National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - Detailed breakdown

Allows state governors to use National Guard members on Active Guard and Reserve duty for state disaster response, with the state required to reimburse the federal government for the costs.

Establishes that judge advocates must be admitted to the practice of law, maintain an active license, and be subject to disciplinary review in their jurisdiction.

Requires the assignment of sufficient numbers of qualified judge advocates to provide legal advice to commanders responsible for military operations and those authorized to convene courts-martial.

Requires an analysis of modifying the UCMJ offense of wrongful distribution of intimate images to clarify its applicability to digital forgeries, commonly known as 'deepfakes'.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a policy to ensure registered sex offenders residing or working on military installations are identified to the military community.

Extends authorities for joint task forces supporting counter-terrorism activities and extends prohibitions on transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to the U.S. or certain countries through December 31, 2026.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into contracts for services like detection, monitoring, transportation, and intelligence analysis to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the southern border.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a semiannual report to Congress on Department of Defense operations and support for law enforcement at the southern U.S. land border.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on joint training activities with Mexico's armed forces to counter transnational criminal organizations.

Mandates that senior Department of Defense officials and personnel in sensitive roles be provided with mobile phones featuring enhanced cybersecurity protections, including encryption and monitoring.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a department-wide policy for the cybersecurity and governance of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems and models.

Authorizes grants for training workers in hazardous substance response at DOE nuclear facilities and allows civil penalties against contractors who fail to provide adequate training.

Makes the U.S. government the exclusive defendant in civil lawsuits for injury or death due to radiation exposure from atomic weapons testing programs carried out by contractors.

Establishes U.S. policy to oppose the misuse of commercial spyware, coordinate with allies to prevent its export for malicious use, and work with industry to counter its abuse.

Establishes new criminal penalties for willfully entering restricted intelligence community property with intent to gather intelligence detrimental to the U.S.

Requires the FBI Director to notify Congress within 30 days of any material changes to policies for the terrorist and transnational organized crime watchlists, including adding or removing individuals.

Requires the FBI Director to submit an annual report to Congress for three years, starting in 2026, detailing the number and affiliations of U.S. persons on the terrorist watchlist.

Directs the FBI to review for declassification any information on foreign government officials assisting their citizens in departing the U.S. while under investigation or awaiting trial for a criminal offense.

Requires each element of the intelligence community to submit a strategy to the Director of National Intelligence for enhancing counternarcotics cooperation and coordination with the Government of Mexico.

Establishes a process requiring intelligence agencies to immediately notify the FBI and relevant protective services when they warn a U.S. person of an impending threat, particularly from foreign governments.

Requires the Director of National Intelligence to develop and submit a summary of the intelligence community's drug control resources to congressional committees for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Requires the Coast Guard to make information publicly available about drug and person interdictions, including the number of incidents, amounts of drugs, number of people, and geographic locations.

Requires the Commandant to develop and annually exercise location-specific tsunami preparedness plans for each Coast Guard property located within a tsunami inundation zone.

Authorizes the procurement of tactical maritime surveillance systems for Coast Guard sectors in San Diego, San Juan, and Key West to enhance maritime domain awareness, subject to appropriations.

Amends reporting requirements for the Coast Guard Academy regarding covered misconduct, mandating assessments, biennial surveys, and detailed annual reports to Congress.

Requires a process for timely consideration of transfer requests from Coast Guard Academy cadets who are victims of sexual assault to another military academy or ROTC program.

Authorizes establishing concurrent federal and state jurisdiction over Academy lands, allowing Connecticut to investigate and prosecute state crimes committed on the property.

Mandates a review and modification of the Coast Guard Academy's policy on sexual harassment and violence to align with best practices and improve prevention and response.

Directs the Commandant to develop a policy to disincentivize and interdict illicit maritime trafficking of controlled substances and their precursors.

Amends reporting requirements for the administration of sexual assault forensic examination kits on Coast Guard vessels and requires a briefing on associated costs.

Requires an annual report through fiscal year 2030 detailing search and rescue operations at Coast Guard facilities impacted by recent force alignment initiatives.

Makes grossly negligent operation of a vessel a class A misdemeanor, and a class E felony with a potential civil penalty if it results in serious bodily injury.

Clarifies and expands the definition of harassment that must be reported on vessels and requires the Coast Guard to provide guidance and training on these rights.

Directs the Coast Guard to study the applicability of current safety regulations to commercial amphibious vessels, identify safety gaps, and provide recommendations within one year.

Authorizes a port safety pilot program through 2032, expands waterfront safety to include cyber threats, and prohibits facility visits by representatives from state sponsors of terrorism.

Mandates a study on commercial vessel traffic projections in the Bering Strait and an assessment of emergency response capabilities at nearby U.S. ports to address future navigation safety risks.

Amends federal law to clarify that it is unlawful to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance on board a covered vessel.

Authorizes the Secretary to conduct no-notice exercises involving facilities or vessels to test security plans against cyber incidents in Captain of the Port Zones.

Requires passenger vessels to maintain supplies for preventing sexually transmitted diseases and implement an electronic system to record crew access to passenger staterooms.

Authorizes the President to require periodic inspections, drills, and equipment testing to ensure vessels have adequate salvage and marine firefighting response capabilities.

Establishes a comprehensive policy for retaining evidence and records related to sexual misconduct in the Coast Guard, setting a minimum 50-year retention period for rape and sexual assault cases.

Requires the Coast Guard to maintain all work product, including a detailed case action summary, related to misconduct investigation dispositions for at least seven years.

Mandates the Coast Guard establish a 'safe-to-report' policy, protecting victims or witnesses of sexual assault from punishment for minor collateral misconduct committed around the time of the assault.

Requires the Commandant to issue updated policies on military protective orders, consistent with Department of Defense policies, including written explanations for denials and recusal procedures.

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 to include the Coast Guard in establishing special victim capabilities for responding to certain offenses.

Mandates the Coast Guard's participation in the Department of Defense's "Catch a Serial Offender" (CATCH) program and requires a memorandum of agreement to facilitate access.

Requires the Comptroller General to report on the safety and security infrastructure at the Coast Guard Academy, including access policies and security methods.

Authorizes the Marshal of the Supreme Court to provide protection to the immediate family members of any current, retired, or former Supreme Court Justice if deemed necessary.

Amends and reauthorizes the Act, updating the national strategy against child exploitation, modifying Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force operations, and providing limited liability.

Protects Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces from civil or criminal liability arising from their decisions on prioritizing investigative leads, except in cases of misconduct.

Requires the Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish performance standards for trauma kits purchased with federal grant funds and specifies minimum required components for the kits.

Extends eligibility for the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program to retired law enforcement officers who are killed or disabled due to a targeted attack because of their prior service.

Makes the new death and disability benefits for retired law enforcement officers retroactive, applying to targeted attacks that occurred on or after January 1, 2012.

Presumes that certain cancers developed by public safety officers are work-related injuries, making them eligible for death or disability benefits if exposed to carcinogens in the line of duty.

Amends the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to expand the definition of foreign opioid traffickers, potentially including entities and officials from the People's Republic of China.

Directs the President to prioritize identifying persons and entities from the People's Republic of China involved in the fentanyl supply chain for sanctions.

Authorizes the President to impose sanctions on foreign government agencies, instrumentalities, or senior officials who knowingly engage in or support significant opioid trafficking activities.

Amends the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 to require annual reports to identify significant source countries of methamphetamine and describe their governments' actions to combat it.

Requires the Secretary of State to submit annual reports on the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti, and mandates sanctions on individuals identified in the reports.

Requires an interagency report to Congress on efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans countries and assess cyber threats and information sharing.

Amends the Robert Levinson Act to allow the Secretary of State to designate a foreign country as a "State Sponsor of Unlawful or Wrongful Detention" for engaging in or supporting such acts.

Authorizes the Departments of Justice and State to provide technical assistance, training, and advisory support to Ukraine for investigating abductions and rehabilitating returned children.

Requires the Secretary of State to submit a strategy to Congress for countering transnational criminal organizations in Mexico, focusing on drug trafficking, human smuggling, and strengthening rule of law.

Establishes civil penalties for violating investment prohibitions, including fines and the potential to compel divestment of the transaction.

Authorizes State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement and correctional agencies to take action against threatening unmanned aircraft systems, subject to federal training and certification.

Establishes felony penalties for repeat violations of national defense airspace and increases prison sentences for using drones to facilitate other felonies or introduce prison contraband.

Imposes a civil fine of up to $100,000 per violation or suspension of authority for entities that engage in counter-drone actions without required federal coordination.

Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to allow law enforcement to use certain federal grant funds to purchase and operate unmanned aircraft and counter-UAS systems.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to support the expansion of domestic bioindustrial manufacturing capacity for critical products through competitive awards.

Authorizes adjustment and diversification assistance for State and local governments that are negatively affected by any action of the Department of Defense at a covered depot.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance and implement actions to remove barriers for small businesses and nontraditional contractors, promoting greater competition in defense procurement.

Establishes a public online repository for offerors to voluntarily register their products and attest to compliance with domestic sourcing requirements, aiming to increase transparency and qualified vendors.

Expands the purposes of the procurement technical assistance program to foster innovation and diversify the defense industrial base, and authorizes the use of funds from other federal agencies.

Establishes a working group to analyze the supplier base for small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and recommend investments or other actions to improve the domestic industrial base.

Establishes 'Project Spectrum,' an online platform to provide digital resources, training, and services to small and medium businesses to help them comply with defense acquisition requirements.

Authorizes the conveyance of approximately 435 acres of the former Curtis Bay Depot to the Maryland Economic Development Corporation for economic development, in exchange for fair market value.

Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to sell or lease property at defense nuclear facilities for economic development and to indemnify new owners against claims from past contamination.

Prohibits using port infrastructure development grants to purchase fully automated cargo handling equipment if it results in a net loss of jobs at the port or terminal.

Provides $30M for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), $25M for Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI), and $15M for Bien Hoa dioxin remediation in Vietnam.

Directs the intelligence community to support federal agencies in reviewing foreign acquisitions of U.S. entities that hold biological data, focusing on threats from countries of concern like China.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to assess and report on the extent and strategic intentions of investment by the People's Republic of China in the agriculture sector of Brazil.

Prohibits the Coast Guard from leasing, chartering, or procuring vessels with major hull or superstructure components constructed in foreign shipyards, with a presidential waiver for national security.

Requires a report on the transferability of Coast Guard personnel skills to the dredging industry and a plan to facilitate employment opportunities.

Extends the authorization for fishing safety training grants and research grants through fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Allows the Coast Guard to grant temporary waivers from towing vessel regulations for certain fishing and fish tender vessels operating in Southeast Alaska and Prince William Sound until January 1, 2027.

Requires directors and officers of foreign private issuers to comply with the same disclosure requirements as their domestic counterparts under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to study and report to Congress on the transparency of U.S.-registered brokers, dealers, and investment advisors controlled by the People’s Republic of China.

Directs the U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund to use the voice and vote of the United States to support Taiwan's admission and participation in the Fund.

Requires the Secretary of State to submit a 5-year strategy to Congress for regional economic development and democratic resilience in the Western Balkans within 180 days of enactment.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to coordinate an initiative to promote private sector growth, increase trade, support startups, and facilitate infrastructure projects in the Western Balkans.

Updates various provisions of the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988, including definitions, prohibited acts, penalties, licensing, and enforcement related to the treaty.

Authorizes the President to prohibit U.S. persons from investing in foreign companies, particularly in China, that are involved in the defense or surveillance technology sectors.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions involving prohibited technologies with entities in countries of concern.

Requires a U.S. person to notify the Secretary of the Treasury within 30 days of completing a covered national security transaction involving prohibited or notifiable technologies.

Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to work with U.S. allies and partners to coordinate protocols and establish mechanisms for sharing information on investments in sensitive technologies.

Allows the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide support in advancing and high-income countries under strict strategic conditions, while prioritizing less developed countries.

Increases the limitation on the Corporation's equity investments in a single entity from 30 percent to 40 percent of the entity's total equity.

Requiring parties to a project receiving a DFC loan guaranty to bear a risk of loss equal to at least 20% of the guaranty amount.

