FY2020 NDAA SUMMARY
For 58 years, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been the primary way
Congress executes its Constitutional duties to “raise and support Armies,” “provide and
maintain a Navy,” and “make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval
Forces.”
This year’s NDAA charts a consensus national defense policy that continues the restoration of
military readiness, implements a National Defense Strategy to confront Russia, China, and other
threats around the world, reforms and modernizes Pentagon business systems and
bureaucracy, and – most importantly – cares for our troops and their families.
The NDAA Conference Report is consistent with the bipartisan budget agreement. It supports a
base budget of $658.4 billion, an additional $71.5 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations,
and $5.3 billion for emergency disaster recovery to restore installations damaged by extreme
weather or earthquakes.
TABLE 1: Discretionary Funding Levels
DOD Discretionary Base Budget
DOE Discretionary Base Budget
Other Non-Defense
FY20 Base Budget NDAA Topline
Overseas Contingency Operations
FY20 Discretionary Topline
Defense-Related Activities Outside NDAA
Jurisdiction
National Defense Topline w/ OCO
Emergency Disaster Recovery

$635B
$23.1B
$300M
$658.4B
$71.5B
$729.9B
$8.1B
$738B
$5.3B

Mandatory Spending: The bill also includes $10.6 billion in authorizations for Defense
mandatory spending, as requested in the President’s budget request. The bill also includes
approximately $5.7 billion in additional mandatory spending resulting from three-year phased
repeal of the Survivor Benefit Plan/Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset, a new
medical malpractice claims process, 4,000 Afghan Special Immigrant Visas, and other items.
CARING FOR TROOPS THE CIVILIAN WORKFORCE, AND THEIR FAMILIES
“You recruit a service member but retain a family” is a military maxim reflected in the FY20
NDAA. The Conference report pays particular attention to family support, including providing
for a 3.1 percent pay raise (the largest increase in a decade), extending special pay and
bonuses for service members, programs to offset the costs of acquiring professional licenses
for military spouses, including additional measures to combat sexual assault and harassment in

1

 the military while supporting survivors, and historic reforms to the military privatized housing
system. The NDAA also includes a three-year phased repeal of the requirement that Survivor
Benefit Plan payments be reduced by Dependency and Indemnity Compensation payments.
Family Support
Improving Military Education and Child Care
The NDAA requires a comprehensive assessment of child care capacity on military installations
to identify and remedy child care waiting list backlogs and expands childcare fee assistance to
include survivors of service members killed in combat. The NDAA streamlines staff hiring for
child development centers by authorizing direct hire authority and ensuring background
investigations are transferrable between installations. The NDAA also authorizes $40 million for
assistance to local educational agencies with military dependent students and $10 million for
local educational agencies eligible to receive a payment for children with severe disabilities.
Professional Licenses for Military Spouses
The NDAA doubles the reimbursement amount for state licensure expenses incurred by
military spouses as they move their families around the country. It also authorizes a
cooperative agreement with the Council of State Governors to assist with funding the
development of interstate compacts to improve spouse professional license portability.
Reforms Military Family Housing
The NDAA implements the most substantial overhaul of the Privatized Military Housing
Initiative since its creation in 1996. These reforms address the considerable gaps in oversight
and accountability seen at all levels of housing management from ineffective housing offices, to
substandard property management, to under-engaged military leadership. Specifically, the
conference report:
• Requires the Department to establish a standardized assessment tool to be used in
evaluating military housing for certain risks, including lead and mold;
• Directs each military service to develop guidelines for a dispute resolution process to
include the ability to withhold Basic Allowance for Housing until the dispute is resolved;
• Increases transparency for families by requiring disclosure of major repairs/remediation
prior to lease signing;
• Reinforces the need for the Government Housing Office to be present as the advocate
for military families;
• Requires new quality control measures and increases health and hazard inspections;
• Authorizes additional funding to ensure installation housing offices are properly staffed;
• Provides for a temporary direct hiring authority for government housing personnel to
increase oversight of private contractors; and
• Suspends the Resident Energy Conservation Program until the Secretary of Defense can
certify that homes are accurately metered.
The conference report also requires the Services to establish a Tenant Bill of Rights that
sets minimum acceptable livability standards, requires better communication, creates

2

 greater transparency, addresses establishment of a formal dispute resolution process, bans
the use of non-disclosure agreements as a condition of moving out of military housing, and
enhances protections against reprisal.
Reforms the Defense Personal Property Program:
The NDAA implements policies to address problems with management and oversight in the
movement of service members’ household goods through standardized and establish
centralized control of the program and:
•

•
•

•

Prohibits U.S. Transportation Command from awarding a Global Household Goods
Contract (GHC) for the Defense Personal Property Program (DP3) until April 1, 2020,
after the Comptroller General of the United States submits to the congressional defense
committees an analysis of options to restructure the DP3;
Requires U.S. Transportation Command to prepare a business case analysis for the
proposed award of a GHC contract;
Requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to submit to the
congressional defense committees a report on the activities of the Personnel
Relocation/Household Goods Movement Cross-Functional Team; and
Establishes an advisory committee to provide feedback to the Secretary of Defense on
the DP3, military relocation services, and other issues relating to permanent change of
station moves.

