U.S. Code » Title 10 » Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part PART I— ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS › Chapter CHAPTER 4— OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

10 U.S.C. § 134

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

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(a) There is an Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A person may not be appointed as Under Secretary within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.(b)(1) The Under Secretary shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Secretary of Defense may prescribe.(2) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary shall be responsible and have overall direction and supervision for—(A) the development, implementation, and integration across the Department of Defense of the National Defense Strategy (as described by section 113 of this title) and strategic policy guidance for the activities of the Department of Defense across all geographic regions and military functions and domains;(B) the integration of the activities of the Department into the National Security Strategy of the United States;(C) the development of policy guidance for the preparation of campaign and contingency plans by the combatant commands, and for the review of such plans;(D) the preparation of policy guidance for the development of the global force posture;(E) the development of the Defense Planning Guidance that guides the formulation of program and budget requests by the military departments and other elements of the Department; and(F) the development of strategic policy guidance for the Department of Defense to enable the achievement of Presidential objectives outlined within the nuclear weapons employment guidance of the United States, as described in section 491 of this title.(3) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary shall have responsibility for supervising and directing activities of the Department of Defense relating to export controls.(4) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy shall have overall direction and supervision for policy, program planning and execution, and allocation and use of resources for the activities of the Department of Defense for combating terrorism.(5) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary shall coordinate with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation to—(A) develop planning scenarios that describe the present and future strategic and operational environments by which to assess joint force capabilities and readiness; and(B) develop specific objectives that the joint force should be ready to achieve, and conduct assessments of the capability (in terms of both capacity and readiness) of the joint force to achieve such objectives.(c) The Under Secretary takes precedence in the Department of Defense after the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the Secretaries of the military departments.(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title I, § 105(1), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 997; amended Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(c) [title X, § 903(a)], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–82, 1783–132, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(c) [title X, § 903(a)], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–82, 3341–132; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title IX, formerly title IV, § 903(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3911, renumbered title IX, Pub. L. 100–26, § 3(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 273; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, § 904(d)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1728; Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title XV, § 1521(a), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2178; Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title IX, § 911(d)(1), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 719; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title IX, § 902(b), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2620; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title IX, § 903(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 273; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title IX, § 901(j)(2)(B), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3467; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(b)(1)(A), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1597; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title IX, § 902, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1921; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 902(3), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1542; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XVI, § 1621(c), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2171.)Editorial NotesCodification

Pub. L. 99–591 is a corrected version of Pub. L. 99–500.

Prior Provisions

Provisions of this section were contained in section 135 of this title prior to amendment by Pub. L. 99–433.

A prior section 134 was renumbered section 132 of this title.

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (b)(2)(F). Pub. L. 118–159 added subpar. (F).

2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering,” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics,”.

2018—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–232, § 902(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “The Under Secretary shall assist the Secretary of Defense—

“(A) in preparing written policy guidance for the preparation and review of contingency plans; and

“(B) in reviewing such plans.”

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 115–232, § 902(b), added par. (5).

2017—Pub. L. 115–91, § 1081(b)(1)(A), repealed Pub. L. 113–291, § 901(j)(2)(B). See 2014 Amendment note below.

2014—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113–291, § 901(j)(2)(B), which directed insertion of “the Under Secretary of Defense for Business Management and Information,” after “the Deputy Secretary of Defense,”, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–91, § 1081(b)(1)(A).

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “seven” for “10”.

2002—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 107–314 added par. (4).

1999—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–65 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology”.

1998—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 105–261 added par. (3).

1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition”.

1986—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–500, Pub. L. 99–591, and Pub. L. 99–661 amended subsec. (c) identically, inserting “the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title IX, § 1081(b)(1), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1597, provided that the amendment made by section 1081(b)(1)(A) is effective as of Dec. 23, 2016.

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title IX, § 901(j)(2), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3467, which provided that the amendment made by section 901(j)(2)(B) is effective on the effective date specified in former section 901(a)(1) of Pub. L. 113–291, which was Feb. 1, 2017, was repealed by Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(b)(1)(A), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1597.

Implementation of Amendments by Pub. L. 105–261

Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title XV, § 1521(c), (d), Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2179, provided that:“(c)Time for Implementation.—The Secretary of Defense shall complete the actions necessary to implement the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] and to establish the office of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Technology Security Policy in accordance with [former] section 134b of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (b), not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 1998].“(d)Report.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives [now Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives] a report on the plans of the Secretary for implementing the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [enacting former section 134b of this title and amending this section]. The report shall include the following:“(1) A description of any organizational changes that are to be made within the Department of Defense to implement those amendments.“(2) A description of the role of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the export control activities of the Department of Defense after those subsections are implemented, together with a discussion of how that role compares to the Chairman’s role in those activities before the implementation of those subsections.”

