10 U.S.C. § 499b — Participation in United States Strategic Command strategic deterrence exercises

(a) Participation. For the annual strategic deterrence exercises run by U.S. Strategic Command during fiscal years 2022 through 2032: (1) The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs is encouraged to take part in each exercise held in an even-numbered year. (2) The Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs is encouraged to take part in each exercise held in an odd-numbered year. (3) The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy must take part, in whole or in part, in every exercise. (4) The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff must take part, in whole or in part, in every exercise. (5) Senior staff from the Executive Office of the President, or organizations supporting White House continuity-of-government work, are encouraged to take part in every exercise. (6) General or flag officers from the military departments, and Senior Executive Service employees at federal agencies (as defined in section 3132 of title 5), must take part, in whole or in part, in every exercise, to give expert advice to the Assistant and Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. (7) If an exercise's planned scenario falls within a unified combatant command's geographic area of responsibility, at least two of the following people from that command must take part, in whole or in part: (A) the Commander; (B) the Deputy Commander; (C) the Director of the Joint Staff for Operations; or (D) the Director of the Joint Staff for Strategic Plans and Policy. (b) Briefing. At least once every four years during this period (or more often if needed), the President must be briefed on the year's strategic deterrence exercise, including its main findings. (c) Reports. (1) Within 30 days after each exercise, the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command must send a report to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense. The report must include, at minimum: (A) the exercise's purpose and scope; (B) who took part; (C) the main findings on the nuclear command, control, and communications process or the senior leader decision-making process, and any weaknesses in that process the exercise revealed; and (D) whether the President was briefed on the exercise and its main findings. (2) Within 60 days after each exercise, the Secretary must send the congressional defense committees: (A) an unedited copy of the Commander's report; and (B) any further recommendations or other matters the Secretary thinks are appropriate.