§430d Cyber Intelligence Capability

Summary

By October 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense, working with the Director of National Intelligence, must create a dedicated cyber intelligence unit to support military cyber operations for U.S. Cyber Command and other defense organizations. The unit must collect basic, technical, and combined-source intelligence on cyber technology, capabilities, how they are used, and the plans or intentions of cyber threat actors. The Secretary must not duplicate existing DoD intelligence work. Starting with fiscal year 2027, the defense budget materials sent to Congress must request funds for this unit. It must use money made available to U.S. Cyber Command under the Military Intelligence Program. The National Security Agency may only provide IT services for the unit if those services are paid for under the Military Intelligence Program or the Information Systems Security Program. "Defense budget materials" means the budget papers the Secretary sends to Congress.