S. 1071 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for procurement for the Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the Space Force, and Defense-wide activities, as specified in the funding table in section 4101.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army, subject to the multiyear contracting requirements of 10 U.S.C. 3501 (i.e., findings of significant cost savings or defense industrial base stability, stable needs, and other criteria), to enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the FY2027 program year, for the procurement of UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft, with any obligation to make payments after FY2027 subject to the availability of appropriations for such fiscal years. The section also authorizes the Secretary to enter into one or more contracts, beginning in FY2026, for advance procurement associated with such aircraft, including economic order quantity purchases of material and equipment when cost savings are achievable.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into contracts, in advance of full-rate production, for the procurement of future long-range assault aircraft (i.e., next-generation tiltrotor platforms to replace UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters) as part of an accelerated low-rate early production effort. The section directs the Secretary to pursue objectives including expediting warfighter capability, maintaining production momentum and workforce stability, and mitigating life-cycle costs; to prioritize supply chain continuity, incorporate test lessons learned, ensure design flexibility for upgrades, and complete rigorous developmental and operational testing prior to full-rate production and operational delivery, respectively; and to provide the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, a briefing on the implementation plan and timeline, industrial base readiness, and estimated long-term cost savings and operational benefits.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized by this Act or otherwise made available for the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) portfolio of capabilities to not more than 50% until the Secretary of the Army submits to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the following: (1) detailed funding plans for current and new procurements for experimentation and final fielding of the Army's tactical network, along with a cost and capability assessment of current and proposed solutions; (2) testing and fielding plans for any new procurements for the network, including explanations of how they meet resiliency requirements under section 168 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and utilize NSA High Assurance certified encryption and decryption; (3) plans to integrate existing programs of record with new programs of record and to ensure interoperability with fielded Army systems and foreign partners' systems; and (4) plans to complete a developmental test campaign and formal operational test and evaluation prior to fielding new capabilities to operational forces (other than for experimentation).

This section revises the definition of covered F/A-18 aircraft eligible for recapitalization of Navy Reserve tactical fighter aircraft to include, in addition to eight F/A-18E/F Super Hornets procured for the Navy in FY2023, any Block II or newer F/A-18E/F tactical fighter aircraft with at least 2,000 flight hours of remaining service-life airframe flight time that is included in the Naval Aviation Master Aviation Plan and designated for the Navy Reserve. The section also requires the Secretary of the Navy to ensure that plan remains up-to-date and relevant for Navy Reserve aviation units.

This section repeals limitations on Navy medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) and large unmanned surface vessel (LUSV) programs previously imposed by Section 122 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. It prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from awarding detail design or construction contracts—or obligating procurement funds—for such programs unless the contract requires an operational demonstration (i.e., land- or sea-based test in vessel-representative form, fit, and function) of at least 720 continuous hours without maintenance on (1) the main propulsion system, including fuel and lube oil systems, or (2) the electrical generation and distribution system. The Secretary also may not accept delivery of vessels until certifying to the congressional defense committees that the demonstration was successfully completed. (Thus, contract financing payments are capped at 90 percent for small businesses and 80 percent for other businesses until the certification is submitted.)

This section modifies restrictions on Department of the Navy funds for legacy waterborne security barriers (i.e., older systems to protect Navy ports from waterborne threats) by (1) extending the prohibition through 2026 (from 2025) and eliminating a prior exception in former subsection (b); and (2) directing the Secretary of the Navy to submit to the congressional defense committees, by April 1, 2026, a recapitalization plan to replace such barriers that includes a requirements document specifying key performance parameters, certifications that new barriers exceed legacy capabilities and that contracts will use full and open competition under 10 U.S.C. §§ 3201–3205, and an acquisition strategy, with implementation completed by September 30, 2027.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into contracts for the procurement of up to two Ford-class aircraft carriers (i.e., next-generation nuclear-powered supercarriers), including advance procurement, advance construction, and economic order quantity contracts for associated materials and equipment. The section permits incremental funding for payments under such contracts and requires that they condition U.S. obligations on the availability of appropriations while limiting federal termination liability to the amount of funding obligated at the time of termination.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy, beginning in FY2026, to enter into a contract for the procurement of up to five Columbia-class submarines (i.e., next-generation ballistic missile submarines to replace the Ohio-class fleet) using incremental funding. The contract must provide that any U.S. payment obligations are subject to the availability of appropriations and that the federal government's termination liability is limited to the total amount of funding obligated to the contract at the time of termination.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more contracts prior to ship authorization for the advance procurement of specified covered components for Virginia-class submarines (i.e., nuclear-powered fast attack submarines), including in economic order quantities when cost savings are achievable. Such contracts are subject to the availability of appropriations for payments and limit federal termination liability to the amount of funds obligated at termination. For FY2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Navy must include a separate budget display in Department of Defense budget justification materials identifying requested amounts by specific Virginia-class program, project, or activity. Covered components include (1) propulsion plant equipment; (2) diesel systems and associated components; (3) castings, forgings, and tank structures; (4) air flasks; (5) payload tubes; (6) major valves and associated components; (7) hatches; (8) steering and dive components; (9) major pumps and motors; (10) snorkel mast and components; (11) torpedo tubes; (12) atmosphere control equipment; (13) bulkheads, decks, and associated equipment; (14) SONAR arrays and associated components; (15) electrical components, penetrators, and associated equipment; and (16) commodity material in support of manufacturing.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into one or more contracts for the procurement of up to 15 Medium Landing Ships (i.e., a planned class of smaller amphibious warfare ships), including as additions to existing contracts for the program. Prior to any such contract, the Secretary must certify to the congressional defense committees, not later than 30 days before contract award and prepared by the program's milestone decision authority, that (1) the contract aligns with projected Navy force structure requirements; (2) it will yield significant savings relative to annual contracting; (3) funding requests will avoid cancellation; (4) the design is stable with manageable technical risk; (5) cost estimates and savings projections are realistic; and (6) sufficient funds are available in the award year with required funding in the future-years defense program (under 10 U.S.C. §221). The section also authorizes advance procurement contracts for the ships and associated systems or subsystems in economic order quantities; conditions all out-year payments on appropriations availability; and terminates the authority on September 30, 2029.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Navy, subject to the general multiyear contracting criteria in 10 U.S.C. 3501 (i.e., findings of cost savings or industrial base stability, stable requirements and design, and realistic cost estimates), to enter into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the FY2026 program year, for the procurement of Yard, Repair, Berthing, and Messing Barges and associated materials. The section further (1) authorizes advance procurement contracts, beginning in FY2026, including economic order quantity purchases for cost savings; and (2) requires such multiyear contracts to be subject to the availability of appropriations, with federal termination liability limited to amounts obligated at the time of termination.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to seek agreements with vessel construction managers to enter into contracts for the construction of certain Navy vessels. Specifically, the section (1) requires such an agreement, after award of the lead Medium Landing Ship (as defined in section 128(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025), for not more than 8 additional ships constructed as nondevelopmental items using a design same as or derived from the lead ship; (2) requires such an agreement for light replenishment oilers (TAO-L); and (3) authorizes such agreements for any auxiliary or support vessels. The section further requires that vessels under (2) and (3) be constructed, to the maximum extent practicable, using commercial design standards and practices consistent with the federal government's best interests.

This section prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from entering into a contract or agreement—including priced or unpriced options—for the construction, advance procurement, or long-lead materials for Modular Attack Surface Craft Block 0 until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that such vessels are purpose-built unmanned vessels engineered to operate without human support systems or operational requirements intended for crewed vessels.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated for FY2026, or otherwise made available, for construction (including priced or unpriced options), advance procurement, or long-lead materials for Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System (TAGOS) ships until the Secretary of the Navy submits a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than 90 days after enactment. The report must address (1) progress on basic and functional design completion for TAGOS ships and plans to maintain compliance with 10 U.S.C. 8669c (which prohibits the Navy from approving construction start on the first ship of a major program without production readiness review results, certification of review findings, and certification of 95% final approval of basic and functional design drawings); (2) the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the Navy's provision of contract baseline design, general arrangement drawings, and other government-furnished information to the prime contractor; (3) the functional design's ability to meet program requirements, including speed; (4) the Navy's adherence to performance-based requirements and the prime contractor's ability to make design choices to meet them under the contract structure; and (5) alternative solutions for the Navy's anti-submarine warfare requirements met by TAGOS ships, including unmanned options.

This section requires the Secretary of the Navy, in budget justification materials submitted to Congress for the Department of Defense budget for FY2027 and each fiscal year thereafter, to include information on the costs of spare parts and repair parts for amphibious warfare ships (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 8062(h)) in the materials for other procurement, Navy.

This section revises the minimum Air Force inventory requirement for air refueling tanker aircraft under 10 U.S.C. §9062(j)—previously not less than 466 aircraft—to the following phased levels: (1) not less than 466 aircraft through September 30, 2026; (2) not less than 478 aircraft from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027; (3) not less than 490 aircraft from October 1, 2027, through September 30, 2028; and (4) not less than 502 aircraft beginning October 1, 2028. The section further modifies aircraft retention provisions to authorize the Secretary of the Air Force to reassign KC-135 aircraft replaced by KC-46 aircraft to any Air Refueling Wing with capacity to expand its inventory, considering manning and pilot training requirements. Finally, the section prohibits obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds to reduce the number of KC-135 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory within Air Force reserve components.

This section modifies the prohibition on retirement of F–15E aircraft in 10 U.S.C. §9062(l) to permit the Secretary of the Air Force to retire up to a total of 51 such aircraft during the covered period (i.e., from enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 through September 30, 2030), allocated as follows: (1) none from enactment through FY2026; (2) up to 21 in FY2027; and (3) up to 30 in FY2028 (previously prohibiting all retirements). During the covered period, the Secretary also may not (1) reduce funding for unit personnel or weapon system sustainment for retained F–15E aircraft in a manner presuming future divestment authority or (2) place any non-retiring F–15E aircraft in excess status awaiting disposition (XJ status). This section further repeals the prior prohibition on F–15E retirements in section 150(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159).

This section (1) extends the minimum inventory requirement for C–130 aircraft to 2026 (from 2025); (2) extends the prohibition on reductions to C–130 aircraft assigned to the National Guard to 2026 (from 2025); and (3) directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a report detailing the total number and variant types of C–130 aircraft in the Air Force inventory, any planned retirements, divestments, or reductions to the fleet, modernization and recapitalization efforts (including block upgrades and procurement schedules), and planned basing actions for fielding C–130J aircraft to recapitalize C–130H aircraft.

This section extends the prohibition on certain reductions to B–1 bomber aircraft squadrons through September 30, 2030 (from September 30, 2026).

This section modifies the minimum primary mission aircraft inventory requirement for A–10 aircraft (i.e., Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft) to 93 aircraft until October 1, 2026 (from 96 aircraft until 90 days after submission of a specified report under prior law). It further prohibits the Secretary of the Air Force, during the period beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026, from (1) reducing funding for A–10 unit personnel or weapon system sustainment activities in a manner presuming future divestment authority; (2) placing any A–10 aircraft in excess status awaiting disposition instructions ("XJ" status); or (3) decreasing total A–10 aircraft inventory below 103 aircraft. (The prohibition does not apply to individual A–10 aircraft determined on a case-by-case basis to be no longer mission capable and uneconomical to repair due to accidents, mishaps, or excessive material degradation.) It also requires the Secretary of the Air Force to provide a briefing to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by March 31, 2026, on the A–10 aircraft inventory status and proposed plan to divest all A–10 aircraft prior to FY2029. (The briefing must include, at a minimum, current inventory disaggregated by category (e.g., combat coded, primary mission, backup, attrition reserve) with tail numbers and locations; planned divestment dates; unit-specific divestment and transition plans to minimize personnel impacts and scheduling gaps; prior "A–10 Divestment Placemats" briefing content; and other relevant information.)

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to preserve each retired KC-10 aircraft (i.e., aerial refueling tanker) in the same storage condition as of September 30, 2025. It authorizes the disposal of such preserved aircraft in accordance with chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized for the Air Force to retire, prepare to retire, place in storage, or place in backup aircraft inventory any E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft if such actions would reduce the total aircraft inventory below 16. The prohibition does not apply (1) beginning 30 days after the Secretary of the Air Force submits to the congressional defense committees a plan for maintaining readiness and ensuring no lapse in mission capabilities; or (2) after delivery of sufficient E-7 Wedgetail aircraft procured to accomplish the required mission load.

This section requires the Secretary of the Air Force, concurrent with the President's FY2027 budget request under 31 U.S.C. 1105(a), to submit to the congressional defense committees and Comptroller General of the United States (1) accountability matrices for the B-21 bomber aircraft program—in six-month increments—covering progress toward goals for development, production, and sustainment (subdivided by technology readiness levels, engine maturity, software metrics, manufacturing readiness, testing, reliability/availability/maintainability, and operations/sustainment) and total costs for engineering and manufacturing development and production lots (subdivided by Air Force and prime contractor estimates across categories such as air vehicle, propulsion, mission systems, software, systems engineering, program management, testing, support/training, contract fee, engineering changes, mission support, and government testing); and (2) the program's then-current estimates for average procurement unit cost, acquisition unit cost, and life-cycle costs. The section further requires the Secretary to submit updates to the matrices not later than 180 days after the initial submission, concurrent with each subsequent annual budget request, and not later than 180 days after each such request, including progress toward goals and updated cost estimates. It directs the Comptroller General to review the matrices at least annually and submit assessments of their sufficiency, including cost, schedule, and performance trends, to the committees. This section repeals section 238 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (which established prior B-21 program reporting requirements).

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a comprehensive roadmap detailing the planned force structure, basing, modernization, and transition strategy for the Air Force bomber aircraft fleet through FY2040. The roadmap must include (1) a schedule and rationale for B-1 bomber divestment, including location-specific retirements, infrastructure disposition, and capability gap mitigation; (2) a B-21 bomber transition plan covering basing, training, sustainment, operational concepts, initial operational capability, and full operational capability timelines; (3) a strategy for integrating Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units into B-21 operations, including force structure, associations, training, and mobilization; (4) updates on B-52 modernization efforts (e.g., engine replacement, radar upgrades, digital integration) and expected service life through the 2050s; and (5) a detailed timeline of milestones, decision points, resourcing, risks, and coordination for all elements. The roadmap must support a transition to a modernized, dual-capable (nuclear and conventional) bomber force ensuring long-range strike, survivability, and deterrence, with a minimum of 100 B-21 aircraft, and must be submitted in unclassified form with a possible classified annex.

This section requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than October 1, 2026, a comprehensive roadmap detailing the strategic plan for the development, acquisition, modernization, and integration of Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The roadmap must include (1) a strategic assessment of current and projected ISR requirements across air, space, and cyberspace domains; (2) an inventory of current ISR platforms, sensors, and data-processing systems, including mission capabilities, operational status, and expected service life; (3) a plan for modernizing or divesting legacy airborne ISR systems, with individualized justifications; (4) a detailed outline of planned investments in emerging ISR technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, space-based ISR, and autonomous or remotely piloted platforms; (5) an assessment of ISR data integration into command and control networks, including interoperability with joint, interagency, and allied partners; (6) a risk assessment of capability gaps, threats, and mitigation strategies; (7) a description of roles and responsibilities for Air Force ISR components; and (8) a proposed timeline and milestones for implementation over the next 10 fiscal years.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the congressional defense committees, by March 1, 2027, a report on the F-47 advanced fighter aircraft program. The report must include (1) a description of the program, including system requirements, employment concepts, and projected costs, schedule, and funding requirements over the fiscal years 2028 through 2034 program objective memorandum period; (2) the program's acquisition strategy of record, including consideration of a middle tier acquisition pathway or major capability acquisition pathway (as defined in DoD Instruction 5000.85); and (3) a proposed fielding strategy, including estimated force structure requirements, strategic basing considerations, military construction requirements, personnel training requirements, and a strategy for integrating Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units (including planned force structure, association, training, and mobilization models). The report must be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 operation and maintenance funds for Air Force travel expenses available to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force to 80% (i.e., withholds 20%) until the Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, submits to the congressional defense committees a report on the Air Force's acquisition strategy to maintain the Airborne Command Post capability (i.e., airborne platforms such as the E-4B for national command authority). The report must include (1) options to expand production of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft to provide additional airframes to preserve the capability; and (2) an outline of the future relationship between the Airborne Command Post capability and the Secondary Launch Platform–Airborne effort.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments, to conduct an analysis of alternatives for recapitalizing the executive airlift aircraft fleets of the Armed Forces—seeking aircraft solutions comparable to commercial passenger aircraft in range—initiating the analysis within 30 days of enactment, completing it by April 1, 2026, and submitting a report on the results to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives within 60 days thereafter. This section amends section 120(b) of title 10, United States Code, by (1) striking paragraph (2); (2) redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); (3) inserting new paragraph (2) requiring the Secretary to establish standards for prioritizing access to executive aircraft controlled by the military department secretaries among authorized federal government users; and (4) inserting new paragraph (3) requiring the Secretary to assign a career Senior Executive Service appointee with relevant knowledge and experience to coordinate efficient tasking of such aircraft and compliance with related rules, regulations, policies, and guidance. The Secretary must establish the standards by December 1, 2025, and assign the appointee by January 1, 2026.

This section amends Section 164 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159) concerning prohibitions on Department of Defense (DOD) operation, procurement, and contracting involving foreign-made light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology by (1) revising subsection (a) to prohibit operation of covered LiDAR technology; (2) adding a new subsection (e) that requires the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement, by June 1, 2027, a strategy to mitigate risks to DOD from defense contractors' and subcontractors' use of covered LiDAR technology—including publishing a list of covered LiDAR companies in the Federal Register, assessing such risks by severity, likelihood, and priority, soliciting contractor input on mitigation approaches, and actively monitoring implementation; and (3) expanding the definition of covered LiDAR technology to encompass technology manufactured by a covered LiDAR company, using operating software developed in a covered foreign country or by an entity domiciled there, or using network connectivity or data storage located in or administered from such a country.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of fiscal year 2026 funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense (1) to terminate the mid-tier acquisition rapid prototype contract for the E–7A Wedgetail aircraft; or (2) to terminate the operations of, or to prepare to terminate the operations of, a production line for the E–7A Wedgetail aircraft. (As background, the E–7A Wedgetail is an airborne early warning and control aircraft that the Air Force is acquiring to replace the E–3 Sentry AWACS fleet.)

This section limits the Secretary of Defense from accepting or taking delivery of more than 188 new production KC-46 aircraft (i.e., U.S.-fully funded aerial refueling tankers) until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that a plan has been developed and is being implemented to resolve all Category 1 deficiencies identified with respect to such aircraft. The plan, to be submitted in unclassified form (with a possible classified annex), must include (1) an estimate of total funds required for implementation, (2) realistic event-driven schedules, and (3) a schedule risk assessment to a minimum 80% confidence level.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for establishing a Federal Government-controlled open mission systems computing environment on Department of Defense F-35 aircraft. The plan must (1) enable software portability between F-35, F-22, and Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft; (2) allow integration of new or modified open mission systems software with minimal prime contractor work; (3) eliminate or minimize airworthiness impacts from software changes; (4) enable rapid onboard processor upgrades; (5) leverage a Federal Government reference architecture; (6) ensure Federal Government control of airworthiness, security, technical documentation, and data rights; (7) support connectivity to all relevant aircraft apertures for current and future combat needs, including ethernet cockpit connectivity; (8) use modern commercial software languages and techniques for reliable, high-throughput, low-latency operations; and (9) apply to all F-35 blocks and variants. The Secretary must submit a report containing the plan to the congressional defense committees by July 1, 2026, in unclassified form with a possible classified annex.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to complete an annual review of the F-35 aircraft program and submit a report to the congressional defense committees not later than March 1 each year from 2026 through 2030. Each review assesses the program's cost, scope, and schedule; the status of Department of Defense modernization efforts; and other matters as determined appropriate by the Comptroller General.

This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation activities, as specified in the funding table in section 4201.

This section modifies the Department of Defense authority to award prizes for achievements in research, technology development, and prototypes with potential military applications (i.e., 10 U.S.C. §4025). Specifically, it (1) adds the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit to the officials authorized to carry out such programs; (2) increases the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering approval thresholds to $20 million for total prize fair market value (from $10 million), $2 million for cash prizes (from $1 million), and $20,000 for nonmonetary prizes (from $10,000); and (3) raises the congressional notification threshold to $20 million (from $10 million). (Thus, the changes facilitate larger prize competitions with fewer approvals.)

This section expands the authority of defense laboratory directors to use 2-4% of available funds for innovative basic and applied research, technology transition, workforce development, and laboratory infrastructure repair or minor construction to also include directors of test organizations of the Major Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB), as defined in Department of Defense Directive 3200.11 (or successor directive). (Thus, MRTFB test organizations—i.e., key DoD facilities for operational testing of weapons systems, aircraft, missiles, and space systems—may now access these funds at director discretion, subject to congressional notification and cost limitations for infrastructure projects.)

This section establishes a permanent program to enhance Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation centers by directing their heads to propose and implement innovative methods for management, operations, rapid project delivery, and partnerships—unless disapproved in writing by designated officials within 60 days—to improve efficiencies and warfighter capabilities. Eligible centers include science and technology reinvention laboratories (as designated under 10 U.S.C. 4121(b)), test and evaluation centers in the Major Range and Test Facility Base, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the Strategic Capabilities Office. The section authorizes heads of eligible centers to waive any Department of Defense regulation, policy, or procedure to implement approved methods (unless prohibited by federal statute or common law) and repeals the prior pilot program authority (sec. 233, NDAA for FY2017).

This section modifies the authority under 10 U.S.C. §4174 for acquiring, constructing, or furnishing research, developmental, or test facilities and equipment (i.e., those necessary for contract performance, subject to cost principles and with U.S. ownership protections on non-federal land) by applying it to "covered contracts" (from solely military department contracts) and adding provisions for jointly funded projects, applicable funds, and definitions. Specifically, it (1) authorizes jointly funded projects when facilities support multiple contracts or programs across military departments, other Department of Defense (DoD) elements, non-DoD federal agencies, or eligible non-federal entities (e.g., private companies, academic institutions, nonprofits), provided the Secretary of Defense determines non-federal participation serves the national security interest; (2) requires written agreements for such projects addressing cost-sharing proportions, access allocation and prioritization, management and oversight (including a lead agency), intellectual property rights, and dispute resolution; (3) limits applicability to contracts funded by research, development, test, and evaluation appropriations (budget activities 1 through 3, i.e., basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development) or operation and maintenance funds used for these purposes; and (4) defines "covered contract" as a military department contract or one for a jointly funded project. (Thus, this expands facility-sharing options beyond individual military department contracts.) The section further directs the Secretary of Defense to issue or revise implementing regulations, including project evaluation criteria, agreement templates, and transparency procedures, not later than 180 days after enactment.

This section modifies requirements under sec. 228(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 for Department of Defense policies on management and certification of the Link 16 military tactical data link network by (1) expanding applicable airspace to all military special use airspace, including prohibited areas, restricted areas, warning areas, and military operational areas (from the Nevada Test and Training Range, Restricted Area 2508, Warning Areas 151/470 and 386, and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex); (2) revising processes for regular training and large-scale exercises to presume approval of Link 16 operations unless denial is accompanied by substantiated evidence of safety compromise due to electromagnetic interference; and (3) inserting "regular" before "training" in paragraph (5).

This section extends authority for the assignment of private-sector personnel with critical research and development expertise to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency through September 30, 2030 (from September 30, 2025). It also makes a technical amendment to update a cross-reference in the underlying provision from “section 2302” to “section 3014”.

This section establishes an alternative test and evaluation pathway for covered defense acquisition programs to enhance agility and accelerate capability delivery while maintaining independent oversight by the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E). For each covered program, the Secretary of the military department concerned must (1) develop a unified test and evaluation strategy aligning developmental and operational testing to shared objectives with early operational feedback; (2) implement a test data strategy for collecting, validating, analyzing, and storing raw data (including industry-derived data) with automated tools; (3) incorporate best practices such as hardware-in-the-loop testing, continuous data collection, and digital twins; (4) define evolving test objectives without rigid milestones; and (5) ensure government ownership and DOT&E access to all test data. Covered programs are exempt from (1) test and evaluation master plan requirements if the unified strategy and data strategy are implemented; (2) milestone-specific operational test events, including initial operational test and evaluation under 10 U.S.C. §4171 (which otherwise conditions proceeding beyond low-rate initial production); and (3) other documentation inconsistent with agile processes. (Thus, programs may proceed beyond low-rate initial production without completing initial operational test and evaluation.) DOT&E must provide continuous independent evaluation of test data and strategies, with unrestricted data access but without requiring specific test plans or pre-approvals; DOT&E must summarize pathway implementation in its annual report under 10 U.S.C. §139(h). The Secretary of Defense must issue implementing guidance within 180 days of enactment and submit a report to congressional defense committees within three years assessing effectiveness and recommending modifications.

This section requires the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to assess, in the annual report required by 10 U.S.C. 139(h), the operational and live fire test and evaluation activities for (1) command and control and data integration architecture for layered integrated missile defense of the homeland, (2) the Joint Fires Network, and (3) the Cryptographic Modernization Program. For any such effort assigned to a software acquisition pathway under 10 U.S.C. 3603, the Director must instead assess it using the alternative test and evaluation pathway established by Section 218.

This section directs the Director of the Test Resource Management Center, in coordination with the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, to establish and maintain a digital test and evaluation environment for developmental and operational testing of warfighting capabilities. The environment must (1) incorporate commercially derived data management, analysis, and operations software tools to enable rapid testing; (2) enable real-time and iterative data collection, management, analysis, and feedback across system life cycles; (3) provide secure environments for operationally sensitive systems; and (4) use a modular open systems approach for vendor access and interoperability with multiple data sources and tools. In procuring software and covered hardware for the environment, the Director must use a software acquisition pathway under 10 U.S.C. §3603 (i.e., pathways for efficient acquisition and development of software and certain hardware, such as applications and embedded systems, bypassing major defense acquisition program rules). This section further requires the Directors of the Defense Innovation Unit and Test Resource Management Center, in coordination with the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, to carry out a pilot program applying commercial software and industry practices to accelerate continuous integration, testing, and fielding of warfighting capabilities. The directors must submit to the congressional defense committees (1) an interim report with an implementation plan within 120 days of enactment and (2) a progress report with performance metrics, initial findings, and roadblocks within 270 days of enactment. The pilot terminates five years after enactment.

This section requires each Secretary of a military department, in coordination with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and for Research and Engineering and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, to complete a comprehensive review of standards, guidance, and policies for digital engineering (i.e., use of digital twins and digital threads across program design, development, and testing stages) within 180 days of enactment for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. Not later than 180 days after completing the review, each such Secretary must develop and implement a standard reference architecture for digital engineering tools within those Armed Forces, including (1) a framework and requirements for tool deployment across program lifecycles, (2) standards for data management and modeling, and (3) consideration of consensus-based or non-consensus-based standards to enable rapid adoption and avoid technology vendor lock; the architectures require review, approval, and certification by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, who must also submit recommendations for further standardization across the covered Armed Forces to the military department Secretaries. Each Secretary must conduct periodic reviews of the reference architecture at least every three years through September 30, 2034, modifying it as necessary to address technological advancements and operational needs.

