References in Text

The enactment of this Act, referred to in subsec. (a), probably means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 116–92, which added this section and was approved Dec. 20, 2019.

Conducting of Military Operations in the Information Environment

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1631(b)–(i), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1742–1745, provided that:

"(b) Affirming the Authority of the Secretary of Defense to Conduct Military Operations in the Information Environment.—(1) Congress affirms that the Secretary of Defense is authorized to conduct military operations, including clandestine operations, in the information environment to defend the United States, allies of the United States, and interests of the United States, including in response to malicious influence activities carried out against the United States or a United States person by a foreign power.

"(2) The military operations referred to in paragraph (1), when appropriately authorized include the conduct of military operations short of hostilities and in areas outside of areas of active hostilities for the purpose of preparation of the environment, influence, force protection, and deterrence of hostilities.

"(c) Treatment of Clandestine Military Operations in the Information Environment as Traditional Military Activities.—A clandestine military operation in the information environment shall be considered a traditional military activity for the purposes of section 503(e)(2) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3093(e)(2)).

"(d) Quarterly Information Operations Briefings.—(1) Not less frequently than once each quarter, the Secretary of Defense shall provide the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a briefing on significant military operations, including all clandestine operations in the information environment, carried out by the Department of Defense during the immediately preceding quarter.

"(2) Each briefing under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the military operations in the information environment described in such paragraph, the following:

"(A) An update, disaggregated by geographic and functional command, that describes the operations carried out by the commands.

"(B) An overview of authorities and legal issues applicable to the operations, including any relevant legal limitations.

"(C) An outline of any interagency activities and initiatives relating to the operations.

"(D) Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.

"(e) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section may be construed to limit, expand, or otherwise alter the authority of the Secretary to conduct military operations, including clandestine operations, in the information environment, to authorize specific military operations, or to limit, expand, or otherwise alter or otherwise affect the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.) or an authorization for use of military force that was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019].

"(f) Cross-functional Team.—

"(1) Establishment.—The Principal Information Operations Advisor shall integrate the expertise in all elements of information operations and perspectives of appropriate organizations within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, military departments, Defense Agencies, and combatant commands by establishing and maintaining a full-time cross-functional team composed of subject-matter experts selected from those organizations.

"(2) Selection and organization.—The cross-functional team established under paragraph (1) shall be selected, organized, and managed in a manner consistent with section 911 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 111 note).

"(g) Strategy and Posture Review.—

"(1) Strategy and posture review required.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Principal Information Operations Advisor under section 397 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)) and the cross-functional team established under subsection (f)(1), shall—

"(A) develop or update, as appropriate, a strategy for operations in the information environment, including how such operations will be synchronized across the Department of Defense and the global, regional, and functional interests of the combatant commands;

"(B) conduct an information operations posture review, including an analysis of capability gaps that inhibit the Department's ability to successfully execute the strategy developed or updated pursuant to subparagraph (A);

"(C) designate Information Operations Force Providers and Information Operations Joint Force Trainers for the Department of Defense;

"(D) develop and persistently manage a joint lexicon for terms related to information operations, including 'information operations', 'information environment', 'operations in the information environment', and 'information related capabilities'; and

"(E) determine the collective set of combat capabilities that will be treated as part of operations in the information environment, including cyber warfare, space warfare, military information support operations, electronic warfare, public affairs, and civil affairs.

"(2) Coordination on certain cyber matters.—For any matters in the strategy and posture review under paragraph (1) that involve or relate to Department of Defense cyber capabilities, the Principal Information Operations Advisor shall fully collaborate with the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense.

"(3) Elements.—At a minimum, the strategy developed or updated pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following:

"(A) The establishment of lines of effort, objectives, and tasks that are necessary to implement such strategy and eliminate the capability gaps identified under paragraph (1)(B).

"(B) In partnership with the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and in coordination with any other component or Department of Defense entity as selected by the Secretary of Defense, an evaluation of any organizational changes that may be required within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, including potential changes to Under Secretary or Assistant Secretary-level positions to comprehensively conduct oversight of policy development, capabilities, and other aspects of operations in the information environment as determined pursuant to the information operations posture review under paragraph (1)(B).

"(C) An assessment of various models for operationalizing information operations, including the feasibility and advisability of establishing an Army Information Warfare Command.

"(D) A review of the role of information operations in combatant commander operational planning, the ability of combatant commanders to respond to hostile acts by adversaries, and the ability of combatant commanders to engage and build capacity with allies.

"(E) A review of the law, policies, and authorities relating to, and necessary for, the United States to conduct military operations, including clandestine military operations, in the information environment.

"(4) Submission to congress.—Upon completion, the Secretary of Defense shall present the strategy for operations in the information environment and the information operations posture review under subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, of paragraph (1) to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

"(h) Report.—

"(1) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Secretary of Defense shall provide the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report for the structuring and manning of information operations capabilities and forces across the Department of Defense. The Secretary shall provide such Committees with quarterly updates on such plan.

"(2) Elements.—The plan required under paragraph (1) shall address the following:

"(A) How the Department of Defense will organize to develop a combined information operations strategy and posture review under subsection (g).

"(B) How the Department will fulfill the roles and responsibilities of the Principal Information Operations Advisor under section 397 of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)).

"(C) How the Department will establish the information operations cross-functional team under subsection (f)(1).

"(D) How the Department will utilize boards and working groups involving senior-level Department representatives on information operations.

"(E) Such other matters as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.

"(i) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) The terms 'foreign person' [probably should be "foreign power"] and 'United States person' have the meanings given such terms in section 101 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (50 U.S.C. 1801).

"(2) The term 'hostilities' has the same meaning as such term is used in the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).

"(3) The term 'clandestine military operation in the information environment' means an operation or activity, or associated preparatory actions, authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense, that—

"(A) is marked by, held in, or conducted with secrecy, where the intent is that the operation or activity will not be apparent or acknowledged publicly; and

"(B) is to be carried out—

"(i) as part of a military operation plan approved by the President or the Secretary of Defense;

"(ii) to deter, safeguard, or defend against attacks or malicious influence activities against the United States, allies of the United States, and interests of the United States;

"(iii) in support of hostilities or military operations involving the United States armed forces; or

"(iv) in support of military operations short of hostilities and in areas where hostilities are not occurring for the purpose of preparation of the environment, influence, force protection, and deterrence."