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Bill

S 5211

A bill to require the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit a strategy for cyber cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and for other purposes.

119th Congress Introduced by Tammy Duckworth and 1 co-sponsor

Develop and implement a formal Indo-Pacific cyber cooperation strategy to boost interoperability, information sharing, and capacity-building with allies and partners.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5211

Summary of Bill S.5211 (119th Congress)

Purpose and intent

  • This bill would require the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop and submit a strategy for cyber cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The strategy aims to strengthen and institutionalize cyber collaboration between the Department of Defense (DoD) and allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
  • The strategy must be submitted to the congressional defense committees and implementation should begin promptly.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1(a) General: Within 180 days of enactment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in coordination with:
    • Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)
    • Commander of United States Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) must develop and submit the strategy and begin implementing it.
  • Section 1(b) Elements: The strategy must include:
    1. Identification of current and projected cyber cooperation requirements through 2040 in areas such as:
      • Defensive cyberspace operations
      • Offensive cyber operations
      • Secure information sharing
      • Cyber training, exercises, and workforce development
      • Protection of critical infrastructure, communications networks, and defense industrial base
      • Joint planning and operational integration
      • Command and control structures for joint cyber integration
    2. Identification of existing cyber cooperation activities, agreements, and capability gaps with allies/partners in the Indo-Pacific.
    3. A strategic review of cybersecurity capacity and resilience of allies/partners, including:
      • Assessments of allies’ participation in U.S. programs and barriers to participation
      • Responsibility for cybersecurity capabilities (military vs government vs private sector) and related collaboration risks/opportunities
      • Cybersecurity standards and interoperability with U.S.
      • For partners without shared standards, analysis of differences, interoperability barriers, DoD mitigation measures, and recommended long-term solutions
      • Identification of additional resources or authorities needed (including National Guard State Partnership Program and State Department/Homeland Security consultations)
      • Identification of any gaps in capacity and resilience that DoD could address through security cooperation
    4. Actions to strengthen cyber cooperation, interoperability, intelligence and information sharing, cyber defense/integration, and joint cyber planning; required authorities, force posture changes, and legislative actions; and opportunities to expand cyber exercises, workforce exchanges, capacity-building, and collaboration through existing security cooperation mechanisms and multilateral partnerships.
  • Section 1(c) Funding Plan: Within 180 days, a funding/resourcing plan for implementing the strategy aligned with the most recent Future Years Defense Program, plus identification of resource gaps.
  • Section 1(d) Briefing: Within 180 days, a briefing to congressional defense committees on the strategy.
  • Section 1(e) Implementation Report: By March 15, 2028, a progress report detailing actions taken, remaining gaps, barriers, and recommendations for additional authorities or resources.
  • Section 1(f) Form: All strategy-related documents must be in unclassified form, with the possibility of a classified annex.

Who or what would be affected

  • DoD leadership (Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and combatant commands (INDOPACOM and CYBERCOM) would be responsible for drafting and implementing the strategy.
  • Allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, potentially including military and government entities, private sector partners, and National Guard programs (State Partnership Program).
  • Congressional defense committees overseeing defense programs would receive reports, briefings, and updates.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Enactment deadline-based milestones:
    • Strategy developed and implementation begun within 180 days of enactment.
    • Funding plan and resource gap assessment due within 180 days.
    • Briefing to Congress within 180 days.
    • Implementation progress report due by March 15, 2028.
  • Documentation to be unclassified, with a classified annex allowed.

Potential impact

  • Creates a formal, structured framework for expanding cyber cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners, aiming to improve interoperability, information sharing, and capacity-building.
  • Encourages alignment of standards and processes, potential expansion of joint exercises and workforce exchanges, and clearer identification of resource needs and authorities.
  • Could influence DoD security cooperation activities, alliance architecture, and regional cyber resilience initiatives through formal strategy and ongoing oversight.

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

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