119-hr3838

(a) In General.--This Act may be cited as the ``Streamlining
Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026''.

(b) Reference.--Any reference in this or any other Act to the
``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026'' shall be
deemed to be a reference to the ``Streamlining Procurement for
Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2026''.

(a) Divisions.--This Act is organized into six divisions as
follows:

(1) Division A--Department of Defense Authorizations.

(2) Division B--Military Construction Authorizations.

(3) Division C--Department of Energy National Security
Authorizations and Other Authorizations.

(4) Division D--Funding Tables.

(5) Division E--Other Matters.

(6) Division F--Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025.

(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE I--PROCUREMENT

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Subtitle B--Army Programs

range assault aircraft.

program sealift capability.

Command and Control

(NGC2) of the Army.

Subtitle C--Navy Programs

support continuous production of Virginia
class submarines.

for the construction of a Guided Missile
Destroyer

(DDG) .

and Messing Barges.

Landing Ship Medium program.

as a separate line item in Navy budget
justification materials.

industrial base.

fighter aircraft of the Navy Reserve.

repair ships.
Subtitle D--Air Force Programs

refueling tanker aircraft.

aircraft.

or production line shutdown for E-7A
Wedgetail aircraft.

certification on correction of
deficiencies.

aircraft squadrons.

fleet of the Air National Guard.
Subtitle E--Defense-wide, Joint, and Multiservice Matters

contracting related to foreign-made light
detection and ranging.

for AUKUS partnership.

electric vehicles or components produced by
child and slave labor.

TITLE II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

sustainment.

capability.

for special operations forces.

adaptable radar capabilities.

and low-intensity conflict.

research, development, test, and
evaluation.

Subtitle B--Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations

technology achievements.

laboratories and other entities for
research and development of technologies
for military missions.

furnishing of test facilities and
equipment.

fundamental research collaboration with
certain academic institutions.

Link 16 military tactical data link
network.

manufacturing processes.

Research Projects Agency of private sector
personnel with critical research and
development expertise.

defense research.

Institute.

within the Department of Defense.

relating to digital engineering.

to modernize test and evaluation
infrastructure.

enhance weapon system platforms.

test, and evaluation expenses.

collaboration with foreign countries of
concern.

research.

requirements relating to the Joint
Energetics Transition Office.

education in certain research areas.

robotic process automation.

systems to address obsolescence in Marine
Corps rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft.

systems to address obsolescence in army
rotary-wing aircraft.

national security, and strategic
competition.

Innovation Unit.

research, development, test, and evaluation
function for Army ammunition.
Subtitle C--Plans, Reports, and Other Matters

applications of emerging biotechnology into
wargaming exercises.

research awards.

technology and capabilities.

vessels.

hypersonics research and development.

manufacturing technologies.

space environment.
TITLE III--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Subtitle B--Energy and Environment

eligible investments made by Office of
Strategic Capital.

remediation in annual report on defense
environmental programs.

fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam.

communities with private drinking water
wells contaminated with perfluoroalkyl
substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances.

operational nuclear energy.

Working Group.

weather data.

domestic defense industrial base facility.

perfluoroalkyl substances and
polyfluoroalkyl substances.

by PFAS.

firefighting or security-guard functions.

or hybrid propulsion systems and related
requirements of the Department of Defense.
Subtitle C--Logistics and Sustainment

unspecified minor military construction.

of global contested logistics posture
management.

of Department of Defense.

Optimization Program.

Department of Defense.

exercises.

personnel employed at Pine Bluff Arsenal,
Arkansas, Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky,
and Red River Army Depot, Texas.

depots and arsenals.

workforce training in certain critical
skills.
Subtitle D--Organizational Matters

Navy.

Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida, as a
national memorial, national memorial
garden, and national K9 memorial.
Subtitle E--Studies, Reports, and Briefings

on military installations.

formerly used by the Department of Defense.

rates.

Ready-to-Eat.

IX recovery rates on military depots and
arsenals.

directed energy programs of record.

and naval vessel to onshore rotations.

and Training Range.

caused by activities at former George Air
Force Base.

for last mile logistics and disaster
response operations.
Subtitle F--Other Matters

during noncombatant evacuations of foreign
countries.

agreements for installation-support
services.

governments affected by Army Transformation
Initiative.

installations.

facilities.

transportation service providers.

Guam.

training.

suppression products.

commission relating to assigning,
modifying, or removing of names, symbols,
displays, monuments, and paraphernalia to
assets of the Department of Defense that
commemorate the Confederate States of
America to civil works projects of
Department of Defense.

materials under Innovative Readiness
Training program.

brigades.
TITLE IV--MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS

Subtitle A--Active Forces

Subtitle B--Reserve Forces

Reserves.

active duty for operational support.

duty from counting for active-duty end
strengths.
Subtitle C--Authorization of Appropriations; Reports

TITLE V--MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY

Subtitle A--Officer Policy

relating to authorized number and
distribution of officers in general officer
grades.

Air Force to the Space Force.

successive selection boards for boards to
consider officers for promotion to major
general or rear admiral.

for education required for appointment.

promotion to major general.

Corps Reserve as a joint qualified officer.

Physician to the Congress.
Subtitle B--Reserve Component Management

for preplanned missions in support of the
combatant commands.

activation of reserve members.

National Guard and Air Force National
Guard.

a State disaster.

incident response.

ability to assist in disaster response.

Subtitle C--General Service Authorities and Military Records

expansion.

exclusive use of merit in military
personnel actions.

and inclusion.

the Armed Forces.

John D. Lavelle.

change of station.
Subtitle D--Recruitment and Accession

institutions of higher education.

individuals denied enlistment.

reapply for enlistment following a positive
toxicology test for tetrahydrocannabinol.
Subtitle E--Member Training and Education

civilian equivalents.

regarding professional military education.

Destruction Studies.

midshipmen.

Representatives to the Boards of Visitors
of Service Academies.

Force Institute of Technology.

Relevant Learning initiative of the Navy.

spatial computing for performance training
and proficiency assessment.

theory.

training for members of the Armed Forces.

Officers' Training Corps of the Army.

Forces.

detail as a student at a law school.

Center.

United States Air Force Academy.

Service Academies.
Subtitle F--Military Justice and Other Legal Matters

distribution of intimate visual images
under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

for offenses relating to child pornography.

under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

manslaughter under the Uniform Code of
Military Justice.

abusive sexual contact under the Uniform
Code of Military Justice.

guidance.

sexual assault, sexual harassment, and
intimate-partner violence within the
Department of Defense.

Okinawa, Japan.

records.
Subtitle G--Career Transition

Forces.

preseparation counseling.

adaptive sports program.

Navigator and Partnership Pilot Program.

of the Department of Defense in STEM.

reports.

training in obtaining credit towards a
degree in a medical field.

Armed Forces to the civilian workforce in
air traffic control occupations.

program for retired and discharged members
of the Armed Forces and their immediate
families.

Assistance Program.
Subtitle H--Family Programs and Child Care

care services or youth programs.

high-cost areas.

high-cost areas.

members of the Armed Forces for in-home
child care.

care.

and child care workers.

access across the Armed Forces.

through an Exceptional Family Member
Program of the Armed Forces.
Subtitle I--Dependent Education

reserve components.

dependents of military and civilian
personnel.

children for purposes of Federal impact aid
programs.

students of Defense Dependent Schools.
Subtitle J--Decorations and Awards, Reports, and Other Matters

Jr., for acts of valor as a member of the
Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

Philip J. Conran for acts of valor in Laos
during the Vietnam war.

for acts of valor.

Border.

military installations that support certain
missions.

Williams for acts of valor during the
Korean War.

anniversary of Vietnam War.

Griffin for acts of valor as a member of
the Army during the Vietnam War.

gender, and gender identity in forms and
surveys of the Department of Defense.
TITLE VI--COMPENSATION AND OTHER PERSONNEL BENEFITS

Subtitle A--Basic Pay and Retired Pay

and allowance authorities.
Subtitle B--Bonus and Incentive Pays

authorities.

of the Armed Forces.

Forces assigned to Alaska.

in their fields of specialty.
Subtitle C--Allowances

housing from the calculation of gross
household income of an eligible member of
the Armed Forces.

military food programs.

rate calculation.

calculation.

housing for members of the uniformed
services: lower threshold; permanent
authority.
Subtitle D--Leave

case of a loss of pregnancy or stillbirth.

Subtitle E--Family and Survivor Benefits

and youth program services providers.

members of the Armed Forces when necessary
to meet mission requirements.
Subtitle F--Defense Resale Matters

Sealift Command.

Forces.

commissaries.
Subtitle G--Other Benefits, Reports, and Briefings

programs for members receiving orders for a
change of permanent station.

military installations.

TITLE VII--HEALTH CARE PROVISIONS

Subtitle A--TRICARE and Other Health Benefits

assessment provided to members of the Armed
Forces.

and dependents.

under TRICARE Prime program.

TRICARE to certain individuals.

enrollment in TRICARE Select.

and dependents with additional supplemental
coverage relating to cancer.

Department of Defense.

procedures for pediatric dentistry.

requirements.

under TRICARE.
Subtitle B--Health Care Administration

for certain members of the Armed Forces and
dependents.

children's hospitals.

military departments.

the National Guard performing training or
duty.

partner countries.

manning end strength.

efficiencies in supply-chain management,
medical readiness, and medical processes.

military medical treatment facilities.

employees and contractors.

polyfluoroalkyl substances.

welfare of certain members of the Armed
Forces.

restructuring, realignment, or modification
to military medical treatment facilities.

of civilians in military medical treatment
facilities.

certain medical countermeasures.
Subtitle C--Studies, Briefings, Reports, and Other Matters

countries.

digital health technologies.

serving on active duty.

rotary-wing pilots and aviation support
personnel.

to health of members of the Armed Forces.

treating burn and blast injuries.

pregnant and post-partum TRICARE
beneficiaries.

stop smoking.

members of the Armed Forces participating
in the Transition Assistance Program.

TRICARE program to an in-house mail order
service.

Armed Forces.

military dental treatment facilities.

protective equipment to prevent or reduce
the severity of acute radiation syndrome
and associated mortality.

identification and transparency
enhancement.

civilian and military personnel at Naval
Air Weapons Station China Lake.

Prevention and Behavioral Health.

of combat remotely piloted aircraft
operations.

resources into smart devices issued to
members of the Armed Forces.

from the Armed Forces.

for Department of Defense.

chiropractic clinics at military
installations.
TITLE VIII--ACQUISITION POLICY, ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT, AND RELATED
MATTERS

Subtitle A--Acquisition Policy and Management

defense priorities and allocation system.

philanthropy reporting by defense
contractors and grantees.
Subtitle B--Amendments to General Contracting Authorities, Procedures,
and Limitations

actions.

procurement and fielding of innovative
technologies.

requirements validation.

nations.

technology-enhanced capabilities with
partnership intermediaries.

enhancement.

requirements to certain projects performed
through other transaction authority.

technology from Chinese entities.

technology and blockchain equipment or
services.

flatware and dinnerware.
Subtitle C--Provisions Relating to Workforce Development

positions.

Training Corps.

acquisition workforce.

disability hiring goals.

assigned to a critical acquisition
position.

development of the acquisition workforce.

Subtitle D--Provisions Relating to Supply Chains and Domestic Sourcing

Amendment.

major defense acquisition programs.

nations.

requirements for covered products.

information and communications
capabilities.

vulnerabilities.

seafood purchases.

Department of Defense dependent on foreign
materials or components.

certain nations.

Subtitle E--Prohibitions and Limitations on Procurement

with certain retailers.

facilities.

repair materials.

foreign sources.

foreign nations.

American sources; exceptions.

foreign-owned online tutoring services.

entities.

foreign entities of concern.

entities owned or controlled by China.

in a boycott of the State of Israel.

telecommunications contracts.

acquisition prohibition.

diode display technologies.
Subtitle F--Industrial Base Matters

advance international product support
capabilities in a contested logistics
environment.

earth elements and strategic and critical
materials.

products.

capacity.

equipment and associated software supplying
the defense industrial base.

devices.

Subtitle G--Small Business Matters

concerns owned and controlled by veterans.

small business technology transfer program.

the Small Business Innovation Research
program or Small Business Technology
Transfer program.

concerns for any significant contract
termination.

concerns.
Subtitle H--Other Matters

Capabilities Pilot Program.

sustainment.

mergers and acquisitions of defense
contractors.

and textiles for procurement by the
Department of Defense.

dual-use technologies.

on oversight of fraud, waste, and abuse.

acquisition programs.

applications for future advanced military
capabilities.

software contracts.
Subtitle I--Robot Security

vehicle systems from covered foreign
entities.

systems from covered foreign entities.

operation of covered unmanned ground
vehicle systems manufactured by certain
foreign entities.
TITLE IX--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

Subtitle A--Office of the Secretary of Defense and Related Matters

the Department of Defense.

for Research and Engineering.

Test and Evaluation.

Office of Strategic Capital.
Subtitle B--Other Department of Defense Organization and Management
Matters

Chiefs of Staff.

Defense Innovation Unit.

submittal of plan on the proposed
integration of the Joint Munitions Command
and the Army Sustainment Command.

commanding officers of certain military
installations of the Air Force.

and validation of certain unmanned aircraft
systems and components.

technologies, processes, and investment
related to combined joint all-domain
command and control.

appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff.
TITLE X--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subtitle A--Financial Matters

(Comptroller) .

Improvement and Audit Remediation Plan and
report.

Department of Defense financial improvement
and audit remediation plan.

Business Systems Audit Remediation Plan and
Department of Defense annual financial
statements.

Office of Secretary of Defense until
completion of certain audit requirements.

to title II of Public Law 119-21.

submitted financial statements or failure
to achieve unqualified or qualified
independent audit opinion.

facilitate audit of the financial
statements of the Department of Defense for
fiscal year 2026.
Subtitle B--Naval Vessels

vessel construction plans.

Fund to purchase certain used foreign
constructed vessels.

construction of combatant and escort
vessels and assignment of vessel projects.

Ships.

line item in operation and maintenance
budget.

construction.

quantity contract for destroyer
maintenance.

oceanographic research vessels.

Dai Do.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.

the United States.
Subtitle C--Counterterrorism

forces to support law enforcement agencies
or Federal agencies conducting
counterterrorism and counter transnational
organized crime activities.

release of individuals detained at United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
to the United States.

modify facilities in the United States to
house detainees transferred from United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

release of individuals detained at United
States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba,
to certain countries.

relinquish control of United States Naval
Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

of the United States.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations

of Department of Defense accounting for
missing United States Government personnel.

Department of Defense for Members of
Congress and certain Congressional
employees.

provide certain assistance to secure the
southern land border of the United States.

the Maritime Industrial Base Program.

systems.

Historical Group.

domain operations and robotic autonomous
systems training, testing, and
experimentation.

higher education that allow antisemitic
demonstrations.

compliance with certain congressional
notice requirements.

freeze, reduction in force, or hiring delay
without cause at a public shipyard.

Combat Aviation Brigades.

Ground.

members of the Armed Forces to State
educational agencies.

senior civilian leadership with respect to
display of flags.
Subtitle E--Reports

authorities at the Southwest border.

Department of Defense by certain officers
of the Armed Forces and civilian employees
of the department following separation from
military service or employment with the
Department.

sensing data.

Directive 3000.09.

certain drug cartels.

systems in military rotary-wing aircraft.

Corridor Network Assessments.

hosting Confucius Institutes.

rates, and plans to reduce downtime.

for Indo-Pacific region conflicts.

Division.

demonstration team.

technology in the United States.

Department of Defense and Congress.

intelligence, maintenance, cyber defense,
and other mission areas.

and in relation to ticks, tick-borne
disease.

Exercise Team into large scale exercises of
United States Indo-Pacific Command.

Autonomous Data Collection System.

framework for addressing recruitment,
retention, and readiness challenges.

Janet Yamanaka Mello.
Subtitle F--Other Matters

maritime industrial base.

Navy.

Partnership.

Commission.

policies.

Exercise.

supplements to members of the Armed Forces
assigned to the United States Special
Operations Command.

improve Air Force counter-unmanned aircraft
system capabilities for base defense.

protection of certain facilities and assets
from unmanned aircraft.

Operations Forces.

compartmented information facilities for
industry.

the Department of Defense.

service providers and transportation
officers.

Center.

attack.

Arlington National Cemetery.

review.
TITLE XI--CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

Subtitle A--General Provisions

employees with permanent duty station in
Guam.

competitive service and excepted service
positions in the Department of Defense.

vessels.

on premium pay and aggregate limitation on
pay for Federal civilian employees working
overseas.

allowances, benefits, and gratuities to
civilian personnel on official duty in a
combat zone.

appointments due to active duty.

deployed into combat zones and toxic
exposure.

of direct hire authority.

Guam.

Subtitle B--Defense Hiring Modernization Act of 2025

TITLE XII--MATTERS RELATING TO FOREIGN NATIONS

Subtitle A--Assistance and Training

security forces.

Defense Fellowship Program.

companies operating in the United States.

technologies to further the warfighting
capabilities of the United States and
certain partner countries.

Program.
Subtitle B--Matters Relating to Israel

tunnel cooperation.

cooperation to counter unmanned systems in
all warfighting domains.

border between Gaza and Egypt.