Requiring the DFC to develop truth in lending rules and auditing mechanisms to prevent abusive lending practices by its financial intermediaries.

Prohibiting DFC support for projects involving entities engaged in anticompetitive practices or controlled by governments of countries of concern, with a national security waiver available.

Aligning the update cycle for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership strategic plan to every four years to match the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing.

Increases the maximum prize amounts for advanced technology achievements, raising the top prize to $20,000,000, and expands the authority to award prizes to the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit.

Extends a limitation on the availability of funds for fundamental research collaboration with certain academic institutions through fiscal year 2026.

Requires the defense research capacity building program to issue separate funding solicitations for Historically Black Colleges, Tribal Colleges, and other Minority-Serving Institutions.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish and provide financial assistance to one or more institutes focused on artificial intelligence research for national security and defense.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from changing indirect cost rates for grants and contracts with higher education and nonprofit organizations until a new, certified alternative cost model is developed.

Amends a previous law to explicitly authorize the use of RDT&E funds for activities related to bioindustrial manufacturing, including design and construction.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop requirements ensuring that biological data from DoD-funded research is collected and stored to facilitate its use by artificial intelligence.

Authorizes military departments to send up to 25 officers and enlisted members per year to accredited schools for graduate training to become chaplains, with associated service obligations.

Increases the authorized number of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) units from a range of 3,400-4,000 to 3,600-4,200, effective October 1, 2027.

Restricts the Secretary of the Army's ability to reorganize Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps units, requiring congressional briefings and ensuring current students can complete their programs.

Modifies the eligibility for military-funded law school education, increasing the maximum years of service from eight to ten for certain members.

Increases the number of alternate nominations for the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy from 9 to up to 14.

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to detail a proportional number of Space Force members as instructors at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology.

Directs the Secretary of the Army to incorporate the Army War College into the Army University, with the head of the War College reporting to the head of the Army University.

Allows children of full-time American Red Cross employees performing services for the Armed Forces overseas to enroll in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools.

Grants dependents of reserve component members on active service with a permanent change of station order eligibility to attend DODEA schools at that installation, space permitting.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish dual or concurrent enrollment programs with higher education institutions for students in Defense Dependent Schools, providing access to postsecondary credit.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from closing or significantly reducing services at a DODEA school without a one-year waiting period after notifying Congress and engaging with the community.

Requires military installation commanders to annually certify that they have confirmed information on impact aid forms from local educational agencies to ensure accurate federal funding.

Directs the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) to update and standardize regulations across all its schools to minimize the disruptive use of portable electronic mobile devices.

Requires the Department of Defense Education Activity to improve special education by enhancing staffing models, collecting data on staff turnover, standardizing training, and clarifying guidance.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Defense Acquisition University to strengthen its ability to train the acquisition workforce for current and future needs.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to assess establishing incubator programs at universities to develop secure facilities and networks for national security research and collaboration.

Extends the termination date of the Indo-Pacific extended deterrence education pilot program from December 31, 2027, to December 31, 2030.

The Secretary of Defense will establish a program to collaborate with academic institutions to develop cybersecurity educational programs, including setting curriculum standards and competencies.

Amends U.S. copyright law to allow the Federal Government free use of literary works produced by civilian faculty members of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences during their employment.

Establishes a working group to identify and develop recommendations to address workforce shortages in advanced manufacturing career fields within the defense industrial base.

Requires each military department to develop a comprehensive master plan for its Service Academy to address infrastructure needs, including poor or failing facilities and risk assessments, by September 30, 2027.

Authorizes contractors at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Savannah River Site to fund and implement workforce training programs to support plutonium pit production requirements.

Establishes multiple programs for research and development of technologies to improve environmental cleanup, including the Incremental Technology, High-Impact Technology, and Environmental Management University Programs.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a management training program for personnel involved in atomic energy defense activities, covering policy, evaluation, and environmental laws.

Establishes a fellowship program providing educational and research assistance to graduate students and postdoctoral individuals in fields critical to the nuclear security enterprise.

Authorizes national security laboratories to use a percentage of their funding (between 5% and 7%) for self-directed, innovative research and development to maintain scientific vitality.

Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a university program to foster collaboration among national labs, universities, and industry for defense and national security research.

Establishes a policy research consortium of higher education institutions and nonprofits to support and innovate defense nuclear policy programs and train future experts.

Increases funding to fully support the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs for the Army ($22M), Navy ($36M), and Air Force ($80M).

Formally authorizes the Thomas R. Pickering, Charles B. Rangel, and Donald M. Payne fellowship programs to prepare individuals for careers in the Foreign Service and international development.

Mandates the Director of the Foreign Service Institute report to the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and establishes at least four schools of instruction within the Institute.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to produce a National Intelligence Estimate on advancements by the People's Republic of China in biotechnology and related technology sectors.

Establishes a Cadet Advisory Board at the Coast Guard Academy to identify challenges, propose solutions, and review programs related to cadet health, wellbeing, and sexual assault prevention.

Requires the Superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy to issue and make public written policies defining and preventing hazing, and prescribing punishments for violations.

Requires a report on the Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program and mandates its expansion to no fewer than 20 programs by December 31, 2026.

Reduces sea service time requirements for some credentials and allows graduation from nautical school programs and other approved training to be substituted for sea service.

Establishes a two-year pilot program exempting certain small uncrewed maritime systems used by NOAA for oceanographic surveys from specific vessel regulations to facilitate data collection.

Requires the Coast Guard to arrange for the National Academy of Sciences to assess available uncrewed, autonomous, or remotely-controlled maritime domain awareness technologies.

Mandates revisions to Coast Guard training curricula to include detailed information on reporting, investigations, survivor care, legal resources, and whistleblower protections for misconduct.

Directs the Comptroller General to study the number of coaching positions needed to support the Coast Guard Academy's athletic, educational, and leadership development programs.

Authorizes the President to promote partnerships between U.S. and Western Balkans universities to support research, curriculum reform, and knowledge exchanges.

Renames and continues the BOLD Leadership Program as the "Young Balkan Leaders Initiative" to promote educational and professional development for young leaders in the Western Balkans.

Adds an Alaska Native representative to the North Pacific Research Board and allows for increased administrative funding flexibility to prioritize research and operations.

Requires the Secretary of State to report on the feasibility of establishing a development finance education program at the Foreign Service Institute for foreign service members.

Establishes a paid internship program at the Development Finance Corporation, including provisions for housing and travel assistance and a special hiring authority for interns.

Requires the annual defense environmental programs report to include detailed cost information and a cost-to-complete analysis for investigating and remediating PFAS releases.

Eliminates the Department of Defense's preference for motor vehicles using electric or hybrid propulsion systems.

Extends deadlines and modifies requirements for replacing fluorinated firefighting foam, providing exemptions for use on ships and in certain testing and tactical vehicles.

Requires the Department of Defense to offer alternative drinking water to households whose private wells are contaminated with PFOS/PFOA from DoD activities, under certain conditions.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to designate an executive agent to oversee the Department's use of nuclear energy for military installations and operations, including assessing needs and developing plans.

Establishes a working group within the Department of Defense to accelerate the procurement and fielding of commercial advanced nuclear capabilities for military use.

Establishes a ten-year pilot program to test the use of small modular or mobile nuclear reactors to power one or more naval installations, aiming to enhance energy security.

Requires the Department of Defense to develop a strategy to speed up the remediation of PFAS contamination at military sites and create a public dashboard to track progress and funding.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to use cost-effective and government-approved technologies to destroy or dispose of PFAS substances and to issue guidance on these technologies.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to enhance efforts to manage, control, and prevent the spread of the greater banded hornet on military installations in Guam.

Extends the authority to transfer funds for the Bien Hoa dioxin cleanup in Vietnam through fiscal year 2026.

Directs the Defense Logistics Agency to expand its program for recovering and reusing strategic and critical materials and to brief Congress on the expansion plan.

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to coordinate with commercial entities to study noise from launches at Space Force sites and identify potential mitigation technologies and procedures.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to carry out energy resilience and conservation investment program projects at various military installations.

Modifies the definition of military installation resilience to include preparing for and recovering from energy or water disruptions and human-induced environmental hazards.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to adopt a risk-based approach to water management, requiring assessments and mitigation plans for installations with the highest water security risks.

Extends the pilot program for using sustainable building materials in military construction to September 30, 2029, and requires use of specific technologies identified by the GAO.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to establish internal processes for coordinating with external entities on grid reliability and energy planning to enhance security at military installations.

Prohibits the construction of a golf course or other modifications that would restrict public access at the Greenbury Point Conservation Area in Annapolis, Maryland.

Establishes a one-year pilot program for procuring utility services through areawide contracts with public utility providers to support energy resilience and mission readiness at military installations.

Mandates a plan for the MOX facility at the Savannah River Site, setting production objectives, reporting requirements, and corrective actions for delays in processing defense plutonium.

Establishes the Defense Environmental Cleanup Account in the U.S. Treasury to fund all Department of Energy defense environmental cleanup activities at defense nuclear facilities.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to develop 50-year future use plans for the Hanford, Savannah River, and Idaho National Engineering Laboratory defense nuclear facilities, in consultation with citizen advisory boards.

Allows certain radioactive waste from reprocessed spent nuclear fuel in South Carolina and Idaho to be classified as other than high-level waste, permitting disposal under state-approved plans rather than in a deep geologic repository.

Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to post a bond or fulfill other financial responsibility requirements for the closure or post-closure care of Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to identify, monitor, and create action plans for high-risk nuclear waste tanks at Hanford, and prohibits adding new waste to them under most circumstances.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to notify congressional defense committees within two business days of an improper air release of radioactive or hazardous material at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

Directs the Secretary of Energy to develop and implement a multi-year plan for the clean-up of nuclear waste at the Savannah River Site resulting from nuclear weapons activities and fuel processing.

Mandates the use of national and international standards, including probabilistic risk assessment, to ensure nuclear safety at NNSA and DOE Office of Environmental Management facilities.

Prohibits using Department of Energy funds for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program or nuclear weapons programs to pay fines for non-compliance with environmental laws, with certain exceptions.

Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to establish energy parks on former defense nuclear facilities to promote the development and deployment of energy and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Requires an independent assessment of the Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization Project to analyze the root causes of cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance shortcomings.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to develop and implement new program performance metrics for the Office of Environmental Management to prioritize risk reduction and measure effectiveness.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to develop a complex-wide analysis, a nationwide disposal plan, and establish a forum to optimize the disposal of defense radioactive waste.

Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from using fiscal year 2026 funds to apply a specific interpretation for reclassifying high-level radioactive waste located in the State of Washington.

Provides $10,000,000 for long-term monitoring, research, and remediation related to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

The conference authorization provides $0 for the Defense Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning program, a reduction of $278 million from the requested amount.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to report on intelligence community sites that could benefit from the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies for secure and resilient energy.

Authorizes the Commandant to provide financial assistance or grants to states, local governments, and tribal entities to mitigate the impacts of Coast Guard actions on natural and cultural resources.

Prohibits the Commandant from establishing new vessel anchorages on a specific reach of the Hudson River, limiting anchoring to locations established before January 1, 2021.

Mandates the Coast Guard Commandant to provide data on type-approved ballast water management systems to States, Tribes, or territories upon request.

Prohibits the abandonment of non-barge vessels, establishes a process for determining abandonment, sets a penalty, and requires a national inventory of abandoned vessels.

Amends the investment and management rules for the Exxon Valdez oil spill restoration fund, clarifying definitions, deposit locations, and prioritizing grants for habitat protection and restoration.

Exempts certain vessels in the Coast Guard District Arctic from inspection when engaged in oil spill response, training, or exercises, and specifies their operational allowances.

Requires the Coast Guard to update the Canada-US Joint Maritime Pollution Contingency Plan and conduct annual joint training exercises to improve international oil spill response capabilities.

Establishes a comprehensive framework to promote U.S. civil nuclear energy exports, enhance international cooperation, and counter the influence of Russia and China in the global nuclear market.

Launches an international initiative to provide financial and technical assistance to nations developing civil nuclear energy programs, including grants and the hiring of senior advisors.

Directs the Secretary of State to engage with at least five ally or partner nations to develop collaborative relationships for the research, development, licensing, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.

