Pentagon to run crisis drills with Treasury, Commerce, and private firms
S. 3160 — A bill to provide for interagency tabletop exercises to assess the impacts of Department of Defense decisions during crises and evaluate United States Government tools available to augment Department of Defense capabilities in competition, crisis, and conflict, and for other purposes. · Filed by Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) · Introduced Nov 7, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to run tabletop exercises (simulated crisis scenarios) that bring together economic agencies (Treasury, Commerce, Transportation, Trade Representative, National Economic Council) and private-sector representatives to assess how Defense Department decisions affect the economy during crises and to identify economic tools the government can use to support military capabilities. The Secretary must brief Congress by December 31, 2025, on current and planned efforts to include these economic and private-sector participants in these exercises.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to mandate tabletop exercises and interagency coordination between Defense and economic agencies to improve crisis decision-making. It is a procedural/planning measure, not a substantive policy change or appropriation.
What the text implies
- Formalizing private-sector participation in classified/unclassified DoD crisis planning may create ongoing channels for corporate input into military strategy and economic policy during emergencies.
- The bill does not specify which private-sector representatives are invited, potentially allowing DoD discretion to favor certain industries or companies in crisis-planning access.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill promotes interagency coordination and transparency by requiring the DoD to systematically assess economic impacts of military decisions and to brief Congress on these efforts. This strengthens democratic oversight and may improve crisis decision-making by ensuring economic consequences are considered alongside military strategy.