H.R. 8800

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2027 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs, activities, and military construction as well as the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE).

Among other elements, the bill

  • authorizes the procurement of various items, including aircraft and ships;
  • sets active duty and reserve component personnel strength levels;
  • sets policy regarding various aspects of military health care and military compensation;
  • sets policy regarding DOD acquisitions and acquisition management, including contracting authorities and the acquisition workforce;
  • sets policy for various matters related to DOD interactions with foreign nations, including matters concerning Israel, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific;
  • sets policy for various matters related to DOD cybersecurity and artificial intelligence;
  • requires DOD to include projected demand for foreign military sales in certain contexts, including munitions production planning, sustainment planning for major defense acquisition programs, and decisions regarding production rate increases of defense articles;
  • requires DOD to establish an expedited qualification process for new domestic and allied sources of certain strategic materials, including specified metals, alloys, oxides, and magnets;
  • authorizes specified military construction projects and extends the authorization of certain projects from previous fiscal years; and 
  • authorizes the National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Naval Petroleum Reserves, and Maritime Administration.

For additional information on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) see

  • In Focus IF10516, Defense Primer: Navigating the NDAA, and
  • In Focus IF10515, Defense Primer: The NDAA Process.

Text of the bill

Expand all

A Department of Defense Authorizations

I Procurement

A Authorization of Appropriations

B Army Programs

C Navy Programs

D Air Force Programs

E Defense-wide, Joint, and Multiservice Matters

II RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

A Authorization of Appropriations

B Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations

C Plans, Reports, and Other Matters

III Operation and Maintenance

A Authorization of Appropriations

B Energy and Environment

C Logistics and Sustainment

D Reports

E Other Matters

IV MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS

A Active Forces

B Reserve Forces

C Authorization of Appropriations

V MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY

A Officer Policy and Reserve Component Management

B Recruitment, General Service Authorities and Prohibitions, and Military Records

C Member Training

D Member Education

E Military Justice

F Investigations and Other Legal Matters

G Career Transition

H Family Programs, Child Care, and Dependent Education

I Decorations and Awards

J Other Matters and Miscellaneous Reports

K Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026

VI MILITARY COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS

A Bonus and Incentive Pays

B Allowances

C Leave

D Family and Survivor Benefits

E Defense Resale Matters

F Other Benefits, Reports, and Briefings

VII Health Care Provisions

A TRICARE and Other Health Benefits

B Health Care Administration

C Studies, Reports, and Other Matters

VIII Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters

A Acquisition Policy and Management

B Amendments to General Contracting Authorities, Procedures, and Limitations

C Provisions Relating to Acquisition Workforce Development

D Intellectual Property Matters

E Other Matters

IX Department of Defense Organization and Management

X General Provisions

A Financial Matters

B Naval Vessels and Shipyards

C Counterterrorism

D Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations

E Studies and Reports

F Other Matters

XI Civilian Personnel

XII Matters relating to Foreign Nations

A Assistance and Training

B Matters relating to the Near and Middle East

C Matters relating to Israel

D Matters relating to Europe

E Matters relating to the Indo-Pacific

F Reports

G Other matters

XIV Other Authorizations

A Military Programs

B Other Matters

XV Cyberspace-related Matters

A Cybersecurity

B Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence

C Reports and Other Matters

XVI Space Activities, Strategic Programs, and Intelligence Matters

A Space Activities

B Defense Intelligence and Intelligence-Related Activities

C Nuclear Forces

D Missile Defense Programs

E Other Matters

F Matters Relating to Adversary Supply Chains

XVII Other Defense Matters

A Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations

B Other Matters

C Initiating biomedical outcomes to garner advancements into innovative efficacy

D Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection At the National Archives and Records Administration

XVIII Revitalization of the Defense Industrial Base

A Provisions to Protect and Strengthen Supply Chains

B Provisions Relating to Defense Industrial Base Manufacturing

C Organic Industrial Base

D Small Business Matters

E Defense Industrial Base Workforce Matters

F Other Matters

B Military Construction Authorizations

XXI Army Military Construction

XXII Navy Military Construction

XXIII Air Force Military Construction

XXIV Defense Agencies Military Construction

XXV International Programs

A North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment Program

B Host Country In-Kind Contributions

XXVI Guard and Reserve Forces Facilities

XXVII Base Realignment and Closure Activities

XXVIII Military Construction General Provisions

A Military Construction Programs

B Military Housing Reforms

C Real Property and Facilities Administration

D Land Conveyances and Withdrawals

E Pilot Programs

F Miscellaneous Authorities

G Reports and Other Matters

C Department of Energy National Security Authorizations and Other Authorizations

XXXI Department of Energy National Security Programs

A National Security Programs and Authorizations

B Program Authorizations, Restrictions, and Limitations

C Reports and Other Matters

XXXII Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

XXXIV Naval Petroleum Reserves

XXXV Maritime Administration

A Authorization of Appropriations

A Maritime Administration

B Merchant Marine Academy

C Other Matters

D Coast Guard

E Maritime Workforce and Education

Sec. 3568. Cargo preference enforcement Added Jul 22

Where this section came from

Not in the first version (Introduced in House, May 13).

