Provisions in the final bill

• Directs DOD to develop a National Defense Science and Technology Strategy
• Directs DOD to establish a coordinated R&D program in quantum information science
• Directs DOD to establish an initiative to support academic institutions’ efforts to protect against foreign exploitation of intellectual property and personnel
• Directs DOD to create additional programs modeled on the Army Research Laboratory’s open campus program
• Authorizes NNSA to construct a low-yield nuclear weapon, contingent on a specific request for funding
• Directs DOD to begin work on a space-based missile defense system contingent on the availability of appropriations
• For further information, see “Trump Signs National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019"

Provisions in the House bill

• Directs DOD to develop a National Security Science and Technology Strategy
• Directs DOD to develop a plan to eliminate its Strategic Capabilities Office
• Authorizes DOD to create a program requiring recipients of R&D grants to certify no funding will go to individuals who have participated in talent recruitment programs operated by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia
• Directs the Air Force Research Laboratory to create a program modeled on the Army Research Laboratory’s open campus program
• Directs DOD to develop a STEM jobs action plan
• Authorizes NNSA to begin development of a low-yield nuclear warhead
• For further information, see “Defense Policy Bill Heads to Conference with Focus on Strategic Technologies”

Provisions in the Senate bill

• Transfers ultimate authority over many NNSA activities from the secretary of energy to the NNSA administrator
• Directs DOD to create reports on U.S. and adversary capabilities in various technology areas and on the future of the defense research and engineering enterprise
• Confers to the under secretary of defense for research and engineering direct authority over priority R&D areas, including artificial intelligence, directed energy, hypersonics, and future space satellite architectures
• Directs DOD to establish a coordinated R&D program in quantum information science
• Directs DOD to begin development of a space-based missile defense system
• Relaxes an existing requirement that NNSA secure permission from Congress before developing a new low-yield nuclear warhead
• For further information, see “Defense Policy Bill Heads to Conference with Focus on Strategic Technologies”