S. 1071

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Sponsor: John Cornyn

1 cosponsor
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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

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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

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

Sec. 7528. Expedited transfer in cases of sexual misconduct or domestic violence

(a) Expedited transfer policy update. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall update Coast Guard policy as necessary to implement—

(1) an expedited transfer process for covered individuals consistent with—

(A) Department of Defense policy on expedited transfers of victims of sexual assault or domestic violence in place on the date of enactment of this Act; and

(B) subsection (b); and

(2) a process by which—

(A) a covered individual, the commanding officer of a covered individual, or any other Coast Guard official may initiate a request that a subject be administratively assigned to another unit in accordance with military assignments and authorized absence policy for the duration of the investigation and, if applicable, prosecution of such subject;

(B) the Coast Guard shall ensure that any administrative assignment action in response to a request under subparagraph (A) will be taken not as a punitive measure, but solely for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline within the unit of the covered individual or the subject; and

(C) protection of due process for the subject is preserved.

(b) Recusal. The expedited transfer process implemented under this section shall require the recusal of any official involved in the approval or denial of an expedited transfer request if the official was, at any time—

(1) the subject of a complaint of any form of assault, harassment, or retaliation, or any other type of complaint, filed by the covered individual; or

(2) associated, beyond workplace interactions, with the subject in a manner that may present an actual or apparent conflict of interest.

(c) Notification requirement. With respect to a member of the Coast Guard who makes an unrestricted report of sexual assault or a report of domestic violence, the updated policy required under subsection (a) shall specify the appropriate officials of the Coast Guard who shall provide such member with information regarding expedited transfer authority.

(d) Report

(1) Initial report. Not later than March 1 of the year that is not less than 1 year after the date on which the updates required under subsection (a) are completed, 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, as an enclosure or appendix to the report required by section 5112 of title 14, United States Code, a report on such updates that includes—

(A) a copy of the updated policies of the Coast Guard relating to expedited transfers;

(B) a summary of such updated policies;

(C) for the preceding year, the number of covered individuals who have requested an expedited transfer, disaggregated by gender of the requester and whether the request was granted or denied;

(D) for each denial of an expedited transfer request during the preceding year, a description of the rationale for the denial; and

(E) any other matter the Commandant considers appropriate.

(2) Subsequent reports. Not later than 1 year after the Commandant submits the report required under paragraph (1), and annually thereafter for 3 years, 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, as an enclosure or appendix to the report required by section 5112 of title 14, United States Code, a report on the updates required under subsection (a) that includes—

(A) any policies of the Coast Guard relating to expedited transfers that have been updated since the previous report submitted under this subsection;

(B) a summary of any such updated policies; and

(C) the information described under subparagraphs (C) through (E) of paragraph (1).

(e) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Covered individual. The term covered individual means—

(A) a member of the Coast Guard who is a victim of sexual assault in a case handled under the Sexual Assault Prevention, Response, and Recovery Program or the Family Advocacy Program;

(B) a member of the Coast Guard who is a victim of domestic violence (as defined by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating in the policies prescribed under this section) committed by the spouse or intimate partner of the member, regardless of whether the spouse or intimate partner is a member of the Coast Guard; and

(C) a member of the Coast Guard whose dependent is a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence.

(2) Subject. The term subject means a member of the Coast Guard who is the subject of an investigation related to alleged incidents of sexual assault or domestic violence and is stationed at the same installation as, or in close proximity to, the covered individual involved.

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