This section directs the Secretary of the Army to establish, not later than January 1, 2027, the Catalyst Pathfinder Program to create partnerships between Army operational units and research universities, enabling university researchers and small businesses to collaborate directly with soldiers on innovative applied research and development while integrating soldiers into problem identification and early-stage development to meet soldier needs and enhance lethality. In implementing the program, the Secretary shall (1) establish activities at select Army divisions to accelerate incorporation of soldier insights into capability development; (2) establish policies streamlining collaboration among soldiers, Army Transformation and Training Command, research universities, and small businesses; (3) establish a governance board with representatives from research, development, test, and evaluation; acquisition; requirements; and research university communities; and (4) promote transition of successful projects to Army programs. The program is treated as a research, development, test, and evaluation activity in the Army's future-years defense program submitted to Congress under 10 U.S.C. §221.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, for FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, to ensure that all funding opportunities under Program Element 0601228D8Z (or successor program element)—which supports research and education capacity building at minority-serving institutions for defense-related science and engineering—include separate funding solicitations focused on (1) historically black colleges and universities and tribal colleges and universities; and (2) minority-serving institutions that are not described in paragraph (1). Definitions in this section cross-reference Higher Education Act terms for these institutions.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish one or more National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institutes (Institutes) at eligible host institutions to address artificial intelligence challenges for national security and defense, including through partnerships among federal agencies, institutions of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1002), nonprofit organizations, federal laboratories, governments, and industry. The Secretary may award competitive, merit-based financial assistance to eligible host institutions or consortia—including U.S.-based institutions of higher education conducting Department of Defense-sponsored research or senior military colleges (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 2111a(f))—to support Institutes for five-year periods renewable once, for purposes such as (1) providing curated data sets, (2) developing testbeds, (3) conducting research and education, (4) offering computing resources and technical assistance, (5) broadening workforce participation, and (6) other activities determined by the Secretary. Awards are limited to U.S.-based recipients and subgrantees and may involve collaboration with other federal agencies.

This section directs the Secretary of the Army to carry out a program to support the maturation and expansion of robotic automation capabilities for munitions manufacturing at government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) production facilities. Program objectives include (1) designing and integrating inherently safe, scalable robotic load, assemble, and pack (LAP) systems; (2) demonstrating increased throughput and production capacity while reducing manual handling of energetic materials; (3) developing cyber-hardened data infrastructure for secure factory-floor integration with enterprise systems; (4) supporting workforce upskilling and training in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing; and (5) evaluating applicability across multiple munition types and organic industrial base sites. The section requires coordination with the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition and other Army components, as well as a briefing to the congressional defense committees by March 1, 2026, on program progress, lessons learned, and recommendations for wider adoption in the defense industrial base.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Director of the Test Resource Management Center and in consultation with requirements owners of long-range and hypersonic systems, to evaluate (1) comparative advantages of episodic versus permanent special activity airspace designated by the Federal Aviation Administration for Department of Defense testing and training of such systems; (2) requirements for continental test ranges, including attributes such as live, virtual, and constructive capabilities; scheduling and availability; safety; end strength; facilities, infrastructure, radar, and related systems; launch locations; impact areas; and other relevant characteristics; and (3) potential enhancements to existing federal facilities for hypersonic testing and research. The Secretary must brief the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the evaluation findings, including an assessment of the completion date, not later than December 1, 2026.

This section establishes a demonstration project for a western regional range complex (i.e., interconnecting existing ranges and training sites in western states, defined as states west of the Mississippi River) to serve as a joint multi-domain kinetic and non-kinetic testing and training environment for the military departments. The complex must support (1) electromagnetic spectrum operations; (2) electromagnetic warfare; (3) operations blending kinetic and non-kinetic effects; (4) Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2); and (5) information warfare, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; offensive and defensive cyber operations; space operations; psychological operations; public affairs; and weather operations. The Secretary of Defense must complete an initial demonstration—interconnecting two or more ranges or sites of two or more military departments—within one year of enactment and provide the congressional defense committees, within 180 days of enactment, a briefing on a phased implementation plan, its alignment with the Department of Defense's Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy, and expected support for high-periodicity training, testing, research, and development. This section terminates on September 30, 2028.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, subject to the availability of appropriations and in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and service acquisition executives, to conduct a demonstration equipping selected weapon system platforms with onboard, near real-time, end-to-end serial bus and radio frequency monitoring capabilities to detect cyber threats and improve maintenance efficiency. The demonstration shall proceed in two phases: (1) not later than 90 days after enactment, select at least three platforms—prioritizing MH-60R and MQ-9 aircraft fleets using priorities under sec. 1559 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Pub. L. 117-263; 10 U.S.C. 2224 note)—and complete initial deployment of capabilities; and (2) not later than one year after enactment, extend capabilities to the full fleets of selected platforms and complete initial data collection and analysis. Not later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees an unclassified report (with classified annex, if needed) on the demonstration's effectiveness for cyber threat detection, maintenance efficiency, operational readiness, and mission capable rates, along with recommendations on broader implementation across platforms, estimated costs, program development analysis, and proposed metrics.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Navy to establish, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a one-year pilot program to evaluate commercially available next-generation Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) technologies addressing obsolescence in legacy HUMS on Army and Marine Corps rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft. The pilot program must assess whether such technologies (1) mitigate obsolescence risks, (2) enhance aircraft operational readiness, availability, and sustainment, and (3) provide advanced predictive analytics to reduce maintenance burden and lifecycle costs. Not later than 90 days after completion, the Secretaries must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results and recommendations for broader fleet adoption.

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from modifying indirect cost rates (i.e., facilities and administration rates) for Department of Defense grants and contracts awarded to institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that the Department, working with the extramural research community, has (1) developed an alternative indirect cost model that reduces rates for all such entities below FY2025 levels and optimizes payments for legitimate indirect costs to ensure transparency and efficiency; and (2) established an implementation plan with adequate transition time for affected entities. (Thus, current indirect cost rates remain in effect pending certification.)

This section limits to 80% the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized by this Act or otherwise made available for travel expenses of (1) the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and (2) the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering until the Secretary of Defense (1) establishes the Joint Energetics Transition Office required under 10 U.S.C. §148, (2) provides the office with staff and resources necessary to carry out its responsibilities under §148(c) (i.e., developing strategies for energetic materials such as explosives and propellants across the munitions supply chain), and (3) submits to the congressional defense committees the reports required under §241(b) and (c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31).

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized for the Department of Defense to disestablish or modify the duties of the organization responsible (as of enactment) for research, development, test, and evaluation functions for joint conventional armaments and ammunition until 180 days after the Secretary of the Army submits a required report to the congressional defense committees. The report, due by November 1, 2026, must include (1) an explanation of any required relocation of Army personnel and contractors, with estimates of affected numbers and locations; (2) details on any new facilities and infrastructure needed, including what would be constructed and where; (3) a detailed cost estimate for personnel and equipment relocations and new construction; and (4) an explanation of expected efficiencies from the realignment.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to develop, procure, or operate the Navy's autonomy baseline manager or common control system for a proposed unmanned surface vessel program unless (1) the Secretary of the Navy submits to the congressional defense committees (A) the original and current schedules of key capability deliverables, (B) the original and current cost estimates including total funding received, (C) all reports of test and experimentation events with comparisons to alternative industry capabilities, (D) the unaltered Defense Innovation Unit assessment of industry capabilities relative to the Navy systems, and (E) an assessment that the program delivers new capabilities at a pace and quality meeting or exceeding industry capabilities; and (2) the Chief of Naval Operations validates to the congressional defense committees that the program meets Navy operational user needs.

This section limits obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated for FY2026 for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide, and available to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering for travel expenses to 80 percent until the Under Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees the report required by section 245(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159). (Thus, 20 percent of such travel funds are unavailable pending report submission.)

This section authorizes Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation funds to carry out activities supporting research and development of bioindustrial manufacturing processes (i.e., processes using biological systems to produce materials for defense manufacturing needs), as described in subsection (c) of Section 215 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263; 10 U.S.C. 4841 note), including design and construction activities.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to designate, not later than 90 days after enactment, a senior official with biotechnology experience from an existing Department of Defense position to head the Biotechnology Management Office and oversee its responsibilities. Not later than 120 days after enactment, the Secretary must establish the office under the Deputy Secretary of Defense to foster development, acquisition, and sustainment of biotechnology capabilities, with responsibilities including (1) maintaining and executing the Defense Biotechnology Strategy (as required by section 246) and a related roadmap; (2) updating acquisition and adoption policies; (3) coordinating with Department, federal, industry, academic, and international partners; (4) proposing regulatory and acquisition streamlining; (5) conducting global competition analyses and forecasting; (6) supporting public-private partnerships and innovation ecosystems; (7) identifying workforce gaps; and (8) other duties as directed. The section sunsets on September 30, 2030, and requires a briefing to the congressional defense committees not later than 30 days after the senior official's designation on the office's proposed charter and first-year plans.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after enactment, to establish a bioindustrial commercialization program to expand domestic capacity for commercial-scale manufacturing of critical biomanufactured products (i.e., products made using biological processes essential to defense supply chains) through competitive awards to entities for establishing, upgrading, or retooling bioindustrial manufacturing facilities. Awards are based on criteria including potential to enhance domestic resilience and warfighter capabilities, facility repurposability and geographic distribution, and proximity to input materials or biomanufacturing hubs; recipients must report periodically on progress, timelines, products, and DoD agreements. Not later than 90 days after enactment, the Secretary must report to the congressional defense committees on funding plans, followed by annual reports detailing awards, funding, communications, and alignment with DoD priorities; the section sunsets 10 years after enactment unless extended by presidential determination transmitted to those committees.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments and heads of relevant Defense Agencies, to establish the Biotechnology Supply Chain Resiliency Program to develop, scale within military department laboratories, and transition biotechnology-based technologies and capabilities—such as chemicals, materials, and fuels—to enhance the resilience, sustainability, and responsiveness of the defense supply chain. The program directs activities including (1) assessing Department of Defense supply chain vulnerabilities; (2) establishing collaborative mechanisms in military laboratories for applied research, prototyping, and production of biologically derived materials to reduce foreign supply chain reliance; (3) upgrading or constructing physical and digital infrastructure; (4) entering partnerships via contracts, grants, or other transactions; (5) supporting workforce development; (6) aligning with national strategies; (7) promoting next-generation feedstocks for local economic growth; (8) modernizing facilities; and (9) establishing performance metrics. The Secretary must prioritize technologies addressing vulnerabilities to improve readiness, such as field manufacturing, novel materials, and cost-efficient processes; consult industry, academia, and other agencies; and support emerging biotechnologies through partnerships and transitions. This section requires the Secretary to submit an initial report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than one year after program commencement, and biennially thereafter until termination, detailing research efforts, partnerships, infrastructure, performance, and challenges (in unclassified form, with a possible classified annex). The section sunsets program authority 10 years after enactment, unless the President determines continuation necessary for national economic or security needs and notifies the Armed Services Committees.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after the date of enactment, to develop and implement requirements ensuring that qualified biological data resources created by research entirely funded by the Department of Defense are collected and stored to facilitate their use in artificial intelligence and other advanced computational methods. The requirements must include (1) a definition of qualified biological data resource based on criteria such as data type, dataset size, funding amount, data sensitivity, or other factors; (2) guidance on metrics and metadata for data quality, usability, interoperability, and completeness; (3) tiered cybersecurity safeguards and access controls; (4) exceptions, including for national security; and (5) protections for individual privacy. In developing the requirements, the Secretary must consult with secretaries of the military departments, Armed Forces research laboratory heads, and relevant DoD-funded private sector and academic entities to minimize burdens and must incorporate applicable existing federal frameworks and standards.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Research and Engineering and for Acquisition and Sustainment, to submit to the congressional Armed Services Committees by June 1, 2026, a strategy on national security implications of emerging biotechnologies, including biotechnology's future role in defense and means to improve industry, interagency, and international relationships in the sector. The strategy must address the following elements: (1) developing a network of commercial biomanufacturing facilities for defense-critical products; (2) reviewing and updating military specifications to incorporate or substitute biotechnology-based products; (3) updating plans and policies for advance market commitments and offtake agreements for defense-applicable biotechnology products; (4) reviewing incorporation of military-relevant biotechnology applications into wargaming, tabletop exercises, or net assessments; (5) assessing benefits and costs of issuing research grand challenges to make biotechnology predictably engineerable, including implementation plans; (6) developing a biotechnology regulation science and technology program, including digital infrastructure for simplified regulation and biometrology tools; (7) updating plans for Department support to NATO members in aggregating demand and pooling purchasing power for biotechnology products; (8) reviewing plans to develop, integrate, and disseminate biotechnology research across NATO members and coordinate with international stakeholders; (9) reviewing feasibility and advisability of cloud computing for secure biological data storage, including cybersecurity, biosecurity, and privacy considerations; and (10) developing a training program for Armed Forces members, Department civilians, and contractors involved in creating or deploying novel biotechnologies, responding to biological threats, or biotechnology-related planning, R&D, engineering, or testing.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to issue publicly available policies and guidelines on the ethical and responsible development and deployment of biotechnology within the Department of Defense, developed in consultation with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Research and Engineering and Policy and representatives from industry, academia, and civil society. The policies and guidelines must address (1) definitions for ethical biotechnology use; (2) an assessment of existing statutes, regulations, directives, manuals, or instructions limiting such guidelines; (3) safe use under regulatory oversight; (4) informed consent for Armed Forces members participating in unapproved biotechnology products; (5) conditions for acceptable uses potentially resulting in irreversible or heritable characteristics; (6) environmental effects; (7) compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention; (8) human performance enhancement or augmentation; and (9) other relevant matters. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees an unclassified report on the policies and guidelines, including development methodologies (with a possible classified annex), and make a public version available excluding any classified annex. During the two-year period beginning one year after enactment, the Secretary must provide annual briefings to the committees on implementation, including required resources.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to develop and make publicly available, not later than one year after enactment, guidance for private entities on demonstrating, validating, and verifying that biobased products (i.e., products manufactured, produced, or developed through application of living organisms to alter living or non-living materials) meet Department of Defense requirements. In developing the guidance, the Under Secretary must conduct and publicly release an analysis of current military specifications for suitable product categories that includes: (1) assessing all specifications to identify those met by existing biobased products, those that could be met with modifications, or those needing new specifications; (2) assessing validation and verification processes to determine if modifications are needed for biobased alternatives; and (3) reviewing acquisition policies and practices to recommend changes for procuring biobased products.

This section modifies the requirements for the energetic materials strategic plan and investment strategy of the Joint Energetics Transition Office (i.e., DoD office overseeing transition to next-generation explosives and propellants) to include identifying raw material waste produced during the explosives manufacturing process and developing plans to reduce waste and optimize production.

This section extends the period for annual reports on critical technology areas supportive of the National Defense Strategy to December 1, 2030 (from December 1, 2025).

This section requires the Director of Science, Technology, and Test Resource Management of the Air Force to provide the congressional defense committees with briefings on challenges facing Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) laboratories and facilities—not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act and every three months thereafter for two years. The briefings must address (1) funding trends and processes contributing to underinvestment; (2) infrastructure conditions, including maintenance backlogs and modernization needs; (3) how such investments are prioritized against other military construction; (4) highest-priority projects, justifications, and funding progress; (5) options to improve funding and management, including public-private and public-public partnerships; (6) RDT&E workforce status, talent attraction and retention challenges, and strengthening options; and (7) limitations of existing policies or statutes for sustainment and modernization.

This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for operation and maintenance expenses of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense activities and agencies, as specified in the funding table in section 4301.

This section expands the annual report on Department of Defense environmental programs under 10 USC 2711 to require specified information on costs of investigating and remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) releases in the remaining cost-to-complete estimate for known sites under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP). (The DERP funds cleanup of contamination at active and former military installations, including PFAS from firefighting foams.) Specifically, this estimate must include (1) detailed information on the total potential cost to the Department for such PFAS activities at all locations where DoD expects to fund investigation and remediation and (2) the annual PFAS cost-to-complete analysis required under new subsection (d). New subsection (d) requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct this analysis annually for the most important PFAS cost contributors, including (1) an assessment of changes in regulatory standards, treatment technologies, and site prioritization; examples of how modifying assumptions on contamination extent, remediation timelines, or disposal methods could affect costs; and identification of funding shortfalls or constraints; and (2) a risk and uncertainty analysis addressing variability in contamination extent, regulatory shifts, and technology advances.

This section eliminates Department of Defense preferences and requirements for motor vehicles using electric or hybrid propulsion systems by (1) striking paragraphs (4) and (10) of section 2911(e)—which establish those preferences within annual energy management reports—and redesignating the remaining paragraphs, and (2) revising section 2922g(a) from a mandate (“shall”) to a permission (“may”).

This section modifies the use of operational energy cost savings under the Department of Defense energy cost savings program (10 U.S.C. 2912), which allows such savings to remain available for two fiscal years without further authorization for energy resilience and conservation measures (one-half of savings) or installation quality-of-life improvements (remaining one-half). Specifically, it (1) revises subsection (c) to require such savings be used for operational energy initiatives (previously, additional operational energy resilience, efficiencies, mission assurance, energy conservation, or energy security), directs the Secretary of Defense to design those initiatives to advance departmental objectives in energy resilience and fuel efficiency, and authorizes them to enhance mission and combat capabilities, fund operational environment training, or incentivize further energy reductions; (2) in subsection (e)(1), requires the Secretary to transfer specified available amounts not later than 60 days after notification (previously, permissive "may transfer"); and (3) adds subsection (f) defining operational energy cost savings as monetary savings from measures reducing energy expenditures relative to the amount needed to sustain equivalent capability.

This section requires support for National Guard training on wildfire prevention and response (previously permissive under Section 351 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018).

This section modifies requirements under Section 322 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 for the Department of Defense (DOD) to replace fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF, which contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS linked to health and environmental risks) with fluorine-free firefighting agents at military installations, as follows: (1) in subsection (b), extending the deadline for fluorine-free agent procurement to October 1, 2026 (from October 1, 2023), and changing the PFAS threshold to "detectable" (from in excess of one part per billion); (2) in subsection (c), revising the prohibition on AFFF use to apply immediately upon enactment of the Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA at installations that have transitioned to fluorine-free agents and, at other installations, on or after the earlier of specified dates including October 1, 2026 (from October 1, 2024); (3) replacing subsection (d) with new exemptions from subsections (b) and (c) for AFFF use onboard oceangoing vessels, for qualification testing, for fluorine-free agent R&D, on naval nuclear submarine propulsion plants, and in incompatible tactical vehicles or equipment; and (4) in subsection (e), expanding waiver authority to cover the subsection (b) limitation, adding "or to maintain military readiness" to safety-based criteria, striking one waiver condition and a phrase on revisions, and designating the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (from Secretary of Defense) for certain certifications.

This section revises the Department of Defense prohibition on procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters containing intentionally-added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to instead prohibit procurement unless the PPE meets the specifications of the most recently published edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1970 standard (i.e., Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting), including by not containing any substance on the restricted substances list in excess of maximum acceptable levels. It makes conforming changes to subsection (d) definitions of compliant PPE.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, on and after the date of enactment, to offer alternative drinking water—such as bottled water, connection to a public water system, or filtration systems—to households that (1) are downgradient from a military installation, (2) receive water from private wells contaminated solely with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from Department of Defense activities at that installation exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contaminant level (MCL) at any point, and (3) are in a community where at least one other household was already eligible for such water due to the same contamination. (As background, PFOS and PFOA are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for which EPA has established enforceable MCLs under the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect public health from adverse effects.) The section directs coordination with Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) authorities and provides exceptions if the affected community is fully connected to a municipal water system or if DoD has addressed exposures under CERCLA to meet federal or state drinking water standards.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with specified DoD officials, to designate an executive agent for installation and operational nuclear energy (i.e., nuclear reactors to power military installations and support operations) not later than one year after enactment of this section. The executive agent must (1) assess nuclear energy needs in coordination with combatant commanders and the Joint Chiefs of Staff; (2) consult commercial nuclear experts on reactor capabilities, costs, and risks; (3) assess reactor technology readiness, licensability, and deployability in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, military department secretaries, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (4) integrate DoD resources and develop plans to aggregate demand and acquisition for reactors across installations and departments; (5) evaluate regulatory requirements and establish training programs in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission; (6) identify timelines, resource needs (including national laboratory support and pilot funding), and incorporate them into DoD planning, programming, budgeting, and execution processes; and (7) provide technical support for military department reactor deployment programs. The executive agent must submit annual reports on implementation to the Secretary of Defense and congressional defense committees beginning September 30, 2026, for five years. This section further requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the executive agent, to submit to congressional defense committees not later than one year after enactment a plan to establish a DoD program of record for installation and operational nuclear energy, including requirements, a budget estimate through 2030 (or five years after first deployment), actions taken, use cases (e.g., energy resilience, multi-domain operations), minimum cost-effective number of installations with deployment timelines, and fuel estimates. The section requires compliance with DoD Directive 5101.01 and support for the executive agent within DoD.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish, not later than 180 days after enactment, the Advanced Nuclear Transition Working Group—chaired by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs (or designee) and comprising specified DoD officials including assistant secretaries for energy, installations, and environment across the military departments—to accelerate procurement and fielding of commercial advanced nuclear capabilities (e.g., microreactors, small modular reactors) for combatant commands and military installations. The working group must meet quarterly; identify critical energy requirements and prioritized use cases (e.g., base electric power, directed energy weapons, synthetic fuel production); coordinate interagency efforts on workforce, licensing, fuel, and safety; engage commercial developers; and submit annual reports through September 30, 2029, to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees assessing energy systems, use cases, and recommending at least three pilot projects. The working group terminates on September 30, 2029.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to establish, not later than September 30, 2027, a program of record to acquire and use non-space-based commercial weather data for operational weather forecasting and to enhance mission planning and execution in data-sparse and contested environments, and to integrate such data and related systems into Air Force meteorological and decision support frameworks. The section further requires the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than March 1, 2026, with respect to such program: (1) a transition plan including projected costs and funding requirements for FY2027 through FY2031; (2) an acquisition strategy outlining potential middle-tier or major capability acquisition pathways; and (3) a budget justification for inclusion in the FY2027 President's budget request materials submitted pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1105 to secure sustained funding.

This section directs the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment to initiate, not later than one year after enactment, a ten-year pilot program at one or more naval installations to assess the use of small modular reactors or mobile reactors (preferably 20-300 MW capacity, with high-heat-resistant fuel such as tri-structural isotropic particle fuel and passive cooling) in meeting installation energy needs and enhancing energy security for Navy and Marine Corps installations. In selecting installations, the Assistant Secretary must consider existing memoranda of agreement with private power providers or reactor vendors, contributions to naval operations and readiness, and potential co-location with data centers; program requirements include assessing facilities, planning for refueling and waste management, ensuring grid-interruption resilience, and coordinating with Department of Defense nuclear working groups and executive agents to avoid duplication. The pilot program does not require new contracts, including energy savings performance contracts, and the Secretary of the Navy may terminate it early with notice to the congressional defense committees. Within 30 days of initiation, the Secretary of the Navy must submit to the congressional defense committees an initial report with a five-year funding plan for Navy nuclear shore power (including shortfalls), barriers to providing nuclear power to civilian grids, lessons from related efforts, data center support analysis, and other details; a final report upon conclusion—includeable in the annual energy resilience report under 10 U.S.C. 2925—must identify funding to convert the pilot to a program of record, available Navy funding for installation nuclear power, and installations under consideration for future nuclear power.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, a strategy to accelerate Department of Defense response efforts with respect to releases of perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from Department activities, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). The strategy must include (1) criteria for prioritizing response actions at military installations and National Guard facilities based on relative risk to human health and the environment (including PFAS concentrations, migration pathways, and proximity to receptors); (2) timelines for completing each phase of the CERCLA cleanup process at each such site; (3) a plan for deploying additional technologies, personnel, or resources to reduce remediation delays, including identification of the number of laboratories accredited by the Department environmental laboratory accreditation program to test for PFAS and the number in process of accreditation; and (4) benchmarks for evaluating performance of each military department and Defense Agency in reducing relative risk from such releases. This section further requires the Secretary, not later than one year after the date of enactment, to publish on a public Department website and semiannually update an online dashboard summarizing (1) funding obligated or expended for PFAS releases, disaggregated by military installation or National Guard facility; (2) status of CERCLA response efforts (including interim removal actions) at each site; (3) projected and actual timelines for response actions at each site; and (4) community engagement points of contact.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year before placing a permanent nuclear reactor in Guam, to notify Congress and the Governor of Guam of such placement, except for nuclear reactors aboard naval vessels. In this section, the term "nuclear reactor" has the meaning given the term "advanced nuclear reactor" in section 951 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (i.e., a nuclear fission reactor with significant improvements compared to reactors operating on December 27, 2020—such as additional inherent safety features, lower waste yields, or increased thermal efficiency—or a fusion reactor).

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to use cost-effective technologies, permitted or approved by a federal or state regulatory agency, for the destruction or disposal of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It further directs the Secretary to issue implementing guidance identifying qualifying technologies and to periodically review and revise such guidance to account for new technologies.

This section modifies the Department of Defense readiness report required under 10 U.S.C. §482(b)(8) to include details on Class A and Class B aviation mishaps and a summary count of all Class C mishaps (previously, details on Class A, Class B, and Class C mishaps). (Thus, the report provides less granular information on Class C mishaps, which involve property damage between $50,000 and $500,000 or evacuations but no fatalities.)

This section establishes responsibilities for the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Commander of U.S. Transportation Command to integrate global contested logistics posture management (i.e., DoD supply chain resilience in environments where adversaries may disrupt logistics), including (1) identifying vulnerabilities and risks in core logistics capabilities such as supply, maintenance, prepositioned stocks, deployment and distribution, health services, engineering, logistics services, and operational contracts; (2) developing and executing a mitigation strategy; and (3) integrating investments across military departments regarding overseas prepositioned stock sites and compositions, intra-theater sea and air lift, and resourcing for operational plans. The section further requires the Deputy Secretary and Vice Chair to co-chair at least two Deputy Management Action Group meetings annually on contested logistics; directs those three officials to develop and biennially update a two-year contested logistics posture strategy detailing prepositioned stock locations and status, shortcomings, additional site/infrastructure needs, required funding and prioritized investments, overseas access limitations by location, and threats to support sites; mandates quarterly briefings to the Armed Services Committees beginning 180 days after enactment and continuing through December 31, 2031, on risk mitigation and strategy progress; and requires contested logistics investment accounting in annual budget justification materials. The initial strategy must be completed by January 31, 2027.

This section modifies an exception in 10 U.S.C. 2465(b)(4) to the prohibition on Department of Defense contracts for firefighting or security-guard functions at military installations by (1) striking the limitation to "for the performance of firefighting functions if the contract" preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting "that", and (2) in subparagraph (B), striking "only", "firefighting", and "by reason of a deployment". (Thus, the exception applies more broadly to such contracts previously restricted to firefighting under specified conditions or due to deployments.)

This section establishes in new 10 U.S.C. §2636b a single office or organizational element within the Department of Defense—excluding any combatant command or component—to oversee (1) personal property shipping offices and related activities of the military departments (i.e., shipping baggage or household effects, scheduling or processing orders, storage services, and privately owned vehicle transportation in connection with permanent changes of station for armed forces members) and (2) the Defense Personal Property Management Office or successor, with such assignment required not later than one year after enactment. (The defense personal property program manages the shipment of baggage and household effects for armed forces members and DoD civilian employees.) This section further requires (1) a briefing to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees not later than 180 days after enactment on the implementation plan and timeline (including the designated office, required changes, resource estimates, business systems improvements, staffing, and commercial partnerships) and (2) regulations to implement the new section not later than 90 days after the briefing.

This section establishes roles and responsibilities for the sustainment and readiness of non-nuclear naval surface vessels ("covered vessels"). Beginning one year after enactment, it (1) requires the Secretary of the Navy to designate type commanders (i.e., flag officers commanding naval surface forces, such as Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, or Pacific Fleet) as primary authorities for maintenance, repair, sustainment, and readiness of covered vessels, with regional maintenance centers (e.g., Mid-Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia) acting under their direction; and (2) directs type commanders to oversee private shipyard maintenance and repair activities, set priorities, and approve contracts. For covered vessels at private shipyards, it further authorizes the project manager, port engineer, and commanding officer to jointly determine and adjust work during overhaul periods (consistent with budget and schedule) and report directly to the type commander, with contracting officers required to manage contracts accordingly.

This section strikes subsection (c) of Section 359 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (10 U.S.C. 2476 note)—which required submission to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, of a strategy to improve infrastructure at covered depots (i.e., military department depots subject to the minimum eight percent capital investment requirement under 10 U.S.C. §2476)—and redesignates subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. (As background, the strategy addresses capacity and capability for depot-level maintenance and repair activities, and redesignated subsection (c) retains the requirement for annual reports on implementation through FY2026.)

