Congressman Patronis: NDAA Passage Ensures Stronger, Safer U.S. Military

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis issued a statement on the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included an amendmentfiled by Congressman Patronis that would end the Biden administration’s mandate giving preferential treatment to electric and hybrid non-tactical vehicles over fossil-fuel powered non-tactical vehicles in the military. The NDAA is an annual law passed by the U.S. Congress that outlines the budget, policies, and priorities for the Department of War. The FY26 NDAA codifies President Trump’s executive orders that end woke ideology and DEI in the military and authorizes $892.6 billion for national defense discretionary programs, matching President Trump’s budget request.

Congressman Jimmy Patronis said, “As a former State Fire Marshal and someone who represents a district with multiple military installations along the Gulf Coast, I know firsthand the importance of reliable, safe vehicles for our servicemembers. Electric vehicles, when exposed to saltwater, can experience dangerous runaway battery fires. That’s not a risk we can afford on coastal bases that are critical to America’s readiness. I’m proud that my amendment was included in the NDAA, and I congratulate my colleagues in the House for passing this vital piece of legislation that ensures our military has the tools it needs to keep our nation safe, protect American interests around the globe, and advance our agenda of peace through strength.”

The NDAA Includes the Following and More:

• Leverages cutting-edge technologies by creating new lines of effort using generative AI.
• Directs the Department of War (DoW) to remove barriers to adopting commercial innovation.
• Expedites innovation to the warfighter by improving DoW’s Authority to Operate process for software and information technology.
• Drives faster integration of new technologies.
• Repeals all existing DoW DEI offices, programs, training activities, and authorities.
• Prohibits DoW funding for colleges and universities that have not acted to prevent or mitigate antisemitic demonstrations on their campuses.
• Prohibits DoW from contracting with advertising firms like NewsGuard that blacklist conservative news sources.
• Executes on President Trump’s budget request cutting over $1 billion in climate change-related programs at the DoW.