843 
Space Force provides approximately equal training in op-
erations, intelligence, cyber, and acquisition matters.’’. 
(e) PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 20233 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘designa-
tion as joint qualified officer re-
quired’’ and inserting ‘‘requirements’’; 
(B) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘unless the officer has 
been’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘unless 
the officer has— 
‘‘(1) been’’; 
(ii) in paragraph (1), as designated by 
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, by 
striking the period and inserting a semi-
colon; and 
(iii) by adding at the end the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(2) completed a duty assignment with a com-
mand or other organization that is primarily respon-
sible for acquisition matters, as determined by the 
Secretary of the Air Force; and 
‘‘(3) completed a duty assignment with a com-
mand or other organization that is primarily respon-
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sible for operations, as determined by the Secretary of 
the Air Force.’’; and 
(C) in subsection (b) in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect on January 1, 
2029, and apply to all appointments to the grade of 
brigadier general on or after that date. 
(f) REPORTS.—Part I of subtitle F of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 2015—REPORTS 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘20701. Promotion rates. 
‘‘20702. Modifications to career fields and codes. 
‘‘§ 20701. Promotion rates 
‘‘Not later than December 31 of each year, the Sec-
retary of the Air Force shall submit to the congressional 
defense committees a report on the promotion rates of mem-
bers of the Space Force for the preceding fiscal year. Such 
report shall include— 
‘‘(1) the number of and percentage of members of 
the Space Force in each grade selected for promotion; 
‘‘(2) the number of and percentage of members of 
the Space Force in each career field selected for pro-
motion; and 
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‘‘(3) the number of members of the Space Force 
who were selected for promotion to the grade of briga-
dier general, major general, lieutenant general, or 
general, disaggregated by career field. 
‘‘§ 20702. Modifications to career fields and codes 
‘‘Not later than 60 days before the date on which a 
change is made to the career fields or mission occupational 
specialty codes for the Space Force, the Secretary of the Air 
Force shall submit to the congressional defense committees 
a report that includes— 
‘‘(1) a description of the changes intended to be 
made to such career fields or mission occupational 
specialty codes; and 
‘‘(2) the plan of the Secretary to maintain the 
Space Force competencies and comply with require-
ments in law with respect to Space Force career fields 
and duty assignments.’’. 
SEC. 1602. ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL SAT-
ELLITE COMMUNICATION SERVICES. 
Section 3805 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘The head’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Except as provided by subsection (e), the 
head’’; 
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(2) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘Advance’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Except as provided by subsection (e), ad-
vance’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) SPECIAL RULES FOR COMMERCIAL SATELLITE 
COMMUNICATION SERVICES.—(1) The head of the agency 
may satisfy the adequate security requirements of sub-
section (b) with respect to advance payments for commer-
cial satellite communication services by making a written 
determination of— 
‘‘(A) the creditworthiness of the provider of such 
services; and 
‘‘(B) the ability of the provider to remain a 
going concern during the period of the advanced pay-
ment. 
‘‘(2) With respect to advance payments for commercial 
satellite communication services, subsection (c) shall be ad-
ministered by substituting ‘100 percent’ for ‘15 percent’.’’. 
SEC. 
1603. 
NOISE 
MITIGATION 
REGARDING 
SPACE 
LAUNCHES. 
Section 2276a(c)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, including such activities relating 
to studying and mitigating the noise caused by launches 
at launch sites of the Space Force’’ after ‘‘vehicle’’. 
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SEC. 1604. TACTICAL SURVEILLANCE, RECONNAISSANCE 
AND TRACKING PROGRAM. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS OF COMBATANT COMMANDERS.— 
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall establish 
requirements pursuant to section 181 of title 10, United 
States Code, with respect to the tactical surveillance, recon-
naissance and tracking program providing capabilities to 
meet the requirements of the commanders of the combatant 
commands. 
(b) PROGRAM OF RECORD.—The Secretary of the Air 
Force shall establish the tactical surveillance, reconnais-
sance and tracking program as a program of record. 
(c) TACTICAL SURVEILLANCE, RECONNAISSANCE AND 
TRACKING PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘‘tactical surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking pro-
gram’’ means the pilot program carried out by the Space 
Force to use commercial data and analytics to provide sur-
veillance, reconnaissance and tracking information to the 
combatant commands. 
