The U.S. House Advances NDAA Including Pro-Police Measures
The final text of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 10, 2025, passing several pro-police measures that support law enforcement officers and public safety nationwide. The legislation includes multiple bipartisan provisions focused on officer safety, survivor benefits, child protection, and emerging public safety threats.
Key Law Enforcement Provisions Included in the FY26 NDAA
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act – This Act recognizes exposure-related cancers as line-of-duty injuries for law enforcement officers. Under this provision, qualifying cancers would be covered by the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program, ensuring death and disability benefits for officers and their families.
Improving Police CARE Act – The Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act establishes baseline standards for trauma kits purchased with federal grant funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program. It also requires the development of best practices for training law enforcement officers on the use of trauma kits, as well as guidance on the proper deployment and maintenance of kits in patrol vehicles and government facilities.
PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act – The legislation reauthorizes and strengthens the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. This provision enhances efforts to combat child exploitation and abuse by improving coordination, resources, and investigative capabilities.
Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act – The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act extends PSOB (Public Safety Officers’ Benefits) Program coverage to retired law enforcement officers who are killed or permanently and catastrophically disabled as a result of injuries sustained during their service in the line of duty.
Counter-UAS Authority for State and Local Agencies – The NDAA also includes comprehensive counter-unmanned aircraft system (counter-UAS) authority for state and local law enforcement and corrections agencies. This authority allows agencies to detect, track, identify, and mitigate drones that pose credible threats to public safety. Under the legislation, agencies may disrupt or disable drones that threaten large public events or venues, critical infrastructure, public spaces, or correctional facilities such as prisons, jails, and detention centers.
Next Steps
The Senate is expected to take up the NDAA next week. POAM thanks House and Senate leadership for their support, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Richard Durbin (D-IL), House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), as well as the sponsors of these provisions for their efforts to ensure these important measures were included in the FY26 NDAA.
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