FY2027 vs FY2026 NDAA: What Changed
TL;DR
The FY2027 defense authorization debate is bigger and later than last year's. The House topline ($1.15T) is roughly $250B above the enacted FY2026 bill ($901B) — though the two figures aren't apples-to-apples, since the FY2027 request reflects a restructured budget. Where FY2026 was defined by acquisition reform (portfolio acquisition under P.L. 119-60), FY2027 is defined by its political environment: right-to-repair provisions, a second destroyer fight, Iran-conflict language, and a Senate floor stalemate that has pushed the calendar well behind recent years.
Side by side
| FY2027 (pending) | FY2026 (law) | |
|---|---|---|
| House bill | H.R. 8800 | — (Senate-originated) |
| Senate bill | S. 4784 | S. 1071 |
| Topline | $1.15T (House) / $1.14T (Senate) | $901B |
| Public law | Not yet | P.L. 119-60 |
| Signed | Pending | Dec 18, 2025 |
| Signature theme | Right to repair, shipbuilding, Iran policy | Acquisition reform (portfolio model) |
| Status | House passed; Senate stalled | Enacted |
What carried over from FY2026
- Acquisition reform continues. P.L. 119-60 built the portfolio-based acquisition model; FY2027 sections tagged acquisition reform extend it.
- Supply-chain and FOCI scrutiny. Foreign ownership controls tighten further in both FY2027 bills, building on the "biotechnology company of concern" provisions first enacted in P.L. 119-60.
What's new in FY2027
- Right to repair. Both chambers include provisions letting contractors' customers service their own equipment — see right-to-repair sections.
- Shipbuilding. The House version funds a second destroyer — track it in the destroyer & shipbuilding topic.
- Iran & Middle East policy language. A major source of the Senate stall — see Iran & Middle East sections.
- Cyber posture. New operational-readiness assessments under cyber & IT.
Explore every provision: 723 annotated FY2027 section pages, or compare House vs Senate text in the diff tool. Historical context: all past NDAAs back to FY2020.
Sections to read
- Sec. 1105: Military technician (dual status): elimination of title 32 authority; conversions of existing positions
- Sec. 1098: Ubiquitous technical surveillance and digital force protection
- Sec. 1005: Authority to establish Joint Task Force Audit
- Sec. 861: Reform of technical data and software rights to support competition, sustainment, and readiness
- Sec. 123: Multiyear procurement authority for Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers
- Sec. 162: Multiyear procurement authority for F–35 aircraft
- Sec. 847: Promoting the United States drone industrial base (Senate bill only)
- Sec. 601: One-year extension of certain expiring bonus and special pay authorities
See every section in the annotated FY2027 NDAA, the House vs Senate differences, or the NDAA amendment tracker.