Combatting Sexual Assault, Harassment, and Domestic Violence
For the past 12 years, the NDAA has included provisions to combat sexual assault in the
military. The FY20 NDAA requires a comprehensive GAO report on the status of implementation
by the Armed Forces of all recent statutory requirements on sexual assault prevention and
response in the military. The NDAA also directs GAO to review and report on the military
services’ efforts to prevent and respond to hazing. The conference report requires DOD to
standardize the collection of race, ethnicity and gender statistics for military justice actions and
requires the Secretary of Defense to establish guidance to further identify, and take corrective
action on, any disparities in the justice process. The NDAA eliminates the statute of limitations
on kidnapping and maiming of a child.
Sexual Assault and Harassment
The conference report increases resources available to sexual assault survivors, including an
increase in the number of investigative personnel and Victim Witness Assistance Program
liaisons with the goal of ensuring that investigations of sex-related offenses are completed not
later than six months after the date of initiation. The NDAA provides additional digital forensic
investigators to enhance DoD’s ability to recover text messages between an individual accused
of sexual assault and their victim, investigate child pornography, and help make the case in
allegations of Internet fraud. The NDAA provides for additional training for commanders on
their roles in the disposition of sexual assault and collateral offenses. The NDAA requires that
victims of sexual assault receive periodic updates throughout the court-martial process
3

 regarding the status of the case, while expanding authority of military judges to review actions
prior to the referral of a court-martial. The NDAA also takes steps to ensure that a victim’s
preference of prosecution jurisdiction and other decisions by the victim are properly
documented. The NDAA also expands the training of special victims’ counsel on state civilian
criminal justice matters in the state where the victim is assigned and requires that a special
victims counsel be made available to victims not later than 72 hours after a request for such.
Domestic Violence
The NDAA requires the Department of Defense to establish a program by 2020 to provide legal
counsel to domestic violence victims and to report to Congress on how the Department will
structure and implement the program. The Conference Report also requires that victims of
domestic violence receive legal counsel to assist them before and during the court-martial
process, and that counsel providing services through this program receive specialized training
on issues commonly associated with domestic violence. The NDAA also closes gaps in the
reporting of Military Protective Orders between military installations and civilian authorities
and across military installations during transfers.
Recruiting and Retaining the Best While Honoring Past Service
The NDAA makes policy changes that mirrors society and promotes a more diverse and
inclusive military, with provisions that:
• Require the Secretary of Defense to update and implement the Department of Defense
Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan;
• Require DoD to submit an initial report, within 120 days of enactment, and an annual
report for two years thereafter, setting forth information about the number of
transgender applicants and transgender service members who sought and received a
waiver or an exception to policy to permit their enlistment, accession, or retention in
the military;
• Enable the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to give hiring preference to veterans
and graduates from FAA Certified College Training Initiative schools to improve pipeline
of qualified air traffic controllers;
• Require the Marine Corps to gender integrate basic training at Parris Island within five
years and at San Diego within eight years; and
• Authorize the establishment of Coast Guard Junior ROTC programs, and expands Junior
ROTC programs to include students who are in the eighth-grade.
Military Discharges
The FY20 NDAA requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a process to conduct a final
review of a request for an upgrade in the characterization of a discharge or dismissal that is
denied by the Service review boards. In addition, the NDAA extends the prohibition on reducing
the number of military and civilian personnel assigned to a Service review board agency. It also
establishes additional safeguards for the review of applications to the Boards of Correction of
Military Records and Discharge Review Boards by veterans who were the victims of sexual
assault or domestic violence to ensure Boards seek the advice of a behavioral health
professional. It also requires the creation of a uniform curriculum of training for review board
4

 members on the responses to trauma caused by sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and
spousal abuse.
Military Health Care
The FY17 NDAA included a comprehensive reform of the military health care system to improve
medical readiness and patient experience. The FY20 NDAA prohibits the reduction of certain
military medical personnel billets until the completion of reviews required under the FY17
NDAA to ensure any reductions or realignments will not negatively impact military health care.
The Conference Report enhances combat casualty care for troops through partnerships with
medical expertise outside the Department of Defense. The NDAA extends Tricare Reserve
Select to certain Reservists who are currently covered under a federal health benefits plan. The
NDAA requires the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive policy on providing
mental health care to service members as well as a strategy on how to recruit and retain
mental health providers. The Conference Report also authorizes the National Guard to
establish a pilot program that would allow National Guard members to receive immediate
access to mental health professionals through a smartphone application. Although the NDAA
does not change or repeal the Feres doctrine, it authorizes the Secretary of Defense to allow,
settle, and pay an administrative claim against the United States for personal injury or death
of a member of the uniformed services that was the result of medical malpractice caused by a
Department of Defense health care provider.
Contributing to Healthy Communities
The NDAA prohibits the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) after October 1, 2024, with an exception for shipboard use, and immediately
prohibits the uncontrolled release of fluorinated aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and the use
of AFFF in training exercises at military installations. The conference agreement encourages the
Secretary of Defense to finalize cooperative agreements with states to address contamination
by these substances and authorizes the National Guard to access Defense Environmental
Remediation Account funds for the limited purpose of addressing PFOS and PFOA exposure
and contamination resulting from National Guard activities in and around National Guard bases.
Supporting the Civilian Workforce
The conference agreement provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to all federal civilian
employees. The conference agreement also ensures that civilians moving as part of their
employment within the federal government are not taxed for their relocation expenses paid by
the government. In addition, it provides a one-year extension on authorities for certain
allowances, benefits, and gratuities for civilian personnel on official duty in combat zones.
Finally, the conference agreement extends and expands several hiring authorities so that the
Department of Defense can quickly hire civilian personnel into key areas, such as the defense
industrial facilities (shipyards, depots, and arsenals) and Major Range and Test Facilities until
2025.

