Cyber, IT and Innovation: Lawmakers Fund the Future of Defense Technology

As part of the annual military funding bill, some U.S. congressional lawmakers passed measures aimed at greater cybersecurity to be included in the legislation.  

“The future of conflict is here,” Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation, said June 13 during the markup of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “This mark is the starting place,” Gallagher said of the draft legislation issued by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.  

“The FY24 NDAA puts our national security first by boosting innovation, providing for our warfighters, and focusing on our defense industrial base—supplying our military with the tools necessary to counter the unprecedented threats our nation faces from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran,” Rogers said in a press release. 

The provisions focused on integrating innovations, increasing security and restructuring, and strengthening defense programs, including a new quantum industry solutions program. “In the weeks and months to come, we will continue to adapt and improve these policies to build a more resilient and capable military,” Gallagher said. 

The markup adds metrics for evaluating the Department of Defense’s (DoD's) ability to transition technology successfully, meant to help scale innovation. Changes focus on “actually integrating commercial technology—not just developing it,” according to Gallagher. 

Information-gathering policies made up many security-related goals, including mandating a review of cyberspace activities and opportunities for greater use of personnel in cyberspace. The subcommittee also requested a look at zero-trust policy implementation and mandated a report on scaling commercial red teams, both are security policies that improve threat responses. 

“[The mark] improves their cybersecurity posture through better visibility into networks and endpoints,” Gallagher said of the Defense Department. “[It] hardens academic research security from intellectual property thieves, like the Chinese Communist Party.” 

The subcommittee proposes to create an Academic Engagement Office for Cyber, a central office for digital and cyber education programs, including partnerships and scholarships. 

Also included was a proposed mandate for the DoD to create an intellectual property strategy, and a strategy for establishing a commercial rocket accelerated flight testing program. The subcommittee also requested an evaluation of the need for an executive agency for mobile nuclear reactors. 

The subcommittee chairman explained the fundamental questions Congress should consider and areas his subcommittee would focus on throughout the 118th Congress, including the invasion of Taiwan in cyberspace, integration of technologies to prepare for future conflict and the adoption of cyber warriors for conflicts within cyberspace. 

“We must give our warfighters the authorities and capabilities necessary to win,” Gallagher said.