FY25 NDAA Proposals: What Research Universities Need to Know

Congress is in its annual August recess and will return after Labor Day to a packed legislative schedule, including an impending election in November.

Given the fast-approaching fiscal year deadline on October 1st and the ramping up of the general election, it is unlikely Congress can resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 before the November election. This will give institutions of higher education (IHEs) additional time to assess the current proposals for the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Research, Development, Test, & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget.

Key highlights from the House and Senate proposals include:

Authorized Funding

• Both the House and Senate bills authorize total topline RDT&E funding above the Administration’s budget request for FY25.
• Both bills propose overall basic research funding levels (Budget Activity 6.1) for all service branches above or at comparable levels to the budget request.

Research Security

• The Senate bill would require DOD components to conduct periodic examinations of research awards made to institutions of higher education (IHEs) and extend the Global Research Watch Program from 2025 to 2035.
• Both bills propose restrictions on DOD funding to IHEs that conduct fundamental research with foreign institutions and countries of concern. The House bill would add additional post-employment restrictions on Principal Investigators (PIs) of DOD-funded research seeking employment at foreign entities of concern.

Research Topics

• The Senate bill would require DARPA to establish a Quantum Scaling Initiative. The House bill would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategic plan to guide the development and maturation of quantum information sciences technologies within the Department and military services.
• The House bill would authorize a $5 million increase for the Navy for hypersonics workforce and university partnerships.
• The House bill encourages the Army to expand collaborations with universities providing advanced degrees in cybersecurity, and in intelligence and security studies, through the Army Cyber Center of Excellence Training.

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