  1. Jul 22, 2026 · Engrossed in House H.Amdt. 256: An amendment numbered 20 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to prohibit male participation in female sports at DoDEA schools. Official page › H.Amdt. 255: An amendment numbered 19 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to prohibit gender related medical care under TRICARE and to prevent TRICARE from covering certain gender related medical procedures and treatments. Official page › H.Amdt. 253: An amendment numbered 17 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to establish a presumption of approval for qualified DoD servicemembers and civilian employees seeking authorization from their facility commander to carry personal firearms on military installations. Official page › H.Amdt. 248: An amendment numbered 7 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to amend the NDAA to protect a critical component of California 's defense fuel supply chain by ensuring the continued operation of the Santa Ynez Pipeline System, which transports domestically produced crude oil to refineries that supply Department of Defense installations. Official page › H.Amdt. 246: An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 as en bloc No. 1: Nos. 10, 11, 13, 16, 21, 23, 24, 25, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, and 104. Official page › H.Amdt. 245: An amendment numbered 4 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to strike section 518, relating to the pilot program on modernization of drug testing using voice-based risk assessment technology to identify servicemembers for drug testing. Official page › H.Amdt. 265: An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 as en bloc No. 5: Nos. 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 317, 318, 319, and 320. Official page › H.Amdt. 264: An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 as en bloc No. 4: Nos. 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, and 265. Official page › H.Amdt. 263: An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 as en bloc No. 3: Nos. 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, and 212. Official page › H.Amdt. 262: An amendment comprised of the following amendments printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 as en bloc No. 2: Nos. 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, and 158. Official page › H.Amdt. 261: An amendment numbered 44 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to prohibit the use of automated speed enforcement cameras on military installations. Official page › H.Amdt. 260: An amendment numbered 34 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to prohibit certain foreign nationals from designated countries of concern to access non-public areas of any National Laboratory. The restriction applies to visitors seeking access to laboratory facilities, information, or technology, while exempting lawful permanent residents and authorized laboratory personnel. Official page › H.Amdt. 258: An amendment numbered 28 printed in Part A of House Report 119-755 to codify protections and responsibilities for chaplains and subject such protections to prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Official page › H.Res. 1398: On Ordering the Previous Question — Passed, 215–210 · Roll Call 230 H.Res. 1398: On Agreeing to the Resolution — Failed, 198–224 · Roll Call 231 H.Res. 1438: On Ordering the Previous Question — Passed, 213–209 · Roll Call 253 H.Res. 1438: On Agreeing to the Resolution — Passed, 214–211 · Roll Call 254 On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 65–361 · Roll Call 255On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 61–360 · Roll Call 256On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 65–359 · Roll Call 257On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 265–161 · Roll Call 258On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 208–219 · Roll Call 259On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 215–214 · Roll Call 260On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 212–216 · Roll Call 261On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 201–224 · Roll Call 262On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 61–365 · Roll Call 263On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 76–350 · Roll Call 264On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 215–214 · Roll Call 265On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 212–217 · Roll Call 266On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 219–208 · Roll Call 267On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 221–203 · Roll Call 268On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 214–216 · Roll Call 269On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 221–210 · Roll Call 273On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 207–224 · Roll Call 274On Agreeing to the Amendment — Agreed to, 232–199 · Roll Call 275On Agreeing to the Amendment — Failed, 175–254 · Roll Call 276On Motion to Recommit — Failed, 213–216 · Roll Call 277On Passage — Passed, 216–212 · Roll Call 278

(a) In general. Section 55305 of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) by striking Minimum tonnage.—When the United States Government and inserting Requirement to use U.S.-Flag vessels.—When a United States department or agency; and

(B) by striking the appropriate agencies shall take steps necessary and all that follows through the end of the subsection and inserting the department or agency must ensure that all equipment, materials, or commodities that may be transported on ocean vessels, except when required for the timely transportation of cargoes under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), is transported on privately-owned commercial vessels of the United States.;

(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(d) Waivers

(1) The requirements under this section may be waived as provided for in this subsection.

