S. 1071
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Sponsor: John Cornyn
1 cosponsor
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2026 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, military construction, and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill also sets forth policies and authorities for the Department of State, the Coast Guard, and the Intelligence Community (IC).
Among other elements, the bill
- authorizes the procurement of various items, including aircraft, ships, and missiles;
- 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 domestic sourcing;
- sets policy for various matters related to DOD interactions with foreign nations, including matters concerning Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific;
- sets policy for various matters related to DOD cyber operations, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence;
- authorizes specified military construction projects and extends the authorization of certain projects from previous fiscal years;
- authorizes the National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Naval Petroleum Reserves, and Maritime Administration;
- sets policy regarding the organization and workforce of the State Department;
- sets acquisition and personnel policy for the Coast Guard;
- sets policy for merchant mariner credentials, vessel safety, and oil pollution response; and
- sets policy for the IC regarding artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
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 Biotechnology Matters
D Plans, Reports, and Other Matters
III Operation and Maintenance
A Authorization of Appropriations
B Energy and Environment
C Logistics and Sustainment
D Matters Relating to Munitions
E Other Matters
IV Military Personnel Authorizations
A Active Forces
B Reserve Forces
C Authorization of Appropriations; Reports
V Military Personnel Policy
A Officer Policy
B Reserve Component Management
C General Service Authorities and Military Records
D Recruitment and Accession
E Member Training
F Member Education
G Military Justice and Other Legal Matters
H Career Transition
I Family Programs, Child Care, and Dependent Education
J Decorations and Awards, Reports, and Other Matters
VI Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits
A Basic Pay and Retired Pay
B Bonus, Incentive, and Separation Pays
C Allowances
D Leave
E Family and Survivor Benefits
F Defense Resale Matters
G Other Benefits, Administrative Matters, 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 Workforce Development
D Provisions Relating to Supply Chains and Domestic Sourcing
E Prohibitions and Limitations on Procurement
F Industrial Base Matters
G Other Matters
IX Department of Defense Organization and Management
A Office of the Secretary of Defense and Related Matters
B Other Department of Defense Organization and Management Matters
X General Provisions
A Financial Matters
B Counterdrug Activities
C Naval Vessels and Shipyards
D Counterterrorism
E Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations
F Studies and Reports
G Other Matters
XI Civilian Personnel
XII Matters relating to foreign nations
A Assistance and training
B Foreign military sales and related processes
C Matters relating to the Middle East
D Matters relating to Israel
E Matters relating to Europe, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation
F Matters relating to the Indo-Pacific region
G Matters relating to Asia
H Other matters
XIV Other Authorizations
A Military Programs
B National Defense Stockpile
C Other Matters
XV Cyberspace-related Matters
A Cyber Operations
B Cybersecurity
C Information Technology and Data Management
D Artificial Intelligence
E 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 Matters Relating to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena
F Matters Relating to Electromagnetic Warfare
G Other Matters
XVII Other Defense Matters
XVIII Acquisition Reform
A Alignment of the Defense Acquisition System
B Requirements Process Reform
C Matters Relating to Commercial Products and Commercial Services
D Improvements to Acquisition Programs
E Modifications to Strengthen the Industrial Base
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
E Modifications to Unspecified Minor Military Construction
F 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
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 Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
I Organization and operations
A Management and consular affairs
B Human resources
C Political affairs
D Other matters
II Workforce matters
III Information security and cyber diplomacy
IV Public diplomacy
V Diplomatic security
VI Miscellaneous
F Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
LXI Intelligence Activities
LXII Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System
LXIII Intelligence Community Matters
LXIV Intelligence Community Efficiency and Effectiveness
LXV Matters Relating to Elements of the Intelligence Community
A Central Intelligence Agency
B Elements of Department of Defense
C Federal Bureau of Investigation
LXVI Artificial Intelligence and Other Emerging Technologies
A Artificial Intelligence
B Biotechnology
C Other matters
LXVII Matters Relating to Foreign Countries
A Matters Relating to China
B Other Matters
LXVIII Reports and Other Matters
G Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
LXXI Coast Guard
A Authorization of appropriations
B Accountability
LXXII Organization, Authorities, Acquisition, and Personnel of the Coast Guard
A Authorities
B Acquisition
C Personnel
(a) Coast Guard embedded behavioral health technician program
(1) Establishment
(A) In general. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant, in coordination with the Assistant Commandant for Health, Safety, and Work Life, shall establish and conduct a pilot program, to be known as the Coast Guard Embedded Behavioral Health Technician Program (referred to in this section as the Pilot Program), to integrate behavioral health technicians serving at Coast Guard units for the purposes of—
(i) facilitating, at the clinic level, the provision of integrated behavioral health care for members of the Coast Guard;
(ii) providing, as a force extender under the supervision of a licensed behavioral health care provider, at the clinic level—
(I) psychological assessment and diagnostic services, as appropriate;
(II) behavioral health services, as appropriate;
(III) education and training related to promoting positive behavioral health and well-being; and
(IV) information and resources, including expedited referrals, to assist members of the Coast Guard in dealing with behavioral health concerns;
(iii) improving resilience and mental health care among members of the Coast Guard who respond to extraordinary calls of duty, with the ultimate goals of preventing crises and addressing mental health concerns before such concerns evolve into more complex issues that require care at a military treatment facility;
(iv) increasing—
(I) the number of such members served by behavioral health technicians; and
(II) the proportion of such members returning to duty after seeking behavioral health care; and
(v) positively impacting the Coast Guard in a cost-effective manner by extending behavioral health services to the workforce and improving access to care.
(B) Briefing. Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives with a briefing regarding a plan to establish and conduct the Pilot Program.
