Prioritizing Warfighters in Defense Contracting Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9215
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T21:00:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to encourage better performance by large defense contractors by allowing the Department of Defense to restrict certain financial practices when contractors underperform on major contracts.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of Defense may add contract terms to agreements valued at $100 million or more that bar the contractor from:
- Conducting stock buybacks.
- Paying dividends to shareholders.
- Compensating executives (including the CEO) more than $5 million per year in total.
- These restrictions apply if the contractor:
- Fails to meet contract deadlines or budgets, including due to insufficient investment in updated production methods.
- Delivers at inadequate speed or volume, including due to poor equipment maintenance.
- The rules apply only to contracts signed on or after the law takes effect.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill creates a new authority for the Department of Defense to tie contractor financial decisions directly to performance outcomes. No prior law is amended; instead, this establishes a performance-based restriction mechanism not previously codified in statute.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Gives the Department of Defense additional leverage in contract negotiations to promote timely and efficient delivery of goods and services.
- Citizens: May indirectly affect defense spending efficiency and military readiness through improved contractor accountability.
- International relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Large defense contractors (those bidding on contracts of $100 million or more).
- The Secretary of Defense and Department of Defense acquisition officials.
- Shareholders and executives of affected contractors.
- Military end-users who rely on contractor deliverables.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure operates through voluntary contract terms rather than direct mandates, which limits potential constitutional challenges related to government regulation of private business decisions. It introduces a novel performance-linked financial oversight tool focused on defense spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Prioritizing Warfighters in Defense Contracting Act — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (2 pages)