S.2296 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 3100pages
S.2296 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
3100pages
119
TH
CONGRESS
1
ST
S
ESSION
S. 2296
AN ACT
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Depart
ment of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths
for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. 2
†S 2296 ES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Defense Au-
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5 thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026’’.
SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF ACT INTO DIVISIONS; TABLE OF
6
CONTENTS.
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(a) D
IVISIONS
.—This Act is organized into ten divi-
8
9 sions as follows:
(1) Division A—Department of Defense Au-
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thorizations.
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(2) Division B—Military Construction Author-
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izations.
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(3) Division C—Department of Energy Na-
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tional Security Authorizations and Other Authoriza-
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tions.
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(4) Division D—Funding Tables.
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(5) Division E—Additional Provisions.
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(6) Division F—Intelligence Authorization Act
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for Fiscal Year 2026.
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(7) Division G—Department of State Matters.
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(8) Division H—Coast Guard Authorization Act
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of 2025.
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(9) Division I—ROAD to Housing Act.
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†S 2296 ES
(10) Division J—Department of State Author-
1
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
2
(b) T
ABLE OF
C
ONTENTS
.—The table of contents for
3
4 this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Organization of Act into divisions; table of contents.
Sec. 3. Congressional defense committees.
Sec. 4. Budgetary effects of this Act.
DIVISION A—DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS
TITLE I—PROCUREMENT
Subtitle A—Authorization of Appropriations
Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle B—Army Programs
Sec. 111. Strategy for Army tactical wheeled vehicle program.
Subtitle C—Navy Programs
Sec. 121. Procurement authority for Columbia-class submarine program.
Sec. 122. Procurement authorities for Medium Landing Ships.
Sec. 123. Recapitalization of Navy waterborne security barriers; modification of
prohibition on availability of funds for legacy waterborne secu
rity barriers.
Sec. 124. Modification to limitations on Navy medium and large unmanned sur
face vessels.
Sec. 125. Limitation on availability of funds for TAGOS ship program.
Sec. 126. Limitation on availability of funds relating to amphibious warfare
ship requirement.
Sec. 127. Temporary unavailability of amphibious warfare ships.
Subtitle D—Air Force Programs
Sec. 131. B–21 bomber aircraft program accountability matrices.
Sec. 132. Bomber aircraft force structure and transition roadmap.
Sec. 133. Requirement for an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
roadmap for the Air Force.
Sec. 134. Annual report on Department of Defense unified datalink strategy.
Sec. 135. Plan for open mission systems of F–35 aircraft.
Sec. 136. Modification of prohibition on retirement of F–15E aircraft.
Sec. 137. Prohibition on retirement of A–10 aircraft.
Sec. 138. Extension of limitations and minimum inventory requirement relating
to RQ–4 aircraft.
Sec. 139. Expansion of air refueler fleet.
Sec. 140. Requirements relating to C–130 aircraft.
Sec. 141. Information on future large and oversized air cargo transportation
services.
Sec. 142. Extension of prohibition on certain reductions to B–1 bomber aircraft
squadrons. 4
Sec. 143. Prohibition on certain reductions to inventory of E–3 airborne warn
ing and control system aircraft.
TITLE II—RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION
Subtitle A—Authorization of Appropriations
Sec. 201. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle B—Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations
Sec. 211. Modifications to defense research capacity building program.
Sec. 212. Program for the enhancement of the research, development, test, and
evaluation centers of the Department of Defense.
Sec. 213. Extension of authority for assignment to Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency of private sector personnel with critical re
search and development expertise.
Sec. 214. Limitation on use of funds for certain Navy software.
Sec. 215. Limitation on availability of funds for Under Secretary of Defense for
Research and Engineering.
Sec. 216. Prohibition on contracts between certain foreign entities and institu
tions of higher education conducting Department of Defense
funded research.
Sec. 217. Western regional range complex demonstration.
Sec. 218. Modification of requirement for Department of Defense policies for
management and certification of Link 16 military tactical data
link network.