Authorizes the NOAA Administrator to dispose of survey and research vessels and equipment, and to retain and use the proceeds for acquiring new assets or repairing existing ones for a two-year period.

Updates definitions, prohibited acts, licensing, and enforcement provisions related to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty to align with current international agreements and practices.

This Act is organized into eight divisions, including authorizations for the Department of Defense, Military Construction, Department of Energy, Department of State, Intelligence, and the Coast Guard.

Stipulates that the budgetary effects of this Act shall be determined for compliance with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 by referencing a specific statement in the Congressional Record.

Extends the authority for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to assign private sector personnel with critical expertise until September 30, 2030.

Withholds 20% of certain travel funds until the Secretary of Defense establishes and resources the Joint Energetics Transition Office and submits required reports.

Withholds 20% of travel funds for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering until a specific report required by a previous law is submitted.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a Biotechnology Management Office to foster the development, acquisition, and sustainment of biotechnology capabilities for the Department.

Extends the requirement for annual reports on critical technology areas supportive of the National Defense Strategy from December 1, 2025, to December 1, 2030.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide a one-year advance notification to Congress and the Governor of Guam before placing a permanent nuclear reactor on the island.

Authorizes the Department of Defense to provide supplies that are incidental to the support and services it already offers to eligible non-DoD organizations.

Mandates assigning oversight of the military's personal property transportation program, including shipping and claims, to a single office within the Department of Defense.

Formally establishes official museum systems for the Army, Navy, and Air Force/Space Force, and sets criteria for designating, closing, and supporting these museums.

Repeals the separate annual report on military technicians and merges the annual civilian personnel management report into the annual defense manpower profile report to streamline reporting.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify congressional defense committees within 30 days when an officer's name is removed from a promotion list for reasons other than misconduct.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress within five days, with reasons, if the Judge Advocate General of the Army, Navy, or Air Force is removed from office before their term expires.

Requires an annual report on the National Guard to include a description of how equipment shortfalls impact their ability to conduct homeland defense activities.

Mandates an annual report until 2031 on the number of National Guard members who have received sexual assault prevention and response training, broken down by state.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to study and report on policies regarding the activation of reserve component members, including consideration of their total service time and waivers for release from duty.

Increases the number of Members of the House of Representatives designated to the Boards of Visitors for the service academies from one to two.

Establishes the position of Director of Admissions of the Naval Academy, requiring appointment by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Requires the Department of Defense to ensure its policies align with federal law for the prompt deactivation and closure of government-issued travel charge cards upon personnel separation.

Allows the Secretary of Defense to continue existing commissary and exchange store use policies through December 31, 2026, and requires a legislative proposal to consolidate these authorities.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from taking actions inconsistent with restrictions on the private operation of the overall management of a commissary system or an individual commissary store.

Formally establishes the position of Director of the Defense Health Agency in U.S. law, setting requirements for the role, including rank and joint experience.

Requires that documents referenced in Department of Defense procurement contracts must include a notation of the applicable version and any changes made after the solicitation was issued.

Makes a technical amendment to the law governing the public-private talent exchange program within the Department of Defense.

Changes the wording from 'term' to 'tenure' regarding the appointment of the President of the Defense Acquisition University.

Establishes direct hiring authority for members and graduates of the Defense Civilian Training Corps, allowing for term appointments and conversion to permanent positions.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to implement mandatory key performance objectives for evaluating civilian acquisition workforce members, aligning their performance with strategic defense acquisition goals.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to report annually to Congress from 2027 to 2031 on all contract cancellations and terminations exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

Authorizes the DoD to withhold up to 5% of payments from an incumbent contractor during a bid protest; these funds are forfeited if the protest is dismissed for lacking a reasonable basis.

Repeals the Chief Diversity Officer and other diversity and inclusion programs. Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from maintaining DEI offices, plans, or training, with exceptions for EEO and ADA offices.

Directs the Defense Science Board to study and recommend an optimal organizational structure for digital solutions engineering and software delivery within the Department of Defense.

Requires the President to notify Congress within five days, including the reason, for the removal or transfer of a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or a combatant commander.

Restricts funds for modifying, combining, or changing the leadership of geographic combatant commands until 60 days after the Secretary of Defense certifies the action is in the national interest.

Prohibits funding for integrating the Joint Munitions Command and the Army Sustainment Command until the Secretary of the Army submits a detailed plan to Congress.

Consolidates and enhances reporting for the DoD's financial audit remediation plan, requiring more detail on resources, goals, and corrective actions, and mandating reports from the worst-performing agencies.

Amends and repeals several existing laws to eliminate outdated requirements for separate budgetary displays for specific defense programs and operations, such as for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Encourages the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to facilitate audits of the Department of Defense's financial statements.

Withholds 25 percent of travel funds for the Office of the Secretary of Defense until the Secretary submits several overdue reports and certifications to Congress.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide regular notifications and reports to Congress regarding the use of military aircraft and facilities in support of immigration enforcement operations.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense and other federal agencies to provide administrative services, funds, staff, and other support to the Afghanistan War Commission on a nonreimbursable basis.

Grants the Co-Chairpersons of the Afghanistan War Commission the authority to enter into contracts to carry out the Commission's duties, as provided in appropriation Acts.

Directs the U.S. Army Transportation Command to develop a formal process for transportation service providers to submit and appeal complaints regarding violations of military shipping regulations.

Prohibits the use of fiscal year 2026 Department of Defense funds to carry out a hiring freeze, reduction in force, or hiring delay without cause at a public shipyard.

Expands the authority to provide a living quarter allowance to all Department of Defense civilian employees with a permanent duty station in Guam and extends the authority for three years.

Modifies the temporary authority for the Department of Defense to appoint retired members of the armed forces to civilian positions to specifically include licensed medical personnel.

Amends pay limitations for officers and crews of maritime vessels operated by or for the U.S., setting the maximum pay rate not to exceed that of the Vice President.

Extends the authority to waive annual limitations on premium pay and aggregate pay for Federal civilian employees working overseas through 2026.

Extends the temporary authority to grant allowances, benefits, and gratuities to civilian personnel on official duty in a combat zone through 2027.

Amends total force management rules, adding limitations on personnel reductions outside the normal process and requiring annual reports and expanded notifications for significant reductions.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to waive limits and pay retention bonuses of up to 50 percent of basic pay to eligible civilian employees in Guam based on critical agency needs.

Modernizes competitive hiring for the Department of Defense by allowing skills-based assessments, flexible outreach, elimination of time-in-grade restrictions, and use of shared talent pools.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish new policies placing management of civilian employees under specific Deputy Chiefs of Staff within each military department.

Prohibits Department of Defense funds from supporting any entertainment project that censors its content at the direction of the Chinese government or Communist Party, with a national interest waiver.

Withholds 25% of the Office of the Secretary of Defense's travel funds until the Secretary submits six specified reports to Congress on various national security topics.

Repeals a reporting requirement from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 related to concluded military operations.

Amends reporting requirements for the Senior Military Advisor for Cyber Policy, redirecting reporting from the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a framework for integrating the assessment and management of information technology technical debt into the annual budget process by September 2026.

Establishes a working group to develop and implement a common data ontology and governance structure across the Department of Defense to improve data interoperability and information sharing.

Amends existing law to define mandatory timelines for Authorization to Operate activities for cloud-hosted platforms and establish an expedited review process for delayed requests.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress on the implementation of the unified datalink strategy through December 31, 2032.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to keep congressional defense committees fully informed of sensitive activities and to notify them of any compromise or failure within 48 hours.

Formally codifies the Department of Defense insider threat program by transferring its legal authority into Title 10 of the U.S. Code.

Directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to evaluate extending inactive security clearances for up to five years for former DoD personnel.

Makes numerous technical corrections to Title 10 of the U.S. Code, including updating chapter names, correcting headings, fixing typos, and re-designating section numbers for legal consistency.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to publish an annual unclassified report on counter-unmanned aircraft activities, including data on privacy violations, number of incidents, and mitigation methods used.

Directs the Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, and FAA Administrator to jointly establish an interagency committee to exchange information and advice on executing counter-unmanned aircraft authority.

Increases the threshold for applying full cost accounting standards to government contracts from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000, adjusted for inflation.

Restructures the Cost Accounting Standards Board, moving it to the Office of Management and Budget, revising its membership, and updating its duties and staffing requirements.

Requires the Department of Defense to create and maintain lists of defense-unique contract clauses applicable to the procurement of commercial products and services.

Requires a formal determination, signed by a portfolio acquisition executive, that no suitable commercial product exists before the Department of Defense can procure a non-commercial item.

Modifies the authority for Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) and explicitly authorizes follow-on production contracts or transactions for items acquired through this process.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from requiring certain contract clauses in subcontracts for commercial products or services, unless the clause is on a specific pre-approved list.

Clarifies that payments for commercial services acquired through a commercially utilized strategy, such as consumption-based solutions, are not considered advance payments.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive review of the DoD's approach to acquiring commercial products and services and report findings to Congress.

Establishes that all military construction authorizations in this division will expire on October 1, 2028, unless funds have been obligated.

Authorizes appropriations for Air Force military construction, land acquisition, and family housing functions for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 2025.

Authorizes appropriations for military construction, land acquisition, and family housing functions of the Department of Defense (other than military departments) for fiscal years after September 30, 2025.

Extends the authorization for various military construction projects from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to remain in effect until at least October 1, 2026, preventing their expiration.

Authorizes appropriations for activities related to base realignment and closure, including property acquisition and military construction, funded through the DoD Base Closure Account.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to implement recommendations from a Government Accountability Office report on improving oversight of military construction or explain the reasons for not doing so.

Extends the pilot program that allows the Department of Defense to use cost savings realized from certain activities until September 30, 2030.

Requires the National Nuclear Security Administration to implement a common financial reporting system for the nuclear security enterprise to standardize data on labor, costs, and work structures.

Prohibits using authorized funds for any purpose related to the licensing of Department of Energy defense activities or facilities by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to consult with the Governor of South Carolina and prepare a plan for disposing of surplus defense plutonium at the Savannah River Site.

Requires the NNSA Administrator to develop and annually update a five-year management plan for defense nuclear nonproliferation programs and submit it to Congress.

Requires annual Selected Acquisition Reports for defense nuclear nonproliferation hardware projects that exceed $500 million in total program cost over five years.

Mandates the Secretary of Energy to submit an annual five-year plan to Congress detailing projects, estimated expenditures, and progress on cleanup milestones for specified defense nuclear sites.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to submit reports to Congress on training and job placement services before a facility closure and a complete survey of environmental problems and cleanup costs upon closure.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to develop and submit to Congress a quadrennial plan, starting in 2025, for the deactivation and decommissioning of nonoperational defense nuclear facilities.

Establishes the Office of River Protection at the Hanford Reservation to manage all aspects of the River Protection Project, including tank farm operations and the Waste Treatment Plant.

Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to establish and appoint up to 200 scientific, engineering, and technical positions for safety at defense nuclear facilities, with flexible pay rates until 2026.

Establishes a program to protect Department of Energy and contractor employees from reprisal for making protected disclosures regarding waste, fraud, abuse, or violations of law.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to notify Congress within 15 days of any nuclear criticality incident that causes injury, fatality, or facility shutdown, and to maintain a database of such incidents.

Establishes the threshold for a minor construction project at $30,000,000, with provisions for the Administrator to adjust this amount for inflation based on fiscal year 2022 dollars.

Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from reprogramming national security funds beyond certain limits (115% of authorization or $5,000,000 over) without providing a report to Congress and waiting 30 days.

Allows the Secretary of Energy to transfer national security funds to other federal agencies or within the Department, subject to a 5% cap on internal transfers and congressional notification.

Authorizes Department of Energy field office managers to transfer up to $5,000,000 annually between defense environmental cleanup or weapons activities projects to address risks or improve efficiency.

Requires the DOE to establish cost and schedule baselines for major national security projects and notify Congress if total project costs are projected to exceed the baseline by 25%.

Mandates the NNSA Administrator to annually submit a report to Congress detailing unfunded programs, activities, or mission requirements that are necessary for the agency's mission.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to submit reports to Congress on the financial balances for each atomic energy defense program concurrently with the President's budget submission.

