Transfer of Unified Command Plan Responsibilities

President Obama approved the Secretary of Defense's request to transfer certain responsibilities within the Unified Command Plan, which governs the command structure of U.S. military forces. The Secretary is directed to notify Congress of this change and to publish the memorandum in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 81 FR 52967

Impact dates

Date TBD
Federal Register publication

Key directives

Approve Secretary of Defense request dated June 16, 2016 for transfer of Unified Command Plan responsibilities
Direct Secretary of Defense to notify Congress on the President's behalf
Authorize and direct Secretary of Defense to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of Defense · Department of Defense

Timeline

Immediate

Approval of Unified Command Plan responsibility transfer
Direction to Secretary of Defense to notify Congress

Near term (90d)

Federal Register publication

Long term

Potential operational changes to military command structure depending on specific responsibilities transferred

Risks & tensions

Specific responsibilities being transferred are not detailed in the memorandum text, creating uncertainty about scope
Congressional notification requirement suggests potential legislative oversight tensions depending on transfer significance