. (i)(3). Pub. L. 118–31, § 1011, substituted “$1,000,000” for “$750,000”.
2021—Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 116–283 added par. (3).
2019—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(14)(A), substituted “section 276” for “section 376”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(14)(B), inserted second closing parenthesis after “103 Stat. 1564)”.
Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(14)(C), substituted “section 275” for “section 375”.
Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(14)(A), substituted “section 276” for “section 376”.
Subsec. (h)(1)(A)(vi)(VI). Pub. L. 116–92, § 1731(a)(14)(D), struck out “section 1004 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 (10 U.S.C. 374 note) and” after “authorized by”.
2016—Pub. L. 114–328, § 1241(a)(2), renumbered section 384 of this title as this section.
heading: Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
heading: Semiannual Report on Department of Defense Operations at the Southern Land Border
text: Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, § 1070, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1050, provided that:
“(a) Report.—
“(1) In general.—
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2025], the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report on operations at the southern land border of the United States.
“(2) Elements.—
The report required under paragraph (1) shall include a detailed description of—
“(A) the efforts of the Department of Defense to support civil law enforcement agencies with respect to—
“(i) combating transnational organized crime in the United States Northern Command and the United States Southern Command areas of responsibility;
“(ii) reducing the cross-border flow of illicit synthetic drugs, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and fentanyl precursors; and
“(iii) reducing the cross-border illicit trade of firearms and human trafficking;
“(B) the steady-state plan and posture of the Department of Defense on the southern land border;
“(C) the assessment of the Department of Defense of the operational and readiness impact under the Department’s steady-state plan and posture on the southern land border, and any revisions of such plan and posture;
“(D) each military installation and each Department of Defense facility on or off the installation that is being used to support—
“(i) the operations of the Department of Defense along the southern land border; or
“(ii) the Department of Homeland Security or any of its components;
“(E) the funding sources for the current operations of the Department of Defense along the southern land border;
“(F) the use-of-force policy and training of the Department of Defense related to operations along the southern land border; and
“(G) any challenges the Department of Defense has faced in the execution of the efforts described in subparagraphs (A) and (F).
“(b) Semiannual Updates.—
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required under subsection (a), and not less frequently than once every 180 days thereafter until the termination of the national emergency declared by Proclamation 100886 (90 Fed. Reg. 8327; relating to a Declaration of a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States), Executive Order 14165 (90 Fed. Reg. 8467; relating to Security Our Borders), and Executive Order 14167 (90 Fed. Reg. 8613; relating to Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States), the Commander of the United States Northern Command shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report containing updates to the information included in the report required under subsection (a).”
heading: Cooperation With Mexico
text: Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title X, § 1013(b), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 381, provided that: “The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enhance cooperation with defense officials of the Government of Mexico to target, disrupt, and degrade transnational criminal organizations within Mexico that traffic fentanyl.”
heading: Department of Defense Authority To Provide Assistance To Secure the Southern Land Border of the United States
text: Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title X, § 1059, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 986, as amended by Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, § 1056(a), (b), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3855; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title X, § 1044, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1038, provided that:
“(a) Authority.—
“(1) Provision of assistance.—
“(A) In general.—
The Secretary of Defense may provide assistance to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for purposes of increasing ongoing efforts to secure the southern land border of the United States in accordance with the requirements of this section.
“(B) Requirements.—
If the Secretary provides assistance under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure that the provision of the assistance will not negatively affect military training, operations, readiness, or other military requirements.
“(2) Contract authority.—
In providing assistance to U.S. Customs and Border Protection under paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter into a contract for the provision of any of the following services:
“(A) Detection and monitoring.
“(B) Warehousing and logistical supply chain.
“(C) Transportation.
“(D) Vehicle maintenance.
“(E) Training other than lead or primary instructor.
“(F) Intelligence analysis.
“(G) Linguist.
“(H) Data entry.
“(I) Aviation.
“(3) Notification requirement.—
Not later than 7 days after the date on which the Secretary approves a request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall electronically transmit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives notice of such approval.
“(b) Concurrence in Assistance.—
Assistance under subsection (a) shall be provided with the concurrence of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
“(c) Types of Assistance Authorized.—
The assistance provided under subsection (a) may include the following:
“(1) Deployment of members and units of the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces to the southern land border of the United States.
