Tuberville Secures NDAA Amendments Officially Designating Department of War, Expanding Title IX Protections

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released the following statement after the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was reported out of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). During the committee's markup process, Sen. Tuberville successfully introduced multiple amendments, including officially renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War (DoW), expanding Title IX protections, and authorizing billions in funding for SPACECOM and Alabama's five installations.

"The United States was constantly on our heels and playing defense under the Biden administration. Those days are over thanks to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. The U.S. military is not interested in appeasement, but in winning wars and keeping Americans safe. That's why I introduced an amendment to this year's NDAA that officially returns the Department of Defense to its original name given by President George Washington, the Department of War.

As chairman of the SASC Subcommittee on Personnel, I was also proud to secure several amendments that will make a real difference in the lives of our troops. During last year's NDAA process, I introduced an amendment protecting women's sports at our service academies. This year, we expanded those protections to more education activities at the DoW. I also fought hard for an amendment increasing the number of cadets who are eligible to play professional sports. This new policy will help with both recruiting and personnel development at our service academies.

I was also proud to secure funding to support Alabama's troops, installations, and defense industry. In addition to a 3.6% pay raise for troops, we also authorized nearly $500 million for improvements to our five bases, along with $2 billion for the new SPACECOM headquarters at Redstone Arsenal. This year's NDAA will make sure Alabama continues playing an outsized role in our national defense."

Conservative Wins:

• Changed the name of the department back to Department of War - bringing it in-line with the Trump administration's "Peace through Strength" strategy and signaling to our adversaries that we will aggressively protect Americans and our national interests.
• Strengthens Title IX protections within the department by extending them to all department education activities, not just military academies.
• Requires a briefing on parental access to child medical records for our servicemembers.
• Authorizes the U.S. southwest border mission as a named operation and authorizes a Joint Interagency Task Force - Counter Cartel (JIATF-CC) to enhance border security and counter-cartel mission.

Wins for our Troops:

• Authorizes a 3.6% pay raise for all service members.
• Increases maximum tuition assistance benefit.
• Increases and strengthens recruiting incentives.
• Expands opportunities for military service academy graduates to pursue professional athletic careers, helping boost recruiting and personnel development at our service academies.
• Requires the department to offer and accept no fewer than three standardized tests at department schools and military academies.
• Further codifies merit-based standards and prevent a return to DEI for promotion and command selection.
• Reorganizes DoW Leadership to better facilitate oversight and improvements to servicemember quality of life and healthcare.

Wins for Alabama:

• Authorizes ~$2B for new USSPACECOM Headquarters facility at Redstone Arsenal.
• Authorizes $250M for a Space Force Operational facility at Redstone Arsenal.
• Authorizes $44M for Maxwell AFB Elementary/Middle School addition.
• Authorizes $90M to enhance Redstone Arsenal power generation and microgrid.
• Authorizes $33M for Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base parking apron improvement.
• Authorizes $53M for Anniston Army Depot Access Control Point completion.
• Authorizes $2.25M to design a Regional Training Institute at Ft. McClellan.
• Authorizes $1.5M to design a new security services facility at Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base.

Wins for National Defense:

• Authorizes a national defense topline of $1.15 trillion.
• Prioritizes development and acquisition of the Army Mobile Tactical Cannon.
• Increases Counter UAS funding ($30.5M).
• Reinforces domestic silicon production.
• Added $5M for Low-Cost Hypersonic Test Bed development.
• Incentivizes competition for Solid Rocket Motor Production and other critical munitions.
• Enhances cooperation with Israel for co-development of Iron Dome defense program.
• Protects funding for the Reagan Test Range.
• Requires a briefing on procurement of unobligated enriched uranium.

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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