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NDAA Update Oct 27, 2026: Religious and civil-rights groups urge Democratic leaders to strip chaplains provision from FY2027 NDAA

Two stories on Oct. 27: an American Humanist Association-hosted letter from national religious, religious-freedom, civil-rights and civil-liberties organizations to SASC Ranking Member Jack Reed, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, HASC Ranking Member Adam Smith and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging them to remove the "Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026" (MCMA) from the FY2027 NDAA, arguing it would let chaplains point to religion to refuse duties, give chaplains a right to proselytize service members, and abandon chaplains' obligation to operate in a pluralistic environment, and Roll Call's Rebecca Kheel on defense priorities including the FY2027 NDAA and the administration's $1.5 trillion defense-budget goal being in the balance during an expected busy lame-duck session after the elections, with the NDAA tied up in partisan politics over the Iran war and the Pentagon funding request, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) saying in mid-October the bill was in informal bicameral staff negotiations, and Democrats giving no public indication of what would cause them to budge.

Bill status

No change in the bill's status: the House passed H.R. 8800 on July 22, 2026; S. 4784 has not reached the Senate floor; and the Senate is scheduled to return the week of November 9, after the November 3 election, with the NDAA deferred to the lame-duck session. Full timeline: FY2027 NDAA status · Did the NDAA pass? · NDAA 2027 status · What happens next.

The stories

Religious and civil-rights groups urge Democratic leaders to strip chaplains provision from FY2027 NDAA

American Humanist Association · Oct 27, 2026

In an Oct. 27, 2026 letter to Senate Armed Services Ranking Member Jack Reed, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Armed Services Ranking Member Adam Smith and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, national religious, religious-freedom, civil-rights and civil-liberties organizations urge them to remove the "Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026" (MCMA) from the FY2027 NDAA. Signers include the ACLU, American Humanist Association, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Interfaith Alliance, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, The Sikh Coalition and United Church of Christ, among others. They argue the provision would allow chaplains to point to religion to refuse to carry out their duties, give chaplains a right to proselytize service members, and abandon chaplains' obligation to operate in a pluralistic environment, and that the Constitution and federal law already protect chaplains' religious freedom so a chaplain cannot be required to perform any rite, ritual, or ceremony contrary to their conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs. Contacts listed are Dena Sher of Americans United and Rachel Deitch of the American Humanist Association. The letter is copied to Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Sara Jacobs, Marilyn Strickland, Jill Tokuda, Gil Cisneros and Maggie Goodlander.

Defense priorities tied up in lame-duck jumble

Roll Call · Oct 27, 2026

Rebecca Kheel reports that defense agenda items including the FY2027 NDAA and the administration's goal of a $1.5 trillion defense budget are in the balance during an expected busy lame-duck session after the elections. Defense hawks increasingly warn that President Trump's moves away from Ukraine and toward Russia could endanger his lame-duck agenda. Republicans could try to load up bills with their priorities if they lose one or both chambers in November, and some fiscal hawks appear unconvinced about a major defense spending hike. The NDAA has been tied up in partisan politics over the Iran war and the Pentagon funding request, with Democrats balking at authorizing a record budget without Iran-war guardrails. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) told reporters in mid-October the NDAA was in informal bicameral staff negotiations, and observers expect it to be easier to move after the elections, but Democrats have given no public indication of what would cause them to budge.

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