Subtitle C--Matters Relating to the Near and Middle East

operations.

coalition nations for support provided to
United States military operations.

assistance to vetted Syrian groups and
individuals.

assistance to counter the Islamic State of
Iraq and Syria.

power of Iran.
Subtitle D--Reports and Strategies

security developments involving the Russian
Federation.

the European region.

security developments involving the
People's Republic of China.

comprehensive security integration and
prosperity agreement.

strategy relating to the Arctic region.

TITLE XIII--OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO FOREIGN NATIONS

Subtitle A--Matters Relating to Europe

NATO's eastern flank.

Initiative.

to Ukraine.

Subtitle B--Matters Relating to the Indo-Pacific Region

cleanup.

Pacific.

South Korea.

Associated States.

and NATO militaries in the Indo-Pacific
Region.

cooperation.

support.

between the United States and Taiwan.

its energy infrastructure.
TITLE XIV--OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS

Subtitle A--Military Programs

Subtitle B--Other Matters

Department of Defense-Department of
Veterans Affairs Medical Facility
Demonstration Fund for Captain James A.
Lovell Health Care Center, Illinois.

Capital Fund for audit purposes.

Home.

from end-of-life equipment.
TITLE XV--CYBERSPACE-RELATED MATTERS

Subtitle A--Cyber Operations

in Cybersecurity.

combatant commands.

of certain electronic warfare test and
evaluation activities.

Armed Forces to carry out Department of
Defense cyber operations.

Area of responsibility.
Subtitle B--Cybersecurity

security.

annual cybersecurity training.

contracts.

artificial intelligence.
Subtitle C--Information Technology and Data Management

services.
Subtitle D--Artificial Intelligence

Department of Defense.

Subtitle E--Reports and Other Matters

contracting for military recruiting.

Cyber Range complexes.

armories of the Air National Guard and the
Army National Guard.
TITLE XVI--SPACE ACTIVITIES, STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, AND INTELLIGENCE
MATTERS

Subtitle A--Space Activities

services.

warfighter space architecture of Space
Development Agency.

Persistent Infrared satellites.

trafficking.
Subtitle B--Defense Intelligence and Intelligence-Related Activities

to execute warrants and make arrests.

Defense insider threat program.

industrial consortiums.

certain contractors.

resources by individuals who are not
citizens of the United States or allied
countries.

and critical infrastructure cybersecurity
operations.

information facilities.
Subtitle C--Nuclear Forces

missile.

missiles of the United States.

missile and maximize end-of-life margin.

Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological
Defense Policy and Programs.

indemnification procedures to enable
procurement of commercial advanced nuclear
technologies.

operational facilities associated with the
LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental
ballistic missile system.

Subtitle D--Missile Defense Programs

Golden Dome for America policy.

intercept capabilities.

report.

Subtitle E--Other Matters

operation of the AN/FPS-108 COBRA DANE
radar.

production capacity and inventory.
TITLE XVII--OTHER DEFENSE MATTERS

Subtitle A--Miscellaneous Authorities and Limitations

member of the Uniformed Services University
of Health Sciences in the course of such
employment: free use by the Federal
Government.

through direct commercial sales.

surplus firearms, ammunition, and parts.

embargoes on Israel and actions to address
defense capability gaps.
Subtitle B--Other Matters

purposes.

services produced by foreign adversary
entities.

the International Criminal Court.

authorities to other Federal agencies.

components and materials.

sourced materials.

precursor chemicals.

foreign exchange programs.

at Department of Defense depots.

served in the United States Cadet Nurse
Corps during World War II.

Commission.

operations in Latin America.

Iran.

to Iraq.

regulations.
Subtitle C--Tracking Hostile Industry Networks and Kit While Thwarting
Weapons Imports From Chinese Entities Act of 2025

China.
Subtitle D--SAFE Research Act

TITLE XVIII--STREAMLINING PROCUREMENT FOR EFFECTIVE EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY

Subtitle A--Alignment of the Defense Acquisition System

of members of the Armed Forces.

provisions.

Subtitle B--Requirements Process Reform

Programming Integration Directorate.

Activity.
Subtitle C--Streamlining Acquisition Processes

products and commercial services.

Subtitle D--Matters Relating to Commercial Innovation

modifications to rights in technical data.

program.

items.
Subtitle E--Modifications to Strengthen the Industrial Base

products manufactured using advanced
manufacturing.

DIVISION B--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS

specified by law.

TITLE XXI--ARMY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

at Fort Gillem, Georgia.

projects.

projects.

project at Smith Barracks, Germany.
TITLE XXII--NAVY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

project at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry
Point, North Carolina.

2022 projects.

2023 projects.
TITLE XXIII--AIR FORCE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

projects.

at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

projects.

projects.

projects.

projects.

project at F.E. Warren Air Force Base,
Wyoming.
TITLE XXIV--DEFENSE AGENCIES MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

acquisition projects.

program projects.

at Iwakuni, Japan.

projects.

projects.

project at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

project at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant,
Missouri.

project at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

project at Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-
Lakehurst, New Jersey.
TITLE XXV--INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Subtitle A--North Atlantic Treaty Organization Security Investment
Program

authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle B--Host Country In-Kind Contributions

TITLE XXVI--GUARD AND RESERVE FORCES FACILITIES

acquisition projects.

projects.

construction and land acquisition projects.

acquisition projects.

acquisition projects.

projects.

project at Tucson International Airport,
Arizona.

Reserve Center Conroe, Texas.
TITLE XXVII--BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE ACTIVITIES

closure activities funded through
Department of Defense base closure account.
TITLE XXVIII--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subtitle A--Military Construction Programs

contracts and grants.

installations.

military construction projects.

at Army installations.

construction projects with protective
design elements.

construction projects.

research, development, test, and
evaluation.

infrastructure.
Subtitle B--Military Housing Reforms

and Market Analysis.

preservation of certain units of military
housing under jurisdiction of the
Department of Defense.

of maintenance work orders for privatized
military housing.

certain annual report on privatized
military housing.

to privatized military housing.

military departments.

military housing.

of Department of Defense data with respect
to real property, infrastructure, military
unaccompanied housing.

Federal Government.

relating to critical military housing
supply and affordability.
Subtitle C--Real Property and Facilities Administration

projects and services.

investment for facilities sustainment,
restoration, and modernization for military
departments.

pilot program for use of cost savings
realized.

for ordnance disposal.

Investment program projects on privatized
utility systems.

and force protection or urban-training
operations.

reimbursements from major range and test
facility base users at certain Department
of the Air Force installations.

coordination for grid resiliency on
military installations.

construction projects; report.

facilities.

exposure at Holloman Air Force Base and
White Sands Missile Range.

Augusta, Georgia.

located in Muscogee County and
Chattahoochee County, Georgia.

Star Family Members of the Armed Forces.

programs.

installations that do not correspond to the
sex of an individual.
Subtitle D--Land Conveyances

Lathrop, California.

West, Florida.
Subtitle E--Modifications to Unspecified Minor Military Construction

carry out certain unspecified minor
military construction projects.

authority for laboratory revitalization
projects.

unspecified minor military construction
projects.

authority to provision of law with respect
to military construction projects for
research, test, development, and
evaluation.

unspecified minor military construction
projects.

manufacturing technologies in military
construction projects.

Subtitle F--Limitations and Other Matters

resilience.

improvement of commissary store facilities.

public infrastructure in connection with
realignment of marine corps forces in Asia
Pacific region.

and cultural resources located on military
installations.

energy efficiency building codes.

implementation of recommendations of
commission on the naming of certain items
of the Department of Defense.

staffing of Department of Defense military
treatment facilities located inside the
United States.

establish an enduring location in a foreign
country.

defense sites within area of responsibility
of Joint Region Marianas.

controlled by foreign adversaries.

infrastructure in Hawaii.

Department of Defense in the Indo-Pacific
region.

installation.

infrastructure program.

pilot project.

Development and Use of Online Real Estate
Inventory Tool.
DIVISION C--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORIZATIONS AND
OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE XXXI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS

Subtitle A--National Security Programs and Authorizations

Subtitle B--Program Authorizations

the National Nuclear Security
Administration.
Subtitle C--Reports and Other Matters

nuclear weapons stockpile stewardship,
management, and responsiveness plan.

Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization
Project.

Guam.

Nuclear Safety Administration.
TITLE XXXII--DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFETY BOARD

TITLE XXXIV--NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVES

TITLE XXXV--MARITIME ADMINISTRATION

Subtitle A--Maritime Administration

Subtitle B--Maritime Infrastructure

development program funds to replace
Chinese port crane hardware or software.

ports.

infrastructure development program.
Subtitle C--Reports

and operation of military sealift command
vessels.
Subtitle D--Other Matters

plan.

Government.

a State maritime academy.

safety vessels.
DIVISION D--FUNDING TABLES

TITLE XLI--PROCUREMENT

TITLE XLII--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

TITLE XLIII--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

TITLE XLIV--MILITARY PERSONNEL

TITLE XLV--OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE XLVI--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

TITLE XLVII--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS

DIVISION E--OTHER MATTERS

TITLE LI--PROHIBITIONS RELATING TO CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY

products or services for individuals and
prohibition on directly issuing a central
bank digital currency.

central bank digital currency.

DIVISION F--COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2025

In this Act, the term ``congressional defense committees'' has the
meaning given that term in

(a)

(16) of title 10, United
States Code.

DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS

TITLE I--PROCUREMENT

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026
for procurement for the Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps, the Air
Force and the Space Force, and Defense-wide activities, as specified in
the funding table in

Subtitle B--Army Programs

(a) Authority for Multiyear Procurement.--Subject to

of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Army may enter
into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the fiscal year
2027 program year, for the procurement of UH-60 Blackhawk aircraft.

(b) Condition for Out-year Contract Payments.--A contract entered
into under subsection

(a) shall provide that any obligation of the
United States to make a payment under the contract for a fiscal year
after fiscal year 2027 is subject to the availability of appropriations
or funds for that purpose for such later fiscal year.
(c) Authority for Advance Procurement.--The Secretary of the Army
may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 2026,
for advance procurement associated with the aircraft for which
authorization to enter into a multiyear procurement contract is
provided under subsection

(a) , which may include procurement of
economic order quantities of material and equipment for such aircraft
when cost savings are achievable.

RANGE ASSAULT AIRCRAFT.

(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of the Army may enter into
contracts, in advance of full-rate production, for the procurement of
future long-range assault aircraft as part of an accelerated low-rate
early production effort.

(b) Objectives.--In carrying out the early production effort
described in subsection

(a) , the Secretary of the Army shall pursue the
following objectives:

(1) To expedite delivery of future long-range assault
aircraft operational capability to the warfighter.

(2) To maintain momentum and learning continuity between
test article completion and full production ramp-up.

(3) To stabilize and retain the specialized workforce and
industrial base supporting future long-range assault aircraft,
including critical suppliers and production facilities in
Texas, Kansas, and other States.

(4) To mitigate cost escalation risks and improve program
affordability across the life cycle.
(c) Considerations.--In executing the authority provided by
subsection

(a) , the Secretary shall--

(1) prioritize program continuity, cost-efficiency, and
workforce retention across the supply chain for tiltrotor
aircraft;

(2) ensure that aircraft procured as part of the early
production effort described in subsection

(a) incorporate
lessons learned from test article evaluations; and

(3) maintain flexibility in design to accommodate future
upgrades through the modular open systems architecture and
digital backbone.
(d) Briefing to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall provide
to the congressional defense committees a briefing detailing--

(1) the implementation plan and timeline for the
procurement and early production effort described in subsection

(a) ;

(2) the status of industrial base readiness and supply
chain coordination; and

(3) estimated long-term cost savings and operational
benefits derived from such early production effort.

PROGRAM SEALIFT CAPABILITY.

(a) Limitation.--The Secretary of the Army may not reduce,
withdraw, or otherwise degrade the sealift capability of the Army
Prepositioned Stocks--Afloat program (referred to in this section as
``APS-3'') until the date on which the Secretary submits to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report that includes--

(1) a comprehensive plan for the Army Prepositioned Stocks
program through fiscal year 2030, addressing modernization,
sustainment, and capacity objectives for all subprograms and
capabilities, including APS-3;

(2) estimated costs, schedule projections, and risk
assessments for executing the plan under paragraph

(1) ;

(3) a detailed description of any alternative solution or
capability that the Army envisions would succeed or supplement
APS-3, including operational employment concepts, an
acquisition strategy, and a strategy for integration with joint
and coalition logistics forces;

(4) an assessment of the risks, costs, and benefits
associated with a potential deactivation or reduction in APS-3
capabilities; and

(5) any legislative or regulatory authorities required to
implement--
(A) the plan under paragraph

(1) ; and
(B) any alternative solution or capability
identified under paragraph

(3) .

(b)

COMMAND AND CONTROL

(NGC2) OF THE ARMY.

Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise
made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of the Army for
the Army's Next Generation Command and Control

(NGC2) strategy, not
more than 50 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary
of the Army submits to the congressional defense committees a report
that includes the following:

(1) The Army's detailed funding plans for current and new
procurements for its tactical network, and a cost and
capability assessment of current and proposed solutions.

(2) Testing and fielding plans for any new procurements for
such network, including an explanation of--
(A) how any new programs meet the resiliency
requirements specified in

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public
Law 116-92; 133 Stat. 1251); and
(B) how any new programs will utilize NSA High
Assurance certified encryption and decryption.

(3) Plans to integrate existing programs of record with new
programs of record and plans to ensure systems are
interoperable with both fielded systems the systems of foreign
partners.

Not later than December 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Army shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plan of
the Army to require and accelerate the fielding of Link 16 military
tactical data networking capabilities throughout the Army, including on
UH-60M and CH-47F aircraft--

(1) for command and control and fires;

(2) to ensure maximum interoperability, lethality, and
survivability of combat and combat support elements supporting
the Joint Force within highly contested airborne combat
environments in the area of responsibility of the United States
Indo-Pacific Command; and

(3) to meet joint all-domain command and control goals
worldwide.

Subtitle C--Navy Programs

(a) Contract Authority.--The Secretary of the Navy may enter into
one or more contracts for the procurement of not more than two Ford
class aircraft carriers.

(b) Authority for Advance Procurement and Economic Order
Quantity.--The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more
contracts for advance procurement, advance construction, and material
and equipment in economic order quantities associated with the
procurement of the Ford class aircraft carriers for which contracts are
authorized under subsection

(a) .
(c) Use of Incremental Funding.--With respect to a contract entered
into under subsection

(a) or

(b) , the Secretary of the Navy may use
incremental funding to make payments under the contract.
(d) Liability.--Any contract entered into under subsection

(a) or

(b) shall provide that--

(1) any obligation of the United States to make a payment
under the contract is subject to the availability of
appropriations for that purpose; and

(2) the total liability of the Federal Government for
termination of any contract entered into shall be limited to
the total amount of funding obligated to the contract at time
of termination.

(a) Contract Authority.--The Secretary of the Navy may enter into a
contract, beginning with fiscal year 2026, for the procurement of up to
five Columbia class submarines.

(b) Incremental Funding.--With respect to a contract entered into
under subsection

(a) , the Secretary of the Navy may use incremental
funding to make payments under the contract.
(c) Funding and Liability.--Any contract entered into under
subsection

(a) shall provide that--

(1) any obligation of the United States to make a payment
under the contract is subject to the availability of
appropriations for that purpose; and

(2) the total liability of the Federal Government for
termination of any contract entered into shall be limited to
the total amount of funding obligated to the contract at time
of termination.

SUPPORT CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF VIRGINIA CLASS
SUBMARINES.

(a) In General.-- The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or
more contracts, prior to ship authorization, for the advance
procurement of covered components for Virginia class submarines,
including procurement of such components in economic order quantities
when cost savings are achievable.

(b) Funding and Liability.--Any contract entered into under
subsection

(a) shall provide that--

(1) any obligation of the United States to make a payment
under the contract is subject to the availability of
appropriations for that purpose; and

(2) the total liability to the Federal Government for
termination of the contract shall be limited to the total
amount of funding obligated for the contract at the time of
termination.
(c) Budget Requests.--In the budget justification materials
submitted in support of the budget of the Department of Defense (as
submitted with the budget of the President under

(a) of
title 31, United States Code) for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year
thereafter, the Secretary of the Navy shall include a separate budget
display identifying the amounts requested pursuant to this section set
forth by the specific program, project, or activity under the Virginia
class submarine program for which such funds are requested.
(d) Covered Components Defined.--In this section, the term
``covered components'' means the following components for Virginia
class submarines:

(1) Propulsion plant equipment.

(2) Diesel Systems and associated components.

(3) Castings, forgings, and tank structures.

(4) Air flasks.

(5) Payload tubes.

(6) Major Valves And Associated Components.

(7) Hatches.

(8) Steering and drive components.

(9) Major Pumps And Motors.

(10) Snorkel mast and components.

(11) Torpedo tubes.

(12) Atmosphere control equipment.

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER

(DDG) .

(a) In General.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act
or otherwise made available for the Navy for Shipbuilding and
Conversion for fiscal year 2026 may be used by the Secretary of the
Navy to enter into an incrementally funded contract for the
construction of one Guided Missile Destroyer

(DDG) .

