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FY2027 NDAA · 119th Congress

FY2027 NDAA deferred to lame-duck session as Senate adjourns

The House passed H.R. 8800 on July 22, 2026, 216–212, authorizing a $1.15 trillion FY2027 defense policy bill — including right-to-repair provisions and $500M for a second destroyer. Senate cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 4784 failed on July 14, 2026, 50–46; a motion to reconsider was entered, and there has been no further Senate floor action. The Senate adjourned for the midterm campaign on the night of Wednesday, September 30, 2026, and is scheduled to return the week of November 9, after the November 3 election. Leaders punted the NDAA to the post-election lame-duck session. Fiscal year 2027 began October 1, 2026 without an enacted NDAA.

Status as of October 1, 2026

What's next

The Senate is scheduled to be in session only 8 days in November and 14 days in December, counting Fridays, which aren't typically Senate workdays. Government funding expires December 11, competing for lame-duck floor time. Thanksgiving recess is November 23–27 and the Senate is out December 21–31. Sen. Mike Rounds said, "I think the NDAA will come together after the election." The expected path is a compromise text negotiated by the four Armed Services committee leaders, which wouldn't require the Senate to pass S. 4784 on the floor. When is the NDAA vote? · What is the compromise path? · Full timeline.

ReadFY2027723 sections · TLDRsAskAnswersDid it pass? Vote?AlertsEmailWhen the bill movesLibraryDiff PDFs$19/mo or $49 for 30 daysPay2027 raiseHouse vs SenateHouseH.R. 8800$1.15T · PassedSenateS. 4784$1.14T · Lame duck

Bill Action Feed

Official actions and new bill prints on the FY2027 bills, checked hourly against Congress.gov and govinfo.

  1. Sep 30, 2026S. 4784Senate adjourned for the midterm campaign on the night of Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Scheduled to return the week of November 9, after the November 3 election. Leaders deferred the NDAA to the lame-duck session.
  2. Sep 14, 2026H.R. 8800Received in the Senate.
  3. Jul 22, 2026H.R. 8800Passed the House with a $1.15T topline, including right-to-repair provisions and funding for a second destroyer.
  4. Jul 1, 2026S. 4784Floor consideration blocked; measure stalled amid disputes over the Iran conflict and the defense topline.
  5. Jun 15, 2026S. 4784Senate Armed Services Committee approved its $1.14T version of the FY2027 bill.
  6. May 26, 2026H.R. 8800House Armed Services Committee released draft legislative proposals for markup.
  7. Apr 3, 2026FY2027President's FY2027 budget request submitted to Congress.

Key Sections to Watch

FY2027 NDAA AlertsFree email when Congress.gov or govinfo posts a new official action or bill print. The FY2027 bill is not law yet.FY2027 NDAA AnswersDid it pass, when is the vote, what's in the bill, the compromise, lapse, and NDAA vs appropriations.Did the FY2027 NDAA pass?Dated answer: House passed H.R. 8800; the Senate has not passed S. 4784; the bill is not law.When is the NDAA vote?House already voted July 22, 2026. No Senate floor vote is scheduled; leaders deferred the bill to lame duck.FY2027 NDAA TimelineWhat happens next: cloture, lame duck, and the leaders' compromise path.FY2027 Military Pay RaiseHouse vs Senate on the January 2027 raise: 3.6% ECI default, the President’s 7–6–5 request, and what happens if no NDAA passes.TINA ThresholdTruth in Negotiations Act cost-or-pricing-data threshold and related acquisition sections.Right to RepairProvisions pushing the Pentagon to share technical data and repair rights.Destroyer & ShipbuildingThe second-destroyer fight: Sec. 123 multiyear procurement and shipbuilding authorities.Sec. 123 — Arleigh Burke DestroyersMultiyear procurement authority for Arleigh Burke class destroyers.Acquisition ReformHow FY2027 extends the portfolio acquisition model from P.L. 119-60.Iran & Middle EastIran-conflict language and foreign-ownership prohibitions stalling the Senate.Sec. 162 — F-35 Multiyear ProcurementMultiyear procurement authority for F–35 aircraft.NDAA Amendment TrackerWhere H.R. 8800 and S. 4784 stand, and the House vs Senate differences a final bill has to settle.House vs Senate DiffWord-level diffs of H.R. 8800 vs S. 4784 across all 723 sections.