5

 CONTINUING TO REBUILD READINESS AND MODERNIZE THE MILITARY
According to the Congressional Research Service, America’s military has started 13 of the past
18 years under a continuing resolution. Since 2010, our troops have had to contend with
wasteful and inefficient stopgap funding for 39 months. This, together with successive years of
high op-tempo and inadequate budgets, contributed to a fatal readiness crisis in the force. This
year, the Military Times found that while total aviation accidents fell for the first time since
2013’s budget cuts, military aviation deaths hit a six-year high in 2018. Senior commanders and
DOD leaders repeatedly testified to the Committee that while we have arrested the readiness
crisis, we have not yet reached the readiness levels required.
The readiness of our military is built on training, sustainment of weapon systems, and adequate
facilities that support troops and their families. The conference agreement includes provisions
that will increase the Department of Defense’s capacity to build military readiness and
modernize military capabilities. To continue to address military aviation safety, the FY20 NDAA
provides a nine-month extension and authorizes an additional $3 million for the National
Commission on Military Aviation Safety to complete its assessments and issue
recommendations related to military aviation safety. In addition, conferees in both parties
intend to continue monitoring border support missions and assessing the impact on military
readiness, but deferred final decisions on border security support to the FY20 Appropriations
process.
Military Construction
For years, commanders across the force assumed enormous risk in military infrastructure as
they diverted funds to cover shortfalls in training, maintenance, and operations. Restoring
degraded military infrastructure is now an urgent priority. This year’s NDAA authorizes $11.8
billion for military construction, military family housing, and work associated wth base
realignment and closure rounds. The conference agreement includes $1.2 billion for 44 projects
that were included in the unfunded requirement lists of the military departments. The
conference report includes $120.9 million to establish a program to support construction of
child development centers to help with shortfalls in the condition and capacity of on-base child
care facilities. Finally, the conference report provides a total of $5.3 billion in emergency
funding for military installations damaged by natural disasters in North Carolina, Florida,
Nebraska, Louisiana, and California, including $4.1 billion in emergency authorization for
military construction projects and $539 million for emergency repair and restoration.
Facilities Sustainment
The NDAA provides over $15 billion in facilities restoration, sustainment, and modernization
funding to the military departments.
Installation Resilience
The NDAA prescribes base resiliency efforts to ensure better planning to assess vulnerabilities
and facility codes to mitigate the risk of future disasters. The conference report also directs the
Secretary of Defense to conduct a black start exercise at three major military installations to
6

 ensure installation resiliency in the case of a total power outage. The conference agreement
also authorizes an additional $133 million for military construction projects under the
Department’s Energy Resiliency and Conservation Investment Programs.
Defense Community Infrastructure Program
The conference agreement authorizes $75 million for the Office of Economic Adjustment’s
Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which will provide grants, conclude
cooperative agreements, and supplemental funds available under other federal programs to
assist states and local governments in addressing deficiencies in community infrastructure
projects or facilities that are located outside of military installations but that support military
installations.
Ship and Submarine Maintenance
The conference agreement authorizes an additional $653 million for Navy ship and submarine
depot maintenance to ensure key ship and submarine shipyard availabilities are not further
delayed due to cost and schedule overruns associated with the backlog of ship and submarine
maintenance.
Replenishing the Force
The NDAA supports our military services by providing the necessary authorities and resources
to equip, modernize, and manage risk across weapons systems and programs, as well as
develop the required force structure to meet future challenges. The Conference Report:
• Supports the budget request for 73 UH-60M Blackhawks, 48 AH-64 Apaches, 9 MH-47G
Chinooks, 6 CH-53K King Stallions, 12 HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters, and 6 MQ-1
Gray Eagles;
• Includes an additional $28 million for the CH-47 Block II program and preserves the
option for the Army to buy this helicopter in future years;
• Prohibits the retirement of RC-135 and KC-10 aircraft;
• Expands maritime patrol by adding three additional P-8 Poseidon and one E-2D
Hawkeye aircraft;
• Increases intertheater airlift by adding four additional C-130 Hercules aircraft;
• Fully supports the Air Force UH-1N utility helicopter replacement program;
• Supports the Army budget request for 131 Armored Multipurpose Vehicles, 152 Stryker
Combat Vehicles, and 165 Abrams Tanks; and
• Provides for additional funding for Army medium and heavy tactical trucks.
Building A Larger Navy
The NDAA reaffirms that the United States must maintain a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers to
protect our interests around the world and authorizes the first year of appropriations for the
midlife refueling of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The NDAA takes other action to build a
larger Navy, including:
• Preserving a Navy plan to procure 10 Virginia-class attack submarines, nine of which
include the Virginia Payload Module across a FY19-23 multiyear contract, and

