--- kind: "section" citation: "10 U.S.C. § 427" title: "10" title_heading: "Armed Forces" number: "427" heading: "Conflict Records Research Center" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/427" units: - "Subtitle A — General Military Law" - "Part I — Organization and General Military Powers" - "Chapter 21 — Department of Defense Intelligence Matters" - "Subchapter I — General Matters" --- # §427. Conflict Records Research Center - (a) **Center Authorized.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may establish a center to be known as the “Conflict [Records](/usc/10/801.md?p=14) Research Center” (in this section referred to as the “Center”). - (b) **Purposes.—** The purposes of the Center shall be the following: - (1) To establish a digital research database, including translations, and to facilitate research and analysis of [records](/usc/10/801.md?p=14) captured from countries, organizations, and individuals, now or once hostile to the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1), with rigid adherence to academic freedom and integrity. - (2) Consistent with the protection of [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) information, personally identifiable information, and intelligence sources and methods, to make a significant portion of these [records](/usc/10/801.md?p=14) available to researchers as quickly and responsibly as possible while taking into account the integrity of the academic process and risks to innocents or third parties. - (3) To conduct and disseminate research and analysis to increase the understanding of factors related to international relations, counterterrorism, and conventional and unconventional warfare and, ultimately, enhance [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16). - (4) To collaborate with members of academic and broad [national security](/usc/10/801.md?p=16) communities, both domestic and international, on research, conferences, seminars, and other information exchanges to identify topics of importance for the leadership of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Government and the scholarly community. - (c) **Concurrence of the Director of National Intelligence.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense shall seek the concurrence of the Director of National Intelligence to the extent the efforts and activities of the Center involve the entities referred to in [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4). - (d) **Support From Other United States Government Departments or Agencies.—** The head of any non-[Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) or [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Government may— - (1) provide to the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of [Defense services](/usc/10/301.md?p=3), including personnel support, to support the operations of the Center; and - (2) transfer funds to the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense to support the operations of the Center. - (e) **Acceptance of Gifts and Donations.—** - (1) Subject to [paragraph (3)](#e-3), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may accept from any source specified in [paragraph (2)](#e-2) any gift or donation for purposes of defraying the costs or enhancing the operations of the Center. - (2) The sources specified in this paragraph are the following: - (A) The government of a [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4) or a political subdivision of a [State](/usc/10/4951.md?p=4). - (B) The government of a foreign country. - (C) A foundation or other charitable organization, including a foundation or charitable organization that is organized or operates under the laws of a foreign country. - (D) Any source in the private sector of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) or a foreign country. - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) may not accept a gift or donation under this subsection if acceptance of the gift or donation would compromise or appear to compromise— - (A) the ability of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense, any employee of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6), or any member of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) to carry out the responsibility or duty of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) in a fair and objective manner; or - (B) the integrity of any [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) or of any [person](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) involved in such a [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1). - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall provide written guidance setting forth the criteria to be used in determining the applicability of [paragraph (3)](#e-3) to any proposed gift or donation under this subsection. - (f) **Crediting of Funds Transferred or Accepted.—** Funds transferred to or accepted by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense under this section shall be credited to appropriations available to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense for the Center, and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject to the same conditions and limitations, as the appropriations with which merged. Any funds so transferred or accepted shall remain available until expended. - (g) **Definitions.—** In this section: - (1) The term “captured [record](/usc/10/801.md?p=14)” means a document, audio file, video file, or other material captured during combat operations from countries, organizations, or individuals, now or once hostile to the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1). - (2) The term “gift or donation” means any gift or donation of funds, materials (including research materials), real or personal property, or services (including lecture services and faculty services). ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title X, § 1071(a), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 867.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Prior Provisions A prior section 427, added Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title IX, § 932(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2362, related to submission of an annual report on intelligence oversight activities of the Department of Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title X, § 1061(4)(A), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1583.