Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for procurement for the Army, the Navy and the Marine Corps, the Air Force and the Space Force, and Defense-wide activities, as specified in the funding table in section 4101.

(a) In general.—The Secretary of the Army (in this section referred to as the “Secretary”) shall establish a centralized security monitoring program for installations and facilities of the Department of the Army in the United States.

(b) Initial operating capability.—The Secretary shall ensure that the program required under subsection (a) achieves initial operating capability not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c) Selection of centers.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall select three installations of the Department of the Army to serve as centers for the program required under subsection (a).

(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The centers selected under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) include a mix of large and extra-large installations, as defined by the 2016 business case analysis conducted by the Provost Marshal General of the Army; and

(B) be geographically dispersed to increase resilience of networked monitoring under the program required under subsection (a).

(d) Duties.—

(1) HOSTING OF SYSTEM.—In carrying out the program required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall host centralized intrusion detection system monitoring, assessment, and dispatching at the centers selected under subsection (c)(1).

(2) FORCE PROTECTION AND ASSET MONITORING.—The centers selected under subsection (c)(1) shall maximize use of commercially available technology, automation, and industry best practices to modernize force protection and asset monitoring for the Department of the Army.

(3) NETWORKING OF SITES.—The Secretary shall ensure that all installations and facilities of the Department of the Army in the United States are networked and that the centers selected under subsection (c)(1) are able to provide continuous and redundant monitoring, assessment, and dispatching services to those installations and facilities.

(e) Report.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report that outlines the plans of the Secretary to implement the centralized security monitoring program required under subsection (a) and assesses the performance of such program.

(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall include an identification of the following:

(A) Locations selected for centers under subsection (c)(1).

(B) Cost and schedule to execute the program required under subsection (a).

(C) Defined measures of performance for initial operating capability and final operating capability of such program.

(D) Expected cost savings of such program as compared to current security monitoring systems of the Department of the Army.

(E) Technological modernization barriers to the implementation of networked remote monitoring under such program.

(a) Strategy required.—Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a strategy for the testing, procurement, integration, and fielding of active protection systems on Army ground combat vehicles.

(b) Elements.—The strategy required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) The status of all active protection systems previously considered, tested, integrated, or procured by the Army.

(2) The status of any Army projects to develop its own active protection system, including an explanation for the Army’s decision to compete with commercial alternatives.

(3) The Army's plan to solicit bids for its modular vehicle base kit.

(4) A plan to conduct operational testing of all active protection systems, including any system being developed by the Army, which shall assess—

(A) a shot by each system under the same conditions;

(B) multishot capability;

(C) collateral damage;

(D) damage to witness plates or vehicles;

(E) ability to defeat threats of concern to the Army, including—

(i) full top attack threats;

(ii) kinetic energy rounds;

(iii) unmanned aerial systems, by class; and

(iv) fuzed missiles;

(F) ability to upgrade each system to address future threats;

(G) weight and power draw of each system; and

(H) such other matters as the Secretary determines relevant.

(5) The strategy of the Army to integrate, test, and achieve a program of record for active protection systems on current and future combat vehicle fleets.

(c) Considerations.—In developing the strategy required by subsection (a), the Secretary of the Army shall consider the following objectives and factors:

(1) The risks incurred by the Army in its current active protection system posture of limited integration onto ground vehicle fleets.

(2) Lessons learned from active protection systems in ongoing armed conflicts.

(3) The capabilities of active protection systems from foreign or domestic entities.

(4) The acquisition and lifecycle costs of each active protection system identified under subsection (b)(1).

(5) The Army's plan for modularity, including the ability to use the same active protection system across multiple platforms.

Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary of the Army shall certify at least one additional interceptor and production manufacturer for the low, slow, small unmanned aircraft integrated defeat system of the Army (FS–LIDS and M–LIDS).

Section 130(a) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 132 Stat. 1665), as most recently amended by section 122 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 169), is further amended by striking “through 2024” and inserting “through 2025”.

(a) Certification required.—Upon final approval of 95 percent of all functional design drawings for the Constellation-class frigate program by the designated technical authority, the Secretary of Defense shall certify to the congressional defense committees that such drawings have been so approved.

(b) Limitation.—None of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act for fiscal year 2025 may be obligated or expended for a scope of work for the construction of a Constellation-class frigate until after submission of the certification required by subsection (a).

(c) Assessment and evaluation.—Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits the certification required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall—

(1) assess the Secretary's compliance with this section; and

(2) submit to the congressional defense committees an evaluation of the completeness of the functional design drawings described in such subsection.

The Secretary of the Navy shall not award a contract that includes a scope of work for the construction of the lead ship of the Landing Ship Medium program until the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that basic and functional design (as defined in section 8669c(c) of title 10, United States Code) with respect to such ship is complete.

(a) Authority.—Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts or other agreements for the procurement, leasing, or chartering of a commercial or non-developmental ship, and associated materials, that—

(1) is capable of deploying 50 Marines and 648 short tons of cargo directly to a beach where the water depth increases a maximum of one foot for every 25 feet of horizontal distance;

(2) can transit a minimum of 3,500 nautical miles; and

(3) is derived from a parent design that has been demonstrated.

(b) Exemptions.—The service acquisition executive of the Navy may exempt a contract or other agreement entered into under subsection (a) from the requirements of full and open competition under section 3201 of title 10, United States Code.

(c) Liability.—Any contract or other agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—

(1) any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract or other agreement is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose; and

(2) the total liability of the Federal Government for termination of the contract or other agreement shall be limited to the total amount of funding obligated to the contract or other agreement at the time of termination.

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and once every fiscal year thereafter through September 30, 2029, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report analyzing suppliers of surface ship components.

(b) Elements.—Each report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) An assessment of the status of each supplier of surface ship components according to the evaluation tool used for Columbia-class submarine suppliers.

(2) If the assessment described in paragraph (1) indicates that the supply base of any surface ship component is in an at-risk status, a plan for actions to stabilize that base.

(a) Block buy contract authority for airframes.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more block buy contracts, during fiscal years 2025 and 2026, for the procurement of not more than 37 airframes in support of the CH–53K heavy lift helicopter program.

(2) CONDITION FOR OUT-YEAR CONTRACT PAYMENTS.—Any block buy contract entered into under paragraph (1) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2025 is subject to the availability of appropriations or funds for that purpose for such later fiscal year.

(3) BLOCK BUY CONTRACT DEFINED.—In this subsection, the term “block buy contract” means a contract for the procurement of CH–53K airframes—

(A) for not more than two program years;

(B) that permits the procurement of airframes over a period of more than one year without requiring the exercise of a contract option for each year after the first year; and

(C) that may provide for a cancellation payment to be made to the contractor if appropriations for payments under the contract are not made.

(b) Multiyear procurement authority for engines.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to section 3501 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more multiyear contracts for the procurement of not more than 350 T408 engines.

(2) AUTHORITY FOR ADVANCE PROCUREMENT AND ECONOMIC ORDERING QUANTITY.—The Secretary of the Navy may enter into one or more contracts, beginning in fiscal year 2025, for advance procurement associated with the engines (including economic ordering quantity) for which authorization to enter into a multiyear contract is provided under paragraph (1).

(3) CONDITION FOR OUT-YEAR CONTRACT PAYMENTS.—Any multiyear contract entered into under paragraph (1) shall provide that any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2025 is subject to the availability of appropriations or funds for that purpose for such later fiscal year.

Section 124(a) of the National Defense Authorizations Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1570) is amended by striking “fiscal year 2025” and inserting “fiscal year 2028”.

Section 2218(f)(3) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(a) In general.—Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act for the Navy for Shipbuilding and Conversion for fiscal year 2025 may be used by the Secretary of the Navy to enter into an incrementally funded contract for the construction of a Virginia-class submarine.

(b) Liability.—A contract entered into under subsection (a) shall provide that—

(1) any obligation of the United States to make a payment under the contract is subject to the availability of appropriations for that purpose; and

(2) the total liability of the Government for the termination of the contract shall be limited to the total amount of funding obligated to the contract at the time of termination.

(c) Funding.—

(1) INCREASED FUNDING.—The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 101 and available for Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy, Virginia Class Submarine, One Additional Ship, as specified in the funding table in section 4101, is hereby increased by $400,000,000.

(2) OFFSET.—The amount authorized to be appropriated by section 201 and available for Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Navy, Line 164, Next Generation Fighter, as specified in the funding table in section 4201, is hereby reduced by $400,000,000.

(a) Findings.—Congress finds the following:

(1) The aircraft carriers of the Navy are a cornerstone of the United States' ability to project its power and strength.