7

 authorizing an additional $1.5 billion to eliminate a submarine construction deficit in
FY20, an additional $200 million for FY21 submarine advance procurement, and an
additional $100 million for advanced submarine design;
• Supports full funding for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine development;
• Authorizes construction of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and one new frigate;
• Authorizes construction of two additional amphibious ships including an America-class
amphibious assault ship and a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock; and
• Authorizes construction of one large unmanned surface vessel and two medium
unmanned surface vessels.
The NDAA reforms how aircraft carriers are constructed and paid for. It requires the Navy to
insert the Joint Strike Fighter ship alterations on the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) before her
first deployment. The NDAA also inserts congressional cost controls over CVN 80 and 81 to
ensure cost visibility associated with the anticipated $4 billion two-carrier cost savings.
REFORMING THE PENTAGON TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, AGILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Making the Pentagon more efficient, while helping our troops become more agile, is critical to
maintaining America’s competitive edge. That’s why, since the FY15 NDAA, Congress has
instituted numerous reforms, including an updated military retirement system, an improved
health care system, a sustainable commissary benefit, and a major reorganization of Pentagon
bureaucracy and business systems and practices.
This year, the conferees focused on enforcing reforms already enacted by Congress while
creating new pathways for innovators to bring their ideas to DOD.
Strengthening the Acquisition System and Business Reform
Acquisition Workforce: The FY20 NDAA directs DOD to redesign the Acquisition Workforce
certification, education, and career fields by leveraging nationally and internationally
recognized standards. It also establishes a requirement for the Defense Acquisition University
to employ visiting professors.
Defense Civilian Training Corps: The NDAA establishes a Defense Civilian Training Corps to
address critical skill gaps in the DOD’s civilian workforce. Just like ROTC trains individuals for the
Armed Forces, for the first time, the Defense Civilian Training Corps will train civilians for public
service in the Department of Defense.
Leveraging Outside Experts: The FY20 NDAA directs the DOD to establish extramural research
activities focused on innovative acquisition process that leverage expertise outside of the DOD
in order to provide academic analyses and policy alternatives to DOD and Congress.
Eliminating Bureaucracy and Streamlining Processes: To resolve acquisition program
contracting issues, the NDAA establishes a pilot program for “alpha” contracting teams;

8

 improves intellectual property evaluations for acquisition programs; and modifies or eliminates
duplicative approval requirements for certain DOD contracts or awards.
Holding the Department Accountable: Congress has enacted numerous reform proposals, and
DOD is working hard to implement them. Still, in some areas, the Pentagon has not yet made
enough progress. The FY20 NDAA holds the Pentagon accountable for implementing policies
across defense business systems, integrating modular open system approaches into major
defense acquisition systems, establishing an intellectual property policy and cadre, reforming
the Fourth Estate, and finalizing a Middle-Tier of Acquisition policy.
Industrial Base Resiliency: The FY20 NDAA continues the work of previous NDAAs to enable the
DoD to assess and mitigate risks to its supply chain posed by advanced intelligence services like
China and Russia that seek to exploit vulnerabilities to erode our military advantage. The NDAA:
• Modernizes risk assessment and mitigation across DOD’s contracting processes to
strengthen decision-making about which suppliers to use;
• Strengthens reporting to Congress on key industrial base vulnerabilities and plans to
address them, including with partners and allies.
• Improves insight to and mitigation of risks posed by foreign ownership, control and
influence of defense contractors;
• Improves insight to contractors’ adherence to law and regulation pertaining to human
rights and human trafficking, workplace safety, labor standards, sexual harassment, and
fraud;
• Reduces reliance on foreign sources of rare earth minerals;
• Repairs microelectronics supply chain security; and
• Enhances manufacturing and small business innovation.
Accelerating Defense Innovation
The FY20 NDAA aspects of the Accelerating Defense Innovation Act to assist DOD’s efforts to
access new sources of innovation. It establishes inclusive pathways for the most promising
small businesses to commercialize their innovations for the DOD market. The NDAA increases
DOD’s engagement with innovation hubs across the country by establishing a Joint Reserve
Detachment at Defense Innovation Unit locations and authorizing $75 million to the Defense
Innovation Unit for the creation of a National Security Innovation Capital Fund.
Enhanced Oversight of Military Operations
The NDAA requires the Secretary of Defense to provide the Chairman and Ranking Member of
the congressional defense committees and their designated staff with an execute order and a
detailed briefing within 30 days of receiving a written request. Further, the Secretary of
Defense is required to submit a comprehensive report identifying and summarizing all execute
orders approved by the Secretary or the commander of a combatant command in effect at the
time of the submission of the President’s budget. The conference agreement also requires the
Secretary of Defense to promulgate a comprehensive written policy on the issuance of,
authorization of, and the provision by members and units of the United States Armed Forces of,
collective self-defense to designated foreign nationals, their facilities, and their property.
9

