research program provides the Department of Defense critical access to expertise to inform cultural understanding, support technological edge, counter adversarial social interventions, and understand drivers to strengthen alliances and attract new partners. (7) Continued investment in basic social science research is particularly crucial at a time when peer and near-peer adversaries are increasingly employing elements of malign influence, disinformation, and predatory economics in concert with technological capabilities. 3. Department of Defense social sciences (a) In general The Secretary of Defense shall maintain a defense-wide basic research program with an emphasis on diverse social sciences. (b) The Secretary of Defense shall include in the annual budget submission of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code— (1) a dedicated budget line item for defense-wide basic social science research