(b) Availability of Funds.--A contract entered into under
subsection

(a) shall provide that any obligation of the United States
to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of
appropriations for that purpose, and that total liability to the
Government for the termination of the contract shall be limited to the
total amount of funding obligated at time of termination.

AND MESSING BARGES.

(a) Authority for Multiyear Procurement.--Subject to

of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Navy may enter
into one or more multiyear contracts, beginning with the fiscal year
2026 program year, for the procurement of Yard, Repair, Berthing, and
Messing Barges and associated material.

(b) Authority for Advance Procurement.--The Secretary of the Navy
may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 2026,
for advance procurement associated with the barges for which
authorization to enter into a multiyear procurement contract is
provided under subsection

(a) , which may include procurement of
economic order quantities of material and equipment for such barges
when cost savings are achievable.

(b) Availability of Funds and Termination Liability.--Any contract
entered into under subsection

(a) shall provide that--

(1) any obligation of the United States to make a payment
under the contract is subject to the availability of
appropriations for that purpose; and

(2) the total liability of the Federal Government for
termination of the contract shall be limited to the total
amount of funding obligated to the contract at the time of
termination.

LANDING SHIP MEDIUM PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--After the construction of the lead ship of the
Landing Ship Medium program has commenced, the Secretary of the Navy
shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate vessel
construction manager pursuant to which the vessel construction manager
shall seek to enter into one or more contracts for the construction of
not more than 8 additional landing ships under the program.

(b) Requirements for Additional Ships.--The additional landing
ships authorized to be constructed under subsection

(a) , shall be
nondevelopmental items constructed using a design that is--

(1) the same as the design of the lead ship; or

(2) derived from such design.
(c) Lead Ship Defined.--In this section, the term ``lead ship''
means the first landing ship procured as a commercial or
nondevelopmental item as authorized under

(b) of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law
118-159).

The Secretary of the Navy may not enter into a contract or other
agreement that includes a scope of work, including priced or unpriced
options, for the construction, advance procurement, or long-lead
material of the lead ship of the Modular Attack Surface Craft program
until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees
that such ship will be designed and constructed for the primary purpose
of operating autonomously.

AS A SEPARATE LINE ITEM IN NAVY BUDGET JUSTIFICATION
MATERIALS.

(a) In General.--In the budget justification materials submitted to
Congress in support of the Department of the Defense budget for fiscal
year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter (as submitted with the budget
of the President under

(a) of title 31, United States
Code), the Secretary of the Navy shall include one or more dedicated
line items for spare parts and repair parts for amphibious warfare
ships in the budget display for other procurement, Navy.

(b) Amphibious Warfare Ship Defined.--In this section, the term
``amphibious warfare ship'' has the meaning given that term in

(h) of title 10, United States Code.

INDUSTRIAL BASE.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall develop and
implement a strategy for investing in and supporting the maritime
industrial base to address cost and schedule challenges for surface and
submarine shipbuilding programs.

(b) Elements.--The strategy under subsection

(a) shall--

(1) focus on ensuring reliable supplies of sequence
critical components for submarine and surface shipbuilding
programs; and

(2) include measures--
(A) to identify key performance indicators to
measure return on investment;
(B) to centralize data collection to support
further analysis of maritime industrial base
performance; and
(C) to apply artificial intelligence to monitor and
predict potential supply chain challenges, including
potential disruptions, material shortages, delivery
delays, and other such factors.
(c) Report.--Following completion of the strategy required under
subsection

(a) , but not later than 210 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the strategy. The report
shall include--

(1) a summary of the strategy;

(2) timelines for implementation of the strategy; and

(3) an explanation of how the strategy is expected to
address cost and schedule challenges for surface and submarine
shipbuilding programs.

FIGHTER AIRCRAFT OF THE NAVY RESERVE.

Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159) is amended by striking subsection
(c) and inserting the following:
``
(c) Covered F-18 Aircraft Defined.--In this section, the term
`covered F-18 aircraft' means--
``

(1) the eight F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft procured
using funds authorized and appropriated for the Navy during
fiscal year 2023; or
``

(2) in lieu of an aircraft described in paragraph

(1) ,
any Block II or newer F/A-18E/F tactical fighter aircraft
that--
``
(A) has a minimum of 2,000 flight hours of
service-life remaining airframe flight time prior to
the need for a required high flight-hour inspection and
Service Life Modification process; and
``
(B) is included in the Naval Aviation Master
Aviation Plan and designated for the Navy Reserve.
``
(d) Master Aviation Plan.--In conjunction with the activities
required under this section, the Secretary of the Navy shall ensure
that the Naval Aviation Master Aviation Plan remains up-to-date and
relevant with respect to aviation units of the Navy Reserve.''.

REPAIR SHIPS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the strategy of the Navy
for procuring at least two cable laying and repair ships to replace the
USNS Zeus as it nears the end of its expected service life.

(b) Elements.--The report under subsection

(a) shall include--

(1) a description of the full scope of the planned
capabilities for the next generation of cable laying and repair
ships to meet anticipated Navy requirements, including the
feasibility of establishing organic capabilities;

(2) a projected timeline for the procurement of such ships,
including the expected time until such ships will be
operational;

(3) an explanation of how the Navy plans to meet Service
requirements for submarine cable laying and repair during the
period before which the Navy is able to field new capabilities.
(c) Form of Report.--The report required under subsection

(a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

Subtitle D--Air Force Programs

REFUELING TANKER AIRCRAFT.

(a) Minimum Inventory Requirement.--

(j) of title 10,
United States Code, is amended--

(1) in paragraph

(1) , by striking ``a total aircraft
inventory of air refueling tanker aircraft of not less than 466
aircraft'' and inserting ``a total aircraft inventory of air
refueling tanker aircraft--
``
(A) of not less than 466 aircraft during the
period ending on September 30, 2026;
``
(B) of not less than 485 aircraft during the
period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on
September 30, 2027; and
``
(C) of not less than 504 aircraft beginning on
October 1, 2027.''; and

(2) in paragraph

(2) , by striking ``below 466'' and
inserting ``below the applicable level specified in paragraph

(1) ''.

(b) Prohibition on Reduction of KC-135 Aircraft in PMAI of the
Reserve Components.--

(1) In general.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal
year 2026 for the Air Force may be obligated or expended to
reduce the number of KC-135 aircraft designated as primary
mission aircraft inventory within the reserve components of the
Air Force.

(2) Primary mission aircraft inventory defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``primary mission aircraft inventory'' has
the meaning given that term in

(i) (2)
(B) of title
10, United States Code.

(a) Extension of Minimum Inventory Requirement.--

(a)

(3)
(B) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263; 136 Stat. 2455), as amended
by

(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159), is amended by striking ``2025'' and
inserting ``2026''.

(b) Extension of Prohibition on Reduction of C-130 Aircraft
Assigned to National Guard.--

(b)

(1) of the James M. Inhofe
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law
117-263; 136 Stat. 2455), as amended by

(b) of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159), is
amended by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2026''.

AIRCRAFT.

(a) In General.--

(d) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 130 Stat.
2038) is amended by striking ``96 A-10 aircraft designated as primary
mission aircraft inventory until a period of 90 days has elapsed
following the date on which the Secretary submits to the congressional
defense committees the report under subsection

(e)

(2) '' and inserting
``96 A-10 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory
until October 1, 2026''.

(b) Prohibition on Retirement.--

(1) In general.--During the period beginning on October 1,
2025 and ending on September 30, 2026, the Secretary of the Air
Force may not--
(A) retire an A-10 aircraft;
(B) reduce funding for unit personnel or weapon
system sustainment activities for A-10 aircraft in a
manner that presumes future congressional authority to
divest such aircraft;
(C) keep an A-10 aircraft in a status considered
excess to the requirements of the possessing command
and awaiting disposition instructions (commonly
referred to as ``XJ'' status); or
(D) decrease the total aircraft inventory of A-10
aircraft below 162 aircraft.

(2) Exception.--The prohibition under paragraph

(1) shall
not apply to individual A-10 aircraft that the Secretary of the
Air Force determines, on a case-by-case basis, to be no longer
mission capable and uneconomical to repair because of aircraft
accidents, mishaps, or excessive material degradation and non-
airworthiness status of certain aircraft.
(c) Briefing Required.--Not later than March 31, 2026, the
Secretary of the Air Force shall provide to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on
the status of A-10 aircraft inventory and the proposed plan for
divesting all A-10 aircraft prior to fiscal year 2029. The briefing
shall cover, at a minimum, the following:

(1) The number of A-10 Total Aircraft Inventory aircraft
disaggregated by Combat Coded Aircraft, Primary Mission
Aircraft Inventory, Backup Aircraft Assigned, Attrition
Reserve, tail number, and location.

(2) The planned divestment date of each such aircraft.

(3) The detailed plan for how and when the Secretary
proposes to proceed with divestment of aircraft for each A-10
unit prior to fiscal year 2029.

(4) The aircraft transition plan for replacing A-10
aircraft with new or existing replacement aircraft in each unit
that is divesting of the A-10 aircraft, which shall include an
explanation of--
(A) how the Secretary plans to minimize adverse
personnel impacts within such units, including adverse
impacts with respect to retention, currency,
proficiency, qualifications, certifications, and
training; and
(B) how the Secretary plans to minimize or
eliminate any scheduling gap that may occur with
respect to a unit divesting from the A-10 aircraft and
transitioning to a new or existing replacement
aircraft.

(5) The information and content format that was provided in
the briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate
and the House of Representatives by the Headquarters Air Force,
Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (HAF/A8), on
February 13, 2023, titled ``A-10 Divestment Placemats''.

(6) Any other information the Secretary determines
releveant.

(a) In General.--Subject to subsections

(b) and
(c) , the Secretary
of the Air Force shall preserve each KC-10 aircraft that is retired by
the Secretary during a period in which the total inventory of air
refueling aircraft of the Air Force is less than 504.

(b) Manner of Preservation.--The retired KC-10 aircraft preserved
under subsection

(a) shall be preserved such that each aircraft--

(1) is stored in flyable condition;

(2) can be returned to service as an air refueling aircraft
(which shall include retaining the air refueling boom on the
aircraft); and

(3) is not used to supply parts to other aircraft unless
specifically authorized by the Secretary of Defense upon a
request by the Secretary of the Air Force.
(c) Authority to Dispose of Preserved Aircraft.--A KC-10 aircraft
preserved under subsection

(a) may be disposed of in accordance with
chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code.

OR PRODUCTION LINE SHUTDOWN FOR E-7A WEDGETAIL AIRCRAFT.

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or
otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of
Defense may be obligated or expended--

(1) to terminate the mid-tier acquisition rapid prototype
contract for the E-7A aircraft; or

(2) to terminate the operations of, or to prepare to
terminate the operations of, a production line for the E-7A
aircraft.

CERTIFICATION ON CORRECTION OF DEFICIENCIES.

(a) Limitation.--The Secretary of Defense may not accept or take
delivery of covered KC-46 aircraft in excess of the maximum quantity
specified in subsection
(c) until the Secretary--

(1) certifies to the congressional defense committees that
the Secretary has developed and is implementing a plan of
corrective actions and milestones to resolve all Category 1
deficiencies identified with respect to KC-46 aircraft; and

(2) submits such plan to such committees, which shall
include--
(A) an estimate of the total amount of funds
required to complete implementation of the plan;
(B) realistic event-driven schedules to achieve the
objectives of the plan; and
(C) a schedule risk assessment to a minimum of 80
percent confidence level.

(b) Form.--The plan described in subsection

(a)

(2) shall be
submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.
(c) Maximum Quantity.--The maximum quantity of covered KC-46
aircraft specified in this subsection is 183 aircraft.
(d) Covered KC-46 Aircraft Defined.--In this section, the term
``covered KC-46 aircraft'' means new production KC-46 aircraft the
procurement of which is fully funded by the United States.

(a) Analysis of Alternatives.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall
conduct an analysis of alternatives to identify potential
solutions for the recapitalization of the executive airlift
aircraft fleet of the Air Force. In conducting such analysis,
the Secretary shall seek to identify aircraft solutions that
have capabilities comparable to the capabilities of commercial
passenger aircraft in terms of range.

(2) Timeline.--The Secretary of the Air Force shall--
(A) initiate the analysis of alternatives required
under paragraph

(1) not later than 30 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) complete such analysis not later than April 1,
2026.

(3) Report.--Not later than 60 days after completing the
analysis of alternatives required under paragraph

(1) , the
Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a
report on the results of the analysis.

(b) Prioritization Standards.--Not later than December 1, 2025, the
Secretary of the Air Force shall establish standards for prioritizing
access to executive airlift aircraft among authorized users of such
aircraft within the Federal Government.
(c) Personnel.--

(1) In general.--Not later than January 1, 2026, the
Secretary of Defense shall assign a career appointee (as that
term is defined in

(a) of title 5, United States
Code) in the Senior Executive Service at the Department of
Defense to coordinate--
(A) the efficient tasking of executive airlift
aircraft; and
(B) compliance with rules, regulations, policies
and guidance relating to such aircraft, including the
prioritization standards developed under subsection

(b) .

(2) Qualifications.--The career appointee assigned under
paragraph

(1) shall, as determined by the Secretary, have
knowledge and experience relating to executive airlift
aircraft, including familiarity with the executive airlift
fleets of the Armed Forces and knowledge of policies and
procedures for the prioritization of executive airlift users.

(a) In General.--Not later than March 1, 2027, the Secretary of the
Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report
on the F-47 advanced fighter aircraft program.

(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection

(a) shall
include following:

(1) A description of the F-47 aircraft program, including
system requirements, employment concepts, and projected costs,
schedule, and funding requirements over the period covered by
the program objective memorandum process for fiscal years 2028
through 2034.

(2) The acquisition strategy for the F-47 program of
record, including consideration of implementing a middle tier
acquisition pathway or major capability acquisition pathway (as
such terms are defined in Department of Defense Instruction
5000.85, titled ``Major Capability Acquisition'' and issued on
August 6, 2020 (or a successor instruction)).

(3) A proposed fielding strategy for the F-47 aircraft,
including--
(A) estimated force structure requirements;
(B) strategic basing considerations;
(C) an estimate of military construction
requirements;
(D) an estimate of personnel training requirements;
and
(E) an integrated total force fielding concept,
including an analysis of Air National Guard and Air
Force Reserve operational integration and associations.
(c) Form.--The report required under subsection

(a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS.

Subsection
(d) (1) of

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117-81; 135 Stat.
1574), as most recently amended by

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 138 Stat.
1810), is further amended by striking ``September 30, 2026'' and
inserting ``September 30, 2030''.

FLEET OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation
with the Director of the Air National Guard, shall develop a plan for
the recapitalization and modernization of the fighter fleet of the Air
National Guard.

(b) Element.--The plan required under subsection

(a) shall
include--

(1) measures to sustain and recapitalize the fighter fleet
of the Air National Guard, including each of the 25 Air
National Guard fighter aircraft squadrons;

(2) a timeline for the recapitalization of such fighter
fleet, disaggregated by fighter aircraft squadron and fiscal
year;

(3) the estimated costs of the proposed recapitalization
plan; and

(4) an explanation of the expected impact of the plan on
operational and personnel readiness.
(c) Report.--Not later than July 1, 2026, the Secretary of the Air
Force shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives a report on the plan developed under subsection

(a) .

Subtitle E--Defense-wide, Joint, and Multiservice Matters

CONTRACTING RELATED TO FOREIGN-MADE LIGHT DETECTION AND
RANGING.

(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159) is amended to read as follows:
``

(a) Prohibitions.--The Secretary of Defense may not--
``

(1) operate, enter into or renew a contract for, the
procurement of--
``
(A) a covered light detection and ranging
technology (referred to in this section as `LiDAR
technology') that--
``
(i) is manufactured in a covered foreign
country or by an entity domiciled in a covered
foreign country;
``
(ii) uses operating software developed in
a covered foreign country or by an entity
domiciled in a covered foreign country; or
``
(iii) uses network connectivity or data
storage located in or administered by an entity
domiciled in a covered foreign country; or
``
(B) a system or systems that incorporates,
interfaces with, or otherwise uses LiDAR technology as
described in subparagraph
(A) ; or
``

(2) enter into or renew a contract with an entity that
operates a covered LiDAR technology to perform a Department of
Defense contract.''.

(a) Annual Reviews and Reports.--Not later than March 1, 2026, and
on an annual basis thereafter until the termination date specified in
subsection
(c) , the Comptroller General of the United States shall--

(1) complete a review of the F-35 aircraft program; and

(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a report
on the results of the review.

(b) Elements.--Each review and report under subsection

(a) shall
include an assessment of--

(1) the cost, scope, and schedule of the F-35 aircraft
program and its subprograms;

(2) the status of the efforts of the Department of Defense
to modernize the F-35 aircraft; and

(3) such other matters relating to the F-35 aircraft
program as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.
(c) Termination Date.--The requirements of this section shall
terminate on the date on which all development, production, and
fielding activities under the F-35 aircraft acquisition program have
ceased.

FOR AUKUS PARTNERSHIP.

