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

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

Sec. 8712. Less developed country focus

Section 1412 of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 9612) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence—

(A) by striking and countries in transition from nonmarket to market economies and inserting countries in transition from nonmarket to market economies, and other eligible foreign countries; and

(B) by inserting and national security after foreign policy; and

(2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(c) Eligible countries

(1) Less developed country focus. The Corporation shall prioritize the provision of support under title II in less developed countries.

(2) Advancing income countries. The Corporation may provide support for a project under title II in an advancing income country if, before providing such support, the Chief Executive Officer certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees, that such support will be provided in accordance with the policy established pursuant to subsection (d)(2). Such certification may be included as an appendix to the report required by section 1446.

(3) High-income countries

(A) In general. The Corporation may provide support for a project under title II in a high-income country if, before providing such support, the Chief Executive Officer certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that such support will be provided in accordance with the policy established pursuant to subsection (d)(3). Such certification may be included as an appendix to the report required by section 1446.

(B) Report. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the DFC Modernization and Reauthorization Act of 2025, and annually thereafter, the Corporation shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, which may be submitted in classified or confidential form, that includes—

(i) a list of all high-income countries in which the Corporation anticipates providing support in the subsequent fiscal year (and, with respect to the first such report, the then-current fiscal year); and

(ii) to the extent practicable, a description of the type of projects anticipated to receive such support.

(C) Projects in high-income countries not previously identified in report. The Corporation may not provide support for a project in a high-income country in any year for which that high-income country is not included on the list required by subparagraph (B)(i), unless, not later than 15 days before commitment, the Corporation consults with and submits to the appropriate congressional committees a notification describing how the proposed project advances the foreign policy interests of the United States.

(4) Continuation of eligibility. Projects previously approved by the Corporation shall remain eligible for support notwithstanding any change in the income classification of the country.

(d) Strategic investments policy

(1) In general. The Board shall establish policies, which shall be applied on a project-by-project basis, to evaluate and determine the strategic merits of providing support for projects and investments in advancing income countries and high-income countries.

(2) Investment policy for advancing income countries. Any policy used to evaluate and determine the strategic merits of providing support for projects in an advancing income country shall require that such projects—

(A) advance—

(i) the national security interests of the United States in accordance with United States foreign policy, as determined by the Secretary of State; or

(ii) significant strategic economic competitiveness imperatives;

(B) are designed in a manner to produce significant developmental outcomes or provide developmental impacts to the poorest populations of such country; and

(C) are structured in a manner that maximizes private capital mobilization.

(3) Investment policy for high-income countries. Any policy used to evaluate and determine the strategic merits of providing support for projects in high-income countries shall require that—

(A) each such project meets the requirements described in paragraph (2);

(B) with respect to each project in a high-income country—

(i) private sector entities have been afforded an opportunity to support the project on viable terms in place of support by the Corporation; and

(ii) such support by the Corporation does not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the project;

(C) with respect to support for all projects in all high-income countries, the aggregate amount of such support does not exceed 10 percent of the total contingent liability authorized by section 1433; and

(D) the Chief Executive Officer submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report, which may be submitted as an appendix to a report required by section 1446, that—

(i) certifies that the Corporation has applied the policy to each supported project in a high-income country; and

(ii) describes whether such support—

(I) is a preferred alternative to state-directed investments by a foreign country of concern; or

(II) otherwise furthers the strategic interest of the United States to counter or limit the influence of foreign countries of concern.

(e) Ineligible countries. The Corporation shall not provide support for a project in—

(1) a country of concern; or

(2) a wealthy country, except to the extent permitted pursuant to subsection (f).

(f) Sectoral exceptions. Subject to the requirements in subsection (d)(3), the restriction in subsection (e)(2) shall not apply to projects in the following sectors:

(1) Energy.

(2) Critical minerals and rare earths.

(3) Information and communications technology, including undersea cables.

(g) Sense of Congress. It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the Corporation should continuously operate in a manner that advances its core mission and purposes, as described in this title; and

(2) resources of the Corporation should not be diverted for domestic or other activities extending beyond the scope of such mission and purpose.

B Management of Corporation

C Authorities Relating to the Provision of Support

D Other Matters

LXXXVIII Other Matters