(2) Construction of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers represents a national effort that requires predictable and stable build schedules and alignment of purpose between the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, and the aircraft carrier industrial base.

(3) The aircraft carrier industrial base includes more than 2,000 companies in 44 States that contribute to the construction and maintenance of these complex and technologically advanced ships.

(4) The benefits of stable, executable aircraft carrier procurement plans extend throughout the aircraft carrier industrial base, promoting the development and retention of highly skilled workforces and capital investments in world-class manufacturing and shipbuilding facilities throughout the United States.

(5) Aircraft carrier procurement plans accompanying the President's budget request for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 forecast procurement of the CVN–82 carrier in fiscal year 2028, however, the fiscal year 2025 plan defers procurement until fiscal year 2030, creating a significant and destabilizing production gap for the aircraft carrier industrial base.

(b) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy should implement aircraft carrier acquisition strategies that maximize benefits to operational commanders while simultaneously protecting the interests of the taxpayer and supporting the national nuclear shipbuilding industrial base;

(2) the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy should review and revise the acquisition strategy, including a two-ship buy of the CVN–82 and CVN–83 carriers, for Ford-class aircraft carriers in the President's budget request for fiscal year 2026 to ensure the strategy is consistent with accepted shipbuilding industrial base analyses, prior Department of Defense recommendations, reports to Congress, congressional resolutions, section 8062 of title 10, United States Code, and national security interests; and

(3) the Secretary of Defense should request procurement of the CVN–82 carrier not later than fiscal year 2028.

Section 129 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 2448) is amended—

(a) Prohibition.—None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for fiscal year 2025 for the Air Force may be obligated or expended to retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage or in backup aircraft inventory any E–3 aircraft if such actions would reduce the total aircraft inventory for such aircraft below 16.

(b) Exception for plan.—If the Secretary of the Air Force submits to the congressional defense committees a plan for maintaining readiness and ensuring there is no lapse in mission capabilities, the prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to actions taken to reduce the total aircraft inventory for E–3 aircraft to below 16, beginning 30 days after the date on which the plan is so submitted.

(c) Exception for E–7 procurement.—If the Secretary of the Air Force procures enough E–7 Wedgetail aircraft to accomplish the required mission load, the prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to actions taken to reduce the total aircraft inventory for E–3 aircraft to below 16 after the date on which such E–7 Wedgetail aircraft are delivered.

Section 133 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 135 Stat. 1574), as most recently amended by section 136 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 174), is further amended—

Section 226(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31) is amended—

(a) In general.—The Secretary of the Air Force, in consultation with the Director of the Air National Guard, shall develop a plan to sustain and recapitalize the fighter fleet of the Air National Guard.

(b) Elements.—The recapitalization plan required under subsection (a) shall—

(1) identify each of the 25 fighter aircraft squadrons of the Air National Guard in existence on the date of the enactment of this Act;

(2) provide a plan for recapitalization of all such squadrons at a similar rate as the fighter aircraft squadrons of the active components of the Armed Forces, with the same combination of legacy capability fighter aircraft and advanced capability fighter aircraft found in fighter aircraft squadrons of the active components of the Armed Forces; and

(3) establish a timetable for a plan or actions for the recapitalization required under paragraph (2), disaggregated by fighter aircraft squadron and fiscal year, which shall identify funding required for each fiscal year.

(c) Report.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than July 1, 2025, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes the sustainment and recapitalization plan required under subsection (a).

(2) FORM.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) ADVANCED CAPABILITY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.—The term “advanced capability fighter aircraft”—

(A) means the next-generation air dominance fighter aircraft or any other fighter aircraft referenced or designated as a sixth generation airframe; and

(B) does not include unmanned fighter aircraft.

(2) FIFTH GENERATION.—The term “fifth generation”, with respect to fighter aircraft, means an F–22 or F–35 aircraft.

(3) FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.—The term “fighter aircraft” has the meaning given that term in section 9062(i)(2) of title 10, United States Code.

(4) LEGACY CAPABILITY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT.—The term “legacy capability fighter aircraft” means pre-fifth generation fighter aircraft, including an F–16, both pre-block and post-block, F–15C/D, F–15E/EX, and A–10.

(a) Program plan.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall develop a plan for a program to support the fielding of sites for air base air defense at installations of the Air Force and other priority locations, if designated by the Secretary of Defense under subsection (d).

(b) Consultation.—In developing the plan required by subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force shall consult with—

(1) the Commander of the United States European Command;

(2) the Commander of the United States Northern Command; and

(3) the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command.

(c) Capabilities.—The sites for air base air defense under the program described in subsection (a) shall include the following capabilities:

(1) Expeditionary mobile protection for dispersed air bases.

(2) Fixed protection for primary air bases.

(3) Layered kinetic and non-kinetic effects from the surface.

(4) Counter-uncrewed aircraft systems.

(5) Counter-fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

(6) Counter-cruise missile.

(7) Interoperability with joint command and control networks.

(8) 360-degree active and passive sensors.

(9) Systems and software that enable reduced staffing.

(d) Location designation.—The Secretary of Defense shall designate a prioritized list of installations of the Air Force and other locations for the program described in subsection (a).

(e) Fielding requirement.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall ensure that—

(1) not fewer than four sites for air base air defense are fielded by September 30, 2027;

(2) not fewer than four sites for air base air defense are fielded each year through 2031; and

(3) not fewer than two sites for air base air defense are sited in the United States each year.

(f) Report and funding requirements.—The Secretary of the Air Force shall—

(1) not later than March 1, 2025, submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the plan developed under subsection (a), the capabilities described in subsection (c), a plan to meet the fielding requirement under subsection (e), and related acquisitions; and

(2) ensure the fielding requirement under subsection (e) is fully resourced in the budget for fiscal year 2027 submitted by the President to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.

(a) In general.—Chapter 907 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 9062 the following new section:

(b) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 907 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 9062 the following new item:

“9062a. Annual report on Air Force tactical fighter aircraft force structure.”.

Section 9062(m)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “September 30, 2028” and inserting “September 30, 2029”.

(a) Temporary exception to minimum primary mission aircraft inventory.—Section 133(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 173) is amended by striking “1,112 aircraft” and inserting “1,101 aircraft”.

(b) Prohibition on retirement of F–15E aircraft.—Section 9062(l)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “2024” and inserting “2025”;

(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking “more than 68” and inserting “any”;

(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking “retained”; and

(4) in subparagraph (C), by striking “an F–15E aircraft (other than an aircraft identified for retirement under subparagraph (A))” and inserting “any F–15E aircraft”.

(c) A–10 aircraft minimum inventory requirement.—Section 134(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2038), as most recently amended by section 137(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 174), is further amended by striking “135 A–10 aircraft” and inserting “96 A–10 aircraft”.

Section 834(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (10 U.S.C. 4061 note; Public Law 117–81) is amended—

(a) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict and the Commander of the United States Special Operations Command shall jointly submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for integrating signals intelligence capabilities on fielded armed overwatch aircraft.

(b) Plan requirements.—At a minimum, the plan required by subsection (a) shall—

(1) define the signals intelligence requirements for armed overwatch aircraft, including the required signals intelligence capabilities and the number of aircraft to be equipped with such capabilities;

(2) articulate the resources necessary by fiscal year to fulfill the requirements described in paragraph (1); and

(3) include any other matters the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict and the Commander of the United States Special Operations Command consider relevant.

(a) In general.—The Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with the commanders of the combatant commands, shall jointly assess the sufficiency of established inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles.

(b) Elements.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of the Navy shall jointly—

(1) assess planned deliveries of air-to-air missiles through 2029 and the total available missiles by type in each year through 2029;

(2) assess combined requirements for air-to-air missiles to support operational plans of the United States Central Command, the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the United States Northern Command, and the United States European Command, at low, medium, and high risk;

(3) consider emerging requirements for surface-to-air defense and collaborative combat aircraft and how those additional missions will affect inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles;

(4) consider the sufficiency of planned acquisition for air-to-air missiles through 2029 to meet operational requirements;

(5) consider whether continuing production of the advanced medium-range air-to-air missile program of record through 2029 would enhance available inventories of air-to-air missiles; and

(6) develop recommendations to adjust the planned mix of missiles, including an assessment of whether extending the range or capability of existing air-to-air missiles would better support combined combatant command requirements at medium risk.

Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use of the Department of Defense for research, development, test, and evaluation, as specified in the funding table in section 4201.

Section 1286 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note) is amended—

Section 4066(f) of title 10, United States, is amended by striking “September 30, 2025” and inserting “September 30, 2035”.

