Revisions to the 2017 Unified Command Plan

The President, acting as Commander in Chief, approved and directed implementation of revisions to the 2017 Unified Command Plan, which governs the organization of U.S. combatant commands. The Secretary of Defense is directed to notify Congress of these changes and to publish the memorandum in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 84 FR 24977

Key directives

Approve and direct implementation of revised Unified Command Plan
Notify Congress on behalf of the President
Publish memorandum in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of Defense · Department of Defense

Timeline

Immediate

Approval and direction to implement revised Unified Command Plan
Direction to notify Congress
Authorization to publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Structural reorganization of military command relationships
Potential shifts in geographic and functional command responsibilities

Risks & tensions

Document does not specify content of revisions, limiting assessment of specific operational changes
Congressional notification required but timing unspecified
Unified Command Plan revisions typically involve inter-service and inter-agency coordination challenges