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Bill

S 436

A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the organization and authorities of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense with duties relating to industrial base policy and homeland defense.

119th Congress Introduced by Dan Sullivan

Creates a new Assistant Secretary for International Industrial Base Development and Engagement to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and allied cooperation.

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 436

Summary of S. 436 (2025): Bill to reorganize Assistant Secretaries of Defense, with emphasis on industrial base policy and homeland defense

Overview

S. 436, introduced in the Senate on February 5, 2025 by Senator Dan Sullivan, seeks to amend title 10 of the United States Code to reorganize senior defense offices and redefine duties related to the defense industrial base, homeland defense, and allied engagement. The bill would establish a new Assistant Secretary role focused on the international defense industrial base, rename and expand the responsibilities of the Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities office (adding Homeland Defense), and realign hemispheric affairs.

Key provisions

  • New Assistant Secretary for International Industrial Base Development and Engagement

    • Created as one of the Assistant Secretaries and to report directly to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
    • Principal duty: strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base through cooperation with security partners and allies, including Taiwan.

  • Renaming and expansion of the Assistant Secretary for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities

    • The title is updated to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, Capabilities, and Homeland Defense (APCC/HD).
    • All references to the former title in law/regulation would now refer to the expanded title.

  • New duties for the Homeland Defense role

    • A new paragraph (10) assigns the APCC/HD as the principal adviser to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and the Principal Deputy Under Secretary on:
    • (i) national security issues, defense strategy, and the capabilities, forces, and contingency plans needed to implement the defense strategy;
    • (ii) policy and planning oversight for homeland defense and mission assurance, DoD support to civil authorities, Arctic and global resilience; and
    • (iii) prioritization and engagement with other federal agencies, allied and partner nations, state/local/tribal governments, and private sector organizations.

  • Elimination and realignment of other roles

    • The position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs would be eliminated.
    • The responsibilities for Western Hemisphere affairs would shift to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

Who would be affected

  • DoD senior leadership structure, particularly the offices of:
    • Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities (renamed to include Homeland Defense)
    • Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs (eliminated as a separate role)
    • International Security Affairs (gains Western Hemisphere responsibilities)
    • Introduction of a new Assistant Secretary for International Industrial Base Development and Engagement (reports to the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment)

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced in the Senate; read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services (as of introduction on Feb. 5, 2025).
  • Sponsor: Senator Dan Sullivan (primary).
  • No effective date or implementation timeline is specified in the introduced text; changes would take effect “on and after the date of enactment.”

Potential impact and considerations

  • Strengthens U.S. industrial base policy through formal engagement with allies (notably Taiwan) and elevates the role of international industrial cooperation within defense acquisition.
  • Consolidates homeland defense policy within a broader strategic and capabilities framework, potentially altering how DoD coordinates with civil authorities, Arctic/global resilience, and interagency partners.
  • Realignment of hemispheric affairs to the Western Hemisphere through the International Security Affairs office could change diplomacy and policy focus in the Americas.

If you’d like, I can add a side-by-side comparison with current law to highlight all substantive shifts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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