H.R. 8800
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
Sponsor: Mike Rogers
1 cosponsor
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
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
Where this section came from
Not in the first version (Introduced in House, May 13).
-
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) In general. Chapter 81 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
1599k. Skills-based hiring for civilian positions
(a) Framework for skills-based hiring
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish and implement a skills-based hiring framework for appointment to a position in the competitive service or the excepted service that—
(A) prioritizes the evaluation of applicants based on demonstrated competencies, skills, and relevant experience and validated assessments; and
(B) permits applicants to qualify for positions through one or more pathways based on experience, training, apprenticeships, certifications, licenses, education, or other alternative credentials, as appropriate to the duties of the position.
(2) Qualification standards for a position shall be based on a job analysis that identifies the competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education, if applicable, necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
(b) Use of education requirements
(1) In general. Except as provided in subsection (c), and consistent with paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may waive or remove a minimum education requirement as a mandatory qualification standard for appointment to a position based on a determination that the competencies required for the position may be demonstrated through relevant experience, apprenticeships, certifications, validated assessments, or other alternative qualifications.
(2) Sunset. The authority to waive or remove a minimum education requirement under paragraph (1) shall expire on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.
(c) Exceptions. Subsection (b) shall not apply to a position—
(1) for which a minimum education requirement is established by Federal statute;
(2) in a recognized profession for which a minimum education requirement is necessary for professional licensure, certification, or accreditation by a recognized accrediting body, including positions in the fields of medicine, law, engineering, accounting, and other professions as determined by the Secretary; or
(3) classified in a scientific or technical occupational series for which the Office of Personnel Management has established a positive education requirement that the Secretary determines is directly and specifically necessary for satisfactory performance of the duties of the position.
(d) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Education. The term education means any form of formal learning, including a high school diploma or its equivalent, a credential from a qualifying career or technical education program, an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or professional degree, or industry-recognized certifications and apprenticeships.
(2) Education requirement. The term education requirement includes a requirement that can be met through—
(A) education alone; or
(B) a combination of education and experience.
(b) Technical and conforming amendment. The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
1599k. Skills-based hiring for civilian positions.
(c) Implementation plan. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for implementing this section, including—
(1) a timeline for implementation of this section;
(2) a strategy for training hiring managers and human resources professionals on skills-based assessment methods;
(3) a description of validated assessment tools the Department plans to develop or adopt; and
(4) metrics for evaluating the impacts of this section on time-to-hire, quality of hire, and retention rates.
(d) Annual report. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report on the authority under section 1599k(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by this Act. The report shall include the following:
(1) Identification of any occupational series or position for which the authority under such section is exercised.
(2) The service, agency, or component to which such position is assigned.
(3) The justification for exercising such section for each such occupational series or position.
(e) Applicability. Section 1599k of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to job opportunity announcements issued on or after the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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