 Software and Information Technology
The FY20 NDAA plans for, invests in, and matures a comprehensive and robust research and
development ecosystem to maintain a technological edge. The NDAA:
• Directs tailoring of acquisition pathways for software applications and upgrades to
enable initial delivery to end users within one year and continuous secure integration
and delivery;
• Establishes digital engineering capability to speed capability delivery by improving
modeling and simulation of system performance, and automating testing and
evaluation;
• Establishes a software science and technology strategy and training program for
software development and acquisition; and
• Requires DOD’s Chief Information and Chief Data Officers to develop policy on for
transitioning data and applications to the cloud, under DOD’s cloud strategy.
Accountability and Compensation – Civilian Casualties
The conference report modifies existing reporting requirements regarding civilian casualties to
enhance transparency and accountability through the establishment of additional reporting
elements. It also requires an independent assessment of the Department of Defense standards,
processes, procedures, and policy relating to civilian casualties resulting from United States
military operations.
• The FY20 NDAA establishes a global authority for the U.S. military to redress injury and
loss to civilian personnel inadvertently caused by U.S. Armed Forces, a coalition that
includes the U.S., or a military organization supporting the U.S.
Technical Foundation for Shipbuilding Programs
The FY20 NDAA improves the technical foundation of shipbuilding programs to reduce delays,
budget overages, and performance deficiencies by requiring:
• The designation of a Senior Technical Authority for each class of naval vessels to
establish, monitor, and approve the technical aspects of such class of vessels;
• A certification by the Secretary of the Navy and Senior Technical Authority before
Milestone B approval for new shipbuilding programs;
• Design changes identified in the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Flight III
configuration to be incorporated into the next new class of Navy large surface
combatants; and
• Reporting of Navy procurement prime and subcontractor stop work orders or other
manufacturing disruptions of 15 calendar days or longer to the program manager and
technical authority.
Increasing Focus on Intelligence and Security
The FY20 NDAA takes steps to increase focus on intelligence and security, including new
authorities to the Defense Intelligence Enterprise that will allow greater insight into threats
from Russia and China. The NDAA re-designates the Under Secretary of Defense for
Intelligence as the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security in recognition of
10

 the Undersecretary’s critical role in setting the policies that protect the Department’s
personnel, property and information against insider threats and active intelligence services
seeking to erode the Nation’s military advantage. Following the transition of responsibility for
security clearances from the Office of Personnel Management to DOD, the NDAA provides new
authorities to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency with authorities to further
streamline and modernize the background investigation process.
CONFRONTING RUSSIA, CHINA, AND OTHER THREATS
The National Defense Strategy (NDS) recognizes that we are in an era of major power
competition with Russia and China. As our competitors seek to undermine international order
and gain influence, the FY20 NDAA includes measures designed to maintain America’s
competitive military edge and support our allies and partners. These include a new reporting
requirement for the Secretary of Defense – and additional independent reports – on the
implementation of the NDS focused on joint operational concepts to deter and defeat strategic
competitors. The Pentagon must also report on strategies to impose political, military,
economic, budgetary, and technology costs on Russia and China.
Russia
The FY20 NDAA renews a series of authorities to deter Russian aggression. The FY20 NDAA:
• Increases funding for the European Defense Initiative (EDI) needs by providing an
additional $734.3 million for military construction, anti-submarine warfare, and other
urgent priorities to deter Russia and work with U.S. partners and allies;
• Renews and extends the authorization of $300 million of funding for the Ukraine
Security Assistance Initiative, to include lethal defensive items as well as new authorities
for coastal defense cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles;
• Prohibits military-to-military cooperation with Russia;
• Prohibits U.S. government recognition of the absorption of Crimea into the Russian
Federation;
• Requires an update and expansion of the strategy for countering malign influence
activities of Russia, China, and other countries;
• Protects European energy security by imposing sanctions related to Russian energy
pipelines Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream; Prohibits the transfer of the F-35 to Turkey
and expresses a Sense of Congress that Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400 constitutes a
significant transaction under the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act
(CAATSA) and the President should implement sanctions under that Act; and
• Authorizes the Department to use up to $30 million for storage of six Turkish F-35
aircraft that were previously being used to train Turkish pilots before Turkey’s
suspension and removal from the program.

