H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, is the main annual law that funds and directs the U.S. military. It covers everything from weapons purchases to troop pay to foreign policy. It became Public Law 117-263 on December 23, 2022.
What does this law actually do?
The law sets troop levels for all military branches and authorizes spending on weapons, ships, aircraft, and bases. It also covers topics far beyond the Pentagon, including veterans' benefits, Coast Guard operations, water resources, and foreign aid. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon introduced it on May 16, 2022.
What does the law do about UAP?
This is one of the most detailed UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena) laws passed to date. Section 1673 requires the Secretary of Defense to set up a secure system so military and government personnel can report UAP sightings and related programs without fear of punishment. The law also protects people who make those reports from retaliation.
Section 6802 formally establishes the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), replacing the older Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force. AARO is tasked with collecting and analyzing UAP data across all military branches and intelligence agencies. The law also expands the definition of UAP to include objects that move between space, air, and water, known as transmedium objects.
Section 6802 also requires AARO to produce a historical record report covering U.S. government UAP activity going back to January 1, 1945. That report must include any efforts to hide or misrepresent information about UAP. Section 6803 directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to audit that process and brief Congress every six months.
Who oversees AARO and how does Congress get updates?
The AARO Director reports to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. The law requires semiannual classified briefings to Congress through December 31, 2026. Annual reports must be submitted in unclassified form, with a classified annex allowed. If a UAP disclosure involves a secret program not previously reported to Congress, the Secretary of Defense must notify congressional leaders within 72 hours.
What else is notable in this law?
The law rescinds the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Armed Forces members. It raises the Special Defense Acquisition Fund cap from $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion to help restock weapons sent to Ukraine. It also bans DOD from buying firefighting gear containing PFAS chemicals starting in FY2027, and prohibits federal agencies from buying semiconductors from companies tied to foreign governments of concern.
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Related Intelligence
AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office)
The Pentagon office established in 2022 to detect, track, and resolve UAP across air, sea, space, and transmedium domains.
Open file →DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency)
The U.S. military intelligence agency that funded and oversaw AATIP-era research and produced reference documents on advanced aerospace topics.
Open file →National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
H.R. 7900 is the FY2023 defense authorization bill, covering military spending, UAP reporting rules, and a wide range of other defense policies.
Open file →Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
The Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2023 funds spy agencies, creates a new UAP office, and sets rules for reporting UAP sightings.
Open file →Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 7776, with an amendment.
H.Res. 1512 is a procedural resolution that allowed the House to adopt the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act, including new UAP reporting rules.
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