Report on efforts to counter foreign espionage and intellectual property theft targeting defense assets

(a) Report required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the heads of such other Federal agencies as the Secretary considers appropriate, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on efforts of the Department of Defense to counter espionage and intellectual property theft by the People’s Republic of China targeting Department of Defense installations, research institutions, and the defense industrial base. (b) Elements The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A description of threats posed by the People’s Republic of China to Department of Defense installations, federally funded research and development centers, universities conducting defense-related research, and entities within the defense industrial base, including efforts to obtain sensitive information, technology, or intellectual property. (2) An assessment of trends in espionage and intellectual property theft targeting such entities, including the role of nontraditional collectors such as researchers, students, and commercial entities. (3) A description of activities undertaken by the Department, in coordination with interagency partners, to detect, deter, and mitigate such threats. (4) An accounting of resources dedicated by the Department to counter such threats, including personnel, funding, and programs, and an assessment of the effectiveness of such efforts. (5) A description of policies, procedures, and safeguards in place to protect civil liberties, academic freedom, and the privacy rights of United States persons in the course of such activities. (6) An assessment of vulnerabilities within Department installations, research environments, and the defense industrial base, including supply chain risks and insider threat considerations. (7) A description of coordination mechanisms between the Department and interagency partners to address such threats, including information sharing and joint operational efforts. (8) Recommendations for legislative, policy, or resource changes necessary to improve the ability of the Department and interagency partners to counter such threats. (c) Form The report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.