Ahead of Senate Vote, CVA Urges Passage of FY2026 NDAA to Lock In Historic War Powers Reform and Accountability

ARLINGTON, Va. ― As the Senate prepares to vote on the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) during the final week of session before the holiday recess, Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) urges senators to pass the bill and send it to President Trump’s desk with its critical war powers reforms intact. 

The House-passed conference version of the NDAA includes several long-overdue provisions strongly supported by CVA, most notably the White House-supported repeal of obsolete war powers that have remained in force for more than two decades despite no longer reflecting today’s strategic realities. 

This weekend’s attack in Syria that killed two U.S. soldiers and a local interpreter is a tragic reminder that American service members continue to face danger abroad under legal authorities Congress has not meaningfully debated or updated in years. 

Key priorities in the FY2026 NDAA include: 

Repealing long-outdated war powers:
Sec. 8370 repeals the 1991 and 2002 Iraq Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), restoring Congress’s constitutional role in authorizing the use of force and ensuring U.S. military operations are not justified under authorities divorced from current threats. 

Strengthening accountability at the Department of War:
The bill advances oversight through improved audit requirements, fraud- and waste-reporting measures, and reforms to modernize acquisition systems―promoting responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and improved readiness. 

Modernizing defense infrastructure:
Sec. 319 enhances resilience by establishing a working group to expand the use of advanced nuclear energy at military installations, improving reliability and reducing logistical vulnerabilities. 

John Vick, Executive Director of CVA, said:

“As the Senate prepares to vote, lawmakers should keep in mind the real consequences of sending Americans into harm’s way. The tragic loss of U.S. soldiers in Syria is a sobering reminder that decisions about war and military deployments are not abstract, they carry life-and-death consequences.” 

“Majorities in both Chambers and the White House have made it clear that repealing outdated AUMFs is a necessary step toward restoring constitutional accountability and ensuring our service members are not placed at risk under decades-old authorizations that no longer reflect today’s missions or threats. The conference version of the NDAA makes meaningful progress on war powers reform, accountability at the Department of War, and modernization that strengthens readiness. The Senate should act before leaving town and pass this bill without delay.” 

CVA also continues to urge caution regarding provisions that lock in rigid troop-level mandates abroad, particularly in Europe, which risk constraining strategic flexibility and undermining future presidents’ ability to adapt to evolving global threats. 

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