National Defense Authorization Act History

    Recent Key Legislation

    Year Key Legislation
    2025 One Big Beautiful Bill: A generational investment in America's national security
    2025 SPEED Act: Fundamentally reforming DoD's broken acquisition system
     2024  Quality of Life Panel Report: Creating a future where military families thrive in support of our national security.


    Defense Primer - The NDAA Process
    From the Congressional Research Service:
    The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) provides authorization of appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD), nuclear weapons programs of the Department of Energy, and other defense-related activities. In addition to serving as an authorization of appropriations, the NDAA establishes defense policies and restrictions, and addresses organizational administrative matters related to the DOD. Unlike an appropriations bill, the NDAA does not provide budget authority for government activities. Nevertheless, historically it has provided a fairly reliable indicator of congressional sentiment on subsequent appropriations for particular programs.


    History of the NDAA

    Fiscal Year Public Law Official Title and Programs / Notes
    2025 118-159 Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 - View FY25 NDAA Resources
    2024 118-31 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 - View FY24 NDAA Resources
     2023 117-263 James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
     2022 117-81 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
     2021 116-283 William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
     2020 116-48 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
     2019 115-232 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
     2018 115-91 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018
     2017 114-328 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017
    2016 114-92 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016
    2015 113-291 Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015
    2014 113-66 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014
    2013 112-239 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
    2012 112-81 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
    2011 111-383 Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
    2010 111-84 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010
    2009 110-417 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009
    2008 110-181 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
    2007 109-364 John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
    2006 109-163 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006
    2005 108-375 Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
    2004 108-136 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004
    2003 107-314 Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003
    2002 107-107 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002
    2001 106-398 Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001
    2000 106-65 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000
    1999 105-261 Strom Thurmond Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999
    1998 105-85 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Technical Corrections in PL 105-129)
    1997 104-201 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997
    1996 104-106 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996
    1995 103-337 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995
    1994 103-160 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994
    1993 102-484 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993
    1992 102-190 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993
    1991 101-510 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991
    1990 101-189 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991
    1989 100-456 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1989
    1988 100-180 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989
    1987 99-661 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987
    1986 99-145 Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1986
    1985 98-525 Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985
    1984 98-94 Working capital funds. CQ Almanac 1983
    1983 97-252 Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1983
    1982 97-86 Procurement of ammunition and "Other Procurement". CQ Almanac 1981
    1981 96-342 Operation and maintenance of DOD and all its components in the "Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1981." CQ Almanac 1980
    1980 96-107 Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1980.
    1979 95-485 Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act, 1979.
    1978 95-79 Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act, 1978.
    1977 94-361 Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act, 1977.
    1976 94-106 Military construction of ammunition facilities in the "Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act, 1976." CQ Almanac 1975
    1975 93-365 Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act, 1975.
    1974 93-155 Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act, 1974.
    1973 92-436 Average military training student loads of each component of the Armed Forces in "Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1973." CQ Almanac 1972
    1972 92-156 Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1972.
    1971 91-441 Procurement of torpedoes and related support equipment; active duty personnel strengths of each component of the Armed Forces in "Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1971." CQ Almanac 1970
    1970 91-121 Procurement of other weapons in "Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1970." CQ Almanac 1969
    1969 90-500 Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1969.
    1968 90-22 Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1968.
    1967 89-501 Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1967.
    1966 89-37 Procurement of tracked combat vehicles in "Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1966." CQ Almanac 1965
    1965 88-288 Armed Forces Appropriation Authorization, 1965.
    1964 88-28 Aircraft, missiles, naval vessels, Appropriation. CQ Almanac 1963
    1963 87-436 Research, development, test, and engineering (RDT&E) for aircraft, missiles, and naval vessels
    CQ Almanac: High-Speed Bomber Stirs Controversy. 
     1962 87-118 Authorizes additional funds on top of PL 87-53 for aircraft, missiles, and naval vessels
    CQ Almanac: Extra Funds Approved For Planes, Missiles, Ships. 
     1962 87-53  Authorizes aircraft, missiles, and naval vessels