DOD to look at potential consolidations across cyber enterprise

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Evanah LaFleur conducts cyber operations during the CYBERCOM Cyber Guard 25-1 exercise, March 12-18, 2025. (CYBERCOM / Skyler Wilson)

By Jon Harper • Sep 19, 2025

Pentagon officials plan to assess the department’s sprawling cyber enterprise for potential consolidations that could yield efficiencies and cost savings, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

The Defense Department has more than 400 organizations and upwards of 60,000 military and civilian personnel and contractors that perform cyberspace operations, according to the GAO study released Wednesday.

“These organizations are most often aligned with U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) or retained by the military services and conduct a mixture of offensive, defensive, and DOD Information Network operations,” the watchdog explained. “CYBERCOM-aligned organizations include organizations such as Navy cyber strike activities and Army cyber protection battalions that oversee tactical Cyber Mission Force teams. Military service organizations include units such as Air Force communications squadrons and Marine Corps radio battalions. Other organizations include cybersecurity service providers that provide network protection services to non-service components, such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.”