National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Latest action (Nov 12, 2025) — Held at the desk.
What it does
Congressional Research Service, Jul 15, 2025This 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). It also authorizes the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board for FY2026. The bill authorizes appropriations but it does not provide budget authority, which is provided by appropriations legislation.
Among other elements, the bill
authorizes the procurement of various items, including aircraft, ships, and missiles;authorizes active duty and reserve component personnel strength levels;authorizes specified military construction projects and extends the authorization of certain projects from previous fiscal years;requires DOD to develop a strategy on the national security implications of emerging biotechnologies;requires the Navy to implement certain processes to improve the material condition and combat readiness of Navy surface ships maintained and repaired at private shipyards; extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (an initiative to enhance U.S. deterrence and defense posture, assure allies and partners, and increase capability and readiness in the Indo-Pacific region) through FY2026; andrepeals various statutory provisions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within DOD, including a provision establishing the position of Chief Diversity Officer of DOD.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 reported to the SenateHow much of this bill its name accounts for.
- Every bill starts at100
- Areas of law−50
Amends 12 separate titles of the US Code: 5, 10, 18, 31, 32, 36, 37, 40, 41, 46, 49, 54.
- Length−35
721 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
3 recordedof the Billdecisive vote
Senate · Oct 9, 2025
Whether the bill passes the Senate. This is the vote most people mean.
On on the
Senate · Sep 2, 2025
Whether to end debate on whether to start debating it. Needs 60 senators; failing here kills the bill without a vote on the bill.
On the
Senate · Sep 4, 2025
Whether to start debating it at all. Not a vote on the bill itself.
Who lobbied on this
82 organizationsThese organizations told Congress, in their own quarterly disclosures, that they were lobbying on this bill.
- Associated Equipment Distributorswanted it stopped
“…the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 Opposed Sec. 836 of S. 2296, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026” filing ↗
- Fluor Corporationwanted it passed
“Issues related to DOD contingency operations and support services--FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - H.R.3838/S 2296. Monitored issues related to LOGCAP and AFCAP. Issues related to DOD Appropriation Act 2026 - H.R. 4016/S2572. Issues related to One Big…” filing ↗
- National Education Associationwanted it passed
“…2330 - PARA Educators Act S. 2451 - Pay Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Act S. 356 - Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 S. 2296 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 S. 2310 - National Education Association Charter Repeal Act S. 2428 - STUDENT Act S.…” filing ↗
- Aerovironment, Inc.no position stated
“…H.R. 3838/S. 2296, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2026, provisions on space, directed energy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and C4ISR. H.R.…” filing ↗
- Aflacno position stated
“Issues related to S. 2296 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.” filing ↗
- Airbus Americas, Inc.no position stated
“…passage of H.R.3838, Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, and S.2296, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.” 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 (119th) Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization” filing ↗
- Amentum Holdings, Inc.no position stated
“…and Space Launch issues S.2296, National Defense Authorization FY2026, Golden…” filing ↗
- American Ambulance Associationno position stated
“…Lobbied on the National Defense Reauthorization Act of 2026 (S. 2296, H.R. 3838) to include language to facilitate the transition of medics leaving the armed forces to transition to the civilian healthcare…” filing ↗
- American Chemistry Councilno position stated
“…S. 2296 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 - sections 315-320 and other bill language related to…” filing ↗
- American Chiropractic Associationno position stated
“…Act for Fiscal Year 2026:Lobbied for the continuation of services provided by doctors of chiropractic currently serving on US military bases. S. 2296, National Defense Authorization Act 2026:Lobbied for the continuation of services provided by doctors of chiropractic currently serving on US…” filing ↗
- American Council of Engineering Companiesno position stated
“S.2296 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.” 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.
Discussion
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