Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025

What H.R. 5009 does, in plain terms

Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 This bill authorizes for FY2025 and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, military construction, the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DOE), the Maritime Administration, and the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the federal government. It also authorizes the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board and the Naval Petroleum Reserves and sets policy for certain other agencies, including the Department of State and the Department of the Interior. The bill authorizes appropriations but it does not provide budget authority, which is provided by appropriations legislation. For additional information on the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) see CRS In Focus IF10516, Defense Primer: Navigating the NDAA, CRS In Focus IF10515, Defense Primer: The NDAA Process, and CRS Insight IN12405, FY2025 NDAA: Status of Legislative Activity. DIVISION A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONS TITLE I--PROCUREMENT This title authorizes acquiring or modifying various military items (such as aircraft, ships, tracked combat vehicles, missiles, and ammunition) and sets policy for certain procurement programs. Below are some examples of provisions in this title. (Sec. 101) This section authorizes FY2025 procurement for the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the Space Force, and DOD-wide activities. (Sec. 112) This section requires the Department of the Army to carry out a pilot program that incorporates moving robotic target systems into live fire training for select National Guard and Army Reserve infantry units at no fewer than three military installations. (Sec. 126) This section authorizes the Department of the Navy to enter into multiyear procurement contracts for CH-53K aircraft (King Stallion heavy-lift helicopters) and T408 engines for such aircraft, as well as advance procurement contracts (i.e., contracts to procure components needed for an item long before the item itself is purchased) for associated material and equipment. (Sec. 129) This section bars the use of FY2025 DOD funds for the construction of a Constellation-class frigate beyond the basic and functional design phase until DOD certifies to Congress that the technical authority for the program has given final approval to 95% of all basic and functional design drawings. Upon such certification, the Government Accountability Office shall submit an assessment to Congress of the completeness of such design drawings and DOD’s compliance with this section. (Sec.143) This section allows the Department of the Air Force, through the end of FY2025, to decrease the total quantity of fighter aircraft in the Air Force’s primary mission aircraft inventory to not fewer than 1,101 aircraft. This section also reduces the minimum quantity of A-10 aircraft required in the Air Force’s primary mission aircraft inventory from 135 to 96 until 90 days after the Air Force submits certain reports related to the F-35 and the A-10 to Congress. (Sec. 145) This section extends a requirement for the Department of the Air Force to maintain a total inventory of not less than 271 C-130 aircraft through FY2025. This section also extends through FY2025 a requirement prohibiting the Department of the Air Force from reducing the number of C-130 aircraft assigned to the National Guard below the number assigned on December 23, 2022. (The Air Force may drop below the specified number in either case if aircraft are no longer mission capable due to damage.) (Sec. 149) This section bars the use of FY2025 Air Force funds to reduce the number of KC-135 aircraft designated as primary mission aircraft inventory within the Air Force reserve components. (Sec. 150) This section prohibits the Department of the Air Force from retiring, preparing to retire, placing in storage, or placing on backup aircraft inventory status any F-15E aircraft until September 30, 2027, except in the case of aircraft that are no longer mission capable or uneconomical to repair. (Sec. 152) This section requires the Air Force to develop and implement a plan to support the fielding of air base air defense sites at Air Force installations and other priority sites. (Sec. 165) This section prohibits DOD from accepting deliveries of F-35 aircraft in excess of specified maximums until DOD makes various certifications to Congress. The specified maximums are 30 F-35As, 9 F-35Bs, and 9 F-35Cs. Required certifications include DOD certifying that it has submitted to Congress and is implementing plans to (1) develop and field F-35 aircraft and mission systems digital-twin models across the F-35 enterprise; (2) procure and construct a new F-35 mission software integration laboratory to enable concurrent testing of specified mission system hardware, software, and any existing or new F-35 capabilities; and (3) resolve all deficiencies and recommendations identified in the 2024 F-35 Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation report. TITLE II--RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION This title authorizes research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) and sets policy for certain RDT&E activities. Below are some examples of provisions in this title. (Sec. 201) This section authorizes FY2025 for DOD RDT&E. (Sec. 227) This section extends DOD’s Directed Energy Working Group through January 1, 2030, and expands the topics the working group must periodically brief Congress on, including information on cost data, associated program elements, and certain enabling work that supports directed energy capabilities. (Sec. 231) This section requires the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to establish a Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to rapidly expand and support the development of a utility-scale quantum computing capability available to DOD. (Sec. 237) This section requires DOD to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of