(a) Competitive demonstration required.—Not later than June 1, 2025, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense (CDAO) shall incorporate into a global information dominance experiment a competitive demonstration of at least two different automated target recognition algorithms to determine the most suitable source of development of such algorithms.

(b) Sources.—For each automated target recognition algorithm to be used in the competitive demonstration required by subsection (a), the source of development of the algorithm shall be—

(1) the Federal Government;

(2) a university-affiliated research center; or

(3) a defense contractor.

(c) Requirements.—The automated target recognition algorithms used in the competitive demonstration required by subsection (a) shall be developed for the requirements of two specific projects, selected by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer for purposes of the demonstration, within the Replicator initiative.

Section 221 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81) is amended—

Section 219(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note) is amended—

(a) Expansion of authority.—Subsection (a) of section 4067 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “during the research and development phase of such system” and inserting “to increase ally and partner military capability and improve coalition interoperability”.

(b) Cost-sharing.—Subsection (b) of such section is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);

(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):

“(2) Any contract for the design or development of an exportability feature of a system resulting from activities under subsection (a) for the purpose of enhancing or enabling the exportability of the system shall include a cost-sharing provision that requires the contractor to bear half of the cost of such activities, or such other portion of such cost as the Secretary considers appropriate upon showing of good cause.”; and

(3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated—

(A) by inserting “or (2)” after “paragraph (1)”;

(B) by inserting “or exportability feature” after “with respect to a designated system”; and

(C) in subparagraph (A), by inserting “in the case of a designated system,” before “the”.

(a) In general.—Subchapter III of chapter 303 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

(b) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 303 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4127 the following new item:

“4128. Laboratory Quality Enhancement Program.”.

(a) Limitation.—Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to award a grant or contract to an institution of higher education for the specific purposes of conducting fundamental research in collaboration with an academic institution that is included in the most recently updated list developed pursuant to 1286(c)(9) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note), or any individual employed by such an academic institution.

(b) Waiver.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology may waive the limitation under subsection (a), on a case-by-case basis, with respect to an individual grant or contract for an institution of higher education, if the Assistant Secretary determines that such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States.

(2) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days before the date on which an award is made by the Department involving an institution of higher education with respect to which a waiver is made under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives notice of such waiver.

(c) Report annex.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—On an annual basis, as a classified or controlled unclassified information annex to the annual report required by section 1286(e) of the John S McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report annex on the compliance of the Department and institutions of higher education with the requirements of this section.

(2) CONTENTS.—Each report annex submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include, for each waiver issued under subsection (b) during the period covered by the report—

(A) a justification for the waiver; and

(B) a detailed description of the type and extent of any collaboration between an institution of higher education and an academic institution or entity described in subsection (a) allowed pursuant to the waiver, including identification of the institution of higher education and academic institutions or entities involved, the type of technology involved, the duration of the collaboration and terms and conditions on intellectual property assignment, as applicable, under the collaboration agreement.

(3) FORM; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of each report annex submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made available on a publicly accessible website of the Department.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term “collaboration” means coordinated activity between an institution of higher education and an entity described in subsection (a) includes—

(A) sharing of research facilities, resources, or data;

(B) transfer, sharing, or dissemination of information or technical know-how;

(C) any financial or in-kind contribution intended to produce a research product;

(D) sponsorship or facilitation of research fellowships, visas, or residence permits;

(E) joint ventures, partnerships, or other formalized agreements for the purpose of conducting research or sharing resources, data, or technology;

(F) inclusion of researchers as consultants, advisors, or members of advisory or review boards; and

(G) such other activities as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense.

(2) The term “fundamental research” has the meaning provided in National Security Decision Directive-189 (NSSD-189), National Policy on the Transfer of Scientific, Technical and Engineering Information, date September 21, 1985, or any successor document.

(3) The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given that term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002) and includes—

(A) any department, program, project, faculty, researcher, or other individual, entity, or activity of such institution; and

(B) any branch of such institution within or outside the United States.

Section 806 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended—

(a) Prohibition.—Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may not enter into any contract or other agreement with, or award any grant to, any covered educational institution to carry out any research or development program or activity.

(b) Covered educational institution.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subsection (a), a covered educational institution is an institution of higher education that, in carrying out a program or activity covered under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), is in violation of that title.

(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—An institution of higher education that, in carrying out a program or activity covered under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), was in violation of that title, but is determined to be no longer in violation of that title, shall not be considered a covered educational institution for purposes of subsection (a).

(c) Waiver.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may waive the prohibition in subsection (a) on a case by case basis.

(2) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 15 days before issuing a waiver under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a notice of the intention of the Secretary to issue the waiver.

(d) Effective date and applicability.—

(1) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to contracts entered into on or after the effective date set forth in paragraph (1), other agreements entered into on or after such date, and grants awarded on or after such date.

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, and the Chief Information Officer, shall—

(1) fully define and identify the Department of Defense artificial intelligence workforce, including—

(A) clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the artificial intelligence workforce with respect to the Department of Defense innovation workforce and digital workforce;

(B) coding artificial intelligence work roles in workforce data systems; and

(C) developing a qualification program for artificial intelligence work roles; and

(2) update the Human Capital Operating Plan to be consistent with the Agency Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan relating to artificial intelligence workforce issues, including—

(A) addressing the human capital implementation actions planned to support the strategic goals and priorities identified in the Agency Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan; and

(B) ensuring the use of consistent artificial intelligence terminology.

(b) Briefing.—Not later than 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees on—

(1) who is included in the artificial intelligence workforce of the Department;

(2) who should be included in the artificial intelligence workforce of the Department;

(3) which positions require Department personnel with artificial intelligence skills;

(4) the current state of the artificial intelligence workforce of the Department; and

(5) planned or proposed future requirements for the artificial intelligence workforce of the Department.

(a) Development and implementation of plan required.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, develop and implement a five-year plan for advancing the interests of the Department of Defense in matters relating to electromagnetic spectrum in international engagements or fora.

(b) Elements.—At a minimum, the plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) Arrangements to increase the number of Department personnel attending international engagements or fora on topics relating to electromagnetic spectrum, including all phases of the World Radiocommunication preparatory process.

(2) Processes to increase coordination with other Federal agencies on matters relating to electromagnetic spectrum.

(3) Preparations to increase cooperation activities with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, other military alliances and organizations, and foreign military sales partners on matters relating to electromagnetic spectrum.

(4) Strategies to increase coordination with the defense industrial base and industry partners at international engagements and fora.

(5) Strategies to increase engagement with military partners from developing countries, including regular engagements with the United States Telecommunications Training Institute to enhance international partnerships for enduring electromagnetic spectrum military advantage.

(6) Table top exercises for Department electromagnetic spectrum bands being considered at international engagements or fora.

(7) Processes to hire, identify, develop, and train personnel from across the Department to support its role and responsibilities in international fora related to electromagnetic spectrum.

(c) Briefing.—Not later than March 31, 2025, the Secretary shall provide the congressional defense committees with a briefing on the plan developed and implemented pursuant to subsection (a).

(a) Report required.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Defense Innovation Unit shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on expanding the geographic presence of the Defense Innovation Unit, including through partnerships with other organizations.

(b) Contents.—The report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) The current geographic distribution of the personnel and offices of the Defense Innovation Unit, including identification of the number of full-time equivalent civilians and contractors associated with each location.

(2) An assessment of opportunities to leverage other entities to expand geographic presence through current or planned partnerships that can support missions of the Defense Innovation Unit based on the existing geographic and functional footprint of those entities, such as Department of Defense laboratories, program intermediaries, or university affiliated research centers.

(3) A gap analysis between planned expansion of the geographic presence of the Defense Innovation Unit and use of partnerships to achieve nationwide geographic coverage for activities of the Defense Innovation Unit.

(4) The current plan of the Director to expand the geographic presence of the Defense Innovation Unit during the next 5-year period to address the gaps analyzed pursuant to paragraph (3), including resources required and any other policy or regulatory challenges.

(a) Report required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller shall, in coordination with the comptrollers of the military departments and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the obligation and expenditure rates for Department of Defense basic and applied research that is conducted at institutions of higher education for the previous five fiscal years.

(b) Matters identified.—The report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall identify—

(1) the month of obligations and expenditures for basic and applied research conducted at institutions of higher education; and

(2) funds realigned from basic or applied research budget lines due to not meeting obligations or expenditures benchmarks throughout the fiscal year and made available for other purposes.

