With Honor Action Applauds FY26 NDAA, Marking 65 Consecutive Years of Passage

For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Forbes, forbes@withhonor.org

With Honor Action Applauds FY26 NDAA, Marking 65 Consecutive Years of Passage

FY26 NDAA advances bipartisan priorities championed by members of the For Country Caucus, working in partnership with With Honor Action, to strengthen U.S. national security, support service members and their families, bolster allies, and invest in the next generation of leaders.

Washington, D.C. – December 18, 2025 – As Congress marks the 65th consecutive year of passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), With Honor Action today applauded enactment of the FY26 NDAA, which includes 70 bipartisan priorities advanced by members of the For Country Caucus in partnership with With Honor Action.

Working alongside these bipartisan Members of Congress and key Senate allies, With Honor Action supported the inclusion of provisions that modernize the Department of Defense (DoD), protect and advance U.S. leadership in biotechnology, strengthen support for Ukraine and NATO, improve the health and well-being of service members, reaffirm America’s commitment to allies and partners, and expand youth service programs that help develop the next generation of leaders.

“These bipartisan results reflect what is possible when leaders put country over party,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor. “For 65 years, Congress has come together to pass the NDAA, and this year’s bill continues that legacy. Thanks to the leadership of bipartisan champions in the For Country Caucus, along with allies such as SASC leaders Senators Roger Wicker and Jack Reed, and biotech leaders Representative Chrissy Houlahan and Senator Todd Young—this NDAA demonstrates the power of principled, cross-party cooperation to strengthen America’s security and global leadership.”

“The Commission applauds Congress for taking clear and meaningful action to strengthen national security by including so many of NSCEB’s policy recommendations in the FY26 NDAA. We are grateful to With Honor for their collaboration on bringing these critical biotechnology priorities to life, and we look forward to continuing our work together.” —Caitlin Frazer, Executive Director, NSCEB.

“The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps gives young men and women from a variety of backgrounds the skills and confidence needed to become great citizens. Sea Cadets relies on thousands of volunteers nationwide who invest their time preparing America’s future leaders for productive careers or military service. We are grateful for congressional funding that allows us to keep costs reasonable for our families. We appreciate the strong support and advocacy of With Honor and the For Country Caucus.” —Andrew Lennon, Executive Director, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

Select FY26 NDAA Priorities Advanced with the For Country Caucus

Protecting and Advancing American Biotechnology Leadership

In 2021, With Honor Action helped lead the establishment of the congressionally mandated National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) to assess how advances in biotechnology will shape U.S. national security and the future of the DoD. Chaired by Senator Todd Young, a key With Honor Action Senate ally, the Commission’s Final Report underscores the need for sustained, intentional U.S. investment to maintain global leadership in biotechnology. In parallel, For Country Caucus member Rep. Chrissy Houlahan co-founded the House BIOTech Caucus in collaboration with the NSCEB to further advance bipartisan biotechnology policy. With Honor Action was proud to see that 17 NSCEB-supported provisions were ultimately enacted in the NDAA, strengthening and protecting American leadership in biotechnology, including:

• Prohibitions on the federal government from procuring biotechnology from companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party that pose national security risks through enactment of the BIOSECURE Act.
• Requirements for the DoD and intelligence agencies to designate senior leaders responsible for biotechnology strategy, strengthening U.S. global leadership in emerging biotechnology.

Delivering a 21st Century Department of Defense and Industrial Base

Delivering a twenty-first-century Department of Defense requires modernizing how the Pentagon equips the warfighter while strengthening the industrial base that underpins American military power. This year’s NDAA advances that mission by accelerating acquisition reform, expanding access to commercial innovation, and investing in resilient domestic production across critical sectors. With Honor was proud to see key priorities from the FoRGED Act—introduced by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman and With Honor Action ally Senator Roger Wicker—reflected in the legislation, including:

• The establishment of portfolio acquisition executives to oversee groups of related defense programs, replacing fragmented, program-by-program decision-making with clearer authority and accountability. This policy shift is designed to expedite delivery, enhance coordination between budgets and requirements, and enable the DoD to adapt more quickly to evolving national security needs.
• Advancements toward a commercial-first procurement policy that directs the DoD to prioritize proven, off-the-shelf technologies before pursuing bespoke military systems. This approach aims to reduce costs, shorten timelines, and better leverage America’s commercial innovation base to meet urgent defense needs.

