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Congressional Research Service
Inforrr ing the Iecjislitive debate s~nce 1914
November 7, 2024
Defense Primer: The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
for Policy (OUSD(P))
Background
Congress established the position of the Under Secretary of
Defense for Policy (USD-P) in 1978 (P.L. 95-140) and has
expanded its role several times through legislation. The
current Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
(OUSD(P))-sometimes referred to as OSD Policy-leads
the development of the National Defense Strategy (NDS),
routinely represents the Department of Defense (DOD) to
interagency and international partners, and has a key role in
preserving civilian control of the military.
Congress first prescribed specific responsibilities for the
USD-P in 1986 in the Goldwater-Nichols Department of
Defense Reorganization Act, as part of efforts to
strengthen civilian authority in DOD, increase attention
to the formulation of strategy and to contingency planning,
and provide for more efficient use of defense resources
(P.L. 99-433). In this act, Congress charged OUSD-P with
guiding and reviewing contingency plans made by the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). Over time,
Congress has given OUSD-P additional responsibilities and
directed changes to the office's organization and processes.
OUSD(P) is one of six OUSDs in the larger Office of the
Secretary of Defense (OSD) (U.S.C. 10 §131). Each OUSD
reports directly to the Secretary of Defense (Figure 1).
Figure I. OUSD(P) Within the Office of the Secretary
of Defense
Source: CRS, information from U.S.C. 10 § 131.
Responsib~ties
OUSD(P) has several congressionally mandated
responsibilities, laid out in Title 10, Section 134 of the U.S.
Code. Many of these responsibilities require it to work with
components throughout DOD. The chief example is the
NDS, which OUSD(P) develops and which provides broad
strategic guidance to the department. OUSD(P) also
provides more specific budgetary direction to the military
services through annual Defense Planning Guidance (DPG).
Staff develop the DPG with input from counterparts across
OSD and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The DPG is a key
component of DOD's Planning, Programming, Budgeting,
and Execution (PPBE) process. OUSD(P) also provides
guidance to combatant commands for their preparation of
campaign and contingency plans and global force posture,
and reviews these plans. OUSD(P) also coordinates with
the CJCS and Director of Cost Assessment Program
Evaluation (CAPE) to develop planning scenarios and
objectives to assess capabilities and readiness. In short,
OUSD(P) plays integral roles in strategy development,
resourcing, contingency planning, and force evaluation.
OUSD(P) also has external responsibilities, enumerated in
DOD Directive (DODD) 5111.01. This directive assigns the
USD-P the responsibility to [represent] DOD in matters
involving the National Security Council; the Department of
State, and other Federal departments, agencies, and
interagency groups with responsibility for national security
policy. OUSD-P is to [c]ommunicate with other
government officials, members of the public, and
representatives of foreign governments, as appropriate, in
carrying out assigned responsibilities and functions. To
fulfill their duties, OUSD(P) staff routinely liaise with their
counterparts in these agencies, foreign governments, and
international organizations. Relatedly, OUSD-P
establishes DOD policy for defense-related international
agreements and represents DOD in negotiating such
agreements.
The USD-P and OUSD(P) staff routinely testify before
Congress, complete reporting requirements, and meet with
congressional leadership and staff. According to DOD
policy, USD-P communications with Congress must go
through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Legislative Affairs, except for communications with the
Defense Appropriations Committees, which must go
through OUSD(Comptroller)/ChiefFinancial Officer.
Organization
The USD-P is appointed by the President from civilian
life with the advice and consent of the Senate (U.S.C. 10
§134). Under the USD-P are seven Assistant Secretaries of
Defense (ASDs), also politically appointed and Senate](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.crs/goverfw0001&div=1&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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