A bill to require a Defense Science Board study on optimal organizational structure for digital solutions.

This legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to direct the Defense Science Board to undertake a comprehensive study. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate and recommend the most optimal organizational structure within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to effectively support digital solutions engineering activities across the Office and the military departments. This includes assessing existing structures, their effectiveness, and limitations, while also evaluating potential new organizational courses of action such as establishing a new agency, integrating into an existing one, or optimizing current structures. The study must include detailed recommendations on the selection of an optimal structure, analyzing advantages and disadvantages, assessing capability gaps, and evaluating cost-effectiveness. It also requires considering lessons from industry, governance frameworks, and coordination mechanisms, alongside recommendations for unique hiring and acquisition authorities to support the digital workforce and rapid deployment. A final report, including transition recommendations, is due to the Secretary of Defense by February 1, 2027, who must then transmit it to the congressional defense committees within 30 days.