Latest NDAA news

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Analysis

BGOV OnPoint: Annual Defense Policy Bill Awaits Lame-Duck Action

Greg Tourial writes that the $1.15 trillion FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act may be one of the last major bills of the 119th Congress, with House and Senate leaders trying to reach agreement on final text that can pass by the end of December, when key military pay and contracting authorities expire. Any deal will have to overcome opposition from Democrats — who have newfound leverage after their midterm election sweep — to the bill's price tag, the conduct of the war with Iran, and other contested language.

Bloomberg Government · Nov 6, 2026Analysis

Republicans have a ticking clock. What can they get done on defense?

Valerie Insinna reports that Republicans are under the gun to pass defense funding during the lame duck session following a crippling loss in midterm elections, but first they will have to square off against emboldened Democrats seeking to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and curb the Iran war. With only five legislative weeks remaining in the year, GOP leaders may make a last-ditch effort to pass party-line reconciliation funding and a fiscal 2027 budget before Democrats take control of the House and Senate in January. The Pentagon has requested funding via three vehicles — a $1.15 trillion discretionary defense budget, a $350 billion mandatory funding request through reconciliation, and a supplemental including $67 billion for defense to recoup Iran war expenses — and another key to-do is the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act, an annual policy bill that does not provide funding but contains changes ranging from troop pay raises to defense acquisition reform. In a note to investors, TD Cowen analyst Roman Schweizer said a sweeping Democratic takeover is the "toughest" scenario for defense spending, the lame duck period is "now critical" as the "last shot at [reconciliation]," and both the NDAA and defense appropriations are likely delayed until early 2027. Capital Alpha Partners analyst Byron Callan reduced his prediction that further defense reconciliation will pass from 15 percent to 10 percent and projected a 50 percent chance of a government shutdown after the current continuing resolution expires on Dec. 11. AEI's Todd Harrison said Democrats have "zero incentive to reach any kind of a deal on appropriations" and that "You've got Democrats itching to find a way to curtail the president, in his ability to conduct the war. The NDAA could be the legislative vehicle where they try to put some of those policies into law," with Democrats possibly also seeking to reverse the "Department of War" rename. Washington Rep. Adam Smith, likely to become House Armed Services Committee chairman, signaled in a Wednesday letter that he would support a more restrained defense budget: "We must push for the development of a more realistic and sustainable approach to our national security — one that does not require a defense budget in excess of $1 trillion or one paid for with draconian cuts to critical domestic programs."

Breaking Defense · Nov 5, 2026Analysis

Congress's defense advocates take big hit in 2026 midterm elections

Valerie Insinna reports that the Democratic wave took with it a number of notable defense experts, with major reshuffling expected on the House and Senate defense committees in the 120th Congress. Democrats have at least 228 House seats (picked up 25 so far; NBC projects about 258) and a 54-44 Senate lead with Alaska and Mississippi uncalled, still short of 60. SASC ranking member Jack Reed, SAC-D ranking member Chris Coons and HASC ranking member Adam Smith all won reelection and are poised to take over their committees; Smith is poised to again become HASC chairman. HASC Chairman Mike Rogers won reelection; the question is whether he seeks a waiver to stay HASC's top Republican (House GOP rules limit three consecutive terms as chair/ranking member without a waiver). Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins lost to Democrat Troy Jackson. HASC tactical air and land subcommittee chair Rob Wittman trails Democrat Shannon Taylor by about 2 points with 98% in (AP hasn't called it); if he survives he would likely seek the top HASC Republican spot, as have expressed interest Reps. Trent Kelly and Ronny Jackson. HASC member Jen Kiggans lost to former Rep. Elaine Luria. SASC member Sen. Dan Sullivan's Alaska race is uncalled.

Breaking Defense · Nov 4, 2026House

Congressman calls for tougher Pentagon oversight in bid for committee chair

Eve Sampson reports that Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., is making Pentagon oversight a central priority in his bid to reclaim the House Armed Services Committee chairmanship. In a Wednesday letter to Democratic colleagues, Smith called for more public testimony from senior defense officials and the restoration of a dedicated oversight subcommittee, listing strikes in the Caribbean and the U.S. war with Iran — which he called "illegal" — among his top concerns. He questioned the need for a defense budget exceeding $1 trillion and criticized the president's battleship proposal, writing that the Pentagon needs "an appropriate mix of high-end survivable systems and lower-cost attritable capabilities, not a fleet of nuclear-powered battleships as proposed by the President." Smith said he remained committed to passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act, though working with Republicans would be "extraordinarily difficult." The NDAA remains unfinished after Senate Democrats blocked a procedural vote in July amid disagreements over the war in Iran and provisions involving Israel.

