Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Tom Cotton
In Committee
Summary
FY2026 intelligence funding and broad Intelligence Community reforms. The bill authorizes specific FY2026 appropriations and a wide set of changes to procurement, personnel, oversight, AI and biotech rules to modernize operations and tighten security.
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- Intelligence community employees and leaders: creates new appointment rules, a CIA Chaplain Corps, annual analytic objectivity training and surveys, expanded whistleblower protections, and new security‑clearance procedures that affect hiring and access.
- Contractors, vendors, and tech firms: imposes new procurement clauses for telecom and AI, limits Other Transaction ceilings, bans certain biotech suppliers, forbids contractor collection of location data in covered IC sites, and creates a Technology Bridge Fund to move R&D toward production with a priority for small businesses.
- Congress and the public: requires numerous reports and declassification actions including a declassified review of COVID origins, a public list tied to Russian petroleum shipments, expanded reporting on PRC economic influence, and new election‑systems testing and vulnerability‑disclosure pilot programs.
*Authorizes at least $514.0 million for the CIA Retirement and Disability Fund in FY2026 and establishes a $75.0 million‑per‑year Technology Bridge Fund, increasing authorized intelligence spending.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
38 provisions identified: 26 benefits, 2 costs, 10 mixed.
Stronger whistleblower and clearance rights
If enacted, disclosures to a congressional intelligence committee member or an agency legislative affairs office would be protected. If enacted, reporting orders to require psychiatric testing would be added to protected disclosures. If enacted, the $300,000 cap on compensatory damages for wrongful security-clearance revocations would be removed so courts could award more than $300,000.
Technology Bridge Fund for businesses
If enacted, the bill would create an Intelligence Community Technology Bridge Fund to help turn IC research into prototypes or products. If enacted, the Fund is authorized $75,000,000 for FY2026 and each year after, and it is capped at $75,000,000 at any time. If enacted, priority would go to small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors, and recipients must be under an IC contract with a DNI attestation.
Ban DHS targeting of U.S. persons
If enacted, the bill would bar the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis from collecting intelligence that targets any 'United States person' as defined in the bill. The rule still allows DHS to share or receive intelligence with other governments and agencies. The change is meant to protect civil liberties and privacy.
Mandatory voting system pen tests
If enacted, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission would require accredited labs to do penetration testing for voting-system certification and recertification. The Commission must set a program to accept penetration-test results and pick competent testers. This rule must be in place within 180 days of enactment.
CIA retirement fund gets $514M
If enacted, the bill would authorize $514,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund. If enacted, Congress must appropriate the money before funds are spent. This would support retirement and disability benefits for eligible CIA beneficiaries.
Protect Federal Reserve data and security
If enacted, the DNI and FBI Director would brief the Federal Reserve on foreign threats to the Fed. If enacted, they would work with the Fed Chair to set standardized security and classification rules for Fed information. If enacted, a joint status report to Congress would be due within 180 days of enactment.
Bigger contracting limits and rules
If enacted, the bill would raise per‑transaction 'other transaction' ceilings for NSA and NRO to $500 million, with congressional notice for deals over $100 million. Most other IC elements would be capped at $100 million per transaction. The bill also restricts FY2026 NIP funds from being reprogrammed until statutory steps are followed, limiting short‑term flexibility.
Clearance and employee protections
If enacted, the bill would boost protections and oversight for intelligence community employees. The DNI must report each year on interim clearances back to 2017. The DNI would study restoring eligibility for people who left in the last 5 years. Employees get an easier 'contributing factor' test to challenge adverse clearance actions and faster IG routes to Congress. The DNI must also update rules to stop discrimination in NIP-funded actions.
Counterintelligence briefings and facility security
If enacted, the bill would require counterintelligence briefings for service members that explain solicitation methods, reporting contacts, and legal penalties. It would expand reporting on Russian efforts to destabilize the U.S. and NATO, and make unauthorized entry onto clearly marked intelligence community property a crime with stepped penalties up to 10 years. These steps aim to protect personnel and facilities.
More IG reviews and declassification steps
If enacted, the Inspectors General of DoD and the Intelligence Community must jointly review Special Access and Controlled Access Programs and report within 180 days. The IC IG must review use of commercial messaging apps within 120 days and report to Congress. The DNI must notify Congress and the Archivist immediately when declassifying material, and the FBI must declassify within 30 days whether foreign officials aided a departure in certain criminal cases. The FBI Director must also send annual unclassified case-count reports to congressional committees.
