2026 NDAA analysis

The Atlantic Council will host a fireside chat with Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), vice chairman of the US House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026.

The 2026 NDAA focuses on modernizing US defense acquisition, strengthening the industrial base and supply chains, and accelerating security cooperation with allies and partners. It was signed amid a backdrop of rapid technological advancement and increasingly capable adversaries. With such trends, the United States is looking to strengthen its warfighting capabilities by accelerating its defense acquisition processes.

This conversation with Wittman will explore the state of defense acquisition and transfer reform, highlight the 2026 NDAA changes, consider new ways to employ emerging technologies, and examine how US allies and partners can play a greater role in strengthening shared objectives.