H.R. 8197 — To terminate the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

This section terminates the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) no later than 60 days after enactment and requires the Secretary of Defense to transfer its functions to other Department of Defense elements as determined appropriate. (AARO was established in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 to coordinate Department of Defense efforts regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena, i.e., airborne, transmedium, or submerged objects or devices not immediately identifiable.) It prohibits the Secretary of Defense from establishing a similar office or entity with centralized authority over such phenomena within the Department and the Director of National Intelligence from doing so within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It repeals the provision establishing AARO at 50 U.S.C. 3373; repeals related provisions on accounting of security classification guides (Section 1673 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026) and certain records management requirements (subsection (d)(6) of Section 1673 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023); and amends records management provisions (Section 1673 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023) and National Archives requirements (Section 1842(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, 44 U.S.C. 2107 note) to replace references to AARO or its head with the Secretary of Defense. (Thus, records formerly managed by AARO transfer to National Archives and Records Administration under the Secretary's authority rather than AARO's.) The amendments take effect 60 days after enactment.