H.R. 8800

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Sponsor: Mike Rogers

1 cosponsor
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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

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

Sec. 3668. United States Center for Maritime Innovation 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 50307(e) of title 46, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting through the establishment, management, and coordination of geographically and topically diverse maritime incubators after maritime transportation system; and

(2) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(2) Cooperative agreement. The cooperative agreement shall be with an organization or persons with substantial experience in the maritime industry, as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Maritime Security Board.

(3) Selection. The Center shall be—

(A) selected through a competitive process of eligible entities, and if a private entity, a domestic entity;

(B) based in the United States with technical expertise in emerging marine technologies and practices related to the maritime transportation system; and

(C) located in close proximity to eligible entities with expertise in United States emerging maritime technologies and practices.

(4) Coordination. The Secretary of Transportation shall coordinate with the Maritime Security Board and other agencies critical for science, research, and regulation of emerging marine technologies for the maritime sector, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, and the Marine Board of the National Academies when establishing the Center.

(5) Responsibilities. The Center shall carry out the following activities:

(A) Establish and support maritime incubators in accordance with paragraph (6).

(B) Accelerate the adoption or integration of commercial technologies within the maritime industry to transform the capacity and capabilities of the merchant marine of the United States.

(C) Serve as the principal liaison between the Maritime Security Board and maritime incubators.

(D) Carry out programs, projects, and other activities to strengthen the merchant marine of the United States and the maritime industrial base.

(E) Coordinate and harmonize the activities of other organizations and elements of the maritime industry on matters relating to commercial technologies, dual use technologies, and the innovation of such technologies.

(F) Coordinate and advise efforts among elements of the maritime industry on matters relating to the development, procurement, and fielding of nontraditional capabilities and connect entities developing those capabilities with the relevant incubators.

(G) Coordinate with maritime industry stakeholders to identify operational challenges that have the potential to be addressed through the use of nontraditional capabilities, including dual-use technologies that are being developed and financed in the commercial sector.

(H) Coordinate with maritime industry stakeholders and relevant Federal agencies to enhance the capacity and performance of seaports of the United States, including through hardening security, enhancing preparedness, and developing United States-based supply chains for port technologies and equipment.

(I) Coordinate with other research and development programs and centers focused on modes of transportation besides maritime to develop intermodal interoperability with the maritime industry.

(J) Develop a standard design for commercial vessels and components and features of commercial vessels to be manufactured in the United States, using mature, proven designs, which—

(i) includes, to the maximum extent practicable, included parts, components, and material manufactured in and sourced from the United States;

(ii) does not include any parts, components, or materials manufactured by foreign entities of concern or which are produced in foreign countries of concern (as such terms are defined in section 3604 of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026); and

(iii) includes priorities for design identified in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, as necessary for strategic sealift, informed by requirements to sustain a wartime economy and military operations.

(K) Lead engagement with industry, academia, labor organizations, and other nongovernmental entities to develop—

(i) innovative, commercial, and dual-use manufacturing technologies and processes to construct, rehabilitate, or repair maritime vessels of the Armed Forces or the merchant marine of the United States;

(ii) additional naval architecture programs at institutions of higher education in the United States and to expand existing naval architecture programs;

(iii) next-generation propulsion technologies for the merchant marine of the United States, to include small modular reactors, low-emission or carbon capture propulsion technologies, and other renewable energy solutions;

(iv) new and innovative hardware, software, and systems for remote or autonomous operations at ports, intermodal facilities, or aboard oceangoing vessels;

(v) technology and infrastructure solutions that enhance the safe operation of oceangoing vessels to protect lives, property, and the environment;

(vi) solutions to recruit, train, and retain a skilled workforce capable of supporting a vibrant and growing United States maritime industry; and

(vii) the capacity of international allies and partners of the United States, with respect to manufacturing technologies and processes, to construct, rehabilitate, or repair maritime vessels.

(L) Work with academic and private sector response training centers and Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education to develop maritime strategies and workforce development plans applicable to various segments of the United States maritime industry, including the inland, deep water, and coastal fleets.

(M) Establish programs and initiatives to share—

(i) shipbuilding best practices and maritime technology between vessels of the Department of Defense and commercial vessels of the United States; and

(ii) port technology and logistics best practices between the Department of Defense and commercial port operators and port authorities within the United States.

(N) Carry out such other activities as the Maritime Security Board determines appropriate.

(6) Establishment of maritime incubators

(A) Establishment. The Center shall, in consultation with the Maritime Security Board, seek out, identify, and support the development of and experimentation with commercial technologies that have the potential to be implemented within the maritime industry, through the establishment of a series of maritime incubators.

(B) Reflection. Each incubator shall reflect the unique nature of the region’s capabilities and academic and investor base.

(C) Selection. Incubators shall be—

(i) selected through a competitive process of eligible entities, and if a private entity, a domestic entity;

(ii) based in the United States with technical expertise in emerging marine technologies and practices related to the maritime transportation system;

(iii) based within a United States maritime security investment zone as defined in section 1400Z–3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by section 708 of this Act); and

(iv) topic-specific, according to regional maritime expertise in United States emerging maritime technologies and practices, to include designated incubators focused on—

(I) clean energy, carbon capture, and alternative fuels;

(II) ports and shoreside infrastructure;

(III) vessel design and naval architecture;

(IV) shipbuilding and next generation manufacturing;

(V) advanced materials for ship construction; and

(VI) other areas for maritime innovation and technology, as determined by the Center in coordination with the Maritime Security Board.