New rules for drone threats
If enacted, intelligence and homeland security leaders must finish an assessment of unmanned aircraft threats within one year, covering drones within 100 air miles of borders. The CIA would be authorized to detect, warn, and disrupt drones that pose credible threats to covered CIA facilities in the U.S., subject to coordination with the FAA and legal limits.
New triggers and shared lessons on threats
If enacted, the bill would set a clear trigger for Iran monitoring, including any uranium-235 above 60% or major enrichment activity. It would also require the Ukraine lessons group to evaluate which findings should be shared with Taiwan to help its planning. These steps aim to clarify warning criteria and share useful lessons with partners.
No time limit on some espionage crimes
If enacted, prosecutors could bring charges at any time for certain espionage-related offenses, including violations or conspiracies under 18 U.S.C. 951 and 794, and some 18 U.S.C. 1425 offenses tied to section 951. The change removes the usual statute of limitations for those offenses.
Plans to counter foreign influence and crime
If enacted, each intelligence element must report within 60 days on ties to Mexican government elements and plans to boost counternarcotics cooperation, and the DNI must give Congress an action plan within 180 days. The CIA must make a plan in 90 days to share intelligence to counter foreign influence in Sudan. The Navy must publish lists of vessels tied to prohibited Russian oil shipments every 90 days and refer unsanctioned vessels to Treasury and State.
Stronger biotech intelligence and sharing
If enacted, the DNI would set policies within 90 days to boost biotech staffing, cleared experts, and partnerships. The DNI would speed declassification and sharing of biotech threat intelligence with allies and industry and report progress for up to two years. The DNI must also brief Congress on how the IC will support reviews of foreign acquisitions of firms holding genomic data and address PRC biotech intelligence gaps.
Unmasking and whistleblower protections
If enacted, agencies must use written unmasking requests with fact-based justification and keep records for 10 years. Special rules apply during presidential transition or for nominees. The bill would also make it illegal to knowingly and willfully disclose a whistleblower's identity, with limited exceptions.
New China economic and Treasury units
If enacted, officials would create a joint China economics intelligence cell in 90 days and a new Treasury Office of Economic Intelligence and Security after a 3-year staffing plan. The DNI would also list PRC entities that materially support the PLA and report on CCP leadership wealth within 270 days. The DNI must also assess China investment in Brazil agriculture and report to Congress.
Tighter rules for intelligence AI
If enacted, the DNI would issue rules within 30 days to define 'high-impact' AI and require inventories, testing, and whistleblower protections. Agencies would have to track AI performance, data provenance, and require contracts that keep federal rights in data and improvements. The DNI and CIO would push sharing of reusable code and provide model contract terms to avoid vendor lock-in.
Authorize FY2026 intelligence funding
If enacted, this bill would authorize appropriations for intelligence and intelligence-related activities for fiscal year 2026, making those programs eligible for FY2026 funding under this authorization. The text does not itself set detailed dollar amounts here.
AI test bed and model rules
If enacted, the bill would expand the AI Security Center to run a subsidized test bed for researchers and vendors. Vendors must consent before their private models are used in the test bed. Other federal agencies could use the test bed on a cost‑recovery basis. The DNI would also require common testing standards for public models used in classified settings and tighten acquisition rules about model training data.
Faster intelligence buying for vendors
This bill would make the Director of National Intelligence deliver an acquisition reform plan within 180 days. The plan would push agencies to speed purchases and favor commercial solutions where practical. The NGA and NRO would also have 90 days to plan a joint office to buy commercial geospatial services. DoD would have 180 days to give short- and long-term plans for a major DoD intelligence system.
Limits on research ties with foreign funders
If enacted, the bill would bar IC Management Account (ICMA) money from funding analytic work with FFRDCs, think tanks, or research groups that get support from certain foreign governments (with a Five Eyes exception). The rule is meant to limit foreign influence in IC‑funded research and would remove some collaboration funding sources.
Reorganize and wind down IC offices
If enacted, the bill would move, close, or repeal many intelligence community bodies. It would transfer the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center to the CIA and move the NCISC into the FBI. It would rename the counterterrorism center and end multiple ODNI units and statutory offices. Agencies must submit plans and finish many transfers within set deadlines and follow staff‑reduction rules.
Reports, briefings, and classified budget rules
If enacted, the bill would change several oversight and reporting rules. It orders a 90‑day report on secure mobile communications and requires the classified FY2026 intelligence budget schedule to be shared with the Appropriations Committees and President. At the same time, it repeals a number of prior statutory briefing and reporting duties. The NSA would also have clearer authority to produce and share intelligence with executive and legislative customers.