11

 China
The FY20 NDAA recognizes that China already presents a severe test of U.S. interests in the
Indo-Pacific and beyond and:
• Modifies the annual report on Chinese military and security developments to include
developments relating to Chinese overseas investments; the use of China’s Coast Guard
for gray zone activity; Chinese military relations with Russia; and China’s expansion of its
surveillance state and the overall lack of human rights;
• Updates the strategy to counter the threat of malign influence by including China as a
required element in the report;
• Expresses a Sense of Congress that Congress unequivocally supports the people of Hong
Kong as they defend their rights and preserve their autonomy against China;
• Supports improving Taiwan’s defense capabilities and force readiness, expands joint
training, foreign military sales, and senior level military-to- military engagements;
directs the Secretary to conduct a review of Chinese military, economic, information,
diplomatic, and digital influences in Taiwan;
• Requires a report on resourcing United States defense requirements for the Indo-Pacific
region and directs the Office of Net Assessment to conduct studies on competitive
strategies with respect to China;
• Adds Pacific Island countries to the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative but limits
the use of funds until the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, submits a report regarding how they will use the security cooperation and
assistance programs for those countries;
• Directs reports on Chinese military activities in the Arctic, as well as Chinese foreign
direct investment in the Arctic;
• Prohibits the purchase of Chinese drones; and
• Places certain restrictions on the purchase of rail cars and buses from certain Chinese
state-owned enterprises, excluding pre-existing contracts.
North Korea
The FY20 NDAA:
• Expresses a Sense of Congress that diplomacy, economic sanctions, and credible
deterrence are essential to address North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction
program and the conventional threat North Korea poses to U.S. forces on the Korean
Peninsula and to U.S. allies in the region; condemns North Korea’s recent missile
launches; and states that the United States, in concert with allies, should continue to
deter North Korea through a credible defense and deterrence posture;
• Places mandatory sanctions on North Korean imports and exports of coal and other
minerals and textiles, as well as refined petroleum products and crude oil up to certain
levels; in addition, it penalizes banks that are already on sanctions lists with additional
sanctions if they engage in illicit activity with North Korea; and
• Prohibits the Department of Defense from reducing the number of Armed Forces
deployed to South Korea below 28,500 unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that it is
in the national security interest of the United States, the reduction will not significantly

12

 undermine the security of U.S. allies, and that allies (including South Korea and Japan)
have been appropriately consulted.
Allies and Partners
The NDS emphasizes how critical allies and partners are to our own national security. The
FY20 NDAA supports America’s allies and partners by requiring new reports related to ally
and partner nation contributions, specifically from NATO member and East Asian allies,
including South Korea and Japan. The NDAA provides $2.3 billion to the Defense Security
Cooperation Agency and improves security cooperation programs to build capabilities of
allies and partners to contribute to U.S. national security objectives while also dedicating
funds to assistance, monitoring, and evaluation of programs, and increasing oversight to
prevent human rights violations. The FY20 NDAA also:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Expresses the Sense of Congress in strong support of the U.S. commitment to the NATO
alliance.
Expresses the Sense of Congress that the United States remains committed to its
alliances with Japan and South Korea, which are essential to the peace and stability in
the Indo-Pacific region;
Affirms the commitment of the Unites States to the Mutual Defense Treaty between the
United States and the Republic of the Philippines;
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to transfer to the Secretary of State up to $15
million in FY2020 for the Bien Hoa dioxin cleanup in Vietnam;
Prohibits the use of funds to terminate, suspend, or file notice of withdrawal for the
United States from NATO; expresses the Sense of Congress in strong support of the U.S.
commitment to the NATO alliance;
Supports the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Joint Force
Command Norfolk to protect Atlantic Ocean sea lanes;
Holds NATO countries accountable for commitments on defense spending and NATO
Readiness initiative by requiring new reports related to ally and partner nation
contributions;
Increases support for security assistance with Baltic countries and requires an
assessment on efforts to assist Baltic countries deter and resist aggression from Russia;
Supports cooperation with Israel on counter-tunnel and counter-drone capabilities;
Allows for the conditional lifting of the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus;
Increases oversight to prevent human rights violations;
Authorizes a new initiative to assist foreign security forces in building the institutional
capacity to enhance compliance with the law of armed conflict and human rights;
Authorizes the use of up to $18 million to provide logistical support to stabilization
activities of the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development and
other federal agencies in certain countries emerging from conflict; and
Authorizes two-year extension of the Global Security Contingency Fund.

13

 Space Force
The FY20 NDAA recognizes space as a warfighting domain and establishes the U.S. Space Force
in Title 10 as the sixth Armed Service of the United States, under the U.S. Air Force. In doing
so, the NDAA provides the Secretary of the Air Force with the authority to transfer Air Force
personnel to the newly established Space Force. To minimize cost and bureaucracy, the Space
Force will require no additional billets and remains with the President’s budget request.
The conference agreement creates a Chief of Space Operations (CSO) for the U.S. Space Force
who will report directly to the Secretary of the Air Force and become a member of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. During the first year, the CSO may also serve as the Commander of U.S. Space
Command. The CSO will provide updates to the committees of jurisdiction every 60 days, with
briefings and reports on implementation and establishment status. The conference report also
creates:
•

•

A Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquistion and
Integration, as the senior space architect, who will:
o Provide a renewed focus on the acquisition of space systems as the Chair of the
Space Force Acquisition Council, ensuring integration across the national security
space enterprise;
o Synchronize with the Air Force Service Acquisition Executive on all space system
efforts, and take on Service Acquisition Executive responsibilities for space
systems and programs effective on October 1, 2022; and
o Oversee and direct the Space and Missile Systems Center, Space Rapid
Capabilities Office, and Space Development Agency.
An Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy as the senior civilian in the Office of
the Secretary of Defense for oversight of space warfighting.

