FY2026 NDAA, Section 1061 ("Notification of waivers under Department of Defense Directive 3000.09")
Amends Chapter 3 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to notify congressional defense committees of any waivers issued under Department of Defense Directive 3000.09, which pertains to autonomy in weapon systems. Requires this notification within 30 days of issuing any such waiver. Specifies that each notification must include the rationale for the waiver, a description of the autonomous weapon system or technology involved, and the waiver's anticipated duration. Amends Section 1066(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to include provisions for legal reviews in the context of approving and deploying lethal autonomous weapon systems.
Paper
Full text
FY2026 NDAA, Section 1061 ("Notification of waivers under Department of Defense Directive 3000.09")
ETO AGORA · NDAA provisions · 2025
Summary
Amends Chapter 3 of title 10, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to notify congressional defense committees of any waivers issued under Department of Defense Directive 3000.09, which pertains to autonomy in weapon systems.
Requires this notification within 30 days of issuing any such waiver.
Specifies that each notification must include the rationale for the waiver, a description of the autonomous weapon system or technology involved, and the waiver's anticipated duration.
Amends Section 1066(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 to include provisions for legal reviews in the context of approving and deploying lethal autonomous weapon systems.
Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress of waivers related to autonomy in weapon systems.
SEC. 1061. NOTIFICATION OF WAIVERS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DIRECTIVE 3000.09. (a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 130f the following new section: ``Sec. 130g. Notification requirements for waivers issued under Department of Defense guidance related to autonomy in weapon systems ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees written notification of any waiver under Department of Defense Directive 3000.09 (relating to autonomy in weapon systems), or any successor directive, by not later than 30 days after the date on which the waiver is issued. ``(b) Elements.--Each notification submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following: ``(1) The rationale for the waiver. ``(2) A description of the autonomous weapon system or technology covered by the waiver. ``(3) The anticipated duration of the waiver.
Requires legal reviews to be included in reports on lethal autonomous weapon systems approval and deployment.
``(c) Form.--A notification under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex, as the Secretary determines necessary.''. (b) Reports on Approval and Deployment of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems.--Section 1066(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159; 138 Stat. 2065 ) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, or any legal review,'' after ``officials''; (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including any legal review,'' after ``review''; and (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, including any legal review,'' after ``review''.