Prohibits using funds from national security contracts over $100,000 for costs such as entertainment, lobbying, alcoholic beverages, and donations.

Allows the Secretary of Energy to retain and use proceeds from the sale or lease of certain assets at sites like Savannah River and Hanford to cover the costs of those transactions.

Authorizes the NNSA Administrator to approve plans for using passenger carriers to transport contractor employees to and from NNSA facilities to support mission activities.

Repeals numerous sections of previous laws, including the Atomic Energy Defense Act and various provisions from past National Defense Authorization Acts, to conform with new legislation.

Extends the authority for the appointment of certain scientific, engineering, and technical personnel within the National Nuclear Security Administration from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2036.

Modifies requirements for notifying Congress about cost overruns on Department of Energy projects, adding a review by the Director of Cost Estimating and Program Evaluation before baselines are revised.

Directs the Secretary of Energy to submit a report by March 1, 2026, with a legislative proposal to provide streamlined "other transaction authorities" for the NNSA to improve mission effectiveness.

Mandates that any Department of Energy position funded by atomic energy defense activities be treated as a national security position.

Authorizes the obligation and expenditure of dollar amounts specified in funding tables, subject to appropriations, merit-based selection, and other applicable laws.

Reduces the overall Defense-Wide operation and maintenance budget by $2.67 billion, citing favorable fuel rates, foreign currency fluctuations, and unobligated balances from prior years.

Authorizes a reduction of $400,000,000 in the cash balances of the Defense-Wide Working Capital Fund.

Designates this division as the 'Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026'.

Creates the position of Under Secretary for Management to oversee the State Department's administration, human resources, IT, facilities, security, and consular affairs.

Establishes a Chief Medical Officer to lead the Office of Medical Services, responsible for clinical and mental health programs for Department personnel.

Creates the position of Chief Information Officer for Diplomatic Technology to manage the Department's IT, cybersecurity workforce, and digital infrastructure.

Establishes the Bureau of Administration, Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, and Bureau of Human Resources, and restructures the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Creates the position of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs to assist the Secretary on matters relating to regional and bilateral diplomacy.

Requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress at least 60 days before changing the geographic or functional jurisdiction of any departmental bureau.

Authorizes an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic to advance U.S. interests, coordinate policy, and counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region. Also establishes an 'Arctic Watcher Program'.

Authorizes an Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean Region to harmonize U.S. diplomatic efforts and counter malign influence from the People’s Republic of China.

Formally establishes several Assistant Secretary positions and corresponding Bureaus for East Asian and Pacific, African, Near Eastern, South and Central Asian, Western Hemisphere, and European and Eurasian Affairs.

Authorizes a Director to oversee an Office of Multilateral Affairs to coordinate diplomatic engagement in East Asia-focused regional organizations like APEC and ASEAN for a period of 5 years.

Establishes a Countering the PRC Influence Fund Unit in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs to coordinate and fund programming that directly counters malign activities by the People’s Republic of China.

Establishes an Office of Haitian Affairs within the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs to develop and implement U.S. policy and engagement with the Republic of Haiti.

Establishes a Countering Russian Influence Fund Unit within the State Department's Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to counter Russian malign influence. The unit will terminate in four years.

Creates an Assistant Secretary and a Bureau of International Organization Affairs within the State Department to manage U.S. multilateral policy, contributions, and citizen employment in organizations like the UN.

Requires the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research to offer regular, quarterly intelligence briefings to congressional committees on national security topics.

Directs all U.S. diplomatic posts to support official travel by members and staff of congressional committees, reaffirming the importance of such travel for foreign relations.

Requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress within three days of any authorized or ordered departure of personnel from a diplomatic post and to establish a database of such departures.

Authorizes establishing a Regional China Officer (RCO) program to place at least 20 Foreign Service Officers at diplomatic posts to monitor and report on the People's Republic of China's activities.

Requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress 30 days before reducing U.S. Foreign Service personnel by 10% or more at posts in countries where China, Iran, or Russia also have a presence.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide monetary incentives for civil service employees to acquire or retain proficiency in critical foreign languages for domestic positions.

Requires the Secretary of State to establish and publish a policy on job share and part-time employment opportunities, including training and annual reporting.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish a 'Post Data Program' to cultivate a data and artificial intelligence culture at diplomatic posts globally, overseen by the Chief Data and AI Officer.

Requires the State Department to issue guidelines authorizing the use of enclaves in overseas commercial cloud regions for high-security information systems.

Requires the Secretary of State to submit annual reports for five years on technology transformation projects, detailing objectives, costs, performance metrics, and challenges, and requires a GAO evaluation.

Expands the duties of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy to lead efforts countering foreign information manipulation, support global internet freedom, and coordinate public diplomacy across agencies.

Formally establishes the position of Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, who will head the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and oversee all related exchange programs.

Extends the authorization for premium pay for employees of the Department of State providing protective services from 2025 to 2027.

Requires the Secretary of State to notify intelligence and defense leadership of diplomatic post closures, and requires the Director of National Intelligence to report the impact to Congress.

Requires an annual survey of intelligence community personnel to assess perceptions of bias or politicization in intelligence analysis.

Prohibits funds from the National Intelligence Program from being used to implement any practice that discriminates in a manner prohibited by the Constitution or federal law.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to develop a plan for an integrated system to track the accreditation of sensitive compartmented information facilities (SCIFs).

Requires a review of extending the period of inactive security clearances for up to 5 years for former intelligence community employees and assesses continuous vetting for such clearances.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to terminate the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center and the position of its Director within 180 days of enactment.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to terminate the Office of Engagement within 90 days of the Act's enactment and repeals the corresponding section of the National Security Act of 1947.

Requires the CIA Director to issue and regularly update guidance defining 'novel and significant expenditures' and establishing procedures for timely congressional notification of such spending.

Mandates the CIA Director to conduct an anonymous workplace climate assessment at least every 365 days to examine the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment and report findings to Congress.

Formally establishes a Chaplain Corps within the CIA, headed by a Chief of Chaplains, to provide spiritual and religious care to agency employees. Sets minimum staffing levels and administrative requirements.

Requires the FBI Director to notify congressional leadership within 15 days of opening a counterintelligence investigation into any candidate for or holder of Federal office.

Establishes Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers in intelligence agencies and mandates policies for sharing AI code and components to promote re-use and interoperability across the community.

Mandates the establishment of testing standards and benchmarks for AI models used by the intelligence community, including those publicly available but hosted in classified environments.

Requires key intelligence agencies, including the CIA and NSA, to designate a senior official to coordinate their activities related to biotechnology.

Requires the Director of National Intelligence to create a plan to recruit, retain, and partner with experts to ensure sufficient personnel to address biotechnology threats.

Directs major intelligence agencies to develop and implement metrics to assess their success in adopting and integrating emerging technologies and their operational impact.

Requires the Director of National Intelligence to create a strategy for coordinating the collection and sharing of foreign intelligence on critical and emerging technologies with relevant federal agencies.

Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to enhance reporting on Chinese influence operations by requiring coordination with more agencies and expanding the report's contents and recipients.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the intelligence community should increase coordination and intelligence sharing with European partners to disrupt malign influence efforts by the Chinese Communist Party.

Requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit and publicly post a report on the wealth, financial holdings, and business interests of the senior leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

Requires the Director of National Intelligence to designate or appoint a mission manager for all intelligence collection matters relating to the People's Republic of China, effective until December 31, 2030.

Extends the position of the intelligence community coordinator for Russian atrocities accountability until December 31, 2028, and clarifies their duties include addressing the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children.

Requires the Director of National Intelligence to produce a National Intelligence Estimate assessing major threats to U.S. national security interests in the Western Hemisphere over the next 10 years.

Repeals or modifies various statutory reporting and briefing requirements for the intelligence community to eliminate outdated or redundant obligations.

Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to require that classified intelligence budget justification materials be submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, in addition to intelligence committees.

Amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to mandate penetration testing as part of the federal testing and certification process for all voting system hardware and software.

Requires the Commandant to provide quarterly briefings to Congress on all major (Level 1 and Level 2) acquisition programs, including costs, timelines, and risks.

Requires the Commandant to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the status of any overdue reports or briefings, including a plan for completion and identifying responsible officials.

Prohibits the submission of a slideshow presentation, such as a PowerPoint document, to Congress in lieu of a required formal briefing, report, plan, or strategy.

Reorganizes Chapter 3 of Title 14, United States Code, to restructure subchapters and sections related to Coast Guard organization, positions, and programs.

Establishes a Special Advisor to the Commandant for Tribal and Native Hawaiian Affairs within the Coast Guard to ensure meaningful government-to-government consultation and engagement.

Specifies that the Judge Advocate General of the Coast Guard shall be appointed by the President with Senate consent for a term of not more than 4 years.

Requires the Commandant to develop and provide annual training on the workings of Congress for flag officers, senior executives, political appointees, and congressional affairs personnel.

Amends the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 to require additional reporting on the use of Coast Guard facilities and plans for a new hangar on St. Paul Island, Alaska.

Consolidates the Coast Guard's separate forfeiture fund into the Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund, designating the Coast Guard as a Treasury law enforcement organization for this purpose.

Exempts service life extension programs from certain acquisition requirements, mandates consideration of life-cycle costs, and allows negotiation of contracts based on competence and qualification.

Allows the Secretary to designate a limited number of officers with expertise in military justice or healthcare, who will be promoted under a separate process and capped at the rank of captain.

Streamlines the involuntary separation process for Coast Guard officers by repealing the requirement for boards of review.

Grants the Commandant temporary authority until September 30, 2030, to directly hire personnel for critical positions like medical professionals and special agents to address shortages.

Requires the Commandant to notify Congress about the Coast Guard's funding status and the potential impacts of government shutdowns on its members before the end of a fiscal period.

Restructures the membership, appointment process, and duties of the Coast Guard Academy's Board of Visitors, specifying congressional and presidential appointments and reporting requirements.

Amends title 14 of the U.S. Code to establish a Cadet Advisory Board at the Coast Guard Academy.

Authorizes the Secretary to allow certain nonprofit foundations to use Coast Guard Academy facilities and equipment on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, with specific limitations.

Mandates a study by a federally funded research center to assess the oversight and governance of the Coast Guard Academy, including the role of its Board of Trustees.

Amends title 14 of the U.S. Code by redesignating a section related to aids to navigation.

Mandates reports to Congress on the condition of dayboards and buoys on the Missouri River and in the Coast Guard Northeast and Northwest Districts.

Requires the long-term retention of Coast Guard message board posts and Commandant instructions, making them publicly available where possible.

Allows noncitizen nationals, as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act, to be eligible for merchant mariner credentials and to command documented vessels.

Establishes a working group to review and approve exam questions and requires the Commandant to develop a plan to modernize testing procedures and eliminate redundant or outdated topics.

Directs the Secretary to implement an electronic system for submitting and processing merchant mariner credential applications and to provide anonymized data access to other federal agencies.

Authorizes the Coast Guard to adopt a flexible, performance-driven examination schedule for foreign vessels based on safety records, as an alternative to strict annual inspections.

Expands authority to provide assignment or special duty pay to Coast Guard members serving as marine inspectors in hard-to-fill billets to address workforce shortages.

Requires the Coast Guard to develop and offer an annual training course for its personnel on small uncrewed maritime systems for a period of three years.

Clarifies the Secretary's authority to issue regulations for deepwater ports and designates the Maritime Administration as the lead agency for environmental reviews under NEPA.

Prohibits the Secretary from delegating vessel inspection and certification authority to a classification society from the People’s Republic of China.

Requires the National Response Center to develop a web-based application to receive notifications of oil discharges or releases of hazardous substances.

Mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the Coast Guard's efforts to combat sexual assault and harassment, followed by a Coast Guard report on implementing GAO recommendations.

Directs the Coast Guard to review the Department of Defense's report on sexual assault and create a detailed plan to implement its recommendations, with regular progress briefings to Congress.

Requires the Coast Guard Commandant to submit an annual report to Congress on incidents of covered misconduct, including sexual assault and harassment, and any related retaliation claims.

Authorizes a board of review to downgrade an honorable discharge for former Coast Guard members found to have committed sexual assault or harassment, based on clear and convincing evidence.