This section modifies the report required by section 355(c)(2)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 on improved oversight for implementation of the Navy's Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) to also address the incorporation of digital infrastructure (including hardware, software, and cloud storage) and platforms into the program. (As background, SIOP funds infrastructure modernization at the Navy's four public shipyards to support maintenance of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.)

This section extends the requirement under Section 352 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 for semiannual briefings to congressional defense committees on the operational status of the Navy's amphibious warship fleet through September 30, 2028 (from September 30, 2026). It further requires those briefings to include details on the maintenance and service life extension plan for each operational amphibious warfare ship (i.e., as defined in 10 U.S.C. §8062(b), which includes ships temporarily unavailable due to maintenance) until the obligation and work limiting date for the construction contract of a replacement ship, as necessary to meet the Navy's statutory minimum of 31 operational amphibious warfare ships (of which at least 10 must be amphibious assault ships).

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that Department of Defense maintenance of aviation critical safety items—defined as any aircraft or aviation weapon system part, assembly, or equipment whose failure, malfunction, or absence could cause catastrophic or critical failure, unacceptable risk of personal injury or loss of life, or uncommanded engine shutdown jeopardizing safety—and mission critical parts (1) includes a technical data requirement or organic or commercially available diagnostic tool—defined as a non-destructive inspection tool capable of detecting corrosion (i.e., material deterioration due to chemical reaction), cracks, component damage, adhesion failure, and wear and tear, and leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive maintenance databases when necessary—if such a requirement or tool is required and available; and (2) is not conducted solely through visual inspection unless no such requirement or tool is available or only visual inspection is required under a technical data requirement. The section further requires the Secretary to ensure that acquisition of appropriate technical data requirements and diagnostic tools is planned as part of the sustainment of systems containing such items and parts.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense (SecDef), in consultation with the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, to ensure by September 30, 2028, that (1) sufficient wartime spares, support equipment, and depot-level capabilities are available for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) operations for at least 90 days under each service's most stressing operational plan and to meet fleet-wide minimum readiness targets; (2) each F-35 contractor provides, and SecDef validates as accurate, all information necessary for Department of Defense (DoD) financial reporting and accountability on F-35 government property—including contract-agreed management data and remediation of contractor-controllable material weaknesses identified in the DoD Agency Financial Report for FY2024; and (3) spare parts titled to the U.S. government in the F-35 global spares pool are provisioned and catalogued with national stock numbers. (Information under clause (2) may be provided per individual contract.) It authorizes SecDef to waive subsection (a) requirements if determined in the national security interests of the United States, with notice to the congressional defense committees identifying the concern, a remedial action plan, and a timeline for compliance. It further requires SecDef, in coordination with the Secretaries of the Navy and Air Force, to submit a report to the congressional defense committees by February 1, 2026, describing (1) top scarce supply assets and plans for sustainable supply by September 30, 2028; (2) readiness of afloat and deployment spares packages and efforts to refresh outdated supplies; (3) fiscal programming by fiscal year to address deficient parts and depot capabilities to meet F-35 planning targets by September 30, 2028; and (4) a fiscal-year plan to integrate global spares pool parts into Air Force and Navy working-capital funds.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force, each year, to incorporate depot-level maintenance, repair, and sustainment coordination with covered nations into at least one multinational exercise in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of operations, including (1) binational or multinational planning sessions on identifying cooperation opportunities to minimize transportation requirements, real-time munitions stockpile and resupply coordination, mutual airworthiness and maintenance certification recognition, and emergency tabletop exercises (e.g., aircraft breakdowns in contested logistics environments); and (2) coordination with the Air Force Sustainment Center involving representatives from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Mobility Command, and the Sustainment Center. Within 180 days after the first such exercise, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on lessons learned that includes (1) candidate systems for co-sustainment; (2) depot-level repair workload opportunities (e.g., testing equipment or line-replaceable units); (3) industry partnership opportunities via public-private partnerships; (4) logistical challenges with host countries (e.g., workforce, housing); (5) intellectual property or data rights impediments; (6) International Traffic in Arms Regulations impediments; (7) recommendations to facilitate partnerships (e.g., status-of-forces agreement changes); (8) analysis of covered nations' organic industrial base capabilities and gaps; and (9) assessment of suitable maintenance activities for partnership. The section defines covered nation as Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, or any other nation designated by the Secretary of the Air Force.

This section directs the Secretary of the Air Force to submit to the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, by May 31, 2026, a report on declining aircraft readiness rates in the Air Force fleet (with emphasis on fighter aircraft), including factors contributing to the decline, proposed actions to reverse it, improve sustainment (i.e., addressing maintenance backlogs, supply shortages of parts, and depot capacity constraints), ensure accurate readiness reporting, and recommendations for legislative actions. The section further requires the Secretary to implement those proposed actions by one year after enactment of this Act and to submit status reports on implementation to the committees beginning 30 days after implementation and annually thereafter for the subsequent three years, in unclassified form but with a possible classified annex.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to investigate, qualify, approve, integrate, and fully adopt into contract requirements specified advanced technologies and processes for surface ship maintenance on an expedited timeline to enhance readiness, reduce costs, and address delays. It requires prioritizing 23 specified technologies and processes (e.g., automated weld inspection, digital twin technology, autonomous underwater vehicles). The section establishes an open process for non-government entities to submit proposals for additional technologies, requires evaluation of such proposals within 90 days based on technical merit and Navy needs, and directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to contract with an independent third-party reviewer to assess and report to Congress on any Navy decision not to select a proposed technology (within 90 days of the decision). It authorizes the Secretary to prioritize implementation based on operational needs, budget constraints, and system compatibility (with justifications provided in a report) and requires updates to policies, specifications, guidance, and contracts upon adoption. Finally, the section requires a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment detailing timelines for qualification, approval, and implementation of the specified technologies and any additional ones (or justifications for non-pursuit).

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that covered contracts for relocation logistics of household goods for members of the Armed Forces undergoing permanent change of station (PCS)—entered into with a single move manager and excluding private vehicle relocations—include specified oversight requirements. Such requirements mandate the prime contractor to (1) submit key subcontract terms covering guaranteed capacity (including location, volume, and peak season), performance metrics, monitoring and enforcement provisions, termination clauses and penalties, and data sharing and security; (2) obtain subcontractor certifications and training records upon request; (3) submit regular performance reports on metrics including on-time pickup and delivery, damage claim rates, customer satisfaction, and compliance; (4) submit a subcontractor management plan; (5) maintain a risk management plan addressing disruptions such as financial instability, natural disasters, or labor disputes; (6) submit monthly subcontractor rating systems and scores; (7) submit subcontractor rates per move; (8) establish escalation procedures for performance issues; (9) permit government audits of subcontractor records with notice; (10) include a fixed-price line item for monthly overhead costs separate from individual move costs; and (11) maintain a real-time-accessible compliance database. The section further directs the Secretary, in developing acquisition and execution strategies for such contracts, to consider (1) single contracts under the Federal Acquisition Regulation for shipping lanes exceeding 1% of total PCS move volume and services contracts otherwise, and (2) tiered incentive awards for higher capacity levels.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to facilitate integration of currently available commercial artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities—specifically designed for logistics tracking, planning, operations, and analytics—into two suitable Department of Defense exercises during FY2026. It requires, for each exercise and in coordination with the relevant combatant commander, selection of a commercial AI product that addresses DoD logistics needs, meets specified data security protocols (including cybersecurity compliance and protection of classified information), provides agile responses to software changes, and prioritizes small or nontraditional software firms. The section further directs expedited approvals for secure use of DoD data by AI providers and requires (1) an interim briefing to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by March 1, 2026, identifying the exercises, participating combatant commanders and points of contact, selected AI capabilities and contracts, timelines and resource needs, and efficacy metrics; and (2) a briefing from the overseeing combatant commander to the congressional defense committees within 30 days after each exercise, covering integration overview, effects on unit readiness and operational success, and recommendations for future AI use.

This section establishes the Army Depot and Arsenal Workload Sustainment Pilot Program to provide preferences in procurement actions and solicitations for work performed by non-government entities at covered depots (i.e., Army depots and arsenals as defined in 10 U.S.C. 2476(f)). Under the program, the Secretary of Defense must (1) give preference to such actions or solicitations proposing public-private partnerships for depot work, with additional preference for those using Department of Defense employees; (2) prescribe implementing regulations not later than 270 days after enactment; and (3) submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than one year after enactment, a report on program activities and challenges that includes a breakout of prior-year depot work by budget accounts (direct and via partnerships), projected workloads from the future-years defense program under 10 U.S.C. 221, and projected capital investments for core logistics capabilities under 10 U.S.C. 2464. The pilot program terminates five years after enactment.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for Major Force Program 11 (i.e., United States Special Operations Command) to establish or expand a Space Force Special Operations Component Command until 30 days after the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict and the Commander of United States Special Operations Command (in consultation with the Chief of Space Operations) jointly submit a required report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. The report must include (1) an articulation of the requirement for such a command; (2) a funding profile across the future-years defense program under 10 U.S.C. §221, delineating funds required under Major Force Program 2 (i.e., Space Systems) and Major Force Program 11; (3) a timeline and conditions for initial and full operational capability; (4) military, civilian, and contractor personnel required at initial and full operational capability; (5) facilities requirements at initial and full operational capability; (6) documentation of Secretary of Defense and Assistant Secretary approval; (7) administrative and command relationships with United States Special Operations Command, United States Space Command, and the Space Force; and (8) other relevant matters.

This section directs the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, in consultation with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, to establish not later than 90 days after enactment a pilot program in each service to use commercially available artificial intelligence technologies to improve ground vehicle maintenance. Under the pilot program, the Secretaries shall (1) assess the feasibility and effectiveness of AI-driven maintenance approaches, (2) assess cost savings from such technologies, and (3) identify and mitigate challenges and risks including cybersecurity. This section further requires each Secretary to submit a report on the pilot program to the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate not later than one year after enactment and terminates the pilot program's authority on January 1, 2029.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army to accelerate modernization of the Army's organic industrial base (i.e., depots listed in 10 U.S.C. §2476(f)(1)) to meet munitions and weapons requirements by prioritizing use or modification of existing facilities for (1) propellant production; (2) production of any of 13 precursor chemicals currently sourced solely from the People's Republic of China; (3) production of any of 300 chemicals identified as single points of failure by the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition; (4) production of multiple calibers of ammunition; (5) development of dual-use methods for maintenance or production of vehicles and aircraft; (6) use of logistics; (7) production or use of capabilities listed in (1) through (6); or (8) any other capability certified as necessary to congressional defense committees. The section requires the Secretary to expedite production or expansion of these capabilities using, to the fullest extent possible, existing environmental permits, security arrangements, and personnel. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on use of this authority.

This section revises annual reporting requirements on out-year unconstrained total munitions requirements and inventory numbers for each armed force (other than the Coast Guard) under 10 U.S.C. 222c by (1) requiring the combat requirement breakdown to include operation plans (OPLANs) involving the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Islamic Republic of Iran; (2) adding estimated aggregate demand from U.S. allies and partners; (3) replacing calculations of years to meet requirements at current or historical procurement rates with production levels for each fiscal year through the future-years defense program and funding required for those levels; (4) directing the Secretary of Defense to incorporate specified production levels into the Department of Defense planning, programming, budgeting, and execution process to align munitions procurement with requirements; and (5) basing allies' demand estimates on foreign military sales letters of offer and acceptance, informed by discussions and U.S. government analyses. (These reports, submitted with the annual budget, detail munitions needs across combat, operations, readiness, homeland defense, training, protracted warfare, and inventories to assess production shortfalls for potential major conflicts.)

This section requires inclusion of air and missile defense in the list of munitions categories subject to the Out-Year Unconstrained Total Munitions Requirement (i.e., projected future procurement needs without fiscal constraints) and Out-Year inventory numbers in Department of Defense budget justification materials.

This section directs the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment acting through the Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, to submit reports to the congressional defense committees on the status of munitions response projects, including at sites formerly used by the Department of Defense (known as Formerly Used Defense Sites, or FUDS). (As background, the Military Munitions Response Program addresses cleanup of unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, and related constituents at current and former DoD sites, including FUDS transferred from DoD control prior to October 1977 and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.) Reports are due not later than 30 days after the last day of each fiscal quarter for one year after enactment, and biannually thereafter until five years after enactment. Each report must include the following for the covered period: (1) the number of new task order awards for munitions response projects at FUDS and the total dollar value of such awards; (2) the number of optional tasks exercised under such projects and the total dollar value of such tasks; (3) the number of contract modifications or requests for equitable adjustment under such projects and the total dollar value of such modifications and adjustments; (4) the number of active munitions response projects with contracts for which prior-year funds have been returned; (5) a list of active munitions response projects on hold for longer than one year, including for each a summary of the reason (e.g., delays related to regulatory agencies, rights-of-entry issues, Federal land manager actions, discrepancies in subsurface anomalies between the statement of work and field conditions, or risk-based prioritization); and (6) a description of overall challenges to executing the Military Munitions Response Program.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a report detailing U.S. stockpiles of critical munitions required for simultaneous conflicts in the western Pacific, Europe, Middle East, or Korean Peninsula theaters. The report must include (1) estimates of critical munitions needed over the course of such conflicts (accounting for prepositioning, intra-theater movement risks, and increased likelihood of multi-theater contingencies); (2) days until current stockpiles are exhausted; (3) industrial base replenishment time (considering the Out-Year Unconstrained Total Munitions Requirement under 10 U.S.C. 222c and specified assessments but excluding certain DoD Instruction 3000.04 assumptions); (4) production shortfalls and required rates; (5) lessons from Ukraine on munitions consumption; (6) projected stockpiles of Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and affiliates; (7) allies' stockpiles, burden-sharing opportunities, and U.S.-produced munitions needs; and (8) effects on prior elements. Not later than 90 days after that report, the Secretary must submit a plan to incorporate these requirements into the next budget cycle, describing necessary actions by industry and U.S. arsenals and depots. The Secretary may waive the plan requirement with a justification report assessing gaps between current and identified requirements. This section defines critical munitions as those designated on the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's critical munitions list.

This section expands eligibility for adjustment and diversification assistance administered by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to state and local governments affected by Department of Defense actions that negatively affect a covered depot (i.e., a depot, public or private, performing depot-level maintenance on Department weapon systems as defined in 10 U.S.C. §2476(f)). It further requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 60 days after enactment, a report identifying the amount of such anticipated FY2026 assistance for state and local governments for each covered depot.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into agreements with nonprofit entities to evacuate, during noncombatant evacuations of civilians from foreign countries, (1) family pets of evacuated U.S. citizens and (2) contract working dogs located in such country. The authority is subject to limitations that (1) the Department of Defense is not responsible for providing veterinary care for such pets or dogs, (2) its exercise may not reduce the number of individuals otherwise evacuated, and (3) vehicle operators may refuse evacuation if it poses a safety risk to passengers or personnel.

This section establishes safety requirements for Department of Defense manned rotary wing aircraft conducting training missions in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area, prohibiting such operations unless the aircraft provides traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS)-compatible proximity warnings to nearby commercial aircraft, notwithstanding section 1046 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (P.L. 115-232). It authorizes the Secretary of a military department, with Secretary of Transportation concurrence, to waive the prohibition if in the national security interest and following a commercial aviation compatibility risk assessment, with notification to specified congressional committees (Armed Services and Transportation/Infrastructure or Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees of the House and Senate) required for waivers exceeding 30 days; prohibits delegation of waiver authority below general or flag officer rank. Separately, this section requires (1) an initial unclassified report (with classified annex option), due 180 days after enactment, on Department near misses with commercial aircraft over the prior 10 years; and (2) annual unclassified reports (with classified annex option) through 2030 on prior fiscal year near misses, each including incident details (date, time, location, aircraft involved) and any resulting changes to protocols or procedures.

This section establishes an Army museum system within the United States Army Center of Military History, to include the National Museum of the United States Army and other museums honoring installations, units, or branches designated by the Secretary of the Army based on criteria of historical significance to Army operations, technology, or personnel; public accessibility and educational outreach programs; and alignment with the Army's mission to preserve its heritage. The section requires the Secretary to establish criteria for closing museums in the system, which prohibits any closure until after submitting notice to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees—including a plan for preserving, storing, or displaying collections; resolutions for personnel issues; efforts to sustain operations via public-private partnerships; and an analysis of transportation, consolidation, and preservation costs—and a 90-day period elapses. The section authorizes the Secretary to enter into partnerships, including with nonprofit organizations, consistent with applicable law to enhance the museums' financial sustainability and public engagement.

This section establishes the United States Navy Museum System, to be supported by the Secretary of the Navy and comprising 12 specified museums—(1) National Museum of the United States Navy, (2) United States Naval Academy Museum, (3) Naval War College Museum, (4) Submarine Force Museum, (5) National Naval Aviation Museum, (6) USS Constitution Naval History and Heritage Command, Detachment Boston, (7) United States Navy Seabee Museum, (8) Puget Sound Navy Museum, (9) Naval Undersea Museum, (10) National Museum of the American Sailor, and (11) Hampton Roads Naval Museum—plus any others designated by the Secretary that meet established criteria relating to historical significance to naval operations, technology, or personnel; public accessibility and educational outreach; and alignment with the Navy's mission to preserve its heritage. The section requires the Secretary to establish criteria for closing museums in the system, which may not occur until after submitting notice to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees—including a plan for preserving or displaying collections, resolving personnel issues, efforts for public-private partnerships, and costs for transporting, consolidating, and preserving collections—and a 90-day period elapses. The section authorizes the Secretary to enter into partnerships, including with nonprofit organizations, to enhance the financial sustainability and public engagement of museums in the system.

This section establishes the Air Force and Space Force Museum System within the Department of the Air Force, to be supported by the Secretary of the Air Force. The system includes the National Museum of the United States Air Force and other museums designated by the Secretary that meet criteria of (1) historical significance to Air Force and Space Force operations, technology, or personnel; (2) public accessibility and educational outreach programs; and (3) alignment with the mission to preserve Air Force and Space Force heritage. The section requires the Secretary to establish criteria for closing museums in the system, prohibiting any closure until after submitting notice to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees—including a plan for preserving, storing, or displaying collections; resolution of personnel issues; efforts for public-private partnerships; and cost analysis of transporting, consolidating, and preserving collections—and a 90-day period elapses. The Secretary may enter partnerships, including with nonprofit organizations, to enhance the museums' financial sustainability and public engagement.

This section establishes an exception to the Fly America Act (i.e., the requirement that federal agencies use U.S.-flag air carriers for official international air transportation) permitting a member of the Armed Forces or Department of Defense civilian employee to use a foreign air carrier to transport themselves and 1 to 3 domestic animals (defined as domestic cats or dogs) if no U.S.-flag carrier is willing and able to provide the service. The passenger is responsible for any cost exceeding that of a U.S.-flag carrier.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with military departments, veterinary experts, and military working dog program managers, to establish minimum standards for kennels and facilities housing military working dogs not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. Such standards include requirements for (1) space and design, (2) environmental conditions, (3) sanitation and hygiene, (4) safety and security, (5) veterinary care, (6) exercise areas, (7) annual inspections, and (8) other standards as determined appropriate by the Secretary. It further requires the Secretary, acting through the Executive Agent for the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Program, to (1) assess existing facilities for compliance within one year after standards establishment and modify them as needed within three years after enactment; and (2) ensure any new or renovated facilities comply before housing dogs. The section authorizes the Secretary to waive standards on a case-by-case basis for temporary deployments or exigent circumstances, provided alternative welfare measures are implemented and the armed services committees of Congress receive a report with notice, justification, and a description of such measures.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure restroom access at or near each covered location (i.e., a safe haven, secure holding area, or secure holding location at a military installation or Department of Defense facility) for covered drivers (i.e., operators of a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in 49 U.S.C. §31101, who are authorized to provide a transportation protective service—subject to hours-of-service requirements under 49 U.S.C. §31502(b)—involving sensitive cargo such as arms, ammunition, explosives, classified material, or other cargo designated by the Secretary). The restrooms must provide privacy, hand washing, accessibility, and gender-specific accommodations to the extent practicable (and, if portable, must be vented with adequate lighting); however, access may not occur at locations posing a security, health, or safety risk or violating Department regulations or policies. This section further directs the Secretary to establish a notification process for covered drivers to report noncompliance at a covered location and to coordinate with installation commanders or other officials to provide the required access.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems for the destruction of covered materials (i.e., contraband or other illegal property such as seized counterfeit materials and unauthorized military equipment, and classified equipment or materials). Such systems must be equipped to support border security and contraband elimination operations and made available to military installations, forward operating bases, and security forces of U.S. allies and partners to counter infiltration and unauthorized use of U.S. military assets. The section also prohibits open-air burn pits for disposing of covered materials, in addition to the existing prohibition on certain wastes under section 317 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (10 U.S.C. 2701 note).

This section establishes a three-year pilot program, terminating three years after enactment, under which the Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the Secretary of the Navy and the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, may contract for the operation of commercial amphibious aviation resources available for mission tasking by commanders of combatant commands and other Department of Defense components in the Indo-Pacific Command's area of responsibility. The Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command must establish a process to field and adjudicate such mission requests in a timely manner.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance efforts to manage, control, and interdict the greater banded hornet—an invasive species threatening Guam's ecology and military operations—on military installations in Guam. The section authorizes specific activities, including (1) science-based management and control programs to reduce impacts and prevent spread; (2) support for interagency response efforts; (3) development of chemical, biological, and other control techniques; (4) an early detection and rapid response mechanism for hornets or other invasive species; and (5) other appropriate activities. It further requires the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment to provide briefings to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on implementation, beginning no later than 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter for the next three years.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to conduct by one year after enactment a comprehensive joint mobilization and sustainment readiness study—modeled on the 1978 “Nifty Nugget” exercise—to assess the Armed Forces’ capability to respond to a high-intensity contingency in the Indo-Pacific region (e.g., Taiwan Strait or South China Sea). The study must include (1) an assessment of mobilizing, deploying, and sustaining active and reserve forces; (2) an evaluation of strategic lift and sustainment capabilities (e.g., maritime sealift, airlift, rail, road networks, prepositioned stocks); (3) identification of logistics vulnerabilities, bottlenecks, and command and control challenges; (4) analysis of interagency coordination and civilian emergency support; (5) evaluation of joint and allied interoperability, particularly with Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and Taiwan; and (6) a civilian skills inventory of reserve components covering foreign language and cultural expertise, advanced academic credentials (e.g., master’s or doctoral degrees), industrial and technical skills (e.g., cybersecurity, engineering, logistics, data science), critical infrastructure and emergency response expertise, and private-sector leadership relevant to mobilization. By two years after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the study’s results, findings, and recommendations; a summary of the skills inventory with recommendations for leveraging those skills in contingency planning and surge operations; a comparative analysis of best practices by each Armed Force for reserve mobilization, civilian skills tracking and use, and logistical operations (e.g., maritime ports, rail transport, airlift, expeditionary logistics); and estimates of reserve personnel required to reinforce forward units during the first 30, 60, and 90 days of a major contingency and to support full-scale mobilization and logistics surge within the United States.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized for the Army to solicit proposals or award contracts for transforming the Initial Entry Rotary Wing training program (i.e., primary helicopter pilot training) at Fort Rucker, Alabama, until (1) completion of the Part 141 Helicopter Flight School Training Pilot proof of concept by the Army and FAA—including Phases 1 and 2 of Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training, Phase 3 Warfighter Tactical Training, and evaluation of six classes of eight students each (48 total); (2) the Secretary of the Army fully assesses and validates outcomes on cost, operational effectiveness, safety, and training efficacy; (3) the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a report detailing results and rationale for any proposed changes to training systems or platforms; and (4) the Secretary briefs the committees on pilot outcomes and findings, cost-effectiveness and readiness assessments, recommendations for future procurement or contracting, and the proposed course of action for transformation.

This section authorizes end strengths for active duty personnel in the Armed Forces as of September 30, 2026, as follows: (1) the Army, 454,000; (2) the Navy, 344,600; (3) the Marine Corps, 172,300; (4) the Air Force, 321,500; and (5) the Space Force, 10,400.

This section authorizes end strengths for Selected Reserve personnel of the reserve components as of September 30, 2026, as follows: (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 328,000; (2) Army Reserve, 172,000; (3) Navy Reserve, 57,500; (4) Marine Corps Reserve, 33,600; (5) Air National Guard of the United States, 106,300; (6) Air Force Reserve, 67,500; and (7) Coast Guard Reserve, 8,500. The section requires proportionate reductions to these end strengths for certain personnel on active duty (other than training) at fiscal year-end and proportionate increases upon their release from active duty.

This section authorizes the following end strengths for Reserves on full-time active duty (or, for National Guard members, full-time duty) in support of the reserve components, within the total end strengths prescribed in section 411(a), as of September 30, 2026: (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 30,845; (2) Army Reserve, 16,511; (3) Navy Reserve, 10,409; (4) Marine Corps Reserve, 2,400; (5) Air National Guard of the United States, 25,982; and (6) Air Force Reserve, 6,218.

This section establishes minimum end strengths for military technicians (dual status)—federal civilian employees required to maintain membership in the Selected Reserve of their reserve component—as of the last day of FY2026 for specified Army and Air Force reserve components, notwithstanding the civilian workforce management requirements of 10 U.S.C. §129 (which generally prohibits end-strength limits on Department of Defense civilians). The minima are: (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 21,294; (2) Army Reserve, 6,258; (3) Air National Guard of the United States, 10,405; and (4) Air Force Reserve, 6,455. This section limits temporary military technicians (dual status) to no more than 25% of the total authorized under these minima. This section prohibits a state from coercing a military technician (dual status) to accept realignment or conversion to another military status (e.g., Active Guard and Reserve duty) and bars any adverse action against such a technician or their position based solely on refusal of the offer.

This section authorizes maximum numbers of reserve component members serving on full-time operational support duty under section 115(b) of title 10, United States Code, during FY2026 as follows: (1) Army National Guard of the United States, 17,000; (2) Army Reserve, 13,000; (3) Navy Reserve, 6,200; (4) Marine Corps Reserve, 3,000; (5) Air National Guard of the United States, 16,000; and (6) Air Force Reserve, 14,000.

This section authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military personnel expenses of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense activities and agencies, as specified in the funding table in section 4401. The authorization supersedes any other appropriations authorizations (definite or indefinite) for such purposes for fiscal year 2026.

This section streamlines Department of Defense (DoD) total force reporting requirements by (1) repealing the annual report on military technicians under section 115a(g) of title 10, United States Code; (2) incorporating the annual civilian personnel management report requirements, previously under section 129(c) of such title, into the annual defense manpower profile report under section 115a(a) of such title as new subsection (d)—which requires a detailed discussion of civilian workforce management for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Defense Agencies, DoD Field Activities, and military departments—and redesignating subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (e) through (g); and (3) repealing section 129(c) of such title. (Thus, the defense manpower profile report—which provides Congress with the Secretary of Defense's recommendations for active-duty end strengths and civilian personnel levels, along with related justifications—now consolidates these requirements into a single annual submission due by April 1 each year.)

This section revises Space Force general officer management by— (1) extending active duty general and flag officer distribution limits to the Space Force officer list and applying Space Force caps only to officers on sustained duty orders (previously all officers; caps unchanged at 2 generals, 7 in grades above major general, and 6 major generals), while excluding Space Force general officers in active status but not on sustained duty orders who serve more than 365 days up to 3 years (limited to 2 unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense, who must notify Congress within 30 days of authorizing more); (2) authorizing the Secretary of the Air Force to place up to 2 Space Force general officers on active service for 180 to 365 days and excluding Space Force brigadier generals and above pending transition off sustained duty orders for 60 days; and (3) establishing authorized strength of 5 Space Force general officers in active status but not on sustained duty orders, excluding those counted under reserve active duty provisions or in joint duty assignments (not to exceed 2), protecting permanent grades from reductions due to the limit, and providing 60-day exclusions (extendable by 120 days for up to 3 officers) for those released from joint duty or other active service assignments.

This section requires notification to the congressional defense committees of the removal of an officer's name from a selection board report or promotion list for any reason other than misconduct, as follows: (1) for regular component selection board reports, by the Secretary of Defense not later than 30 days after removal and prior to Senate submission of the promotion list; (2) for regular component promotion lists, by the President not later than 30 days after removal; and (3) for reserve component selection board reports, by the Secretary of Defense not later than 30 days after removal and prior to Senate submission of the promotion list.

