S 2296 changesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

What changed

+4685 / −523840 words · LargeConfidence: high

This version strips the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 down to a skeleton by removing nearly all substantive content while leaving the bill number and title intact. The changes eliminate the entire table of contents (Section 2), which previously organized nine divisions spanning defense authorizations, military construction, Department of Energy programs, intelligence activities, State Department matters, Coast Guard authorization, housing provisions, and funding tables. All procurement and program authorizations are removed, including fiscal year 2026 appropriations authority for military services, Columbia-class submarine procurement authority for up to five vessels, and the tactical wheeled vehicle strategy reporting extension through 2027. The deletions remove hundreds of sections covering defense acquisition, nuclear security, military housing, personnel policies, foreign relations provisions (Syria, Iran, Russia, Indo-Pacific, AUKUS), cybersecurity, intelligence reforms, security clearance procedures, anti-trafficking measures, Coast Guard operations and sexual assault reforms, NOAA provisions, and miscellaneous programs ranging from commissary coupons to drinking water infrastructure. What remains after these deletions is unclear from the diff, but the scope of removal suggests either a complete restart of the legislative text or preparation for a substitute amendment.

Change log

• SECTION 122 > (b)

  removedhigh confidence

  Certification requirement for Medium Landing Ship contracts eliminated

  This section previously required the Secretary of the Navy to certify certain conditions to congressional defense committees at least 30 days before entering into a contract for Medium Landing Ships. The certification was to be prepared by the milestone decision authority for the Medium Landing Ship program. The entire certification requirement has been removed.

• SECTION 2 > (b) >cont.

  removedhigh confidence

  Table of contents entries removed for multiple military construction and energy authorization subtitles

  This section removes table of contents entries for several subtitles and numerous individual sections previously included in the bill. The removed entries span Subtitle C (Land Conveyances), Subtitle D (Other Matters covering facility management, infrastructure programs, and base-specific provisions), and Division C Title XXXI (Department of Energy National Security Programs including nuclear security and environmental cleanup authorizations). The removal of these entries suggests the corresponding substantive provisions are also being deleted from the bill, though the diff shows only the table of contents itself.

• SECTION 2 > (b) >cont.

  removedhigh confidence

  Removal of multiple defense and miscellaneous provisions including acquisition streamlining, export controls, and sentencing enhancements

  This section removes an entire block of provisions spanning multiple titles and subtitles. The removed content includes provisions on defense acquisition process streamlining, duty-free entry of defense supplies, counterdrug support, various reporting requirements (on food insecurity, AI implementation, Korean American families), export controls for AI chips, sentencing enhancements for foreign-government-directed crimes, and numerous other miscellaneous matters including credit monitoring, CDFI programs, and drinking water well replacement for Chincoteague, Virginia. The removal eliminates dozens of specific policy provisions that had been included in earlier versions of the bill.