Stronger IC facility and budget security
If enacted, the DNI must estimate costs and deliver a plan within 180 days to bring SCIFs into compliance and create an accreditation tracking system. Agencies handling National Intelligence Program budgets must use secure systems by Sept 30, 2028, with a cost estimate due in 180 days and possible DNI reimbursements through 2028. The DNI would identify sites for small advanced nuclear deployments to support IC facilities within 240 days and aim to start deployments within three years at selected sites.
Biotech vendor bans for the IC
If enacted, the bill would bar intelligence agencies from contracting with biotech firms the DNI lists as national security risks. Agencies must require contractor certifications and audits. The DNI could grant narrow waivers when no alternative exists. A 60‑day start, public list, and a 10‑year sunset on the listed ban are included, and the bill would restrict sourcing of synthetic DNA/RNA unless final processing happens in the U.S.
Telecom vendor security rules
If enacted, the DNI must issue standard contract clauses for U.S. telecom providers used by the IC within 120 days. Clauses cover updates, decommissioning, secure configs, multi‑factor authentication for high‑risk systems, annual threat hunting, and incident notifications. The DNI may designate high‑risk systems and agencies generally must include the clauses or get a written waiver. The bill also lets IC elements get Spectrum Relocation Fund payments and classify transition plans when needed.
FBI warnings for imminent Iran threats
If enacted, any IC element that learns of a specific, credible Iranian or proxy threat to a U.S. person would immediately notify the FBI. The FBI would have 48 hours to warn the intended victim or their protectors and brief Congress as appropriate while protecting sources and methods.
Flexible funding for federal pay increases
If enacted, agencies could receive extra or supplemental appropriations to cover salary, pay, retirement, and benefit increases authorized by law. If enacted, the bill does not set specific pay rates. This only allows agencies to get needed funds when law authorizes pay or benefit raises.
CIA Chaplain Corps for staff
If enacted, the CIA would create a full-time Chaplain Corps. Chaplains must be Agency employees, meet certification and licensing rules, get security clearances and workspace, and be paid no more than the GS-15 basic rate. The Director must certify qualifications to Congress each year.
Short-term DNI task forces
If enacted, the DNI could form short-term national intelligence task forces made of staff from other IC elements to address discrete priorities. Task forces must be temporary, be dissolved within set timelines, and the DNI must notify Congress if a task force lasts more than 60 days.
NASA and spaceport security checks
If enacted, the DNI and FBI must quickly assess counterintelligence vulnerabilities at NASA and at federally licensed commercial spaceports and report to Congress. NASA must cooperate and the spaceport assessment goes to FBI field offices and spaceport leadership.
Stop selling location data in intelligence areas
If enacted, contractors for intelligence agencies could not collect, retain, or sell location data from phones, trackers, or cellular devices in covered locations except when needed to perform the contract. If enacted, contractors must certify compliance within 60 days of enactment. If enacted, false certifications can be treated as material false claims.
Tougher rules for certain diplomats
If enacted, the bill would restrict foreign diplomatic travel and visas for certain countries. The State Department would deny visas for suspected intelligence officers from listed countries. Diplomats from those countries must request approval at least two business days before covered travel, and their tours in the U.S. would be limited to three years at a time and six years total.
Plan to reduce ODNI staff
If enacted, the DNI would give Congress a plan within 90 days to cut ODNI staff to a smaller, mission-focused size. If enacted, the plan must try to avoid involuntary firings, offer other federal job options or details, and allow reductions to start only after specific employee-protection certifications and waiting periods. If enacted, the DNI must update Congress every 60 days until staffing meets the plan.
More review of foreign land near IC sites
If enacted, some real estate transactions near intelligence community facilities would fall under national security review rules. The DNI would also require listings of PRC law enforcement offices and PRC universities involved in military research in annual reports. These moves add oversight for foreign influence and land use near IC sites.
Rename ODNI deputy and assistants
If enacted, the law would change the title 'Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence' to 'Deputy Director of National Intelligence.' If enacted, it would also create two Assistant Director positions (for Mission Integration and for Policy and Capabilities) appointed by the DNI. This is mainly an internal ODNI reorganization of jobs and statutory cross-references.
Transfer National Intelligence University to Defense
If enacted, the National Intelligence University functions would move to the National Defense University within 180 days of enactment. If enacted, the bill makes conforming statutory changes and repeals relevant prior law sections. This affects students, faculty, and staff at the university.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tom Cotton
AR • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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