Congressman Kelly's FY26 NDAA Contributions
The House of Representatives has passed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defense package that includes members’ bills and amendments. Congressman Trent Kelly (R-MS) successfully secured more than 40 provisions in this year’s legislation, reinforcing America’s national security and strengthening support for servicemembers and their families.
Kelly’s provisions advance key priorities, including sharpening America’s edge against China, accelerating unmanned and undersea capabilities, expanding military recruiting, improving quality-of-life for servicemembers, and supporting Mississippi jobs through homegrown defense innovation.
“This NDAA strengthens America’s defense and puts our servicemembers first,” said Rep. Kelly. “From deterring adversaries to ensuring our troops and their families have the resources they deserve, this bill delivers for both our national security and the communities that support it.”
Improved Support for Servicemembers and Veterans
- Hands-On Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Requires the Department of War to incorporate secure, U.S.-controlled AI into the TAP so troops can translate military experience, build resumes, and map career pathways responsibly.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Career Incentive Pay. Establishes tiered EOD incentive pay to recruit/retain elite bomb-disposal talent.
- Expand 12304B Reserve Activation Authority. Allows the US Marine Corps (USMC) to extend activation orders for preplanned mission from 365 days to 545 days and allowing commanders to employ troops in theater for up to 365 days.
- Auxiliary Personnel Lighter. Ensuring sufficient procurement of auxiliary personnel lighters to support the quality of life for Sailors in shipyards.
Enhancing the Readiness of the National Guard
- Center for the Study of the National Guard. Authorizes a Center for the Study of the National Guard to study and preserve Guard history.
- Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) for the National Guard. Requires an Army plan to integrate FLRAA MEDEVAC into Guard units—closing gaps in domestic disaster response and overseas operations.
- Dental Care for Our Troops: Dental Care for Our Troops Act, included in the NDAA, provides premium-free TRICARE dental coverage for National Guard members and reservists to improve readiness, retention, and deployability.
Targeted Investments in National Security and Readiness
· Reducing People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Leverage in Defense Supply Chains: Directs Department of War and US Department of Agriculture to assess and mitigate reliance on Chinese agricultural inputs (fertilizer, crop protection, feedstocks) to protect readiness.
· Expeditionary Medical Ship (EMS): Increases investment to ensure surgical and trauma capacity for distributed maritime operations and disaster response.
· Navy Shipbuilding Reform: Requires analysis of Vessel Construction Management to reduce cost and schedule risks.
· Domestic Fuels and Cargo Preference: Directs a feasibility study on shifting fuel procurement to U.S. refineries and transporting via U.S.-flag tankers to strengthen sealift and resilience.
· Low-Cost Vertical Take-Off-and-Landing Loitering Munition: Funds a cost-effective loitering precision-strike system for special operations units.
· Expanded Recruiter Access: Ensures recruiters receive fair access and timely responses to improve outreach.
· Robotic Ship Inspections and Digital Twins: Requires adoption of robotic sensing and digital twin technology to reduce repair backlogs and speed maintenance.
· Competency-Based Adaptive Learning (USAF): Funds development of data-driven training to accelerate pilot readiness.
· Mission Assurance for National Security Space Launch: Modernizes outdated quality-control requirements to improve cost, schedule, and resiliency.
· Launch Site Resiliency and Diversification: Directs review of launch infrastructure to expand and harden options for Space Force missions.
· M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck: Increases support for modernization of the heavy dump truck program.
· Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery: Expands investment in submarine-launched unmanned undersea vehicles, enhancing undersea dominance.
· Large Diameter UUV Transition to Procurement: Moves large and extra-large UUVs from experimentation into full-scale procurement using commercial solutions.
· Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) Electronic Device Countermeasures: Requires Department of War to deploy technology to detect and prevent unauthorized electronic device use in SCIFs.
· Categorization of Attritable Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vehicles: Directs Department of War to clarify definitions for attritable unmanned surface vessels to guide industry design.
· Submarines “As a Service” Model: Allows Department of War to lease time on unmanned undersea vehicles for training and low-complexity missions, freeing manned submarines for high-end operations.
· Space Access, Mobility, and Logistics (SAML): Requires the US Space Force to outline plans for on-orbit mobility, refueling, repositioning, and autonomous rendezvous.
· PRC C4ISR Report: Directs Department of War to analyze China’s command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities relative to U.S. capabilities.
· Long Range Maneuvering Projectiles: Funds USMC development of maneuvering projectile capabilities for organic precision fires.
· Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Identity Management: Requires reporting on best practices for user identity management, including OpenID Connect alternatives.
· Navy IT Infrastructure (NMCI): Requires Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) to brief on feasibility of consolidating Navy networks to reduce cost and vulnerabilities.
· Navy Cybersecurity (SHARKCAGE 2.0): Requires SECNAV to brief on implementation of defensive cyber software on afloat assets.
· Counter-Hypersonic Propulsion Development: Directs Department of War to brief on industrial base resiliency and propulsion development for hypersonic defense.
· Domestic Imaging for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems: Encourages procurement of U.S.-sourced imaging modules for small drones.
· Mandate for TDM Replacement: Requires the Army and Air Force to jointly report on cost, timeline, and operational impact of replacing outdated Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) systems.
