10 USC § 485 - Quarterly briefings on counterterrorism operations, irregular warfare, and sensitive activities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s485"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 485 - Quarterly briefings on counterterrorism operations, irregular warfare, and sensitive activities"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "485"
section_name: "Quarterly briefings on counterterrorism operations, irregular warfare, and sensitive activities"
chapter_number: 23
chapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS STUDIES AND REPORTS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title X, § 1042(a)(1), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 857; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, § 1031(a), (b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2389; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, § 1031, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1900; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XII, § 1204(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2094.)"
---


# § 485. Quarterly briefings on counterterrorism operations, irregular warfare, and sensitive activities

**(a)** **Briefings Required.—** The Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees quarterly briefings on counterterrorism operations and related activities (including the use of military force under the notion of collective self-defense of foreign partners), irregular warfare activities, and other sensitive activities conducted by the Department of Defense.

**(b)** **Elements.—** Each briefing under subsection (a) shall include each of the following:

**(1)** A global update on activity within each geographic combatant command and how such activity supports the respective theater campaign plan.

**(2)** An overview of authorities and legal issues, including limitations.

**(3)** An overview of interagency activities and initiatives.

**(4)** Any other matters the Secretary considers appropriate.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title X, § 1042(a)(1), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 857; amended Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, § 1031(a), (b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2389; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, § 1031, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1900; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title XII, § 1204(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2094.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 485, added , , ; amended , title X, § 1067(1), , , 774; , , ; , [div. A], title II, § 241(a), , , related to biennial reports on joint and service concept development and experimentation, prior to repeal by , , .

### Amendments

2024—, substituted “Quarterly briefings on counterterrorism operations, irregular warfare, and sensitive activities” for “Monthly counterterrorism operations briefings” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). , amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees monthly briefings outlining Department of Defense counterterrorism operations and related activities, including the use of military force under the notion of collective self-defense of foreign partners.”

2021—Subsec. (a).  inserted “, including the use of military force under the notion of collective self-defense of foreign partners” after “activities”.

2016—, substituted “Monthly” for “Quarterly” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). , substituted “monthly” for “quarterly”.