Conferees released the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was released this week.
H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 is the final version before final House and Senate passage and the measure goes to the President to become law. The plan would authorize $900.6 billion in national security spending which is $8 billion more than what was in the president’s budget request. In comparison, the FY25 NDAA was $924.7 billion.
The measure contained a provision which would prohibit the Department from modifying indirect cost rates to higher education or nonprofit organizations without prior consultation by those groups and with establishing an implementation plan adequate transition time to change budgeting and accounting processes.
It includes language to repeal the 2002 Iraq War and 1991 Gulf War Authorizations of Military Force.
Also included were limits on reducing troops in Europe and South Korea and $400M for Ukraine security assistance.
The measure did not contain the SAFE Research Act, which was included in the House-version of the NDAA. The SAFE Research Act would have prohibited all federal research agencies from supporting researchers who collaborate with “foreign adversaries,” such as graduate students who were from certain countries of interest or association with certain institutions. The measure used a 5-year lookback with retroactive penalties to researchers. Included in “collaboration” would have included research agreements, study abroad programs, conference participation, university facilities abroad, etc.
Also out are the proposed IVF expansion and controversial base renaming provisions.
Conference Resources:
FY26 NDAA Conference Text Legislative Summary
FY26 NDAA Conferenced Bill Full Text
The House is expected to pass the measure this week, and the Senate is expected to pass the same measure by the end of the year. When passed, this will the the 65th year the annual authorization bill has passed.