FY2026 NDAA, Section 3117 ("Appropriate scoping of artificial intelligence research within the National Nuclear Security Administration")

Summary

Limits the use of funds appropriated for artificial intelligence research and development within the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to support only its nuclear security missions.

Allows for the establishment of national security AI research and development programs in other components of the Department of Energy or other federal agencies without restriction from this limitation.

Permits the NNSA to use its resources to support national security AI research and development programs outside of the Department of Energy, provided support is given on a full cost recovery basis and does not interfere with its nuclear security mission.

Amends the Atomic Energy Defense Act to include a section on AI research within the National Nuclear Security Administration.

SEC. 3117. APPROPRIATE SCOPING OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH WITHIN THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. (a) In General.--Subtitle B of title XLVIII of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2791 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following section:

Restricts AI research funds to supporting the nuclear security missions of the Administration.

``SEC. 4816. APPROPRIATE SCOPING OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. ``(a) In General.--Funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2026, or any subsequent fiscal year, for the Administration for the purposes of conducting research and development of artificial intelligence technologies, executing a program to develop or manage the application of such technologies, or developing, acquiring, or sustaining any associated computing hardware or supporting infrastructure may only be used to support the nuclear security missions of the Administration.

Allows AI R&D programs in Department of Energy components and other agencies without impeding current resources.

``(b) Rule of Construction.--The limitation described in subsection (a) may not be interpreted-- ``(1) to prohibit the establishment of an enduring national security artificial intelligence research and development program in any component of the Department of Energy other than the Administration or in any other Federal agency; or ``(2) to impede the use of resources of the Administration, including resources provided by a national security laboratory or a nuclear weapons production facility site, to support the execution of an enduring national security artificial intelligence research and development program or activity, if such support is provided-- ``(A) on a full cost recovery basis, including any associated infrastructure or utility costs, to an entity that is not a component of the Department of Energy; and ``(B) in a manner that does not interfere with the nuclear security mission of such laboratory or facility.''.

Amends the Atomic Energy Defense Act by adding AI research scoping within the Administration to the table.

(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Atomic Energy Defense Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 4815 the following new item: ``Sec. 4816. Appropriate scoping of artificial intelligence research within the Administration.''.