The Evolution of United States Code, Title 10: The Ongoing Marginalization of the Service Chiefs

The military departments resource allocation authority is being marginalized by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CJCS, who is consolidating his resource allocation authority at the expense of the Service Chiefs. Since the National Security Act of 1947 created the National Military Establishment, there has been a near continuous string of defense reforms seeking to bring efficiency to the Department of Defense DoD. Between 1947 and 1986 these United States Code U.S.C. Title 10 reforms have followed a logical pattern in which greater efficiency has been brought to the strategic and operational processes within the DoD. As greater efficiency has been legislated within the DoD, the CJCS has been one of the foremost beneficiaries of the resulting increase in DoD centralization. Whether as an act of commission or as an unintended consequence, the Chairmans rise has precipitated a commensurate loss in the power and authority of the military Service Chiefs. The Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 was a landmark event among the litany of defense reforms. It effectively completed strategic and operational reform in this century and opened a new chapter in resource allocation reform. Empowered by Goldwater-Nichols, the Chairman is now consolidating his resource allocation authority by implementing procedural changes that will complete his ascendency to power. The CJCS is currently engaged in a campaign to consolidate his resource allocation authority by leveraging the powers granted to him under Goldwater-Nichols. With the support of the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman is implementing Departmental policy changes that will increasingly allow him to exert control over a larger portion of the Departments Total Obligation Authority without the benefit of U.S.C. Title 10 resource allocation authority.