Bill Summary
This legislation aims to enhance the planning, programming, and budget coordination for the operations of the Cyber Mission Force within the U.S. Armed Forces. It amends Title 10 of the United States Code to assign specific responsibilities to the Commander of the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM).
Key provisions include:
1. **Resource Management**: The Commander of USCYBERCOM will have direct control over the planning and budgeting processes related to training, equipping, operating, and sustaining the Cyber Mission Force. This includes preparing budget estimates and program objectives separate from other military departments.
2. **Consultation Requirements**: The Commander must consult with military department Secretaries regarding funding for reserve component units within the Cyber Mission Force. Conversely, military department Secretaries must also consult with the Commander about cyber mission funding when preparing their own budget proposals.
3. **Exclusions**: The Commander’s responsibilities do not extend to military pay and allowances or facility support funding, which are managed by military departments.
Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline and improve the budgeting process for cyber operations, ensuring better coordination between USCYBERCOM and the military departments.
Possible Impacts
The legislation outlined in the bill regarding the planning, programming, and budget coordination for the operations of the cyber mission force could affect people in several ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Enhanced Cybersecurity Capabilities**: With improved planning and budgeting for the cyber mission force, the Armed Forces may be better equipped to defend against cyber threats. This could lead to increased security for critical infrastructure, thereby protecting citizens from potential cyberattacks that could disrupt essential services, such as power grids, healthcare systems, and financial institutions.
2. **Military Personnel and Reserve Components**: The bill emphasizes the importance of consulting with military departments regarding funding for reserve components within the cyber mission force. As a result, there may be increased funding and resources allocated for training and equipping reservists. This could enhance job security and career advancement opportunities for military personnel involved in cybersecurity roles, potentially attracting more individuals to these critical positions.
3. **Transparency and Accountability in Defense Spending**: By requiring the Commander of the United States Cyber Command to prepare budget materials separately from other military departments, the legislation promotes transparency in how defense funds are allocated for cyber operations. This could lead to greater public awareness and scrutiny of defense spending, impacting how taxpayers perceive military expenditures and influencing future budgetary decisions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2601 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2601
To improve the planning, programming, and budget coordination for
operations of cyber mission force of the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
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 improve the planning, programming, and budget coordination for
operations of cyber mission force of the Armed Forces, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, AND BUDGET COORDINATION FOR
OPERATIONS OF CYBER MISSION FORCE.
Section 167b of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsections:
``(f) Planning, Programming, and Budgeting.--(1)(A) In addition to
the activities of a combatant command for which funding may be
requested under section 166(b) of this title, the Commander of the
United States Cyber Command shall, subject to the authority, direction,
and control of the Principal Cyber Advisor of the Department of
Defense, be responsible for directly controlling and managing the
planning, programming, budgeting, and execution of resources to train,
equip, operate, and sustain the cyber mission force, which shall
include the following:
``(i) Preparation of a program objective memorandum and
budget estimate submission for the resources required to train,
equip, operate, and sustain the cyber mission force.
``(ii) Preparation of budget materials pertaining to the
United States Cyber Command for inclusion in the budget
justification materials that are submitted to Congress in
support of the budget of the Department of Defense for a fiscal
year, as submitted with the budget of the President under
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, that is
separate from any other military department or component of the
Department of Defense.
``(B) The responsibilities assigned to the Commander of the United
States Cyber Command pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include the
following:
``(i) Military pay and allowances.
``(ii) Funding for facility support that is provided by the
military departments.
``(2)(A) Before the budget proposal for the United States Cyber
Command for any fiscal year is submitted to the Secretary of Defense,
the Commander of the United States Cyber Command shall consult with the
Secretaries of the military departments concerning funding for units of
the reserve components within the cyber mission force. If the Secretary
of a military department does not concur in the recommended level of
funding with respect to any such unit that is under the jurisdiction of
the Secretary of the military department, the Commander shall include
with the budget proposal submitted to the Secretary of Defense the
views of the Secretary of the military department concerning such
funding.
``(B) Before the budget proposal for a military department for any
fiscal year is submitted to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
the military department shall consult with the Commander of the United
States Cyber Command concerning funding for cyber mission forces within
the reserve component in the military personnel budget for that
military department. If the Commander does not concur in the
recommended level of funding with respect to individual augmentees or
units within the reserve component, the Secretary of the military
department shall include with the budget proposal submitted to the
Secretary of Defense the views of the Commander.''.
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