Educational travel authority for dependents of certain employees

(a) In general Notwithstanding section 1599b of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense shall direct the Director of the Defense Travel Management Office to update the Joint Travel Regulations, not later than February 1, 2026, to authorize educational travel for a dependent of a covered employee without regard to whether the Federal agency responsible for the employment of the covered employee anticipates that the covered employee will, during the 30-day period following the scheduled date of the dependent’s departure for the travel, be transferred to a location in the United States or travel to the United States for home leave. (b) Briefings required (1) Initial briefing Not later than February 1, 2026, the Secretary shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the update to the Joint Travel Regulations required by subsection (a). (2) Subsequent briefings Not later than one year after providing the briefing required by paragraph (1) and annually thereafter until February 1, 2029, the Secretary shall brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the use of the authority described in subsection (a) and the cost to the Federal Government of the use of that authority. (c) Covered employee defined In this section, the term covered employee means an employee of the Department of Defense Education Activity assigned to United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.