(a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) researching, producing, and procuring defense articles
for the AUKUS partnership from within the United States boosts
local economies and improves national security by enhancing
domestic defense article production capabilities; and

(2) the Secretary of Defense should promote and prioritize
domestic manufacturing, supply chains, and research for defense
articles intended for use by members of the AUKUS partnership.

(b) AUKUS Partnership Defined.--In this section, the term ``AUKUS
partnership'' means the enhanced trilateral security partnership
between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced
in September 2021.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR COMPONENTS PRODUCED BY CHILD AND
SLAVE LABOR.

None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or
otherwise made available for the Department of Defense may be obligated
or expended for the procurement of non-tactical electric vehicles,
advanced-biofuel-powered vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, or any
components or spare parts associated with such vehicles that are not in
compliance with the prohibition on the acquisition of products produced
by forced or indentured child labor under subpart 22.15 of the Federal
Acquisition Regulation (or any successor regulations).

Not later than March 15, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the
development and integration of next-generation self-sealing fuel cells
(referred to in this section as ``NexGen fuel cells'') into the
rotorcraft fleets of the Army, Navy, and Air Force). The report shall
include each of the following:

(1) An assessment of any negative effects on readiness
associated with using the fuel cells in use as of the date on
the enactment of this Act that are based on World War II-era
technology and manufacturing processes.

(2) An identification of any readiness, fiscal, and other
benefits of incorporating NexGen fuel cells into the rotorcraft
fleets the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

(3) Plans or concepts for developing and incorporating
NexGen fuel cells into the H-60 fleets of the Army, Navy, and
Air Force.

(4) Such other matters the Secretary determines relevant.

TITLE II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026
for the use of the Department of Defense for research, development,
test, and evaluation, as specified in the funding table in

SUSTAINMENT.

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Generation Combat Vehicle Advanced Technology, line 052, as specified
in the corresponding funding table in

Engineering for Army Readiness and Sustainment, is hereby increased by
$7,000,000.

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Systems Readiness, line 080, as specified in the corresponding funding
table in

CAPABILITY.

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Ground Advanced Technology, line 043, as specified in the corresponding
funding table in

Infrastructure Capability, is hereby increased by $4,200,000.

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Systems Readiness, line 080, as specified in the corresponding funding
table in

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Ground Advanced Technology, line 043, as specified in the corresponding
funding table in

Utilizing Hydrogen, is hereby increased by $10,000,000.

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Systems Readiness, line 080, as specified in the corresponding funding
table in

FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES.

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

wide, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

Special Operations Command, intelligence systems development, line 290
(program element 1160405BB), is hereby increased by $3,000,000 (with
the amount of such increase to be made available for ultra-lightweight
Group 1 small unmanned aerial systems--advanced Group 1 small unmanned
aerial systems).

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

corresponding funding table in

010, is hereby reduced by $3,000,000.

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

wide, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

for basic research, National Defense Education Program, line 6, is
hereby increased by $5,000,000 (with the amount of such increase to be
used to strengthen and expand STEM education opportunities and
workforce initiatives targeted at military students).

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Washington Headquarters Services, line 530, as specified in the
corresponding funding table in

$5,000,000.

ADAPTABLE RADAR CAPABILITIES.

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Wide, line 75, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

capabilities is hereby increased by $6,000,000.

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Activities, line 140, as specified in the corresponding funding table
in

AND LOW-INTENSITY CONFLICT.

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Wide, as specified in the corresponding funding table in

for SO/LIC ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT for drone development is hereby
increased by $7,500,000.

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

in the corresponding funding table in

decrease is hereby reduced by $7,500,000.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION.

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Future Naval Capabilities Applied Research, Line 012, as specified in
the corresponding funding table in

$50,000,000 for the development of a quantum communications corridor
linking certain Department of Defense installations, national
laboratories, and universities conducting Department of Defense
research.

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Operations Support, Line 070, as specified in the corresponding funding
table in

(a) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to be appropriated in

Manufacturing Technology Program, line 28, as specified in the
corresponding funding table in

Technology is hereby increased by $5,000,000.

(b) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the funding
tables in division D, the amount authorized to by appropriated in

Washington Headquarters Services, line 530, as specified in the
corresponding funding table in

$5,000,000.

Subtitle B--Program Requirements, Restrictions, and Limitations

TECHNOLOGY ACHIEVEMENTS.

(a) Secretarial Authority.--Subsection

(a) of

10, United States Code, is amended by striking ``, acting through the
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Under
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the service
acquisition executive for each military department,''.

(b) Maximum Amount of Award Prizes.--Subsection
(c) of such section
is amended to read as follows:
``
(c) Limitation.--No prize competition may result in the award of
a prize with a fair market value of more than $20,000,000 without the
approval of the Secretary of Defense.''.
(c) Congressional Notification Threshold.--Subsection

(g)

(1) of
such section is amended by striking ``$10,000,000'' and inserting ``the
amount specified in subsection
(c) ''.

LABORATORIES AND OTHER ENTITIES FOR RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGIES FOR MILITARY MISSIONS.

(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and test
organizations'' after ``defense laboratories'';

(2) by inserting ``or test organization'' after
``laboratory'' each place it appears; and

(3) in subsection

(a)

(3) , by inserting ``or test
organizations'' after ``laboratories''.

FURNISHING OF TEST FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

(a) Jointly Funded Projects.--

States Code, is amended--

(1) in subsection

(a) , by striking ``A contract of a
military department'' and inserting ``A covered contract''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``
(d) (1) In a case in which research, developmental, or test
facilities and equipment described in this section are used to support
multiple contracts or programs across different military departments,
other Federal agencies outside the Department of Defense, or eligible
non-Federal entities, a jointly funded project may be established.
``

(2) Under a jointly funded project, the Secretary of Defense (or
the Secretary's designee) shall enter into a written agreement with
each entity participating in the project. Each such agreement shall, at
a minimum, address the following:
``
(A) Cost sharing arrangements, including the proportion
of total project costs to be borne by each entity.
``
(B) Allocation of access to the facilities and equipment,
including prioritization procedures in cases of competing
demands.
``
(C) Management and oversight responsibilities, including
the designation of a lead agency.
``
(D) Ownership and intellectual property rights related to
the facilities, equipment, and any resulting data or
inventions.
``
(E) Dispute resolution mechanisms.
``

(3) A non-Federal entity, including a private company, academic
institution, or non-profit organization, may participate in a jointly
funded project under this subsection only if the Secretary of Defense
determines such participation is in the national security interest and
consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
``

(4) The Secretary of Defense shall issue regulations to implement
this subsection. Such regulations shall include specific criteria for
evaluating proposed jointly funded projects, standardized agreement
templates, and procedures for ensuring the transparency and
accountability of such projects.
``

(e) In this section, the term `covered contract' means--
``

(1) a contract of a military department; or
``

(2) a contract for a jointly funded project as described
subsection
(c) .''.

(b) Regulations Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue or
revise regulations (as necessary) to clarify that the authority for
acquisition, construction, or furnishing of test facilities and
equipment under

to contracts funded using funds appropriated or otherwise made
available for--

(1) research, development, test, and evaluation, including
science and technology funds designated as budget activity 1
(basic research), budget activity 2 (applied research), and
budget activity 3 (advanced technology development) (as those
budget activity classifications are set forth in volume 2B,
chapter 5 of the Department of Defense Financial Management
Regulation (DOD 7000.14-R)); and

(2) operation and maintenance, to the extent that such
funds are used to support activities authorized under such
section.

FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION WITH CERTAIN ACADEMIC
INSTITUTIONS.

(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 138 Stat. 1842) is amended by inserting
``or fiscal year 2026'' after ``fiscal year 2025''.

LINK 16 MILITARY TACTICAL DATA LINK NETWORK.

(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31; 10 U.S.C. 4571 note) is amended--

(1) in paragraph

(1)
(A) , by striking ``the Nevada Test and
Training Range, Restricted Area 2508, Warning Area 151/470,
Warning Area 386, and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex''
and inserting ``military special use airspace including all
prohibited areas, restricted areas, warning areas, and military
operational areas'';

(2) in paragraph

(2) , in the matter before subparagraph
(A) , by striking ``training, and large-scale exercises.'' and
inserting ``regular training, and large-scale exercises. Under
such processes, approval of Link 16 operations shall be
presumed and denial of Link 16 operations shall be accompanied
with substantiated evidence demonstrating compromise of safety
due to electromagnetic interference.''; and

(3) in paragraph

(5) , by inserting ``regular'' before
``training''.

MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.

Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263; 10 U.S.C. 4841 note) is
amended--

(1) by redesignating subsections
(d) through

(f) as
subsections

(e) through

(g) , respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection
(c) the following new
subsection:
``
(d) Applicability of Funding.--The activities described in
subsection
(c) , including the design and construction of facilities,
are applicable to funds authorized to be appropriated for the
Department of Defense for research, development, test, and
evaluation.''.

RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY OF PRIVATE SECTOR PERSONNEL WITH
CRITICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPERTISE.

(a) Extension.--Subsection

(e) of

Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2015 (Public Law 113-291; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4091) is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2030''.

(b) Technical Amendment.--Subsection

(f)

(2) of such section is
amended by striking ``

DEFENSE RESEARCH.

(a) Principal Investigators in Covered Defense Research Projects.--
Except as provided under subsection
(c) , as a condition of becoming or
remaining a principal investigator of a covered defense research
project, a person shall agree that during the 3-year period beginning
on the last day the person is a principal investigator of such
research, such person may not seek or accept employment, or conduct any
activity, for which a foreign entity of concern provides financial
compensation or in-kind benefits.

(b) Employees of Department of Defense Laboratories.--Except as
provided under subsection
(c) , as a condition of becoming or remaining
an employee at a laboratory of the Department of Defense, a person
shall agree that during the 3-year period beginning on the last day the
person is an employee at such laboratory, such person may not seek or
accept employment, or conduct any activity, for which a foreign entity
of concern provides financial compensation or in-kind benefits.
(c) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary of Defense may waive the
restrictions under subsections

(a) and

(b) with respect to a United
States person if, not later than 30 days before issuing the waiver, the
Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees a notice of
the waiver that includes--

(1) an unclassified justification for the waiver; and

(2) a description of any Department of Defense funds
provided to the person for which the waiver is issued or to the
research in which the person participated.
(d) Certification.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a
process, under the initiative established in

S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
(Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note), to ensure that, when a
person who previously made an agreement in subsection

(a) or

(b) applies for funding to conduct a covered defense research project in
the future--

(1) the employer of such person can certify that the person
complied with the requirements in subsections

(a) and

(b) ; and

(2) that a person whose employer cannot make the
certification in paragraph

(1) is ineligible to participate in
the covered defense research project.

(e) Determination of Critical and Emerging Technology.--Not later
than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall--

(1) determine which technologies are critical or emerging
from among the technologies for which the Department funds
research; and

(2) shall make the results of such determination publicly
available.

(f) Applicability.--This section shall apply with respect to
research that begins on or after the date that is one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act.

(g)

(a) of the Research and
Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C.
19221

(a) ) and includes a foreign entity that is identified on
the list published under

(c) (9)
(A) of the John S.
McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
(Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note).

(2) The term ``covered defense research project'' means a
research project that--
(A) is operated by an institution of higher
education or a subsidiary of an institution of higher
education;
(B) is funded, in whole or in part, by the
Department of Defense; and
(C) involves a critical or emerging technology.

(3) The term ``critical or emerging technology'' means a
technology that the Secretary determines to be critical or
emerging in accordance with subsection

(e) .

(4) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given that term in

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).

INSTITUTE.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense may establish at least
one National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute
(referred to in this section as an ``Institute'') at an eligible host
institution.

(b) Institute Described.--A National Security and Defense
Artificial Intelligence Institute referred to in subsection

(a) is an
artificial intelligence research institute that--

(1) is focused on a cross-cutting challenge or foundational
science for artificial intelligence systems in the national
security and defense sector;

(2) establishes partnerships among public and private
organizations, including, as appropriate, Federal agencies,
institutions of higher education, including community colleges,
nonprofit research organizations, Federal laboratories, State,
local, and Tribal governments, and industry, including the
Defense Industrial Base and startup companies;

(3) has the potential to create an innovation ecosystem, or
enhance existing ecosystems, to translate Institute research
into applications and products used to enhance national
security and defense capabilities;

(4) supports interdisciplinary research and development
across multiple institutions of higher education and
organizations; and

(5) supports workforce development in artificial
intelligence related disciplines in the United States.
(c) Financial Assistance Authorized.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may award
financial assistance to an eligible host institution, or
consortia thereof, to establish and support one or more
Institutes.

(2) Use of funds.--Financial assistance awarded under
paragraph

(1) may be used by an Institute for--
(A) managing and making available to researchers
accessible, curated, standardized, secure, and privacy
protected data sets from the public and private sectors
for the purposes of training and testing artificial
intelligence systems and for research using artificial
intelligence systems with regard to national security
and defense;
(B) developing and managing testbeds for artificial
intelligence systems, including sector-specific test
beds, designed to enable users to evaluate artificial
intelligence systems prior to deployment;
(C) conducting research and education activities
involving artificial intelligence systems to solve
challenges with national security implications;
(D) providing or brokering access to computing
resources, networking, and data facilities for
artificial intelligence research and development
relevant to the Institute's research goals;
(E) providing technical assistance to users,
including software engineering support, for artificial
intelligence research and development relevant to the
Institute's research goals;
(F) engaging in outreach and engagement to broaden
participation in artificial intelligence research and
the artificial intelligence workforce; and
(G) such other activities as may determined by the
Secretary of Defense.

(3) Duration.--Financial assistance under paragraph

(1) shall be awarded for a five-year period, and may be renewed for
not more than one additional five-year period.

(4) Application for financial assistance.--A eligible host
institution or consortia thereof seeking financial assistance
under paragraph

(1) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.

(5) Competitive, merit review.--In awarding financial
assistance under paragraph

(1) , the Secretary of Defense shall
use a competitive, merit-based review process.

(6) Collaboration.--In awarding financial assistance under
paragraph

(1) , the Secretary of Defense may collaborate other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government with
missions that relate to or have the potential to be affected by
the national security implications of artificial intelligence
systems.

(7) Limitation.--No financial assistance authorized in this
section shall be awarded to an entity outside of the United
States. All recipients of financial assistance under this
section, including subgrantees, shall be based in the United
States and shall meet such other eligibility criteria as may be
established by the Secretary of Defense.
(d) === Definition. ===
-In this section, the term ``eligible host
institution'' means an institution of higher education in the United
States that conducts research sponsored by the Department of Defense.

WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

(a) Requirement.--

(1) Policies and guidelines.--The Secretary of Defense
shall issue policies and guidelines on the responsible
development and deployment of biotechnology within the
Department of Defense.

(2) Executive agent.--The Secretary shall designate a
senior civilian official within the Office of the Secretary of
Defense to serve as the executive agent to develop the policies
and guidelines under paragraph

(1) .

(3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
policies and guidelines under paragraph

(1) are developed in
consultation with--
(A) the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering;
(B) the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and
(C) individuals representing industry, academia,
and civil society.

(4) Public availability.--The Secretary shall make the
policies and guidelines under paragraph

(1) publicly available.

(b) Matters Included.--The policies and guidelines under subsection

(a)

(1) shall include the following:

(1) Definitions related to the responsible development and
use of biotechnology.

(2) An assessment of whether, and to what extent, existing
statutes, regulations, directives, manuals, or instructions
limit the ability of the Department of Defense to provide
guidelines for the responsible development of emerging
biotechnology.

(3) Guidelines encouraging the safe use of biotechnology
products under appropriate regulatory and other oversight
processes.

(4) Policies relating to informed consent of members of the
Armed Forces participating in the development of biotechnology
products that have not received regulatory approval.

(5) Policies relating to whether, and under which
conditions, irreversible or heritable treatments of potential
biotechnology applications are acceptable.

(6) Policies relating to the potential effects of
biotechnologies on the environment.

(7) Policies relating to the compliance by and obligations
of the Department of Defense with respect to the Convention on
the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling
of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction
(commonly referred to as the ``Biological Weapons
Convention'').

(8) Such other matters as the Secretary of Defense
determines relevant.
(c) Report.--

(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the
policies and guidelines under subsection

(a)

(1) , including the
methodologies used to develop the policies and guidelines.

(2) Form.--The report required under paragraph

(1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
annex.

(3) Public availability.--The Secretary of Defense shall
make report required under paragraph

(1) publicly available,
except such publicly available version of the report may not
include any classified annex provided under paragraph

(2) .
(d) Briefing.--During the two-year period beginning on the date
that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense
committees an annual briefing on the implementation of the policies and
guidelines under subsection

(a)

(1) , including a description of any
needed resources for such implementation.

(a) Requirement.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish and
carry out a training program--

(1) for members of the covered Armed Forces, civilian
employees of the Department of Defense, and contractors of such
Department whose duties the Secretary determines include--
(A) creating or deploying novel biotechnologies;
(B) analyzing, preparing for, or responding to
biological threats; or
(C) planning, research and development,
engineering, or testing and evaluation of systems
(including quality control and assurance, procurement
and contracting, logistics, and cost estimating)
regarding biotechnology; and

(2) on biotechnology and other relevant critical and
emerging technologies.