This section authorizes each Secretary of a military department to detail commissioned officers (pay grade O-3 or below with 2-8 years of active duty) and enlisted members (pay grade E-5 or above with 4-10 years of active duty) as students at accredited U.S. colleges, universities, or theology schools to pursue graduate degrees meeting educational requirements for appointment as chaplains, with funding for educational expenses for up to 25 members per department in any fiscal year (additional details without funding do not count against this limit). Participants must sign an agreement to complete the training, serve a two-year active duty obligation per year (or part thereof) of training up to six years total (or up to nine years if partly in the Selected Reserve at three years per year of training), and accept chaplain positions upon fulfilling obligations, with total obligations under this program and others not to exceed nine years; selections are competitive and based on military department needs. This section further amends the inactivation from active service program (10 U.S.C. 710(a)), which allows temporary inactivation of up to three years for regular component members, Space Force members, or Active Guard and Reserve members to meet personal or professional needs while serving in the Ready Reserve (or equivalent) with required training. (Thus, the amendment adds a new paragraph (2) requiring inactivation—without regard to the three-year limit—for members completing a detail under the new program to perform religious ministry meeting professional requirements for chaplain appointment, for a period determined appropriate by the Secretary.)

This section temporarily increases, from the date of enactment through September 30, 2027, the fiscal year percentage limitation on reductions or waivers of the service-in-grade requirement for general and flag officers retiring in pay grades O-7 and O-8 to 15 percent (from 10 percent). (Service-in-grade requirements under 10 U.S.C. §1370 mandate a minimum time serving in the final grade before retirement eligibility.)

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, if removing the Judge Advocate General before the end of their four-year term, to notify the Senate and House Armed Services Committees within five days with a statement of reasons for (1) the Army Judge Advocate General (adding new subsection (f) to 10 U.S.C. §7037), (2) the Navy Judge Advocate General (adding new subsection (f) to 10 U.S.C. §8088), and (3) the Air Force Judge Advocate General (adding new subsection (g) to 10 U.S.C. §9037). (The Judge Advocate General of each military department is the senior uniformed legal adviser who directs judge advocates and provides legal counsel to departmental leadership.)

This section authorizes the Secretary of a military department, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, to waive during the three-year period following enactment the prohibition on officers serving on successive selection boards (i.e., 10 U.S.C. §612(b)(1)) for boards considering promotions to major general or rear admiral, if insufficient qualified officers on the active-duty list, Space Force officer list, or otherwise authorized are available to comprise the board.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to establish blast safety officer positions in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force not later than September 30, 2026. Blast safety officers must perform duties (in accordance with standards under section 735 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023) that include (1) overseeing blast overpressure assessment and risk management programs, including monitoring exposures and elevating risks to commanders; (2) ensuring training and education on health risks and mitigation for exposed members; (3) overseeing exposure controls such as personal protective equipment, engineering controls, and wearable sensors with data documented in the Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System; (4) coordinating medical surveillance follow-up for exposed members; (5) maintaining exposure logs in the Defense Occupational and Environmental Health Readiness System; and (6) coordinating with range safety officers to integrate blast risk management into range programs. The section further requires the Secretary of each military department to assign blast safety officers to armed forces components where blast overpressure hazards are reasonably anticipated, ensuring coverage across operational environments, and requires such officers to receive training and maintain certification in blast safety.

This section authorizes, under regulations prescribed by the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force, mutual transfers of Army National Guard and Air National Guard officers, respectively, between active and inactive components when filling vacancies in federally recognized units (previously authorized only for enlisted members under subsections (a)–(c)).

This section establishes a new authority under 32 U.S.C. §328a for the chief executive of a state that has declared an emergency due to a disaster—with the Secretary of Defense's consent—to order National Guard members performing Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) duty (i.e., full-time National Guard service organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, and training reserve components) to perform "State disaster response duty" in response to or preparation for the disaster, subject to requirements that (1) such duty occur on a reimbursable basis for fully burdened manpower costs paid by state or non-federal funds; (2) it not interfere with the member's primary AGR duties; and (3) it not exceed 14 days per member per calendar year, with possible extensions by the Secretary to 21 days total (if determined appropriate) or 60 days total (if supporting a catastrophic incident, as defined in 6 U.S.C. §311(i.e., natural disaster, terrorism, or man-made disaster causing extraordinary casualties, damage, or disruption)). States more than 90 days in arrears on reimbursements may not receive such duty absent Secretary of Defense authorization and obligation of funds to cover arrears; amounts received are credited to relevant appropriations. Members on such duty are not U.S. instrumentalities, and the United States bears no liability for related claims. The section also requires the Secretary of Defense to prescribe implementing regulations within 180 days of enactment.

This section requires the annual National Guard equipment status and readiness report to include a description of the effect of any equipment shortfalls on a state's National Guard's ability to perform homeland defense activities.

This section requires the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report—not later than 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter by March 30 through 2031—identifying the number of National Guard members who received sexual assault prevention and response training in the preceding calendar year, disaggregated by state.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on (1) whether to consider a reserve component member's time in service in the Armed Forces, on active duty, or nearing eligibility for retirement pay under chapters 1223 or other military retirement systems when determining suitability for an active duty order; and (2) whether to expand the waiver of release-from-active-duty limitations under 10 U.S.C. §12686(b) from orders of less than 180 days to less than 365 days. The Secretary of Defense must submit a report on the study to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House by April 1, 2026.

This section codifies and expands the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER)—a central web portal that compiles service members' occupational and environmental exposure data, including service records, exposure details (how, where, and when), and related medical records, for Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) use—by adding new section 996 to chapter 50 of title 10, United States Code. The section requires DOD to include exposure data in service records; provide ILER access to the VA Secretary, Defense Health Agency Director, and VA Under Secretaries for Health and Benefits; and submit an annual briefing to the armed services and veterans' affairs committees of Congress on implementation, including handling of classified data. This section also amends the definition of ILER in section 1171(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, to reference section 996 of title 10.

This section establishes a women’s initiative team in each of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force to identify and address barriers, if any, to the service, recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in those armed forces. Each team must (1) identify and address issues hindering women’s service, (2) support women’s recruitment and retention, (3) recommend policy changes supporting women service members’ needs, and (4) foster community; teams consist of members of varying ranks, backgrounds, and occupational specialties and must collaborate with military leadership and stakeholders. Not later than one year after enactment, and annually thereafter until five years after enactment, the Secretary of Defense must submit to the congressional defense committees reports on each team’s activities and progress, including (1) the team’s structure, membership, and organizational alignment; (2) key activities and initiatives; (3) impact assessments on conditions for women, with measurable outcomes where available; and (4) recommendations for legislative or policy changes.

This section revises the honorary promotion authority for former or retired members of the armed forces (i.e., symbolic promotions to any grade up to major general or rear admiral (upper half), with no effect on pay, retired pay, or other benefits). It (1) transfers authority to make such promotions from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretary of a military department; requires the honorary grade to be commensurate with the member's contributions to the armed forces or national defense; prohibits approvals solely based on pre-separation recommendations; requires a favorable recommendation from a board of at least three independent officers (i.e., officers with no relationship to or personal interest in the proposed promotee) convened specifically for that purpose; and strikes the prior provision allowing such promotions notwithstanding that they are not otherwise authorized by law; (2) requires the Secretary of a military department to submit 60-day advance notice to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees prior to any promotion; and (3) requires the Secretary of the military department concerned to notify the member or next of kin expeditiously upon making a promotion.

This section revises appeal procedures for physical evaluation board (PEB) fitness-for-duty determinations in the Disability Evaluation System—under which Medical Evaluation Boards refer service members' medical conditions to PEBs for fitness rulings and disability ratings affecting benefits—by (1) eliminating the 90-day implementation deadline for related Secretarial guidance (per Section 524, NDAA for FY2022) and authorizing Secretaries concerned to require a statement of contention with appeals; and (2) authorizing Secretaries concerned to require a statement of contention with a member's demand for a formal PEB hearing (previously available if demanded by male members only).

This section expands requirements for equal opportunity, racial neutrality, and exclusive use of merit in military personnel actions under Section 529C(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to include command selection (previously, or a promotion).

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House a report by March 31, 2028, on the adequacy of reimbursements for permanent change of station (PCS) expenses incurred by members of the Armed Forces. To prepare the report, the Secretary must (1) conduct a survey of at least 10,000 members completing PCS in FY2026 or FY2027—including actual reimbursed and unreimbursed expenses, optional receipt uploads, statistical validity, representative samples by military department and pay grade, and questions on financial stress, debt, and retention—with follow-up surveys on cost details; (2) separately survey military spouses on employment and career impacts; and (3) consult military relief societies on PCS-related financial assistance. The report must analyze (1) nine PCS reimbursement categories (i.e., dislocation allowance, temporary lodging expense/allowance, per diem, monetary allowance in lieu of transportation, personally procured moves, household goods shipment/storage, dependent travel, pet transportation, and others)—covering intended coverage, uncovered expenses, average costs from at least 10,000 FY2025–2026 PCS (accounting for peak/non-peak cycles), cost-to-reimbursement comparisons, justifications, and modification recommendations; (2) commonly uncovered expenses (e.g., security deposits, utility fees, contract penalties, vehicle registration, excess pet/storage costs, childcare, damaged item replacement); (3) financial impacts, including average out-of-pocket costs by pay grade, debt incidence, emergency savings effects, and relief society utilization; and (4) a recommended annual PCS reimbursement adjustment process accounting for inflation, regional variations (e.g., housing markets, pet quarantines), household needs, and emerging costs. Data must be disaggregated by PCS type (e.g., CONUS-to-CONUS, CONUS-to-OCONUS), pay grade, family status, distance, duty status, Exceptional Family Member Program participation, and origin/destination installation; incorporate existing DoD systems to the extent practicable; and remain under DoD custody, with contractors prohibited from using it beyond this section.

This section revises military recruiter access requirements for local educational agencies (LEAs) by replacing existing provisions with the following: (1) campus access, for students at least 17 years old, equivalent to that provided to prospective employers, institutions of higher education, or other recruiters; (2) access to at least one in-person recruitment event (e.g., career fair) per academic year upon request; and (3) within 30 days of request, secondary student names, addresses, school-provided email addresses (if available), and telephone/mobile phone listings, notwithstanding privacy restrictions under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g(a)(5)). (Thus, LEAs must disclose such directory information to military recruiters regardless of any opt-out policy under FERPA.)

This section establishes a Department of Defense program to provide individuals denied original enlistment in the armed forces with information on job opportunities in areas of national interest (e.g., defense industrial base, cybersecurity or intelligence support, research and development in defense technologies, national emergency and disaster preparedness, or other non-military fields), available training or certification programs for such jobs, and agreements with relevant entities. The section further requires (1) annual reports to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the number of individuals provided such information and agreements entered and (2) an implementation report to those committees not later than one year after enactment.

This section establishes uniform medical accession standards for the appointment, enlistment, or induction of individuals into the armed forces and requires the Secretary of Defense to make those standards, including the waiver process, readily available and understandable to applicants. The section further directs the Secretary to create a process for reviewing medical disqualifications and granting waivers based on available medical information, operational needs of the service, and national security interests (i.e., a compelling governmental interest in accessing individuals whose service supports warfighting capabilities). Finally, the section requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House detailing medical disqualifications, waivers granted, and revisions to standards or processes; for any Coast Guard waiver approvals, the relevant secretary must report waiver details to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

This section amends reporting and enlistment calculation requirements under Section 546 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (10 U.S.C. 520 note) for the Future Servicemember Preparatory Course, which prepares enlistment-eligible individuals (typically non-high school graduates or those scoring below the 31st percentile on the Armed Forces Qualification Test) to improve qualifications for active duty service, as follows: (1) authorizes the Secretary concerned to exclude from the population for 10 U.S.C. 520(a) percentage limitations—capping enlistments of persons scoring at or above the 10th percentile and below the 31st percentile at 4 percent (waivable to 20 percent) of total enlistments—any course graduate who obtains a score at or above the 31st percentile in the same fiscal year and original enlistment period; and (2) revises annual reporting to add requirements for the percentage of nonprior service enlistees scoring below the 31st percentile upon original enlistment and after course graduation or reclassification, redesignates paragraphs (1) through (6) as paragraphs (3) through (8), and corrects a spelling error in redesignated paragraph (5).

This section replaces the requirement under the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.) for male U.S. citizens and other male U.S. residents aged 18 to 26 to present themselves for registration (as proclaimed by the President) with automatic registration by the Director of the Selective Service System, effective one year after enactment. It authorizes regulations requiring (1) covered individuals to provide identifying information—including date of birth, address, Social Security account number, phone number, and email address—to the Director; (2) federal entities to furnish such information as needed for registration; and (3) the Director to notify registrants of their status and correction procedures (if inapplicable); and it makes conforming amendments throughout the act (e.g., replacing references to persons "required to register" with "registered"). (Thus, the Selective Service System—which maintains a database of potential draftees for national emergencies—shifts from a manual, individual-driven process to an automated one likely drawing on federal data sources.)

This section prohibits the Secretary concerned from requiring an officer or noncommissioned officer described in 10 U.S.C. §2031(d)(1)(B) to have completed more than 8 years of service as a condition for approval to serve as an administrator or instructor in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC).

This section revises the authorized number of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) units—secondary school programs that provide students with military training, leadership development, and citizenship education—that the Secretary of Defense must support to not fewer than 3,600, and not more than 4,200 (from not fewer than 3,400, and not more than 4,000), effective October 1, 2027. The section also repeals Section 545 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159).

This section requires the Secretaries of the military departments to ensure that all beginner motorcycle safety training provided to members of the Armed Forces meets the motorcycle safety training requirements for licensing of the state in which the member's permanent station is located.

This section requires the Secretary of each military department to ensure that all members of the Armed Forces under the Secretary's jurisdiction receive annual training on government ethics and standards of conduct, beginning one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on the implementation plan for such training, including (1) resources and personnel required, (2) curriculum, (3) manner and mode of delivery, and (4) other related matters. This section further requires the Secretary of each military department to ensure that all members of the Armed Forces under the Secretary's jurisdiction receive training during the 90-day period ending on the date of a mobilization or deployment on (1) the law of armed conflict, (2) rules of engagement, (3) defense support for civil authorities, (4) standing rules for the use of force, and (5) the Code of Conduct for Members of the Armed Forces of the United States as prescribed in Executive Order 10631 or any successor Executive Order.

This section authorizes the Secretary concerned to pay a one-time bonus of up to $10,000 to a member or former member of the Armed Forces who agrees to serve as a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) instructor in a difficult-to-fill position for at least one academic year. The section requires the Secretary of Defense to brief the congressional defense committees annually, beginning one year after enactment and until termination, on the use and effectiveness of the bonuses in increasing JROTC instructors; the authority terminates five years after enactment.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy, not later than 90 days after enactment, to develop and implement a one-year pilot program to optimize the use of generative artificial intelligence and spatial computing for immersive training and proficiency assessment. The pilot program must include (1) development of content for not less than five occupational specialties and (2) methods to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of such training methods compared to other methods, particularly with respect to cost and time required to achieve training goals. Not later than 90 days after the program's termination, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the results, including an analysis of effectiveness and descriptions of any cost savings and time savings to achieve training goals.

This section limits the Secretary of the Army's authority to reorganize a unit of the Army Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (SROTC)—including by closing, restructuring, reclassifying, merging, or realigning—by (1) requiring a briefing to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by March 1, 2026, on overall reorganization plans, including anticipated effects on SROTC members at each institution, transfer requirements, and alternative commissioning pathways; and (2) prohibiting any unit reorganization until 90 days after a unit-specific briefing to the committees that details positions to be eliminated, a risk analysis on officer accessions, anticipated costs or savings, affected members (including travel impacts), and scholarship changes under 10 U.S.C. §§2107 or 2107a. The section further requires that any reorganization allow SROTC members receiving financial assistance under §§2107 or 2107a to complete commissioning requirements without transferring to another institution. (Thus, the provision protects Army SROTC scholarship students—who receive tuition payments and stipends—from disruption while imposing congressional oversight on unit changes that could reduce officer production.)

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army to (1) accredit the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC), located at Robinson Maneuver Training Center, Arkansas, as a U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) institution; (2) designate the Small Arms Weapons Expert and Squad Designated Marksman programs of instruction taught at NGMTC as Training Operations Management Activity (TOMA) validated, National Guard-centric courses; and (3) award the Master Marksman Training additional skill identifier to Army National Guard members who successfully complete both programs. The section requires the Secretary to provide congressional defense committees, by April 1, 2026, a briefing on (1) the Secretary's determination whether to use the authorities in subsections (a) through (c); (2) progress integrating such programs into the Army Program Objective Memorandum (POM); and (3) the Secretary's determination whether to establish a Modified Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE) requirement associated with the additional skill identifier to ensure enduring demand and sustainment. The section states that nothing in it transfers operational control, administrative authority, or ownership of the NGMTC facility from the Army National Guard to the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, or National Guard Bureau.

This section increases to 10 years (from 8 years) the maximum years of service for eligibility to receive funding for law school educational expenses from a military department secretary (i.e., under the officer detail program authorized by 10 U.S.C. § 2004). It also revises related eligibility criteria language and makes technical amendments to conform statutory cross-references. (Thus, more mid-career officers are eligible for funded attendance at civilian law schools to earn a J.D. degree.)

This section includes the Space Force Senior Level Education Program and the Space Force Intermediate Level Education Program in (1) the definition of senior level service schools and (2) the definition of intermediate level service schools. It also adds those programs to the list of professional military education programs for which the Secretary of Defense must request separate budget justifications.

This section revises distance education requirements for Phase I and II joint professional military education by requiring a pathway for reserve component members to fully complete the course asynchronously and while physically separated from instructors and without in-person attendance (previously, only while physically separated from instructors and without in-person attendance). (Thus, reservists may complete required intermediate- and senior-level JPME courses on demand via distance learning.)

This section establishes a Center for Strategic Deterrence and Weapons of Mass Destruction Studies within the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University. The Center's mission is to (1) prepare national security leaders to address strategic deterrence and weapons of mass destruction challenges through education, research, and outreach across the federal government; (2) develop leaders with understanding of strategic deterrence and weapons of mass destruction implications; (3) develop curricula, learning outcomes, and educational tools on these topics for joint professional military education institutions, per guidance from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; (4) serve as the Department of Defense's primary institution for studying strategic deterrence and weapons of mass destruction in joint professional military education; (5) conduct studies and analyses to enhance understanding of strategic deterrence, weapons of mass destruction threats to U.S. and global security, and responses to prevent, mitigate, or eliminate those threats; and (6) provide expert support on these issues to the Secretary of Defense and other federal leaders.

This section increases the maximum number of ranked or unranked alternates—from 9 to up to 14—that each Senator, Representative, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, or Governor may nominate per vacancy at the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy (thus, increasing the maximum nominees per vacancy from 10 to 15). It also revises the heading of the U.S. Naval Academy statute to “appointment; numbers, territorial distribution” (from “number”).

This section increases the alternative service obligation—from three years to five years in a reserve component—for cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy who fail to complete their required active-duty service commitment. (As background, cadets and midshipmen receive tuition-free education in exchange for at least five years of active-duty service post-graduation; those who do not complete it must repay education costs or fulfill the alternative reserve obligation.)

This section increases from one to two the number of additional Members of the House of Representatives designated to the Boards of Visitors for (1) the United States Military Academy, (2) the United States Naval Academy, and (3) the United States Air Force Academy. (Boards of Visitors provide congressional oversight of academy operations, instruction, fiscal affairs, and physical conditions.)

This section establishes a statutorily designated Director of Admissions for the U.S. Naval Academy, appointed by the President with Senate advice and consent to perform duties prescribed by the Superintendent with Secretary of the Navy approval. The position carries the regular grade of commander in the Navy or lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps, increasing to captain or colonel, respectively, after six years of service or upon the date the officer would have been promoted if selected from the promotion zone. The President may detail any Navy or Marine Corps officer above lieutenant or captain, respectively, to perform the duties without formal appointment. The individual serving in the position on the date of enactment may continue with the specified grade until a new director is appointed or detailed.

This section requires the Secretary of the Air Force to detail members of the Space Force as instructors at the United States Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) to provide instruction supporting the Space Force mission, with the number detailed each academic year equal to or greater than the product of (A) the ratio of Space Force personnel to combined Air Force and Space Force personnel and (B) the total number of AFIT instructors. This section also revises the section heading of 10 U.S.C. §9414; redesignates subsections (e) and (f) as (f) and (g); and requires the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than two years after enactment, a report on implementation that identifies the number, academic specialties, and courses of such instructors and assesses their contributions to Space Force objectives. (As background, AFIT confers graduate degrees upon qualified graduates subject to Secretary of Education approval and civilian accreditation.)

This section prohibits male enrollees at the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, and United States Air Force Academy from participating in athletic programs or activities designated for women or girls. It permits males to train or practice with such programs provided no female is deprived of a roster spot, participation opportunity in practice or competition, scholarship, admission to an educational institution, or other benefit. In this section, sex means a person's reproductive biology and genetics at birth, and athletic programs or activities include all programs provided conditional upon participation with any athletic team.

This section establishes qualifications for judge advocates under article 6 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) by inserting new subsection (a) into 10 U.S.C. §806 and redesignating existing subsections (a)-(d) as (b)-(e). Under new subsection (a)(1), a member of the armed forces may only serve as a judge advocate if the member (A) is admitted to practice law before the highest court of a State, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; (B) maintains a license status eligible for active practice before that court; (C) is subject to the disciplinary process of that jurisdiction; and (D) complies with other requirements of that jurisdiction for eligibility. New subsection (a)(2) authorizes the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard (and the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps) to suspend a judge advocate's authority to perform legal duties for noncompliance with subsection (a)(1) and prohibits any member suspended or disbarred from practicing law in a jurisdiction from performing legal duties. Conforming amendments to articles 27(b) (trial and defense counsel) and 24a(b) (special trial counsel for certain serious non-capital offenses) of the UCMJ require those roles to be filled by judge advocates qualified under new §806(a)(1).

This section requires the assignment of sufficient qualified judge advocates to provide legal advice to (1) all commanders responsible for planning and organizing military operations, including commanders of and within commands assigned to a combatant command or the U.S. element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, and (2) all commanders authorized to convene courts-martial. Judge advocates assigned under this provision must possess the qualifications specified in 10 U.S.C. §806(a)(1), plus any additional education, expertise, or experience deemed necessary by the Judge Advocate General of the relevant armed force (or, for the Marine Corps, the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant).

This section amends Section 569F of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159) to require the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice, to analyze (1) potential modifications to the offense of wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images (Article 117a, Uniform Code of Military Justice; 10 U.S.C. 917a)—which prohibits service members from nonconsensually distributing identifiable intimate images or images of sexually explicit conduct of adults with a reasonable expectation of privacy, likely to cause harm, and connected to a military mission or environment—to clarify applicability to nonconsensual distribution of digital forgeries (i.e., deepfakes) and incorporate changes proposed in section 552 of H.R. 3838 (as engrossed September 10, 2025); and (2) not later than December 31, 2026, to submit a report on these and prior required analyses to specified congressional committees (previously, results provided without deadline). It also adds to the matters on which the Secretary must consult certain military justice experts the advisability of such modifications to Article 117a and other appropriate approaches.

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in coordination with the Director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, to revise sexual assault prevention and response training guidance not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. The revision requires inclusion of information on Department of Veterans Affairs resources for experiences with unwanted sexual behavior (i.e., any sexual contact or interaction without free consent, including harassment, coercion, assault, or abuse) in annual or periodic training administered to all Armed Forces members pursuant to DoD Instruction 6495.02, Volume 2, or successor guidance.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after the date of enactment, to establish and implement a policy ensuring that registered sex offenders who reside or work on military installations are identified to the respective military community, including through agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies. The section also requires the Secretary, within the same one-year period, to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a report assessing the advisability and desirability of designating the Department of Defense as a jurisdiction under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice, to analyze the advisability of modifying the definition of abusive sexual contact under Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. §920)—currently sexual contact that would violate the sexual assault provisions of that article if it were a sexual act—to address the full range of harmful behaviors associated with sexual assault and to prevent misapplication of the offense to acts that are not inherently abusive. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, the Secretary shall submit a report detailing the results of the analysis and any associated recommendations to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice, to analyze the feasibility and advisability of establishing a dedicated punitive article under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) for child pornography-related offenses and to submit a report detailing the results and any recommendations to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by December 31, 2026.

This section amends requirements for preseparation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for separating members of the armed forces (10 U.S.C. 1142(a)). Specifically, it (1) authorizes in-person counseling to the extent practicable, with remote options including online modules and materials if in-person is infeasible; (2) authorizes the Secretary of Defense to implement a system tracking the number and percentage of members beginning counseling within required timelines (i.e., as soon as possible within 24 months before retirement or no later than 365 days before other separations); (3) authorizes waivers for reserve component members who request it, received counseling within the prior three years, and whose covered matters have not changed; and (4) requires individualized assistance on financial literacy, loans, and debt management (in addition to group sessions). This section also directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to maintain a public website searchable by ZIP code for programs serving recently separated veterans or their dependents (38 U.S.C. 523(c)). This section further directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after enactment, to establish a voluntary three-year pilot program at up to five military installations (including one outside the continental United States) providing TAP-based counseling, tailored for spouses of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force members, offered at least quarterly with flexible scheduling and at least one hour on benefits from DOD, VA, and DOL; requires annual reports to congressional committees on the pilot, including a permanence recommendation; and requires annual TAP participation reports for three years at five installations (various sizes, including one outside the continental United States and at least 250 members per year receiving counseling), covering metrics such as members receiving fewer than five days of counseling who lack employment or education enrollment, average counseling-to-separation timeframe, and incomplete counseling instances.

This section expands the factors for determining a service member's counseling pathway under the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)—which provides pre-separation counseling on employment, education, and other transition needs—by adding after subparagraph (L) of 10 U.S.C. §1142(c)(1) the following: (1) the member's child care requirements (including whether a dependent is enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program); (2) the employment status of other adults in the member's household; (3) the location of the member's duty station (including whether the member was separated from family while on duty); and (4) the effects of operating tempo and personnel tempo on the member and the member's household. (The existing subparagraph (M) is redesignated as (R).)

This section amends section 570F of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92; 10 U.S.C. 1142 note)—which requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to transmit information on separating or retiring service members to state veterans agencies to connect them to benefits and services—as follows: (1) revises the opt-out form to include an option for individuals to decline transmittal of their information to state veterans agencies, making such transmittal the default unless opted out of; (2) directs the Secretary of Defense to seek memoranda of understanding or agreements with state veterans agencies to create or modify a DoD system for storing and transferring the information, in compliance with privacy laws and cybersecurity policies; and (3) limits state use of transferred information to providing or connecting veterans to benefits or services.

This section establishes requirements for notifying parents or guardians of suspected child abuse or neglect (i.e., a “covered incident”) at military child development centers. Specifically, the Secretary of Defense must prescribe regulations requiring the center director to notify the parent or guardian of a child who is the suspected victim not later than 24 hours after a child care employee learns of the covered incident, except when such notification would threaten the integrity of a law enforcement investigation.

This section adds children of American Red Cross employees performing full-time services for the Armed Forces (including emergency services) who reside overseas in areas served by defense dependents' education system schools as a new class eligible for space-available, tuition-based enrollment in such overseas schools (under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978). It further expands authorization for domestic Department of Defense elementary and secondary education programs from Puerto Rico only to all U.S. territories, commonwealths, and possessions.

This section establishes eligibility for dependents of reserve component members performing active service pursuant to an accompanied permanent change of station (PCS) order to enroll in a Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) school at the member's permanent station military installation. Such dependents receive automatic enrollment upon the member's request if space is available; otherwise, they are placed on a waitlist. (DODEA schools provide elementary and secondary education for dependents of service members and certain DoD civilians on U.S. military installations—including territories, commonwealths, and possessions—where local educational agencies cannot provide appropriate programs.)

