PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 5, 2025
This bill modifies the organization and responsibilities of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense (ASDs). Current law provides for 19 ASDs, with some of these positions established in statute and others specified by the Department of Defense (DOD).
First, the bill establishes in statute an ASD for International Industrial Base Development and Engagement, whose main duty is to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base through cooperation with security partners and allies, including Taiwan.
Next, the bill establishes in statute an ASD for Strategy, Plans, Capabilities, and Homeland Defense. The principal duty of such ASD is to advise the Secretary of Defense and others on national security issues and defense strategy, policy and planning oversight of various issues, and advancing and representing priority issues. This position replaces the DOD-specified ASD for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities.
The bill eliminates the DOD-specified ASD for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs.
Finally, the bill expands the responsibilities of the DOD-specified ASD for International Security Affairs to include Western Hemisphere affairs.
People & committees
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] · R–AK
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Dec 8, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.436 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.436 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.436 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.436 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.