Requires the Commandant to annually notify Congress of any changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice or the Manual for Courts-Martial related to sex-related or other covered misconduct offenses.

Directs the Secretary to establish a public policy for handling misconduct allegations against senior Coast Guard leaders, requiring prompt reporting to the Inspector General.

Requires that any court-martial conviction, nonjudicial punishment, or punitive administrative action for covered misconduct be noted in a member's personnel service record to alert future commanders.

Requires the Coast Guard to establish a policy for a flag officer to review and concur with the involuntary separation of any member who reported misconduct and believes the separation is retaliatory.

Directs the Commandant to develop and issue a comprehensive policy and program to reinvigorate the prevention of sexual misconduct involving Coast Guard members and civilians.

Amends existing law to include the Coast Guard in the process for handling complaints of retaliation from victims of sexual assault or harassment, designating the Commandant as responsible.

Amends existing law to include the Coast Guard in the program allowing confidential reporting of sexual harassment and requires biennial reports to Congress on these complaints.

Requires the Commandant to submit a comprehensive report to Congress on the Coast Guard's whistleblower protection policies, including accountability measures, training, and support.

Directs the Commandant to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Defense to give the Coast Guard and its Academy access to the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database.

Amends U.S. Code to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct security clearance investigations for certain senior Coast Guard personnel, clarifying roles with the Department of Defense.

Mandates the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the Coast Guard's research, development, and innovation program, evaluating its processes, funding, and outcomes.

Directs the Comptroller General to study the employment compensation, competitiveness, and retention of civilian and military personnel at U.S. vessel traffic service centers.

Mandates a Comptroller General study to evaluate the effectiveness, costs, and challenges of the Coast Guard's permanent change of station (PCS) process for its members.

Mandates the Comptroller General to conduct a comprehensive review of the training, resourcing, management, and organizational structure of the Coast Guard Investigative Service.

Makes numerous technical and conforming amendments to Title 46, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and Title 14 of the U.S. Code, including correcting citations and redesignating sections.

Expresses the sense of Congress that the U.S. should support democratic and economic reforms, regional integration, and EU/NATO accession for Western Balkan countries, while combating corruption and malign influence.

Requires the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons who threaten peace, undermine democratic processes, engage in corruption, or commit serious human rights abuses in the Western Balkans.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to develop an initiative to expand technical assistance, share best practices, and strengthen national anti-corruption strategies in Western Balkans countries.

Establishes a U.S. policy opposing land swaps or redrawing borders along ethnic lines in the Western Balkans and supports a comprehensive agreement between Kosovo and Serbia based on mutual recognition.

Requires the Secretary of State to submit biennial reports to Congress on Russian and Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns in the Western Balkans.

Requires the President to report to Congress on the structure, effectiveness, and potential improvements for U.S. government components involved in hostage affairs and recovery.

The Secretary of State should ensure that any direct dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea includes progress towards holding reunions for Korean American families and their relatives in North Korea.

Requires the Diplomatic Security Service to provide both men's and women's sizing options for tactical gear, such as ballistic plates and helmets, whenever commercially available.

Establishes an interagency working group to create a 10-year civil nuclear trade strategy with biennial export targets for U.S. nuclear technologies and materials.

Establishes a U.S. policy to counter Russia's state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, by promoting U.S. nuclear exports as an alternative and developing a strategy to decouple from the Russian nuclear industry.

Establishes a joint mechanism with India to assess the implementation of their nuclear cooperation agreement and discuss aligning India's nuclear liability rules with international norms.

Directs the President to hold a biennial international conference on civil nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability to reinforce commitments and facilitate cooperation.

The provisions of the International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025 and its amendments will cease to be effective 20 years after the date of enactment.

Repeals the Caesar Act and establishes a new reporting requirement for the President to certify the Syrian government's actions, with potential for targeted sanctions if conditions are not met.

Amends laws governing the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps regarding leadership titles, promotions, and training, and updates requirements for the NOAA vessel fleet modernization plan.

Allows former NOAA commissioned officers with at least three years of honorable service to compete for certain vacant federal positions under merit promotion procedures for a five-year period.

Mandates the Secretary of the Treasury to submit an annual report to Congress detailing enforcement actions, investment trends, and assessments of technologies posing a threat to national security.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a publicly accessible database identifying foreign persons engaged in prohibited or notifiable technologies.

Requires the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to develop regulations, training standards, and compliance audits for state and local agencies using counter-drone technologies.

Adds a Chief Strategic Officer to the DFC, makes Board of Directors meetings public under the Sunshine Act, and requires at least two public hearings annually.

Amends the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 to make the Chief Risk Officer removable only by a majority vote of the Board and outlines their duties.

Modifies the appointment process and expands the duties of the Chief Development Officer, including advising on international development policy and representing the Corporation in interagency meetings.

Creates the position of Chief Strategic Officer to advise on national security and foreign policy matters, reporting directly to the CEO and removable only by a majority vote of the Board.

Increases the number of employees who can be appointed without regard to civil service laws from 50 to 100 and sets a compensation cap at level II of the Executive Schedule.

Amends the composition and meeting requirements of the Development Finance Advisory Council, requiring it to advise the Board and meet with them at least twice a year.

Establishes a Congressional Strategic Advisory Group, composed of members of Congress and Corporation leadership, to provide advice on strategic priorities and investments.

Requires the CEO to develop a Strategic Priorities Plan based on guidance from the new Congressional Strategic Advisory Group to guide the Corporation's investments.

Requires the Board to report to Congress on potential efficiencies from consolidating the independent accountability mechanism with the Office of the Inspector General.

Allows the Corporation to create companies, corporations, and partnerships for exigent national security needs, subject to Board approval and congressional notification.

Extending the termination date for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to December 31, 2031.

Expressing the sense of Congress that the DFC should consult with employees on reorganization plans and consider seniority and experience in reassignments.

Requiring the DFC to develop a metrics-based system, the 'Impact Quotient,' to assess the development impact of its projects throughout their lifecycle.

Mandating the DFC maintain adequate, independent, and properly resourced staff to monitor its portfolio's financial performance, development impact, and legal compliance.

Expanding the DFC's annual reporting requirements to include portfolio health, capital mobilized, and a breakdown of support by country income level.

Requiring the DFC to maintain a publicly available, machine-readable database with detailed project-level information, including performance metrics and development impact.

Increasing the threshold for projects requiring congressional notification from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000.

Mandates the establishment of blast safety officer positions in each military service by September 30, 2026, to manage and mitigate blast overpressure exposure risks for service members.

Formally establishes the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) in law, a data system to track service members' occupational and environmental hazard exposures for health and benefits purposes.

Requires the Military OneSource program to provide information on maternal health care, including TRICARE services, continuity of care during a permanent change of station, and leave options.

Reduces the travel distance threshold for reimbursement of specialty care expenses from 100 miles to 75 miles for active-duty members of the armed forces and their dependents.

Authorizes Department of Defense medical personnel to provide sexual assault medical forensic examinations on a nonreimbursable basis to individuals not otherwise eligible for DoD health care.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program to enhance the medical surge capability and capacity of the National Disaster Medical System.

Requires endorsements from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the relevant Surgeon General before the scope of services at a military medical treatment facility can be modified.

Allows health-care professionals licensed in partner countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, to meet Department of Defense licensure requirements.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to create and implement a plan by September 2026 to prioritize assigning active duty medical and dental personnel to military medical treatment facilities.

Directs the Defense Health Agency to develop a plan to reopen previously closed, high-traffic chiropractic clinics at military installations and to pay chiropractors under the General Schedule.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to submit a comprehensive, strategic plan for all infectious disease medical research conducted by the Department of Defense, including detailed budget information.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to review all health care provider credentialing processes and establish a centralized system to verify licensure for professionals at DoD facilities.

Prohibits the Department of Defense from conducting or supporting painful research on domestic cats and dogs, with exceptions for service animals and a waiver for national security interests.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to carry out a two-year pilot program to develop and implement a wastewater surveillance system at military installations to identify infectious diseases.

Establishes a pilot program for military members and dependents to obtain supplemental insurance for cancer-related expenses not covered by the TRICARE program.

Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Defense to conduct a study on the accreditation of military dental treatment facilities and report on barriers and recommendations.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to conduct a two-phase study on the prevalence and mortality of cancer among military rotary-wing pilots and aviation support personnel.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to study the psychological and mental health effects on military and civilian personnel who operate or support unmanned aircraft systems in combat operations.

Directs the Government Accountability Office to review Department of Defense research from 1945-1972 on the use of ticks as biological warfare agents and report its findings to Congress.

Authorizes the U.S. Special Operations Command to procure and distribute sports foods and certified dietary supplements to its members under strict medical and dietician oversight.

Mandates an initiative to address occupational resiliency for the Cyber Mission Force by ensuring access to behavioral health professionals with appropriate security clearances.

Sets a goal to eliminate the use of cesium chloride blood irradiation devices in the U.S. by December 31, 2027, through a voluntary replacement and disposal program.

Requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for ongoing medical evaluation of current and former employees exposed to hazardous or radioactive substances during their employment.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to perform a declassification review of intelligence related to the origins of COVID-19 and efforts by China to obstruct investigations, and to release the findings publicly.

Directs the Director of National Intelligence to issue standard guidelines for intelligence community personnel to report and document anomalous health incidents, aligning them with Department of Defense guidelines.

Authorizes the Secretary to defer the retirement or separation of health professions officers up to age 68 to allow them to continue providing patient care and other clinical duties.

Expands the look-back period for sexual assault to 5 years for alleging mental health disorders and requires that members facing involuntary separation be notified of their right to a medical examination.

Establishes a pilot program to embed behavioral health technicians in Coast Guard units and requires hiring at least five additional behavioral health specialists, with a focus on military sexual trauma.

Requires the Commandant to report to Congress on existing behavioral health and wellness support facilities at the Coast Guard Academy and identify needs for additional services.

Requires the installation of at least two private rooms at the Coast Guard Academy for cadets to access behavioral health, medical, and other health-related services.

Requires the Coast Guard to update its policy to ensure opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone are available at clinics, units, and on cutters.

Requires the Coast Guard to update its policy to provide surge staffing to backfill Public Health Service officers on parental leave, ensuring continuity of healthcare.

Requires the Comptroller General to review the quality and availability of behavioral health care and wellness resources for Coast Guard personnel at various training locations.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that commercial drivers transporting sensitive cargo to or from military installations have access to a restroom.

Modifies the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to include demolition projects and expands assistance for public infrastructure to include health care, housing, and critical defense infrastructure.

Authorizes the use of accelerated design-build and introduces new authority for progressive design-build contracts for military construction projects to increase efficiency.

Grants military departments authority to enter into multiyear contracts for standardized military construction projects to achieve cost savings, subject to congressional notification and certification.

Allows the military to provide funds directly to private utility system operators for infrastructure improvements, rather than carrying out military construction projects themselves.

Requires the Department of Defense to develop a prioritized plan for investing in and deploying private 5G and future generation networks using Open Radio Access Network architecture on military bases.

Authorizes the Commandant to acquire, procure, or construct a floating drydock for the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Maryland, through specific methods, such as using a third-party contractor.

Directs the Coast Guard to create a strategy for a new Great Lakes icebreaker and establishes a 5-year pilot program to assess the fleet's ability to keep waterways open during ice season.

Requires the installation of electronic locking mechanisms on all cadet rooms at the Coast Guard Academy within two years to enhance security and record access.

Requires the Secretary to establish a process for discontinuing aids to navigation, including public notification, safety safeguards, and consultation with stakeholders.

Amends U.S. Code to explicitly include the Straits of Mackinac as waters requiring a U.S. registered pilot for vessels and defines the geographical boundaries of the Straits.

Requires the Commandant to conduct an independent boat traffic study at mile 7.4 of the St. Lucie River before adopting a final rule regarding the railroad bridge.

Requires restructuring anchorages in San Pedro Bay and developing audible and visual alarms to alert watchstanders when an anchored vessel encroaches on a pipeline.

Directs the Secretary to issue a regulation establishing nearshore and offshore shipping safety fairways along the Atlantic Coast with a minimum width.

Directs the Comptroller General to study the infrastructure needs of Coast Guard training facilities, including capital needs, equipment backlogs, and necessary improvements.