(b) Consultation.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary shall consult with
leadership and workforce training managers in the Department to
develop and implement such training program and identify the
individuals described in subsection

(a) based on--
(A) the needs and priorities of the Department; and
(B) the relevance of the training to the
individuals' positions.

(2) Material.--The material covered in the training
programs shall be customized by Department leadership to align
with specific needs and mission requirements.

(3) Skills.--The Secretary shall define the essential
skills for biotechnology personnel to better understand what
Federal personnel should undergo training and how to customize
training for groups.
(c) Requirements.--

(1) In general.--The training program established under
this section shall, at a minimum, include information on--
(A) the fundamental science underlying
biotechnology, artificial intelligence and other
relevant critical and emerging technologies;
(B) concepts relating to the technological features
of biotechnology systems;
(C) applications of biotechnology in defense,
health, agriculture, energy, environment, and other
relevant areas;
(D) the ways in which artificial intelligence,
quantum computing, and other technologies are leveraged
to advance biotechnology;
(E) mechanisms by which the Federal Government
supports, funds, purchases, and deploys biotechnology
and its applications;
(F) ways in which the Federal Government can
benefit from biotechnology;
(G) ethical, social, and legal aspects of
biotechnology including ways of incorporating a wide
range of stakeholder perspectives throughout research
and innovation cycles;
(H) ways to mitigate the risks described in
previous subparagraphs, including efforts to create and
identify biotechnologies that are reliable, safe, and
trustworthy; and
(I) future trends in biotechnology, including
intersections with artificial intelligence, quantum
computing, autonomous systems, robotics, advanced
manufacturing, and other relevant technologies, as well
as trends for economic and national security, and
innovation.

(2) Participation.--Any individual described under
subsection

(b)

(1) shall complete training under this section
annually.

(3) Interactive.--The Secretary shall ensure interactive
learning with scholars and experts from private, public and
nonprofit sectors is included under the training programs. The
Secretary shall provide access to courses through institutions
of professional military education, such as the National
Defense University.

(4) Updates.--The training programs established under this
section shall be updated each year to review and cover advances
in biotechnology and its convergence with other critical and
emerging technologies.

(5) Continuing education.--The Secretary shall update the
training programs established under this section to provide
continuing technology education for individuals described in
subsection

(a) and include requirements for refresher training
on the latest advances in biotechnology science, laboratory
work, equipment and software.
(d) Performance Measurements.--The Secretary shall establish
mechanisms to measure participation in training programs required under
this section, and to receive and consider feedback from program
participants to improve training.

(e) Report.--Not later than six months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report that
includes a plan to establish and implement the training programs
required under this section.

(f) Sunset.--This section and the training programs required to be
carried out by this section shall terminate on the date that is five
years after such programs are established under subsection

(a) .

(g)

Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (division E of Public Law
116-283).

(2) The term ``covered Armed Force'' means the Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force.

(a) Authorization.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination
with the Secretaries of the military departments and the heads
of relevant Defense Agencies, may establish and implement a
program (referred to in this section as the ``Program'') to
develop, scale, and transition biotechnology research from the
military service laboratories, including biotechnology-based
chemicals, materials, fuels, and other products relevant to the
mission of the Department of Defense that support the
resilience, sustainability, and responsiveness of the defense
supply chain.

(2) Activities.--Under the Program, the Secretary of
Defense may carry out the following activities:
(A) Conduct an assessment of supply chain
vulnerabilities in the Department of Defense.
(B) Direct the military service laboratories to
establish mechanisms to collaboratively--
(i) conduct applied research, including
experimentation, advanced technological
development, advanced component development,
and rapid prototyping in bioindustrials,
biomanufacturing, and related disciplines to
support defense missions;
(ii) develop, prototype, test, and
transition biologically derived materials and
products to reduce reliance on foreign supply
chains and vulnerable supply chains;
(iii) upgrade, expand, or construct
physical and digital infrastructure, including
laboratory facilities, of the Department and
its partners to support bioindustrial research,
development, testing, prototyping, and
production;
(iv) as needed, enter into contracts,
cooperative agreements, grants, or other
transactions with relevant Federal entities and
non-Federal entities such as commercial
entities, research institutions, and academic
organizations to execute the activities under
this paragraph; and
(v) support education, training, and
workforce development initiatives to build and
sustain a skilled bioindustrial and
biomanufacturing workforce.
(C) Collaborate across the military departments,
Defense Agencies, and other Federal entities to ensure
alignment with national bioindustrial and supply chain
strategies.
(D) Promote the development and utilization of
next-generation feedstocks and processes in ways that
support local economic growth.
(E) Modernize infrastructure through investment in
facilities that enable rapid prototyping and advanced
materials testing.
(F) Establish performance metrics and benchmarks to
measure progress toward operational integration and
transition to programs of record.

(3) Other considerations.--In the event the Secretary
carries out the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall--
(A) prioritize technologies and capabilities that
address critical defense supply chain vulnerabilities
and enhance military readiness, including technologies
and capabilities necessary to--
(i) reduce logistics through field-enabled
manufacturing of materials such as
construction-grade bio-cement and deployable
infrastructure components;
(ii) enhance performance through
development of novel materials including
protective coatings and biologically derived
composites; or
(iii) improve cost efficiency of
manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign
supply chains;
(B) consult with representatives of industry,
academia, and other Federal agencies with relevant
expertise, to accelerate development and transitions;
and
(C) ensure the Program supports the development and
fielding of emerging technologies such as
biotechnologies that provide operational and strategic
advantages to the Armed Forces, including through--
(i) cross-service and public-private
partnerships; and
(ii) applied research, pilot-scale
production, and technology transition efforts
focused on biomanufacturing and materials
innovation.

(b) Plan and Reports.--

(1) Initial plan.--Not later than 90 days after electing to
commence the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to
the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a plan for the allocation of appropriations to
fund the Program.

(2) Annual reports.--Not later than one year after
commencing the Program, and annually thereafter until the
Program terminates under subsection
(c) , the Secretary of
Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and the House of Representatives a report detailing all
activities carried out under the program. Each report shall
include, to the extent applicable, the following:
(A) A summary of key research, development, and
prototyping efforts initiated or continued during the
year covered by the report, including technical
objectives, anticipated defense applications, and
funding.
(B) A list of significant partnerships or
agreements executed with industry, academic
institutions, and other Federal agencies, including the
purpose, national security nexus, and funding level of
each such partnership or agreement.
(C) An assessment of infrastructure enhancements
undertaken to support bioindustrial development and
scale-up, including facility modernization and
equipment acquisition.
(D) An evaluation of program performance against
established milestones or metrics, including progress
toward the transition of technologies to operational
use or acquisition programs.
(E) An identification of major technical,
logistical, or policy challenges encountered, and
actions taken to mitigate such challenges.
(F) Any recommendations for additional authorities,
funding mechanisms, or interagency coordination
necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the Program.

(3) Form.--Each report under this subsection shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
(c) Sunset.--

(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph

(2) , the
authority to carry out the Program shall terminate on the date
that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) Extension.--The Program may be continued after the
termination date specified in paragraph

(1) if, before such
date, the President--
(A) determines that continuation of the Program is
necessary to meet national economic or national
security needs; and
(B) submits notice of such determination to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the
House of Representatives.

RELATING TO DIGITAL ENGINEERING.

(a) Review Required.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military
department, in coordination with the officials specified in
subsection
(c) , shall complete a comprehensive review of the
standards, guidance, and policies relating to digital
engineering within the covered Armed Forces under the
jurisdiction of that Secretary.

(2) Elements.--Each review under paragraph

(1) shall
include, with respect to the covered Armed Forces under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned, the following:
(A) A review of the reference architectures,
standards, and best practices for the use of digital
engineering tools (including digital twins and digital
threads) as in effect at the time of the review,
including standards for the use of such tools at all
stages of program design, development, and testing.
(B) Identification of the current standards guiding
the use of such digital engineering tools, at all
stages of program design, development, and testing.
(C) Assessment of--
(i) the extent to which the use of such
standards and related governance structures is
consistent across the covered Armed Forces
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary
concerned; and
(ii) the level of interoperability of such
standards across such Armed Forces.
(D) Identification of best practices for digital
engineering within each such Armed Force.
(E) Recommendations for improvements to the use of
digital engineering tools in each such Armed Force.

(b) Development of Standard Reference Architecture.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary of a military department completes the
review required under subsection

(a) , the Secretary shall
develop and implement a standard reference architecture to
guide the use of, and best practices for, digital engineering
for program design, development, and testing within each
covered Armed Force under the jurisdiction of that Secretary.
Each reference architecture shall include--
(A) a framework and clear requirements for
developing and deploying digital engineering tools
across program lifecycles; and
(B) defined standards for data management and
modeling.

(2) Periodic review.--Not less frequently than once every
three years following implementation of the standard reference
architecture required under paragraph

(1) , each Secretary of a
military department shall--
(A) conduct periodic reviews of the reference
architecture to ensure it effectively addresses
advancements in technology and evolving operational
needs; and
(B) if necessary, modify the reference architecture
to address such advancements and needs.

(3) Approval and certification required.--Before a
reference architecture may be implemented under this
subsection, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Sustainment, in coordination with the Under Secretary of
Defense for Research and Engineering and the Director of
Operational Test and Evaluation, shall--
(A) review and approve the reference architecture;
and
(B) submit certification of such approval to the
head of the covered Armed Force involved.

(4) Recommendations for further standardization.--Based on
the reviews conducted under paragraph

(3) , the Under Secretary
of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination
with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering and the Director of Operational Test and
Evaluation, shall--
(A) identify and develop recommendations regarding
areas in which further standardization of reference
architectures across the covered Armed Forces may be
feasible; and
(B) submit such recommendations to the Secretaries
of the military departments.
(c) Officials Specified.--The officials specified in this
subsection are the following--

(1) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Sustainment.

(2) The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering.

(3) The Director of Operational Test and Evaluation.
(d) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

(1) The term ``covered Armed Forces'' means the Army, Navy,
Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.

(2) The term ``reference architecture'' means an
authoritative source of information about a specific subject
area that guides and constrains the instantiations of multiple
architectures and solutions, as described in the guidance of
the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense titled
``Reference Architecture Description'', dated June 2010, or any
successor to such guidance.

TO MODERNIZE TEST AND EVALUATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

(a) Establishment of Digital Test and Evaluation Environment.--

(1) Program.--The Director of the Test Resource Management
Center, in coordination with the officials specified in
paragraph

(4) , shall establish and maintain a digital test and
evaluation environment for developmental and operational
testing of warfighting capabilities.

(2) Requirements.--The digital test and evaluation
environment required under paragraph

(1) shall--
(A) incorporate commercially-derived data
management, analysis, and operations software tools to
enable rapid test and evaluation;
(B) enable real-time and iterative data collection,
management, analysis, and feedback loops across the
life cycle of tested systems;
(C) provide secure environments for testing systems
with operational security sensitivities; and
(D) use a modular open system approach (as defined
in

ensure the environment can be accessed by multiple
vendors and is interoperable with multiple data
sources, data formats, and digital tools.

(3) Use of software acquisition pathway.--In procuring
software and covered hardware (as defined in

title 10, United States Code) for the digital test and
evaluation environment required under paragraph

(1) , the
Director of the Test Resource Management center shall use a
software acquisition pathway described in

10, United States Code.

(4) Officials specified.--The officials specified in this
paragraph are--
(A) the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit;
(B) the Director of Operational Test and
Evaluation; and
(C) each chief of a covered Armed Force.

(b) Data Management Plans.--

(1) In general.--Before a covered Armed Force may conduct a
test and evaluation event, an appropriate official from the
Armed Force shall submit to the Director of Operational Test
and Evaluation and the Director of the Test Resource Management
Center a data management plan for the event. Such data
management plan may be included as part of the Test and
Evaluation Master plan submitted for the event pursuant to
Department of Defense Directive 5000.100.

(2) Plan requirements.--The Director of Operational Test
and Evaluation and the Director of the Test Resource Management
Center shall jointly develop standard requirements for the data
management plans required under paragraph

(1) . Each such data
management plan shall include, with respect to the test and
evaluation event covered by the plan--
(A) identification of relevant data to be collected
during the event;
(B) methodologies for analyzing data after testing
is complete; and
(C) any other information the Directors determine
appropriate.
(c) Pilot Program to Accelerate Test.--

(1) In general.--The Director of the Defense Innovation
Unit and the Director of the Test Resource Management Center,
in coordination with the Director of Operational Test and
Evaluation, shall jointly carry out a pilot program to
determine how commercial software can be used to accelerate and
improve testing for priority mission areas--
(A) to accelerate continuous integration and
continuous testing of warfighting capabilities by
applying industry best practices and tooling for
scalability, advanced analysis, and data sharing on
identified priority use cases; and
(B) to enable continuous and iterative testing
throughout capability design, development, engineering,
and fielding.

(2) Reports required.--The Director of the Defense
Innovation Unit and the Director of the Test Resource
Management Center, in coordination with the Director of
Operational Test and Evaluation, shall--
(A) not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, submit to the congressional
defense committees an interim report that includes an
implementation plan for the pilot program under
paragraph

(1) ; and
(B) following submittal of the report under
subparagraph
(A) , but not later than 270 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the
committees a report on the progress of the pilot
program, which shall include a description of--
(i) the metrics used to measure the
performance of commercial software under the
program;
(ii) the initial findings of the program;
and
(iii) based on such findings, any
identified roadblocks or limitations to using
commercial software and digital tools for
accelerated testing.

(3) Termination.--The authority to carry out the pilot
program under this subsection shall terminate five years after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Covered Armed Force Defined.--In this section, the term
``covered Armed Force'' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps,
and Space Force.

ENHANCE WEAPON SYSTEM PLATFORMS.

(a) Program Establishment.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the
chiefs of the Armed Forces, shall carry out a program to equip selected
weapon system platforms with onboard, near real-time, end-to-end serial
bus and radio frequency monitoring capabilities to ensure continuous
operational oversight and cybersecurity health and resiliency.

(b) Phases.--The Secretary of Defense shall implement the program
under subsection

(a) in phases as follows:

(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall--
(A) select not fewer than 3 and not more than 5
weapon system platform fleets for initial participation
in the program, prioritizing the MH-60R and MQ-9
aircraft fleets; and
(B) complete the initial deployment of monitoring
capabilities to such platforms.

(2) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall extend monitoring capabilities
to the complete fleets of selected platforms and complete
initial data collection and analysis from all participating
platforms.

(3) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability
of appropriations--
(A) select not fewer than 3 and not more than 5
weapon system platform fleets, in addition to those
selected under paragraph

(1) , for participation in the
program, prioritizing platforms that demonstrate the
highest potential for cybersecurity improvement and
operational readiness gains based on program data
analysis; and
(B) complete initial deployment of monitoring
capabilities to such additional platforms.

(4) Not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a
comprehensive evaluation of the monitoring capabilities
demonstrated under the program, including cybersecurity
effectiveness, potential applicability of data to maintenance
improvements, and development of scalability recommendations
for potential Department-wide implementation.
(c) Data Collection and Analysis.--

(1) Chiefs of the armed forces requirements.--Each chief of
an Armed Force with a weapon system platform participating in
the program under subsection

(a) shall collect and provide to
the Secretary of Defense data regarding the platform and the
monitoring capabilities demonstrated under the program,
including data on--
(A) cyber threat detection effectiveness;
(B) maintenance efficiency improvements;
(C) safety incident investigation and predictive
maintenance accuracy;
(D) operational readiness and mission capable rates
improvements; and
(E) interoperability and data sharing capabilities
across platforms and services.

(2) Departmental analysis.--The Secretary shall analyze the
data provided under paragraph

(1) to assess--
(A) integration challenges and suggestions for
overcoming such challenges in a future Department-wide
program;
(B) scalability requirements for broader
Department-wide implementation; and
(C) novel approaches for utilizing existing
resources in an austere fiscal environment to expand
capabilities across the Department.
(d) AI Inventory System.--In conjunction with the activities
required under this section, the Secretary of Defense may develop and
implement an artificial intelligence capability to create up-to-date
and accurate records of the weapons inventory of the Department of
Defense.

(e) Budget Integration.--In the budget justification materials
submitted to Congress in support of the Department of Defense budget
for fiscal year 2028 (as submitted with the budget of the President
under

(a) of title 31), the Secretary of Defense shall
include proposed funding levels for the program expansion authorized
under subsection

(b)

(3) .

(f) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the
following five years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the status of the program.
Each report shall include, with respect to the period covered by the
report--

(1) implementation plans for the program;

(2) identification of the weapon system platforms selected
for participation in the program; and

(3) analysis of any data collected under the program.

(a) Demonstration Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry
out a demonstration of a joint multi-domain kinetic and non-kinetic
testing and training environment across military departments by
interconnecting existing ranges and training sites in the western
States to improve joint multi-domain training and further testing,
research, and development.

(b) Use of Existing Ranges and Capabilities.--The demonstration
carried out pursuant to subsection

(a) shall use existing ranges and
range capability, unless capability gaps are identified in the process
of planning specific demonstration activities.
(c) Activities.--The demonstration carried out pursuant to
subsection

(a) shall include the following:

(1) Electromagnetic spectrum operations.

