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
(a) Establishment
(1) In general. The Secretary of Defense shall establish a working group to develop and implement a common data ontology and governance structure across the Department of Defense.
(2) Designation. The working group established under to paragraph (1) shall be known as the Department of Defense Data Ontology Governance Working Group (in this section the Working Group).
(3) Use of existing structures
(A) In general. Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense may designate an existing forum, council, or organizational body to serve as the Working Group if such entity satisfies the requirements of subsections (b) and (c).
(B) Rule of construction. For the purposes of this section, a forum, council, or organizational body designated under subparagraph (A) is deemed to be a working group established by the Secretary of Defense under paragraph (1).
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the Working Group is to inform and to progress the Department of Defense’s foundational data ontology work by developing and implementing domain-specific data ontologies and governance structures across the Department of Defense to expand data interoperability, enhance information sharing, and enable more effective decision making throughout the Department.
(c) Membership. The Working Group shall consist of—
(1) the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense;
(2) the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense;
(3) the Chief Data Officers of the Department of Defense;
(4) the Chief Information Officers of the military departments and the combatant commands;
(5) such representatives from defense intelligence elements as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate;
(6) the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the service acquisition executive for each military department; and
(7) such other officers or employees of the Department of Defense as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(d) Duties. The Working Group shall—
(1) coordinate with and build upon any existing data ontology development efforts for foundational data ontologies within the Department of Defense and the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) to ensure complementary and nonduplicative efforts;
(2) incorporate Department-wide data and data from defense intelligence elements into the development of domain-specific data ontologies Department-wide;
(3) develop and maintain domain-specific data ontologies that address functional areas within the Department;
(4) establish a process to identify and designate functional area leads responsible for leading the development, review, approval, and respective guidance of domain-specific data ontologies for the functional areas of such elements;
(5) develop a structure for governing data ontologies of the Department that includes—
(A) a centralized, accessible repository for domain-specific data ontologies of the Department;
(B) clear ownership and role definitions for data ontology management, including authorities regarding access and modification;
(C) standardized governance procedures for updating, reviewing, and maintaining the data ontologies;
(D) adherence to established data ontology engineering principles that promote interoperability and reusability across domains;
(E) infrastructure requirements that include on premises, multi-cloud and hybrid environments;
(F) access to information networks that are on all classification levels; and
(G) integration of domain-specific ontologies with existing Department data management practices and systems.
(e) Functional area leads
(1) Selection criteria. In designating functional area leads under subsection (d)(4), the Working Group shall select individuals who possess extensive subject matter expertise in their respective functional areas and maintain substantial equities or responsibilities within the functional area.
(2) Representation. The Working Group shall designate functional area leads under subsection (d)(4) in a manner that ensures appropriate representation across the Department of Defense, including the military departments, combatant commands, defense agencies, and field activities.
(3) Responsibilities. Each functional area lead designated under subsection (d)(4) shall be responsible for—
(A) leading the development and maintenance of domain-specific data ontologies within the functional areas for which such entity is designated as the functional area lead;
(B) reviewing and approving domain-specific data ontology elements specific to such functional areas;
(C) ensuring alignment between domain-specific data ontologies specific to such functional areas and the enterprise-wide foundational data ontology;
(D) developing guidance specific to such domain-specific data ontologies for data ontology implementation; and
(E) serving as the authoritative source for knowledge on domains in such functional areas within the data ontology governance structure.
(f) Timeline and deliverables
(1) Establishment. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Working Group is established pursuant to subsection (a) not later than June 1, 2026, and the Working Group shall remain in effect for a period of not less than 5 years beginning on the date of the establishment of the Working Group, unless the Secretary determines that it is necessary to transition the Working Group into a permanent organization.
(2) Functional area lead designation. Not later than August 1, 2026, the Working Group shall identify and designate functional area leads in accordance with subsections (d)(4) and (e).
(3) Department-level policy. Not later than June 1, 2027, the Working Group shall develop and distribute a Department of Defense-wide policy on the data ontology governance structure, including guidelines for the development, maintenance, and integration of domain-specific ontologies.
(4) Implementation. Not later than June 1, 2028, the Working Group shall implement the governance structure developed under subsection (d)(5).
(g) Briefing and report
(1) Briefing. Not later than July 1, 2027, the Working Group shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on progress of the Working Group in carrying out this section.
(2) Report. Not later than June 30, 2028, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the implementation of the data ontology governance structure, including the status of the implementation of such structure for domain-specific ontologies, and recommendations for sustainment and further development.
(h) Definitions. In this section:
(1) The term data ontology means a formal, structured representation and categorization of data elements, their properties, and the relationships between them within an information system or knowledge domain that enables consistent interpretation, integration, and analysis of data across different systems and users.
(2) The term Defense intelligence element has the meaning given such term in section 429 of title 10, United States Code.
(3) The term domain-specific data ontology means a data ontology that is specific to a particular functional areas within the Department of Defense.
(4) The term foundational data ontology means a top-level, domain-independent data ontology that establishes universal categories and primitives applicable across information systems and upon which domain-specific ontologies are based.
(5) The term functional area means a specialized functional, operational, or subject-matter areas within the Department.
(6) The terms military department and service acquisition executive have the meanings given such terms, respectively, in title 10, United States Code.
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
B Management of Corporation
C Authorities Relating to the Provision of Support
D Other Matters
LXXXVIII Other Matters