using artificial intelligence (AI) enabled software to optimize the workflow and operations for (1) depots, shipyards, and other DOD manufacturing facilities; and (2) DOD contract administration. (Sec. 238) This section bars the use of FY2025 DOD funds to award a grant or contract to an institution of higher education for the specific purpose of conducting fundamental research in collaboration with an academic institution from China, Russia, or certain other countries (for example, countries that have a history of improper technology transfer or intellectual property theft). The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology may waive this restriction on a case-by-case basis if such a waiver is in the national security interests of the United States. TITLE III--OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE This title authorizes operation and maintenance (O&M) and sets policy for certain O&M programs. Below are some examples of provisions in this title. (Sec. 301) This section authorizes FY2025 O&M for the Armed Forces and other activities and agencies of DOD. (Sec. 319) This section prohibits the use of FY2025 DOD funds to finalize or implement any rule based on the October 2021 proposed rule titled Federal Acquisition Regulation: Minimizing the Risk of Climate Change in Federal Acquisitions. (Sec. 333) This section requires the Departments of the Air Force and the Navy to each develop a plan to improve inspection procedures of their respective pre-positioned stockpiles to ensure such stockpiles are mission capable. The Navy must also analyze the readiness of Navy and Marine Corps ships that hold or facilitate the off-loading of pre-positioned stockpiles and recommend inspection procedure improvements. (Sec. 352) This section authorizes DOD to enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with a qualified individual or entity to augment National Guard personnel in carrying out the FireGuard program. (FireGuard uses National Guard personnel to aggregate, analyze, and assess remote sensing information in the detection and monitoring of wildfires and to support emergency response to wildfires.) (Sec. 356) This section requires the Department of the Navy to establish an advanced manufacturing facility on or near a military installation within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. The purpose of the facility includes (1) meeting flexible manufacturing requirements to support the submarine, shipbuilding, and other defense industry industrial bases; (2) fostering partnerships to develop a capable workforce in the vicinity of the facility; and (3) providing for the manufacture of unmanned vehicles and developing ship maintenance capabilities. TITLE IV--MILITARY PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATIONS This title authorizes military personnel and sets active component and reserve component end-strength levels. Below are some examples of provisions in this title. (Sec. 401) This section authorizes the maximum number of active-duty personnel as of September 30, 2025, for each of the armed forces as follows: Army, 442,300; Navy, 332,300; Marine Corps, 172,300; Air Force, 320,000; and Space Force, 9,800. (Sec. 411) This section authorizes the maximum number of Selected Reserve personnel as of September 30, 2025, for each of the reserve components as follows: Army National Guard, 325,000; Army Reserve, 175,800; Navy Reserve, 57,700; Marine Corps Reserve, 32,500; Air National Guard, 108,300; Air Force Reserve, 67,000; and Coast Guard Reserve, 7,000. TITLE V--MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY This title sets policy regarding officer personnel, reserve component management, military records, awards and decorations, recruitment, servicemember training and education, military justice and other legal matters, transition programs, family programs and child care, dependent education, and other military personnel matters. Below are some examples of provisions in this title. (Sec. 511) This section authorizes the Departments of the Army and the Air Force to defer mandatory separation, whether due to a mandatory removal date or a maximum years of service limitation, of dual status military technicians (DSMTs) who continue to meet dual status requirements from age 60 to 62. This section also increases from 60 to 62 the age at which DSMTs who are majors, lieutenant colonels, colonels, and brigadier generals may no longer be retained on the reserve active status list. (DSMTs are federal civilian employees who provide full-time support to units of the Army and Air Force reserve components and who are generally required to maintain membership in the Selected Reserve as a condition of their employment. The reserve active status list is a seniority-based list of reserve officers; among other purposes, it determines eligibility for promotion.) (Sec. 514) This section requires the Department of the Air Force to transfer the space-related functions of certain Air National Guard units to the Space Force. The Department of the Air Force may transfer into the Space Force those Air National Guard members who hold Air Force specialty codes for a specialty held by Space Force members, provided the member consents to such transfer. (Sec. 539A) This section requires the Department of the Navy to seek to enter into a contract with a reputable marketing, recruiting, and public relations firm to establish a campaign to educate and recruit potential workers in the maritime sector, including by promoting careers in the United States Merchant Marine, Military Sealift Command, and the U.S. shipbuilding industry. (Sec. 545) This section increases the minimum number of Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units from 3,400 to 3,500 and the maximum number of such units from 4,000 to 4,100. The effective date for such increase is October 1, 2026. (Sec. 582) This section requires DOD to carry out a paid fellowship program for military spouses with employers in vario

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.