USCYBERCOM

The next National Defense Authorization Act (the NDAA FY’18) is nearing the finish line.  A Conference Report is now available, and so the time has come for a closer look at some of the key provisions of interest to Lawfare readers.  My colleague Scott Anderson is going to post a broad overview shortly. For my part, I’d like to walk you through the “Cyberspace-Related Matters” section (sections 1631-1649C).

Friday morning, the White House announced it will elevate Cyber Command to a full unified combatant command. Within 60 days, the Secretary of Defense will recommend whether Cyber Command should also be split from the National Security Agency.

The 2017 NDAA paves the way for CYBERCOM to be elevated to a fully independent unified combatant command and maintains a more hotly contested opportunity for CYBERCOM to be split from the NSA.