SEC. 1605. REPORTS ON SPACEPORT OF THE FUTURE INI-
TIATIVE. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and not later than March 1 of each of 2027 
through 2031, the Secretary of the Air Force, in coordina-
tion with the Chief of Space Operations and the Assistant 
Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Inte-
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gration, shall submit to the congressional defense commit-
tees a report on the Spaceport of the Future initiative of 
the Space Force. Each such report shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A list of each project being carried out under 
such initiative (including projects at State space 
launch facilities), including— 
(A) the status of the project; 
(B) the estimated completion date of the 
project; and 
(C) the total cost to complete the project. 
(2) An assessment of additional funding required 
to implement such initiative beyond the funds esti-
mated in the most recent future-years defense pro-
gram under section 221 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(3) An assessment of including mission develop-
ment zones under such initiative to promote research, 
development, innovation, and fielding of space and 
other advanced technologies adjacent to Federal and 
State launch ranges. 
(4) A summary of feedback from launch service 
providers, other spaceport tenants, and operators of 
non-Federal ranges to understand how such initiative 
can meet the needs of such providers, tenants, and op-
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erators, and any adjustments made in response to 
that feedback. 
SEC. 1606. USE OF MIDDLE TIER ACQUISITION PROGRAM 
FOR PROLIFERATED WARFIGHTER SPACE AR-
CHITECTURE OF SPACE DEVELOPMENT AGEN-
CY. 
Section 1608(a) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 10 U.S.C. 
2271 note) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) Tranche 4. 
‘‘(5) Tranche 5. 
‘‘(6) Tranche 6.’’. 
Subtitle B—Defense Intelligence 
and Intelligence-Related Activities 
SEC. 1611. CLANDESTINE ACTIVITIES VENDOR DATABASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 21 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 430e. Clandestine activities vendor database 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE.—The Sec-
retary of Defense shall establish, maintain, and continu-
ously update a secure, centralized database containing a list 
of all commercial vendors that perform work for the Depart-
ment of Defense in support of a clandestine activity. 
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‘‘(b) SCOPE.—The database required by subsection (a) 
shall include information on all commercial vendors, in-
cluding all subcontractors, that have performed, are per-
forming, or have agreed to perform work described in such 
subsection. 
‘‘(c) EXCLUSION OF VENDORS.—Notwithstanding sub-
sections (a) and (b), if the Secretary of Defense determines 
that a commercial vendor should not be included in the 
database required by subsection (a) due to operational, 
counterintelligence, or other national security concerns, the 
Secretary— 
‘‘(1) may exclude the commercial vendor from 
the database required by subsection (a); and 
‘‘(2) not later than 7 days after making a deter-
mination that the commercial vendor should not be 
included in such database, shall submit to the con-
gressional defense committees, the Select Committee 
on Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent Se-
lect Committee on Intelligence of the House of Rep-
resentatives notice of the determination that in-
cludes— 
‘‘(A) the type or category of vendor ex-
cluded; 
‘‘(B) a synopsis of the contract and the 
scope of work involved; and 
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‘‘(C) the rationale for exclusion from the 
database. 
‘‘(d) DECONFLICTION.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
ensure the database required by subsection (a) is used to— 
‘‘(1) deconflict clandestine activities of the De-
partment of Defense that involve the use of commer-
cial vendors; and 
‘‘(2) assess operational risk and counterintel-
ligence exposure attributable to the use of commercial 
vendors in support of clandestine activities of the De-
partment of Defense. 
‘‘(e) CLANDESTINE ACTIVITY DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘clandestine activity’ means any activity 
where it is intended that the role of the United States Gov-
ernment will not be apparent or acknowledged publicly.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE AND REPORTS.— 
(1) IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE AND CERTIFI-
CATION.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— 
(A) implement the requirements of section 
430e of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
subsection (a) of this section; and 
(B) submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees, the Select Committee on Intelligence of 
the Senate, and the Permanent Select Committee 
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on Intelligence of the House of Representatives a 
certification that such requirements have been 
implemented. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF PLAN.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense shall— 
(A) submit to the committees described in 
paragraph (1)(B) a report containing the plan 
to implement the requirements of such section 
430e; and 
(B) provide to such committees a briefing 
with respect to such plan. 
(3) PROGRESS
REPORT.—Not later than 270 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the committees 
described in paragraph (1)(B) a briefing describing 
the progress of the Secretary towards implementing 
the requirements of such section 430e. 