(D) Incubator Responsibilities. Each maritime incubator shall—

(i) serve as the principal liaison between the Center and individuals and entities that can contribute to innovation within the maritime industry, including other maritime incubators under this subsection, entrepreneurs, startups, commercial technology companies, and venture capital sources; and

(ii) establish and support multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnerships, as described in subparagraph (G).

(E) Report. Each incubator shall submit quarterly activity and status reports to the Center.

(F) Review and termination

(i) In general. The Maritime Administrator may, in consultation with the Maritime Security Board, terminate an agreement with an eligible entity selected to lead a maritime incubator if the Administrator certifies that the eligible entity is failing to meet the requirements of this section.

(ii) Reselection. If the Administrator terminates an agreement with an eligible entity to lead a maritime incubator, the Center shall initiate a new selection process as required under subparagraph (C) to select a new eligible entity.

(iii) Review of Eligible Entities. Not later than 5 years after the establishment of maritime incubators under this paragraph, and every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator, in coordination with the Maritime Security Board, shall conduct a review of all eligible entities selected to lead a maritime incubator and confirm the entity is adequately fulfilling the requirements of this section.

(G) Multi-stakeholder partnerships

(i) In general. The maritime incubators established under this subsection shall establish and support multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnerships that—

(I) have the potential to generate technologies, processes, products, or other solutions that support the United States maritime industry;

(II) have as an objective the technology transfer or commercialization of the work product generated by the partnership, which may include work product that incorporates intellectual property developed by the Federal Government and licensed to the partnership in accordance with clause (iii); and

(III) incentivize and expand geographically diverse participation in graduate and undergraduate institutions of higher education, community college, and other workforce programs relevant to the maritime industry.

(ii) Support provided. Support provided by the maritime incubator to a multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnership under this subsection may include—

(I) providing funding or other resources to the partnership;

(II) participating in the partnership;

(III) providing technical and technological advice and guidance to the partnership;

(IV) suggesting and introducing other participants for inclusion in the partnership;

(V) providing the partnership with insight into desired solutions for defense and security needs;

(VI) providing access to Ready Reserve ships for testing new technologies and conducting research, as the maritime incubator determines appropriate, in coordination with the Center and the Administrator; and

(VII) such other forms of support as the Center, in consultation with maritime incubators and Maritime Security Board, determines appropriate.

(iii) Availability of intellectual property. To the extent the Center determines appropriate, the Center, in coordination with the maritime incubators, shall seek to actively inform potential participants in multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnerships of the availability of intellectual property developed by the Federal Government that may be licensed to the partnership.

(7) Report. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the SHIPS for America Act of 2026, and annually thereafter, the Center shall submit to the Maritime Security Board and the appropriate congressional committees a report on the activities, advances, outcomes, and work product of the maritime incubators and the multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnerships supported under this subsection.

(8) Definitions. In this subsection:

(A) Multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnership. The term multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnership means a partnership composed of any combination of 2 or more of the following:

(i) Institutions of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) with research and innovation capability.

(ii) Nonprofit organizations that provide policy, research, outreach, operations, organizational, management, testing, evaluation, technology transfer, legal, financial, or advocacy expertise.

(iii) For-profit commercial enterprises that may be publicly or privately owned, early stage or mature, and incorporated or operating by another ownership structure.

(iv) Centers of excellence for domestic maritime workforce training and education (established under section 51706).

(v) Maritime labor organizations.

(vi) Departments or agencies of the Federal Government with expertise, operations, or resources related to the objectives of the multi-stakeholder research and innovation partnership.

(vii) State maritime academies (as defined in section 51102(4)).

(viii) The United States Merchant Marine Academy.

(ix) National research laboratories with expertise, operations, or resources related to the objectives of the partnership.

(x) Operators and users of vessels of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System.

(B) Nontraditional capability. The term nontraditional capability means a solution to an operational challenge that can significantly leverage commercial innovation or external capital with minimal dependencies on fielded systems.

(C) Maritime industry. The term maritime industry includes—

(i) shipbuilders and ship repair facilities;

(ii) ship owners;

(iii) port operators;

(iv) personnel of the merchant marine of the United States;

(v) manufacturers of equipment, software, and technology instrumental to the facilitation of maritime trade and commerce; and

(vi) other members of the industrial base that support the Navy or the merchant marine of the United States.

(b) Transition. A Center for Maritime Innovation established by the Secretary of Transportation through a cooperative agreement pursuant to section 50307 of title 46, United States Code, as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act shall—

(1) be deemed to be the United States Center for Maritime Innovation under section 50307 of title 46, United States Code, as of the date of enactment of this Act, with all the authorities granted by such section; and

(2) coordinate activities of the Center with the Maritime Security Board pursuant to subsection (e)(4) of such section, as amended by this title.

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