Major Equipment, TJS

The Major Equipment, TJS program, as outlined in the FY 2026 Department of Defense budget, supports the procurement of mission-critical equipment and technology for the Joint Staff. The Joint Staff, under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), provides unified strategic direction, operational guidance, and policy for combatant commands, services, and warfighters.

The primary objective of this budget line item is to ensure the Joint Staff and its associated agencies have the necessary equipment and infrastructure to support joint operations, maintain readiness, and enable secure communications and information management.

A significant portion of the FY 2026 request is allocated to National Defense University (NDU) IT Modernization. NDU's mission is to educate joint warfighters and national security leaders in strategic thinking and the application of military power. The budget includes funding for classroom modernization, aligning with DoD's Digital Transformation and Cloud Strategy. These upgrades are intended to enhance the student learning experience, improve faculty teaching methods, and ensure compliance with Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation requirements. The modernization will also ensure all classrooms utilize cyber-compliant hardware, supporting both academic excellence and information security.

Another key objective is the SCIF Modernization at NDU, with funding requested for integrating voice, video, and data enterprise services across various classification domains. This effort will upgrade briefing and display systems, control room operations, audio distribution, video-teleconference capabilities, digital signage, recording/storage, and video walls. The goal is to provide secure, flexible, and technologically advanced environments for presenting sensitive materials and conducting classified discussions, which are essential for both academic and operational functions.

The budget also includes funding for IT Auditorium Modernization at NDU, targeting upgrades for several of the university's auditoriums. This funding will replace outdated audio/video infrastructure that is at or near the end of its lifecycle. The objective is to ensure that large-scale presentations, lectures, and collaborative sessions can be conducted using modern, reliable, and secure technology, thereby supporting the university's mission and enhancing its role in Joint Professional Military Education (JPME).

A major investment is directed toward the USINDOPACOM Joint Training and Exercise Program (JTEEP) SCIF Acquisition. This funding supports the procurement and deployment of prefabricated Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs), which are modular, factory-built units designed to protect classified data and enable secure communications. These SCIFs are essential for JTEEP to conduct training and exercises involving Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), ensuring compliance with DoD standards and supporting operational requirements. The facilities will be equipped with IT infrastructure to process and manage SCI, directly contributing to joint force readiness and operational flexibility.

Additional funding includes support for IT Modernization for Secure Communications and Equipment Replacement at Suffolk Facilities. These investments are aimed at maintaining secure and reliable communications capabilities and ensuring that regular equipment replacement cycles are adhered to, thereby minimizing operational disruptions and maintaining compliance with evolving DoD standards.