The White House objected to many provisions in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (H.R. 4909), including moving Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) up to a unified combatant command, the administration said May 16.
While the administration said it appreciates the House Armed Services Committee’s support for the Defense Department’s cyber missions and forces, it “objects to statutorily requiring the establishment of a unified combatant command for cyber operations in section 911,” the White House said in a Statement of Administration Policy.
“The Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should retain the flexibility to recommend to the President changes to the unified command plan that they believe would most effectively organize the military to address an ever-evolving threat environment,” the White House added.
Cyber Command is current located under its parent command, U.S. Strategic Command.
This statement comes despite recent administration statements that Cyber Command is ready to become an independent combatant command.
At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in April Adm. Mike Rogers, who leads CYBERCOM and the National Security Agency (NSA), said the command is mature enough to make the evolution and it falls under department parameters for elevating an organization.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter earlier said in February that while CYBERCOM’s current arrangement works now, it is not necessarily optimal. Both department officials agreed the command and the NSA should remain collocated at Fort Meade, Md., to interchange talent and draw on joint strengths.
On May 16, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities as well as the co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, strongly supported the move to elevate CYBERCOM. “This is the right thing to do, it’s been a long time moving this way. Hopefully the Senate will go along with this thinking,” Langevin said at George Washington University Center for Cyber & Homeland Security event.
“This new status will allow for active promotion of a joint environment with common standards such as issuing guiding frameworks for doctrine, organization, training, and leadership education and policy. And I’m glad the NDAA takes this vital step,” he added.