The National Security Agency is preparing a major internal restructuring under Director Gen. Joshua Rudd that would create five new organizations aimed at aligning the intelligence agency with what officials describe as its current and future priorities.

The planned organizations would focus on artificial intelligence, China, cybersecurity, combat support or warfighting, and global intelligence. Each would be led by a new “mission director,” whose authority would be similar to that of an NSA deputy director, according to officials briefed on the plans.

It remains unclear whether the new organizations would replace existing NSA divisions or be added on top of the agency’s current structure. Officials told The Washington Post that some employees were unsettled by Rudd’s suggestion that the five mission directors could be selected from outside the agency.

The timeline for the overhaul is also expected to be aggressive. The new mission directors are expected to submit organizational redesigns to Rudd by the end of September, with the new structure expected to begin rolling out by mid-October. The agency is targeting full operating capacity by January 2027.

The changes come just months after Rudd took over as NSA director in March. The Department of War lists Rudd as the NSA director, chief of the Central Security Service and commander of U.S. Cyber Command, positions he assumed on March 20.

Rudd has placed particular emphasis on artificial intelligence since taking the position, including discussions with the White House on AI-related issues. His approach is also consistent with priorities he outlined during his confirmation, when he said he intended to use AI to improve intelligence data integration and analysis.

The restructuring would mark the agency’s most significant organizational overhaul since “NSA 21,” a restructuring launched under former Director Michael Rogers in 2016. That effort divided the agency into six directorates and took years to fully implement.

Officials remain uncertain about how much of the existing bureaucracy will ultimately change as Rudd moves to put the new structure in place.