Members of the House Armed Services Committee are planning to propose an amendment to the fiscal 2025 defense authorization bill, which would require the Pentagon to study the establishment of a military cyber service. The proposed amendment would require an independent evaluation by the National Academy of Sciences. This initiative follows previous attempts to create a cyber service and the establishment of the Space Force in 2019. The Pentagon has been resistant to the idea, but lawmakers argue that existing military branches are not adequately equipped to handle the growing cyber threat. A bipartisan amendment is expected to be introduced in the Senate next month, increasing the chances of success for this proposal.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal to establish a military cyber service | Establishing a separate, uniformed Cyber Force | Greater focus on cyber warfare and protection | Growing cyber threats and risks |
| Pentagon to study establishment of a cyber service | Independent evaluation of creating a separate Cyber Force | Potential creation of a separate branch for cyber warfare | Increase in cyber warfare threats and the need for specialized expertise |
| Cyber Command lobbying against the creation of a cyber service | Opposition to the establishment of a separate Cyber Force | Resistance to change and potential downsizing of existing military branches | Preference for maintaining the status quo |
| Lawmakers considering bipartisan amendment to study cyber service | Examination of policy aspects of creating a new armed service | Evaluation of lessons learned from the creation of the Space Force | Recognition of the need for specialized cyber warfare capabilities |
| Potential inclusion of cyber service provision in defense bill | Inclusion of cyber service provision in the final National Defense Authorization Act | Official recognition and establishment of a Cyber Force | Advocacy from lawmakers and bipartisan support |