Nuclear Forces and Strategic Stability
Nuclear Forces
Nuclear forces have been the cornerstone of our national defense and the conference
agreement funds the President’s budget request for Nuclear National Security Administration
programs, including nuclear weapons and nuclear non-proliferation activities.
• In addition, the FY20 NDAA supports the U.S. Strategic Command requirement to
produce 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030 and doesn’t prohibit the Department from
deploying low-yield nuclear weapons. It also clarifies nuclear safety authorities.
Strategic Stability
• With respect to key arms control treaties, the conference agreement requires
congressional notification and a 120-day waiting period before the provision of notice of
any intent to withdraw from the New START and Open Skies treaties (including requiring
consultation with allies prior to withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty);

14

 •
•

The conference agreement prohibits the procurement and deployment of new ground
launched INF-range missiles and requires information on the analysis of alternatives to
such new missiles, basing options and foreign countries consulted including NATO; and
The conference report requires an independent study on the policy of no-first-use of
nuclear weapons, and a report on military-to-military dialogue with foreign countries to
reduce the risk of miscalculation, unintended consequences, or accidents that could
precipitate a nuclear war.

Missile Defense
The FY20 NDAA continues bipartisan efforts for a robustly tested layered missile defense
system for the U.S. and increases regional capability and capacity to protect the nation’s
deployed forces, and our global partners and allies. The conference agreement:
• Requires an independent assessment on the impacts of U.S. missile defense
development on the security of the United States as a whole vis-à-vis adversary
responses to deployment.
• Requires increased operationally realistic testing, specifically with regards to
countermeasures, of missile defense systems and increased analysis and reporting on
the results of those tests.
• Mandates an independent report on the organization and structure of missile defense
programs to increase accountability and oversight.
• Increases oversight on the Ground-Based midcourse Defense System to address the
cancellation of the Redesigned Kill Vehicle effort, which will improve transparency and
avoid similar errors in future programs.
• Supports Israeli missile defense by authorizing the President’s full budget request of
$500 million for development and procurement of the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and
Arrow weapon systems, and requires acquisition milestones be met prior to release of
funds.
Conventional Prompt Strike
To address ambiguity and miscalculation concerns, the FY20 NDAA directs the Secretary of the
Navy to ensure that technologies developed for the conventional prompt strike program are
transferrable to surface-ship platforms.
Emerging Technology
The FY20 NDAA directs policies to ensure that the national security innovation base is poised to
meet long-range emerging threats and the rise of global competitors. The Conference report:
• Directs the Department of Defense to develop a cyber science and technologies
activities roadmap;
• Supports efforts across DOD and the Services to deliver a hypersonic capability in the
mid-2020s;
• Extends the activities of the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office and authorizes the
establishment of a new university consortium focused on hypersonic research and
development;

15

 •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Extends unique hiring authorities to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center to attract
experts in science and engineering and advance the DoD’s artificial intelligence efforts;
Establishes an interagency working group within the Office of Science and Technology
Policy at the White House to coordinate activities to better protect federally funded
research and development from foreign interference;
Creates new reporting requirements for national security academic research;
Authorizes the creation of a new technology and national security fellowship for
undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of science, technology, engineering,
and math;
Authorizes $8 million for the establishment of a Quantum Information Science
Innovation Center;
Commissions a Defense Science Board study on emerging biotechnologies pertinent to
national security;
Transfers control of the Strategic Capabilities Office to the Deputy Secretary of Defense
and establishes a cross-functional team to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
the Office;
Establishes an independent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
study to review the state of defense research at Historically Black Colleges and
Universities and other minority institutions; and
Extends the completion date of the National Security Commission on Artificial
Intelligence.

NDS-Related Modernization Programs
• Authorizes an additional $1 billion for 12 additional F-35A aircraft to address an
identified Air Force unfunded requirement and accelerate delivery of needed 5th
generation capability and $440 million for the purchase of additional F-35s originally
ordered by Turkey;
• Provides the necessary authority for buying F-35 long lead spare parts in bulk to help
achieve better cost savings for the F-35 program and authorizes buy-to-budget authority
to capitalize on lower unit cost savings;
• Supports the budget request for 10 F-35B and 20 F-35C 5th generation strike fighters to
help address Navy and Marine Corps strike fighter shortfalls;
• Supports the budget request for 24 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to help address Navy strike
fighter shortfalls;
• Supports full funding for the B-21 long-range strike aircraft development;
• Supports the budget request for 8 F-15EX aircraft to begin replacing aging aircraft while
also enhancing congressional oversight of the program;
• Authorizes an additional $75.6 million to address an identified Army unfunded
requirement for Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program; a critical future vertical lift
modernization priority;
• Supports nearly $1 billion for the Air Force Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)
Program ensuring U.S. air superiority for our future;

16

 •
•

Authorizes an additional $249.2 million for the Stryker combat vehicle medium caliber
weapon system, an identified Army unfunded requirement; and
Bolsters maritime sealift and mobilization by reauthorizing the Maritime Administration,
including authorizing a new cable security fleet program and requiring the Secretary of
the Navy to seek to enter into a contract for two used sealift vessels and one new vessel
for mobilization purposes.