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), to enter into arrangements with institutions of higher education for dual or concurrent enrollment programs providing postsecondary course credit to students of Defense Dependent Schools (i.e., schools operated by the Defense Dependents' Education System or DoDEA domestic dependent elementary and secondary schools) and to provide financial assistance of up to $1,500 per student per school year for associated costs. The section directs DoDEA to ensure credit transferability through articulation agreements (prioritizing institutions with broad acceptance across degree programs); requires partnering institutions to have an active program participation agreement under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094) without provisional or temporary certification; specifies that courses be taught by qualified postsecondary faculty or trained K-12 teachers; requires course alignment with postsecondary standards, outreach to students and families, and consultation with school advisory committees and parent-teacher associations; and mandates annual briefings to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees (and House Education and Workforce Committee) on program participation, costs, delivery methods, and subjects for five years beginning one year after enactment (disaggregated by DoDEA region).

This section establishes limitations on actions by the Secretary of Defense with respect to schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA), which provides education to eligible dependents of service members and Department of Defense civilian employees, primarily overseas. Such actions—including closing or preparing to close a school, reducing enrollment spaces by 20% or more, significantly reducing services (e.g., curriculum offerings, special education, or extracurricular activities), or transferring a school to a local educational agency—require notice to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House, a report analyzing costs and effects on students, programs (e.g., gifted education, individualized education programs, section 504 accommodations, Exceptional Family Member Program), and local agencies, an assurance of engagement with students, parents, teachers, and communities, and a one-year waiting period. This section further prohibits obligating or expending FY2026 funds to terminate DODEA teachers or child care employees—defined as civilian Department of Defense personnel working in military child development centers, regardless of funding source—absent documented poor performance or misconduct, a 20% or greater enrollment reduction at a teacher's school, or a change in child care staffing requirements based on enrollment.

This section (1) extends the pilot program to provide financial assistance to members of the Armed Forces for in-home child care to December 31, 2029 (from five years after enactment of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, or December 23, 2025); and (2) revises the due date for the final report on the pilot program to one year before program termination (from 90 days after termination).

This section revises the list of information topics that the Military OneSource program—a Department of Defense resource providing support to service members and families—must make available under subsection (b) of Section 561 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (10 U.S.C. 1781 note). It strikes paragraphs (2) and (3); inserts after paragraph (1) new paragraphs on (2) health care, (3) maternal health care—including (A) a list of maternal health services furnished under TRICARE (the Department of Defense health care program for service members, retirees, and families), (B) a guide to continuity of such care through a permanent change of station, and (C) for pregnant members relevant regulations, leave options, and uniform resources and requirements—and (4) death benefits and life insurance programs; and redesignates former paragraphs (4) through (17) as paragraphs (5) through (18).

This section amends Section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (relating to the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, which provides pre-, during-, and post-deployment support to National Guard, reserve component members, and their families) by (1) redesignating subsections (k) and (l) as subsections (l) and (m), respectively; and (2) inserting new subsection (k) authorizing the Secretary of Defense to provide funds to states, territories, and government entities for programs and activities offering deployment cycle information, services, and referrals—including (A) employment counseling, (B) behavioral health counseling, (C) suicide prevention, (D) housing advocacy, (E) financial counseling, and (F) referrals for other related services—to eligible individuals; authorizes $20 million for FY2026.

This section authorizes, for FY2026 from amounts appropriated for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide activities, (1) $50 million for assistance to local educational agencies with significant numbers of military dependent students under 20 U.S.C. 7703b (i.e., grants to offset increased costs in such agencies); and (2) $10 million for payments under 20 U.S.C. 7703a to local educational agencies serving military children with severe disabilities (i.e., payments for costs exceeding the state average per-pupil expenditure to provide free appropriate public education to such children). This section further authorizes an additional $10 million for FY2026 for payments to local educational agencies determined by the Secretary of Defense to have higher concentrations of military children with severe disabilities and requires a briefing to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate by March 31, 2026, on the Department's evaluation of such agencies and payment determinations.

This section requires each commander of a military installation under the jurisdiction of a Secretary of a military department, not later than January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to submit to such Secretary a written certification verifying whether the commander has confirmed information in all impact aid source check forms received from local educational agencies (LEAs). (Impact aid source check forms are submitted by LEAs to military installations to confirm the number and identity of children eligible under the Impact Aid program (20 U.S.C. 7703(a)), which provides payments to LEAs educating federally connected children—i.e., those residing on federal property or with parents employed on or residing near such property.) It further requires each such Secretary to provide briefings to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees: (1) an initial briefing by June 30, 2026, describing anticipated implementation challenges; and (2) annual briefings beginning June 30, 2027, identifying installations that have or have not confirmed such forms and any related challenges.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA), to update regulations on student use of portable electronic mobile devices in DODEA schools not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. The updates must minimize such use to the greatest extent practicable to prohibit disruptions in the learning environment (i.e., DODEA schools serve dependents of military members and DoD civilians) and standardize the regulations across all DODEA schools. Not later than 60 days after completing the updated regulations, the Secretary must brief the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the regulations, including (1) relevant evidence on device use effects on learning outcomes and social dynamics, (2) a description of standardization across schools, (3) an assessment of public-school policy influences, and (4) other relevant matters.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), to implement measures by not later than two years after enactment to improve staffing and guidance for special education in DoDEA-operated schools, which serve dependents of military personnel, civilians, and sponsors overseas and domestically. **(a) Staffing improvements** require (1) incorporating service minutes from students' individualized education programs (IEPs) into school staffing models, with concurrent counting for students with similar needs when educationally appropriate; (2) collecting data on underutilized special education staff, including transfer requests received, approvals/denials by location, and transfer likelihood; (3) collecting data on special education teacher and staff turnover, including reasons for departure; (4) reviewing and expanding access to crisis training for relevant staff such as paraeducators; and (5) requiring district and regional administrators to track training requirements. **(b) Guidance clarifications** require (1) reviewing the list of recognized disability types against current best practices; (2) standardizing instructions for providing special education materials; (3) developing a plan to standardize special education training; and (4) standardizing reading intervention guidance and requirements, including uniform resources and instructions across schools and districts with clear access to additional materials. **(d) Briefings** require (1) an initial briefing to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by April 1, 2026, covering coordination with military departments' Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, IEP dispute resolution, support for curriculum development, services for severe cases, overseas family reassignments (with data for prior five school years), special education pay scales, and reading intervention requests; and (2) semi-annual progress briefings beginning 180 days after enactment until implementation is certified.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a five-year pilot program, terminating five years after establishment, to increase the maximum monthly financial assistance per child provided to eligible civilian child care providers under 10 U.S.C. 1798(a) for children two years of age or younger. The increased maximum must apply in high-cost child care areas, as determined by the Secretary, and may apply in other areas as appropriate. (As background, 10 U.S.C. 1798 authorizes financial assistance, using operation and maintenance funds, to licensed civilian providers of child care or youth services—including family home day care and certain federally funded or not-for-profit programs—that serve members of the armed forces, survivors of members who die in combat-related line-of-duty incidents, and DoD employees, to supplement or expand such services near military installations.) If established, the Secretary must submit annual reports to the congressional defense committees on the program's results—covering families and areas assisted; assistance amounts provided with and without the increase (disaggregated by location); methodology for high-cost determinations; effectiveness in reducing child care costs, increasing provider participation, and improving infant/toddler care access for military families; expansion feasibility; challenges; needed legislation or actions for permanence; and other information—and a final report with a permanence recommendation within 90 days of termination.

This section waives the time limitations in 10 U.S.C. §8298—generally requiring Medal of Honor awards within five years of the qualifying act or service (with a recommending statement within three years)—to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for his acts of valor as a Navy lieutenant on November 18, 1952, during the Korean War.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Army to award the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously to Isaac “Ike” Camacho for acts of valor in Vietnam from November 24, 1963, to July 13, 1965—previously recognized by his award of the Silver Star—notwithstanding time limitations in 10 U.S.C. 7274 (i.e., generally requiring the award within five years of the act and a recommendation within three years).

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to ensure, not later than 60 days after enactment, that Department of Defense (DoD) policies and procedures comply with existing requirements under the Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (5 U.S.C. 5701 note) for the prompt deactivation and closure of government-issued travel charge cards upon the separation, retirement, or termination of military or civilian personnel. It further requires the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, a report on (1) actions to verify consistent implementation across military departments and defense agencies, (2) identified gaps or inconsistencies, and (3) recommendations to improve compliance and prevent unauthorized card use.

This section codifies the applicability to the Space Force of various pay, allowance, special pay, incentive pay, and bonus authorities under Title 37, United States Code, by (1) amending the definitions in section 101 to cover Space Force members in space force active status not on sustained duty (in paragraph (22)) and adding definitions for "space force active status" and "sustained duty" (new paragraphs (27) and (28), cross-referencing 10 U.S.C. § 101); (2) revising basic pay provisions, including adding Space Force to the officer pay table in section 201(a), extending disability and lost income pay in section 204 to certain Space Force members, adding Space Force to creditable service in section 205(a)(2), including Space Force in inactive-duty training pay in section 206, and extending Thrift Savings Plan participation in section 211(a)(2); and (3) extending special pay, incentive pay, and bonus authorities to Space Force members, including general enlistment and officer bonuses for transfers involving the Space Force in sections 331 and 332, aviation incentive pay in section 334, special pays in sections 351-353, and critical skills retention incentives in section 355. (Thus, these changes ensure pay parity for Space Force personnel, including those not on sustained duty, akin to other uniformed services.)

This section extends temporary early retirement authority for warrant officers with at least 20 years of creditable active service through December 31, 2030 (from December 31, 2025). (The authority permits the Secretary concerned to retire such warrant officers of any armed force upon their request.)

This section extends the expiration date of multiple military bonus, special pay, incentive pay, and housing allowance authorities to December 31, 2026 (from December 31, 2025). Specifically, the section extends: (1) income replacement payments for reserve component members experiencing extended and frequent mobilization for active duty service (37 U.S.C. §910(g)); (2) nurse officer candidate accession program (10 U.S.C. §2130a(a)(1)) and repayment of education loans for certain health professionals serving in the Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C. §16302(d)); (3) nuclear officer authorities (37 U.S.C. §333(i)); (4) consolidated special pay, incentive pay, and bonus authorities, including (A) general bonus authority for enlisted members (§331(h)), (B) general bonus authority for officers (§332(g)), (C) special aviation incentive pay and bonus authorities for officers (§334(i)), (D) special bonus and incentive pay authorities for officers in health professions (§335(k)), (E) contracting bonus for cadets and midshipmen enrolled in the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (§336(g)), (F) hazardous duty pay (§351(h)), (G) assignment pay or special duty pay (§352(g)), (H) skill incentive pay or proficiency bonus (§353(i)), and (I) retention incentives for members qualified in critical military skills or assigned to high priority units (§355(h)) (all title 37, U.S. Code); and (5) temporary increases in basic allowance for housing rates for areas covered by a major disaster declaration or containing an installation experiencing an influx of military personnel (§403(b)(7)(E)) or where actual housing costs differ from current rates by more than 20% (§403(b)(8)(C)) (title 37, U.S. Code).

This section amends sec. 602(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (P.L. 117-81) by (1) requiring the Secretary of Defense to complete by June 1, 2026, an evaluation of aviation incentive pay under 37 U.S.C. 334—including a determination of the percentage, if any, paid specifically to maintain aviation skill certification or proficiency under 37 U.S.C. 357—and to submit by that date to the congressional Armed Services Committees a report on the special and incentive pay assessment framework (as required by the Senate report on the FY2024 NDAA) that includes an implementation plan and timeline; and (2) requiring each Secretary concerned to begin aviation incentive payments under 37 U.S.C. 357, pursuant to that evaluation, no later than January 1, 2027.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to review designations of imminent danger pay areas (i.e., areas where eligible members of the uniformed services receive $225 per month in additional special pay under 37 U.S.C. §351). Specifically, the section directs—(1) an initial review, to commence not later than March 1, 2026, with a report on the review (including any resulting changes to designations) submitted to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees; (2) subsequent reviews not later than March 1, 2031, and every five years thereafter, with reports due within 60 days of completion; and (3) reports within 60 days of any interim review between scheduled reports that results in a designation change.

This section modifies the calculation of the monthly basic allowance for subsistence (BAS) for enlisted members by setting the rate equal to the monthly cost of a liberal food plan for a male aged 19 to 50 (from the prior-year rate plus the percentage increase based on costs for ages 20 to 50), as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture each October 1; prohibits any decrease relative to the prior year; and reduces the rate by any meal deduction under 37 U.S.C. §1011(b). (As background, BAS reimburses food costs for uniformed service members entitled to basic pay, except enlisted members in basic training.) The section also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate (1) an implementation plan by September 30, 2026, and (2) annual reports, beginning March 31, 2026, through 2028, describing food program funding allocations, in-kind subsistence, and fully burdened feeding costs for specified service members.

This section extends through December 31, 2027 (beginning on the date of enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026), the travel allowance for members of the Armed Forces assigned on an unaccompanied basis to a duty location in Alaska for a period of not less than one year. (As background, the allowance, originally authorized by Section 603(b) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, permits up to three annual roundtrip commercial travel reimbursements to the continental U.S. and a monthly incidental expense payment.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance transparency in the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) calculation under 37 U.S.C. §403—i.e., a monthly allowance for members of the uniformed services based on pay grade, dependency status, and military housing area (MHA) to cover adequate housing costs—by (1) developing and annually updating a public document explaining the methodology and data sources, posted online and distributed department-wide; and (2) providing the document and locality-specific rental housing explanations to members during permanent changes of station or assignment, dependency or grade changes, or other eligibility events. This section further requires the Secretary to enter an agreement by September 30, 2026, with a covered entity (i.e., one with data analysis and machine learning expertise, access to local rental data, and no anticompetitive history) to study BAH adequacy and calculation methods in at least 15 selected MHAs (considering geographic variety, ranks, dependency status, and economic factors like inflation and mortgage insurance costs). The study must assess commuting times, affordability, propose more efficient methods (potentially using machine learning and artificial intelligence), and be completed within three years of the agreement, with BAH paid at current rates during the study; the Secretary must provide annual briefings to the Armed Services Committees starting 180 days after enactment and submit a report with study results, evaluation, and legislative recommendations within 120 days of completion.

This section authorizes members of the armed forces entitled to parental leave under 10 U.S.C. 701(h)—typically up to 12 weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child or long-term foster care placement or adoption—to take such leave during the two-year period beginning on the date of the qualifying event, subject to approval by the first general or flag officer in the member's chain of command. It directs the Secretary of Defense to prescribe implementing regulations and submit a report on implementation to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than 180 days after enactment.

This section establishes convalescent leave under 10 U.S.C. 701(m) for academy cadets or midshipmen (i.e., cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or Coast Guard Academy) diagnosed with a medical condition. It provides an exception to the prior rule excluding such personnel from leave provisions under sections 701, 703, and 704 of title 10.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to annually review the amount of financial assistance provided under this section—including the maximum amount per month per child—to eligible civilian providers of child care or youth program services. (The authority enables DoD to supplement child care and youth services for military members, combat survivors, and DoD employees using operation and maintenance funds, without supplanting installation services.)

This section authorizes the Secretary concerned to waive the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 562(c) of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (P.L. 109-364; 10 U.S.C. 1482 note)—which govern air transportation of the remains of deceased members of the Armed Forces to the nearest airport selected by the designee—as necessary to meet mission requirements during (1) a time of war; (2) a national emergency requiring significant personnel and aircraft; (3) a large-scale combat operation; or (4) a contingency operation. (Thus, the waiver provides operational flexibility for remains transportation incidental to military mortuary benefits under 10 U.S.C. 1482 during periods of heightened mission demands.)

This section expands eligibility under 10 U.S.C. §1066 to use commissary stores and morale, welfare, and recreation (MWR) retail facilities by authorizing civil service mariners of the Military Sealift Command to access them on the same basis as members of the armed forces on active duty (i.e., full access without the user fees applicable to protective services civilian employees). (Thus, these mariners—who operate U.S. Navy support vessels—gain commissary privileges previously limited to protective services civilians such as security guards and firefighters.) It also makes technical and conforming amendments by redesignating the existing eligibility provision as subsection (a)(1), striking "protective services" from the section and subsection (a) headings, and inserting "certain".

This section (1) provides interim authority, notwithstanding limitations in 10 U.S.C. §2481(a) and chapter 54, for the Secretary of Defense to continue allowing individuals authorized to use commissary or exchange stores—pursuant to Department of Defense policies, memoranda, regulations, or pilot programs in effect on October 1, 2025—to do so through December 31, 2026, and prohibits authorizing any additional groups; and (2) directs the Secretary to submit to the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House a legislative proposal by April 1, 2026, specifying recommended categories of users, explaining the recommendations, and consolidating such authorities into a single statute. The section further prohibits the Secretary from taking any action inconsistent with restrictions in 10 U.S.C. §2485(a) on private operation of overall commissary system management or individual commissary stores. (Commissary and exchange stores provide tax-free or discounted goods and services to eligible military personnel, retirees, and dependents.)

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to provide, contemporaneously with each pay statement for members of the Armed Forces, a brief plain-language description for every type of pay, allowance, and deduction listed on the statement covering (1) the statutory or regulatory authority; (2) the purpose; (3) eligibility criteria; and (4) possible changes in eligibility, including circumstances for suspension, modification, or expiration. The descriptions must be published on a website accessible to members, printable with the pay statement, and written in language understandable without specialized knowledge of military finance, accounting, or law; the requirement applies to pay statements issued on or after 180 days after enactment.

This section revises relocation assistance information requirements under 10 U.S.C. 1056(b) for members of the armed forces receiving permanent change of station orders by (1) expanding covered topics in existing subparagraphs to include education systems, school enrollment procedures, State-specific provisions under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, and educational resources for dependent children (including school transition assistance, academic continuity, and special education services); and (2) adding new subparagraphs on educational planning for children with disabilities (including procedures for transferring individualized education programs and coordination with the Exceptional Family Member Program) and information on various assistance programs (including family assistance under 10 U.S.C. 1788, housing options, mental health services, legal and financial counseling, and other relocation support). The section further requires the military departments to provide such assistance no later than 45 days before the change of station takes effect; incorporate the information into accessible materials, briefings, online resources, and a communication strategy at installations; and assess member satisfaction with the information. (As background, 10 U.S.C. 1056(b) requires the military departments to counsel members and families on community resources during relocations, which affect over 300,000 service members annually.) Finally, the section requires the Secretary of Defense to brief the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate on implementation within one year of enactment and annually thereafter for three years, including the status of information integration, member awareness of programs, and recommendations for improvements.

This section expands the pilot program to increase access to food on military installations, as established in Section 654 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 10 U.S.C. 1060a note), by (1) authorizing the Secretary of a military department (previously the Secretary of the Army) to implement the program at installations under the Secretary's jurisdiction for members of the Armed Forces (previously Army installations for Army members); (2) specifying that the Secretary of the military department concerned use Department of Defense funds; and (3) requiring the Secretary of a military department to submit quarterly progress reports on implementation to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives until program termination and a final report within 90 days thereafter that includes lessons learned, a recommendation on whether to expand or make the program permanent, installations for any recommended expansion, limitations on operation or expansion, and other relevant information.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to commence an educational campaign lasting at least one year to increase awareness among members of the Armed Forces and their families of monetary and nonmonetary compensation, including regular military compensation (RMC, as defined in 37 U.S.C. 101(25)), special and incentive pays, retired pay calculations, educational assistance, active-component health care, nonmonetary benefits, and other relevant matters as determined by the Secretary. The campaign must align with recommendations in the Fourteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (submitted to Congress in January 2025), with briefings to congressional defense committees required on the implementation plan (not later than April 1, 2026) and campaign effectiveness (within 60 days of completion).

This section directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with the Commander of the United States Army Pacific, to designate United States Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll as a remote and isolated military installation (i.e., per Department of Defense Instructions 1015.10, dated July 6, 2009, and 1015.18, dated May 30, 2024, or successors) not later than 30 days after enactment. It further requires (1) the Secretary of the Army to notify the congressional defense committees of the designation's completion not later than 30 days thereafter and (2) the Commander of United States Army Pacific to brief those committees not later than 90 days after the notification on adjustments to Department of Defense resourcing and support for the garrison resulting from the designation.

This section revises travel reimbursement requirements under the TRICARE program (10 U.S.C. 1074i) to lower the distance threshold for specialty care referrals from 100 miles to 75 miles for members of the armed forces on active duty and their dependents. (Thus, the Secretary of Defense must provide travel and transportation allowances, as specified in 37 U.S.C. 464 regulations, when such beneficiaries are referred more than 75 miles away, while the 100-mile threshold applies generally to other covered beneficiaries.) The section also requires the Secretary to brief the House and Senate Armed Services Committees by March 1, 2026, on implementation of the 75-mile threshold, including estimated affected individuals, cost increases, and any recommended alternative distance.

This section authorizes Department of Defense (DoD) medical personnel to provide sexual assault medical forensic examinations on a nonreimbursable basis at military medical treatment facilities to individuals not otherwise eligible for DoD health care who (1) report a sexual assault offense eligible for investigation by a Defense Criminal Investigative Organization and (2) meet eligibility criteria in DoD regulations. The regulations may address handling, storage, and transfer of completed examination kits to law enforcement.

This section codifies the position of Director of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) in statute, requiring the Director to be a military officer with a rank equal to or greater than that of any military department Surgeon General and to have joint experience. The section also (1) redesignates subsections (a) through (j) of 10 U.S.C. §1073c as subsections (b) through (k); (2) removes the September 30, 2021, deadline and related implementation language for the DHA Director's assumption of administrative responsibilities over military medical treatment facilities (MTFs), which provide health care to service members, retirees, and families (thus, making such responsibilities permanent and ongoing); (3) eliminates the September 30, 2024, deadline in former subsection (e), redesignated as subsection (f); and (4) makes conforming cross-reference updates throughout §1073c and in 10 U.S.C. §1091a.

This section revises the heading of 10 U.S.C. §1096 to include “; medical surge program” and adds a new subsection (e) to establish the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program (Program) as a program of record. The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, must carry out the Program to (1) support not fewer than eight locations (and potentially more, including outside the continental United States) selected by the Secretary of Defense as aeromedical or other transport hubs or logistics centers operationally relevant to National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) missions; and (2) enhance NDMS interoperability, medical surge capability, and capacity in response to a national emergency declaration, public health emergency declaration, congressional declaration of war, contingency operation, presidential exercise of War Powers Resolution authority, or other presidentially declared emergency or major disaster. (As background, NDMS—administered by the Department of Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. §300hh–11—deploys federal medical response teams, equipment, and health care systems to supplement state and local capabilities during disasters and emergencies.) The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Institute for Defense Health Cooperation at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (or successor), must oversee Program management, staffing, and deployment in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of the Defense Health Agency, military departments, Joint Staff, and HHS—including semiannual coordination meetings, quarterly updates, and an annual meeting with partners. Partnerships must be established at selected locations with public, private, and nonprofit health care organizations, academic medical centers, and other entities critical to civilian medical mobilization for wartime contingencies or catastrophic events and proficient in high-consequence infectious disease, special pathogen preparedness, and related defense matters. Such partnerships enable rapid civilian medical support to military treatment facilities and other military health system requirements triggered by the specified events. (Thus, during contingency operations, the Defense Health Agency provides combat support agency functions to relevant combatant commands.) Not later than 180 days after enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense must submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and House Energy and Commerce Committees a report assessing Program status, readiness, personnel and resources, interagency coordination, and improvement recommendations. The subsection does not affect HHS authorities over NDMS leadership, public health preparedness and response, staffing, or resource allocation.

This section modifies Section 741 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (10 U.S.C. 129c note), which supplements the permanent limitation on reductions in Department of Defense military medical personnel end strength under 10 U.S.C. 129c (i.e., military members and DoD civilians at military medical facilities), by (1) extending the covered period from five years to 10 years, and (2) revising reporting requirements under subsection (c)—(A) requiring the report under paragraph (2) during each of 2024 and 2029 (previously, not later than two years after enactment), and (B) extending the deadlines for reports under paragraphs (3) and (4) to December 31, 2030 (previously, three years after enactment).

This section revises the requirements for notifications to modify the scope of services at military medical treatment facilities by adding the following: (1) an endorsement from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the proposed modification will have no effect on operational requirements of the armed forces; (2) an endorsement from the Surgeon General of the military department concerned that the proposed modification will have no effect on the training or readiness of military medical personnel in that department; and (3) an assessment from the Director of the Defense Health Agency explaining how members of the armed forces and covered beneficiaries at the facility will continue to receive care. (Military medical treatment facilities provide health care services to active-duty personnel, retirees, and dependents.)

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into bilateral or multilateral memoranda of understanding or other formal agreements with Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom) to support military medical cooperation or improve operational medical interoperability. Military medical cooperation encompasses information exchange; medical interoperability (including credentialing of health care personnel); medical education, training, exercises, and evaluation; medical research, development, trials, and evaluation; biodefense (including prevention, preparation, response, and investigation); medical logistics (including recognition of medical countermeasures (MedCM), drugs, and equipment); patient movement; and other areas designated by the Secretary, all pertaining to military medicine areas such as combat casualty care (including trauma); military infectious disease; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear medical support; deployed health care delivery; public health, health readiness, and force health protection; mental health; humanitarian response; anomalous health incidents; mass casualty management; and other areas designated by the Secretary. This section also requires the Secretary to submit reports on such agreements and activities, including any other designated areas, to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and House Foreign Affairs Committee not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter for three years.

This section expands the licensing authorities recognized under 10 U.S.C. 1094(e)—which authorizes temporary practice by healthcare professionals serving the armed forces without full U.S. state licensure—to include official agencies of partner countries' governments. It defines partner country as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or any other country designated by the Secretary of Defense.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, not later than April 1, 2026, a plan for each military department to prioritize assignment of active duty medical and dental personnel to military medical treatment facilities, with implementation to commence not later than September 1, 2026. It requires quarterly updates on implementation until fully implemented and annual updates thereafter; directives from the Secretary of Defense for corrective action within 90 days of a military department's noncompliance, with congressional reports if unresolved that include corrective measures, action plans, milestones, and recommended changes; and annual joint reports for five years beginning January 1, 2027 from the Defense Health Agency director and military surgeons general assessing military medical treatment facility manning, including staffing levels, compliance and shortfalls, budget projections through five years, operational tradeoffs, service adequacy for TRICARE beneficiaries, remediation plans for deficiencies, and resolution of disagreements.

This section directs the Director of the Defense Health Agency to develop a plan to (1) reopen any chiropractic clinic at a military installation that, prior to enactment, offered such services with an average of at least 400 visits per month and was closed; and (2) pay chiropractors stationed at military installations under the General Schedule. The section further requires the Director to submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, by March 31, 2026, a report on the plan and the utility of chiropractic services for Armed Forces members, including benefits, availability, and costs.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments, to submit to the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, not later than 90 days after the President submits the FY2027 budget request to Congress, a comprehensive strategic infectious disease medical research plan covering (1) all Department of Defense (DOD) infectious disease medical research and its coordination with military readiness, joint force requirements, combatant command needs, and relevance to TRICARE beneficiaries (i.e., individuals eligible for care at military treatment facilities or through the TRICARE program); (2) specified research projects funded under the Defense Health Program Account (10 U.S.C. 1100)—which funds DOD medical and health care programs—including those of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Chemical and Biological Defense Program, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Thailand), Naval Medical Research Unit, and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; (3) processes to address research gaps, minimize duplication, promote collaboration, and leverage DOD infrastructure; and (4) coordination with other federal agencies on complementary efforts. The section further requires the Secretary to submit to the President, for inclusion with the FY2027 DOD budget justification materials and annually thereafter through FY2032, detailed budget displays for implementing the plan covering the applicable fiscal year and four succeeding fiscal years, disaggregated by plan activities and including (1) requirements by procurement, research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), operation and maintenance, military personnel, and military construction accounts with specified line-item details; (2) usage descriptions for each; (3) military department-specific amounts; and (4) year-over-year comparisons of requests, prior projections, and prior-year obligations.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to review all processes and forms relating to health care provider credentialing and privileging for covered applicants (i.e., applicants for health-care professional positions who provide care at Department of Defense facilities or through the TRICARE program's civilian network) to ensure compliance with professional qualifications standards under 10 U.S.C. 1094(a), and to establish a centralized credentialing system enabling licensure verification by commanding officers across facilities and armed forces, with at least 90% of non-adverse-record verifications completed within seven days. The section further requires the Secretary to submit to Congress, not later than one year after enactment, a report on review findings and a detailed implementation plan with timelines.