Military Times · Nov 4, 2026Funding

Defense firms fall as Democratic victory stokes fears of tighter Pentagon budget

Aatreyee Dasgupta reports that US defense shares fell Wednesday as the Democrats' midterm victory stoked concerns about pressure on Pentagon spending plans; Lockheed Martin down 6.5%, RTX down over 4%, L3Harris nearly 8% in morning trading, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman down 3% to 5%. The sector had benefited from Trump's call for a $1.5 trillion 2027 military budget, well above the currently approved $901 billion level, and the Iran war. Analysts said a Democratic-led House could subject defense budgets and new programs to greater scrutiny. Jefferies analysts expect the 2027 defense budget to be closer to the House's roughly $1.15 trillion proposal than the administration's $1.5 trillion request.

Reuters · Nov 4, 2026Analysis

Republicans set their sights on one last reconciliation bill before Democrats take over

Jack Fitzpatrick reports that after Democrats won control of the House and Senate in the Nov. 3 midterms, GOP lawmakers are eying a partisan lame-duck reconciliation package, with Iran war funding, a debt limit increase, voting restrictions, crypto, and hemp floated. Republicans also face year-end deadlines needing Democratic cooperation: government funding runs out Dec. 11 and Congress still has to pass the annual Pentagon policy bill. Lawmakers are scheduled to be in session only a few weeks before year end. Democrats may use must-pass measures as leverage, likely insisting on more votes to end the Iran war. The annual defense authorization measure, which expires Dec. 31, stalled amid fights over the Iran war; in July Democrats blocked a motion to start Senate floor work on the bill, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would not let it "become a permission slip for that recklessness that we see occurring in Iran." Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) said lawmakers are prepared for work to go down to the wire: "When I was in the U.S. House, I was here in session on Dec. 31 at midnight... I'm guessing that's a possibility again this year." Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said Republicans should prepare a partisan defense-spending package via reconciliation, since bipartisan funding talks would likely stall into a long-term CR.

MS NOW · Nov 4, 2026Analysis

Republicans' last chance to cement their legacy in Trump's Washington

Katherine Tully-McManus reports that Democrats' overwhelming takeover of both the House and Senate will trigger a shot clock on the Republican governing trifecta, setting up a tense post-election session. Lawmakers will return to Washington next week for the lame-duck session to sort through must-pass legislative business, including funding the government to avoid a pre-holiday shutdown and passing the annual defense authorization bill. Republicans share at least two legislative priorities with Democrats: passing a government funding bill and the National Defense Authorization Act. Government funding negotiations will take precedence with a Dec. 11 deadline when the current short-term funding bill expires, and work will continue in pursuit of passing the annual defense policy bill before year's end.

POLITICO · Nov 4, 2026Senate

Schumer says Republicans favor ending Iran war immediately, cites 'power of the purse'

Alexander Bolton reports that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said there will be Senate Republican support for ending the war with Iran as soon as possible and that Democrats will use the "power of the purse" to starve the Defense Department of funding if necessary. "We are going to end the war. We have some Republicans already who have joined us in ending the war, and the Founding Fathers had the power of the purse as one of the ways of deterring a president who does war without the consent of the American people," Schumer said at a press conference at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) headquarters in Washington on Wednesday. Democrats are threatening to block the annual Defense authorization bill and Defense appropriations measure as long as the nation is still at war with Iran. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the next Senate Democratic whip, told reporters several weeks ago: "My own view is that if the war is over, then the opportunity for bipartisanship on defense authorization and defense appropriations is there. I think if the war's not over it's going to be extremely difficult."

The Hill · Nov 4, 2026Analysis

Sweeping Democratic takeover puts Pentagon's $1.5T spending ambitions and Hegseth's leadership under pressure

Tony Bertuca reports that Democrats' historic takeover of Congress in the midterms is likely to derail the administration's plan to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion next fiscal year, while giving lawmakers new leverage to scrutinize Pentagon leadership, acquisition policies and major weapons programs. The immediate question is whether Republicans can use their remaining lame-duck weeks in control of both chambers to pass a fiscal year 2027 defense budget before Democrats take over in January.