Requires the Comptroller General to study the facility and infrastructure needs of specific Coast Guard stations that conduct border security operations.

Establishing a pilot program at up to two large hub airports to provide federal assistance for repairing or replacing previously installed, deteriorated residential sound insulation.

Authorizes the NASA Administrator to enter an agreement to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for costs associated with decommissioning and replacing drinking water wells.

Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, military construction, and defense activities of the Department of Energy.

Authorizes funds to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for procurement for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Defense-wide activities.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into multiyear contracts for procuring UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft, starting with the fiscal year 2027 program year.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to enter into contracts for accelerated low-rate early production of the future long-range assault aircraft to expedite delivery to warfighters.

Limits the obligation of funds for the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) portfolio to 50% until the Secretary of the Army submits a detailed report to Congress.

Prohibits awarding construction contracts for medium and large unmanned surface vessels until an operational demonstration of at least 720 continuous hours is successfully completed.

Requires the Secretary of the Navy to submit a plan by April 1, 2026, to recapitalize and replace legacy waterborne security barriers for Navy ports, with implementation by September 30, 2027.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into contracts to procure up to two Ford-class aircraft carriers, including advance procurement and incremental funding.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into a contract, starting in fiscal year 2026, for the procurement of up to five Columbia-class submarines using incremental funding.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into contracts for the advance procurement of specific components to support the continuous production of Virginia-class submarines.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to enter into contracts to procure up to 15 Medium Landing Ships, subject to certification of cost savings and program stability.

Prohibits contracts for Modular Attack Surface Craft until the Secretary of the Navy certifies they will be purpose-built unmanned vessels without systems intended for crewed vessels.

Prohibits obligation of FY2026 funds for the TAGOS surveillance ship program until the Secretary of the Navy submits a report on design progress, requirements, and alternatives.

Increases the minimum required inventory of air refueling tanker aircraft in phases, from 466 to 502 aircraft by October 1, 2028.

Modifies the prohibition on F-15E retirement, allowing the Air Force to retire up to 51 aircraft between fiscal years 2027 and 2028, with no retirements allowed before then.

Extends the limitations and minimum inventory requirements for RQ-4 aircraft by one year, from September 30, 2029, to September 30, 2030.

Extends the minimum inventory requirement and the prohibition on reducing C-130 aircraft assigned to the National Guard from 2025 to 2026, and requires a report on the C-130 fleet.

Extends the prohibition on reducing B-1 bomber aircraft squadrons from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2030.

Amends the minimum inventory for A-10 primary mission aircraft to 93 until October 1, 2026, and prohibits reducing the total inventory below 103 aircraft during a specific period.

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to preserve each retired KC-10 aircraft in the same storage condition as of September 30, 2025.

Prohibits reducing the total inventory of E-3 aircraft below 16, with exceptions related to a readiness plan or procurement of E-7 Wedgetail aircraft.

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit detailed accountability matrices on the B-21 bomber program's goals, execution, and costs to Congress and the Comptroller General.

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a comprehensive roadmap for the bomber aircraft fleet's force structure, basing, modernization, and transition strategy through fiscal year 2040.

Limits the obligation of certain travel funds for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force until a report on the acquisition strategy for the Airborne Command Post capability is submitted.

Mandates an analysis of alternatives for recapitalizing executive airlift fleets and assigns a senior official to coordinate the efficient tasking of these aircraft.

Prohibits the use of funds to terminate the mid-tier acquisition rapid prototype contract or shut down the production line for the E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from accepting delivery of more than 188 new KC-46 aircraft until a plan to resolve all Category 1 deficiencies is certified and submitted to Congress.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to establish a government-controlled open mission systems computing environment on the F-35 aircraft.

Requires the Comptroller General to conduct annual reviews of the F-35 aircraft program's cost, scope, schedule, and modernization efforts and report the findings to Congress through 2030.

Amends U.S. Code to include "test organizations," in addition to defense laboratories, as eligible entities for research and development funding for military missions.

Establishes a permanent program for DOD RDT&E centers to implement innovative management and operational methods to improve efficiency and accelerate capability deployment.

Modifies authority to allow for jointly funded projects for the acquisition, construction, or furnishing of test facilities and equipment across multiple government and non-federal entities.

Modifies policies for the Link 16 military tactical data link network, expanding its operational area and creating a presumption of approval for its use in training and exercises.

Establishes an alternative, more agile test and evaluation pathway for designated defense acquisition programs to accelerate capability delivery while maintaining independent oversight.

Requires the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to include assessments of specific programs, such as the Joint Fires Network and homeland missile defense, in the annual report to Congress.

Directs the establishment of a digital test and evaluation environment and a pilot program to use commercial software to accelerate and improve testing of warfighting capabilities.

Requires military departments to review their digital engineering policies and develop a standard reference architecture to guide the use of tools like digital twins and digital threads.

Establishes a program for the Army to create partnerships between operational units, research universities, and small businesses to collaborate on innovative applied research and development.

Requires the Secretary of the Army to carry out a program to support the maturation and expansion of robotic automation capabilities for munitions manufacturing.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to evaluate additional test corridors and airspace for hypersonic and long-range weapons to increase testing cadence, with a briefing due by December 1, 2026.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to carry out a demonstration project interconnecting existing military ranges in western states for joint multi-domain testing and training.

Requires a demonstration to equip selected weapon systems, like MH–60R and MQ–9 aircraft, with near real-time monitoring to detect cyber threats and improve maintenance efficiency.

Authorizes the Army and Navy to establish a pilot program to evaluate next-generation Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) for rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft to address obsolescence.

Prohibits using funds to disestablish or modify organizations for Joint conventional armaments RDT&E until 180 days after a report on the proposed realignment is submitted.

Prohibits funding for the Navy's autonomy baseline manager or common control system for unmanned surface vessels until specific reports and validations are submitted to Congress.

Authorizes a program to develop and transition biotechnology-based technologies from military labs to support the resilience and sustainability of the defense supply chain.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a strategy by June 1, 2026, on the national security implications of emerging biotechnologies and their role in defense.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to issue and publicize policies for the ethical and responsible development and deployment of biotechnology within the Department of Defense.

Directs the Department of Defense to develop and publish guidance for private entities on demonstrating how their biobased products can meet military requirements.

Amends the energetic materials strategic plan to include identifying raw material waste from explosives manufacturing and developing plans to reduce waste and optimize production.

Requires the Air Force to provide quarterly briefings to Congress for two years on challenges facing Department of Defense research, development, test, and evaluation laboratories.

Directs the Air Force to establish a program to acquire and integrate commercial weather data to support operational forecasting and mission planning, especially in contested environments.

Amends the military readiness report to require detailed reporting on Class A and B mishaps, but only a summary count for less severe Class C mishaps.

Extends the authority to use depot working capital funds for unspecified minor military construction projects by two years, until September 30, 2027.

Assigns key senior defense officials responsibility for managing and integrating global contested logistics, requiring them to identify risks and develop a comprehensive strategy.

Amends the law to provide more flexibility in contracting out for firefighting and security guard functions at military installations.

Designates Navy type commanders as the primary authorities for the maintenance, repair, and readiness of non-nuclear surface vessels, with regional maintenance centers acting in their support.

Amends a prior law to require that reports on the Navy's Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program include details on the incorporation of digital infrastructure like hardware, software, and cloud storage.

Extends the requirement for semiannual briefings on the operational status of the amphibious warship fleet to September 30, 2028, and adds new reporting elements on maintenance and service life extension plans.

Requires the Department of Defense to use diagnostic tools or technical data for maintaining critical aviation safety parts, and prohibits relying solely on visual inspection unless specified.

Mandates that by September 30, 2028, the F-35 program must have sufficient wartime spares for 90 days, validated financial reporting from contractors, and spare parts catalogued with national stock numbers.

Requires the Air Force to incorporate depot-level maintenance and repair considerations into at least one multinational exercise annually within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's area of operations.

Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to report by May 31, 2026, on proposed actions to reverse declining aircraft readiness, improve sustainment, and ensure more accurate readiness reporting.

Directs the Secretary of the Navy to expedite the adoption of advanced technologies, such as robotics and AI, to enhance surface ship maintenance, reduce costs, and address repair delays.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to integrate commercially available artificial intelligence capabilities for logistics into at least two DOD exercises during fiscal year 2026 to assess their effectiveness.

Establishes a five-year pilot program giving procurement preference to non-government entities that propose public-private partnerships to perform work at Army depots and arsenals.

Prohibits funding to establish or expand a Space Force Special Operations Component Command until a detailed report on its requirements, funding, and structure is submitted to Congress.

Establishes a pilot program for the Army, Navy, and Air Force to use commercially available AI to improve ground vehicle maintenance, assess cost savings, and identify integration challenges.

Directs the Secretary of the Army to accelerate the modernization of the Army's industrial base to ensure production of critical materials like propellant, chemicals, and ammunition.

Amends reporting requirements to include munitions needs for potential conflicts with China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, and to factor in demand from U.S. allies and partners.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to report on the stockpiles of critical munitions required to fight simultaneous conflicts and to develop a plan to address any shortfalls.

Prohibits military manned rotary wing aircraft from operating training missions in the Washington, DC area unless they can provide proximity warnings compatible with commercial aircraft collision avoidance systems.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish and implement minimum standards for military working dog kennels regarding space, environmental conditions, sanitation, safety, and veterinary access.

Authorizes the Department of Defense to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems and prohibits using open-air burn pits for destroying contraband, classified materials, and other covered items.

Authorizes a three-year pilot program for the contracted operation of commercial amphibious aircraft to support military missions within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's area of responsibility.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a comprehensive study to assess the Armed Forces' ability to mobilize, deploy, and sustain forces for a high-intensity conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prohibits funding in fiscal year 2026 for transforming the Army's primary helicopter training program at Fort Rucker, Alabama, until a pilot program is completed and Congress is briefed on the results.

Authorizes the end-of-year personnel strengths for active duty and reserve components of the Armed Forces for fiscal year 2026.

Modifies the authorized strength and management of Space Force general officers and redistributes three general officer positions from the Air Force to the Space Force.

Authorizes career flexibility for chaplains, allowing them to be inactivated to perform religious ministry and to be detailed as students to obtain required education for their appointment.

Temporarily increases the percentage of O-7 and O-8 officers who can receive a waiver for service-in-grade retirement requirements from 10 percent to 15 percent until September 30, 2027.

Allows military department secretaries to waive the prohibition on officers serving on successive promotion boards for major general or rear admiral for three years if qualified officers are unavailable.

Authorizes the transfer of Army and Air National Guard officers between active and inactive status to fill vacancies in federally recognized units.

Directs each military service to establish a women's initiative team to identify and address barriers to the service, recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in the armed forces.

Amends the process for honorary promotions, requiring a favorable recommendation from a board of at least three independent officers before a military department can grant one.

Allows military secretaries to require a 'statement of contention' from service members appealing a physical evaluation board's determination of fitness for duty.

Expands the requirement for equal opportunity, racial neutrality, and exclusive use of merit in military personnel actions to include command selections, in addition to appointments and promotions.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress by March 31, 2028, on the adequacy of reimbursements for military members' permanent change of station expenses, based on a comprehensive survey.

Requires local educational agencies to provide military recruiters with equivalent access to secondary school campuses and student contact information as provided to colleges or other employers.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a program to inform individuals denied military enlistment about job opportunities in national interest fields like the defense industrial base and cybersecurity.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish uniform medical standards for military enlistment and a clear process for reviewing and granting waivers for medical disqualifications.

Amends the Military Selective Service Act to automatically register male U.S. citizens and residents between ages 18 and 26, replacing the requirement for individuals to self-register.

Requires annual government ethics training for all service members and specific training on the law of armed conflict and rules of engagement before mobilization or deployment.

Directs the Secretary of the Navy to establish a one-year pilot program to test the use of generative artificial intelligence and spatial computing for immersive training and assessment.

Establishes a center within the Institute for National Strategic Studies to educate and develop national security leaders on strategic deterrence and weapons of mass destruction.

Increases the alternative service obligation period for cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies from three to five years.

Requires sexual assault prevention and response training for all service members to include information on Department of Veterans Affairs resources for those who have experienced unwanted sexual behavior.

