Washington, D.C. – Led by Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ranking Member Ro Khanna (D-CA), the Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation today released its proposals for the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Subcommittee will meet at 11:00am ET on Tuesday, June 13th in Rayburn 2212. The markup will be live streamed on the committee’s website. The Subcommittee's mark is available here. 

 

 

Scaling Innovation

  • Creates a new pilot program on near-term quantum applications which requires the Department to work with an FFRDC and the quantum industry to identify near-term problems that could be solved with quantum computing.
  • Includes metrics to evaluate the Department of Defense’s (DoD) ability to transition technology successfully.

 

Increasing Security

  • Cybersecurity
    • Network Security and Access
      • Improves visibility into DoD’s networks and endpoints.
      • Mandates a review of gaps in Authority to Operate policies related to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives.
      • Requests DoD’s progress on implementing Zero Trust policies.
    • Partnerships
      • Directs a report on how DoD will scale the use of commercial red teams.
      • Mandates the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) to determine how DoD can better use National Guard and Reserve forces for cyberspace activities.
      • Requires the CIO to detail DIB cybersecurity efforts and identify those that are underperforming.

 

Organizational Improvements

  • Workforce
    • Creates the Academic Engagement Office for Cyber, a central program office focused on digital and cyber education, as well as partnerships and scholarships.
    • Requires DoD to create an intellectual property strategy so innovators can benefit from the IP they own that DoD acquires.
    • Directs a DoD strategy for developing and sustaining the hypersonics workforce.
    • Authorizes DoD and the military services to accept voluntary services from cybersecurity experts.
  • Commercial Technology Capabilities
    • Rescopes the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to focus on integrating commercial technology.
    • Codifies the elevation of the Director of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to report to the Secretary of Defense.
      • Tasks DIU with identifying all the innovation organizations within DoD.
      • Requires a manning assessment of the DIU.
    • Extends the Pilot Program on Domestic Investment in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to allow contracts to expand the pool of potential investors.
    • Requires the Air Force to develop a strategy for establishing a commercial rocket accelerated flight testing program to develop and test next generation rocket and propulsion systems in coordination with industry.
  • Structural Improvements
    • Directs DoD to evaluate the need for an executive agency for mobile nuclear reactors.