(a) In general.—Not later than November 30, 2025, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense shall, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Director for Operational Test and Evaluation, complete a demonstration program to assess the viability of using wideband adaptive signal processing technology to support simultaneous transmit and receive signals on the same electromagnetic spectrum frequency band that—

(1) does not produce harmful interference;

(2) significantly reduces electromagnetic spectrum guard bands;

(3) maintains signal quality with respect to latency and throughput; and

(4) increases electromagnetic spectrum access within the frequency band.

(b) Location.—The demonstration program required by subsection (a) shall be conducted at a test and training range of the Department of Defense.

(c) Consultation.—In carrying out the demonstration program required by subsection (a), the Chief Information Officer, the Under Secretary, and the Director shall consult with, at a minimum, the following:

(1) The Joint Staff.

(2) The military departments and their associated research labs.

(3) Other Department of Defense organizations and agencies.

(4) The Federal Communications Commission.

(5) The National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

(6) Other Federal agencies.

(7) Industry and nongovernmental entities.

(d) Authority to enter into contracts.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Chief Information Officer may enter into such contracts or other agreements as the Secretary considers appropriate with public and private entities to conduct studies and demonstration projects under the demonstration program required by subsection (a).

(e) Briefing on plans for program.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Information Officer, the Under Secretary, and the Director shall jointly provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the plans to carry out the demonstration program required by subsection (a).

(f) Periodic assessments of program.—The Chief Information Officer, the Under Secretary, and the Director shall, periodically, assess the demonstration program required by subsection (a).

(g) Briefing on completed program.—Upon completion of the demonstration program required by subsection (a), the Chief Information Officer, the Under Secretary, and the Director shall jointly provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on their findings with respect to the demonstration program.

(a) Pilot program required.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall commence carrying out a pilot program on developing near-term use cases and demonstrations of artificial intelligence toward biotechnology applications for national security.

(b) Duration.—The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall be carried out during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.

(c) Public-private partnerships.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (a) by entering into one or more public-private partnerships.

(d) Annual report.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less frequently than once each year thereafter for the duration of the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees an annual report on the pilot program.

(2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include, for the period covered by the report, the following:

(A) An assessment of the role that artificial intelligence is playing in developing biotechnology, such as how commercial industry may be using artificial intelligence to develop biotechnologies.

(B) A description of near-term use cases developed under the pilot program for artificial intelligence-enabled biotechnology applications for national security.

(C) A description of planned, ongoing, and complete demonstrations or other pilot programs funded under the pilot program required by subsection (a) or otherwise by the Department of Defense.

(D) An assessment of the viability for transition of technology developed under the pilot program, including assessment of—

(i) the resources needed for further development and scaling of such technology; and

(ii) the potential benefits of such technology.

(a) Roadmap required.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and the Secretaries of the military departments, submit to the congressional defense committees a roadmap for addressing research, development, test, and evaluation needs in biotechnology for the Department of Defense.

(b) Elements.—The roadmap submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) Identification of biotechnology development needs and priorities for national security applications.

(2) An assessment of the technology maturity of each priority identified pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) A description of funding sources for each priority identified pursuant to paragraph (1), including both current sources and sources covered by the future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of title 10, United States Code.

(4) A description of how the Office of Strategic Capital and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plan to invest in each priority pursuant to paragraph (1), including plans to incorporate the investment of international partners.

(5) A plan, timeline, and metrics to research, development, testing, and evaluation activities for the priorities identified pursuant to paragraph (1).

(6) An assessment of opportunities for rapid acquisition and fielding of biotechnology in support of the priorities identified pursuant to paragraph (1).

(7) Identification of opportunities for international cooperation in biotechnology research or testing, including potential regulatory impediments to cooperation.

(8) An analysis of Department and Federal governance structures or regulatory processes that may hinder the ability of the Department to carry out the roadmap.

(9) An assessment of the needs for the Department biotech workforce in the near, mid, and far terms. Such assessment shall cover sufficiency of numbers and types of biotechnology workers (including skilled technicians), workforce training and certification needs, and whether current occupational series adequately cover identified workforce skill needs of the Department.

(c) Form.—The roadmap submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(d) Comptroller General of the United States evaluation.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense submits the roadmap pursuant to subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall evaluate the roadmap and submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to such evaluation.

(a) Plan required.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a plan for optimizing the contributions of the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate to the fulfillment of Department of Defense irregular warfare activities in support of the National Defense Strategy.

(b) Elements.—At a minimum, the plan required by subsection (a) shall address efforts to more effectively—

(1) address emergent requirements within the year of execution;

(2) focus and prioritize resources to rapidly address Department of Defense user requirements;

(3) coordinate efforts with the Office of Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics of United States Special Operations Command;

(4) maximize contributions from foreign and non-Department of Defense partners; and

(5) address other matters deemed relevant by the Secretary.

(a) Establishment of Council.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a council to identify, evaluate, and coordinate existing research efforts, or propose new research topics, relating to economic competition activities, such as economic coercion, manipulation, or other uses of economic power to undermine the national defense strategy of the United States and the partners and allies of the United States.

(2) DESIGNATION.—The council established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the “National Defense Economic Competition Research Council” (in this section the “Council”).

(b) Charter and mission.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a charter for the Council with a mission that includes the following:

(1) Conducting analysis of ongoing or proposed government and academic research relating to economic competition.

(2) Making proposals for new areas of research to increase understanding of adversarial uses of economic tools in support of military objectives to improve understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and defensive options to mitigate such threats and vulnerabilities.

(3) Informing the tools available to the Department of Defense to defend against such economic competition, coercion and manipulation activities, including the use of adversarial capital to acquire technology, real estate, or other infrastructure, or to preemptively deny access by the United States.

(4) Assess current data needs or shortfalls impairing understanding of threats and vulnerabilities relating to economic competition.

(5) Convene groups, which may include academic, United States Government, nonprofit, commercial, or other international partners, to better understand regional requirements or inform the understanding of regional partners on the threats and vulnerabilities relating to military objectives as a result of increasing economic competition.

(6) Such other activities as the Secretary deems appropriate.

(c) Participants.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The co-chairs of the Council shall ensure that the Council includes participation from each of the following:

(A) The Office of Commercial and Economic Assessment.

(B) The Office of Expanded Competition.

(C) The Office of Strategic Capital.

(D) The Defense Innovation Unit.

(E) The Strategic Capabilities Office.

(F) The Joint Warfighting Analysis Center (JWAC).

(G) The Office of Global Economic and Investment Security under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy.

(H) The Office of Naval Research, including ONR-Global.

(I) The Army Research Office.

(J) The Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

(K) The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

(L) The Strategic Intelligence and Analysis Cell under the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

(M) The program office of the Minerva Research Initiative.

(N) Other relevant organizations as determined by the Secretary.

(2) CO-CHAIRS.—The co-chairs of the Council shall be the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

(d) Input from the joint staff and combatant commands.—The Council shall regularly solicit input from the Joint Staff and combatant commands on needs, problem statements, or other topics relating to economic competition activities described in subsection (a)(1) affecting their areas of responsibility.

(a) In general.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering shall direct the Defense Science Board to complete, not later than May 15, 2025, a study to assess the feasibility and advisability of designating the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS) and United States Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll (USAG-KA) as facilities and resources comprising the Major Range and Test Facility Base, including with respect to the availability and mission capability of such test site and garrison.

(b) Elements.—The study completed pursuant to subsection (a) shall cover the following:

(1) The history and rationale for the split funding of the United States facilities and capabilities on Kwajalein Atoll between an Army Garrison and a Major Range and Test Facility Base and whether those objectives have been achieved, and if not why.

(2) The status of the garrison infrastructure and operations.

(3) The status of the test asset operability, usage, and maintainability.

(4) the interrelationship between garrison infrastructure and test asset operability.

(5) The status of the supported or supporting relationship between United States Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll, Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, and the Lincoln Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the long-term outlook for this partnership.

(6) The overall future of the Kwajalein Atoll satisfying Department of Defense current and future missions.

(7) Such other matters as the Under Secretary or the Defense Science Board consider appropriate.

(c) Report.—Not later than 10 days after the completion of the study required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the findings of the Defense Science Board with respect to the study.

(d) Definition of Major Range and Test Facility Base.—In this section, the term “Major Range and Test Facility Base” has the meaning given such term in section 4173 of title 10, United States Code.

(a) Pilot program required.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall commence carrying out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using artificial intelligence-enabled software to optimize the workflow and operations for—

(1) depots, shipyards, or other manufacturing facilities run by the Department of Defense; and

(2) contract administration for the Department, including the adjudication and review of contracts managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency.

(b) Software.—In carrying out the pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1) use best in breed software platforms;

(2) consider industry best practices in the selection of software programs;

(3) be implemented based on human centered design practices to best identify the business needs for improvement; and

(4) demonstrate connection to enterprise platforms of record with relevant data sources.

