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

Sec. 519. Authority to study the propensity of certain students to serve in the Armed Forces Added Jun 15

Where this section came from

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

  1. Jun 15, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Armed Services, Jun 4 Reported by House Committee on Armed Services, Jun 15 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
What is a markup?

A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.

(a) Study

(1) Agreement. The Secretary of Defense shall seek to enter into an agreement—

(A) with an entity described in paragraph (2) pursuant to which such entity shall conduct a comprehensive study on the propensity to serve of military-connected students; and

(B) not later than year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) Eligible entity. An entity described in this paragraph is a national nonprofit organization that—

(A) focuses on the educational environment of military-connected youth;

(B) is a partner to an institution of higher education; and

(C) has demonstrated expertise in research, mixed-methods methodology, or adolescent development.

(3) Scope. Such study shall—

(A) examine the relationship between family military tradition and legacy, including generational service, parental attitudes toward service in the Armed Forces, and household military culture, and a student’s propensity to serve in the Armed Forces;

(B) assess the relationship between academic environmental factors (including participation in JROTC, access to military-affiliated mentors and counselors, and type of school) and the propensity to serve;

(C) evaluate the role of peer support programming in shaping plans after secondary school among military-connected students;

(D) catalog factors that enhance or detract from the propensity to serve identified by military-connected students, their parents or guardians, and school personnel; and

(E) aggregate findings by subgroup, including by grade level, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic region, and school type.

(4) Methodology. Study shall be conducted—

(A) using mixed methods, including—

(i) a quantitative survey administered to a nationally representative sample of not fewer than 1,500 military-connected students, using a purpose-built and validated instrument measuring the propensity to serve, family military legacy, JROTC participation, and school environment; and

(ii) semi-structured qualitative interviews with not fewer than 60 participants, including military-connected students, their parents or guardians, JROTC instructors, school counselors, school liaison officers, and program coordinators; and

(B) in accordance with—

(i) the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (part 46 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations including provisions applicable to research involving minors;

(ii) the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (Public Law 93–380; 20 U.S.C. 1232g); and

(iii) applicable guidance of the Department of Defense governing the conduct of research on human subjects.

(5) Optional participation. Participation in the study shall be voluntary. A military-connected student who is under 18 years of age may not participate without the informed written consent of a parent or legal guardian.

(b) Reports

(1) Interim report. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives an interim report on such a study, including—

(A) whether the Secretary has entered into an agreement under subsection (a);

(B) whether such study has begun; and

(C) any preliminary findings available at the time of the report.

(2) Final report. Not later than two years after the Secretary enters into an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a final report on the results of the study. Such a final report shall include—

(A) a detailed description of the study methodology, sample characteristics, and data collection procedures;

(B) the quantitative findings, including statistical analyses of the relationship between family military legacy, school environment, JROTC participation, peer-to-peer program participation, and the propensity to serve;

(C) the qualitative findings, including key themes derived from interviews with military-connected students, their parents or guardians, and school personnel;

(D) an integrated analysis of quantitative and qualitative findings;

(E) findings disaggregated by grade level, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic region, and school type;

(F) recommendations for the Secretary regarding military recruitment strategy, development of JROTC programs, and support services for military-connected students; and

(G) recommendations to Congress regarding legislative action based on such findings.

(3) Form. The reports required under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if the Secretary determines such annex is necessary.

(c) Definitions. In this section:

(1) The term military-connected student means a secondary school student—

(A) enrolled in grade 11 or 12; and

(B) who has at least one parent or guardian who is currently serving, or who previously served, in the Armed Forces.

(2) The term propensity to serve means a student’s self-reported likelihood of joining the Armed Forces after graduation from secondary school.

(3) The term JROTC means the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program authorized under chapter 102 of title 10, United States Code.

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

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