Waives time limitations to authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to E. Royce Williams for acts of valor as a Navy lieutenant on November 18, 1952, during the Korean War.

Applies various existing pay, bonus, and allowance authorities to members of the U.S. Space Force, aligning their compensation with other armed services.

Extends the military's authority to offer selective early retirement and early discharges for service members from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2030.

Extends various expiring bonus, special pay, and allowance authorities for military personnel, including for reserve forces, health professionals, and nuclear officers, until December 31, 2026.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to conduct an initial review of all imminent danger pay areas by March 1, 2026, and subsequent reviews every five years thereafter.

Changes the calculation for enlisted members' Basic Allowance for Subsistence to be based on the cost of a liberal food plan, and prevents the rate from decreasing year-over-year.

Requires the Department of Defense to improve transparency in BAH calculations and conduct a study to evaluate alternative, more accurate methods for determining housing allowance rates.

Allows service members to take parental leave within a two-year period after a qualifying event, with approval from a general or flag officer in their chain of command.

Authorizes convalescent leave for cadets and midshipmen at military service academies who are diagnosed with a medical condition.

Allows the Secretary concerned to waive certain requirements for the air transportation of deceased service members during times of war, national emergency, or major combat operations.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide brief, plain-language descriptions for each type of pay, allowance, and deduction listed on a service member's pay statement.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to launch an educational campaign to improve understanding among service members and their families about their monetary and nonmonetary compensation.

Mandates that the United States Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll be designated as a remote and isolated military installation within 30 days of the Act's enactment.

Extends the limitation on the reduction of military medical manning end strength from a five-year period to a ten-year period.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to enter into agreements with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom to support military medical cooperation and improve operational medical interoperability.

Prohibits requiring contractors to assume the risk of loss for work in process under classified, fixed-price contracts if they cannot obtain commercial insurance due to the classified nature of the work.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to allow financing costs for inventory management and production capacity expansion to be considered allowable costs on certain contracts.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to request multiyear procurement authority for major systems at full-rate production and authorizes multiyear contracts for specific missile and munition systems.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to implement a digital system to track technical data for major defense systems, review data requirements, and address any insufficiencies to support system maintenance.

Repeals numerous provisions in Title 10 and past National Defense Authorization Acts to simplify the defense acquisition process and makes related conforming amendments.

Amends various defense acquisition laws, including changing cost evaluation criteria to 'best value', modifying competition rules, and codifying a program to speed up contracting processes.

Sets a minimum award amount of $10,000,000 for the program to accelerate the procurement and fielding of innovative technologies.

Requires consideration of a contractor's increased cost risk for costs incurred before an undefinitized contract is awarded or when negotiations exceed 180 days.

Repeals certain subsections related to data analysis and requirements validation for the procurement of services.

Mandates the establishment of a program and processes for foreign acquisition and requires that advisors in this program be qualified.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to review and assess whether to update the definition of 'conventional ammunition' to include certain unmanned aerial vehicles and report findings to Congress.

Prohibits the procurement of seafood from China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea for use in military dining facilities, naval vessels, and commissary stores.

Establishes Expedited Qualification Panels within each military department to speed up the approval process for new suppliers and accepts civil aviation authority certifications for certain aircraft parts.

Allows contractors to receive an interim national security waiver to deliver items with noncompliant parts if they promptly disclose the issue, provided there is no security or safety risk.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to eliminate reliance on nations like China and Russia for optical glass and optical systems by January 1, 2030.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to eliminate reliance on certain foreign nations for the acquisition of computer displays by January 1, 2030.

Establishes a working group to develop recommendations for accelerating the qualification of materials from compliant sources and integrating them into Department of Defense supply chains.

Requires the Secretary of Defense by January 1, 2027, to list and conduct a risk assessment of critical infrastructure that relies on materials or components from foreign entities of concern.

Prohibits the Department of Defense from renewing, extending, or entering into long-term concessions agreements with retailers controlled by a covered nation to operate on military installations.

Prohibits the Department of Defense from procuring advanced batteries whose components or technology are sourced from a foreign entity of concern, with a phased implementation starting in 2028.

Allows a national security waiver for strategic materials sourcing requirements to also be applied to restrictions on sensitive materials for the same end item.

Adds molybdenum, gallium, and germanium to the list of covered materials that cannot be procured from certain non-allied foreign nations, with some exceptions for recycled materials.

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to prohibit providing grants, loans, or loan guarantees to certain Chinese military companies.

Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 to clarify and modify the prohibition on contracting with entities involved in the Russian fossil fuel sector.

Prohibits the Department of Defense from using fiscal year 2026 funds to procure photovoltaic cells, modules, or inverters manufactured by a foreign entity of concern, with a waiver authority.

Amends a previous law to clarify the prohibition on entering into contracts for any covered material that is mined, refined, or separated in any covered nation.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from procuring additive manufacturing machines from companies domiciled in or controlled by a covered nation, or from companies on certain government screening lists.

Implements a phased prohibition on the Department of Defense acquiring computers or printers from covered Chinese entities, reaching a full ban in fiscal year 2029.

Prohibits executive agencies from procuring or contracting for biotechnology equipment or services from 'biotechnology companies of concern' and from using loan or grant funds for such purposes.

Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish and maintain a list of 'biotechnology companies of concern' based on national security risks and ties to foreign adversaries.

Mandates the Director of National Intelligence to assess and report on national security risks posed by foreign adversaries collecting or storing multiomic data from U.S. citizens.

Establishes a pilot program for the U.S. Special Operations Command to accelerate the development, procurement, and sustainment of innovative technologies to meet emerging mission requirements.

Establishes a working group to study greater integration of the U.S. and Israeli defense industrial bases and the feasibility of including Israel in the national technology and industrial base.

Directs investments in textile automation, requires strategies for long-term contracting, and mandates assessments to improve the resilience of the domestic textile and footwear supply chain for defense.

Requires each armed force to establish a program by January 1, 2027, to certify that combat boots meet uniform regulations for durability, quality, and standards.

Mandates the Department of Defense to streamline and unify cybersecurity requirements for its contractors by June 1, 2026, reducing unique contract-specific rules and reporting progress to Congress.

Expands the uses of the Defense Industrial Base Fund to support critical sectors like microelectronics and shipbuilding, and provides new authorities for grants and purchase commitments until 2035.

Amends a demonstration program for international product support by including advanced manufacturing facilities and extending the program's sunset date to December 31, 2030.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to conduct biannual joint exercises, starting by September 30, 2027, focused on contested logistics environments.

Grants combatant commanders authority to conduct technology experiments and prototyping, and to recommend successful technologies for streamlined, non-competitive follow-on production contracts until 2028.

Requires a 90-day deadline for decisions on contractor requests for indemnification against nuclear and unusually hazardous risks and mandates input from the Defense Contract Management Agency.

Mandates contractors for private 5G networks on military installations to provide hardware bills of materials and zero-trust plans, while prioritizing Open-RAN technology.

Grants the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering new authority to direct military departments and conduct developmental prototyping to address joint force capability gaps.

Establishes a new Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Armaments Cooperation and increases the total number of authorized Assistant Secretaries of Defense from 19 to 20.

Expands the authorities of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation and prohibits divestment of certain test capabilities until September 30, 2027, without a waiver.

Adds nuclear fission and fusion energy technologies to the list of covered technology categories for the Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital.

Grants the Office of Strategic Capital authority to charge and collect fees for its services, accept services in kind, and exercise U.S. priority in collecting debts from loan defaults.

Establishes a new joint activity in the Department of Defense, the Joint Interagency Task Force 401, to lead and coordinate all actions to defeat small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).

Designates the new Joint Interagency Task Force 401 as the primary entity for validating and approving all counter-sUAS systems for procurement and use by the Department of Defense.

Authorizes the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit to establish regional offices within and outside the United States to streamline interactions with the private sector, academia, and other partners.

Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy for one year from taking any action to disestablish the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Requires the Navy to prioritize scheduled maintenance and repair actions to maintain the minimum number of available amphibious warfare ships needed for operations.

Requires the Secretary of the Navy to ensure that for fiscal year 2026, amphibious warfare ships receive an equal or greater amount of maintenance funding per capita compared to surface combatant ships.

Prohibits the use of fiscal year 2026 funds to retire or decommission any Navy oceanographic research vessel unless a suitable replacement has been acquired.

Establishes a three-year pilot program for the Navy to test and evaluate the use of automated assembly technologies to reduce shipbuilding times and alleviate workforce constraints.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide physical protection and personal security to former or retired senior DoD officials who face serious and credible threats from their previous duties.

Prohibits the Army from retiring or reducing the capability of any MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft systems unless a superior replacement is fielded or there is no loss in combatant command capacity.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to convey five retired T-37B Trainer Aircraft to the Arizona Aviation Historical Group at no cost to the U.S. government.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to designate and develop an Eastern Regional Range Complex as a joint training and testing hub for multi-domain operations and autonomous systems.

Prohibits using fiscal year 2026 funds to deactivate Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigades until the Army submits plans to offset mission loss and recapitalize aircraft.

Prohibits the Department of Defense from using live animals in live fire trauma training, requiring the use of advanced simulators, mannequins, cadavers, or actors instead.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from destroying, scrapping, or dismantling any aircraft manufactured before December 31, 1945, with specific exceptions for preservation and transfer.

Authorizes the one-time transfer and subsequent sale of surplus military pump-action shotguns from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the feasibility of installing traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS) and ADS-B IN capabilities in all military helicopters.

Extends the termination date of the National Commission on the Future of the Navy to July 1, 2027, and grants it access to special access programs.

Modifies defense trade cooperation under the AUKUS partnership, exempting certain exports and transfers between the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. from congressional notification and consent requirements.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a framework to revise and streamline technology transfer and foreign disclosure policies, including for advanced technologies like AI and hypersonics.

Establishes a pilot program for the Air Force to use civilian airspace sensor networks to improve base defense against small unmanned aircraft systems and enhance cooperation with law enforcement.

Requires the DoD to complete administrative actions for counter-UAS operations and establishes a pilot program to deploy advanced counter-UAS systems to protect at least four covered facilities.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to declassify records related to the January 28, 2024, attack on U.S. Armed Forces at Tower 22, Jordan, with a waiver for national security.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a tabletop exercise to assess the resiliency of military installations and surrounding communities against weather disasters or adversarial attacks.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to establish an Irregular Warfare Exercise Laboratory to support training, experimentation, and capacity building for U.S. and allied forces.

Establishes an independent commission to examine and make recommendations on the national defense strategy of the United States.

Authorizes educational travel for dependents of Department of Defense Education Activity employees at Guantanamo Bay, regardless of the employee's anticipated transfer or home leave schedule.

Expands direct hire authority for the Domestic Defense Industrial Base Facilities to include Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair positions.

Expands the Cyber Excepted Service and authorizes pay rates up to 150% of the maximum for Executive Schedule Level I positions to attract and retain highly skilled cyber personnel.

Requires the Secretary of the Navy to induct a class of at least 100 apprentices at each public Navy shipyard during fiscal year 2026.

Requires new acquisition strategies for Foreign Military Sales that incorporate purchaser input on urgency and risk, and allows prime contractors to pre-order long-lead equipment.

Mandates the establishment of an office by October 1, 2026, to support the acquisition of non-program of record systems by foreign allies and partners.

Extends the authority to reimburse certain coalition nations for support provided to United States military operations for the period of October 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026.

Extends the requirement for an annual report on Iran's military power to 2030 and adds new areas for assessment, including proxies, nuclear advances, and drone supply chains.

Extends the authority to provide assistance to vetted Syrian groups and individuals through December 31, 2026, and modifies vetting and funding limitation requirements.

Extends the authority to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) through December 31, 2026, and adds limitations on fund usage.

Expands authority for counter-terrorism support to borders of any country and specifically along the Egypt-Sudan border, extending the authority through December 31, 2026.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to Jordan and Lebanon, with a focus on helping Lebanese armed forces disarm Hezbollah, and requires a plan by June 2026.

Prohibits any funds authorized for fiscal year 2026 from being made available to the Badr Organization or its affiliates.