SEC. 1612. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF ARMY COUN-
TERINTELLIGENCE 
AGENTS 
TO 
EXECUTE 
WARRANTS AND MAKE ARRESTS. 
Section 7377(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘during the four-year period begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025,’’. 
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SEC. 1613. MODIFICATIONS TO AND CODIFICATION OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSIDER THREAT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) CODIFICATION OF EXISTING PROGRAM.— 
(1) TRANSFER
TO
TITLE
10.—Chapter 131 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after section 2224a a new section 2225 consisting of— 
(A) a heading as follows: 
‘‘§ 2225. Insider threat detection’’; and 
(B) a text consisting of the text of sub-
sections (a) and (b) of section 922 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2012 (Public Law 112-81; 10 U.S.C. 2224 note). 
(2) REPEAL OF EXISTING PROVISION.—Section 
922 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81; 10 U.S.C. 
2224 note) is repealed. 
(b) MODIFICATIONS.—Section 2225 of title 10, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘ELE-
MENTS’’ and inserting ‘‘REQUIRED ELEMENTS’’; 
and 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
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(i) by striking subparagraphs (C), (D), 
(E), and (F); 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) and (B) as subparagraphs (B) and (C), 
respectively; 
(iii) by inserting before subparagraph 
(B) (as so redesignated) the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(A) user activity monitoring in accordance 
with the Committee on National Security Sys-
tems Directive 504, issued February 4, 2014, or 
any successor directive;’’. 
(iv) in subparagraph (C), as redesig-
nated by clause (ii) of this subparagraph, 
by striking the semicolon and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(v) by redesignating subparagraph (G) 
as subparagraph (D); and 
(2) by adding at the end of the following new 
subsections: 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—The Secretary may in-
clude additional elements in the program established under 
subsection (a), including— 
‘‘(1) solutions and capabilities to prevent the un-
authorized export of information from a network or 
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to render such information unusable in the event of 
the unauthorized export of such information; 
‘‘(2) using a roles-based access certification sys-
tem; 
‘‘(3) cross-domain solutions adhering to the 
Raise the Bar strategy of the Cross Domain Strategy 
and Management Office of the National Security 
Agency or any successor strategy; 
‘‘(4) analytic solutions to detect anomalous user 
activity and triage user activity monitoring alerts to 
elevate the highest risk events for immediate review; 
‘‘(5) case management solutions to minimize dis-
closure risk, orchestrate effective response, and ensure 
appropriate governance; and 
‘‘(6) full-motion video screen recording and deep 
context. 
‘‘(d) APPLICABILITY.—The program established under 
subsection (a) shall apply to networks and enclaves used 
by— 
‘‘(1) civilian personnel of the Department of De-
fense; 
‘‘(2) privileged users; 
‘‘(3) members of the armed forces; and 
‘‘(4) contractors to the Department of Defense 
that have access to classified, controlled unclassified, 
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or personally identifiable information in furtherance 
of work on behalf of the Department.’’. 
(c) OPERATING CAPABILITY.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall ensure the program established under 2225 of 
title 10, United States Code, as added and amended by sub-
sections (a) and (b) of this section— 
(1) achieves initial operating capability not later 
than October 1, 2027; and 
(2) achieves full operating capability not later 
than October 1, 2028. 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) PLAN
FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.—Before the 
Secretary implements section 2225 of title 10, United 
States Code, as added and amended by subsections (a) 
and (b) of this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees— 
(A) a written notification that describes the 
personnel of the Department affected by the im-
plementation; 
(B) a plan to implement such section; 
(C) an identification of the resources re-
quired to implement such section; 
(D) an identification of any legal or tech-
nical concerns that may need to be addressed 
prior to implementation; and 
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(E) and any other issues related to such im-
plementation that the Secretary considers appro-
priate. 
(2) INITIAL OPERATING CAPABILITY.—Not later 
than December 1, 2027, the Secretary shall submit to 
the congressional defense committees a report on the 
implementation of section 2225 of title 10, United 
States Code, including the resources required and 
planned expenditures to achieve full operating capa-
bility not later than October 1, 2028. 
SEC. 1614. FACILITY CLEARANCE ACCELERATION FOR MEM-
BERS OF DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL CONSOR-
TIUMS. 
