Senate Committee on Armed Services

A bill to prohibit certain transfers of aircraft provided by the Government of Qatar, and for other purposes.

The legislation would prevent the transfer or sale of military aircraft that the U.S. government has provided to Qatar, restricting how Qatar can use or redistribute these planes. This affects the Defense Department's ability to manage military aid agreements and could impact U.S.-Qatar military cooperation and regional security arrangements in the Middle East.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

The federal government would allocate money for the Department of Defense and military operations during 2027, including funds for building and maintaining military bases and facilities, as well as nuclear weapons programs run by the Department of Energy. The bill also sets the authorized number of active-duty and reserve military personnel for that year. This spending plan affects military members, defense contractors, and communities where military bases are located.

Unmanned System Command and Control Integration Assessment Act of 2026

The Department of Defense would be required to study whether it can adopt open-architecture systems for controlling unmanned drones and robots across all military branches and levels, learning from how allied countries currently manage their unmanned systems. The study would examine the feasibility and benefits of making these control systems more standardized and flexible so different types of unmanned equipment can work together more easily. The findings would be reported back to Congress to help inform future decisions about military drone and robot operations.

FUSE Act

The federal government would create a test program to study how to safely make and use special materials that can be 3D-printed to create energetic devices (like explosives or propellants). This pilot program would establish safety standards and qualification requirements for these printable materials, helping manufacturers and the military understand best practices before widespread use. The program would affect defense contractors, manufacturers working with advanced 3D printing technology, and military agencies that might use these materials.

Alaska National Guard Rural Community Revival Act

The legislation would create a plan to help revitalize and upgrade National Guard facilities and operations in rural areas across the country. This would affect rural communities that host National Guard units, as well as Guard members stationed in those areas, by potentially improving infrastructure, equipment, and services. The goal is to ensure that National Guard capabilities in less populated regions keep pace with those in urban areas.

Honor Gold Star Families Act

The military currently pays a one-time cash payment called a death gratuity to families when a service member dies, and this bill would increase that payment amount and automatically adjust it each year to keep up with inflation. The change would help military families cope with the financial hardship of losing a loved one who served in the Armed Forces. This bill is currently under review by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Slash the Pentagon Act

The proposal would limit federal spending on national defense to $750 billion for fiscal year 2027, setting a ceiling on how much money can be allocated to the military, armed forces operations, and related defense programs. This cap would affect military personnel, defense contractors, weapons development programs, and all branches of the armed services that depend on federal funding. The bill is currently under review by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Duty Status Reform Act

The proposal would change rules about how reserve military members—those who serve part-time alongside their civilian jobs—are treated when called to active duty. The changes would likely affect benefits, pay, and how their service time counts toward retirement and other military benefits for reservists and their families.

COMPASS Act

The proposal would change federal law to give military members and their families special protections and support when they homeschool their children, recognizing the unique challenges that come with frequent moves and deployments. Currently, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides various legal protections for active-duty service members, but this bill would expand those protections to specifically address homeschooling situations. The changes would help military families avoid penalties or legal issues related to homeschooling requirements that might conflict with military service obligations.

A bill to provide for a requirement for networked autonomous kinetic capability against small unmanned aircraft systems.

The military would be required to develop and deploy systems that can detect and disable small drones using physical force or electronic means. This affects military personnel and defense contractors who would need to build and operate these anti-drone technologies to protect military installations and personnel from unauthorized unmanned aircraft.

A bill to require the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program to evaluate the safety, quality, and qualification pathways of printable energetic feedstocks for controlled additive manufacturing applications.

The Department of Defense would test a pilot program to evaluate whether 3D-printed explosive materials can be safely manufactured and meet quality standards for military use. The program would examine the safety risks and technical requirements needed to produce these printable energetic materials in a controlled way. This affects military personnel and defense contractors involved in weapons development and manufacturing.

Restore Military Families’ Voices Act

Military families living in privatized housing on base would gain stronger legal protections, including the ability to speak up about unsafe or unfair housing conditions without fear of losing their homes or facing other punishment. The bill would limit the use of nondisclosure agreements that currently prevent residents from reporting problems to military officials or the public. These changes would primarily affect active-duty service members, retirees, and their families who rent housing managed by private contractors on military installations.

HALO Act of 2026

The federal government would establish safety and design standards that weapons systems with autonomous or semi-autonomous features must meet before military use. These requirements would apply to the Department of Defense and defense contractors developing such weapons, ensuring they include safeguards like human oversight and the ability to be shut down or controlled by operators. The measure aims to prevent unintended harm and maintain human control over lethal military decisions.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence Defense Act of 2026

The Department of Defense would establish official policies and procedures for developing and using autonomous weapons and artificial intelligence systems in military operations, including requirements to review and verify that these systems work safely and as intended before deployment. This would affect military personnel, defense contractors, and potentially civilians in conflict zones where these technologies might be used. The bill aims to ensure the Pentagon has clear guidelines for how much decision-making power to give to machines versus keeping humans in control of weapons systems.

WARP Act of 2026

The Department of Defense would be required to study how using artificial intelligence affects soldiers' ability to perform their jobs, maintain their skills, and stay prepared for combat situations. The assessment would examine whether AI tools help or hurt military readiness and whether troops might lose important skills by relying too heavily on automated systems. This would help military leaders understand the real-world impacts of bringing AI technology into combat operations and training.

Ending Double Dealing Act of 2026

The Department of Defense would be banned from hiring consulting firms that also work for certain foreign governments or entities, preventing potential conflicts of interest where a contractor might have divided loyalties. This rule would affect defense contractors and consulting companies that do international business, potentially limiting their ability to work with both the Pentagon and foreign clients simultaneously. The measure aims to protect sensitive military information and ensure that defense consultants prioritize U.S. national security interests.

NEW HORIZON Act

The Department of Defense would test whether it can use commercial companies' data centers and cloud computing services located in space to support military operations and national security missions. This pilot program would evaluate whether these space-based services could help the military process information and run systems more effectively than current methods. The test would determine if this approach is practical and beneficial before the military decides whether to use it more widely.

Ultimate Human Responsibility in Defense Systems Act of 2026

The Department of Defense would be required to ensure that humans make the final decision before autonomous weapons systems use force in combat situations, rather than allowing machines to make those decisions independently. This applies to all military autonomous weapons systems and establishes rules for how the military can develop and deploy these technologies. The bill affects military personnel, defense contractors developing weapons systems, and ultimately the conduct of military operations.

SUSTAIN Act

The military would be prohibited from reducing the number of MQ-9 Reaper drone aircraft units below current levels, protecting jobs at defense contractors and maintaining surveillance and strike capabilities for the armed forces. This affects military personnel, defense workers, and the defense industry that manufactures and maintains these unmanned aircraft. The bill is currently under review by the Armed Services Committee.

Secure and Accountable Military AI Act of 2026

The Department of Defense would be required to establish safeguards and oversight procedures for how it develops and uses artificial intelligence systems, ensuring these tools are tested for safety and bias before deployment. The bill would create accountability measures so military leaders can track how AI is being used in decision-making and operations, protecting both national security and the rights of people affected by these automated systems.