Standing With Our Democratic Allies & Partners

This year’s NDAA reinforces America’s leadership by strengthening alliance cooperation, sustaining forward U.S. military presence, and enhancing deterrence across key regions. With Honor Action supported provisions that bolster NATO’s eastern flank through the Baltic Security Initiative, deepen Indo-Pacific partnerships including AUKUS, maintain security assistance for Ukraine, and strengthen congressional oversight of U.S. force posture in Europe and the Korean Peninsula. Together with new safeguards on outbound investment to the People’s Republic of China, these measures underscore a sustained commitment to collective defense, allied unity, and a stable, rules-based international order. Specifically, the NDAA includes:

• $400 million to support Ukraine’s self-defense through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and an expansion of U.S. efforts to identify and return the estimated over 19,000 Ukrainian children abducted during Russia’s invasion.
• Maintaining U.S. troop levels in Europe and NATO, while codifying protections for key alliance leadership roles, strengthening deterrence against continued Russian aggression, and reinforcing NATO’s collective defense posture amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader strategic uncertainty.
• Maintaining U.S. troop levels in Korea, which reaffirms the U.S.–ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, strengthens deterrence against North Korean provocations, and supports stability amid rising regional tensions, while reinforcing broader U.S. security commitments across the Indo-Pacific.

Supporting the Warfighter and Our Military Families

This year’s NDAA strengthens warfighter readiness by addressing long-term health risks, improving force protection, and expanding support for military families. With Honor was proud to help advance the ROTOR Act (Sec. 736), led by Reps. Rich McCormick and Chris Deluzio, which extends cancer research to rotary-wing aviators and aviation support personnel to uncover previously unstudied occupational risks. The legislation also establishes blast safety officers to reduce traumatic brain injuries (Sec. 508), enhances compensation and allowances, and expands access to childcare and family support.

Expanding National Civic Youth Programs

This year’s NDAA enhances national readiness by expanding opportunities for young Americans to serve and develop their future leadership skills. With Honor supported full funding for JROTC and the authorization of 200 new units nationwide (Sec. 542), expanding access to leadership, civics, and STEM education. The legislation also boosts funding for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, National Guard STARBASE, and Civil Air Patrol (Sec. 4301), providing hands-on training in critical fields, while establishing automatic Selective Service registration to reduce the bureaucratic burden on registrants. Together, these measures invest in the next generation of civic and military leaders, reinforcing the foundations of the all-volunteer force.

With Honor Action commends Congress for passing the NDAA for the 65th consecutive year. In February, the organization submitted its FY26 priorities to Congress and worked alongside bipartisan members of the For Country Caucus throughout the legislative process. 70 of those shared priorities were enacted into law as part of this year’s NDAA. A full list of enacted provisions supported by With Honor Action is available [here].

While this year’s NDAA has just been finalized, With Honor is already identifying the priorities we will continue to advocate for in Fiscal Year 2027. We will work to advance the right to repair, strengthening the operational readiness of service members by ensuring they have the necessary tools, information, and authority to repair equipment in the field without incurring high contractor maintenance fees. Our advocacy will also prioritize the need to expand veteran home ownership, including the requirement of side-by-side comparisons of conventional, FHA, and VA loan options, so that eligible borrowers clearly understand and can fully access the benefits they have earned.

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About With Honor Action
With Honor Action works alongside bipartisan Members of Congress—particularly the veterans of the For Country Caucus—to advance principled, bipartisan solutions that strengthen America’s security and democratic institutions. By supporting leaders who pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage, With Honor Action helps counter polarization and drive results for the American people. With Honor Action is a 501(c)(4) organization and serves as the policy and social-welfare arm of With Honor. With Honor has an affiliated, federally registered super PAC, With Honor Fund III. Learn more at WithHonor.org.