(2) Selection of coast guard clinics. The Commandant shall select, for participation in the Pilot Program, 3 or more Coast Guard clinics that support units that have significantly high operational tempos or other force resiliency risks, as determined by the Commandant.
(3) Placement of staff at Coast Guard clinics
(A) In general. Under the Pilot Program, a Coast Guard health services technician with a grade of E–5 or higher, or an assigned civilian behavioral health specialist, shall be—
(i) assigned to each selected Coast Guard clinic; and
(ii) located at a unit with high operational tempo.
(B) Training
(i) Health services technicians. Before commencing an assignment at a Coast Guard clinic under subparagraph (A), a Coast Guard health services technician shall complete behavioral health technician training and independent duty health services training.
(ii) Civilian behavioral health specialists. To qualify for an assignment at a Coast Guard clinic under subparagraph (A), a civilian behavioral health specialist shall have at least the equivalent behavioral health training as the training required for a Coast Guard behavioral health technician under clause (i).
(4) Administration. The Commandant, in coordination with the Assistant Commandant for Health, Safety, and Work Life, shall administer the Pilot Program through the Health, Safety, and Work-Life Service Center.
(5) Data collection
(A) In general. The Commandant shall collect and analyze data concerning the Pilot Program for purposes of—
(i) developing and sharing best practices for improving access to behavioral health care; and
(ii) providing information to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives regarding the implementation of the Pilot Program and related policy issues.
(B) Plan. Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a plan for carrying out subparagraph (A).
(6) Annual report. Not later than September 1 of each year until the date on which the Pilot Program terminates under paragraph (7), the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the Pilot Program that includes the following:
(A) An overview of the implementation of the Pilot Program at each applicable Coast Guard clinic, including—
(i) the number of members of the Coast Guard who received services on site by a behavioral health technician assigned to such clinic;
(ii) feedback from all members of the Coast Guard empaneled for their medical care under the Pilot Program;
(iii) an assessment of the deployability and overall readiness of members of the applicable operational unit; and
(iv) an estimate of potential costs and impacts on other Coast Guard health care services of supporting the Pilot Program at such units and clinics.
(B) The data and analysis required under paragraph (5)(A).
(C) A list and detailed description of lessons learned from the Pilot Program as of the date of on which the report is submitted.
(D) The feasibility, estimated cost, and impacts on other Coast Guard health care services of expanding the Pilot Program to all Coast Guard clinics, and a description of the personnel, fiscal, and administrative resources that would be needed for such an expansion.
(7) Termination. The Pilot Program shall terminate on September 30, 2028.
(b) Behavioral health specialist
(1) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall hire, train, and deploy not fewer than 5 additional behavioral health specialists, in addition to the personnel required under section 11412(a) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (14 U.S.C. 504 note).
(2) Requirement. The Commandant shall ensure that not fewer than 35 percent of behavioral health specialists required to be deployed under paragraph (1) have experience in—
(A) behavioral health care related to military sexual trauma; and
(B) behavioral health care for the purpose of supporting members of the Coast Guard with needs for mental health care and counseling services for post-traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring disorders related to military sexual trauma.
(3) Accessibility. The support provided by the behavioral health specialists hired pursuant to paragraph (1)—
(A) may include care delivered via telemedicine; and
(B) shall be made widely available to members of the Coast Guard.
(4) Notification
(A) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives in writing if the Coast Guard has not completed hiring, training, and deploying—
(i) the personnel referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(ii) the personnel required under section 11412(a) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (14 U.S.C. 504 note).
(B) Contents. The notification required under subparagraph (A) shall include—
(i) the date of publication of the hiring opportunity for all such personnel;
(ii) the General Schedule grade level advertised in the publication of the hiring opportunity for all such personnel;
(iii) the number of personnel to whom the Coast Guard extended an offer of employment in accordance with the requirements of this section and section 11412(a) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (14 U.S.C. 504 note), and the number of such personnel who accepted or declined such offer of employment;
(iv) a summary of the efforts by the Coast Guard to publicize, advertise, or otherwise recruit qualified candidates in accordance with the requirements of this section and section 11412(a) of such Act; and
(v) any recommendations and a detailed plan to ensure full compliance with the requirements of this section and section 11412(a) of such Act, which may include special payments discussed in the report of the Government Accountability Office titled Federal Pay: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Strategic Use of Special Payments, published on December 7, 2017 (GAO–18–91), which may be made available to help ensure full compliance with all such requirements in a timely manner.
D Coast Guard Academy
E Reports and Policies
LXXIII Shipping and Navigation
A Merchant Mariner Credentials
B Vessel Safety
C Ports
D Matters Involving Uncrewed Systems
E Other Matters
LXXIV Oil Pollution Response
LXXV Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Response
A Accountability Implementation
B Misconduct
C Other matters
LXXVI Comptroller General Reports
LXXVII Amendments
H Other Matters
LXXXI Financial Services Matters
LXXXII Judiciary Matters
LXXXIII Foreign Affairs Matters
A Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2025
B BUST Fentanyl Act
C Western Balkans democracy and prosperity
D Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025
E Other Matters
LXXXIV National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
B South Pacific Tuna Treaty matters
C Other Matters
LXXXV Comprehensive Outbound Investment National Security Act of 2025
A General Matters
B Imposition of Sanctions
C Prohibition and notification on investments relating to covered national security transactions
D Securities and Related Matters
LXXXVI Securing the Airspace, Facilitating Emergency Response, and Safeguarding Key Infrastructure, Entertainment Venues, and Stadiums
LXXXVII DFC Modernization and Reauthorization Act of 2025
A Definitions and Less Developed Country Focus
B Management of Corporation
C Authorities Relating to the Provision of Support
D Other Matters
LXXXVIII Other Matters