S. 1071Senate bill · 119th CongressSigned into lawtext replaced crossed party lines donor lobbied it Armed Forces and National Security(orig.)

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Sponsored byJohn CornynR-TXIntroduced Mar 14, 2025Full text on congress.gov ↗

Latest action (Dec 18, 2025) — No: 119-60.

This bill is not what it was

It passed the Senate as A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to disinter the remains of Fernando V. Cota from Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas, and for other purposes.. The House then appears to have struck its text and put different legislation in its place. The text that came back is National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill number did not change, so the committee report, the sponsor and the record of who backed it all still refer to the original.

Replacing a bill's text this way is legal and common enough to have a name — a legislative vehicle. We flag it because nothing in the official record does.

What it does

Congressional Research Service, Dec 10, 2025

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; andsets 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, andIn Focus IF10515, Defense Primer: The NDAA Process.

Face Value

as enrolled

15Omnibus in all but name

How much of this bill its name accounts for.

Every bill starts at100
Areas of law−50
Amends 19 separate titles of the US Code: 5, 10, 14, 17, 18, 28, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 49, 54.
Length−35
1415 sections, against 20 before length counts against a bill.

Face Value measures reach, not honesty. A big bill can be accurately named, and a low score is not an accusation — it means the contents reach further than any short title could describe. Count it yourself ↗ How this is worked out

What Congress did

5 recorded

decisive vote
House · Dec 10, 2025
Whether the bill passes the House. This is the vote most people mean.
312 – 112
Passed
Every vote →
On the Motiondecisive vote
Senate · Dec 17, 2025
77 – 20
Motion Agreed to
Every vote →
On the
Senate · Dec 15, 2025
Whether to end debate so a final vote can happen. Needs 60 senators — this is the vote most bills die on.
76 – 20
Cloture Motion Agreed to
Every vote →
On Motion to Commit
House · Dec 10, 2025
209 – 216
Failed
Every vote →
On the
Senate · Dec 11, 2025
Whether to start debating it at all. Not a vote on the bill itself.
75 – 22
Motion to Proceed Agreed to
Every vote →

Who lobbied on this

29 organizations

These organizations told Congress, in their own quarterly disclosures, that they were lobbying on this bill.

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employeeswanted it stopped
“Oppose inclusion of federal preemption of artificial intelligence in S. 1071 / H.R. 3838, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)” filing ↗
Airbus Americas, Inc.no position stated
“Discuss acquisition policy and monitor the passage of S.1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (P.L. 119-60).” filing ↗
Alliance for Retired Americansno position stated
“1. S. 1071,National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, amendment proposals regarding preemption of state and local laws on artificial…” filing ↗
Am General LLCno position stated
“…No:119-75) (119th) Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization (S. 1071, S.2296, P.L. No: 119-16) (119th) Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Defense Appropriations (H.R. 9495) (119th) Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense…” filing ↗
American Chemistry Councilno position stated
“…S.1071 - National Defense Authorization Act of 2026.” filing ↗
American Public Power Associationno position stated
“Discussed provisions in S. 1071, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 on nuclear energy, interconnection and distribution (sections 2878, 6622, and…” filing ↗
Archer Daniels Midland Companyno position stated
“…provisions related to biomanufacturing P.L. 119-60 (S. 1071): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year…” filing ↗
Blue Origin, LLCno position stated
“S.1071 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. H.R.3838 - Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and…” filing ↗
Boston Scientific Corporationno position stated
“Issues related to FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (Public Law No. 119-60, S.1071, S.2296, & H.R.3838) - advocacy efforts on right to repair (RTR) proposals impacting servicing and repair of medical devices. Specifically, the…” filing ↗
Caterpillar Inc.no position stated
“Discussions regarding right to repair efforts in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (S.1071)” filing ↗
Charter Communications Inc.no position stated
“…HR 6920 - Success for BEAD Act, all provisions. S. 2983 - Extending Expired Cybersecurity Authorities Act, all provisions. S.1071 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, provisions related to spectrum. H.R. 6046 - Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL…” filing ↗
Cheniere Energy Inc.no position stated
“…Track inclusion of language in CGAA Division of National Defense Authorization Act for FY26 (S. 1071) through conference and enactment (Pub.L. 119-60).” filing ↗

Most filings say only that an organization lobbied on a bill, not which side it took — where that's the case we say so rather than guessing. Quotes are verbatim from the filing. How this is built.