(a) ACCELERATION OF FACILITY CLEARANCE.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each entity that is 
a member of the consortium established by section 1842 of 
this Act or a member of the Defense Industrial Base Consor-
tium with which the Department of Defense has entered an 
other transaction authority agreement — 
(1) is sponsored for a facility clearance; 
(2) is provided access to classified work areas 
and networks where the member can perform classi-
fied work; and 
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(3) not less than quarterly, is invited in person 
to meetings with relevant Department of Defense per-
sonnel to discuss classified information. 
(b) PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall sub-
mit a report to the congressional defense committees detail-
ing a plan to increase the number of facility clearances pro-
vided to members described in subsection (a). Such plan 
shall include— 
(1) an assessment of any existing related efforts 
to increase facility clearance access and how such ef-
forts might be accelerated and elevated in priority; 
(2) target metrics for increased facility clear-
ances in association with membership in a consor-
tium described in subsection (a); 
(3) an identification of any additional funding 
or authorities required to support increased facility 
clearance processing; and 
(4) any other matters the Secretary of Defense 
considers relevant. 
SEC. 1615. REQUIREMENT TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL SE-
CURITY CLEARANCES FOR CERTAIN CON-
TRACTORS. 
(a) DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.—Any 
entity that enters into a covered contract or agreement with 
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a component of the Department of Defense may designate 
additional covered persons who may submit an application 
for a security clearance in accordance with this section. 
(b) INVESTIGATION AND ADJUDICATION.—The appro-
priate authorized investigative agency and authorized adju-
dicative agency shall, upon receiving an application by an 
additional covered person designated under paragraph 
(1)— 
(1) conduct an investigation of the background of 
an additional covered person for purposes of deter-
mining the eligibility of such additional covered per-
son for access to classified information; and 
(2) make a determination as to whether such ad-
ditional covered person is eligible for access to classi-
fied information. 
(c) FINAL DETERMINATION.—If an entity that enters 
into a covered contract or agreement determines an initial 
covered person is unable to perform the work intended to 
be performed by that person under such covered contract 
or agreement person, an additional covered person may per-
form such work in lieu of the initial covered person if— 
(1) the person received a favorable determination 
under subsection (b) with respect to eligibility for ac-
cess to classified information; 
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(2) the person has a demonstrated need-to-know 
under Executive Order 12968, provided that dem-
onstrating such need-to-know shall not require an in-
vestigation or adjudication with respect to eligibility 
for access to classified information in addition to the 
investigation and adjudication required under sub-
section (b); and 
(3) the person signs appropriate agreements with 
respect to non-disclosure of classified information. 
(d) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF PERSONNEL.— 
(1) MAXIMUM PER CONTRACT.—The number of 
additional covered persons designated by an entity 
under subsection (a) for each covered contract or 
agreement may not exceed the greater of— 
(A)(i) during the 5-year period that begins 
on the date of the enactment of this Act, 5 per-
cent of the number of security clearances re-
quired to be held by covered persons to perform 
work under the covered contract or agreement; 
and 
(ii) after the 5-year period that begins on 
the date of the enactment of this Act, 10 percent 
of the number of security clearances required to 
be held by covered persons to perform work under 
the covered contract or agreement; and 
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(B) 1 person. 
(2) MAXIMUM PER ENTITY.—The number of ad-
ditional covered persons designated by an entity 
under subsection (a) may not exceed the greater of— 
(A) 10 percent of the total number of secu-
rity clearances required to be held by covered 
persons to perform work under all covered con-
tracts or agreements of the entity; and 
(B) 1 person. 
(e) COSTS.— 
(1) AUTHORITY TO CHARGE AND COLLECT.—The 
Secretary of Defense may charge fees or collect 
amounts to cover the costs associated with inves-
tigating, adjudicating, and maintaining a security 
clearance for which an application is submitted under 
subsection (a). 
(2) RETENTION OF AMOUNTS.—Notwithstanding 
section 3302(b) of title 31, United States Code— 
(A) the Secretary of Defense may retain 
amounts received under paragraph (1); and 
(B) any amount so retained shall be depos-
ited into an account to be determined by the Sec-
retary of Defense and shall be made available 
without further appropriation until expended for 
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the purpose of investigating, adjudicating, or 
maintaining security clearances. 
(3) PROHIBITION ON BEARING COSTS.—The Sec-
retary of Defense may not bear any cost associated 
with investigating, adjudicating, or maintaining a 
security clearance the application for which is sub-
mitted pursuant to subsection (a). 
