Senate NDAA Released to the Public, Ready for Floor Consideration

Reinforces North Dakota's Position at the Center of U.S. National Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following the completion of a three-day markup in the Senate Armed Service Committee (SASC), final text of the Senate Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was filed and released to the public. SASC considered more than 650 amendments during the three-day period of negotiations. The bill now moves to the Senate floor, marking the 66th year in a row the NDAA will be considered under regular order.

The FY27 NDAA includes $1.15 trillion in funding and makes major investments in military readiness, strengthens support for servicemembers and their families, and accelerates defense modernization efforts.

"North Dakota plays an outsized role in America's defense, and this year's NDAA recognizes this reality with investments strengthening our military missions, supporting our servicemembers, and bolstering national security," said U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee. "From modernizing the nuclear triad and advancing space and missile defense capabilities to improving quality of life for our military families, this bill ensures our armed forces remain the strongest and most capable in the world. President Reagan understood peace is best preserved through unquestioned strength, and this legislation carries this legacy forward."

The bill includes language authored by Cramer to improve mental health support for servicemembers and military families. In response to elevated suicide risks within the armed forces, Cramer secured language directing the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to expand behavioral health coverage under TRICARE. The provision allows more state-credentialed mental health providers to serve military patients helping ensure those in crisis can receive timely care. DHA is also tasked with improving the accuracy of the directory for mental health providers under TRICARE.

Cramer has leveraged his seniority on the committee to strengthen North Dakota's defense missions, military installations, and strategic role in national security.

The committee-passed bill authorizes several priorities across the state supporting deterrence, modernization, and America's warfighting capabilities, including:

Grand Forks

The NDAA includes several provisions further strengthening Grand Forks' role in national security, space operations, and strategic deterrence. The legislation directs the Air Force to assess the condition of nuclear facilities at Grand Forks Air Force Base and determine what would be required to restore them to operational use, creating a pathway to reactivate essential infrastructure decommissioned in the 1990s in response to today's growing geopolitical threats.

Building on Grand Forks' growing prominence in the space domain, the bill authorizes the construction of a $250 million state-of-the-art Space Force Operations Facility, further cementing the region's status as a national center of excellence for military space operations while bringing hundreds of military, civilian, and contractor jobs to North Dakota. The NDAA directs the Air Force to report on the strategy for Iridium's Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services program, which has strong ties to the University of North Dakota and the Space Development Agency's operations center in Grand Forks.

Funding was authorized for a $71 million project to construct a pavement and maintenance facility, ensuring Airmen and Guardians will be able to execute their missions without unnecessary delay.

The legislation also advances innovative technologies being developed in North Dakota. It requires the Space Force to report on emerging space debris reduction technologies, highlighting groundbreaking work by Vorbeck Materials in partnership with the University of North Dakota to help preserve the space environment for future generations.

Cavalier Space Force Station

The Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System (PARCS) at Cavalier Space Force Station is a cornerstone of national defense, providing essential ballistic missile early warning and tracking more than half of all Earth-orbiting objects.

The FY27 NDAA directs the Space Force to accelerate the modernization of PARCS by a year, bringing the latest radar technology to Cavalier Space Force Station by 2029.

Additionally, the bill directs the Air Force to report on an implementation plan for advanced nuclear microreactor solutions, integrating nuclear microreactors into operational energy requirements, supporting the Golden Dome missile defense architecture and domain awareness sensors such as PARCS in North Dakota. Components of the Golden Dome program are no-fail missions and must be backed up by reliable, redundant power sources. This report will analyze the best options for the Department to achieve this.

Minot

The NDAA makes significant investments in Minot Air Force Base's nuclear deterrence mission and the modernization of America's strategic forces. The legislation authorizes procurement of eight MH-139A helicopters, providing Air Force Global Strike Command with enhanced capabilities to secure the nation's missile fields and strengthen the protection of nuclear infrastructure. These helicopters meet the Air Force' mission requirements. This language matches the House NDAA, accelerating the replacement of the aging UH-1 Hueys being operated. Further, the bill accelerates the procurement of new engines for 10 B-52 bombers, extending the lifespan of the iconic aircraft well beyond 2030 and ensuring the bomber leg of the nuclear triad remains a credible deterrent for decades.

The bill reinforces Minot's central role in the nation's nuclear posture by requiring the Air Force to maintain at least 400 active Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), preserving the strength and readiness of the land-based deterrent. It supports the Sentinel program, the next-generation replacement for the aging Minuteman III ICBM system, which will be fielded across three bases, including Minot Air Force Base. After years of challenges, the program is back on track and remains essential to modernizing America's nuclear arsenal and maintaining peace through strength.

The legislation also authorizes important infrastructure projects directly supporting Minot's Airmen and mission. This includes $124 million for a Sentinel Consolidated Vehicle Maintenance Facility, replacing outdated Cold War-era transportation facilities with modern infrastructure designed to improve efficiency, safety, and mission readiness. In addition, the bill authorizes $108 million for a dedicated Sentinel Security Forces Operations Complex for the 91st Missile Wing, improving response times for defenders responsible for safeguarding one of the nation's most important strategic assets and strengthening security across the missile field.

Fargo

The North Dakota Air National Guard 119^th Wing, known as the "Happy Hooligans," fly MQ-9 Reapers in support of global Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision strike missions. The aircraft have played a key role in counterterrorism operations, maritime surveillance, force protection, and regional deterrence. The bill directs the Air Force to achieve an inventory of 180 MQ-9 aircraft by 2028 and prohibits it from divesting any MQ-9 aircraft through 2031, ensuring the United States maintains force strength while identifying a future program.

Sending a strong demand signal for non-Chinese drone batteries, this bill prohibits the Department of War from using or buying drones that have batteries or battery cells developed in, or by an entity domiciled in, a covered country of national security concern. Packet Digital in Fargo is one of the domestic battery manufacturers for drones.

Jamestown

This year's annual defense bill authorizes improvements to the Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters, which serve as the backbone of heavy-lift military operations and disaster relief throughout the world. Goodrich Interiors in Jamestown is a significant supplier.

North Dakota National Guard (NDNG)

This bill modernizes the National Guard's full-time workforce by converting over a 10-year period dual-status military technician positions into Active Guard and Reserve and Title 5 civilian positions.