Withholds 25% of funding for Iraqi security forces until the Secretary of Defense certifies Iraq is taking steps to counter Iran-aligned militias. This does not apply to Kurdish Peshmerga Forces.

Requires a report by July 1, 2026, on the strategic importance of the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (CSIPA) and the benefits of its potential expansion.

Requires annual reports from 2026 through 2028 on the security, conditions, and repatriation efforts related to ISIS detention facilities in Syria.

Requires an annual report for three years on the status and objectives of the U.S. force posture, basing, and activities in Syria.

Expands cooperation with Israel to counter unmanned systems in all domains, not just aerial, and extends the authority through December 31, 2028.

Expands temporary authorizations for munitions replacement, originally for Ukraine and Israel, to also support the United States defense industrial base.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct joint research, development, test, and evaluation of emerging technologies like AI and cyber with certain partner countries.

Requires an annual report for three years on joint military exercises conducted with Israel, detailing capabilities rehearsed and improvements to interoperability.

Modifies and extends the annual report on Russia to include assessments of military reconstitution, cooperation with China and North Korea, and global activities. The reporting requirement is extended to January 31, 2030.

Extends the prohibition on using funds for any activity that recognizes the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over any internationally recognized territory of Ukraine through fiscal year 2026.

Extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative through December 31, 2029, authorizes funding, and establishes procedures for equipment procured for Ukraine to be accepted back into Department of Defense stocks.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress within 48 hours of any decision to pause, terminate, or materially downgrade intelligence support to Ukraine. This requirement sunsets on December 31, 2027.

Amends and extends the requirement for the Secretary of Defense to submit quarterly reports on military contributions to Ukraine from allied and partner countries until January 1, 2027.

Amends U.S. law to allow the Secretary of Defense to accept contributions from other countries, not just host nations, for logistical and operational support of U.S. armed forces deployed in NATO member countries.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the "Baltic Security Initiative" to deepen security cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression. The initiative terminates on December 31, 2028.

Requires the Secretary of Defense, when making decisions on U.S. military basing and training in NATO countries, to consider the host nation's progress toward meeting new, higher defense investment commitments.

Prohibits funds from being used to reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe below 76,000 until the Secretary of Defense certifies the action is in the national interest and provides an assessment to Congress. This sunsets on December 31, 2027.

Requires the U.S. European Command to report on activities and resources needed to maintain military advantage over Russia and defend the homeland forward for fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Extends the funding authorization for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative through fiscal year 2026 and updates reporting requirements to fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

Establishes an initiative to strengthen cooperation among the defense industrial bases of the U.S. and allied countries in the Indo-Pacific region, terminating on December 31, 2030.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a 5-year strategy to strengthen multilateral defense and coordination with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Expands the definition of a 'Chinese military company' to include entities indirectly owned, controlled by, or acting on behalf of various Chinese government and military bodies.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to seek a joint program with Taiwan to enable the fielding, co-development, and co-production of uncrewed and counter-uncrewed systems capabilities.

Prohibits using funds to reduce U.S. troop levels in South Korea below 28,500 without certifying to Congress that the reduction is in the U.S. national security interest and allies were consulted.

Requires the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State to submit annual reports to Congress on enhancing the U.S. defense relationship with the Philippines through 2029.

Authorizes Foreign Military Financing, direct loans, and loan guarantees to modernize the defense capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Requires multiple Federal agencies to establish working groups to evaluate and respond to cooperation between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and to report on the risks.

Amends the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act to modify reporting requirements and disposal authorities for the National Defense Stockpile Manager.

Grants the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command direct control over planning, programming, and budgeting to train, equip, operate, and sustain the Cyber Mission Force.

Mandates tabletop exercises by September 2026 to develop and evaluate future concepts for the operational employment of Department of Defense cyber capabilities and forces.

Prohibits divesting or reducing certain cyber assessment and red team capabilities for operational testing unless the Secretary of Defense provides a detailed certification to Congress.

Prohibits the use of funds to reduce or diminish the responsibilities, authorities, or organizational oversight of the Commander of United States Cyber Command.

Withholds 10% of funds for the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) initiative until the Secretary of Defense provides a guiding framework to Congress.

The Secretary of Defense must develop a security framework for implementing cybersecurity and physical security standards for covered artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.

Mandatory cybersecurity training for Armed Forces members and civilian employees of the Department of Defense will be revised to include content on challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

Updates the DoD's high-performance computing roadmap to include commercial cloud services and assess the resource impact of new data centers on military installations and surrounding communities.

Prohibits the use of artificial intelligence from specific Chinese companies (DeepSeek, High Flyer) on Department of Defense systems and by contractors, with waivers for national security purposes.

Establishes a Cross-Functional Team to develop a standardized assessment framework and governance structure for artificial intelligence models used by the Department of Defense.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a task force to develop and deploy secure, isolated computing environments (sandboxes) for AI experimentation, training, and development.

Establishes a steering committee to formulate policy for the evaluation, adoption, governance, and risk mitigation of advanced artificial intelligence systems within the Department of Defense.

Amends a previous law to prohibit military recruiting contracts with entities that rate news sources for accuracy, misinformation, or bias, extending this requirement until December 31, 2030.

Amends annual assessment requirements for the U.S. Cyber Command to include a review of investments in artificial intelligence capabilities and extends the reporting deadline to 2030.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to study the use of military capabilities to increase costs and reduce incentives for adversaries targeting U.S. defense critical infrastructure in cyberspace.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study on the best framework for structuring, training, and employing reserve component personnel within the Cyber Mission Force.

Requires the Mission Assurance Coordination Board to submit annual reports to Congress from 2026 to 2031 on its activities, including cybersecurity risk assessments of DoD infrastructure.

Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from divesting, consolidating, or curtailing certain electronic warfare test and evaluation activities until a detailed report is submitted to Congress.

Establishes requirements for Space Force officer assignments, training, and promotions to ensure a balance between acquisition and operational career fields.

Establishes the position of Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space within the Space Force, who will also serve as the Commander of Space Launch Delta 45.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to acquire and operate space systems for space warfighting and control, and allows for the use of commercial systems to augment these capabilities.

Extends middle tier acquisition authority to Tranches 4, 5, and 6 of the Space Development Agency's proliferated warfighter space architecture.

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to use existing Department of Defense test sites and ranges for any tests or demonstrations required by the Rocket Cargo Program.

Mandates the Secretary of Defense to continue operating the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program until the end of the functional life of the satellites currently in orbit.

Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to study the feasibility of establishing a program of record for tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking capabilities.

Requires the Air Force to study the operational capacity, infrastructure, and sustainability of space launch sites at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg, and to explore alternate locations.

Directs that the acquisition strategy for the Next Generation Polar Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite program be revised to include the auxiliary payload (APS–A) in the program of record.

Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to publish a liquid oxygen and methane blast damage assessment guide for space launch vehicles at Air Force launch complexes within one year.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a secure, centralized capability to oversee, deconflict, and assess risks of all commercial vendor support for clandestine activities.

Repeals section 922 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which pertained to insider threat detection programs.

Mandates the Secretary of the Air Force to provide meteorological services for combat support agencies and other elements of the intelligence community.

Requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to annually report to Congress on combatant command requests for remote sensing data, including details on fulfillment and timeliness.

Expands the Nuclear Weapons Council's role as the primary body for integrating and directing nuclear deterrence activities within the DoD and Department of Energy.

Mandates the Air Force maintain at least 400 operationally available ICBMs deployed in at least 450 launch facilities and prohibits reducing the ICBM force size or alert level.

Sets a deadline of September 30, 2032, for limited operational deployment and September 30, 2034, for initial operational capability of the nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile.

Requires the B-21 bomber to be certified for nuclear gravity bombs within 180 days of initial operational capability and for the long-range standoff weapon within two years.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to realign acquisition authorities for nuclear weapons platforms and NC3 systems under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence.

Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to enter into life-of-program procurement contracts for solid rocket motor nozzle material for the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM system.

Requires the Air Force Global Strike Command to deep clean each Minuteman III launch control center at least once every five years until it is decommissioned.

Prohibits using FY 2026 funds to cap compensation for contractor employees supporting NNSA activities, nuclear weapons sustainment, or the Golden Dome missile defense system.

Requires the Air Force to submit an annual strategy to sustain the Minuteman III ICBM system and maximize its end-of-life margin until the Sentinel missile is fully operational.

Formally establishes the Air Force Global Strike Command in law, defines its mission, and specifies that its commander will be a four-star general.

Updates U.S. policy to deploy a next-generation missile defense shield (Golden Dome) to defend against advanced ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide annual reports and quarterly briefings to Congress on the development and deployment of the next-generation air and missile defense architecture.

Clarifies that the Director of the Missile Defense Agency's technical authority is subject to the Secretary of Defense and includes system-level architectures for missile defense programs.

Prohibits the use of privatized or subscription-based missile defense intercept capabilities.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from using subscription-based or pay-for-service models for kinetic missile defense, requiring such systems to be owned and operated by the armed forces.

Prohibits removing integrated air and missile defense systems from Guam without notifying Congress and limits certain travel funds until a required briefing is completed.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation, with the Missile Defense Agency, to design and contract for the construction of up to two new missile instrumentation range safety vessels.

Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from reducing sustainment or halting operation of the AN/FPS–108 COBRA DANE radar in Alaska until a replacement capability is certified.

Requires annual visits and biennial assessments of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site to evaluate its infrastructure, capabilities, and capacity to meet operational needs.

Requires NORAD and USNORTHCOM to include details on any intercepts of unidentified anomalous phenomena in their regular briefings to Congress, including historical data back to 2004.

Requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to integrate offensive and defensive electronic warfare capabilities into Tier 1 and Tier 2 joint training exercises from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Prohibits any individual physically located in a covered nation (such as China or Russia) from having physical or logical access to Department of Defense cloud computing systems and data.

Authorizes nonimmigrant H-2B visa construction workers for military-related projects on Wake Island for up to three years, exempting them from numerical caps until December 31, 2030.

Requires the Secretaries of State and Defense to map global ports vital to U.S. interests and report on efforts by the People's Republic of China to control them, assessing risks and proposing countermeasures.

Authorizes the Department of Defense to perform maintenance and repair work on U.S. Coast Guard rotary aircraft at its depots on a reimbursable basis, pending certification of need by the Coast Guard.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to continually assess the impact of international arms embargoes on Israel's defense capabilities and report to Congress on findings and potential U.S. actions to mitigate gaps.

Expands the authority to counter unmanned aircraft to include contractors, in addition to military officers and civilian employees, and clarifies procedures for these actions.

The authority for the Department of Defense to carry out actions to protect facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft is extended until December 31, 2030.

Refocuses the defense acquisition system to expeditiously provide necessary capabilities to the armed forces, prioritizing end-user needs, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.

Amends the roles of service chiefs in the acquisition process to focus on developing non-prescriptive capability requirements, advising on trade-offs, and recommending termination of underperforming programs.

Creates the senior role of Portfolio Acquisition Executive to lead a portfolio of capabilities, with authority over plans, budgets, and program execution, streamlining accountability in defense acquisition.

Establishes a Product Support Manager for each major weapon system, co-equal to the program manager, responsible for managing product support to maintain readiness and operational capability throughout the system's life cycle.

Mandates performance-based life-cycle sustainment plans for major weapon systems and requires regular sustainment reviews to assess performance against readiness objectives, with corrective action plans for failures.

Adjusts and significantly increases the dollar thresholds that define major defense acquisition programs, major systems, and requirements for submitting cost or pricing data, reflecting updated economic conditions.

Modifies the requirements for acquisition strategies, removing the "milestone" focus and emphasizing a clear business case, capability management, resource planning, and continuous review by a designated decision authority.

Modifies the mission, composition, and responsibilities of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) to focus on joint operational problems and streamline capability requirements.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide biannual briefings to Congress on the implementation of requirements reform and to establish annual objectives for accelerating the process.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense and military departments to acquire services through consumption-based solutions, which are metered and billed based on actual usage at fixed-price units.

Exempts products and services from nontraditional defense contractors from several Department of Defense acquisition regulations, with a waiver process available.

Expands the scope of what can be procured for experimental purposes to include demonstrations, prototypes, products, supplies, parts, accessories, and services.