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
(a) Short title. This division may be cited as the Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
(b) Table of contents. The table of contents for this division is as follows: Sec. 5001. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 5002. Definitions. Title I—Organization and operations Subtitle A—Management and consular affairs Sec. 5111. Under Secretary for Management. Sec. 5112. Office of Medical Services. Sec. 5113. Assistant Secretary for Administration. Sec. 5114. Bureau of Administration. Sec. 5115. Office of the Historian. Sec. 5116. Chief information officer for diplomatic technology. Sec. 5117. Bureau of Diplomatic Technology. Sec. 5118. Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs. Sec. 5119. Bureau of Consular Affairs. Sec. 5120. Sense of Congress regarding modernization and realignment of consular systems. Sec. 5121. Fee for use of diplomatic reception rooms. Subtitle B—Human resources Sec. 5131. Assistant Secretary for Human Resources. Sec. 5132. Bureau of Human Resources. Sec. 5133. Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellowship Program. Sec. 5134. Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program. Sec. 5135. Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Program. Sec. 5136. Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship Program. Sec. 5137. Matters relating to the Foreign Service Institute. Sec. 5138. Fees for use of the George P. Schultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center. Subtitle C—Political affairs Sec. 5141. Under Secretary for Political Affairs. Sec. 5142. Congressional notification regarding changes to bureau jurisdiction. Sec. 5143. Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic. Sec. 5144. Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean region. Sec. 5145. Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Sec. 5146. Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Sec. 5147. Director of the Office of Multilateral Affairs in Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Sec. 5148. Countering PRC Influence Fund Unit. Sec. 5149. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs. Sec. 5150. Bureau of African Affairs. Sec. 5151. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs. Sec. 5152. Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Sec. 5153. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs. Sec. 5154. Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Sec. 5155. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Sec. 5156. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Sec. 5157. Office of Haitian Affairs. Sec. 5158. Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs. Sec. 5159. Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Sec. 5160. Countering Russian Influence Fund Unit. Sec. 5161. Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs. Sec. 5162. Bureau of International Organization Affairs. Subtitle D—Other matters Sec. 5171. Periodic briefings from Bureau of Intelligence and Research. Sec. 5172. Support for congressional delegations. Sec. 5173. Notification requirements for authorized and ordered departures. Sec. 5174. Strengthening enterprise governance. Sec. 5175. Establishing and expanding the Regional China Officer program. Sec. 5176. Report on China’s diplomatic posts. Sec. 5177. Notification of intent to reduce personnel at covered diplomatic posts. Sec. 5178. Foreign affairs manual changes. Title II—Workforce matters Sec. 5201. Report on vetting of Foreign Service Institute language instructors. Sec. 5202. Training limitations. Sec. 5203. Language incentive pay for civil service employees. Sec. 5204. Options for comprehensive evaluations. Sec. 5205. Job share and part-time employment opportunities. Sec. 5206. Promoting reutilization of language skills in the Foreign Service. Title III—Information security and cyber diplomacy Sec. 5301. Post Data Pilot Program. Sec. 5302. Authorization to use commercial cloud enclaves overseas. Sec. 5303. Reports on technology transformation projects at the Department. Sec. 5304. Commercial spyware. Title IV—Public diplomacy Sec. 5401. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy. Sec. 5402. Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs. Sec. 5403. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Sec. 5404. Foreign information manipulation and interference strategy. Sec. 5405. Repeal of limitation on use of funds for international expositions. Title V—Diplomatic security Sec. 5501. Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security. Sec. 5502. Special agents. Sec. 5503. Modification of congressional notification requirement relating to embassy reopening. Sec. 5504. Counter-intelligence training for certain diplomatic security agents. Sec. 5505. Expansion of counter-intelligence personnel security program to include nonsecurity staff. Sec. 5506. Report on security conditions in Damascus, Syria, required for the reopening of the United States diplomatic mission. Sec. 5507. Embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic installations return to standards report. Sec. 5508. Reauthorization of overtime pay for protective services. Title VI—Miscellaneous Sec. 5601. Submission of federally funded research and development center reports to Congress. Sec. 5602. Quarterly report on diplomatic pouch access. Sec. 5603. Report on utility of instituting a processing fee for ITAR license applications. Sec. 5604. HAVANA Act payment fix. Sec. 5605. Establishing an inner Mongolia section within the United States Mission in China. Sec. 5606. Report on United States Mission Australia staffing. Sec. 5607. Extensions. Sec. 5608. Updating counterterrorism reports.
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