Sec. 219. Advanced robotic automation for munitions manufacturing.
Sec. 220. Dual-use and defense advanced manufacturing innovation hubs.
Sec. 220A. Advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing programs.
Sec. 220B. Improvements relating to advanced manufacturing.
Sec. 220C. Limitation on availability of funds for fundamental research collabo
ration with certain academic institutions.
Subtitle C—Plans, Reports, and Other Matters
Sec. 221. Catalyst Pathfinder Program.
Sec. 222. Extension of period for annual reports on critical technology areas
supportive of the National Defense Strategy.
Sec. 223. Evaluation of additional test corridors for hypersonic and long-range
weapons.
Sec. 224. Technical correction.
Sec. 225. Congressionally directed programs for test and evaluation oversight.
Sec. 226. Prohibition on modification of indirect cost rates for institutions of
higher education and nonprofit organizations.
Sec. 227. Enhance international coordination for advanced manufacturing tech
niques, technologies, and adoption.
Subtitle D—Biotechnology
Sec. 231. Biotechnology Management Office.
Sec. 232. Department of Defense biotechnology strategy.
Sec. 233. Defining guidelines and policies on the use of biotechnology for the
Armed Forces.
Sec. 234. Enhancement of international biodefense capacity.
TITLE III—OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
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Subtitle A—Authorization of Appropriations
Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle B—Energy and Environment
Sec. 311. Department of Defense guidelines regarding implementation of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Sec. 312. Requirement to support training on wildfire prevention and response.
Sec. 313. Use of solid waste disposal systems by Department of Defense.
Sec. 314. Modification of availability and use of energy cost savings.
Sec. 315. Authority of Department of Defense to destroy or dispose of
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Sec. 316. Modification to restriction on procurement or purchasing of personal
protective equipment for firefighters containing perfluoroalkyl
substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Sec. 317. Provision of bottled water to communities with private drinking water
contaminated with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl sub
stances from activities of Department of Defense.
Sec. 318. Repeal of prohibition on procurement by Department of Defense of
certain items containing perfluorooctane sulfonate or
perfluorooctanoic acid.
Sec. 319. Repeal of temporary moratorium on incineration by Department of
Defense of perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl sub
stances, and aqueous film forming foam.
Sec. 320. Interim responses to address releases or threatened releases of
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Subtitle C—Logistics and Sustainment
Sec. 321. Surface ship sustainment and readiness.
Sec. 322. Technology enhancement for surface ship maintenance.
Sec. 323. Delegation to United States Transportation Command of mitigating
vulnerabilities and risks associated with contested logistics for
Department of Defense.
Sec. 324. Requirements for Department of Defense aircraft operations near
commercial airports.
Sec. 325. Extension and modification of semiannual briefings on operational
status of amphibious warship fleet.
Sec. 326. Prohibition on closure of Army organic industrial base sites.
Sec. 327. Establishment of Defense Personal Property Management Office
under Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel
and Readiness.
Sec. 328. Integration of commercially available artificial intelligence capabilities
into logistics operations.
Sec. 329. Pilot program on arsenal workload sustainment.
Subtitle D—Reports
Sec. 331. Modification of report on improved oversight for implementation of
Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program of the Navy.
Sec. 332. Modification of readiness report to include summary count of certain
mishaps.
Sec. 333. Annual report on funding and status of interim remedial actions of
Department of Defense relating to perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances.
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Subtitle E—Other Matters
Sec. 341. Provision of sports foods and third-party certified dietary supple
ments to members of the United States Special Operations
Command.
Sec. 342. Limitation on use of funds to establish or expand Space Force Spe
cial Operations Component Command.
Sec. 343. Requirements for contracts relating to permanent change of station
moving process.
Sec. 344. Limitation on transformation by the Army of primary helicopter
training program at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Sec. 345. Conveyance of certain aircraft from Air Force to Arizona Aviation
Historical Group, Phoenix, Arizona.