(2) Electromagnetic warfare.

(3) Operations that blend kinetic and non-kinetic effects.

(4) Operations in the information environment.

(5) Joint All Domain Command and Control (commonly known as
``JADC2'').

(6) Information warfare, including the following:
(A) Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
(B) Offensive and defensive cyber operations.
(C) Electromagnetic warfare.
(D) Space operations.
(E) Psychological operations.
(F) Public affairs.
(G) Weather operations.
(d) Timeline for Completion of Initial Demonstration.--In carrying
out subsection

(a) , the Secretary shall seek to complete an initial
demonstration, interconnecting two or more ranges or testing sites of
two or more military departments in the western States, subject to
availability of appropriations, not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.

(e) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide the congressional
defense committees a briefing on--

(1) a phased implementation plan and design to connect
ranges and testing sites in the western States, including the
initial demonstration required by subsection
(d) ;

(2) how the design architecture of the plan is in alignment
with recommendations of the 2020 Department of Defense
Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Strategy; and

(3) how the design architecture will support high-
periodicity training, testing, research, and development.

(f)

TEST, AND EVALUATION EXPENSES.

(a) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated after the
date of the enactment of this Act for the Department of Defense for
research, development, test, and evaluation shall be available for
reimbursement of pay, allowances, and other expenses which would
otherwise be incurred against appropriations for the reserve components
of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, in cases in which
members of the such reserve components provide support to research,
development, test, and evaluation projects in which their involvement
furthers the project because of a member's or unit's availability,
qualifications, experience, or education.

(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed--

(1) to authorize a deviation from established personnel and
training procedures of the reserve components of the Armed
Forces, including the National Guard; or

(2) to authorize the direct engagement of members or units
of such components to conduct independent research,
development, test and evaluation projects.

COLLABORATION WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF CONCERN.

(a) Prohibition.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated
by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the
Department of Defense may be obligated or expended--

(1) to carry out research, development, test, evaluation,
or training activities involving animals--
(A) in collaboration with a foreign country of
concern; or
(B) at any facility located in, or owned or
controlled (directly or indirectly) by, a foreign
country of concern; or

(2) to enter into a contract or other agreement, or make a
grant, pursuant to which such activities would be carried out.

(b) Foreign Country of Concern Defined.--In this section, the term
``foreign country of concern'' has the meaning given that term in

(Mac) Thornberry National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283; 15 U.S.C.
4651).

RESEARCH.

(a) Prohibition.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated
by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the
Department of Defense may be obligated or expended--

(1) to conduct gain-of-function research on any potential
pandemic pathogen at any facility operated by or on behalf of
the Department; or

(2) to award contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or
any other form of financial assistance to any institution of
higher education, nonprofit organization, private entity, or
other research institute that is conducting gain-of-function
research on potential pandemic pathogens.

(b) Waiver.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may waive the
prohibition under subsection

(a) on a case-by-case basis, with
respect to an individual research project, grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement, if the Secretary determines that such a
waiver is in the national interests of the United States.

(2) Congressional notice.--Not later than 30 days before
the date on which an award is made, a project is initiated, or
an agreement entered into, with respect to which a waiver is
made under paragraph

(1) , the Secretary of Defense shall submit
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House
of Representatives notice of such waiver.
(c) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

(1) The term ``gain-of-function research'' means any
research that may be reasonably anticipated to confer an
attribute to a pathogen such that the pathogen would have
enhanced pathogenicity or transmissibility in mammals.

(2) The term ``potential pandemic pathogen'' means a
pathogen that, as a result of any gain-of-function research--
(A) is likely more transmissible or likely capable
of wide and uncontrollable spread in human populations;
(B) is likely more virulent or likely to cause
modest or greater morbidity or mortality in humans; or
(C) is likely to pose a severe threat to public
health, the capacity of the public health systems to
function, or national security.

REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE JOINT ENERGETICS TRANSITION
OFFICE.

(a) Limitation.--Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this
Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the Department
of Defense and available for the Office of the Under Secretary of
Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment for travel expenses, not more
than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the date on which
the Secretary of Defense--

(1) establishes a Joint Energetics Transition Office as
required under

(2) submits to the congressional defense committees the
reports required under subsections

(b) and
(c) of

of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
(Public Law 118-31; 136 Stat. 208).

(b) Waiver Authority.--The Secretary of Defense may waive the
prohibition under subsection

(a) if the Secretary--

(1) determines that extenuating circumstances justify such
a waiver; and

(2) provides to the congressional defense committees a
briefing on the reasons for such determination.

EDUCATION IN CERTAIN RESEARCH AREAS.

(a) In General.--In exercising the authority to enter into
partnerships to support the research, development, test, and evaluation
activities of the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense shall
prioritize partnerships with institutions of higher education
conducting research on hypersonics, biotechnology, and artificial
intelligence.

(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report that identifies any ongoing partnerships with
institutions of higher education as described in subsection

(a) .

ROBOTIC PROCESS AUTOMATION.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out
activities to support the research, development, implementation, and
oversight of unattended robotic process automation within the
Department of Defense. Such activities shall include--

(1) the allocation of funding for research and development
initiatives to enhance the capabilities of unattended robotic
process automation in combat, intelligence analysis, and
defense infrastructure management;

(2) the development and implementation of a framework for
expanding unattended robotic process automation technologies
across mission-critical operations, logistics, and
administrative processes of the Department, with priority given
to interoperability, cybersecurity protections, and real-time
adaptability of automated systems;

(3) the implementation of policies and processes to ensure
that any deployment of unattended robotic process automation
adheres to existing cybersecurity and defense data protection
regulations; and

(4) the establishment of a task force to oversee the
implementation, effectiveness, and long-term integration of
unattended robotic process automation within the Department.

(b) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the progress of the
Secretary in carrying out the activities required under subsection

(a) .
Such report shall include--

(1) performance metrics for such activities;

(2) an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of such
activities; and

(3) an assessment of the potential risks associated with
the expansion of unattended robotic process automation within
the Department of Defense.

SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS OBSOLESCENCE IN MARINE CORPS ROTARY-
WING AND TILTROTOR AIRCRAFT.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall establish and
carry out a pilot program to evaluate commercially available, next-
generation Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (referred to in this
section as ``HUMS'') technologies intended to address obsolescence
issues affecting legacy HUMS currently installed on Marine Corps
rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft.

(b) Objectives.--In conducting the pilot program, the Secretary of
the Navy shall assess whether modernized HUMS technologies--

(1) effectively mitigate obsolescence risks associated with
legacy HUMS systems;

(2) enhance the operational readiness, availability, and
sustainment of Marine Corps rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft;
and

(3) deliver advanced predictive analytics capabilities,
reducing maintenance burden and lifecycle costs.
(c) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out for a period
not exceeding one year.
(d) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completion of the pilot
program, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report summarizing--

(1) the pilot program results, including effectiveness in
addressing obsolescence, improving predictive maintenance, and
enhancing readiness and aircraft availability; and

(2) recommendations regarding broader adoption of evaluated
HUMS technologies across the Marine Corps rotary-wing and
tiltrotor aircraft fleet.

(e) Funding.--

(1) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in

and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for Management Support, Aviation
Safety, Line 201 (PE 0606301D8Z), as set forth in the funding
table in

(2) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in

Procurement, Army, IAMD Battle Command System, Line 116, as
specified in the corresponding funding table in

is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

(f) Coordination.--The pilot program shall be conducted in
coordination with appropriate Marine Corps aviation stakeholders,
including operational and technical authorities responsible for
aviation maintenance and readiness.

SYSTEMS TO ADDRESS OBSOLESCENCE IN ARMY ROTARY-WING
AIRCRAFT.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall establish and
carry out a pilot program to evaluate commercially available, next-
generation Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (referred to in this
section as ``HUMS'') technologies to address obsolescence issues
affecting legacy monitoring systems installed on Army rotary-wing
aircraft.

(b) Objectives.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary
of the Army shall assess whether modernized HUMS technologies--

(1) effectively mitigate obsolescence risks associated with
legacy HUMS systems;

(2) significantly enhance operational readiness of rotary-
wing aircraft;

(3) provide effective predictive maintenance capabilities
resulting in reduced maintenance costs and increased aircraft
availability; and

(4) extend operational lifespan of existing rotary-wing
platforms.
(c) Duration.--The pilot program shall be carried out for a period
not exceeding one year.
(d) Platform Selection.--In selecting rotary-wing aircraft for
participation in the pilot program, the Secretary of the Army is
encouraged to prioritize platforms whose evaluation would yield broadly
applicable results, including potential relevance to rotary-wing
aircraft operated by other branches of the Armed Forces.

(e) Report.--Not later than 90 days after completion of the pilot
program, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the Committees on
Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report
that includes--

(1) an assessment of the tested HUMS technologies'
effectiveness in addressing obsolescence and improving
readiness; and

(2) recommendations for potential broader adoption across
the Army rotary-wing fleet, including consideration of
applicability to similar rotary-wing aircraft operated by other
branches of the Armed Forces.

(f) Funding.--

(1) Increase.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in

and Evaluation, Defense-wide, for Management Support, Aviation
Safety, Line 201 (PE 0606301D8Z), as set forth in the funding
table in

(2) Offset.--Notwithstanding the amounts set forth in the
funding tables in division D, the amount authorized to be
appropriated in

Procurement, Army, IAMD Battle Command System, Line 116, as
specified in the corresponding funding table in

is hereby reduced by $5,000,000.

(g) Coordination.--The pilot program shall be conducted in
coordination with the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team and
the Program Executive Office Aviation.

NATIONAL SECURITY, AND STRATEGIC COMPETITION.

(a) Initiative Required.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish
and carry out an initiative (referred to in this section as the
``Initiative'') to prepare the Department of Defense to fully harness
the transformative potential of advanced artificial intelligence,
assess the national security and defense implications of advanced
artificial intelligence, and analyze strategic competition factors
relating to the People's Republic of China's pursuit of advanced
artificial intelligence.

(b) Designation of Lead Office.--The Secretary of Defense shall
designate an appropriate agency or office within the Department of
Defense to have primary responsibility for carrying out the initiative
described in subsection

(a) . Any such designation shall not prohibit
other agencies or offices within the Executive Branch from being
consulted or otherwise supporting the efforts of the lead office.
(c) Duties.--Under the Initiative, the agency or office designated
by the Secretary of Defense under subsection

(b) shall do the
following:

(1) Review industry documents and assessments of advanced
artificial intelligence, including preparedness frameworks,
scaling policies, and risk management frameworks of advanced
artificial intelligence developers.

(2) Engage with leading artificial intelligence developers
and researchers to characterize and anticipate the capabilities
of highly advanced artificial intelligence relevant to national
security to inform military planning, societal preparedness,
and Department of Defense adopt plans, including via
interviews, site visits, roundtables, expert discussions, and
other forms of engagement with relevant experts.

(3) Identify strategies for the Department of Defense to
encourage adoption and fully leverage advanced artificial
intelligence systems, assess the comparative adoption to other
nations, and manage national security threats from advanced
artificial intelligence competition. In assessing adoption
strategies, the Secretary shall evaluate the implications of
advanced artificial intelligence for the national defense and
form a plan for addressing implications for the Department of
Defense's processes, systems, functions, capabilities, and
adoption pathways. The plan shall include--
(A) an assessment of the steps needed to prepare
the Department of Defense workforce to leverage the
transformative potential of advanced artificial
intelligence;
(B) an assessment of Department of Defense
processes and workflows that are most likely to be
substantially impacted by the introduction of advanced
artificial intelligence within or outside the structure
of each process or workflow, and the offices that will
be primarily responsible for managing the evolution of
those processes;
(C) identifying internal Department of Defense
policies that require revision, elimination, or
creation to effectively and responsibly harness
advanced artificial intelligence;
(D) a framework for developing the artificial
intelligence infrastructure to scale the use of
advanced artificial intelligence, including
requirements for--
(i) artificial intelligence factories that
manage the entire artificial intelligence life
cycle;
(ii) data foundries that effectively and
efficiently manage government, commercial, and
synthetic data;
(iii) edge infrastructure for employing
advanced artificial intelligence in warfighting
use cases at all levels of command; and
(iv) other critical enabling
infrastructure, such as information technology
systems and energy sources;
(E) recommendations for resourcing the materiel and
nonmateriel solutions identified in subparagraphs
(A) through
(D) ; and
(F) recommendations for resourcing critical
artificial intelligence assurance activities, such as
test and evaluation, continuous monitoring, governance,
and the creation of assurance case artifacts.

(4) Examine the potential implications of advanced
artificial intelligence on key areas of national defense,
including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear
capabilities, advanced cyber capabilities, model autonomy,
strategic deception, advanced research and development
capabilities for producing increasingly powerful artificial
intelligence, military applications of artificial intelligence
for warfighting functions, and other areas in which advanced
artificial intelligence may pose a threat to national security
or national defense.

(5) In consultation with the Director of National
Intelligence, monitor and assess the progress of the People's
Republic of China in developing advanced artificial
intelligence and assess the implications of such development
for strategic competition. In assessing such progress, the
Secretary shall examine key factors in areas critical for
People's Republic of China progress toward advanced artificial
intelligence, including--
(A) an assessment of the People's Republic of
China's overall efforts toward advanced artificial
intelligence, including overall progress, activities to
develop or acquire such systems, relative progress
compared to United States entities, efforts to prevent
loss of control from such systems, and attitudes of the
Chinese Communist Party and other influential figures
toward advanced artificial intelligence risks and
safety approaches;
(B) identification of the primary entities in the
People's Republic of China that are leading in the
development of advanced artificial intelligence;
(C) identification of the top researchers in the
People's Republic of China who are most essential for
the development of advanced artificial intelligence;
(D) identification of specific data centers, energy
infrastructure, and other resources most critical to
the People's Republic of China's progress toward
advanced artificial intelligence (including plans for
future data centers);
(E) identification and assessment of the top
methods to robustly detect advanced artificial
intelligence development by the People's Republic of
China, including methods to assess the degree to which
the People's Republic of China is developing advanced
artificial intelligence capabilities that pose
significant risks to the national security of the
United States;
(F) identification of the top methods that can be
used to disrupt advanced artificial intelligence
projects of the People's Republic of China and an
assessment of their efficacy and limitations;
(G) an assessment of efforts originating in the
People's Republic of China to acquire technology and
information from entities operating within the United
States or other nations to advance progress toward
advanced artificial intelligence, including advanced
semiconductors, research findings, or insights relating
to training or inference; and
(H) a comparative assessment of efforts in the
People's Republic of China and United States to
characterize and mitigate security risks from advanced
artificial intelligence systems, including an
evaluation of how leading researchers and policymakers
in each country conceptualize the national security
risks posed by uncontrolled or misaligned advanced
artificial intelligence.

(6) In consultation with the Director of National
Intelligence and the Secretary of Homeland Security, assess the
security capabilities of leading United States artificial
intelligence developers, with a focus on their ability to
protect advanced artificial intelligence systems, model
weights, and key insights from the People's Republic of China
and other highly resourced adversaries.

(7) Assess the national security risks posed by
uncontrolled or misaligned advanced artificial intelligence.
The assessment, focusing on the People's Republic of China and
the United States, shall include--
(A) an examination of emerging capabilities
relevant to misaligned or uncontrolled artificial
intelligence, including automated artificial
intelligence research, recursive self-improvement,
ability to deceive humans, agentic capabilities, and
other capabilities or processes that could undermine
robust or trustworthy human oversight;
(B) a review of research on AI misalignment,
alignment faking, deception, and other related areas in
which artificial intelligence systems appear to act in
ways that diverge from the intentions or values of
their developers or in ways that diverge from United
States values or interests;
(C) an assessment of current capabilities within
the United States Government to detect and monitor the
threats described above, including evaluations of the
ability to identify early warning signs or imminent
threats relating to recursive self-improvement,
offensive cyber use, alignment faking, or other system
misbehavior;
(D) recommendations for improving the
identification, mitigation, and response to risks from
uncontrolled or misaligned artificial intelligence
systems, with particular attention to interagency
coordination and collaboration with the private sector,
academic institutions, and allied governments; and
(E) implications for the Department of Defense's
approach toward adopting or deploying advanced
artificial intelligence.

(8) Create materials and prepare plans to address acute
national security risks or crises involving advanced artificial
intelligence, including risks from uncontrolled or misaligned
advanced artificial intelligence systems, which shall include--
(A) developing and conducting unclassified and
classified scenario exercises, wargames, tabletop
exercises, and other similar efforts to understand how
advanced artificial intelligence capabilities could
present acute national security risks or crises or pose
a risk to existing operational plans of the Department
of Defense;
(B) developing preparedness plans detailing
governmental response strategies to scenarios described
in subparagraph
(A) , including detailed information
describing how the Department of Defense would
coordinate with relevant entities of the United States
(such as advanced artificial intelligence developers,
compute cluster providers, and government officials) in
the event of an acute national security risk or crisis;
and
(C) identifying potential gaps in the Department of
Defense's authorities, relationships, personnel, or
other factors that could affect the Department's
ability to address scenarios described in subparagraph
(A) or execute strategies described in subparagraph
(B) .