“(2) Deployment of manned aircraft, unmanned aerial surveillance systems, and ground-based surveillance systems to support continuous surveillance of the southern land border of the United States.
“(3) Intelligence analysis support.
“(d) Materiel and Logistical Support.—
The Secretary of Defense is authorized to deploy such materiel and equipment and logistics support as is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of assistance provided under subsection (a).
“(e) Funding.—
Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense by this Act [see Tables for classification], the Secretary of Defense may use up to $75,000,000 to provide assistance under subsection (a).
“(f) Reports.—
“(1) Report required.—
At the end of each three-month period during which assistance is provided under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report that includes, for the period covered by the report, each of the following:
“(A) A description of the assistance provided.
“(B) A description of the Armed Forces, including the reserve components, deployed as part of such assistance, including an identification of—
“(i) the members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserve components, deployed, including specific information about unit designation, size of unit, and whether any personnel in the unit deployed under section 12302 of title 10, United States Code;
“(ii) the projected length of the deployment and any special pay and incentives for which deployed personnel may qualify during the deployment;
“(iii) any specific pre-deployment training provided for such members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserve components;
“(iv) the specific missions and tasks, by location, that are assigned to the members of the Armed Forces, including members of the reserve components, who are so deployed; and
“(v) the locations where units so deployed are conducting their assigned mission, together with a map showing such locations.
“(C) A description of any effects of such deployment on military training, operations, readiness, or other military requirements.
“(D) The sources and amounts of funds obligated or expended—
“(i) during the period covered by the report; and
“(ii) during the total period for which such support has been provided.
“(2) Form of report.—
Each report submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.”
[Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title X, § 1056(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3856, provided that: “The Law Revision Counsel is directed to move section 1059 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (Public Law 114–92; 129 Stat. 986; 10 U.S.C. 271 note prec.), as amended by this section, to a note following section 284 of title 10, United States Code.”
]
heading: Executive Documents
heading: Ex. Ord. No. 14167. Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States
text: Ex. Ord. No. 14167, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8613, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. (a) As Chief Executive and as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, I have no more solemn responsibility than protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States along our national borders. The protection of a nation’s territorial integrity and national boundaries is paramount for its security.
(b) The Armed Forces of the United States have played a long and well-established role in securing our borders against threats of invasion, against unlawful forays by foreign nationals into the United States, and against other transnational criminal activities that violate our laws and threaten the peace, harmony, and tranquility of the Nation. These threats have taken a variety of forms over our Nation’s history, but the Armed Forces have consistently played an integral role in protecting the sovereignty of the United States.
(c) Threats against our Nation’s sovereignty continue today, and it is essential that the Armed Forces staunchly continue to participate in the defense of our territorial integrity and sovereignty. A National Emergency currently exists along the southern border of the United States. Unchecked unlawful mass migration and the unimpeded flow of opiates across our borders continue to endanger the safety and security of the American people and encourage further lawlessness. Accordingly, through this order, I am acting in accordance with my solemn duty to protect and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States along our national borders.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to ensure that the Armed Forces of the United States prioritize the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the United States along our national borders.
Sec. 3. Implementation. The Secretary of Defense shall:
(a) No later than 10 days from the effective date of this order [Jan. 20, 2025], deliver to the President a revision to the Unified Command Plan that assigns United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) the mission to seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States by repelling forms of invasion including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities.
(b) On the effective date of this order, add the following requirements to the Contingency Planning Guidance and Guidance for the Employment of the Force:
(i) A Level 3 planning requirement for USNORTHCOM to seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States by repelling forms of invasion, including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities, with a commander’s estimate due to the Secretary of Defense within 30 days of the effective date of this order.
(ii) A campaign planning requirement for USNORTHCOM to provide steady-state southern border security, seal the border, and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States by repelling forms of invasion, including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities.
(iii) Continuous assessments of all available options to protect the sovereign territory of the United States from mass unlawful entry and impingement on our national sovereignty and security by foreign nations and transnational criminal organizations.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Donald J. Trump.