A bill to provide for interagency tabletop exercises to assess the impacts of Department of Defense decisions during crises and evaluate United States Government tools available to augment Department of Defense capabilities in competition, crisis, and conflict, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 3160
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-07: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-25T19:15:14Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (S. 3160) aims to improve coordination between the Department of Defense (DoD) and other U.S. government agencies focused on economic matters by incorporating them into DoD's planning exercises. It focuses on understanding how defense decisions affect the economy during crises and identifying ways to use economic tools to support military efforts in times of competition, crisis, or conflict.
Key Provisions
- Interagency Participation in Exercises: The Secretary of Defense must invite representatives from economic-focused federal departments and agencies—such as the Department of the Treasury, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Office of the United States Trade Representative, and National Economic Council—along with appropriate private sector representatives, to join unclassified DoD "tabletop exercises." These are simulated discussions (not real-world drills) to:
- Assess the economic effects of DoD decisions during crises and conflicts.
- Evaluate U.S. government economic tools that could enhance DoD capabilities across competition (ongoing rivalries), crisis (escalating tensions), and conflict (active warfare).
- Congressional Briefing: By December 31, 2025, the Secretary of Defense must brief the congressional defense committees (key House and Senate panels overseeing defense matters) on DoD's current and planned efforts to include these economic representatives in tabletop exercises.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new requirement for DoD to actively invite and integrate economic agencies and private sector input into its unclassified tabletop exercises, which were previously focused more narrowly on military aspects. It does not amend existing laws directly but mandates expanded participation and reporting to Congress, potentially building on prior defense planning authorities under Title 10 of the U.S. Code.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances collaboration between DoD and economic agencies, leading to more holistic crisis planning that considers economic ripple effects (e.g., trade disruptions or financial sanctions). This could streamline resource allocation during emergencies.
- On Citizens: Indirect benefits through stronger national preparedness, potentially reducing economic fallout from conflicts (e.g., supply chain issues or inflation from defense actions), though no direct citizen protections are specified.
- On International Relations: Could strengthen U.S. strategic positioning by better integrating economic leverage (like sanctions or trade policies) with military actions, improving responses to global threats from adversaries.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Defense: Leads the exercises and must coordinate invitations and briefings.
- Economic-Focused Agencies: Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, USTR, and National Economic Council—required to participate and contribute expertise.
- Private Sector: Invited as needed to provide real-world economic insights (e.g., from businesses affected by global events).
- Congress: Receives briefings to oversee implementation, particularly the armed services committees.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes a procedural mandate without creating new enforcement penalties, relying on existing DoD reporting mechanisms. "Tabletop exercises" are low-risk simulations, avoiding operational changes that might raise legal hurdles.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's oversight role in defense and foreign affairs (Article I, Section 8), promoting interagency efficiency without infringing on executive branch authority.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan focus on integrated national security, potentially bridging defense and economic policy silos amid rising geopolitical tensions; however, it may face scrutiny over resource demands or private sector involvement in sensitive discussions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-07: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-11-07: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To provide for interagency tabletop exercises to assess the impacts of Department of Defense decisions during crises and evaluate United States Government tools available to augment Department of Defense capabilities in competition, crisis, and conflict, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-11-07 — PDF (3 pages)