(2) The President, the Secretary of War, or the Secretary of State may waive this section temporarily by—

(A) declaring the existence of an emergency justifying a waiver; and

(B) notifying the appropriate agencies of the waiver; or

(3) Upon the request of a U.S. Government department or agency filed at least 10 days prior to transportation of equipment, materials, and commodities subject to this section, the Secretary of Transportation may waive the requirements in subsection (a), for all or part of the transportation, if the Secretary determines there are no privately-owned commercial vessels of the United States—

(A) responsive to the solicitation by vessel type;

(B) available at fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the United States; or

(C) otherwise available.

(4) For waiver requests filed pursuant to paragraph (3), the Secretary of Transportation shall not be obligated to issue a waiver sooner than 10 days prior to transportation.

(5) The Secretary of Transportation shall notify the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of—

(A) any waiver request made pursuant to paragraph (3) not later than 72 hours after receiving such a request; and

(B) the issuance of any such waiver not later than 72 hours after issuing the waiver.

(6) Waivers issued pursuant to paragraph (3) shall be published on the Department of Transportation website within 5 business days.

(7) The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is authorized to promulgate regulations defining “fair and reasonable rates for commercial vessels of the United States as cost based” for purposes of the determinations established in paragraph (3). The goal of such regulations shall be to provide clarity and reduce procedural friction in the waiver process by establishing an objective standard based on vessel cost, to the maximum extent possible, in relevant and accessible market and cost data.

(3) in subsection (e)—

(A) in the subsection heading by striking Programs of other agencies and inserting Department and agency requirements;

(B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(1) Each Federal Government department or agency that transports equipment, commodities, or materials shall—

(A) include provisions in each Federal solicitation, application, agreement, or procurement contract requiring each contract applicant or offeror to acknowledge that ocean transportation contracted under the agreement or procurement contract must comply with this section and related regulations issued by the Secretary of Transportation;

(B) submit to the Secretary agreements, procurements, or other contracts at least 45 days before ocean carriage, along with corresponding plans for complying with this section that describe—

(i) all cargoes, both known and anticipated, with specificity;

(ii) the proposed ports of loading and discharge and expected dates of ocean carriage;

(iii) all parties involved in the ocean transportation of the cargoes, including brokers and freight forwarders; and

(iv) any other relevant information required by the Secretary of Transportation;

(C) provide the Maritime Administration with the Automated Commercial Environment Internal Transaction Number that corresponds with each ocean bill of lading number for each ocean shipment of cargo under contract, including those transported on foreign-flag vessels—

(i) within 20 working days after the date of loading for shipments originating in the United States;

(ii) within 30 working days after the date of loading for shipments originating outside of the United States; or

(iii) in instances for which an Automated Commercial Environment Internal Transaction Number is not available, a legible, complete copy of a rated on-board ocean bill of lading in English, within times specified in clauses (i) or (ii);

(D) exercise contractual rights and remedies against contractors who fail to comply with contractual provisions requiring the use of U.S.-flag vessels, as determined by the Secretary of Transportation, including by—

(i) equitably adjusting the contract price downward by an amount equal to the difference in the cost of a foreign-flag vessel used in violation of the contract and the estimated cost of using a U.S.-flag vessel to carry the same cargo;

(ii) determining that a contractor is ineligible for an award of such a contract; or

(iii) terminating such a contract or suspension or debarment of the contractor for such a contract; and

(E) retain records collected pursuant to this section for 5 years after each shipment is completed.

; and

(C) in paragraph (2)—

(i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);

(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively;

(iii) by inserting before subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(A) has sole authority for determining compliance by a department, agency, or individual with this section;

(B) may provide guidance on whether a department or agency is operating in compliance with the requirements of this section;

(C) shall review every shipment and compliance plan subject to the requirements of this section;

(D) shall annually submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee on Armed Forces of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on department and agency compliance with this section, including submission of compliance plans;

; and

(iv) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by striking may take other measures as appropriate under and inserting shall notify agencies of violations so that other measures may be taken as appropriate under subsection (e)(1)(D) of this section or.

(b) Effective date. The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

XXXVI SHIPs for America

A Oversight and Accountability

B Maritime Security Trust Fund

C Sealift capability

D Vessels of the United States in international commerce

1 Strategic sealift programs

2 Cargo preference

3 Regulatory reform

E Shipbuilding

1 Shipbuilding financial incentives

2 Department of Defense Programs

3 Shipbuilding innovation and infrastructure

F Workforce Development

1 Workforce incentives

2 Workforce Pipeline

3 United States Merchant Marine Academy and State maritime academies

4 Maritime Credentialing Modernization

D Funding Tables

XLI Procurement

XLII Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation

XLIII Operation and Maintenance

XLIV Military Personnel

XLV Other Authorizations

XLVI Military Construction

XLVII Department of Energy National Security Programs

E SAVE America Act