Code of Federal Regulations Title 32 - National Defense
Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is dedicated to National Defense. This is a vast and crucial title that codifies the general and permanent rules and regulations issued by various federal agencies related to the military, intelligence, national security, and defense-related operations.
It's a foundational set of regulations for understanding how the U.S. military and associated defense and intelligence agencies operate.
Key Agencies and Their Chapters within Title 32:
Title 32 is structured with chapters corresponding to the specific federal entities responsible for issuing those regulations. The primary agencies and their broad areas of focus include:
Chapter I: Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) (Parts 1-399)
This chapter covers overarching policies and regulations that apply across all branches of the Department of Defense (DoD) and sometimes to other defense-related entities.
Examples of Regulations:
Acquisition and Procurement: Rules for how the DoD acquires goods and services, including contracting, grants, and cooperative agreements.
Personnel, Military and Civilian: Regulations on military and civilian personnel matters, including enlistment, appointment, training, conduct, benefits, family programs (e.g., child development, exceptional family member program), discharge review boards, and non-discrimination.
Security: Policies on information security, personnel security (e.g., security clearances), industrial security (for contractors handling classified information), and controlled unclassified information (CUI).
Privacy Program and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Rules regarding how the DoD handles personal information and processes requests for public information.
Environmental Quality: Regulations related to environmental protection and compliance on military installations.
Miscellaneous: A wide array of other topics, including public affairs, command relationships, and international agreements.
Chapter V: Department of the Army (Parts 400-699)
Specific regulations pertaining to the organization, administration, and operations of the U.S. Army.
Examples of Regulations: Army personnel policies, military courts and justice, use of Army facilities, claims against the Army, and specific regulations for Army programs.
Chapter VI: Department of the Navy (Parts 700-799)
Regulations specific to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Examples of Regulations: Navy personnel matters, Naval courts, official records, and specific Navy and Marine Corps operations.
Chapter VII: Department of the Air Force (Parts 800-1099)
Regulations governing the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.
Examples of Regulations: Air Force personnel policies, Air Force installations, claims, and specific Air Force operations.
Chapter XII: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) (Parts 1200-1299)
Regulations related to the DLA's role in providing logistics, acquisition, and technical services to the military branches and other federal agencies.
Chapter XVI: Selective Service System (Parts 1600-1699)
Regulations governing the Selective Service System, which is responsible for maintaining information on those eligible for military conscription (the draft), should it ever be reinstated. These rules cover registration requirements, deferments, exemptions, and appeals.
Chapter XVII: Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) (Parts 1700-1799)
Regulations from the ODNI, which oversees and coordinates the U.S. Intelligence Community. These rules often relate to intelligence sharing, classified information management, and intelligence community-wide policies.
Chapter XIX: Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (Parts 1900-1999)
Regulations specific to the Central Intelligence Agency, particularly those that are publicly releasable and govern aspects of its operations or interactions with the public.
Chapter XX: Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), National Archives and Records Administration (Parts 2000-2099)
This office, under NARA, issues regulations concerning the classification, declassification, and safeguarding of national security information across the executive branch. A key part here is 32 CFR Part 2002: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which standardizes how executive branch agencies handle unclassified information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls.
Overall Importance:
Title 32 is fundamental for:
Military Operations: Providing the legal framework for how the armed forces operate, both domestically and internationally.
National Security: Addressing matters of intelligence, counterintelligence, and the protection of classified information.
Personnel Management: Governing the rights, responsibilities, and welfare of military members, civilian employees, and their families.
Government Contracting: Establishing rules for defense contractors and their interactions with the DoD.
Public Interaction: Defining how the public interacts with defense agencies, including information access and claims.
For legal and regulatory research, always refer to the most current version of the e-CFR (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations) on the official government websites (e.g., ecfr.gov or govinfo.gov).
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