(c) Consultation.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (a)(1) in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and Secretary of the Air Force.

(d) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the commencement of the pilot program pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report containing the following information:

(1) An evaluation of each software platform used in the pilot program.

(2) An analysis of how workflows and operations were modified as part of the pilot program.

(3) A quantitative assessment of the impact the software had at each of the locations in which the pilot program was carried out.

Section 238(d)(3)(E) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4061) is amended—

(a) Initiative required.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) shall establish an initiative to rapidly expand and support the development of fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computing capability available to the Department of Defense.

(2) DESIGNATION.—The initiative established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the “Quantum Scaling Initiative” (in this section the “Initiative”).

(b) Elements.—The Initiative shall include the following:

(1) Activities to broaden existing Department efforts to verify and validate commercial efforts to design and build utility-scale quantum computers, including through increased collaboration with key partners in the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

(2) Working with the Office of Strategic Capital, establish regular interactions with the venture capital and finance community to help accelerate commercial efforts to design and build viable utility-scale quantum computers.

(3) Working with the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy to connect key performers in fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computing with support for industrial bases analysis, manufacturing support, and other analysis support to help foster and grow the broader industrial base supporting fault-tolerant utility-scale quantum computing.

(4) Working with the military departments and other Department components to refine use cases for militarily relevant applications of utility-scale quantum computers.

(a) Review.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, initiate a review of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Standard 400-2021 to determine whether any materials from this standard can and should be incorporated or referenced in Department of Defense procedures and guidance material in order to enhance safety in relation to human factors.

(b) Preliminary mapping.—In carrying out the review required by subsection (b), the Secretary shall conduct preliminary mapping of the current human readiness levels of the Department based on Standard 400-2021 and how they align with the current technology readiness levels of major development and acquisitions programs (as defined in section 4201 of title 10, United States Codes).

(c) Additional review and consultation.—In carrying out the review required by subsection (a), the Secretary—

(1) shall conduct a review of technical standard 400-2021 of the American National Standards Institute and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society; and

(2) may consult with subject matter experts affiliated with the authorizing organization behind such a technical standard.

(d) Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a briefing on the progress of the review required by subsection (a).

(a) Policies required.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall, in consultation with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Department of Defense, develop and implement policies to manage and utilize data derived from digital data systems for aircraft, ships, and ground vehicles in support of maintenance activity.

(b) Elements.—The policies required by subsection (a) shall include investment in advanced and scalable data infrastructure to efficiently record, transmit, categorize, and otherwise process data generated by digital data systems described in such subsection. Such policies shall—

(1) require development of a strategy to invest in advanced technologies, including automated systems and artificial intelligence, to streamline the process of organizing, indexing, and categorizing data;

(2) require work with vendors to address and resolve limitations imposed by proprietary information and data, including through the adoption of open data and open mission systems approaches;

(3) address data transmission capabilities, such as—

(A) implementing high-speed data transfer technologies;

(B) optimizing network infrastructure; and

(C) developing secure and efficient methods for transmitting mission-critical data between bases;

(4) require central compilation of maintenance data and creation of user interfaces, prioritizing analysis of long-lead components;

(5) require that, unless a compelling reason is identified, use of vendor-agnostic, government-owned tagging and interoperable systems;

(6) require review of classification policies relating to digital data to ensure that data is appropriately classified without unnecessarily restricting its usability; and

(7) establish protocols for detecting unauthorized access or intrusion into vehicle or platform systems.

Section 219(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 10 U.S.C. 4205 note) is amended—

(a) Reports required.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 1, 2025, and not later than June 1 of each year thereafter through 2031, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees and the legislative research agencies a report that describes the plans and objectives of the Department of Defense with respect to the directed energy roadmap of the Department for the next 10 years and the associated funding profile through the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) for directed energy systems at all classification levels, including funding needed for development, delivery, integration on platforms, and system sustainment.

(2) DESIGNATION.—A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be known as the “Directed Energy Roadmap and Activity Funding Report”.

(b) Matters covered.—Each report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall cover the following:

(1) The funding and investments of the Department relating to directed energy weapon capabilities, including any funding or investments with respect to the procurement, research, development, test and evaluation, and operation and maintenance of offensive and defensive directed energy weapons.

(2) An assessment of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)) of the threat environment that drives requirements for directed energy investments by the Department.

(3) The strategic vision of the Department with respect to directed energy.

(4) A description of the operational context for directed energy weapons.

(5) A description of the approach of the Department to matters relating to directed energy weapons.

(6) A roadmap for research, development, testing, evaluation, deployment, operation, and maintenance of directed energy weapons by the Department that covers the following:

(A) Aspects to achieve military dominance.

(B) Operational experience.

(C) Delivery of new capabilities.

(D) Tactical and strategic missions with proven, advanced, and aspirational technologies.

(7) Deployed directed energy weapon systems to date.

(8) Technology and transition focus areas.

(9) Science and technology focus areas.

(10) Previous fiscal year activities.

(11) Prototyping and fielding by each military department and Department component.

(12) Collaboration on directed energy technologies and capabilities with allies and partners of the United States.

(13) Industrial base challenges, including workforce challenges and critical path items in the supply chain.

(14) Department governance.

(15) Recommendations to accelerate fielding.

(c) Cost matters.—Each report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall—

(1) include cost data for the fiscal year and future years defense program on the directed energy capabilities of the Department, including vehicles, developmental and operational testing, sensors, command and control architectures, infrastructure, testing infrastructure, software, workforce, training, ranges, integration costs, and such other items as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate;

(2) to the extent applicable, for each item included in the report, identify whether such item relates to an offensive or defensive directed energy capability;

(3) with respect to any research and development activities covered by the report, identify—

(A) the program element for the activity;

(B) the name of the entity that is carrying out the activity; and

(C) the purpose of the activity; and

(4) to the extent applicable, with respect to any developmental ground and flight testing and operational test and evaluation activities covered by the report, identify—

(A) the program element for the activity;

(B) the name of the entity that is carrying out the activity; and

(C) the purpose of the activity.

(d) Form.—Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall be submitted in—

(1) an unclassified form that may be made available to the public; and

(2) an unclassified form that may include a classified annex.

(e) Legislative research agencies defined.—In this section, the term “legislative research agencies” includes the following:

(1) The Congressional Research Services.

(2) The Congressional Budget Office.

(3) The Governmental Accountability Office.

(a) Pilot program required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall commence carrying out a pilot program to establish one or more entities, including consortia, through which the Secretary shall conduct prototyping activities and production activities for such critical and emerging technologies as the Secretary shall specify for purposes of the pilot program.

(b) Use of prototyping authorities.—The Secretary shall carry out all prototyping activities under the pilot program required by subsection (a) pursuant to section 4022 of title 10, United States Code.

(c) Termination.—The pilot program required by subsection (a) shall terminate on December 31, 2030.

Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for operation and maintenance, as specified in the funding table in section 4301.

Not later than May 1, 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall—

(a) In general.—The Secretary of Defense shall enhance efforts of the Department of Defense through the Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans established pursuant to section 201 of the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670g) and other relevant management and operational plans to manage, control, and interdict invasive species, including those that exacerbate the risk of wildfire, that could affect—

(1) the readiness of the Armed Forces; and

(2) the health and safety of members of the Armed Forces, their families, and the surrounding communities.

(b) Authorized activities.—Management, control, and interdiction of invasive species under subsection (a), and any other biosecurity efforts under such subsection, shall include, at a minimum—

(1) science-based management and control programs to reduce the presence or spread of invasive species on military installations and to prevent the introduction or spread of such species to areas where such species are not established;

(2) support for interagency and intergovernmental response efforts to control, interdict, monitor, and eradicate invasive species;

(3) pursuit of chemical, biological, and beneficial fire use, other fire control techniques, technology transfer, and best practices to support management, control, interdiction, and where possible, eradication of invasive vegetation;

(4) establishment of an early detection and rapid response mechanism to monitor and deploy coordinated interdiction efforts for any invasive species newly detected at a particular site at a military installation; and

(5) post-fire land rehabilitation using native vegetation and other methods to preclude the reestablishment of invasive species.

Section 183a(h)(2)(A)(ii) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “under this title” and inserting “by law”.

(a) In general.—Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary of the Air Force shall provide meteorological and environmental services for operations of the Department of the Air Force and shall provide meteorological services for the Department of the Army.

(b) Exception for ballistics data.—The requirement under subsection (a) shall not apply to meteorological ballistics data for the Department of the Army.

Section 324(b)(1)(A) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 2922) is amended by striking “not fewer than two” and inserting “not fewer than six”.

(a) Study.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct and submit to the Secretary of Defense a study on the greenhouse gas and toxic pollutant emissions lifecycle in the production and utilization of electric non-tactical vehicles over the lifetime of the vehicle relative to a comparable model of non-tactical vehicle possessing an internal combustion engine, which shall include—

(1) the estimated reduction in carbon emissions associated with the adoption of electric vehicles across the non-tactical vehicle fleet;

(2) a comparative analysis of non-tactical efficiency, maintenance costs, and lifecycle emissions of electric vehicles versus traditional combustion engine vehicles; and

(3) a cost-benefit analysis of investing in electric vehicle infrastructure versus the fully burdened costs, advantages, and disadvantages of internal combustion engines for non-tactical use by the Department of Defense.

(b) Report.—Not later than 120 days after receipt of the results of the study under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the use of electric vehicles by the Armed Forces, which shall include—

(1) an assessment of non-tactical capabilities to determine different mission profiles and scenarios, including deployment in combat zones, logistic support, and personnel and equipment transportation by electric vehicles;

(2) an estimation of the expected lifespan and durability of electric vehicles under non-tactical conditions by assessing the reliability of key components such as batteries, electric motors, and powertrains and an evaluation of maintenance requirements and costs;

(3) an evaluation of the logistical implications of integrating electric vehicles into the non-tactical vehicle fleet, including infrastructure requirements for charging or refueling, compatibility with existing supply chains, and potential challenges relating to spare parts availability and maintenance support; and

(4) an identification of risks and challenges associated with the procurement and deployment of electric vehicles, such as technological obsolescence, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and geopolitical dependencies on critical components.

(c) Consultation.—In conducting the study required under subsection (a) and submitting the report required under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of the United States and the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be, shall consult with relevant private sector stakeholders, including climate change mitigation experts, automotive industry representatives, and former members of the Armed Forces with expertise in vehicle operations and maintenance.

(d) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to unduly impede ongoing efforts relating to compliance by the Department of Defense with section 2922g of title 10, United States Code.

(a) Repeal.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2922h of title 10, United States Code, is repealed.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 173 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 2922h.

(b) Annual report.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 173 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the beginning of subchapter II of chapter 173 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

“2922j. Annual report on purchase of drop-in fuel.”.

(a) In general.—The Secretary of Defense, consistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), shall take actions specified in subsection (b) to address any release or threatened release of PFAS at a covered facility.

(b) Actions To be taken.—

(1) CONDUCT OF PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND SITE INSPECTION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—If a preliminary assessment or site investigation for PFAS has not been conducted at a covered facility, the Secretary shall conduct expeditiously such assessment or investigation, as the case may be, to determine whether there has been a release or there is a threatened release of PFAS at the facility.

(B) PRESUMED RELEASE.—Each covered facility that has or has had a fire training pit or similar facility shall be presumed, for purposes of subparagraph (A), to have had a release of PFAS.

(2) CONSIDERATION OF INTERIM RESPONSE ACTIONS.—

(A) DETERMINATION OF POTENTIAL INTERIM RESPONSE ACTIONS.—A preliminary assessment or site investigation under paragraph (1)(A) shall include, along with any other matters required pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), a description and analysis of potential interim response actions that can be taken to reduce immediate public exposure to the release of PFAS, including preventing an imminent and substantial endangerment.

(B) ACTIONS INCLUDED.—Interim response actions to be considered under subparagraph (A) shall include the following:

(i) Provision of bottled water.

(ii) Connection to public water systems for members of the public using private wells.

(iii) Provision of filtration systems for public water systems.

(iv) Provision of filtration systems for private residences.

(3) REVIEW.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make the preliminary assessment or site investigation conducted under paragraph (1)(A) with respect to a covered facility available for review to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the relevant State environmental regulatory agencies, any Indian tribal government whose tribal lands may be affected by the release or threatened release of PFAS, and members of the public.

(B) REVIEW PERIOD.—The period for review under subparagraph (A) shall be not less than 60 days and shall be extended if the Administrator requests additional review time.

(4) EXPEDITED IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Defense shall expedite the implementation of any interim response actions selected by the Secretary for implementation pursuant to the consideration conducted under paragraph (2) and the review under paragraph (3).

(c) Reports to Congress.—

(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report containing an identification of the following:

(A) Which covered facilities have had a preliminary assessment or site investigation completed pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A).

(B) Which covered facilities have had a preliminary assessment or site investigation initiated pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A) but not completed by the time the report is due to be submitted, and when such assessment or investigation is projected to be completed.

(C) Which covered facilities have not had a preliminary assessment or site investigation initiated pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A) but are required to have one pursuant to such subsection.

(D) Which covered facilities are not required to have a preliminary assessment or site investigation conducted pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A).

(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on—

(A) which covered facilities have had interim response actions selected for implementation under subsection (b);

(B) what those interim response actions are;

(C) the projected initiation dates for those interim response actions;

(D) the projected completion dates for those interim response actions; and

(E) an explanation as to why any interim response action considered in the preliminary assessment or site investigation conducted pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A) was not adopted.

(d) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) COVERED FACILITY.—The term “covered facility” means a facility subject to section 2701(c) of title 10, United States Code.

(2) PFAS.—The term “PFAS” means perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

(3) RELEASE; RESPONSE.—The terms “release” and “response” have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).

Clause (iv) of section 316(a)(2)(B) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91; 131 Stat. 1350), as most recently amended by section 333 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31), is further amended by striking “fiscal year 2024” and inserting “each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025”.

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary authorizes the performance of maintenance and repair on forward-deployed naval force ships in foreign shipyards during scheduled maintenance and repair exercises (in this section referred to as the “pilot program”).

(b) Design.—The Secretary of the Navy shall design the pilot program to exercise the Ship Wartime Repair and Maintenance program of the Navy.

(c) Termination.—The requirement to carry out the pilot program shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date on which the Secretary of the Navy establishes the pilot program.

(d) Annual report.—Not later than December 1 of each year in which the pilot program is carried out, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report summarizing the actions taken under the pilot program during the preceding year, including information on how the pilot program is—

(1) effectively exercising the Ship Wartime Repair and Maintenance program of the Navy;

(2) impacting the workforce at shipyards in the United States;

(3) impacting the workforce at the Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center; and

(4) impacting quality of life for sailors assigned to forward-deployed naval force ships.

(a) Briefing.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary of a military department and the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing that—

(1) identifies the designated organization or command that will serve as the global integrator of that military department or agency and assume responsibilities as the manager of the storage network of that military department or agency; and

(2) sets forth a comprehensive plan of the Secretary concerned or the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, as the case may be—

(A) to deploy storage space management tools, as authorized by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, across the network of that military department or agency; and

(B) to evaluate approaches for identifying improved supply chain processes, visibility, mission alignment, and cost savings and avoidances enabled through space consolidation.

(b) Annual report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following five years, each Secretary of a military department and the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the following:

(1) Plans for reconstituting commercially-stored inventory of the Department of Defense into the warehouses of the Department on military installations.

(2) Information on barriers to reconstituting such inventory from commercial storage locations.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations providing that Government-Owned, Government-Operated (GOGO) facilities are eligible to receive Production Base Support (PBS) funding from the Army.

(a) Codification.—Chapter 19 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1011 the following new section:

(b) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1011 the following new item:

“1011a. Reimbursement of expenses for certain Navy mess operations afloat.”.

(c) Conforming repeal.—Section 1014 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4585) is repealed.

(a) Development of plan.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Army shall develop a plan providing options to establish secondary domestic production sources at existing arsenals, depots, and ammunition plants of the Army to address munitions supply chain chokepoints.

(2) EXISTING MAPPING AND STUDIES.—In developing the plan required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Army shall draw on existing supply chain mapping conducted by the Department of Defense and other studies conducted by the Army.

(b) Elements of plan.—The plan required under subsection (a)(1) shall include each of the following:

(1) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of activities at all existing depots, arsenals, and ammunition plants of the Army to serve as secondary sources for single points of supply chain failure.

(2) An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of reopening any previously closed depots, arsenals, and ammunition plants of the Army.

(c) Briefing.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the implementation of the plan required under subsection (a).

(d) Chokepoint defined.—In this section, the term “chokepoint”, with respect to a munitions supply chain of the Army, means a situation in which—

(1) components of the supply chain, including all elements of the supply chain such as chemicals, casings, or other materials, are produced by only one domestic source; or

(2) the increased production of a component would significantly increase total munitions output.

