FY2026 NDAA, Section 224 ("National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute")

Summary

Allows the Secretary of Defense to establish one or more artificial intelligence research institutes focused on national security and defense.

Requires each institute to address foundational or cross-cutting AI challenges relevant to defense and national security.

Directs institutes to form partnerships across federal agencies, academia, nonprofit research organizations, state and local governments, and industry.

Requires institutes to foster innovation ecosystems that translate research into applications and products that enhance national security and defense capabilities.

Requires support for research and development that spans multiple institutions of higher education and organizations.

Requires institutes to support interdisciplinary research and workforce development in AI and related disciplines within the United States.

Allows the Secretary of Defense to establish AI research institutes focused on national security and defense.

Requires the new institution to work on core AI problems that matter across many defense and national security uses.

Requires the establishment of partnerships across the public, private, and academic sectors.

Requires the new institution to create and grow a research ecosystem to enhance national security and defense capabilities.

Requires the new institution to support workforce development in AI and related disciplines.

SEC. 224. NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INSTITUTE. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense may establish one or more National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institutes (referred to in this section as ``Institutes'') at eligible host institutions. (b) Institute Described.--A National Security and Defense Artificial Intelligence Institute referred to in subsection (a) is an artificial intelligence research institute that-- (1) is focused on a cross-cutting challenge or foundational science for artificial intelligence systems in the national security and defense sector; (2) establishes partnerships among public and private organizations, including, as appropriate, Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, including community colleges, nonprofit research organizations, Federal laboratories, State, local, and Tribal governments, and industry, including the Defense Industrial Base and startup companies; (3) has the potential to create an innovation ecosystem, or enhance existing ecosystems, to translate Institute research into applications and products used to enhance national security and defense capabilities; (4) supports interdisciplinary research and development across multiple institutions of higher education and organizations; and (5) supports workforce development in artificial intelligence related disciplines in the United States.

Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to fund institutes for AI data management, testbeds, research, and outreach.

(c) Financial Assistance Authorized.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may award financial assistance to an eligible host institution, or consortia thereof, to establish and support one or more Institutes. (2) Use of funds.--Financial assistance awarded under paragraph (1) may be used by an Institute for-- (A) managing and making available to researchers accessible, curated, standardized, secure, and privacy protected data sets from the public and private sectors for the purposes of training and testing artificial intelligence systems and for research using artificial intelligence systems with regard to national security and defense; (B) developing and managing testbeds for artificial intelligence systems, including sector-specific test beds, designed to enable users to evaluate artificial intelligence systems prior to deployment; (C) conducting research and education activities involving artificial intelligence systems to solve challenges with national security implications; (D) providing or brokering access to computing resources, networking, and data facilities for artificial intelligence research and development relevant to the Institute's research goals; (E) providing technical assistance to users, including software engineering support, for artificial intelligence research and development relevant to the Institute's research goals; (F) engaging in outreach and engagement to broaden participation in artificial intelligence research and the artificial intelligence workforce; and (G) such other activities as may determined by the Secretary of Defense.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to award financial assistance domestically for AI affecting national security.

(3) Duration.--Financial assistance under paragraph (1) shall be awarded for a five-year period, and may be renewed for not more than one additional five-year period. (4) Application for financial assistance.--An eligible host institution or consortia thereof seeking financial assistance under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (5) Competitive, merit review.--In awarding financial assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall use a competitive, merit-based review process. (6) Collaboration.--In awarding financial assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense may collaborate with other departments and agencies of the Federal Government with missions that relate to or have the potential to be affected by the national security implications of artificial intelligence systems. (7) Limitation.--No financial assistance authorized in this section shall be awarded to an entity outside of the United States. All recipients of financial assistance under this section, including subgrantees, shall be based in the United States and shall meet such other eligibility criteria as may be established by the Secretary of Defense.

Defines "eligible host institution" as certain US higher education institutions or senior military colleges.

(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``eligible host institution'' means-- (1) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) in the United States that conducts research sponsored by the Department of Defense; or (2) a senior military college (as defined in section 2111a(f) of title 10, United States Code).