This section directs the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. §8111 (VA facility-sharing authority) and 10 U.S.C. §1104 (DoD health care resource sharing with VA), to develop and implement action plans at covered facilities (1) to strengthen DoD-VA resource sharing, (2) to improve communication between VA and military medical treatment facility (MMTF) leadership, (3) to increase MMTF utilization where excess capacity exists, (4) to increase case volume and complexity in DoD and VA medical education programs, and (5) to increase care access for enrolled veterans near excess-capacity MMTFs. The action plans must include (A) cross-credentialing and privileging of providers, (B) expedited DoD installation access for VA staff and veterans, (C) a designated facility coordinator as liaison, (D) ongoing monitoring with performance goals and data collection, (E) prioritized IT integration for seamless sharing of records, referrals, billing, and workload attribution, (F) oversight of adverse events and complaints (with tracking and reporting in congressional briefings), and (G) other appropriate matters. Prior to completion and congressional submission, plans require approval by the VA-DoD Joint Executive Committee co-chairs (38 U.S.C. §320), the local DoD installation commander, and the relevant VA medical center director. This section further requires (1) a lead coordinator and public website list for all DoD-VA sharing agreements; (2) a secure, confidential veteran complaint mechanism prohibiting retaliation; (3) documentation and quarterly joint review of complaints, adverse events, and safety incidents; (4) prompt referral of abuse, neglect, or misconduct allegations to the DoD and VA Inspectors General; and (5) authority for VA to suspend referrals pending investigation. The Secretaries must submit completed action plans to congressional committees not later than 30 days after completion.

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from conducting or supporting painful research (i.e., Department of Agriculture pain categories D or E, including biomedical training, experimentation, or biological testing) on domestic cats (*Felis catus*) or dogs (*Canis familiaris*), except for physical exams, training programs, or studies relating to service animals (as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 37.3 or successor regulation) or military animals (as defined in 10 U.S.C. § 2583(i)(1)). The Secretary may waive the prohibition on a case-by-case basis if determined to be in the national security interests of the United States, provided a detailed justification—including funding account and amount, purpose, recipient, and national security rationale—is submitted to the congressional defense committees within 30 days.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to carry out a two-year pilot program developing and implementing a comprehensive wastewater surveillance system (i.e., monitoring sewage for pathogens to detect infectious disease prevalence) at not fewer than four military department installations serving Armed Forces members. The system must incorporate appropriate technologies and a uniform data system across the Department of Defense. Not later than 90 days after the program's termination, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report including (1) a summary of findings, (2) recommendations for interventions or policy changes based on observed trends, and (3) an assessment of the program's effectiveness in enhancing force health protection and readiness.

This section establishes a pilot program, to be implemented by the Secretary of Defense not later than September 30, 2027, under which covered individuals may voluntarily enroll in fixed indemnity supplemental benefit plans offered by at least two companies via agreements of up to three years (non-renewable) to cover noncovered cancer-related expenses (i.e., screening, diagnosis, and treatment costs not covered by TRICARE or other DoD health benefits). (TRICARE is the health care program under 10 U.S.C. ch. 55 for uniformed service members, retirees, and dependents.) Covered individuals are regular component members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force, and their dependents (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §1072) enrolled in TRICARE. The section directs the Secretary to post program details on a public website (including enrollment instructions, plan descriptions, costs, and disclaimers that TRICARE benefits are unaffected and purchase is not required); verify enrollee eligibility; prohibit use of appropriated funds to subsidize plans; and provide annual briefings to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate on plan details, enrollment numbers, feedback, use cases, and a determination on making the program permanent.

This section directs the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to conduct a study on the accreditation of military dental treatment facilities, including (1) identification of the number and percentage of unaccredited facilities, (2) analysis of barriers to accreditation, (3) assessment of necessary resources and personnel, (4) cost estimates for compliance, and (5) recommendations for full implementation. Not later than one year after enactment, the Inspector General must submit a report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees containing the study's findings, a plan to ensure accreditation of all such facilities, and recommendations for additional resources or legislative authority.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a two-phase study on cancer prevalence and mortality among covered individuals (i.e., aircrew members of rotary-wing aircraft, including pilots and aviation support personnel, who served on or after February 28, 1961, in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force and receive health care under 10 U.S.C. chapter 55). In the initial phase, the Secretary must determine whether covered individuals have an increased prevalence of, or mortality rate from, selected types of cancer compared to similarly aged individuals in the general population and provide a briefing to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees not later than one year after enactment. If the initial phase identifies an increase for any cancer type, the Secretary must conduct a second phase to (1) identify carcinogenic toxins or hazardous materials associated with rotary-wing aircraft operations (e.g., fumes, fuels), (2) identify operating environments with excess non-ionizing radiation exposure (e.g., from radars), and (3) identify other military service-related exposures (e.g., burn pits, contaminated water), including service locations and unrelated duties; submit a report to the committees not later than one year after the initial briefing; and format data consistent with the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, disaggregated by race, gender, and age. The study must use data from the SEER database, the study under section 750 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (P.L. 116-283), and other relevant prior Department of Defense studies.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study on the psychological and mental health effects of operating or supporting unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in combat operations on members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel. The study must assess (1) the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, burnout, moral injury, and other conditions among UAS pilots, operators, imagery analysts, and targeting assessors; (2) mental health outcomes compared to crewed aircrew and non-flying combat personnel; (3) unique UAS stressors such as shift work, remote lethal operations, emotional isolation, and exposure to civilian casualties; (4) the adequacy and accessibility of DOD mental health services; and (5) recommendations to improve screening, treatment, and prevention. Not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit an unclassified report on the results, including recommendations, to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.

This section establishes a new section 3864 of title 10, United States Code, requiring the Secretary of Defense to ensure that contractors under covered contracts—defined as classified, fixed-price Department of Defense contracts for products entered into after enactment—are not required to assume the risk of loss for work in process (i.e., items from initiation of performance until government acceptance) if such risk is uninsurable from commercial providers due to the classified nature of the work. The requirement does not apply to losses resulting from (1) willful misconduct or lack of good faith by contractor managerial personnel, including subcontractor oversight, or (2) workmanship errors (i.e., damage from incorrectly performed skill-based tasks). This section further directs the Secretary to revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement within 120 days of enactment to implement the new requirements.

This section establishes requirements for notations on documents referenced in Department of Defense procurement contracts or agreements, specifying (1) the applicable document version and (2) any changes made after solicitation issuance. For unnotated documents, the version in effect at solicitation issuance applies, with the requirements effective for contracts entered into after enactment.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program, for covered contracts entered into before December 31, 2029, to evaluate allowing financing costs (i.e., interest on borrowings, bond discounts, and refinancing costs) incurred for covered activities—such as managing production inventories, improving sustainment inventories, or expanding production capacity through capital expenditures—to be treated as allowable and allocable direct or indirect costs under DoD contract principles, if the costs are reasonable, at prevailing market rates, paid to an independent financing entity, and the activity complies with DoD material and inventory audit requirements. (Thus, such financing from non-affiliated lenders supports contractor liquidity for inventory and production without deeming the lender a subcontractor.) The section requires a briefing to the congressional defense committees prior to establishment on ensuring financing entity compliance (including any needed policy updates), payments subject to appropriations availability, and termination liability limited to obligated funds; and a report by February 15, 2028, assessing feasibility, risks, benefits, and recommending extension or permanence.

This section establishes multiyear procurement authority, subject to 10 U.S.C. §3501, for (1) covered systems upon congressional authorization request and (2) specified munitions beginning in FY2026. **Covered systems.** Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a request for specific authorization to enter into multiyear contracts for a covered system (defined as a major system under 10 U.S.C. §3041, typically involving Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation expenditures exceeding $115 million or procurement exceeding $540 million in FY1990 constant dollars) if the responsible agency head decides to proceed to full-rate production planned for five or more consecutive years. Authorizes a waiver if the projected threat environment changes such that procurement is unnecessary. Applies to contracts entered on or after enactment. **Certain munitions.** Authorizes agency heads to enter multiyear contracts for (A) Standard Missile-3 Block 1B (SM-3 Block 1B), (B) Standard Missile-6 (SM-6), (C) Tomahawk Cruise Missile (for up to seven program years), (D) Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), (E) Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), (F) Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), (G) Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD, for up to seven program years), (H) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE, for up to seven program years), (I) Family of Affordable Mass Munitions (FAMM), Extended-Range Attack Munition (ERAM), Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV), or ground-launched low-cost cruise missile systems, and (J) low-cost hypersonic strike systems (and associated products, services, logistics support, or critical subsystems). Permits procurement through modifications or extensions to existing contracts; waives 10 U.S.C. §3501(i)(3)(B)–(D), (4); and specifies additional requirements for design stability briefings (allowing upgraded components or changes for obsolescence or producibility) and sequenced certifications under §3501(i)(3) (e.g., no certification for Tomahawk until for systems in (I); no certification for JASSM until [text cuts off]).

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 90 days after enactment, to implement a digital system to track, manage, assess, and verify compliance with respect to covered data (i.e., technical data, computer software, and related information) for covered systems (i.e., major defense acquisition programs and certain other systems). The section further requires the Secretary to (1) review relevant contracts for covered data requirements; (2) assess available covered data for storage/access methods, compliance with marking and rights requirements under chapter 275 of title 10, United States Code, and applicable rights categories under 10 U.S.C. §3771; (3) identify insufficiencies in covered data that hinder cost-effective operation and maintenance of covered systems; and (4) address insufficiencies by distinguishing required versus additional data, negotiating with contractors for access or corrections (including streamlined options such as priced contracts, licenses, or escrow agreements), and—for commercial products—ensuring pricing and terms commensurate with commercial practices. Finally, this section requires retention of all related records until the Department of Defense divests from a covered system and quarterly reports to Congress beginning April 1, 2026, until the required assessment is complete.

This section repeals multiple provisions of Title 10, United States Code, including all of chapter 345 (Acquisition Workforce Development) and sections 3070, 3106, 3373, 3455, 3678, 4423, and 8688, as well as dozens of sections from National Defense Authorization Acts for fiscal years 2023 through 1986 (e.g., sections 883 of P.L. 117-263; 378, 380, and 875 of P.L. 117-81) to streamline the defense acquisition process (i.e., Department of Defense procedures for developing, procuring, and sustaining weapon systems and services). (Thus, these repeals eliminate various acquisition-related reporting, pilot programs, definitions, and organizational requirements previously enacted to improve efficiency, oversight, and workforce capabilities.) This section makes conforming amendments by (1) adding a definition of "major weapon system" to 10 U.S.C. §101(a)(21) ("a weapon system acquired pursuant to a major defense acquisition program (as defined in section 4201)"), relocating it from former section 3455(f); and (2) updating cross-references in sections 118(f)(1), 233a(d), 4325(d), and 4401(c)(9) to point to section 101(a) instead.

This section makes multiple amendments to Title 10, U.S. Code, concerning defense acquisition authorities and processes, as follows: (1) eliminates the reimbursable basis requirement for certain Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund activities under section 1749(f)(1); (2) expands the scope of business systems subject to review under section 2222(i)(1)(A) to include real estate systems and adds 10 new categories (i.e., budget, retail, health care, travel and expense, payroll, supply chain management, and departmentwide resource planning systems, among others); (3) replaces "lowest overall cost alternative" with "best value" in section 3012(3)(B) regarding Army acquisition executive responsibilities; (4) revises section 3069 to simplify contracting officer authority to acquire higher quantities of end items upon written determination (striking prior multi-step findings process and paragraph (4)), eliminates certain regulatory requirements in subsection (b), strikes subsection (c), and redefines "end item" in subsection (d) as a production product assembled, completed, and ready for issue or deployment; (5) expands allowable uses of congressionally directed funds remaining after contract termination under section 3226(d)(2) to include additional end items under section 3069 and risk reduction or process improvements; (6) simplifies sustainment cost baseline reporting requirements under section 3243(d) by striking paragraph (2) and related limitations; (7) replaces the requirement for "at least two or more responsive and viable competing bids" with "price competition" for certain other transaction agreements under section 3703(a)(1)(A); (8) requires an assessment of alternative offerors under specified authorities when awarding to particular contractors under section 3705(b)(3); and (9) designates acquisition programs for software and covered hardware (as described in section 3603) as major defense acquisition programs under section 4201(b)(3). This section also revises section 864(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (P.L. 118-159) to change "capacity-based" analysis of nontraditional defense contractor offers to "capability-based" analysis. Finally, this section codifies as permanent section 3709 of Title 10, U.S. Code (transferring it from section 890 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019), a program to accelerate contracting and pricing processes by removing "pilot" references, eliminating unique reporting and certain subsections, and making clerical updates.

This section modifies award limits under the program to accelerate the procurement and fielding of innovative technologies by striking "Maximum" from the subsection heading and establishing a minimum award amount of $10 million (previously no minimum).

This section amends the factors to be considered under 10 U.S.C. §3374(a) in negotiating profit or fee for undefinitized contractual actions (UCAs)—contracts that authorize the Department of Defense to obligate funds and incur costs prior to fully definitizing terms—to add two new contractor cost risks: (1) costs incurred before UCA award that would have been directly chargeable post-award and were to meet government delivery schedules or price targets under statutorily required acquisition strategies; and (2) costs from negotiations exceeding 180 days after the contractor submits its qualifying proposal to definitize the UCA. It further requires the Secretary of Defense to revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement accordingly within 120 days of enactment.

This section— (1) repeals subsection (e), which requires the Comptroller General of the United States to review Department of Defense implementation of services contract data collection, analysis, requirements validation, and budget specification requirements; and (2) in subsection (f), strikes paragraphs (1) and (2) (definitions) and redesignates paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.

This section requires (shall, from may) the Department of Defense to designate personnel who are qualified to advise on processes relating to foreign acquisition for security cooperation programs.

This section amends Section 806(c) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (10 U.S.C. 3241 note prec.) to reference Department of Defense directives or instructions on conventional ammunition management, or any successor directive or instruction (from the March 8, 1995, version). The section further directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to (1) review Department of Defense Instruction 5160.68 (i.e., on the Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition, which assigns centralized responsibility for policy, resources, and life-cycle management of conventional munitions); (2) assess whether to modify the definition of conventional ammunition in the instruction to include one-way lethal or non-lethal armed or attack unmanned aerial vehicles and systems; and (3) if the Secretary determines the modification appropriate, update the instruction accordingly. Finally, the section requires the Secretary to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than December 31, 2026, a report on the results of the review and assessment that includes details of the analysis and conclusions reached and the rationale for the determination on whether to modify the definition.

This section establishes a hiring authority for the Defense Civilian Training Corps program (i.e., provides financial assistance to students at participating institutions pursuing critical skills in DoD civilian occupations such as acquisition, science, and engineering, in exchange for post-graduation service) by adding subsection (b) to 10 U.S.C. §2200h and cross-referencing it in existing paragraph (8). The authority, which sunsets on December 31, 2029, allows partnering DoD elements to (1) appoint program members to one-year term positions without regard to competitive civil service hiring requirements (5 U.S.C. ch. 33 subch. I); (2) renew such appointments for successful graduates up to four one-year terms and appoint them to permanent civil service positions at GS-9 level (or equivalent) without time-in-grade requirements, limited to 60 graduates per calendar year; and (3) pay such individuals from the DoD Acquisition Workforce Development Account for up to four years without affecting other pay authorities. This section also requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports on the authority's use to specified congressional committees through January 31, 2030, including the number of graduates appointed and using elements.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, not later than one year after enactment, to issue guidance supplementing existing policy on (1) accepting past performance from commercial or non-government projects to increase competition for requirements without precedent; (2) validating non-government past performance references (e.g., via attestations and contact information); and (3) using alternative evaluation methods such as technology demonstrations and testing. This section further requires the Secretary, not later than 90 days after enactment, to convene the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council to recommend actions eliminating procedural barriers disproportionately affecting small business concerns and nontraditional defense contractors (i.e., entities without Department of Defense contracts subject to full cost accounting standards for the prior year, per 10 U.S.C. 3014). The Council must consult the public, including the APEX Accelerators program; identify legislative, regulatory, and other actions to streamline documentation and qualifications; direct implementation of necessary non-legislative actions not later than two years after enactment; and brief the congressional Armed Services Committees on results not later than two years after enactment. This section requires the Secretary to prioritize contracting policies emphasizing cost-efficiency and quality as key award factors.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director of the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC), to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU)—which trains members of the acquisition workforce (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101)—to strengthen its ability to meet current and future Department of Defense needs. The assessment must evaluate (1) DAU's mission alignment with defense acquisition system objectives under 10 U.S.C. §3102 (as added by this Act) and the effectiveness of its training; and (2) DAU's organization and structure, curriculum, staff and faculty composition (including diversity of skills and backgrounds), resources and funding, use of external experts and academic institutions, commercially available training and certifications, experiential learning platforms (e.g., simulators and gaming), and field training opportunities. The AIRC Director must provide recommendations to the Secretary based on the assessment, and not later than one year after enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report summarizing the assessment methodology and activities, findings and recommendations, necessary actions for DAU mission alignment, and additional recommendations to improve acquisition workforce recruiting, retention, training, management, and composition.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to implement, not later than 180 days after enactment, mandatory key performance objectives (KPOs) for evaluating civilian members of the acquisition workforce (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §101). The KPOs must include (1) strategic outcome objectives aligned with the defense acquisition system objectives in 10 U.S.C. §3102, addressing expeditious delivery of capabilities to enhance Armed Forces readiness, integration of innovative solutions, supply-chain and industrial-base resilience, a risk-taking culture, and workforce currency including digital and artificial intelligence literacy; and (2) workforce behavioral objectives promoting innovative acquisition approaches, preference for commercial products and market research, end-user engagement, iterative development with authority to terminate misaligned or troubled programs, professional development, and prioritizing end-user outcomes. The section requires integration of the KPOs into annual performance appraisals, promotion and bonus considerations, assignment decisions, and certification and training requirements under 10 U.S.C. chapter 87. Additionally, not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary—acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the President of the Defense Acquisition University—must initiate experiential learning platforms, such as training simulators or gaming, to accelerate acquisition workforce development.

This section limits an existing exception to the Berry Amendment (i.e., the requirement that the Department of Defense procure food from U.S. sources) by providing that the exception does not apply to procurement of seafood originating from a covered foreign country—the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea—including for use in military dining facilities, galleys aboard U.S. naval vessels, and resale in commissary stores, notwithstanding the source of funds. (Thus, the Berry Amendment requires domestic sourcing for such seafood procurements.) The Secretary of Defense may waive this limitation if it would cause undue burden to a naval vessel at sea or in a foreign port, a dining facility in a foreign country, a commissary, an exchange, or a nonappropriated fund instrumentality outside the United States; requires the Secretary to issue implementing regulations; and applies the changes to contracts entered into on or after the date of enactment.

This section amends Section 865 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 10 U.S.C. 4811 note) to enhance defense supply chain resilience as follows: (1) inserts in subsection (b)(3) a requirement to produce all critical readiness items of supply (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 1733), including those with sole-source dependencies, excessive lead times, unreasonable pricing, or other supply chain deficiencies; (2) inserts new subsection (f) requiring each military department to establish an Expedited Qualification Panel (i.e., to standardize and process Source Approval Requests, or SARs, which qualify secondary suppliers for defense items) by developing templates for expedited SARs and, within 14 days of receipt, issuing conditional approval (valid up to 12 months), full approval, or disapproval based on tiered risk criteria, potentially using designated engineering representatives or third-party certified engineers; and (3) adds subsection (l) defining non-safety/mission critical items (three categories: major risk parts requiring modeling or analysis; minor risk parts verified by gauges; low-risk consumables requiring certification or inspection) and safety/mission critical items (those whose failure risks loss of control, catastrophic failure, or loss of life, requiring full qualification and testing). The section further prohibits the Secretary of Defense from conducting separate reviews of aircraft parts, components, or repair processes approved by civil aviation authorities under Parts Manufacturer Approval or Designated Engineering Representative processes unless a systems command commander provides written justification submitted to the congressional defense committees. Finally, the section requires the Secretary to update the Defense Logistics Agency SAR process by June 1, 2026, with a uniform methodology across military services to accept such civil approvals for qualifying spares or repairs on military aircraft with civil equivalents, regardless of safety- or mission-critical status.

This section establishes a temporary authority, expiring January 1, 2028, under which the Secretary of Defense or Secretary concerned may issue interim national security waivers to contractors who promptly disclose noncompliant items—i.e., items violating specified domestic sourcing requirements or procurement prohibitions on certain foreign adversaries (such as strategic materials from non-U.S. sources under 10 U.S.C. §4863; sensitive materials from non-allied nations under 10 U.S.C. §4872; printed circuit boards under 10 U.S.C. §4873; or various China-related, battery, and munitions sourcing bans)—discovered through supply chain illumination efforts. The waiver permits acceptance and payment for delivery of affected end items if the program manager determines no security, safety, or flight risk exists; authority may be delegated to a service acquisition executive or, for multi-department programs, to the Deputy Secretary or Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Waivers require a written determination detailing facts, circumstances, affected items, risk assessment, and congressional defense committees notification within five days; contractors must implement corrective plans proving noncompliance was not willful and qualify alternative compliant suppliers for future deliveries. The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment must provide briefings to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees by April 1, 2026, and April 1, 2027, on waivers issued and contractor corrective actions. (Thus, the provision incentivizes supply chain transparency while enabling continued program execution amid compliance issues.)

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement, not later than 270 days after enactment, a strategy to eliminate Department of Defense reliance on covered nations (i.e., North Korea, China, Russia, Belarus, and Iran) for optical glass (i.e., glass used in optical lenses, prisms, or mirrors) or optical systems (i.e., arrangements of optical components that manipulate light) by January 1, 2030. The strategy must (1) identify current DoD requirements for such items and projected requirements through 2040, (2) identify sources including any from covered nations, and (3) identify actions to ensure the defense industrial base meets DoD needs. This section also requires (1) a briefing to the congressional defense committees not later than 180 days after enactment on the strategy, including any needed funding or policy changes; and (2) an interim report to those committees not later than March 15, 2027, on implementation progress and risks to the 2030 goal.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to eliminate Department of Defense (DoD) reliance on covered nations (i.e., as defined in 10 U.S.C. 4872(f), generally including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea) for acquiring computer displays (i.e., end items that visually display a computer's digital output) by January 1, 2030. The strategy must (1) identify DoD's current and projected requirements for computer displays through 2040; (2) identify current sources, including those from covered nations; and (3) identify actions to ensure the defense industrial base meets DoD needs without covered-nation sourcing by that date. The Secretary must begin implementation within 270 days of enactment; provide congressional defense committees a briefing on the strategy, including required funding or policy changes, within 180 days of enactment; and submit an interim implementation progress report, including risks, by March 15, 2027.

This section establishes a publicly available online repository, by January 1, 2027, for voluntary registration by offerors of covered products attesting compliance with covered sourcing requirements (i.e., the Berry Amendment in 10 U.S.C. 4862 requiring domestic sourcing for DoD procurements of food, clothing, tents, textiles, tools, and U.S. flags unless exceptions apply; 10 U.S.C. 4863 on specialty metals; and 10 U.S.C. 4864). (Covered products are goods offered to DoD by small business concerns or critical readiness item manufacturers that are subject to such requirements.) The section requires (1) an attestation process acknowledging False Claims Act liability (31 U.S.C. 3729), with submission of a unique product identifier, national stock number (if available) or description, and supporting documentation; (2) issuance of proof of registration; (3) public availability of compliance information; (4) resources to train and assist offerors; and (5) policies incentivizing registration, including assistance and referrals for remedying noncompliance to expand the qualified vendor base. The section also directs briefings to the Armed Services Committees: an initial briefing by May 1, 2026, on the process and repository progress; an interim briefing by May 1, 2027, on participation and potential use as a supplier onboarding platform; and a final briefing by April 1, 2029, on overall success and future maintenance.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, to establish a working group within the collaborative forum described in section 1844(a) of this Act. The working group must develop recommendations for (1) enhancing information exchange between the Department of Defense (DoD) and defense industrial base contractors on compliant materials (i.e., critical materials sourced in compliance with subchapter III of chapter 385 of title 10, U.S. Code, which restricts DoD acquisitions of specialty metals and other items not melted or produced domestically); and (2) accelerating qualification of such materials and their integration into DoD contractor supply chains. The working group must (1) identify processes for information exchange while protecting proprietary data; (2) streamline identification, testing, and qualification of compliant sources and materials; (3) reduce single-service-specific requirements; (4) facilitate data sharing among military services and DoD elements; (5) identify compliant sources across supply chains subject to the restrictions; (6) publish quarterly lists of compliant sources for each critical material, including supply chain steps, for working group members and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; (7) recommend processes for rapid, scaled integration of compliant materials into DoD programs; (8) encourage designs using commercial critical materials meeting mission needs to reduce future requirements; (9) incorporate input from small and nontraditional contractors; (10) recommend ways to eliminate reliance on noncompliant sources in supply chain agreements; (11) address other matters assigned by the Secretary; and (12) provide timely recommendations to the Secretary. The section defines compliant source, compliant material, critical material (i.e., materials subject to the sourcing restrictions), and end item (as in 10 U.S.C. §4863).

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, by January 1, 2027, to (1) list all Department of Defense-owned critical infrastructure reliant on materials or components from a foreign entity of concern (FEOC) and (2) conduct a risk assessment of such materials or components through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, in coordination with the Mission Assurance Office and with sufficient resources allocated for personnel hiring and training. The risk assessment evaluates (1) dependence of high-risk critical infrastructure on FEOC materials or components; (2) vulnerabilities to supply chain disruptions during a national emergency, including industrial control systems; (3) resilience and capacity to support mission-critical operations and readiness; (4) locations of design, manufacturing, and packaging facilities; and (5) U.S. manufacturing capacity gaps, including nonexistent or single-point-of-failure capabilities, supply chain weaknesses, and economic threats from global competition. The Secretary may initially limit the assessment to the most critical assets (e.g., those essential to Indo-Pacific contingencies). Not later than 180 days after completing the assessment, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary must provide the congressional defense committees a classified briefing on traceability and provenance findings, resilience strategies, and recommendations (e.g., procurement policy modifications to reduce high-risk supply chain reliance). The section defines critical infrastructure as any Department-owned system or asset vital to U.S. national security (including economic security and public health or safety) and FEOC as China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, or other entities posing material national security risk as determined by the Secretary.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, within 180 days of enactment, to review existing long-term concessions agreements (i.e., contracts to operate businesses on U.S. military installations) to identify and terminate—within 30 days—those with retailers controlled by a covered nation (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §4872, currently including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela), unless waived; requires a briefing to the Armed Services Committees of the House and Senate on the review and implementation actions; and adds a new section 4664 to chapter 363 of title 10, U.S. Code, prohibiting the Secretary from entering into, renewing, or extending such agreements going forward. The new section 4664 authorizes a waiver if the goods or services are vital for Armed Forces welfare and morale with no alternatives and adequate risk mitigation is implemented (with committee notification within 30 days); provides exceptions for retailers with a Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) determination of no unresolved national security concerns (under 50 U.S.C. §4565) or for U.S.-organized and -operated retailers offering no products from covered nations; and defines "controlled by a covered nation" to include organization under covered nation laws, 50%+ government ownership, or direct government control.