Sec. 346. Limitation on use of funds by the Army until submittal of plan to
integrate Joint Munitions Command and Army Sustainment
Command.
Sec. 347. Limitation on use of certain funds of the Air Force until acquisition
strategy submitted to maintain Airborne Command Post capa
bility.
Sec. 348. Pilot program for contracted amphibious air resources for the area
of responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific Command.
Sec. 349. Naming of certain assets of the Department of Defense in the Com
monwealth of Virginia.
Sec. 350. Modification of protection of certain facilities and assets from incur
sions.
TITLE IV—MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS
Subtitle A—Active Forces
Sec. 401. End strengths for active forces.
Subtitle B—Reserve Forces
Sec. 411. End strengths for selected reserve.
Sec. 412. End strengths for reserves on active duty in support of the reserves.
Sec. 413. End strengths for military technicians (dual status).
Sec. 414. Maximum number of reserve personnel authorized to be on active
duty for operational support.
Subtitle C—Authorization of Appropriations
Sec. 421. Military personnel.
TITLE V—MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY
Subtitle A—Officer Personnel Policy
Sec. 501. Statutory adjustment to reflect transfer of certain general officer bil
lets from the Air Force to the Space Force.
Sec. 502. Notice of removal of Judge Advocates General.
Sec. 503. Qualifications for judge advocates.
Sec. 504. Modification of waiver authority related to joint qualified officer re
quirement prior to promotion to general or flag grade.
Sec. 505. Notification of removal of officers from selection board reports and
promotion lists.
Sec. 506. Space Force general officer management.
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†S 2296 ES
Sec. 507. Temporary increase in fiscal year percentage limitation for reduction
or waiver of service-in-grade requirement for general and flag
officers to be retired in pay grades O-7 and O-8.
Subtitle B—Reserve Component Management
Sec. 511. Expansion of authority to waive limitations on release of reserves
from active duty within two years of retirement eligibility.
Sec. 512. Disestablishment of Navy Reserve Center system.
Sec. 513. National Guard personnel authorities.
Sec. 514. National Guard personnel disaster response duty.
Sec. 515. Treatment of funds received by National Guard Bureau as reimburse
ment from States.
Sec. 516. Limitations applicable to the authority to transfer space functions of
the Air National Guard to the Space Force.
Subtitle C—General Service Authorities and Military Records
Sec. 521. Chief of Naval Personnel.
Sec. 522. Enhanced efficiency and service discretion for Disability Evaluation
System reviews.
Sec. 523. Technical correction related to convalescent leave for academy cadets
and midshipmen.
Sec. 524. Recognition of remotely piloted aircraft crew.
Subtitle D—Military Justice and Other Legal Matters
Sec. 531. Notification of military sex offenders at military installations.
Sec. 532. Quarterly reports on sexual assault prevention and response efforts.
Subtitle E—Member Education, Training, and Transition
Sec. 541. Military service academy nominations.
Sec. 542. Asynchronous instruction in distance education option for profes
sional military education.
Sec. 543. Army University.
Sec. 544. Integration of the Secretary of Defense Strategic Thinkers Program.
Sec. 545. Improvements to information-sharing to support individuals retiring
or separating from the Armed Forces.
Sec. 546. Mandatory training on government ethics and national security law.
Sec. 547. Prohibition on consideration of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national ori
gin, or religion in service academy admissions decisions.
Sec. 548. Prohibition on participation of males in athletic programs or activities
at the military service academies that are designated for
women or girls.
Sec. 549. Pathway for cadets and midshipmen to play professional sports.
Sec. 550. Factors for counseling pathways under Transition Assistance Pro
gram.
Subtitle F—Military Family Readiness and Dependents’ Education
PART I—D
EPENDENTS
’ E
DUCATION
Sec. 551. Certain assistance to local educational agencies that benefit depend
ents of military and civilian personnel.
Sec. 552. Management of special education in schools operated by Department
of Defense Education Activity.
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