CVA Urges House to Prioritize War Powers Reform and Accountability in the FY 2026 NDAA, Warns Against Locking in Troop Levels in Europe

ARLINGTON, Va. –As the House Rules Committee prepares to vote on the final version of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) urges lawmakers to ensure the final bill reflects constitutional war powers reform, fiscal accountability, and protections for service members and veterans – while avoiding measures that constrain strategic flexibility, including provisions that lock in U.S. troop levels in Europe. 

CVA’s top priorities for the NDAA include: 

• Repealing outdated war powers: Sec. 8370 would eliminate the long-irrelevant 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force in Iraq (AUMFs), reasserting Congress’s constitutional role in decisions of war and peace. 

• Ensuring defense accountability: Provisions requiring Pentagon audits, reporting on fraud and waste, and modernizing acquisition systems would strengthen oversight and make better use of taxpayer resources. 

• Modernizing defense infrastructure: Sec. 319 would support innovation and logistical readiness by creating a working group to expand the use of nuclear energy at military installations.  

CVA also expresses concern about Sec. 1249 that prevents reducing U.S. troop levels in Europe below 76,000 for more than 45 days without extensive certification, reporting, and consultation. Restricting the president’s ability to redeploy troops as strategic conditions locks our military into an inflexible force posture that is at odds with the president’s published national security strategy. 

John Vick, Executive Director of CVA, said:

“Congress has an opportunity to protect constitutional war powers, improve Department of War accountability, and focus our military on today’s most pressing threats. Repealing outdated Iraq AUMFs, strengthening oversight, and modernizing our defense infrastructure will better serve our troops and American taxpayers. At the same time, Congress must resist measures that lock in permanent troop levels in Europe, which ignore the changing strategic conditions outlined in the new National Security Strategy and imperil strategic agility. Lawmakers should pass an NDAA that reflects strategic clarity, responsible stewardship, and the Constitution’s clear division of war powers.” 

CVA urges Members of the House to prioritize these provisions as the NDAA moves through the Rules Committee and to deliver a fiscally responsible, strategically sound, and constitutionally grounded bill to the floor.