Inside Defense · Nov 4, 2026Analysis

Three Ways the New Democratic Congress Could Constrain Trump on Foreign Policy

Jennifer Hendrixson White writes that after voters gave Democrats decisive control of both the House and the Senate in the Nov. 3 midterms — an election she says appears to have been centered around concerns over the Iran war, the economy, and corruption — Democrats' first major opportunity to restrict military action or funding for the war may come during the lame-duck session. Funding of the government depends on a continuing resolution that expires on December 11, and Senate Democrats may use this deadline as leverage to extract concessions on Iran. The second opportunity is the ongoing negotiation over the NDAA, a bill that has reliably been passed annually for sixty-five years. Senate Democrats blocked the FY2027 NDAA Senate bill in July, largely over concerns about Iran — the article calls it the "2026 NDAA" — and will likely continue to use their leverage in the lame-duck session. If Democrats threaten to block passage of the NDAA, she writes, they have leverage to attach riders that limit presidential authority and funding on Iran.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Emissary) · Nov 4, 2026

NDAA Archive

Every National Defense Authorization Act is a year-long legislative campaign. The archive below covers recent enacted bills; full texts live on Congress.gov.

FY2026
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Bill
S. 1071
Public Law
P.L. 119-60
Signed
Dec 18, 2025
Topline
$901B

Centered on sweeping defense acquisition reform — portfolio-based acquisition model and requirements overhaul.

FY2025
Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and NDAA for FY2025
Bill
H.R. 5009
Public Law
P.L. 118-159
Signed
Dec 23, 2024
Topline
$895B

Junior enlisted pay raise (14.5%) and quality-of-life package alongside annual authorizations.

FY2024
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Bill
H.R. 2670
Public Law
P.L. 118-31
Signed
Dec 22, 2023
Topline
$886B

Extended Section 702 surveillance authority; largest-ever topline at enactment.

FY2023
James M. Inhofe NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023
Bill
H.R. 7776
Public Law
P.L. 117-263
Signed
Dec 23, 2022
Topline
$858B

Rescinded the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for service members; major Taiwan security assistance.

FY2022
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
Bill
S. 1605
Public Law
P.L. 117-81
Signed
Dec 27, 2021
Topline
$768B

Military justice reform — moved prosecution of sexual assault outside the chain of command.

FY2021
William M. (Mac) Thornberry NDAA for Fiscal Year 2021
Bill
H.R. 6395
Public Law
P.L. 116-283
Signed
Jan 1, 2021
Topline
$740B

Enacted over presidential veto — the only veto override of the 116th Congress. Created the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.

FY2020
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
Bill
S. 1790
Public Law
P.L. 116-92
Signed
Dec 20, 2019
Topline
$738B

Established the United States Space Force as the sixth armed service.

Tracking Resources

FY2027 NDAA Status TrackerWhere H.R. 8800 and S. 4784 stand right now, with the full legislative timeline.FY2027 NDAA AnswersDid it pass? When is the vote? What's in the bill? Dated one-screen answers for people and AI assistants.FY2027 NDAA Status GuideWhere the bill stands right now — timeline, what's blocking the Senate, and what happens next.H.R. 8800 vs S. 4784House vs Senate versions compared: toplines, section counts, and the key policy fights.FY2027 vs FY2026 — What's DifferentHow this year's defense authorization compares to the enacted P.L. 119-60.FY2027 Military Pay RaiseHouse vs Senate on the January 2027 basic-pay raise, the 3.6% ECI default, and related BAH and bonus provisions.Congress.gov — H.R. 8800Official bill text, actions, amendments, and cosponsors for the current House NDAA.GovTrack — H.R. 8800Independent bill tracker with status updates and prognosis.CRS Defense Primer: The NDAA ProcessHow the annual authorization process works, from budget request to conference.Naval Postgraduate School — NDAA Research GuideLibrary guide compiling NDAA texts, reports, and analysis year by year.House Armed Services CommitteeMarkup schedules, chairman's marks, and committee reports.Senate Armed Services CommitteeSASC markup summaries and the Senate version of the bill.Senate tentative 2026 scheduleOfficial Senate calendar: return the week of November 9; 8 November and 14 December session days.