(9) Develop potential strategies and recommendations to
prevent adversaries from acquiring advanced artificial
intelligence that would pose a grave national security threat
if acquired or stolen. As part of this effort, the Secretary
shall assess the potential of a hypothetical centralized,
highly secure, Department of Defense-led project to securely
develop advanced artificial intelligence. This evaluation shall
consider factors including the governance structure,
cybersecurity and physical security protocols,
counterintelligence and antiespionage measures against the
People's Republic of China and other foreign adversaries,
chain-of-command, size and location of the project, resources
and personnel required, contingency and emergency response
plans, geopolitical considerations, and other elements to
ensure that the project supports United States national
security objectives. Additional strategies may include export
controls, counterespionage measures, and approaches for
protecting sensitive information relevant to national security
or advanced artificial intelligence development and deployment.

(10) Provide policy and resourcing recommendations to the
Secretary of Defense, the President, and Congress relating to
the topics covered by the Initiative.
(d) Reports and Briefings.--

(1) Initial report and briefing.--Not later than 90 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(A) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the
House of Representatives a report detailing the
organizational structure, staffing requirements, and
initial objectives of the Initiative; and
(B) provide to the Committees a briefing on the
matters set forth in the report.

(2) Annual reports and briefings.--Not later than 180 days
after the submission of the initial report under paragraph

(1) ,
and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall--
(A) submit to the Committees on Armed Services of
the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on
the activities carried out under the Initiative since
the date of the last report under this subsection,
including any findings, assessments, and
recommendations with respect to the national security
implications of advanced artificial intelligence; and
(B) provide to the Committees a briefing on the
matters set forth in the report.

(e) Sunset.--The authority to carry out this section shall
terminate 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(f)

(g) of the John S. McCain
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public
Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4061).

(2) The term ``advanced artificial intelligence'' means
artificial general intelligence and other advanced artificial
intelligence systems at the frontier of performance, including
systems that match or exceed human expert performance in key
skills, tasks, or knowledge areas, such as in the areas of
chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear capabilities,
cyber offense, model autonomy, persuasion, research and
development, self-improvement, or military strategy.

(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``may establish'' and inserting ``shall establish and
maintain''.

INNOVATION UNIT.

(a) In General.--The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit
(referred to in this section as the ``Unit'') shall undertake efforts
to support the development of low-cost, easily scalable, and rapidly
deployable technologies to counter internet shutdowns or limitations on
network access abroad, particularly those imposed by adversary
countries, to enable populations to overcome such restrictions.

(b) Objectives.--In carrying out the responsibilities under
subsection

(a) , the Director of the Unit shall prioritize the following
objectives:

(1) Identifying and supporting the development of
technologies capable of overcoming internet blackouts and
network disruptions imposed by an adversary country and
facilitating internet and network access, including--
(A) low Earth orbit satellite internet
infrastructure;
(B) mesh networking solutions;
(C) portable and deployable communication systems;
and
(D) virtual private networks.

(2) Collaborating with industry, academia, and relevant
stakeholders to accelerate the research, development, and
deployment of such technologies.

(3) Conducting pilot programs and field experiments to test
the effectiveness and scalability of developed solutions in
real-world settings.

(4) Providing technical assistance and resources to partner
organizations, governments, and nongovernmental entities
engaged in efforts to expand internet access.

(5) Identifying and evaluating off-the-shelf technologies
that could be rapidly procured and deployed to address internet
access challenges in targeted regions.
(c) Collaboration With Defense Acquisition University.--The
Director of the Unit shall collaborate with the head of the Defense
Acquisition University to leverage expertise in acquisition processes
and practices related to carrying out the objectives under subsection

(b) with the aim of--

(1) integrating best practices in defense acquisition into
the research, development, and deployment processes of
technologies developed by the Unit to facilitate internet
access;

(2) ensuring that technologies developed by the Unit align
with acquisition priorities and strategies of the Department of
Defense;

(3) providing training and educational opportunities for
Unit personnel on acquisition principles, regulations, and
procedures, with a focus on technology development for
countering censorship and related restrictions;

(4) fostering dialogue and exchange of knowledge between
acquisition professionals and innovation specialists to enhance
the effectiveness and efficiency of defense technology
acquisition related to internet access technologies; and

(5) collaborating on the development of acquisition
strategies that prioritize the rapid acquisition and deployment
of technologies aimed at countering censorship and restrictions
on internet access.
(d) Reporting.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, the Director
of the Unit shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the
congressional defense committees a report detailing the progress,
challenges, and outcomes of the efforts undertaken pursuant to this
section.

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION FUNCTION FOR
ARMY AMMUNITION.

(a) Limitation.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by
this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026 for the
Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to realign the
research, development, test, and evaluation function for Army
ammunition away from the current Joint Program Executive Office
Armaments and Ammunition or Joint Capabilities Portfolio Executive
Ammunition construct until a period of 180 days has elapsed following
the date on which the report required under subsection

(b) is submitted
to the congressional defense committees.

(b) Report Required.--Not later than November 1, 2026, the
Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a report that includes the following with respect to the
proposed realignment of functions described in subsection

(a) :

(1) An explanation of whether Army personnel, including
contractors, would be required to relocate to a new location
and if so an estimate of how many personnel would relocate and
to what locations.

(2) An explanation of whether the Army expects to build new
facilities and infrastructure at new locations to accomplish
the research, development, test, and evaluation function for
Army ammunition and, if so, identification of--
(A) what new facilities and infrastructure would
have to be constructed; and
(B) where such facilities and infrastructure would
be constructed.

(3) A detailed estimate of the costs of relocating
personnel and equipment and constructing new facilities and
infrastructure.

(4) A detailed explanation of the efficiencies, if any,
that the Army expects to realize by realigning the research,
development, test, and evaluation function for Army ammunition
to Capabilities Portfolio Executive Fires.

(5) In consultation with the with the Secretary of the Navy
and the Secretary of the Air Force, a determination as to
whether realigning the research, development, test, and
evaluation function for Army ammunition to Capabilities
Portfolio Executive Fires will hinder or impede the joint
construct that Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and
Ammunition has traditionally maintained with the Navy, Marine
Corps, and Air Force.

Subtitle C--Plans, Reports, and Other Matters

APPLICATIONS OF EMERGING BIOTECHNOLOGY INTO WARGAMING
EXERCISES.

(a) In General.--The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall
conduct a review to determine the feasibility and advisability
modifying the design of wargaming exercises to ensure that such
exercises incorporate militarily-relevant applications of emerging
biotechnology.

(b) Elements.--In conducting the review required under subsection

(a) , the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall take into
account--

(1) biotechnology-enabled enhancements that improve the
cognitive and physical performance of warfighters;

(2) biotechnology-enabled chemicals and materials intended
to provide a strategic advantage on the battlefield;

(3) adversaries' use of biotechnology for military purposes
beyond traditional biological weapons; and

(4) any other militarily-relevant applications of
biotechnology determined appropriate by the Chairman.
(c) Consultation.--In conducting the review under subsection

(a) ,
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall consult with--

(1) the commanders of the combatant commands; and

(2) other stakeholders within and outside the Department of
Defense, as necessary, to identify recent militarily-relevant
advancements in the field of biotechnology that could
potentially be incorporated into exercises.
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall
submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House
of Representatives a report on the results of the review conducted
under subsection

(a) . The report shall include--

(1) a detailed summary of any recommended modifications to
wargaming exercises; and

(2) if applicable, a plan for regularly updating the design
of such exercises to keep pace with advances in biotechnology.

(e) Wargaming Exercise Defined.--In this section, the term
``wargaming exercise'' means a military exercise conducted to test or
improve tactical expertise, and includes the Globally Integrated
Wargames.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a review to
determine the feasibility and advisability of using cloud laboratories
at the Department of Defense to provide authorized researchers with
access to high-quality experimental instrumentation and data collection
for purposes of generating high-quality data.

(b) Elements.--In conducting the review required under subsection

(a) , the Secretary of Defense shall take into account--

(1) best practices for cloud computing methods to safely
store sensitive data, such as biological data;

(2) considerations related to cybersecurity, biosecurity,
research security, and data privacy;

(3) estimated costs for the construction and sustainment of
cloud laboratories;

(4) estimated timelines for establishing cloud
laboratories; and

(5) consideration of how cloud laboratories can improve the
quality and quantity of data to improve research and
development of novel technologies.
(c) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the
Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of
Representatives a report on the results of the review conducted under
subsection

(a) .
(d) Cloud Laboratory Defined.--In this section, the term ``cloud
laboratory'' means a physical laboratory equipped with automation and
data storage to conduct experiments.

RESEARCH AWARDS.

(a) Reports Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and on a quarterly basis thereafter, the
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a report that includes the following:

(1) With respect to the quarter preceding the date of the
report, identification of each covered award that was
terminated by the Department of defense on the basis that the
award no longer effectuates the programs goals or agency
priorities as provided under the Department of Defense Research
and Development General Terms and Conditions (dated March
2025), or any related or successor guidance.

(2) For each covered award identified under paragraph

(1) --
(A) an explanation of whether or not that award was
meeting relevant objectives and requirements; and
(B) a justification for the termination of the
award.

(b)

TECHNOLOGY AND CAPABILITIES.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with
the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the
Under Secretary of Acquisition and Sustainment, shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report that--

(1) reviews and assesses the ability of the Department of
Defense to conduct effective and thorough market research on
critical existing and emerging defense technologies; and

(2) makes recommendations for the improvement of such
market research capabilities.

(b) Contents.--The report under subsection

(a) shall include the
following:

(1) An assessment of the strategic market evaluation
practices across developmental innovation and acquisition
offices, including practices that are aligned for purposes of
investigating existing commercial technology capabilities in
critical technologies and capabilities.

(2) Recommendations on ways to improve market research and
commercial sector due diligence within key Department of
Defense innovation and acquisition offices, with a particular
focus on deeper engagement with existing private sector
entities.

(3) An assessment of the current status of development
maturity and growth in critical technological market areas.

(4) An assessment of regulatory, legal, and administrative
barriers in testing and evaluation of such critical
technologies that may delay their maturation and development,
such as--
(A) a lack of authority to operate new technologies
domestically; and
(B) barriers to direct commercial sales and foreign
military sales for such critical technologies.

(5) An assessment of how the barriers described in
paragraph

(4) may be addressed to direct additional investment
and speed development.

(6) An assessment of current practices of accumulating and
storing market research data across the Department of Defense
enterprise, from early-stage research and development efforts
to mature commercial solutions.

(7) Recommendations, with respect to each critical
technology sector, for enhancing private sector participation,
lowering barriers to entry for commercial sector entities,
decreasing capital costs required for development, and
shortening internal Department of Defense timelines for major
acquisition decisions.

(8) Recommendations for the creation of standardized best
practices for market research and commercial sector due
diligence within key innovation and acquisition organizations
in the Department of Defense.
(c) Consultation.--In preparing the report under subsection

(a) the
Secretary shall seek input from relevant individuals and organizations
in commercial industry and the venture capital sector.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the Defense Innovation Unit's

(DIU) Low Cost Undersea
Effectors Commercial Solutions Opening

(CSO) , which seeks to
demonstrate affordable, mission-specific small and medium
unmanned underwater vehicles

(UUVs) capable of supporting
subsea and seabed warfare, intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance

(ISR) , and expeditionary warfare, offers the
potential to deliver kinetic effects, ISR, and expeditionary
capabilities at low cost, with reduced training and logistics
burdens, and in quantities sufficient to enable distributed
maritime operations;

(2) the Low-Cost Undersea Effectors CSO should be fully
funded and executed to its intended scope, with particular
emphasis on transitioning viable systems to scaled production
rapidly;

(3) the Secretary of the Navy should plan for and execute
procurement of successful systems emerging from the Low-Cost
Undersea Effectors CSO, including by leveraging Other
Transaction Authority, rapid acquisition authorities, and
appropriate research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E)
and procurement accounts; and

(4) early adoption of commercially derived, low-cost
unmanned underwater vehicles will complement, rather than
compete with, traditional programs of record, and will enable
novel operational concepts ensuring our national security edge
in undersea warfare.

(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with DIU, shall
provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on the Low-
Cost Undersea Effectors CSO, including--

(1) the funding plan and execution status for the Low-Cost
Undersea Effectors CSO;

(2) Navy plans to begin limited procurement of successful
CSO awardees for operational experimentation and fleet
integration;

(3) pathways for scaling production of low-cost UUVs; and

(4) steps to ensure small business and non-traditional
defense contractors remain central to future acquisition in
this domain.

VESSELS.

(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days from the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for
Research, Development, and Acquisition shall submit to the
congressional defense committees an unclassified report on planned
development of a configurable, low-cost, expendable electronic warfare
capability to support unmanned surface vessel survivability.

(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection

(a) shall
include the following:

(1) An assessment of currently available electronic warfare
capabilities for unmanned surface vessels and limitations of
current technology.

(2) A determination of funding availability for fiscal
years 2026 through 2030 by program element to support the rapid
development of configurable low-cost electronic warfare
capabilities for multi-class unmanned surface vessels.

(3) A determination of funding availability from Public Law
119-21.

(4) An assessment of current and future satellite radar
detection capabilities in finding and tracking ocean-going
unmanned surface vessels by any country determined by the
Secretary of State to be a foreign adversary with such
capabilities.

(5) A list of possible technical requirements for a multi-
class, affordable, low-power, and expendable electronic warfare
system.

(6) A rapid acquisition strategy for this capability.

(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Under
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, submit to the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives a strategy on the national
security implications of emerging biotechnologies, including the future
role that biotechnology will play in defense, and means to improve
industry, interagency, and international relationships in this sector.

(b) Elements.--The strategy required pursuant to subsection

(a) shall include the following elements:

(1) How the Department of Defense will develop and expand a
network of commercial facilities for the biomanufacture of
products that are critical for defense needs.

(2) Review and update of military specifications in order
to better incorporate or substitute current products with
biotechnology-based products.

(3) Updated plans and policies for the Department to enter
into advance market commitments and offtake agreements for
biotechnology products that have defense applications.

(4) A description of how the Department could better
incorporate military-relevant applications of emerging
biotechnology into wargaming exercises, tabletop exercises, or
other net assessment analyses.

(5) The benefits and costs of issuing a research grand
challenge, or a series of challenges, that focus on making
biotechnology predictably engineerable and how the Department
would implement such research grand challenge, or challenges.

(6) Development of a biotechnology regulation science and
technology program within the Department, including development
of digital infrastructure to support simplified regulation and
the development of biometrology tools.

(7) Updated plans and policies for inter-governmental
support that the Department could provide in encouraging member
countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

(NATO) to
aggregate demand and pool purchasing power for biotechnology
products.

(8) Review of plans and guidance on how the Department can
work to develop, integrate, and disseminate biotechnology
research initiatives across member countries of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization, and how the Department might
coordinate with international stakeholders to utilize the
combined research capabilities of such member countries to
drive a biotechnology development approach.

HYPERSONICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

(a) Plan Required.--The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
and Sustainment shall develop a plan for allocating up to $20,000,000
to develop a comprehensive set of advanced manufacturing practices and
advanced materials for hypersonics research and development.

(b) Elements.--At a minimum, the plan under subsection

(a) shall--

(1) address--
(A) intelligence-optimized robotic forming;
(B) additive and subtractive manufacturing methods;
(C) precision joining (laser, e-beam, friction
stir) for dissimilar metals and metal/CMC interfaces;
and
(D) advanced materials and processing; and

(2) define qualification artifacts (process allowable, non-
destructive inspection procedures, and digital-thread data
standards) and pilot lines executed by consortia of primes,
startups, and Federal labs, with TRL/MRL, cost, and lead-time
objectives.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
and Sustainment shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the
Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the plan developed
under subsection

(a) .

MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering shall submit to the congressional defense committees a
comprehensive report outlining the strategy of the Department of
Defense for the research, development, and deployment of friction stir
additive manufacturing technologies.

(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection

(a) shall include
the following:

(1) An assessment of the strategic importance of developing
and deploying friction stir additive manufacturing technologies
for national defense, including their potential to enhance
supply chain resilience, manufacturing agility, and operational
readiness.

(2) A detailed summary of current and planned Department of
Defense programs and initiatives that are supporting the
development, testing, or implementation of friction stir
additive manufacturing technologies.

(3) An analysis of key areas of operational impact of such
technologies, including--
(A) expeditionary manufacturing and sustainment
capabilities;
(B) deployable micro-factory systems for forward
operating bases or contested environments; and
(C) development of ultra-large-scale friction stir
additive manufacturing techniques for critical defense
infrastructure and platforms.

SPACE ENVIRONMENT.

(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the upper atmosphere and near-space environment are
important to Air Force and Joint operations worldwide and the
operational and threat environments that U.S. assets are likely
to encounter;

(2) research is needed to study atmospheric phenomenology
and develop technologies for continuous monitoring and
detection of encroachment and adversarial effects in the
atmosphere;

(3) research on atmospheric signatures and dynamics in the
upper atmosphere and the development of predictive techniques
to ensure observational and operational superiority would be
beneficial for Air Force missions; and

(4) the Secretary of the Air Force should conduct
additional research in these areas.