(4) UNALLOWABLE COST.—Any fees charged or 
amounts collected under this subsection to cover the 
costs associated with investigating, adjudicating, and 
maintaining a security clearance for which an appli-
cation is submitted under subsection (a) may not be 
considered an allowable cost under a covered contract 
or agreement. 
(f) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply with re-
spect to contracts and other agreements entered into on or 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(g) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to require the Secretary of Defense to 
grant any person access to classified information unless a 
favorable determination of eligibility to access such classi-
fied information is made with respect to such person. 
(h) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.—This section 
shall apply subject to Executive Order 12968, Executive 
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Order 10865, and any successor executive orders, but not-
withstanding any other provision of law. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADDITIONAL COVERED PERSON.—The term 
‘‘additional covered person’’ means a covered person 
designated by a private-sector entity as an alternative 
covered person who is intended to be available to con-
duct work under a covered contract or agreement that 
requires a security clearance if an initial covered per-
son becomes unavailable to complete such work. 
(2) AUTHORIZED
ADJUDICATIVE
AGENCY; AU-
THORIZED INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY.—The terms ‘‘au-
thorized adjudicative agency’’ and ‘‘authorized inves-
tigative agency’’ have the meaning given the terms in 
section 3001(a) of the Intelligence Reform and Ter-
rorism Prevention Act of 2004 (50 U.S.C. 3341(a)). 
(3) COVERED CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT.—The 
term ‘‘covered contract or agreement’’ means a con-
tract or other agreement between a private-sector enti-
ty and a component of the Department of Defense the 
performance of which requires a specified number of 
covered persons to hold a security clearance. 
(4) COVERED PERSON.—The term ‘‘covered per-
son’’ means a contractor to or employee of a private- 
sector entity. 
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(5) INITIAL COVERED PERSON.—The term ‘‘ini-
tial covered person’’ means a covered person des-
ignated by a private-sector entity as responsible for 
conducting work under a covered contract or agree-
ment that requires a security clearance. 
Subtitle C—Nuclear Forces 
SEC. 1621. ESTABLISHMENT OF AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE 
COMMAND. 
Chapter 907 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 9068. Global Strike Command 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Air Force a 
major command, which shall be known as Global Strike 
Command. 
‘‘(b) COMMANDER.—(1) The Commander of Global 
Strike Command shall hold the grade of general while serv-
ing in that position, without vacating that officer’s perma-
nent grade. The commander shall be appointed to that grade 
by the President, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate, for service in that position. 
‘‘(2) The commander shall serve as the single account-
able officer responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and 
the Chief of Staff of the Air Force for carrying out all as-
pects of the nuclear and long-range strike missions of the 
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Air Force, including such aspects described in subsection 
(c). 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Commander of Global Strike 
Command shall be responsible for carrying out all elements 
and activities of the nuclear and long-range strike missions 
of the Air Force. Such elements include nuclear weapons, 
nuclear weapon delivery systems, long-range strike bomber 
aircraft, and the nuclear command, control, and commu-
nication system. Such activities include the following: 
‘‘(1) Providing combat-ready nuclear and long- 
range conventional strike forces in support of Presi-
dential and combatant commander directives. 
‘‘(2) Administrating, organizing, training, and 
equipping assigned and gained forces. 
‘‘(3) Assessing the readiness of assigned and 
gained forces and submitting to the Secretary and the 
Chief of Staff periodic reports with respect to such as-
sessments. 
‘‘(4) Leading development in the Air Force of— 
‘‘(A) military requirements with respect to 
nuclear and long-range strike missions; 
‘‘(B) budget proposals necessary to carry 
out the missions of the Global Strike Command; 
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‘‘(C) long-range investment plans and pri-
orities to sustain, modernize, and recapitalize as-
signed forces; and 
‘‘(D) strategy, employment concepts, tactics, 
techniques, and procedures with respect to nu-
clear deterrence and conventional long-range 
strike operations. 
‘‘(5) Advising the Secretary, as necessary, on the 
adequacy of resources of the Department of the Air 
Force dedicated to support and execute nuclear mis-
sions. 
‘‘(6) Such other functions as the Secretary deter-
mines necessary or appropriate for the execution of 
nuclear deterrence and long-range strike missions.’’. 
SEC. 1622. MATTERS RELATING TO THE NUCLEAR-ARMED, 
SEA-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE. 
