House/Senate Defense Committees Advance AI Provisions in Must-Pass Defense Bills
Summary
On July 9, 2025, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) approved its version of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA; S. 2296), authorizing $878.7 billion for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). On July 15, 2025, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) subsequently approved its version of the NDAA (H.R. 3838), authorizing $848.2 billion for DoD.
While the specific AI provisions in the House and Senate bills vary, they share significant overlap in directives related to AI mission planning for missile defense; AI data center infrastructure and management on DoD installations; cybersecurity and governance frameworks for AI and machine learning (ML); and the use of AI for training, readiness and operational support.
The House and Senate must now work to reconcile their separate versions of the NDAA. The Senate is poised to consider its measure on the floor in early September.
A number of tech-focused amendments have been offered to the Senate NDAA, including SA 3567, filed by Sens. Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), which would add the Remote Access Security Act (H.R. 2683) to the package. The legislation would amend the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to provide for control of remote access of items.