(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with
the Secretary of the Air Force, shall submit to the Committees on Armed
Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that
includes the following:

(1) An assessment of intelligence activities and other
competitive activities undertaken by foreign nations with
respect to the upper atmosphere and near-space environment.

(2) A comprehensive strategy to address the upper
atmosphere and near-space environment, which shall include
requirements for high-altitude, long-duration, and heavy-lift
propulsion systems and platforms.

TITLE III--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations

Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026
for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of
the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for
operation and maintenance, as specified in the funding table in

Subtitle B--Energy and Environment

ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS MADE BY OFFICE OF STRATEGIC CAPITAL.

(f)

(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs
(U) through

(GG) as
subparagraphs
(W) through
(II) , respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subparagraph
(T) the following new
subparagraphs:
``
(U) Nuclear energy.
``
(V) Nuclear technologies.''.

REMEDIATION IN ANNUAL REPORT ON DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROGRAMS.

(1) in subsection

(b) , by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``

(6) Information on the costs associated with
investigating and remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances contamination, including--
``
(A) detailed information regarding the total
potential total costs to the Department of
investigating and remediating such contamination at all
locations where investigation and remediation is
expected to be funded by the Department; and
``
(B) the cost assumption analysis required under
subsection
(d) .''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``
(d) PFAS Cost Assumption Analysis.--The Secretary shall carry out
an annual cost assumption analysis with respect to the most important
contributors to the costs to the Department of investigating and
remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination that--
``

(1) includes--
``
(A) an assessment of any changes in regulatory
standards, treatment technologies, and site
prioritization that could affect future costs;
``
(B) examples of how modifying assumptions about
contamination extent, remediation timelines, or
emerging disposal methods could affect projected costs;
and
``
(C) an identification of any funding shortfalls
or other constraints that could affect the
investigation and remediation of such contamination;
and
``

(2) incorporates a risk and uncertainty analysis with
respect to the effects of potential changes in the most
important contributors to the costs to the Department of
investigating and remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances contamination, including--
``
(A) variability in the extent of such
contamination based on ongoing site assessments,
inspections, and investigations;
``
(B) shifts in regulatory requirements that could
alter investigation and remediation strategies; and
``
(C) advances in technologies for the treatment
and disposal such contamination that could reduce or
increase long-term costs.''.

FLUORINATED AQUEOUS FILM-FORMING FOAM.

Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92; 10 U.S.C. 2661 note prec.) is amended--

(1) in subsection

(b) --
(A) by striking ``October 1, 2023'' and inserting
``October 1, 2026''; and
(B) by striking ``in excess of one part per billion
of'' and inserting ``detectable'';

(2) in subsection
(c) (1) , by striking ``October 1, 2024''
and inserting ``October 1, 2026'';

(3) by striking subsection
(d) and inserting the following:
``
(d) Exemptions.--Subsections

(b) and
(c) shall not apply to
firefighting foam for use--
``

(1) onboard oceangoing vessels, including use in pier-
side inspection, testing, and maintenance;
``

(2) that is necessary to conduct testing to meet military
specification qualification requirements and ensure quality
standards of the inventory of the Department;
``

(3) during research, development, test, and evaluation of
fluorine-free fire-fighting agents;
``

(4) on naval nuclear submarine propulsion plants; or
``

(5) in tactical vehicles and equipment that is
incompatible with fluorine-free fire-fighting agents.''; and

(4) in subsection

(e) --
(A) in paragraph

(1) --
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A) , by inserting ``the limitation under
subsection

(b) or'' before ``the prohibition'';
and
(ii) in subparagraph
(B) --
(I) in clause
(ii) , by inserting
``or to maintain military readiness''
after ``safety'';
(II) by striking clause
(iii) and
redesignating clauses
(iv) and
(v) as
clauses
(iii) and
(iv) , respectively;
and
(III) in clause
(iii) , as so
redesignated, by striking ``and does
not require revision''; and
(B) in paragraph

(2)
(C) , by striking ``Secretary of
Defense'' and inserting ``Under Secretary of Defense
for Acquisition and Sustainment''.

COMMUNITIES WITH PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS
CONTAMINATED WITH PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES OR
POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.

(a) Requirement.--Beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act, for each household that is located in a community with a private
drinking water well in which contamination from a perfluoroalkyl
substance, polyfluoroalkyl substance, or mixture thereof resulting from
activities of the Department of Defense exceeds the maximum contaminant
level for such substance or mixture, respectively, and that has not
received a permanent safe drinking water solution described in
subsection

(b) , the Secretary of Defense shall provide to such
household an alternative source of drinking water (which may include
the provision of bottled water) until such time as--

(1) the degree of cleanup of such contamination has at
least attained such respective maximum contaminant level,
consistent with

(d) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. 9621
(d) ); or

(2) the Secretary provides such household with a permanent
safe drinking water solution described in subsection

(b) .

(b) Permanent Safe Drinking Water Solutions Described.--A permanent
safe drinking water solution described in this subsection is the
connection of a household to a public water system, installation at a
household of an onsite filtration system capable of treating the
contamination specified in subsection

(a) , or provision to a household
of another permanent alternative source of drinking water.
(c) Coordination With Existing Authorities.--The Secretary of
Defense shall carry out this section in a manner consistent with the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.) and any other authority under
environmental law, including by coordinating efforts under subsection

(a) with ongoing efforts to address contamination under such
authorities.
(d) === Definitions. ===
-In this section:

(1) The terms ``maximum contaminant level'' and ``public
water system'' have the meanings given those terms in

(2) The term ``private drinking water well'' means a
drinking water well that is not a public water system and is
not connected to a public water system.

OPERATIONAL NUCLEAR ENERGY.

(a) Executive Agent.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination
with the Secretary of the Army, the Under Secretary of Defense for
Acquisition and Sustainment, the Under Secretary of Defense for
Research and Engineering, and the Director of the Strategic
Capabilities Office of the Department of Defense, shall ensure that,
not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
there is designated an executive agent of the Department of Defense for
installation and operational nuclear energy.

(b) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the executive agent
specified in subsection

(a) shall include the following:

(1) In coordination with the commanders of the combatant
commands and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, assessing installation
energy and operational energy needs, and establishing and
maintaining requirements for the use of nuclear energy to meet
such needs, for the purpose of furthering mission critical
activities of the Department of Defense and enhancing national
security.

(2) Consulting with project developers and other experts
from the commercial nuclear industry, potential private owners
and operators of nuclear reactors to be deployed at military
installations, and other persons determined appropriate by the
executive agent, to assess the technological capabilities,
development status, costs, timelines, risks, and potential need
for design evolution of nuclear reactors to meet the needs of
the Department of Defense referred to paragraph

(1) .

(3) In coordination with the Secretary of Energy, the
Secretaries of the military departments, and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, assessing the technology readiness,
licensability, deployability, operability, and maintainability
of nuclear reactors with respect to potential deployment at
military installations.

(4) In coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretaries of the military departments, integrating technical
and project resources across the Department of Defense for the
use of nuclear reactors to meet the needs of the Department of
Defense referred to in paragraph

(1) , including by developing a
plan to aggregate the demand for, and the acquisition and
deployment of, nuclear reactors across military installations
and military departments.

(5) In coordination with the Secretary of Energy and the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission--
(A) evaluating the regulatory framework and other
requirements applicable to the use of nuclear reactors
to meet such needs; and
(B) establishing training programs and plans
relating to the acquisition and operation of nuclear
reactors to meet such needs.

(6) Identifying the timelines and resource requirements
necessary for the acquisition and operation of nuclear reactors
to meet such needs, including--
(A) any support necessary from the national
laboratories of the Department of Energy; and
(B) any funding necessary to carry out interim
pilot programs for the limited deployment of nuclear
reactors until such timelines and resource requirements
are met.

(7) Including resource requirements identified pursuant to
paragraph

(6) , and any other resource requirements necessary to
carry out this subsection, in applicable planning, programming,
budgeting, and execution processes of the Department of
Defense, including by preparing, as applicable--
(A) a program objective memorandum for any new
resource so required; and
(B) a budget justification for any new resource so
required for inclusion in the budget materials
submitted by the Secretary of Defense to Congress in
support of the President's annual budget request
(submitted to Congress pursuant to

title 31, United States Code).

(8) Providing technical support for programs of the
military departments relating to the deployment of nuclear
reactors for installation energy resilience.
(c) Annual Reports.--Not later than September 30, 2026, and
annually thereafter for a period of five years, the executive agent
specified in subsection

(a) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense
and the congressional defense committees a report describing the
actions taken to implement this section during the one-year period
ending on the date of the submission of such report.
(d) Plan for Program of Record.--

(1) Submission.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the executive agent specified in subsection

(a) , shall submit to the congressional defense committees a
plan to establish a program of record of the Department of
Defense for the use of nuclear energy to meet installation
energy and operational energy needs.

(2) Elements.--The plan under paragraph

(1) shall include
the following:
(A) An identification of requirements necessary for
the establishment of the program of record specified in
such paragraph.
(B) A budget estimate for such program of record
through 2030 or through the conclusion of the five-year
period following the first date on which a nuclear
reactor is deployed at a military installation,
whichever is later.
(C) A summary of actions taken to implement the
responsibilities under subsection

(b) and information
derived as a result of such actions.
(D) Use cases for nuclear reactors, developed in
coordination with the commanders of combatant commands
with respect to installation and operational needs
(including needs relating to the electrification of
operational energy, elimination of fuel supply
vulnerabilities, military installation resilience,
sustainment of military installations, enablement of
multi-domain operations, and advanced weaponry).
(E) An identification of the minimum potential
number of military installations at which nuclear
reactors would be necessary to deploy in order to
establish a cost-effective program, and projected dates
by which such nuclear reactors would achieve initial
operational capability.
(F) An estimate of fuel requirements necessary to
support the deployment of various models of nuclear
reactors at military installations, to inform future
acquisition planning.

(e) Compliance With Applicable Directive.--The Secretary shall
carry out this section in compliance with Directive 5101.1.

(f) Support Within Department of Defense.--In accordance with
Directive 5101.1, the Secretary shall ensure that the military
departments, the Defense Agencies, and other elements of the Department
of Defense provide the executive agent specified in subsection

(a) with
the appropriate support and resources needed to perform the roles,
responsibilities, and authorities of the executive agent.

(g)

(3) The term ``executive agent'' has the meaning given the
term ``DoD Executive Agent'' in Directive 5101.1.

(4) The term ``operational energy'' has the meaning given
that term in

WORKING GROUP.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a
working group to be known as the ``Advanced Nuclear Technologies
Transition Working Group''.

(b) Membership.--The working group shall be composed of the
following members, or designees thereof:

(1) The Secretary of Defense.

(2) The Secretaries of the military departments.

(3) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(4) The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Sustainment.

(5) The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and
Engineering.

(6) The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

(7) The Director of the Defense Innovation Unit.

(8) The Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office.

(9) The head of any other organizational entity of the
Department of Defense the Chairperson determines appropriate.
(c) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Defense, or a designee thereof,
shall serve as the Chairperson of the working group.
(d) Duties.--The duties of the working group shall include the
following:

(1) Developing and implementing a strategy to accelerate
the procurement and fielding of commercially available advanced
nuclear technologies using available authorities.

(2) Identifying critical installation energy and
operational energy needs of military installations and the
combatant commands that may be addressed through the use of
advanced nuclear technologies, ensuring such needs are
considered in relation to efforts and planned efforts of the
Department of Defense, and developing an accelerated pathway to
leverage advanced nuclear technologies to address any gap in
such needs.

(3) Coordinating efforts among the members of the working
group for the demonstration and transition of advanced nuclear
technologies, including by increasing opportunities for
collaboration between the Department of Defense and potential
partners within the commercial nuclear industry with respect to
research and development, testing and evaluation, and
procurement activities relating to such technologies.

(4) Coordinating with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments and agencies regarding the conduct of interagency
activities and development of best practices to address
obstacles to the rapid fielding of advanced nuclear
technologies, including any such obstacle relating to workforce
development, regulatory frameworks, licensing requirements,
access to fuel sources, safety or security standards, or
decommissioning.

(5) Establishing opportunities for engagement with
developers of advanced nuclear technologies within the
commercial nuclear industry to assess the availability
(including, as applicable, the timeline for availability) of
micro-reactor and small modular reactor capabilities for
potential application to meet the needs of the Department of
Defense.

(e) Meetings.--The working group shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson and not less frequently than quarterly.

(f) Briefings and Reports.--

(1) Initial briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Chairperson shall provide to
the congressional defense committees a briefing on the
organization, plans, milestones, and activities of the working
group.

(2) Annual report.--Not later than September 30, 2026, and
annually thereafter until the date of termination under
subsection

(g) , the Chairperson shall submit to the
congressional defense committees a report describing, with
respect to the year preceding the date of submission of the
report, the plans, milestones, and activities of the working
group, including a description of the status during such year
of any project relating to advanced nuclear technologies, any
funding or other requirement associated with such a project,
and any plan to transition a capability under such a project.

(g) Termination.--The working group shall terminate on September
30, 2029.

(h)

(b)

(1) of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271

(b)

(1) ), with a rated
capacity of less than 50 electrical megawatts.

(2) The term ``operational energy'' has the meaning given
that term in

(3) The term ``small modular reactor'' means an advanced
nuclear reactor, as such term is defined in

(b)

(1) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271

(b)

(1) )--
(A) with a rated capacity of less than 500
electrical megawatts; and
(B) that may be constructed and operated in
combination with similar reactors at a single site.

(4) The term ``working group'' means the working group
established under subsection

(a) .

WEATHER DATA.

(a) Establishment.--Not later than September 30, 2027, the
Secretary of the Air Force shall establish a program of record of the
Department of the Air Force to--

(1) acquire and use commercial weather data to--
(A) support operational weather forecasting; and
(B) enhance mission planning and execution in data-
sparse and contested environments;

(2) integrate such commercial weather data and related
systems into meteorological and decision support frameworks of
the Air Force; and

(3) ensure resilience against adversarial advancements in
space-based environmental monitoring.

(b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than March 1, 2026, the
Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense
committees, with respect to the program of record to be established
under subsection

(a) , the following:

(1) A transition plan for the adoption of such program of
record, including projected costs and funding requirements over
the period covered by the program objective memorandum process
for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.

(2) An acquisition strategy for such program of record,
including an outline of potential middle tier of acquisition
pathways or major capability acquisition pathways (as such term
is defined in Department of Defense Instruction 5000.85, titled
``Major Capability Acquisition'' and issued on August 6, 2020
(or successor instruction)).

(3) A budget justification for inclusion of such program of
record in the budget materials submitted by the Secretary of
Defense to Congress in support of the President's annual budget
request (submitted to Congress pursuant to

title 31, United States Code) for fiscal year 2027, to secure
sustained funding.

(a) Pilot Program Required.--Beginning not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of
the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall carry out a
ten-year pilot program at not fewer than two naval installations for
the purpose of determining how small modular reactors or mobile
reactors could be used--

(1) to meet the installation energy needs of the Navy
during the ten-year period beginning on the date of the
enactment of this Act; and

(2) to inform the development of concepts for the use of
nuclear power facilities to support increased energy security
for Navy and Marine Corps installations.

(b) Installation Prioritization.--In selecting naval installations
for the pilot program required by subsection

(a) , the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment shall
prioritize an installation that--

(1) has entered into, as of the date of the enactment of
this Act, a memorandum of agreement with a private power
provider or reactor technology vendor to explore the use of a
small modular reactor or mobile reactor designed for
standardized and scaleable production for installation energy
requirements; and

(2) contributes support to naval operations at mid-Atlantic
region installations.
(c) Public-private Partnerships.--

(1) Available infrastructure.--The Assistant Secretary of
the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment may carry
out the pilot program required by subsection

(a) by assessing
and making recommendations regarding how to make available the
facilities of a Navy or Marine Corps program selected for
participation in the pilot program.

(2) Data centers.--As part of the pilot program, the
Assistant Secretary shall evaluate and make recommendations
regarding how to make available Navy or Marine Corps facilities
to co-locate data centers with the assessed, representative
small modular reactors or mobile reactors.

(3) Contracts.--The pilot program does not require the
Secretary of the Navy to enter into any new contract, such as
an energy savings performance contract.
(d) Reporting Requirements.--

(1) Annual report.--In each report submitted under

beginning on the date that is one year after the date of
enactment of this Act and ending on September 30, 2032, the
Secretary of the Navy shall include, for the year covered by
the report, each of the following:
(A) A five-year funding plan for all Navy nuclear
shore and installation power programs for the Navy,
including nuclear efforts provided for in the context
of the Navy Shore Energy Program and any identified
funding shortfalls.
(B) An identification of authorities required and
remaining barriers to the provision of nuclear power
from a military installation to civilian energy grids.
(C) A review of lessons learned from related
efforts conducted by the other military departments,
the Defense Innovation Unit, and any other entities the
Secretary considers relevant.
(D) An analysis of efforts taken by the Navy to use
nuclear power on Navy installations to support data
center power demands.
(E) Any other details the Secretary of the Navy
considers relevant.

(2) Final report.--Upon conclusion of the pilot program,
the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional
defense committees a report that includes, or include in the
report required under