This section establishes a prohibition, codified at 10 U.S.C. §4865, on Department of Defense (DOD) procurement of advanced batteries and cells whose functional cell components (i.e., cathode/anode materials, separators, foils, electrolytes, and safety devices) or technology are owned, sourced, refined, or produced by a foreign entity of concern (as defined in existing law to include certain Chinese battery entities). The prohibition applies to (1) all new acquisition programs (i.e., those not yet at engineering/manufacturing development or Milestone B) beginning January 1, 2028; (2) standard batteries (i.e., those used in multiple weapons systems and not managed by a single portfolio executive) beginning January 1, 2029; and (3) existing acquisition programs beginning January 30, 2031, and applies only to contracts entered into after enactment. The prohibition does not apply if (1) final assembly occurs outside a foreign entity of concern, more than 95% of functional cell component costs are from non-foreign entity of concern sources (with domestically recycled materials deemed domestic regardless of origin), and no technology is licensed from a foreign entity of concern; (2) to batteries for cell phones, laptops, personal electronics, or medical equipment in non-combat environments; commercially available off-the-shelf batteries for equipment maintenance; or DOD research, development, testing, and evaluation; or (3) via a one-year waiver by the Secretary of Defense (delegable only to the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment) if compliant batteries are unavailable at reasonable cost/quantity or pose no operational/security risk. Not later than December 1, 2028, and every three years thereafter through 12 years after enactment, DOD must brief the congressional defense committees on compliance status. Not later than 180 days after enactment, DOD must revise the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to implement the prohibition.

This section expands exceptions under 10 U.S.C. 4872(a)(1) to Department of Defense procurement prohibitions on covered materials (i.e., sensitive materials such as tungsten and certain mill products) melted or produced in covered nations (i.e., China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea) by explicitly applying all exceptions in subsection (e), including a new provision allowing national security waivers granted under 10 U.S.C. 4863(k) for strategic materials sourcing restrictions to the same covered material or end item. (Thus, a single waiver determination may authorize procurement otherwise barred under both statutory regimes.)

This section amends Department of Defense restrictions on procurement of covered materials—specialty metals produced by or through entities in non-allied foreign nations (i.e., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea)—from 10 U.S.C. 4872 by (1) adding molybdenum to the list of covered materials and providing an exception for tantalum, tungsten, or molybdenum produced from recycled material if the recycled material was produced outside a covered nation and the melting and further processing occur in the United States or a qualifying allied country; and (2) adding germanium and gallium to the list of covered materials with the same exception, effective two years after enactment. (Thus, after the effective dates, DoD contractors generally may not procure these materials from covered nations unless the exception applies.)

This section expands Department of Defense prohibitions under Section 805 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 on transactions with certain Chinese entities (i.e., those described in subsection (a)(2)) to include providing grants, loans, or loan guarantees, in addition to existing prohibitions on contracts and other agreements. It also extends the exception for amounts not greater than the simplified acquisition threshold to the new prohibition.

This section modifies the prohibition, enacted by Section 804 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, on Department of Defense contracts with persons that have fossil fuel business operations with the Government of the Russian Federation or the Russian energy sector. (As background, the prohibition bars such contracts with entities owned or controlled—at least 50% previously—by persons engaged in specified fossil fuel activities involving Russia, subject to waiver authority and exceptions.) Specifically, the amendments (1) replace "person" with "entity or individual" throughout, add "knowingly" as a requirement for having such operations, change the ownership or control threshold to majority (from not less than 50 percent), and replace "operates" with "has fossil fuel business operations"; (2) clarify that the Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition if the Department of the Treasury has authorized the engagement, including by general license; and (3) add an exception from prohibited operations for activities related to fulfilling contracts, entered into prior to enactment, with a fossil fuel company that has such operations in Russia, provided the contracts are not extended beyond their established period of performance (including through options, task orders, or modifications) or renewed. (Thus, the changes broaden terminology to individuals, narrow certain ownership criteria slightly, impose a knowledge requirement, facilitate Treasury-based waivers, and permit wind-down of legacy contracts.)

This section prohibits the use of funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for FY2026 for the Department of Defense (DOD) to procure photovoltaic cells, modules, or inverters manufactured by a foreign entity of concern (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 4651(8)). The Secretary of Defense may waive the prohibition upon determining (1) no alternative sources exist, (2) no national security risk is posed, and (3) certifying such determinations in writing to the congressional defense committees at least 30 days prior to contract award. The prohibition applies only to direct DOD procurement of photovoltaic modules or inverters, excluding third-party financing arrangements (e.g., energy savings contracts, privatized military housing); it is delayed one year after enactment for assets that enhance combat capability; and it does not apply to intelligence, electronic warfare, or information warfare operations, testing, analysis, or training.

This section revises the Department of Defense prohibition on acquisition of covered materials (i.e., tantalum, tin, tungsten, or gold) from covered nations (i.e., China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea) by updating a cross-reference from 10 U.S.C. §2533c to §4872 and adding to the list of prohibited actions a ban on entering into contracts for any such material mined, refined, or separated in a covered nation.

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense, beginning one year after enactment, from procuring covered additive manufacturing machines (i.e., 3D printing systems of integrated hardware and software, including related services or equipment, produced by covered companies). Covered companies include those on the Consolidated Screening List, the civil-military fusion list under 10 U.S.C. 113 note, domiciled in a covered nation (as defined in 10 U.S.C. 4872, such as China), or subject to unmitigated foreign ownership, control, or influence by a covered nation as determined under the National Industrial Security Program. The prohibition does not apply to procurements for intelligence, electronic warfare, or information warfare operations, testing, analysis, or training.

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from acquiring computers or printers if the manufacturer, bidder, or offeror is a covered Chinese entity (i.e., an entity identified as a Chinese military company; on the Treasury's Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List; on specified Commerce Department lists and headquartered in, owned by, or controlled by the People's Republic of China; or determined by the Secretary, in consultation with intelligence or FBI directors, to be connected to the Chinese government), with applicability to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended after enactment and to indirect sales through subsidiaries. The prohibition is phased in as follows: (1) FY2026, at least 10% of acquired computers and printers must comply; (2) FY2027, at least 25%; (3) FY2028, at least 50%; and (4) FY2029 and thereafter, 100%. An exception applies for acquisitions used solely for testing, evaluation, exfiltration, or reverse engineering of adversary products or capabilities (not for operational use). The section defines "computer" (e.g., laptops, desktops, excluding cloud services and handheld calculators) and "printer" (e.g., desktop, multifunction, excluding point-of-sale receipt printers).

This section prohibits the head of an executive agency from (1) procuring or obtaining biotechnology equipment or services produced or provided by a biotechnology company of concern or (2) entering into, extending, or renewing a contract with an entity using such equipment or services acquired after applicable effective dates; it further prohibits obligating or expending loan or grant funds for such purposes. Prohibitions take effect 60 days after Federal Acquisition Regulation revision for companies covered by subsection (f)(2)(A) and 90 days after for those covered by subsection (f)(2)(B) or (C), with exclusions through five years for equipment or services under pre-existing contracts and a safe harbor for items no longer produced or provided by such companies. The section authorizes the head of an executive agency to waive prohibitions on a case-by-case basis (1) with Office of Management and Budget approval and congressional notification within 30 days, lasting up to 365 days and extendable once by up to 180 days with notification within 10 days, or (2) for overseas health care services determined necessary for agency missions and U.S. interests, with Office of Management and Budget approval (in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) and congressional notification within 30 days. Exceptions apply to (1) intelligence activities under title V of the National Security Act of 1947; (2) overseas health care services for U.S. employees (including members of the uniformed services), covered beneficiaries, other beneficiaries administered by federal agencies, and certain contractor employees with primary duty stations overseas; (3) acquisition, use, or distribution of commercially or publicly available human multiomic data; and (4) procurement of medical countermeasures and related supplies in response to public health emergencies.

This section amends the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (also known as APEX Accelerators), which provides assistance to eligible entities (e.g., nonprofits, state/local governments) to help business entities—primarily small businesses—navigate Department of Defense procurement processes and win contracts. Specifically, it (1) adds a new purpose to foster innovation for the defense industrial base and to diversify and expand the defense industrial base; (2) authorizes the Secretary of Defense to accept and use funds from other federal agencies for program execution and administration; (3) increases the annual funding limit for Bureau of Indian Affairs service areas to $1.5 million (from $1 million); and (4) expands authorized technical assistance to include activities under the AUKUS partnership (as defined in sec. 1321 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024) and authorizes the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to assist centers of excellence in the APEX Accelerator Program (or successor) with specialized expertise outside their geographic areas and to waive government cost-sharing restrictions.

This section repeals statutory limitations on the Department of Defense's authority as executive agent to provide loan guarantees under the Defense Production Act (50 U.S.C. 4531). (Thus, the President may more fully utilize DoD to guarantee private loans that finance contractors and others to create, maintain, or expand production of industrial resources, critical technology items, or essential materials needed for national defense.)

This section establishes a five-year pilot program, the USSOCOM Urgent Innovative Technologies and Capabilities Initiative, to accelerate the research, development, testing, procurement, and initial sustainment of innovative technologies and equipment that enhance Special Operations Forces (SOF) operational capabilities to meet emerging mission requirements. The Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, must (1) establish procedures for SOF component units to submit requests for technologies and equipment to be included in the program and (2) use special acquisition authorities under 10 U.S.C. §167(e)(4); the Commander and Assistant Secretary must also submit annual reports to the congressional defense committees, beginning one year after enactment, assessing implementation, effectiveness, expenditures, challenges, and recommendations for the program.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and in consultation with the Secretary of State, to convene not later than 90 days after enactment the United States-Israel Defense Industrial Base Working Group to study (1) the potential for greater integration of the U.S. and Israeli defense industrial bases and (2) the feasibility and advisability of including Israel in the national technology and industrial base (i.e., persons and organizations engaged in research, development, production, integration, services, or information technology activities within the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada). Not later than 120 days after convening the working group, the Secretary must submit to the armed services and foreign affairs/relations committees of Congress an unclassified report (with classified annex option) assessing such feasibility and advisability—including required U.S. funding or legal authorities—and, if greater integration is deemed advisable, describing required U.S. funding or legal authorities therefor.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, through the Director of the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Office, to continue the Textile Automation to Enhance Domestic Military Production program—subject to appropriations—through public-private partnerships and investments (e.g., facility recapitalization, vertical integration, production capacity expansion, technological advancements) to reduce Department of Defense reliance on foreign textiles and footwear qualifying for exceptions under the Berry Amendment (10 U.S.C. § 4862(c)). The section further (1) prioritizes resources, including personnel, for the Defense Contract Management Agency to oversee Department contracts, particularly Berry Amendment compliance, and requires a briefing to the Armed Services Committees by April 1, 2026, on a plan—including a federally funded research and development center analysis—to fully resource the agency by September 30, 2030; and (2) requires the Defense Logistics Agency Director, in coordination with the Secretaries concerned for covered Armed Forces (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force), to develop a strategy maximizing annual or multi-year contracts for domestic textiles and footwear, with services submitting annual requirements, funding, and aggregated data on common items (i.e., required by more than one service) to enable efficient acquisitions and incorporate such data into program objective memoranda; directs the agency to execute such contracts to the maximum extent practicable; and authorizes waivers for unmet requirements with notice to the Armed Services Committees within 30 days.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, by June 1, 2026, in coordination with the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense (CIO), military department CIOs, and service acquisition executives, to (1) harmonize cybersecurity requirements applicable to the defense industrial base (i.e., contractors and suppliers) across the Department of Defense, (2) reduce requirements unique to specific contracts or agreements, and (3) submit a report to the congressional defense committees on these actions. The harmonization must establish processes and governance structures to identify and eliminate duplicative, inconsistent, or unique requirements, including assessing proposed requirements against those published in the Federal Register, centralizing approval and publication of unpublished requirements, and incorporating stakeholder input. Additionally, the CIO must submit reports to the congressional defense committees by December 31, 2026, and annually thereafter for three years describing implementation status and actions for the prior fiscal year, including changes to processes, lists of contracts with unpublished cybersecurity requirements, and approval decisions with explanations.

This section amends the defense industrial base fund statute (10 U.S.C. §4817) by adding new subsections (g), (h), and (i). New subsection (g) specifies eligible uses of fund authorities for defense supply chains—including castings and forgings, kinetic capabilities, microelectronics, machine tools, critical minerals and chemicals, workforce, advanced manufacturing (including near point-of-need in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area), unmanned vehicles, manned aircraft, ground systems, power sources, ships and submarines, materiel for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command operational plans, defense space systems, and batteries; prohibits such uses in covered countries; and limits uses of subsections (h) through (j) for other purposes to cases essential to U.S. defense interests where the industrial base cannot otherwise provide needed capabilities in a timely manner, requiring a report to congressional defense committees at least 30 days prior. New subsection (h) authorizes the Secretary of Defense, to create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore domestic industrial base capabilities essential to U.S. defense interests, to (1) use contracts, grants, or other transaction authorities (including cooperative agreements); (2) establish private-sector incentives; (3) make awards during the five-year period beginning on the date of enactment to third-party entities supporting investments in small- and medium-sized entities in defense areas benefiting Department of Defense missions; and (4) provide subsidies to offset market manipulation. New subsection (i) establishes a purchase commitment program to create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore such industrial base capabilities, authorizing commitments (1) for Federal use or resale of industrial resources or critical technology items, strategic and critical materials exploration and mining, other materials and components, production capabilities, and emerging technologies transition to defense applications; (2) for quantities and terms (including advance payments) deemed necessary for up to 10 years, exempt from certain limitations except where exceeding ceiling or market prices unless supply cannot otherwise be assured; and (3) additional actions upon findings of supply decreases from high-cost sources or transportation cost increases for specific materials.

This section modifies the demonstration and prototyping program established by Section 842 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to advance international product support capabilities in a contested logistics environment—related to DoD's authority under 10 U.S.C. §2341 to acquire logistic support from NATO members, allies, and certain other countries—by (1) adding to the list of program elements in subsection (b)(2) advanced manufacturing (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §4841(f)) facilities for rapid, distributed production of parts closer to the point of use; and (2) extending the program through December 31, 2030.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the senior official responsible for integration of global logistics (as designated under 10 U.S.C. §2229b), to incorporate the requirements of the program established under Section 842 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (P.L. 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 2341 note)—which addresses contested logistics—not later than September 30, 2027, and biannually thereafter until the program's termination date specified in subsection (g).

This section authorizes each commander of a combatant command to conduct experimentation, prototyping, and technology demonstrations to develop and test innovative technologies and capabilities addressing combatant command operational needs. Commanders may use special contracting authorities provided in subsection (b) of section 843 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (P.L. 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 3601 note) for such activities, subject to those procedures. Upon successful completion, a commander's written determination submitted to a senior contracting official (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §1737) that the technology meets an operational need may fulfill (1) the justification required for other-than-competitive procedures under 10 U.S.C. §3204, and (2) a validated capability needs statement or determination of mission deficiency. The authority terminates on September 30, 2028. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, must include explanations of each use in annual reports required under subsection (e) of section 843 of the FY2024 NDAA.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional defense committees, for each of FY2027 through 2031 and not later than 10 days after the President's budget submission under 31 U.S.C. 1105, a report listing cancellations or terminations in the preceding fiscal year (and FY2025 in the first report) of contracts valued over the simplified acquisition threshold. The report must include, for each such contract: (1) its Procurement Instrument Identification Number or Indefinite Delivery Vehicle number; (2) total contract value; (3) total existing obligations; (4) any termination settlement paid, if applicable; (5) a brief justification for the action, disaggregated by rationale (i.e., does not align with Secretary of Defense priorities; requirement no longer exists; requirement decreased; requirement exists but contract failed on cost, schedule, or performance; or other); and (6) for any "other" rationale, a proposed timeline for awarding a replacement contract.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to revise the Department of Defense Supplement to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS) not later than 180 days after enactment to establish procedures allowing a contracting officer to withhold covered amounts (i.e., up to 5% of total payments due) from an incumbent contractor under a covered contract during the period of pendency resulting from a bid protest filed by that contractor. (A covered contract is one awarded or extended for the same or substantially similar goods or services because the protest notice under 31 U.S.C. §3553(c) prohibits a new award; the period of pendency is the performance period under that contract.) The procedures must require forfeiture of withheld amounts if the Comptroller General dismisses the protest for lack of reasonable legal or factual basis and that dismissal becomes final (i.e., no timely reconsideration request or after reconsideration is completed). (Thus, the provision deters potentially frivolous protests by incumbents seeking to extend their contracts.)

This section establishes procedures for Department of Defense review of contractor requests for indemnification against nuclear and unusually hazardous risks (including commercial nuclear technology procurement) under P.L. 85-804 (50 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), which authorizes such indemnification for risks too great to be assumed by contractors alone. Specifically, it (1) requires reviews, to the extent practicable, to include input from the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) on insurance markets and coverage availability; (2) mandates completion of each review, with a final approval or denial decision and executed memorandum, within 90 days of the request; and (3) directs secretaries of the military departments to delegate approval or denial authority for contracts involving advanced nuclear energy systems or components to appropriate subordinate officials to ensure timely execution.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment, to require contractors for procurements of fifth-generation wireless technology for private networks on military installations (as defined in 10 U.S.C. §2801) to provide (1) a hardware bill of materials and (2) a description of the implementation and operational use of zero trust principles and capabilities, to promote enhanced wireless network security requirements including supply chain risk management. The section further directs the Secretary to prioritize, for such procurements, private networks employing Open Radio Access Network (Open-RAN) approaches (as defined in sec. 9202 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021), including cloud-native capabilities whenever possible.

This section eliminates from the Secretary of Defense's annual report to Congress the requirement for reports from each military department on the status of diversity and inclusion (10 U.S.C. 113(c)(2)), makes conforming amendments to related reporting requirements under 10 U.S.C. 113, repeals (1) the Chief Diversity Officer position (10 U.S.C. 147), (2) the program on diversity in military leadership (10 U.S.C. 656), (3) Inspector General oversight of diversity and inclusion in the Department of Defense and supremacist, extremist, or criminal gang activity in the Armed Forces, and (4) Senior Advisors for Diversity and Inclusion; and prohibits the Secretary of Defense from maintaining or employing diversity, equity, inclusion, or accessibility (DEI) offices or officers, developing or implementing DEI plans, reports, surveys, trainings (including on diversity, equity, inclusion, critical theories related to race or gender, or intersectionality), employee or affinity groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity, equity teams, or DEI data dashboards (except for Equal Employment Opportunity offices and Americans with Disabilities Act enforcement as historically organized and operated).

This section expands the directive authority of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) under 10 U.S.C. §133a(b) by (1) modifying paragraph (2) to specify supervising all elements of the Department of Defense relating to research and engineering efforts and enhancing jointness; (2) adjusting punctuation in paragraphs (2) and (3) to add new paragraphs; and (3) adding paragraphs (4) directing the Secretaries of the military departments and heads of other Department elements on matters within USD(R&E) responsibility and (5) authorizing the USD(R&E) to conduct developmental prototyping, design and execute field experiments on prototypes to demonstrate operational relevance in addressing joint force capability gaps, and encourage rapid transition of technology from research and development to operational use.

This section increases from 19 to 20 the number of Assistant Secretaries of Defense compensated at level IV of the Executive Schedule and establishes one such position as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Armaments Cooperation, who reports directly to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and whose principal duty is to carry out §133b(b)(10) of title 10, United States Code.

This section modifies the authorities of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) in the Department of Defense, who serves as the principal independent adviser on operational test and evaluation (i.e., field-testing weapons and equipment under realistic combat conditions to assess combat effectiveness and suitability) for major defense acquisition programs, by (1) requiring DOT&E access to approved test and evaluation master plans and test strategies of the armed forces for independent reviews; (2) directing the Secretary of Defense to ensure the DOT&E budget request for each fiscal year is sufficient to fulfill assigned duties; and (3) authorizing DOT&E to contract with federally funded research and development centers for program oversight assistance (e.g., test planning, data analysis, and technical support), with the Secretary ensuring sufficient funding. The section further prohibits the Secretary, through September 30, 2027, from divesting, consolidating, transferring, or reducing the scope or effectiveness of specified test and evaluation capabilities (i.e., Cyber Assessment Program, Center for Countermeasures, Test and Evaluation Threat Resource Activity, Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness Program, Joint Aircraft Survivability Program, Joint Test and Evaluation Program, and Test and Evaluation Transformation Program), subject to a case-by-case waiver by DOT&E following submission of a plan to the congressional defense committees and a 30-day review period, and requires sufficient funding and personnel for DOT&E to maintain these capabilities during that period.

This section adds nuclear fission and fusion energy technologies to the list of covered technology categories eligible for investment by the Office of Strategic Capital. (Thus, the office—established in the Office of the Secretary of Defense to develop commercial-style capital investment strategies in critical technologies and assets supporting DoD needs—may now prioritize and invest in such nuclear technologies, subject to non-Federal funding requirements and appropriations.)

This section authorizes the Director of the Office of Strategic Capital—in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which invests in critical technologies and assets to support DoD needs—to (1) charge and collect fees to recover project-specific transaction costs (e.g., third-party due diligence, legal services, monitoring) and offset certain administrative expenses of programs under the section, with fees deposited into and available until expended from the pilot program's Credit Program Account (but not for DoD civilian salaries or expenses beyond specified credit operations); (2) accept legal, financial, technical, or professional services (including in-kind payments) for administering such programs; and (3) under the pilot program on capital assistance to the defense industrial base, (A) make loan default determinations (previously the Secretary), (B) include such fees in the Credit Program Account, (C) presume executed loan or guarantee agreements comply with statutory requirements, (D) exercise U.S. priority in collecting debts from defaults, and (E) enter contracts or arrangements under which applicants or recipients directly pay program costs. The fee authority expires on the date specified in subsection (e)(9)(A) (except for outstanding loans or guarantees) and requires annual reports to congressional defense committees starting March 1 each year, an Inspector General review of FY2026 fees, and an audit of FY2026–2027 fees (reported within 180 days after FY2027).

This section directs the Defense Science Board to conduct a study evaluating and recommending the optimal organizational structure within the Office of the Secretary of Defense to align and maximize digital solutions engineering (i.e., development, deployment, and sustainment of artificial intelligence systems, software applications, data engineering solutions, data analytics platforms, and other digital technologies) and software delivery activities (i.e., by organizational units dedicated to rapid development, deployment, and sustainment of software applications and digital solutions) across the Department of Defense. The study must (1) assess existing organizational structures, including responsibilities, data management limitations, resource allocation, and integration challenges; (2) evaluate potential structures, such as establishing a new defense agency or Department of Defense field activity, integrating into an existing one, consolidating functions within Office of the Secretary of Defense staff, or hybrid approaches; (3) recommend the optimal structure, analyzing advantages and disadvantages, cost-effectiveness, industry lessons, governance (including artificial intelligence model management), and unique acquisition authorities; and (4) provide transition recommendations, including timelines, resources, funding, and required legislative or regulatory changes. The Board must transmit the final report to the Secretary of Defense by February 1, 2027, and the Secretary must submit it to the congressional defense committees within 30 days, along with any comments.

This section requires the President, not later than five days after removing from office or transferring prior to the end of a statutory term (1) a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—who serve as principal military advisers to the President and Secretary of Defense—or (2) a commander of a unified or specified combatant command, to submit to Congress, including the congressional defense committees, notice of the action and a statement of the reasons therefor. The requirements do not prohibit other authorized personnel actions.

This section establishes in the Department of Defense the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, led by a Director (a general or flag officer or Senior Executive Service member reporting to the Deputy Secretary of Defense) to coordinate counter-small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) efforts across the covered armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force). The Task Force is responsible for (1) leading DoD actions to defeat sUAS as weapons of strategic influence; (2) integrating counter-sUAS solutions with interagency participation; (3) developing and sharing training tools, expertise, and tactics; (4) coordinating development, testing, evaluation, and procurement of kinetic and non-kinetic defeat capabilities; (5) validating and approving counter-sUAS systems for procurement and use (maintaining a list of vetted systems and generally prohibiting DoD components from procuring others without a waiver notified to the congressional defense committees); (6) developing a counter-sUAS strategic plan; and (7) other activities as directed by the Secretary of Defense. The section further directs the Task Force Director, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, to conduct a review identifying differences in the interpretation of counter-unmanned aircraft system readiness. (As background, this builds on existing DoD authority under 10 U.S.C. §130i to detect, disrupt, seize, or destroy UAS posing threats to covered facilities or assets.) The Task Force must submit annual reports to the congressional defense committees on its activities, progress metrics, and recommendations.

This section authorizes the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit—which identifies and accelerates adoption of commercial technologies for Department of Defense use—to establish and maintain regional offices within and outside the United States to conduct outreach to the private sector, academia, and other mission partners and streamline interactions with the Unit. If established, the Director must develop a strategy and criteria for selecting office locations, issue necessary rules, regulations, policies, or guidance for operations, and make that information publicly available on a Department of Defense website.

This section establishes, not later than January 15, 2026, the Small-UAS Industrial Base Working Group under the Deputy Secretary of Defense to analyze the supplier base for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS, i.e., Group 1, Group 2, or Group 3 per Department of Defense Joint Publication 3-30) and recommend investments or actions to improve it. The Working Group is chaired by the Director of the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group and includes the Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, service acquisition executives, and representatives from the Defense Innovation Unit, Army Materiel Command, and Special Operations Command, among others designated by the Deputy Secretary. The Working Group must: (1) analyze current sUAS industrial base capacity, including manufacturers and suppliers of components such as brushless motors, batteries, flight controllers, and sensors; (2) identify likely private investments to address fragile or non-domestic supply chains; (3) develop remediation plans, including federal purchases, partnerships such as the Army's SkyFoundry initiative and public-private production facilities, required military capabilities unmet by industry, and innovation opportunities; and (4) identify changes to sUAS component qualification processes to enable greater commercial production. Not later than April 1, 2026, the Working Group must submit an initial report to the Deputy Secretary and congressional defense committees assessing the industrial base, federal demand signals, commercial investments, remediation recommendations, and SkyFoundry's impacts, with updates at least every 180 days thereafter. This section further authorizes the Secretary of the Army to establish the SkyFoundry program if the initial report is submitted and the Deputy Secretary certifies to congressional defense committees that it enables rapid, cost-competitive Army sUAS fielding without harming the commercial industrial base.

This section prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from disestablishing the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific, located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, for one year after enactment of this Act. The section also requires the Secretary (or designee) to brief the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, not later than 180 days after enactment, on the status of any decision to disestablish the command and the strategic rationale, cost, and benefits of such disestablishment.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of fiscal year 2026 funds authorized for the Department of Defense to carry out specified actions concerning geographic combatant commands until 60 days after the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees a certification that the action is in the national security interest of the United States (undertaken with consultations with international partners) and other required information. The covered actions are (1) modifying or combining the missions, responsibilities, or force structure of a geographic combatant command with those of another command; (2) appointing an officer below the O-10 grade to serve as commander of a geographic combatant command; and (3) divesting, consolidating, or returning to a host country any site in the real property inventory of a geographic combatant command as of June 1, 2025. Required information includes (1) a detailed analysis of the action's impact on execution of operational plans (including counterterrorism and crisis response), maintenance of access and freedom of navigation in the affected area of responsibility, military training and exercises (including interoperability and security cooperation with allies and partners), and U.S. deterrence of threats (including from China and Russia); (2) relocation costs for personnel, equipment, and infrastructure; (3) a description of consultations with relevant allies and partners; and (4) independent risk assessments (submitted unaltered) from affected combatant commanders, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other relevant combatant commanders addressing impacts on U.S. security, execution of campaign and contingency plans, and military training and exercises. The Secretary of Defense must consult with relevant combatant commanders in preparing the materials. The certification is submitted unclassified; other information may be classified.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 funds authorized for the Army to integrate or restructure the Joint Munitions Command (JMC, which manages Army munitions production, storage, and distribution) and Army Sustainment Command (ASC, which oversees Army logistics and materiel sustainment)—including changes to personnel numbers, duty locations, or responsibilities or modifications to leadership or reporting chains—until the Secretary of the Army submits to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a report containing (1) a comparison of current and proposed organizational structures, reporting chains, leadership roles, and workforce; (2) the planned implementation timeline; (3) plans for personnel changes; (4) a mission justification; and (5) an assessment of short- and long-term readiness impacts on the Army and Department of Defense with mitigation plans.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer amounts of authorizations made available to the Department of Defense in this division for fiscal year 2026 between any such authorizations (or subdivisions thereof), subject to a total limitation of $6 billion. Transfers between military personnel authorizations under title IV are excluded from the $6 billion limitation; all transfers must be for higher-priority items that have not been denied authorization by Congress, with prompt notice to Congress required for each transfer.

