Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2026
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2026 directs the Secretary of Defense to build a network of regional defense technology hubs that accelerate research, development, prototyping, and operational transition of emerging military technologies. Eligible consortia may include universities, defense contractors, small businesses, nonprofits, independent research entities, and State or local governments, anchored by defense manufacturing facilities, research universities, or military installations. The program is administered through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Assistant Secretary for Critical Technologies, the Defense Innovation Unit, and other DOD elements. DOD must seek geographic diversity and aims to designate at least 10 hubs within three years. Hubs may receive grants for seed funding, research, prototyping, technology transition, administration, security, and compliance systems, but federal support cannot exceed 50 percent of annual hub operations. The bill authorizes $375 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including $75 million for grants. It requires cybersecurity measures, ITAR and EAR compliance, exclusion of foreign entities of concern, protection of sensitive defense research, security-clearance processes, DOD intellectual-property guidelines, annual hub reports, independent evaluations, and annual reports to the Armed Services Committees.
Who Benefits and How
Defense technology hubs, universities, defense contractors, small businesses, research entities, and State economic development agencies benefit from grant support and a DOD-backed pathway for artificial intelligence, edge computing, quantum, hypersonics, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and other defense technologies. The Department of Defense benefits from regional innovation ecosystems that can prototype faster, connect to mission-critical installations, and build a skilled defense workforce. Communities near anchor defense institutions benefit from workforce development and economic growth. Congress benefits from annual program reports and independent evaluations of outputs, national security impact, and return on investment.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Secretary of Defense, Under Secretary for Research and Engineering, Assistant Secretary for Critical Technologies, Defense Innovation Unit, DCSA, and DOD program staff must solicit applications, choose hubs, monitor security compliance, set intellectual-property rules, administer grants, coordinate with existing programs, and report annually. Hub consortia must apply, provide nonfederal cost share, maintain cybersecurity systems, comply with ITAR and EAR, screen out foreign entities of concern, protect sensitive research, sponsor clearances, and submit annual reports. Federal taxpayers fund the $375 million authorization. Existing programs such as DARPA, Manufacturing USA, EDA Tech Hubs, DIU, and NSF Engines must coordinate to avoid duplication.
Key Provisions
- Creates the Defense Technology Hubs Program for regional defense innovation consortia.
- Authorizes $375 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, including $75 million for grants.
- Requires hubs to meet cybersecurity, export-control, foreign-entity, security-clearance, and sensitive-research safeguards.
- Requires DOD intellectual-property guidelines that preserve defense rights while allowing commercial opportunities.
- Requires independent evaluations and annual reports to the Armed Services Committees.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Creates a Defense Technology Hubs Program in the Department of Defense to designate and support regional defense innovation consortia, fund hub startup and technology-transition work, require cybersecurity, ITAR, EAR, foreign-entity, security-clearance, intellectual-property, and reporting safeguards, and authorize $375 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Key Policy Areas
Defense, Technology, Manufacturing, Workforce
Primary Purpose
Creates a Defense Technology Hubs Program in the Department of Defense to designate and support regional defense innovation consortia, fund hub startup and technology-transition work, require cybersecurity, ITAR, EAR, foreign-entity, security-clearance, intellectual-property, and reporting safeguards, and authorize $375 million for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- Defense technology hubs
- Universities
- Defense contractors
- Small businesses
- Department of Defense
- Congress
Identified Costs
- Secretary of Defense
- Defense technology hubs
- Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
- Federal taxpayers
- Independent evaluators
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in House
Mr. Bell (for himself, Ms. Ross, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
DARPA, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Defense Innovation Unit
Department of Defense faces effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: Defense contractors, Eligible defense consortia
Negative-direction: DARPA, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Defense Innovation Unit, Secretary of Defense
Defense innovators, Defense technology hubs
Defense technology hubs faces effects in multiple directions
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology