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

Sec. 1509. Interim data protection measures for the Department of Defense 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) Data protection review. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that, not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each portfolio acquisition executive initiates a narrow, expeditious review of each program of record assigned to such executive to determine whether it is feasible and practicable to incorporate into the program of record cryptographic protection described in subsection (b) in a manner that does not require replacement, modification, or augmentation of existing chips, cryptographic cards, radios, hardware security modules, or other physical components.

(b) Cryptographic protection. The cryptographic protection described in this subsection is utility-based, software-only data packet level cryptographic protection that—

(1) advances data protection for the program of record toward the migration to post quantum cryptography on or before December 31, 2030, as directed in the memorandum of the Chief Information Officer dated November 18, 2025 (relating to Preparing for Migration to Post Quantum Cryptography);

(2) is, or is compatible with, a lattice-based, symmetric, asymmetric, or hybrid cipher capable of providing security strength of or exceeding Advanced Encryption Standard with a 256-bit key (AES-256), including post-quantum security key encapsulation at greater than 1024-bit and digital signature mechanisms and other parameters defined by the Chief Information Officer;

(3) is capable of directly combining cryptographic key material with access controls and authorization constraints or policies controlled by the Department of Defense, a multi-factor key for user identity management and device authentication through the encryption process at the data or key level, and can guarantee provenance between the sender and the receiver of data;

(4) provides capability for variable symmetric encryption strengths of at least 512-bit with minimal degradation of encryption decryption speed; and

(5) provides full key custody and control to the data owner within the Department of Defense, consistent key sovereignty, including no requirement for key escrow, replication, derivation, or retention of cryptographic keys by third-party vendors.

(c) Approval. Software providing the cryptographic protection described in subsection (b) shall be approved by the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense before it is deployed in any program of record.

(d) Future programs of record. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each program of record established after the date of the enactment of this Act incorporates cryptographic protection described in subsection (b) from inception, to the extent it is feasible and practicable to do so.

(e) Pooled implementation. The Chief Information Officer is authorized to direct pooled acquisitions of licenses for cryptographic protection described in subsection (b) for use by programs of record across one or more programs in one or more military departments or other elements of the Department.

(f) Vendor lock. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure, in acquiring any cryptographic protection described in subsection (b), that the Department retains the legal and technical capability to decrypt, access, and migrate its encrypted data upon termination of the contract, without cost and without extending the contract.

(g) Multi-year term. A contract for cryptographic protection described in subsection (b) may have a multi-year term if the contract contains a clause for the Department of Defense to opt out of the contract every two years.

(h) Relationship to existing guidance. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that this section is implemented in a manner that is consistent with, and seeks to advance, the zero-trust initiatives and classified network protection requirements of the Department of Defense.

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