Cyber
The NDAA strengthens congressional oversight of cyber operations, and enhances the
Department of Defense’s cybersecurity strategy and cyber warfare capabilities. The Conference
Report:
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to develop a consistent, comprehensive framework to
enhance the cybersecurity of the U.S. defense industrial base;
• Requires development of metrics for the assessment of the readiness of the Cyber
Mission Forces;
• Establishes a consortium of universities to advise the Secretary of Defense on
cybersecurity matters;
• Establishes Principal Cyber Advisors on military cyber force matters for each military
service;
• Allows the secretaries of the military departments to use up to $3 million in Operation
and Maintenance funds to develop cyber operations-peculiar capabilities for the rapid
creation, testing, fielding, and operation of cyber capabilities;
• Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify the congressional defense committees and
describe various operational details of any delegation of authorities from the National
Command Authority for military cyberspace operations;
• Directs an annual report on military cyberspace operations;
• Directs a zero-based review of Department of Defense cyber and information
technology personnel;
• Mandates a study on improving cyber career paths in the Navy;
• Refines the role of the Chief Information Officer in improving enterprise-wide
cybersecurity;
• Commissions a Defense Science Board study on future cyber warfighting capabilities of
Department of Defense;
• Directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct a review of the cyber posture of the United
States on a quadrennial basis; and
• Extends the completion date of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.
5G
The Conference Report recognizes the importance and urgency of establishing a Departmentwide 5th Generation (5G) strategy to enhance military capabilities. The NDAA:
• Authorizes $275 million for a new 5G information communications technology research
and development program and creation of 5G test sites at DoD installations across the
United States, including at the Nevada Test and Training Range;
17

 •

•

Requires the establishment of microelectronic trusted supply chain and operational
security standards in order to improve the acquisition of securely manufactured,
commercially available products and ensure the industrial base is more resilient to a
variety of risks; and
Requires the development of a Department of Defense 5G strategy and implementation
plan.
PROTECTING AMERICA AGAINST TRANSNATIONAL THREATS

The United States military faces a number of complex threats, including those posed by
transnational terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda, and illegal narcotics. An effective national
defense strategy must take these challenges into account and leverage the assets of our
partners and allies to address them in a comprehensive manner.
Reporting on the Use of Military Force
The FY20 NDAA requires a semiannual report that includes details on the use of military force
and specificed support of foreign partner forces pursuant to the Authorization for the Use of
Military Force or other statutory or constitutional authorities.
Afghanistan
The FY20 NDAA provides $4.5 billion to continue building the Afghan security forces and
modifies reporting requirements to enhance oversight of the Department’s South Asia Strategy.
The agreement requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense,
to work to ensure the meaningful participation of Afghan women in the ongoing peace process
in Afghanistan and authorizes 4,000 Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan wartime partners.
Middle East
The conference agreement continues support for the Iraqi Security Forces, vetted Syrian
groups, and other counterterrorism partners while seeking to gradually normalize security
assistance to the Government of Iraq. It includes the text of the CAESAR Syria Civilian Protection
Act, which applies sanctions to those who lend support to the Assad regime’s military efforts in
the Syrian civil war, and grants authorities to the Secretary of State to support entities
collecting evidence and pursuing prosecutions against those who have committed war crimes in
Syria. In addition, the conference report authorizes families of victims of the 1983 Beirut
Marine barracks bombing access to $1.68 billion in Iranian funds. Finally, the conference report
prohibits aerial refueling of Saudi-led coalition aircraft participating in the civil war in Yemen,
codifying current DOD policy in statue, and requires additional reporting on harm to Yemeni
civilians resulting from military action by the Houthis and Saudi-led coalition.
GTMO
The FY20 NDAA prohibits transferring GTMO detainees to the U.S., transferring GTMO
detainees to certain other countries, constructing or modifying new detention centers in the
United States, or on closing or relinquishing control of GTMO. The NDAA also establishes a Chief

18

 Medical Officer to oversee the medical care provided to individuals detained at Guantanamo
Bay, reporting directly to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.
Counternarcotics
The FY20 NDAA provides $945 million for drug interdiction and counter-drug activities.
It also requires an assessment of the impact of any planned or proposed border wall
construction would have on the volume of illegal narcotics entering the United States. Finally, it
adopts the Fentanyl Sanctions Act, which implements a number of economic and financial
sanctions to cripple the operations of foreign traffickers of opioids.
Intelligence Authorization
The conference report includes three years of Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), which
authorizes critical intelligence and intelligence-related activities for Fiscal Year 2018, 2019, and
2020 to ensure the Intelligence Community is postured to effectively address the growing array
of threats to our national security. Further, the IAA seeks to deter Russian and other foreign
influence in our U.S. elections by requiring assessments of foreign intelligence threats to
Federal elections and a strategy for countering Russian cyber threats to U.S. elections.
The IAA also addresses challenges to the Intelligence Community’s supply chain by requiring an
Intelligence Community-led task force to protect against counterintelligence threats from
countries such as Russia and China and requires accountability for foreign threats to our
infrastructure before entering into foreign intelligence sharing agreements. The bill also focuses
on the security of the homeland by requiring relevant intelligence agencies to conduct a
strategic intelligence assessment of domestic terrorism threats.

19