Responsibility for Policy on Civilian Casualty Matters

Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title IX, § 936, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1939, as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XII, § 1282, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1706, provided that:“(a)Designation of Senior Civilian Official.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 2018], the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy shall designate a senior civilian official of the Department of Defense within the Office of the Secretary of Defense at or above the level of Assistant Secretary of Defense to develop, coordinate, and oversee compliance with the policy of the Department relating to civilian casualties resulting from United States military operations.“(b)Responsibilities.—The senior civilian official designated under subsection (a) shall ensure that the policy referred to in that subsection provides for—“(1) uniform processes and standards across the combatant commands for accurately recording kinetic strikes by the United States military;“(2) the development and dissemination of best practices for reducing the likelihood of civilian casualties from United States military operations;“(3) the development of publicly available means appropriate to the specific regional circumstances, including an Internet-based mechanism, for the submittal to the United States Government of allegations of civilian casualties resulting from United States military operations;“(4) uniform processes and standards across the combatant commands for reviewing and investigating allegations of civilian casualties resulting from United States military operations, including the consideration of relevant information from all available sources;“(5) uniform processes and standards across the combatant commands for—“(A) acknowledging the responsibility of the United States military for civilian casualties resulting from United States military operations, including for acknowledging the status of any individuals killed or injured who were believed to be enemy combatants, but subsequently determined to be non-combatants; and“(B) offering ex gratia payments or other assistance to civilians who have been injured, or to the families of civilians killed, as a result of United States military operations, as determined to be reasonable and culturally appropriate by the designated senior civilian official;“(6) regular engagement with relevant intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations;“(7) public affairs guidance with respect to matters relating to civilian casualties alleged or confirmed to have resulted from United States military operations;“(8) cultivating, developing, retaining, and disseminating—“(A) lessons learned for integrating civilian protection into operational planning and identifying the proximate cause or causes of civilian casualties; and“(B) practices developed to prevent, mitigate, or respond to such casualties; [and]“(9) such other matters with respect to civilian casualties resulting from United States military operations as the designated senior civilian official considers appropriate.“(c)Coordination.—The senior civilian official designated under subsection (a) shall develop and implement steps to increase coordination with the relevant Chiefs of Mission and other appropriate positions in the Department of State with respect to the policies required pursuant to subsection (a) and other matters or assistance related to civilian harm, resulting from military operations.“(d)Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 18, 2018], the senior civilian official designated under subsection (a) shall submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report that describes—“(1) the policy developed by the senior civilian official under that subsection; and“(2) the efforts of the Department to implement such policy.“(e)Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection [Dec. 20, 2019], the senior civilian official designated under subsection (a) shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on—“(1) the updates made to the policy developed by the senior civilian official pursuant to this section; and“(2) the efforts of the Department to implement such updates.”

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1977–2025 · leading case: United States v. Forney, 67 M.J. 271 (C.A.A.F. 2009).
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United States v. Forney, 67 M.J. 271 (C.A.A.F. 2009). · cites it 2× “10 U.S.C. § 134 (2000). Under clause 3 of Article 134 (“crimes and offenses not capital”), members of the United States v.”
Nicely v. United States, 23 F.4th 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2022). “” See also 10 U.S.C. § 134 (a) (excluding from eligibility for Under Sec- retary of Defense for Policy persons who are “within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force”).”
United States v. Jessen, 12 M.J. 122 (1981). “The three drug offenses were charged as violations of Article 934, Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 134 . . The Military Rules of Evidence, which became effective on September 1, 1980, now allow the receipt in evidence of “chain of custody documents.”
United States v. Davis, 61 M.J. 530 (A.C.C.A. 2005). “OPINION OF THE COURT BARTO, Judge: A general court-martial consisting of officer members found appellant guilty, contrary to his pleas, of knowing and wrongful possession of child pornography under discrediting circumstances in violation of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military…”
United States v. Sabillo (A.F.C.C.A. 2016). “The remaining allegation (Specification 1 of the Charge) alleges that Appellant viewed 1 Pursuant to a pretrial agreement, the Government withdrew and dismissed one specification alleging distribution of child pornography, in violation of Article 134, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 134 ,…”
United States v. Bujanszki (A.F.C.C.A. 2020). “H, Senior Judge: A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted Appellant, in accordance with his pleas and pursuant to the terms of a pretrial agreement (PTA), of one specification each of wrongful distribution, possession, and trans- portation of child…”
United States v. McPherson (C.A.A.F. 2021). “Introduction A military judge sitting as a general court-martial found Appellee guilty, contrary to his pleas, of six specifications of indecent acts with a child, in violation of Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 134 (2000); two specifications of…”
United States v. Cadavona (A.F.C.C.A. 2025). “See 10 U.S.C. § 134 ; MCM, pt. IV, ¶ 95.b.(1).”
United States v. Specialist DANIEL C. WRIGHT (A.C.C.A. 2025). “WRIGHT — ARMY 20230333 BACKGROUND A military judge sitting as a general court-martial convicted appellant, pursuant to his pleas, of two specifications of possession of child pornography, one of which being with the intent to distribute, in violation of Article 134, Uniform Code…”
United States v. Captain KENYON T. TADLOCK (A.C.C.A. 2013). “25 January 2013 ---------------------------------- SUMMARY DISPOSITION ---------------------------------- KRAUSS, Judge: A military judge, sitting as a general court-martial, convicted appellant, pursuant to his pleas, of one specification of fraternization and one specification…”
Eligibility of a Retired Military Officer for Appointment as Adm'r of the Nat'l Aeronautics & Space Admin. (OLC 2009). “” See also 10 U.S.C.A. § 134 (a) (West Supp. 2009) (limiting appointment eligibility for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to persons “appointed from civilian life” who are “within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of…”
Eligibility of Retired Military Officer for Appointment as NASA Adm'r (OLC 2009). “” See also 10 U.S.C. § 134 (a) (Supp. II 2008) (requiring that the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy be “appointed from civilian life” but not “within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force”); 10 U.”
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