Authorizes fiscal year 2026 funding and sets personnel levels for the Department of Defense, military construction, and Department of Energy national security programs, and modifies many defense rules on weapons programs, acquisition, military personnel, and related matters.

Official title: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Outcome Public Law 119-60

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Received 08-AUG-2025

On the calendar 09-DEC-2025

Passed 10-DEC-2025

Senate

Introduced 14-MAR-2025

Referred 14-MAR-2025

Passed 01-AUG-2025

Took up the House's changes 10-DEC-2025

President

Presented 18-DEC-2025

Signed 18-DEC-2025

Became law 18-DEC-2025

Key points

Authorizes appropriations for military procurement, research and development, operations and maintenance, military personnel, and military construction for fiscal year 2026
Sets active-duty and Selected Reserve end strengths, including 454,000 for the Army and 344,600 for the Navy as of September 30, 2026
Prohibits the Department of Defense from using funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and limits spending on certain contracts with Chinese entities
Includes divisions covering the Department of State, intelligence programs, Coast Guard authorization, and Department of Energy nuclear security

AI-generated from the Public Law text of 19-DEC-2025 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Passed House, 10-DEC-2025).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (3)

Policy area

Armed Forces and National Security

Sponsor John Cornyn (R-TX) Cosponsors · 1

■ 1 R

1 Republican