§484. Quarterly cyber operations briefings

(a) Briefings Required.-The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Commander of United States Cyber Command, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or designees from each of their offices, shall provide to the congressional defense committees quarterly briefings on all offensive and significant defensive military operations in cyberspace, including clandestine cyber activities, carried out by the Department of Defense during the immediately preceding quarter.

(b) Elements.-Each briefing under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the military operations in cyberspace described in such subsection, the following:

(1) An update, set forth separately for each applicable geographic and functional command, that describes the operations carried out in the area of operations of that command or by that command.

(2) An update, set forth for each applicable geographic and functional command, that describes defensive cyber operations executed to protect or defend forces, networks, and equipment in the area of operations of that command.

(3) An update on relevant authorities and legal issues applicable to operations, including any presidential directives and delegations of authority received since the last quarterly update.

(4) An overview of critical operational challenges posed by major adversaries or encountered in operational activities conducted since the last quarterly update.

(5) An overview of the readiness of the Cyber Mission Forces to perform assigned missions that-

(A) addresses all of the abilities of such Forces to conduct cyberspace operations based on capability and capacity of personnel, equipment, training, and equipment condition-

(i) using both quantitative and qualitative metrics; and

(ii) in a way that is common to all military departments; and

(B) is consistent with readiness reporting pursuant to section 482 of this title.

(6) Any other matters that the briefers determine to be appropriate.

(c) Documents.-Each briefing under subsection (a) shall include a classified placemat, summarizing the elements specified in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (5) of subsection (b), and an unclassified memorandum, summarizing the briefing's contents.

(Added Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title IX, §939(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1888 ; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1632(a), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1738 ; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1634(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1747 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVII, §1703, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4081 .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 484, added Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title III, §324(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1677 , which related to annual report on aircraft inventory, was repealed by Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title X, §1061(6)(A), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1583 .

Amendments

2021-Subsecs. (a) to (c). Pub. L. 116–283 added subsecs. (a) to (c) and struck out former subsecs. (a) and (b) which related to required quarterly cyber operations briefings and their elements.

2019-Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 116–92 added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).

2017-Pub. L. 115–91 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, substituted "congressional defense committees" for "Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate", and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2019 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVI, §1634(d), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1748 , provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019]."

Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, §1632(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1738 , provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 12, 2017], and shall apply with respect to briefings required [to] be provided under section 484 of title 10, United States Code, on or after that date."

Initial Briefing

Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title IX, §939(b), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1888 , provided that: "The first briefing required under section 484 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall be provided not later than March 1, 2013."