Bacon Lauds Progress on FY26 Defense Policy Bill

Washington – Late Tuesday evening, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE-02) Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee (CITI), voted in favor of advancing H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The bill was reported out of committee by a vote of 55 – 2. The annual legislation, which contains multiple amendments and provisions authored by Rep. Bacon, authorizes defense spending and sets the policy and priorities for the Armed Forces. 

“Once again, the People’s House proves that bipartisan progress is possible where it matters most,” said Chairman Bacon after completing his ninth annual full-committee markup of the NDAA. “When it comes to national security, the American people expect us to work across the aisle to provide for the common defense. It’s been a long couple of months, but I am proud of what we produced and look forward to advancing this important legislation in the House.”     

Highlights from the committee’s FY 2026 bill include:

• Sets major reforms to the defense acquisition system to speed development and fielding of modern technologies while reducing bureaucracy 
• Preserves development of the U.S. Air Force E-7 advanced airborne warning and control system
• Preserves U.S. force posture in Europe and authorizes additional security assistance to Ukraine 
• Fully funds modernization of the U.S strategic nuclear deterrent including development of the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile – Nuclear

In addition, the committee’s bill contains numerous legislative proposals sponsored by Rep. Bacon, including: 

• Directs the Secretary of Defense to prepare an implementation plan to establish a Joint Task Force Cyber for the Indo-Pacific area of operations
• Directs the Secretary of the Air Force to provide an acquisition and fielding strategy for the F-47 advanced fighter aircraft program
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide an independent assessment of toxic exposure in the AF ICMB community
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide an implementation plan to reform Department of Defense (DoD) casualty assistance programs 
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network 
• Directs significant security upgrades to DoD mobile telecommunications
• Directs the major defense acquisitions programs to prepare digital manufacturing transition plans for critical components 
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Center for Strategic Deterrence and WMD Studies at the National Defense University
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to improve cancer detection and prevention measures for DoD firefighters 
• Directs updates on the U.S. Space Force Satellite Control Network

Watch Rep. Bacon's remarks here and see full remarks as delivered below:

“Thank you, Chairman Rogers. I want to begin by thanking all the members of the subcommittee for their dedication and thoughtful work in creating a strong, bipartisan, Cyber, IT and Innovative Subcommittee print. The subcommittee’s package advances departments’ cyber and innovation ecosystems and conducts critical oversight. I also want to thank our great subcommittee staff, led by Sarah Moxley. Every member of the staff are professional experts on both sides of the aisle.

“The subcommittee's mission is to ensure that warfighters are armed with the most innovative technologies that improve lethality and increase U.S. capabilities. Modern technology is fast paced, so ensuring the department of Defense is at the leading edge of technology is imperative to deterring adversaries. Warfighters must have the tools to fight across all domains on the battlefield, in cyberspace, now and in the future.

“I'm looking forward to continuing to optimize these efforts as the committee considers the FY 26 NDAA. The FY 26 CITI subcommittee print prioritizes the continued improvement of testing and evaluation through digital processes, supports the research and development of novel technologies, and improves the department's cyber practices. This package brings flexibility for research and development across the department to ensure rapid innovation.

“The print achieves this through the empowering of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, and improving the ability to do developmental prototyping, creating a bridge over the Valley of Death. It also directs the use of digital engineering and modern software practices to create a more agile and accurate testing and evaluation process. 

“Additionally, the subcommittee print directs the department to use modern technology to improve processes and cyber practices, provisions leverage AI to bolster cybersecurity skills, create new lines of efforts for using generative AI, and continue to lay out the framework for the department's adoption of AI. The subcommittee print supports the continued research and development of hypersonic programs and modernization and expansion of hypersonic testing and evaluation. Finally, the print includes several recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology.

“These provisions give the department tools to optimize the military use of biotechnology, to guarantee that the U.S. remains the world's leader in biotechnology innovation. Overall, the subcommittee print ensures the U.S. remains status as the most lethal warfighting force in the world. Lastly, I want to thank Ranking Member Khanna for his bipartisanship and dedication to producing the subcommittee print.

“We believe this package will continue to give the department the flexibility and tools needed to deliver the most modern technology to the hand of the warfighters. And with that, I yield back.”

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