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army, through the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, shall establish and maintain a threat library, or expand and maintain an existing threat library, to coordinate efforts across the Department of Defense to counter unmanned aircraft systems.

(b) Information To be included.—The threat library required under subsection (a) shall include—

(1) classified and unclassified information relating to known or suspected threats from unmanned aircraft systems;

(2) proposed solutions for countering such known threats; and

(3) a comprehensive listing of global incursions from unmanned aircraft systems at installations of the Department of Defense.

(c) Dissemination.—The Secretary of the Army, through the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office, shall establish a framework to share the information contained in the threat library required under subsection (a) with the military departments, the combatant commands, other Federal agencies, and relevant industries, as determined by the Secretary of the Army, in order to maintain technological superiority in aerial defense.

Paragraph (5) of section 482(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

Section 363 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Public Law 117–81; 10 U.S.C. 2722 note) is amended—

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Air Force shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the landing fees collected, as of the date of the report, by installations of the Air Force located outside the continental United States.

(b) Elements.—The report required by subsection (a) shall include, by location—

(1) the amount of fees collected;

(2) the account to which those fees are deposited; and

(3) the annual sustainment funds required for use of the runway concerned for commercial purposes.

(c) Inclusion of Kunsan Air Base.—At a minimum, the report required by subsection (a) shall address landing fees at Kunsan Air Base in the Republic of Korea.

Prior to the commencement of the official hurricane season, the commanding officer of the 22nd Air Force shall provide a briefing not later than March 31, 2025, and annually thereafter for two years, to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on the operational readiness of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.

In conducting detection and monitoring of illegal drugs under section 124 of title 10, United States Code, the Joint Interagency Task Force South may conduct detection and monitoring of illegal drugs in the air and maritime domains within the established joint operating area of such task force regardless of the destination of the illegal drugs.

Section 130i(i) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

Of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for fiscal year 2025 for operation and maintenance, defense-wide, and available for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for travel expenses, not more than 75 percent may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees—

(a) Requirement.—By not later than September 30, 2030, the Secretary of the Army shall ensure that all high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles identified in the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy of the Army have been retrofitted with an anti-lock brake system and electronic stability control kit.

(b) Plan.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Army shall develop a plan to ensure the requirement under subsection (a) will be met.

(2) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A) A description of the steps required to ramp up production of the anti-lock brake system and electronic stability control kits required under subsection (a) and conduct retrofitting activities at Red River Army Depot, Texas, and its associated flyaway teams.

(B) A list of challenges identified by the Secretary of the Army, if any, to meeting the requirement under subsection (a) and a list of steps required to address those challenges.

(C) An estimated monthly rate of retrofits needed to meet the requirement under subsection (a).

(D) A funding plan required to carry out the steps described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).

(E) An identification of any authorities or funding required for secondary destination transportation to fulfill the plan required under paragraph (1).

(3) SUBMISSION OF PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees the plan required by paragraph (1).

(c) Annual certification.—Not later than each of March 1, 2025, March 1, 2026, and March 1, 2027, the Secretary of the Army shall certify to the congressional defense committees that the budget of the Army will enable the Army to meet the requirement under subsection (a).

(a) In general.—The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and each equivalent acquisition officer of the military departments, shall determine the following:

(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the joint strategic capabilities plan or any other strategic planning document of the Department of Defense, whether existing total force stockpiles of basic life sustaining and personnel items and equipment are sufficient in the event of direct involvement by the United States in a protracted conflict or in more than one large-scale conflict taking place simultaneously in more than one theater.

(2) The likely impact on supply chains of procurement by the Department of basic life sustaining and personnel items and equipment in a situation described in paragraph (1) and possible alternative sources of production and procurement of such items.

(3) Whether current operational plans of the Armed Forces can be executed in two separate theaters simultaneously without drawing on the same stockpiles of basic life sustaining and personnel items and equipment, or whether those plans rely on the same stockpiles being available notwithstanding other operational plans of the Armed Forces.

(b) Report.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the findings and determinations made under subsection (a).

(2) STOCKPILES RELATING TO VEHICLES.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the availability of stockpiles of—

(A) weather and terrain appropriate tires for tactical vehicles; and

(B) mobile extreme weather shelters for maintenance of military vehicles.

(c) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) BASIC LIFE SUSTAINING AND PERSONNEL ITEMS AND EQUIPMENT.—The term “basic life sustaining and personnel items and equipment” includes the following:

(A) Subsistence items, including food and food-related supplies, including condiments, utensils, paper products, and bottled water.

(B) Clothing, individual equipment, tentage, organizational tool kits, hand tools, and administrative and housekeeping supplies and equipment.

(C) Personal demand items (non-military sales items).

(D) Such other items as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may identify.

(2) PROTRACTED CONFLICT.—The term “protracted conflict” means any armed conflict that extends beyond anticipated timelines set forth or implied in strategic planning documents or operational plans, such that the cumulative effects of hostilities result in the military goals set forth in strategic plans no longer being sufficient to end the conflict.

(a) In general.—The Secretary of Defense may establish pre-positioned stocks of finished defense textile articles, such as uniforms and protective gear, to support the rapid mobilization and sustainment of members of the Armed Forces during a contingency operation.

(b) Plan to reduce delays.—The Secretary shall develop a plan for phasing in and targeting policy changes relating to defense textile articles to reduce delinquencies and mitigate delays between policy decisions that may result in the miscalculation of stockpiling in order to ensure ample finished textiles are available to prevent a scenario in which the demand for certain articles is ramping down by the time the supply chain can ramp up to meet the need.

(a) Establishment of a pilot program.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy and in coordination with the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command, shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary—

(1) establishes a public-private partnership to develop an advanced manufacturing facility on or near a military installation within the area of responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific Command capable of meeting flexible manufacturing requirements to support the submarine and shipbuilding industrial base and related emerging needs of the commanders of the combatant commands and the commanders of other components of the Armed Forces;

(2) fosters partnerships between industry, local universities, and workforce training programs to develop a local workforce in the vicinity of such facility capable of meeting advanced manufacturing demands;

(3) coordinates requirements from the Submarine Industrial Base Task Force, the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the Innovation Capability and Modernization Office of the Department of Defense, and the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program of the Department;

(4) manufactures unmanned vehicles, including surface and underwater vehicles, and develops ship maintenance capabilities; and

(5) is responsive to needs across the uniformed services and the defense industrial base.

(b) Elements.—The advanced manufacturing facility and workforce training program required under the pilot program under subsection (a) shall—

(1) be capable of additively manufacturing metal structures at least 10 feet in diameter and 50 feet long;

(2) be able to manufacture systems and components that—

(A) use wire-arc additive manufacturing, powder bed fusion manufacturing, cold spray manufacturing, or other similar manufacturing capabilities; and

(B) maintain a local machining capability;

(3) be able to maintain a production capability across the six critical materials of the Navy in order to respond to emerging repair and production requirements during conflict; and

(4) ensure broad participation in the workforce training program by establishing the facility either outside of a military installation (but very close to a military installation) or onboard a military installation with readily available access to a civilian trainee workforce.

(c) Termination.—The requirement to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date on which the Secretary establishes the pilot program.

(d) Annual report.—Not later than December 1 of each year in which the pilot program under subsection (a) is carried out, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report summarizing the actions taken under the pilot program during the preceding year, including information on how the pilot program is supporting initiatives of the United States Indo-Pacific Command.

(e) Advanced manufacturing defined.—In this section, the term “advanced manufacturing” means a manufacturing process utilizing the following techniques:

(1) Additive manufacturing.

(2) Wire-arc additive manufacturing.

(3) Powder bed fusion manufacturing.

(4) Other similar manufacturing capabilities.

The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for active duty personnel as of September 30, 2025, as follows:

(a) End strength authorization by law for space force to be a single number for members in space force active status.—

(1) REQUIREMENT.—Subsection (a) of section 115 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(3) The end strength for the Space Force for members in space force active status.”.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such subsection is further amended—

(A) in the subsection heading, by striking “and selected reserve” and inserting “, selected reserve, and space force”; and

(B) in paragraph (1), by striking “each of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard)” and inserting “the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps”.

(b) Corresponding limitation on appropriations.—Subsection (c) of such section is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking “; or” and inserting a semicolon;

(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph:

“(3) the use of members of the Space Force in space force active status unless the end strength for the Space Force for that fiscal year for members in space force active status has been authorized by law; or”.

(c) Authority for variances of end strength.—

(1) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.—Subsection (f) of such section is amended—

(A) in the subsection heading, by striking “and Selected Reserve” and inserting “, Selected Reserve, and Space Force”; and

(B) in paragraph (1), by striking “subsection (a)(1)(A)” and inserting “paragraph (1)(A) or (3) of subsection (a)”.