Section 1640(a) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 137 Stat. 
595), as amended by section 1627 of the Servicemember 
Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159; 138 
Stat. 2174), is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘paragraph 
(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’; and 
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(3) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) 
as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively. 
SEC. 1623. PROHIBITION ON REDUCTION OF INTERCONTI-
NENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES OF THE UNITED 
STATES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this 
Act for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Defense may 
be obligated or expended for the following, and the Depart-
ment may not otherwise take any action to do the following: 
(1) Reduce, or prepare to reduce, the responsive-
ness or alert level of the intercontinental ballistic mis-
siles of the United States. 
(2) Reduce, or prepare to reduce, the quantity of 
deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles of the 
United States to a number less than 400. 
(b) EXCEPTION.—The prohibition in subsection (a) 
shall not apply to any of the following activities: 
(1) The maintenance or sustainment of inter-
continental ballistic missiles. 
(2) Ensuring the safety, security, or reliability of 
intercontinental ballistic missiles. 
(3) Facilitating the transition from the LGM– 
30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile 
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to the LGM–35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic 
missile. 
SEC. 1624. STRATEGY TO SUSTAIN MINUTEMAN III INTER-
CONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE AND MAXI-
MIZE END-OF-LIFE MARGIN. 
(a) STRATEGY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Concurrent with the first sub-
mission to Congress of a budget pursuant to section 
1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and with each budget 
submitted to Congress pursuant to such section until 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and 
Sustainment determines the LGM–35A Sentinel inter-
continental ballistic missile reaches full operational 
capacity, the Secretary of the Air Force, in consulta-
tion with the Under Secretary, shall submit to the 
congressional defense committees a strategy, with re-
spect to the LGM–30G Minuteman III interconti-
nental ballistic missiles, associated ground systems, 
and other supporting systems to address aging compo-
nents and maximize the end-of-life margin. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each strategy required by 
paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) A comprehensive identification of all 
significant age-related and supportability chal-
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lenges for the LGM–30G Minuteman III inter-
continental ballistic missiles that includes a de-
scription of— 
(i) efforts of the Secretary to address 
each such challenge; and 
(ii) activities the Secretary intends to 
carry out to address each such challenge. 
(B) A description of effects on the system 
performance of Minuteman III missiles that re-
sult from aging components, including such ef-
fects with respect to shortfalls in capability. 
(C) A summary of test activities conducted 
with Minuteman III missiles during the calender 
year that precedes the date of the submission of 
the strategy, including a description of any ob-
servations of anomalous performance during 
such test activities. 
(D) A discussion of opportunities to in-
crease the end-of-life margin or overall perform-
ance of Minuteman III missiles. 
(E) A statement of the total inventory of 
such Minuteman III missiles available to the 
United States, including spares. 
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(F) A forecast with respect to the asset at-
trition that includes an identification of key 
drivers of such asset attrition. 
(G) An identification, as specific budget 
line items, of all funding with respect to the 
LGM–30G Minuteman III intercontinental bal-
listic missiles, associated ground systems, and 
other and supporting systems included in the 
budget of the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
year during which the strategy is submitted. 
(H) An estimate of the amount of such 
funding the Secretary determines is necessary 
across the period covered by the most recent fu-
ture-years defense program submitted to Con-
gress under section 221 of title 10, United States 
Code, to ensure the continued effective operation 
of the the LGM–30G Minuteman III interconti-
nental ballistic missile, associated ground sys-
tems, and other and supporting systems until the 
LGM–35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic 
missile reaches full operational capacity. 
(b) INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall re-
view each strategy required under subsection (a) to 
assess whether the strategy is sufficient to ensure the 
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continued effective operation of the LGM–30G Min-
uteman III intercontinental ballistic missile system 
until the LGM–35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic 
missile reaches full operational capacity. 
(2) REPORTS.—During the period the require-
ment under subsection (a) is effective, the Under Sec-
retary shall, not later than 45 days after any date on 
which a budget is submitted to Congress pursuant to 
section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, sub-
mit to the congressional defense committees a report 
that includes— 
(A) the findings of the assessment required 
under paragraph (1); 
(B) a discussion of any unfunded priorities 
and risk reduction opportunities with respect to 
the LGM–30G Minuteman III intercontinental 
ballistic missile, associated ground systems, and 
other supporting systems; and 
(C) any other matters as the Under Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
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