A federal commission has recommended establishing a dedicated U.S. military cyber branch with an estimated initial cost of $11 billion, according to a new report. The proposed force would require between 12 and 18 months to become operational once authorized.
The commission's plan calls for a hybrid force structure combining military and civilian expertise. The new branch would incorporate roughly 5,000 members of the National Guard alongside up to 6,000 civilian personnel, creating a total force of approximately 11,000 personnel dedicated to cyber operations.
The $11 billion startup cost would cover the organizational infrastructure, personnel recruitment and training, technology systems, and facilities needed to establish the branch as an independent military service. This figure represents only the initial investment required to stand up the force, not ongoing operational costs.
The proposal reflects growing recognition of cyber warfare as a distinct military domain requiring specialized organizational structures. Current U.S. military cyber operations are distributed across existing service branches and U.S. Cyber Command, which some experts argue creates coordination challenges and resource competition.
If approved by Congress, the new cyber branch would become the seventh uniformed service of the United States, joining the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. The commission's recommendation now faces legislative review, where lawmakers will evaluate whether the benefits of a standalone cyber force justify the substantial financial investment and organizational restructuring required.
Source: https://therecord.media/new-cyber-force-would-cost-11-billion-commission