This section revises the Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation (FIAR) Plan under 10 USC 240b, which outlines actions and milestones for the Department of Defense to correct financial management deficiencies, achieve unqualified audit opinions on its financial statements, and produce auditable budgetary resources and asset records. Specifically, it expands the plan's required elements to include (1) meeting resource requirements such as personnel and information technology infrastructure and (2) identifying long-range goals and measurable objectives such as audit cycle timelines, control testing frequency, and auditor-validated corrective action plans. The section further expands annual FIAR Plan status reports to congressional defense committees to include (1) detailed estimates of funding required for the next fiscal year to implement corrective action-related processes, systems, and technologies across DoD components and (2) the number and scope of implemented automated processes such as reconciliation, inventory validation, and internal controls. It requires the Comptroller's January 31 briefing to rank military departments and Defense Agencies by progress toward auditable financial statements (replacing prior content); adds a June 30 annual report requirement for bottom-quartile ranked entities detailing material weaknesses, causes, remediation plans, and metrics on notices of findings and recommendations (NFRs) such as open, repeat, reissued, forecasted, and closed NFRs; and updates a related report to reference current Secretary of Defense-designated financial statement audit priorities (replacing a 2016 report reference). The section also strikes subsection (c) of section 1009 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (repealing an annual funding report on corrective action plans) and strikes 10 USC 240h (repealing an annual auditable financial statements report).

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit the annual report on the Defense Business Systems Audit Remediation Plan to the congressional defense committees on the same date as the Department of Defense's required annual audited financial statements (previously submitted on a separate, unspecified date).

This section amends two Department of Defense budgetary display requirements and repeals five others as follows: (1) strikes subsection (c) of 10 U.S.C. §2284 (requiring a display of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Defense Program funding in budget justification materials) and redesignates subsection (d) as (c); (2) revises Section 141 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (P.L. 111-84; 10 U.S.C. 221 note) to require that body armor be procured using funds authorized to be appropriated by this title; (3) repeals Section 219 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (P.L. 113-66; 10 U.S.C. 221 note) requiring evaluation and assessment of the Distributed Common Ground System in budget materials; (4) repeals Section 213 of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (P.L. 111-383; 10 U.S.C. 221 note) requiring separate program elements for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle research and development; (5) repeals Section 111 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (P.L. 110-417; 10 U.S.C. 221 note) requiring separate procurement line items for the Future Combat Systems program; (6) repeals Section 214 of that Act requiring separate procurement and research, development, test, and evaluation line items for the Sky Warrior Unmanned Aerial Systems project; and (7) repeals Section 1502 of that Act requiring separate budget displays for Afghanistan and Iraq operations.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense to submit annual reports to the congressional defense committees, at the time of the President's budget submission for FY2027 through FY2029, on amounts made available by title II of Public Law 119-21. Those reports must include (1) proposed allocations by account and by program, project, or activity, with detailed justifications; (2) P–1 and R–1 budget justification documents identifying allocations by program, project, and activity; (3) M–1 and O–1 budget justification documents identifying allocations by budget activity, activity group, and sub-activity group; and (4) C–1 budget justification documents identifying allocations by component, location, and project name. The section further requires quarterly reports to the congressional defense committees on the status of balances for such funded projects and activities—including uncommitted, committed, and unobligated funds—followed by briefings on the reports.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to encourage, to the greatest extent practicable, the use of artificial intelligence or machine learning technologies to facilitate audits of Department of Defense (DoD) financial statements for FY2026. It further requires the Director of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the DoD Inspector General, to oversee adoption of such technologies to support DoD financial management and enterprise business operations.

This section revises the quarterly reporting requirements under 10 U.S.C. 284(h)(3) for Department of Defense support to other federal agencies and state, local, tribal, or foreign law enforcement for counterdrug activities and activities to counter transnational organized crime by (1) adding to the required report contents in subparagraph (A)—(A) descriptions of sustainment arrangements (if any) and funding sources for capabilities and performance outcomes achieved, (B) objectives for the support, project, or purpose, and (C) information (including amount, type, and purpose) on support provided that fiscal year under this section or section 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (P.L. 105-85); and (2) directing reports to the congressional defense committees (from the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives).

This section requires the Navy, as part of its amphibious warfare ship force structure requirements, to prioritize scheduled maintenance and repair actions to maintain the minimum number of available amphibious warfare ships to meet operational requirements.

This section modifies requirements for Navy Senior Technical Authorities (STAs) designated for each class of naval vessels by requiring each STA to report directly to the portfolio acquisition executive established under section 1732 of title 10, United States Code (previously, operate independently of acquisition program management chains-of-command). The section further expands STA responsibilities to include determining that all design requirements for a vessel class directly relate to a key performance parameter or key system attribute in the class's capability development document, with any unnecessary requirement prohibited from approval. (As background, STAs provide technical oversight to ensure naval vessels achieve approved capabilities documents.)

This section revises restrictions prohibiting the overhaul, repair, or maintenance of naval vessels homeported in the United States, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in foreign shipyards (from the United States or Guam). (Thus, vessels homeported in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands receive the same protections as those homeported in the United States or Guam, subject to existing exceptions for Littoral Combat Ships on deployment.)

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to allocate FY2026 operation and maintenance funds for Navy ship maintenance such that each amphibious warfare ship (i.e., as defined in 10 U.S.C. §8062(h)) entering maintenance availability receives an equal or greater amount of funding on a per capita basis relative to each surface combatant ship (i.e., guided missile cruiser, guided missile destroyer, guided missile frigate, or littoral combat ship).

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to select, not later than 180 days after enactment, a metric to measure progress on basic and functional design for ship construction and to submit to the congressional defense committees, not later than 45 days after selection, a report justifying the metric.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for FY2026 to retire or decommission, prepare to retire or decommission, or place in storage any Navy oceanographic research vessel unless the Secretary of the Navy has identified and acquired a suitable replacement vessel for conducting the research previously performed by that vessel.

This section directs the Secretary of the Navy to develop and implement, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment, a strategy for investing in and supporting the maritime industrial base to address cost and schedule challenges for surface and submarine shipbuilding programs. The strategy must (1) focus on ensuring reliable supplies of sequence-critical components for those programs and (2) include measures to identify key performance indicators for measuring return on investment, centralize data collection for maritime industrial base performance analysis, and apply artificial intelligence to monitor and predict supply chain challenges (e.g., disruptions, material shortages, delivery delays). Not later than 210 days after the date of enactment, the Secretary must submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the strategy that includes a summary, implementation timelines, and an explanation of how the strategy addresses such challenges.

This section exempts unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) acquired or developed by the Navy from senior technical authority oversight requirements under 10 USC 8669b—i.e., designation of a Senior Executive Service employee to provide independent technical expertise for each naval vessel class—except for specified requirements, specifications, and approvals related to cybersecurity, ordnance and explosives, or warfare systems. It further limits the Chief Engineer of Naval Sea Systems Command from establishing any such requirements for these unmanned systems unless pre-approved by the relevant program manager. (Thus, the exemption streamlines acquisition and development of unmanned vessels by reducing independent technical oversight layers.) It defines "unmanned surface vessel" as a vessel designed to operate on the water's surface without an onboard human crew and "unmanned underwater vehicle" as a vehicle designed to operate below the water's surface without an onboard human crew.

This section establishes a pilot program on the use of automated assembly technologies and capabilities in naval shipbuilding to reduce construction times and alleviate workforce constraints, to be implemented by the Secretary of the Navy not later than 90 days after enactment. In carrying out the program, the Secretary must (1) identify and select available novel automated hull assembly technologies; (2) designate at least one surface ship or submarine program for demonstration; (3) conduct the demonstrations; (4) evaluate the technologies across functions including plate preparation, welding, and block assembly, and for compatibility with the existing shipbuilding value chain; and (5) assess feasibility and effectiveness in improving subassembly construction times, overall ship construction schedules, workforce efficiency, and safety. The Secretary must submit reports on the program's implementation and results to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees not later than September 30, 2026, and annually thereafter until program termination three years after enactment; each report must identify time required to adapt technologies and processes and describe impacts on workforce and construction schedules. The pilot program terminates three years after enactment.

This section extends the prohibition on the use of funds to transfer or release individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States, through December 31, 2026 (from December 31, 2025).

This section extends the prohibition on using funds to construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, through December 31, 2026 (from December 31, 2025).

This section extends the prohibition on the use of funds to transfer or release individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to certain countries through December 31, 2026 (from December 31, 2025).

This section extends the prohibition on using funds to close or relinquish control of United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, through FY2026 (from FY2025).

This section modifies the authority under 10 U.S.C. 408 for the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to foreign nations in support of Department of Defense recovery and accounting for missing U.S. government personnel (i.e., primarily POW/MIA efforts) by (1) authorizing the Secretary also to procure goods and services from such nations, and (2) increasing the annual limitation on assistance to $15 million (from $5 million). Assistance types remain equipment, supplies, services, training, and funds, subject to Secretary of State approval and ineligibility for nations supporting international terrorism.

This section revises DoD authority to provide physical protection and personal security using qualified armed forces members and civilian employees. It establishes a new subsection (b) authorizing such protection for former or retired officials who previously served in specified senior positions (i.e., Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Defense, Chairman or Vice Chairman or other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretaries of the military departments, or combatant commanders) and face serious and credible threats arising from DoD duties. (Previously, such former senior officials were eligible only under the broader "additional personnel" category in former subsection (b)(2)(B).) The section redesignates former subsection (b) as (c) with updated cross-references to include new subsection (b); strikes paragraphs (4) through (6) of subsection (c)(2) and redesignates former paragraph (7) as paragraph (4), thereby narrowing eligible additional personnel; and redesignates former subsections (c) through (e) as (h) through (j). It further requires (1) written determinations, based on threat assessments, for protection under subsections (b) or (c) or reimbursement under redesignated subsection (h); (2) periodic reviews at least every six months of protection duration under (b) or (c); (3) submissions to congressional defense committees, generally within 15 days or 48 hours, of initial determinations, denials of renewal or reimbursement requests, and terminations (with exceptions and classified option), plus advance submission of regulations; and (4) 90-day prior written notification to individuals receiving protection under (a) or (b) or reimbursement under (j) before terminating or denying renewal.

This section modifies identification display requirements for members of the Armed Forces (including the National Guard) and Federal law enforcement personnel providing support to civil authorities by (1) requiring Armed Forces members supporting civilian law enforcement agencies to visibly display the name of their armed force; (2) expanding the exception for individuals not wearing uniforms or engaged in undercover operations to apply to both civil disturbance support and civilian law enforcement support; and (3) making conforming changes to subsection headings, the section heading, and the table of sections.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, when providing assistance to U.S. Customs and Border Protection under paragraph (1) of Section 1059(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (10 U.S.C. 284 note)—which implements Department of Defense support authorities for counterdrug activities and activities to counter transnational organized crime (10 U.S.C. 284)—to enter into contracts for the following services: (1) detection and monitoring; (2) warehousing and logistical supply chain; (3) transportation; (4) vehicle maintenance; (5) training other than lead or primary instructor; (6) intelligence analysis; (7) linguist; (8) data entry; and (9) aviation. (Thus, this expands DoD's support options for border security-related counterdrug and counter-transnational organized crime efforts.)

This section prohibits the use of funds authorized by this Act to relocate the Maritime Industrial Base Program to the Naval Sea Systems Command or otherwise remove the program from the jurisdiction of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition. (The Maritime Industrial Base Program supports U.S. shipbuilding and repair capabilities for Navy and Coast Guard vessels.)

This section prohibits the Secretary of the Army from retiring, divesting, or taking any action to reduce the number, configuration, or capability of MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range unmanned aircraft systems in the Army inventory as of enactment or to prevent their maintenance in current or improved configurations. The prohibition does not apply if the Chairman of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council certifies to the congressional defense committees and congressional intelligence committees that either (1) a capability of equal or greater effectiveness is being fielded operational before or concurrently with any such retirement or (2) the retirement will not reduce overall capacity available to combatant commanders.

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to convey, without consideration and by conditional deed of gift, all U.S. right, title, and interest in five retired T-37B trainer aircraft to the Arizona Aviation Historical Group in Phoenix, Arizona. The conveyance is subject to conditions including (1) removal of all military-specific equipment prior to transfer, as determined by the Secretary; (2) "as is" condition with no U.S. repairs, alterations, airworthiness guarantees, or warranties; (3) recipient maintenance in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements and no transfer of possession without Secretary approval; (4) reverter of title to the United States upon breach; and (5) all costs borne by the recipient, with additional terms allowed to protect U.S. interests and no U.S. liability post-conveyance.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Secretaries of the military departments, to designate and develop an Eastern Regional Range Complex as a joint training, testing, and experimentation hub for multi-domain operations (i.e., integrated air, land, sea, cyber, space, and electromagnetic activities) and robotic autonomous systems, including unmanned aircraft systems and counter-unmanned aircraft systems capabilities, to address adversary threats. If designated, the complex would (1) encompass 25 specified states from Maine to Alabama (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Indiana, and Alabama); (2) support activities including joint non-kinetic electromagnetic warfare, cyber, and information operations training in live, virtual, and constructive environments; integrated multi-domain operations training; robotic autonomous systems training, experimentation, and testing (including tactics, techniques, and procedures); evaluation of emerging technologies in contested cyber and electromagnetic spectrum environments; and integration of prototypes with live-fire exercises for rapid fielding under the Joint Warfighting Concept; (3) require coordination with the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, Joint Staff (J-7), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and other relevant entities (e.g., combatant commands, allies, Defense Innovation Unit, State National Guard commands, Office of Naval Research); and (4) allow consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration on spectrum access requirements for the Eastern and Western Regional Range Complexes.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of FY2026 Army funds to retire, deactivate, schedule for deactivation, or reduce the capabilities, resources, aircraft, or personnel of Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades—units that provide air mobility, aeromedical evacuation, reconnaissance, and logistical support—prior to the earlier of (1) 90 days after the Secretary of the Army submits to the congressional defense committees a plan to offset any associated mission losses that also addresses continued service opportunities for displaced qualified Armed Forces members; or (2) 30 days after submission of a detailed recapitalization plan for the brigades' aircraft by unit and location.

This section prohibits the Department of Defense from using live animals—including dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, and marine mammals—in live fire trauma training (i.e., medical simulations of battlefield injuries using live ammunition) beginning on the date of enactment. The Secretary of Defense must replace such animals, to the extent determined necessary, with advanced simulators, mannequins, cadavers, or actors.

This section prohibits the Secretary of Defense from destroying, dismantling, scrapping, cannibalizing, or otherwise rendering permanently inoperable any aircraft manufactured prior to December 31, 1945, that is in the custody or administrative control of the Department of the Air Force as of enactment. Such aircraft may only be retained in Air Force inventory, transferred to an eligible entity (i.e., the National Museum of the United States Air Force or another official Department of Defense museum; or a federal department or agency, nonprofit institution, or museum with demonstrated indoor preservation and public display capabilities), or deaccessioned under a Secretary-approved plan supporting long-term preservation consistent with specified Senate guidelines. The Secretary may waive the prohibition on a case-by-case basis if the aircraft is beyond practical restoration (as determined by qualified Air Force or eligible entity personnel), no eligible entity expresses interest within one year of public notice of availability, and the Secretary notifies the congressional defense committees with justification at least 30 days prior.

This section limits the obligation or expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated for FY2026 for operation and maintenance, defense-wide, and available to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for travel expenses to not more than 75% until the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees (1) any overdue quarterly reports on Department of Defense execute orders required by section 1744 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92; 10 U.S.C. 113 note); (2) a certification of compliance with section 1067 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (P.L. 118-159), including confirmation that required execute orders have been submitted and a description of the mechanism for future briefings and disclosures; (3) the report on Department efforts to identify, disseminate, and implement lessons learned from the war in Ukraine as required by the conference report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (P.L. 118-159); and (4) notice of changes to the legal and policy framework report as required by section 1264 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (50 U.S.C. 1549), and provides to the Committees on Armed Services of the House and Senate unedited video of strikes against designated terrorist organizations in the United States Southern Command area of responsibility.

This section establishes congressional notification requirements for Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft used to support Department of Homeland Security alien removal operations, requiring the Secretary of Defense to notify the Senate and House Armed Services Committees within seven calendar days with details on aircraft type and variant; number of non-DOD individuals on board; supporting aircraft; estimated costs including flight hours; destination country; inbound and outbound flights to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and any personnel reassignments from Joint Task Force Guantanamo or other DOD entities. This section further requires the Secretary, not later than 30 days after enactment and every 90 days thereafter, to notify the armed services committees of the estimated total number of aliens (as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act) held at DOD installations, disaggregated by location, and total associated detention costs. This section amends Section 1707 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (10 U.S.C. 113 note)—which addresses DOD support for DHS border security operations—by adding a new subsection requiring reports to the armed services committees, not later than 30 calendar days after approving a Request for Assistance for immigration enforcement operations and every 90 days thereafter, on facilities used and modification costs; and assigned DOD personnel, units, duration, and personnel costs.

This section establishes new notification requirements in 10 U.S.C. §130g for waivers issued by the Secretary of Defense under Department of Defense Directive 3000.09 (i.e., Autonomy in Weapon Systems, which governs development and use of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapon systems) or any successor directive. The Secretary must notify the congressional defense committees within 30 days of issuing a waiver, including (1) the rationale, (2) a description of the autonomous weapon system or technology covered, and (3) the anticipated duration; notifications must be unclassified but may include a classified annex. This section also amends reporting requirements under sec. 1066(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159) on approval and deployment of lethal autonomous weapon systems by inserting references to legal reviews in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4).

This section authorizes one-time transfers of surplus pump action shotguns (excluding modular ancillary additions to service rifles or short-barreled shotguns, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(6)) to the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety (i.e., the entity that administers the Civilian Marksmanship Program by loaning or selling surplus military firearms to qualified individuals, clubs, and associations to promote firearms safety training) by (1) the Secretary of the Army, (2) the Secretary of the Navy, and (3) the Secretary of the Air Force, in each case for shotguns under departmental control on the date of enactment that are surplus at the time of required congressional reporting. The section requires each authorized Secretary to submit a report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees detailing the total number of eligible surplus shotguns (by make and model) and the number intended for transfer, prohibits any such transfer until 60 days after report submission, and directs the Secretary of the Army to brief those committees on the results of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Army Criminal Investigation Division probe into unaccounted-for pistols at the corporation. This section further expands the corporation's authority to sell certain surplus firearms by adding eligible surplus pump action shotguns (with the same exclusions) to the list of items that may be sold.

This section extends the deadline for the mobility capability requirements study required under Section 1068 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to January 15, 2027 (from one year after enactment of that Act). It further requires the Commander of the United States Transportation Command, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretaries of the military departments, and the commanders of the combatant commands, to submit a final report on the study and provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees by that date.

This section extends the briefing requirement regarding civil authorities at the Southwest border through December 31, 2026 (from December 31, 2025).

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the congressional armed services committees, not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, (1) a report analyzing the feasibility of installing traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS)—as defined in 14 CFR 121.356—in all military rotary-wing aircraft (i.e., helicopters), including costs, effects on civilian airspace safety, necessary cockpit changes, implications for combat, training, or domestic security operations, and alternatives if infeasible; and (2) a similar report on installing automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) In capabilities.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of Transportation and Homeland Security, to include in each periodic assessment of the Strategic Rail Corridor Network—an interconnected network of rail corridors important to national defense and military mobility, as defined by the Department of Defense and the Federal Railroad Administration—carried out after enactment an annex evaluating the cybersecurity and resilience of its physical infrastructure. The annex must include (1) a description of potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities affecting network operations; (2) an assessment of resilience against cyberattacks and other disruptive actions by U.S. adversaries; (3) recommended actions for Congress and federal agencies to improve cybersecurity defenses and physical infrastructure resilience; and (4) timelines and resource requirements to implement those recommendations.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review, to the extent practicable, of Department of Defense research from January 1, 1945, to December 31, 1972—including in consultation with the National Institutes of Health, Department of Agriculture, or other federal agencies—on (1) using ticks as hosts or delivery mechanisms for biological warfare agents, including experiments involving Spirochaetales (i.e., spirochete bacteria such as those causing Lyme disease) or Rickettsiales (i.e., rickettsia bacteria); and (2) improving the effectiveness and viability of such agents through combination with other diseases or viruses. The review must cover facilities inside and, if feasible, outside the United States; classified information; and specified technical reports (e.g., on rickettsia waste disposal and plaque assays at Fort Detrick and Dugway Proving Ground), among other sources including scientific research on U.S. Lyme disease history. Not later than two years after enactment, the Comptroller General must submit to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees an unclassified report (with possible classified annex) that (1) lists reviewed research projects and assesses their scope; (2) determines whether ticks used in such research were released outside facilities (including unintentionally); and (3) determines whether related records were destroyed, and if so, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the Commander of U.S. Northern Command, to brief the congressional defense committees on expenditures and planned expenditures of funds allocated under section 20009(12) of P.L. 119-21 (approved July 4, 2025) for exploration and development of existing Arctic infrastructure. Briefings must occur not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, quarterly thereafter for one year, and biannually until five years after enactment; each must include (1) funds expended to date, (2) a timeline for future use of such funds, and (3) an assessment of feasible Arctic infrastructure options.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, within 180 days of enactment, a report on Department of Defense (DOD) operations at the southern land border that details (1) DOD efforts to support civil law enforcement in combating transnational organized crime, illicit synthetic drugs (including fentanyl), firearms trade, and human trafficking in U.S. Northern Command and Southern Command areas of responsibility; (2) DOD steady-state plan and posture at the border; (3) assessment of operational and readiness impacts and any plan revisions; (4) military installations and DOD facilities used for border operations or Department of Homeland Security support; (5) funding sources; (6) use-of-force policy and training; and (7) challenges faced. It further requires the Commander of U.S. Northern Command to submit semiannual updates on that report to the congressional defense committees, beginning 180 days after the initial report and continuing every 180 days thereafter until termination of the national emergency declared by Proclamation 100886 and Executive Orders 14165 and 14167.

This section directs the Secretary of Defense to assess the feasibility, advisability, and potential benefits to the Department of Defense of establishing incubator programs for secure facilities and networks at select institutions of higher education (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001, generally nonprofit postsecondary institutions that admit only students with high school diplomas or equivalents, are legally authorized, provide degree or credit programs, and are accredited). The assessment must consider diverse use cases (e.g., secure meetings and classified R&D) and potential cost-sharing with institutions, other federal agencies, state/local/Tribal governments, and private partners; and include (1) criteria for selecting institutions—such as absence of an existing secure facility, commitment to national security, existing DoD relationships, technical capabilities, administrative/security capacity, geographic distribution (including underrepresented states), and economic viability—and (2) an implementation plan identifying at least five qualifying institutions. The Secretary must submit the assessment to the congressional defense committees not later than 270 days after enactment of this Act. This section defines "underrepresented State" as any state or territory eligible for the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (Defense EPSCoR), which builds research capacity in jurisdictions with limited federal R&D funding.

This section extends the termination date of the National Commission on the Future of the Navy—established to assess the Navy's future force structure, modernization, readiness, and infrastructure needs through 2045—from January 15, 2026, to July 1, 2027; (2) authorizes the commission to request access to special access programs and to employ or detail personnel with security clearances necessary to review classified information; and (3) extends the deadline for the commission's final report from 90 days to 180 days after receiving requested information from federal agencies.

This section authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide the Afghanistan War Commission, on a nonreimbursable basis, with administrative services, funds, staff, facilities, and other support necessary for the commission's duties. It further authorizes the head of any other federal department or agency to provide such support as deemed advisable and authorized by law.

This section authorizes the Co-Chairpersons of the Afghanistan War Commission—established to review U.S. government planning and execution of the war in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021—to enter into contracts, to the extent and in amounts provided in appropriation Acts, to enable the Commission to discharge its duties.

This section reauthorizes the Servicewomen’s Commemorative Partnership by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (striking “for fiscal year 2021, as identified in division D of this Act”) and reduces the funding authorization to $1,000,000 (from $3,000,000). (The partnership facilitates development of a commemorative work honoring Army servicewomen using the Secretary of the Army’s gift authority under 10 U.S.C. 7771.)

This section, cited as the AUKUS Improvement Act of 2025, amends section 38(l) of the Arms Export Control Act to (1) exempt exports and transfers of defense articles or services under the AUKUS exemption from congressional notification requirements under section 36(c) and (d); (2) authorize reexports, retransfers, or temporary imports of defense articles sold by the United States—pursuant to the AUKUS exemption or another exemption—exclusively between the governments of Australia and the United Kingdom or eligible Australian and United Kingdom entities without presidential consent under specified Foreign Assistance Act provisions; and (3) authorize intra-company, intra-organizational, and intra-governmental transfers of such defense articles between regular employees (including dual nationals and third-country nationals meeting regulatory requirements). (Thus, the amendments expand licensing exemptions for defense trade cooperation among AUKUS partners—Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—to facilitate secure exchanges of military equipment and technology.) The section further requires the President to submit to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter for five years, a report on the expedited licensing review process for certain defense exports to Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada established under section 1344 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (i.e., 30-day decisions for government-to-government applications and 45-day reviews for others); the report must cover implementation progress, licenses issued, and recipients. Additionally, the section directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to review the International Traffic in Arms Regulations Excluded Technology List (Supplement No. 2 to 22 C.F.R. pt. 126)—which identifies defense articles ineligible for licensing exemptions to Australia and the United Kingdom—within 180 days of enactment, annually for five years, and every three years thereafter for 12 years, retaining only statutorily required or national security-sensitive items and reporting changes with justifications to the specified congressional committees and the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

This section requires the Secretary of Defense, not later than 180 days after enactment, to develop and submit to the congressional defense committees a framework to revise technology transfer and foreign disclosure policies and processes of the military departments and technology transfer and foreign disclosure committees. The framework must include the following elements: (1) guidelines for balancing protection of technology and classified information with requirements to share such information; (2) a process to incorporate input from federal agencies and industry stakeholders; (3) recommendations to update the National Disclosure Policy (NDP)—DOD's policy governing release of classified military information and technology to foreign governments—for emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, hypersonics); (4) mechanisms to streamline technology transfer approvals; (5) mechanisms to enhance transparency and comparability of policies across capability and country release tiers; (6) a plan to consolidate approvals per Executive Order 14268; (7) an updated DOD Directive 5111.21 on the Arms Transfer and Technology Release Senior Steering Group; (8) metrics to evaluate policy effectiveness; (9) an annual audit requirement for denied license applications; and (10) descriptions of charters, participants, and relationships of relevant committees. This section further directs the Secretary, not later than one year after framework submission and annually thereafter, to require revisions to military department technology transfer policies, NDP revisions by the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and semi-annual consultations with defense industry representatives, including nontraditional defense contractors (i.e., entities not performing DOD contracts subject to full cost accounting standards for at least one year prior). Finally, this section requires annual reports to congressional defense committees on implementation actions, industry feedback and incorporation, audit results, and legislative recommendations, submitted in unclassified form with a possible classified annex.

This section authorizes the Commander of the United States Special Operations Command to procure sports foods and dietary supplements, and distribute them to assigned Armed Forces members, using funds appropriated to the Department of Defense for Major Force Program 11. The Commander must establish policies for such procurement and distribution that comply with Department of Defense Instruction 6130.06 and the Department's prohibited dietary supplement ingredients list. Those policies must require third-party certification (vetted by Operation Supplement Safety) for end-product quality assurance; ensure products are free of prohibited contaminants, ingredients, or substances; and limit distribution to credentialed registered dietitians, performance dietitians, or medical clinicians with prescribing authority (at the operational unit level and under primary care sports medicine physician oversight). Such procurement and distribution supplements—but does not supplant—morale, welfare, and recreation funds or dining facility services. Not later than September 30, 2026, the Secretary of Defense must submit to the congressional defense committees a report assessing the feasibility and advisability of expanding this authority to the military departments. In this section, the term "dietary supplement" has the meaning given in section 201(ff) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321(ff)) and requires a supplement facts panel; and "sports food" means a food product that delivers essential energy and nutrients and is packaged with a supplement facts panel.