A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish the Artificial General Intelligence Steering Committee, and for other purposes.

Bill: 119-s-2604
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2025-07-31
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2025-07-31
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2604 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 31, 2025 Mr. Rounds introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require the Secretary of Defense to establish the Artificial General Intelligence Steering Committee, and for other purposes.

1. Artificial General Intelligence Steering Committee (a) Establishment (1) In general Not later than April 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a steering committee on artificial general intelligence. (2) Designation The steering committee established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the Artificial General Intelligence Steering Committee (in this section the Steering Committee ). (b) Membership The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following: (1) The Deputy Secretary of Defense. (2) The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (3) The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, the Vice Chief of Staff of Naval Operations, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Vice Chief of Space Operations, and the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. (4) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. (5) The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. (6) The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. (7) The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer. (8) Such representatives from the military departments as the Secretary considers appropriate. (9) The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense. (10) Representatives of such innovation centers within the defense innovation ecosystem as the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate. (11) Representatives of such other organizations and elements of the Department of Defense as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Co-Chairpersons The Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall serve as the Co-Chairpersons of the Steering Committee. (d) Responsibilities The Steering Committee shall be responsible for— (1) analyzing the current trajectory of artificial intelligence models and enabling technologies that would support achievement of artificial general intelligence, including— (A) current and emerging models, including frontier and world models; (B) agentic algorithms; (C) neuromorphic computing; (D) cognitive science applications for algorithm or model development; (E) infrastructure needs; (F) new or emerging microelectronics designs or architectures; and (G) such other technology disciplines as the Steering Committee determines appropriate; (2) assess the technological, operational, and doctrinal trajectory of adversaries of the United States towards the goal of achieving an artificial general intelligence; (3) analyzing the military applications and implications of artificial general intelligence for the Department; (4) developing a strategy for the Department adoption of artificial general intelligence, including— (A) articulation of ethical and policy guardrails; (B) required resources, including through the use of new or novel funding mechanisms like purchase commitments, financing arrangements, or loans or loan guarantees; (C) measurable goals; and (D) mechanisms available for transition or adoption through public-private partnerships; and (5) analyzing the threat landscape emanating from adversarial use of artificial general intelligence and developing options and counter-artificial general intelligence strategies to defend against such use. (e) Report (1) In general Not later than January 31, 2027, the Deputy Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the findings of the Steering Committee with respect to the matters covered by subsection (d). (2) Form of report The report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (3) Public availability The Deputy Secretary shall make available to the public the unclassified portion of the report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1). (f) Sunset The requirements and authorities of this section shall terminate on December 31, 2027. (g) Definitions In this section: (1) The term artificial general intelligence means artificial intelligence-capable systems with the potential to match or exceed human intelligence across most cognitive tasks, distinct from narrow artificial intelligence systems designed for specific tasks in defined domains. (2) The term innovation ecosystem means a regionally based network of private sector, academic, and government institutions in a network of formal and informal institutional relationships that contribute to technological and economic development in a defined technology sector or sectors.