House Armed Services Committee Advances FY27 NDAA on 44-12 Vote Amid Party-Line Disputes Over 'Right to Repair,' DoD Rename and A-10 Mandates

The House Armed Services Committee adopted its version of the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act in a 44-12 vote as the clock struck midnight Friday. All 12 no votes came from Democrats. The markup lasted 14 hours and covered more than 900 amendments.

The committee added new right-to-repair provisions that would give the Defense Department default government-purpose rights to technical data and computer software unless contractors prove they need stricter intellectual-property protections. Rep. , and Rep.

Offered the bipartisan amendment, which passed by voice vote after roughly 30 minutes of debate. Goodlander said the language would “streamline … processes, cut red tape, and close loopholes” that prevent troops from repairing equipment. Harrigan stated the measure “does not seize patents, it does not seize copyrights, it does not seize trade secrets.

Warned that companies might choose to protect their intellectual property rather than work with the Pentagon, citing opposition from the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Defense Industrial Association. Rep. , said the amendment would give the government “carte blanche” access without limits on sharing data with third parties.

Rep. , countered that servicemembers’ lives could be at risk if contractors must approve every repair. The panel also added $500 million for a second Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in fiscal 2027. Rep.

Jared Golden’s amendment funded the increase by cutting money from submarine tenders, littoral combat ship modernization, and KC-46 tanker development. Rep. Seth Moulton’s amendment added $50 million to the Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Program, bringing its total to $100 million.

Hypersonic and counter-hypersonic testing received a $60 million increase taken from the Navy’s unmanned surface vessel account. The Army gained $62 million for autonomous resupply vessels through another reduction to KC-46 funding. One amendment requires the Air Force to keep the A-10 through 2030.

Another directs the defense secretary to transfer retired A-10s to another service. A third requires the Air Force to create a competitive experimentation plan for autonomous and non-traditional capabilities tied to the A-10 mission. The bill mandates quarterly Pentagon reports on munitions inventories and authorizes the Missile Defense Agency to develop an exoatmospheric interceptor.

It prohibits buying warships from foreign shipyards and bars retirement of the E/A-18G Growler. The measure also requires reports on the Navy’s BBG(X) battleship strategy, briefings on low-cost air-to-air munitions for collaborative combat aircraft, and a transition plan for F-35 sustainment to the military services by 2027.

Additional briefings cover restarting C-17 production and UH-60 modernization.

Republicans passed Rep. Ronny Jackson’s amendment to rename the Defense Department the “Department of War” in a 29-27 party-line vote. ” Ranking member Rep. ” Rep. Marilyn Strickland’s amendment to restore base names changed in 2022 passed 29-27 with support from two Republicans.

Two amendments offered by Reps. Jacobs and Goodlander to reverse press restrictions imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth failed 27-28, though Rep. Don Bacon joined Democrats in support.