(2) SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE.—Subsection (g) of such section is amended—

(A) in the subsection heading, by striking “and Selected Reserve” and inserting “, Selected Reserve, and Space Force”; and

(B) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “subsection (a)(1)(A)” and inserting “paragraph (1)(A) or (3) of subsection (a)”.

(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall take effect upon the date specified under paragraph (2) of section 1736(a) of the Space Force Personnel Management Act (title XVII of Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 677) for the expiration of the authority provided by paragraph (1) of that section.

(4) CONFORMING CROSS-REFERENCE AMENDMENTS TO SFPMA.—Section 1736(a)(1) of the Space Force Personnel Management Act (title XVII of Public Law 118–31) is amended by striking “section 115(a)(1)(A)” both places it appears and inserting “section 115(a)(3)”.

(a) In general.—The Armed Forces are authorized strengths for Selected Reserve personnel of the reserve components as of September 30, 2025, as follows:

(1) The Army National Guard of the United States, 325,000.

(2) The Army Reserve, 175,800.

(3) The Navy Reserve, 57,700.

(4) The Marine Corps Reserve, 32,500.

(5) The Air National Guard of the United States, 108,300.

(6) The Air Force Reserve, 67,000.

(7) The Coast Guard Reserve, 7,000.

(b) End strength reductions.—The end strengths prescribed by subsection (a) for the Selected Reserve of any reserve component shall be proportionately reduced by—

(1) the total authorized strength of units organized to serve as units of the Selected Reserve of such component which are on active duty (other than for training) at the end of the fiscal year; and

(2) the total number of individual members not in units organized to serve as units of the Selected Reserve of such component who are on active duty (other than for training or for unsatisfactory participation in training) without their consent at the end of the fiscal year.

(c) End strength increases.—Whenever units or individual members of the Selected Reserve for any reserve component are released from active duty during any fiscal year, the end strength prescribed for such fiscal year for the Selected Reserve of such reserve component shall be increased proportionately by the total authorized strengths of such units and by the total number of such individual members.

Within the end strengths prescribed in section 411(a), the reserve components of the Armed Forces are authorized, as of September 30, 2025, the following number of Reserves to be serving on full-time active duty or full-time duty, in the case of members of the National Guard, for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the reserve components:

(a) In general.—The minimum number of military technicians (dual status) as of the last day of fiscal year 2025 for the reserve components of the Army and the Air Force (notwithstanding section 129 of title 10, United States Code) shall be the following:

(1) For the Army National Guard of the United States, 22,294.

(2) For the Army Reserve, 6,492.

(3) For the Air National Guard of the United States, 10,744.

(4) For the Air Force Reserve, 6,697.

(b) Limitation on number of temporary military technicians (dual status).—The number of temporary military technicians (dual status) employed under the authority of subsection (a) may not exceed 25 percent of the total authorized number specified in such subsection.

(c) Limitation.—Under no circumstances may a military technician (dual status) employed under the authority of this section be coerced by a State into accepting an offer of realignment or conversion to any other military status, including as a member of the Active, Guard, and Reserve component. If a military technician (dual status) declines to participate in such realignment or conversion, no further action will be taken against the individual or the individual’s position.

During fiscal year 2025, the maximum number of members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who may be serving at any time on full-time operational support duty under section 115(b) of title 10, United States Code, is the following:

(a) Exemption of National Guard Bilateral Affairs Officers from active-duty end strength limits.—Section 115(i) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(14) Members of the National Guard on active duty or full-time National Guard duty serving as Bilateral Affairs Officers as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program.”.

(b) Modification of annual reporting requirement regarding security cooperation activities.—Section 386(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “appropriate congressional committees” and inserting “congressional defense committees”.

(a) Authorization of appropriations.—Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2025 for the use of the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of the Department of Defense for expenses, not otherwise provided for, for military personnel, as specified in the funding table in section 4401.

(b) Construction of authorization.—The authorization of appropriations in the subsection (a) supersedes any other authorization of appropriations (definite or indefinite) for such purpose for fiscal year 2025.

(a) In general.—Section 9160 of title 10, United States Code, is hereby repealed.

(b) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 915 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 9160.

(a) Authority for officers to opt-out of promotion board consideration.—

(1) REGULAR OFFICERS.—Section 619(e)(2)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A) by inserting “training,” after “Department,”; and

(B) by striking “assignment or education” and inserting “assignment, education, or training”.

(2) RESERVE OFFICERS.—Section 14301(j)(2)(A) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A) by inserting “training,” after “Department,”; and

(B) by striking “assignment or education” and inserting “assignment, education, or training”.

(b) Effect of failure of selection for promotion for certain officers.—

(1) FIRST LIEUTENANTS AND LIEUTENANTS (JUNIOR GRADE).—Section 631(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “the President approves the report of the board which considered him for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”; and

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking “the President approves the report of the board which considered him for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”.

(2) CAPTAINS AND MAJORS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE CORPS AND LIEUTENANTS AND LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS OF THE NAVY.—Section 632(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking “the President approves the report of the board which considered him for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”.

(3) REGULAR NAVY AND REGULAR MARINE CORPS OFFICERS DESIGNATED FOR LIMITED DUTY.—Section 8372 of such title is amended—

(A) in subsection (b), by striking “the President approves the report of the selection board in which the officer is considered as having failed of selection for promotion to the grade of commander or lieutenant colonel for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”;

(B) in subsection (d), by striking “the President approves the report of the selection board in which the officer is considered as having failed of selection for promotion to the grade of lieutenant commander or major for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”; and

(C) in subsection (e), by striking “the President approves the report of the selection board in which the officer is considered as having failed of selection for promotion to the grade of lieutenant or captain, respectively, for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”.

(4) RESERVE FIRST LIEUTENANTS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE CORPS AND RESERVE LIEUTENANTS (JUNIOR GRADE) OF THE NAVY.—Section 14504 of such title is amended—

(A) in subsection (a), by striking “the President approves the report of the board which considered the officer for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”; and

(B) in subsection (b), by striking “President approves the report of the selection board which resulted in the second failure” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”.

(5) RESERVE CAPTAINS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE CORPS AND RESERVE LIEUTENANTS OF THE NAVY.—Section 14505 of such title is amended by striking “the President approves the report of the board which considered the officer for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”.

(6) RESERVE MAJORS OF THE ARMY, AIR FORCE, AND MARINE CORPS AND RESERVE LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS OF THE NAVY.—Section 14506 of such title is amended by striking “the President approves the report of the board which considered the officer for the second time” and inserting “the Secretary concerned releases the promotion results of the board which considered the officer for the second time to the public”.

(a) In general.—For purposes of recommendations for promotion by selection boards under section 616 of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary concerned may, notwithstanding the limit specified in subsection (d) of such section, authorize a greater number of officers so recommended that is less than 100 percent of the number of officers so included, for nurse officers recommended for promotion to major or lieutenant commander, if the Secretary concerned determines that such greater number is necessary to maintain or improve medical readiness.

(b) Sunset.—The authority under subsection (a) shall expire on December 31, 2030.

(a) Vice Chief of Space Operations.—Chapter 908 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating sections 9083, 9084, 9085, and 9086 as sections 9084, 9085, 9086, and 9087, respectively; and

(2) by inserting after section 9082 the following new section 9083:

(b) Vacancy in position of Chief of Space Operations.—Section 9082 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(f) Vacancy in position of Chief of Space Operations.—When there is a vacancy in the position of Chief of Space Operations or during the absence or disability of the Chief of Space Operations—

“(1) the Vice Chief of Space Operations shall perform the duties of the Chief of Space Operations until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases; or

“(2) if there is a vacancy in the position of the Vice Chief of Space Operations or the Vice Chief of Space Operations is absent or disabled, unless the President directs otherwise, the most senior officer of the Space Force in the Space Staff who is not absent or disabled and who is not restricted in performance of duty shall perform the duties of the Chief of Space Operations until the earliest of—

“(A) the appointment of a successor to the Chief of Space Operations or the Vice Chief of Space Operations; or

“(B) the cessation of the absence or disability of the Chief of Space Operations or Vice Chief of Space Operations.”.

(c) Clerical amendments.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the items relating to sections 9083, 9084, 9085, and 9086 and inserting the following new items:

“9083. Vice Chief of Space Operations.
“9084. Office of the Chief of Space Operations: function; composition.
“9085. Office of the Chief of Space Operations: general duties.
“9086. Regular Space Force: composition.
“9087. Space Development Agency.”.