Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Bill Number: H.R. 3838
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2025-09-30: Received in the Senate.
Last Updated: 2026-04-09T15:21:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 3838: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

This bill authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense (DoD), military personnel strengths, construction projects, and Department of Energy national security programs for FY2026. It includes policy changes, procurement authorizations, and various reports. The bill emphasizes readiness, modernization, and restrictions on emerging technologies like central bank digital currency (CBDC). Below is a structured summary of the main points, focusing on key provisions. All funding figures are in thousands of dollars unless noted.

1. Core Policies

No CBDC Issuance or Related Services: Prohibits the Federal Reserve Banks from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) or similar digital asset, offering related services to individuals, or facilitating indirect issuance. Defines CBDC and bans testing/studying such systems without congressional approval (Title LI).
Personnel Strengths: Authorizes end strengths for active duty (e.g., Army: 454,000; Navy: 344,600; Air Force: 321,500; Space Force: 10,400) and reserves (e.g., Army National Guard: 328,000) for FY2026 (Title IV).
Prohibitions and Limitations:
No DoD funds for gender-affirming care or certain DEI programs (e.g., no use of funds to contravene naming commissions or single-sex facility rules).
Bans single-sex facilities on installations that don't align with biological sex.
Limits funds for certain construction, environmental reviews, or procurements (e.g., no funds for Chinese-sourced port cranes or certain energy codes).
Requires reports on issues like AI in weapons, military housing waitlists, and radon testing.

2. Procurement Authorizations (Title I)

Authorizes funding for weapon systems, aircraft, ammunition, and vehicles across branches. Key highlights:

Army:
UH-60 Blackhawk: $732,060,000 (multi-year procurement).
Javelin Missiles: $329,205,000.
Artillery (e.g., PRSM): $830,579,000.
Total Procurement: $3,045,199,000 (with adjustments).
Navy:
F-35 Variants: ~$1.95B for CV, $1.79B for STOVL.
Virginia-Class Submarine: $816,705,000.
Columbia-Class Submarine: $3.93B.
Total Aircraft Procurement: $17,028,101,000.
Air Force:
F-35: $3.56B.
B-21 Raider: $2.59B.
KC-46A Tanker: $2.80B.
Total: $17,729,963,000.
Missile Defense and Other: Includes funding for hypersonics ($1.43B across services), drones, and cyber systems.
Key Changes: Increases for certain programs (e.g., F-35B/C: +$125M each); decreases for others (e.g., KC-46: -$300M due to delays).

3. Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) (Title II)

Authorizes ~$142B for R&D across DoD and Space Force, focusing on AI, hypersonics, cyber, and unmanned systems. Key points:

Army RDT&E: $14,549,223,000 (e.g., AI/ML: $7M; Hypersonics: $25M).
Navy RDT&E: $25,708,049,000 (e.g., Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile: $802M).
Air Force RDT&E: $52,017,288,000 (e.g., Next-Gen Air Dominance: $2.58B).
Space Force RDT&E: $15,486,466,000 (e.g., GPS III Follow-On: $109.9M).
Defense-Wide RDT&E: $33,921,939,000 (e.g., DARPA: $1.64B).
Key Provisions:
Emphasizes AI, quantum computing, and biotech.
Requires reports on R&D for emerging tech (e.g., biotechnology, cyber).
Increases for hypersonics and counter-UAS (~$1B total).

4. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) (Title III)

Authorizes ~$295.66B for operations, maintenance, training, and readiness. Breakdown:

Army O&M: $58,975,065,000 (includes $7.5B for munitions, $6.16B for facilities).
Navy O&M: $74,080,120,000 (e.g., ship maintenance: $13.8B).
Air Force O&M: $62,429,535,000 (e.g., flying hours: $6.77B).
Space Force O&M: $5,888,163,000.
Defense-Wide O&M: $55,935,718,000 (includes health: $40.5B; acquisition: $45.3M).
Key Changes: Adjustments for under-execution; increases for readiness (e.g., Army: +$20M for facilities).

5. Military Personnel (Title IV)

Authorizes ~$181.8B for pay, allowances, and benefits.
End strengths: Active duty ~1.1M total; Reserves ~1.1M.
Includes provisions for housing waitlists, radon testing, and transition assistance.

6. Military Construction (Title V)

Authorizes ~$18.89B for projects, housing, and energy resilience. Key points:

Army: $2,173,959,000 (e.g., Fort Liberty: $254.7M).
Navy: $6,012,677,000 (e.g., Norfolk: $1.58B).
Air Force: $3,721,473,000 (e.g., Ellsworth AFB: $378M).
Defense Agencies: $3,792,301,000 (e.g., Guam: $440M).
Guard/Reserve: ~$1.74B.
Energy Resilience: $1.16B for microgrids, etc.
Key Provisions: Extends prior authorizations; funds ~200 projects (e.g., barracks, hangars); pilot for additive manufacturing.

7. Department of Energy National Security (Title XXXI)

NNSA: $25,260,000,000 (e.g., Weapons Activities: $20.07B; Cleanup: $6.96B).
Key Focus: Plutonium production (30 pits/year at LANL); stockpile stewardship.
Changes: Increases for pit production; reports on spent fuel, waste.

8. Coast Guard Authorization (Title F)

Authorizes $11.29B for FY2025 (operations, procurement, retirement).
Includes shipbuilding (~$390M for vessels); personnel benefits.

Key Implications

Total Authorization: ~$1.01T for DoD; emphasizes procurement ($152.8B) and O&M (~$295.7B).
Strategic Focus: Hypersonics, cyber defense, AI; restrictions on foreign tech (e.g., Chinese cranes).
Housing/Quality of Life: Mandates reports on waitlists, mold remediation, radon testing.
International: NATO contributions ($481.8M); Indo-Pacific projects.
Prohibitions: No CBDC; limits on DEI, gender services; prioritizes merit-based contracting.
Reports: Extensive requirements (e.g., on AI, housing, supply chains).

This NDAA prioritizes modernization amid fiscal constraints, with ~$33B in new construction and R&D boosts for emerging threats. For full details, refer to the bill text.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL-3]

Cosponsors (1)

Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

Recent Actions

2025-09-30: Received in the Senate.
2025-09-10: The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 3838.
2025-09-10: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-09-10: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 231 - 196 (Roll no. 262). (Roll call 262)
2025-09-10: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 231 - 196 (Roll no. 262). (Roll call 262)
2025-09-10: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 219 (Roll no. 261). (Roll call 261)
2025-09-10: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
2025-09-10: Ms. Houlahan moved to recommit to the Committee on Armed Services. (CR H4211)
2025-09-10: The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
2025-09-10: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
2025-09-10: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3838.
2025-09-10: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
2025-09-10: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4125-4128)
2025-09-10: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3838 as unfinished business.
2025-09-10: On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Bill Versions

Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (1772 pages)
Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-09 — PDF (118 pages)
Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — issued 2025-08-19 — PDF (1240 pages)