National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Wicker, from the Committee on Armed Services, reported the …
Passed Senate (inferred from es version)
On Passage of the Bill S. 2296
S. 2296, as amended
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3927 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Merkley Amdt. No. 3927
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3853 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Sanders Amdt. No. 3853
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3210 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Duckworth Amdt. No. 3210
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3872 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Van Hollen Amdt. No. 3872
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3109 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Schumer Amdt. No. 3109
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3697 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Curtis Amdt. No. 3697
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3535 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Scott (FL) Amdt. No. 3535
On the Amendment S.Amdt. 3761 to S.Amdt. 3748 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Paul Amdt. No. 3761
On the Motion to Table S.Amdt. 3849 to S. 2296 (No short title on file)
Motion to Table Schumer Amdt. No. 3849
On the Motion to Proceed S. 2296
Motion to Proceed to S. 2296
On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 2296
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Proceed to S. 2296
Summary
What This Bill Does
This is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, the annual legislation that sets policy and authorizes funding for the U.S. military and national security programs. It covers ten divisions addressing Department of Defense operations, military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, intelligence activities, Coast Guard operations, State Department matters, and housing programs.
Who Benefits and How
Defense contractors benefit from major procurement authorizations including Columbia-class submarines, Medium Landing Ships, B-21 bombers, and various aircraft programs. Military personnel benefit from policy changes affecting pay, benefits, and working conditions. Shipbuilding companies benefit from requirements to maintain 31 amphibious warfare ships and expand the Navy fleet. Aerospace companies benefit from bomber modernization programs and air refueling fleet expansion.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Defense agency leadership faces increased reporting requirements and accountability measures, including annual matrices for B-21 program progress. The Secretary of the Navy must submit detailed shipbuilding plans or face funding restrictions. China-related entities face trade restrictions and technology transfer limitations. Foreign adversary-connected companies face procurement prohibitions.
Key Provisions
- Authorizes procurement of up to 5 Columbia-class submarines and 15 Medium Landing Ships
- Requires 31 amphibious warfare ship minimum with enforcement via funding restrictions
- Mandates B-21 bomber program accountability reporting with detailed cost and schedule matrices
- Prohibits retirement of A-10 aircraft below 103 inventory and restricts F-15E retirements
- Expands air refueling fleet by retaining KC-135 aircraft as KC-46 replacements arrive
- Includes Coast Guard authorization, intelligence authorization, and State Department authorization acts
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Authorize appropriations for the Department of Defense, military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, intelligence community activities, Coast Guard, and State Department for fiscal year 2026, while also establishing policies and requirements for military personnel, acquisition, and operations
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Maintain and modernize military force structure while increasing accountability through detailed reporting requirements and funding restrictions, with particular focus on naval shipbuilding and bomber aircraft programs"
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Defense
- "secretary_of_the_army"
- → Secretary of the Army
- "secretary_of_the_navy"
- → Secretary of the Navy
- "secretary_of_the_air_force"
- → Secretary of the Air Force
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Defense
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Energy
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of NNSA
- "the_director"
- → Director of National Intelligence
- "the_director_cia"
- → Director of CIA
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Homeland Security
- "the_commandant"
- → Commandant of the Coast Guard
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
Note: 'The Secretary' refers to Secretary of Defense in Division A, Secretary of Energy in Division C, Secretary of State in Divisions G and J, Secretary of Homeland Security in Division H, and Secretary of HUD in Division I
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code
A program for medium unmanned surface vessels or large unmanned surface vessels
Has the meaning given that term in section 8062(h) of title 10, United States Code
Any aircraft of the Air Force designated A-10 Thunderbolt II
Includes the permanent removal of an aircraft from the operational inventory, reassignment to storage, or placement into backup aircraft inventory or excess status
A land-based or sea-based test of the systems concerned in vessel-representative form, fit, and function
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