$770 billion defense bill signed by Biden calls for emerging technology strategy

The newly-signed $770 billion defense bill directs the Department of Defense to develop a digital health strategy for emerging technologies, including distributed ledgers.

President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 on Monday after the bill passed the House and the Senate this month.

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It contains little mention of blockchain or crypto-related efforts. However, it directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a means of incorporating emerging technologies, including distributed ledger technologies, by April 1, 2022. 

It also includes distributed ledger technologies under the skills expected of so-called "digital talent" hires. The bill directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a "chief digital recruiting officer" with the resources to hire those with these skills.

The bill covers the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, and marks a decided increase in spending across the US military. 

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Aislinn Keely is a reporter on The Block's policy team holding down the legal beat. She covers court decisions, bankruptcies, regulatory actions and other key moments in the legal sphere, putting them in context for the wider crypto industry. Before The Block, she lent her voice to the NPR affiliate WFUV and helmed Fordham University's student newspaper. Send tips or thoughts on all things policy and legal to [email protected] or follow her on Twitter for updates @AislinnKeely.