National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Became Public Law No: 119-60.

Dec 18, 2025

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 establishes policies and funding authorities for Department of Defense programs, military construction, and Department of Energy national security programs for that fiscal year. The bill authorizes procurement of military equipment including aircraft, ships, and missiles; sets personnel strength levels for active duty and reserve forces; establishes policies for military health care, compensation, acquisition practices, and domestic sourcing requirements; and sets policies regarding DOD interactions with foreign nations, cyber operations, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The bill also authorizes military construction projects, sets policies for the Department of State and Coast Guard, and establishes policies for the Intelligence Community regarding artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

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National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2026 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, military construction, and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill also sets forth policies and authorities for the Department of State, the Coast Guard, and the Intelligence Community (IC). Among other elements, the bill authorizes the procurement of various items, including aircraft, ships, and missiles; sets active duty and reserve component personnel strength levels; sets policy regarding various aspects of military health care and military compensation; sets policy regarding DOD acquisitions and acquisition management, including contracting authorities and domestic sourcing; sets policy for various matters related to DOD interactions with foreign nations, including matters concerning Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific; sets policy for various matters related to DOD cyber operations, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence; authorizes specified military construction projects and extends the authorization of certain projects from previous fiscal years; authorizes the National Nuclear Security Administration, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Naval Petroleum Reserves, and Maritime Administration; sets policy regarding the organization and workforce of the State Department; sets acquisition and personnel policy for the Coast Guard; sets policy for merchant mariner credentials, vessel safety, and oil pollution response; and sets policy for the IC regarding artificial intelligence and biotechnology. For additional information on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) see In Focus IF10516, Defense Primer: Navigating the NDAA , and In Focus IF10515, Defense Primer: The NDAA Process .