Department of Defense

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual U.S. congressional statute that authorizes funding levels and policy provisions for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Judicial challenges to domestic military deployments can result in courts temporarily blocking or pausing National Guard operations and can prompt the Department of Defense to order affected federal troops to return to their home states.

Proposed legislation can authorize the Department of Defense (the Pentagon) to revoke security clearances of former defense officials who lobby on behalf of companies substantially owned or controlled by designated adversary governments.

In the United States, testing of nuclear-capable delivery systems is handled by the Department of Defense, while testing of nuclear explosives is the responsibility of the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

A version of the Biosecure Act proposal assigns the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the authority to maintain and update a list of designated foreign adversaries and 'companies of concern' relevant to biotechnology and other sectors.

The U.S. Department of Defense can use unspent research and development funds from prior fiscal years to cover military payroll during a lapse in appropriations, but such uses are typically temporary.

Federal executive actions during U.S. government shutdowns have included diverting previously appropriated Department of Defense research and development funds to continue military pay, an action that some lawmakers have characterized as potentially illegal.

During federal government shutdowns, active-duty members of the U.S. military generally continue to be paid, although payment timing can be affected and may depend on available funds or specific funding actions.

The Pentagon Press Association is an organization that represents reporters covering the Department of Defense and advocates for access to information and transparency about the U.S. military.

The Congressional Budget Office in 2025 said the administration could use mandatory funding provided in the 2025 reconciliation act or other sources of mandatory funding to continue activities financed by direct appropriations at federal agencies, and that some Department of Defense funds could be used to pay active-duty personnel during a shutdown, thereby reducing the number of excepted workers who would receive delayed compensation; the CBO cited the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Management and Budget as agencies that received specific funds under the law.

Some Department of Defense research and development funds have a two-year period of availability and can be used to cover certain expenses, including paying service members during a lapse in regular appropriations.

An October 8, 2025 Department of Defense memo gives commanders authority to override military separation boards' decisions to retain transgender service members.

A 2025 Department of Defense memo requires service members to appear before separation boards in uniforms and grooming that match the sex assigned at birth; if a service member does not conform to those standards, the board may continue proceedings in absentia and may consider the failure to comply when determining separation.

National Security Presidential Memorandum-8 (NSPM-8) directs the Department of Defense to use available fiscal year 2026 funds to cover U.S. military pay and allowances.

A 2025 Gallup poll found that 74% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters approved of the Department of Defense and 73% approved of the Department of Homeland Security.

Credentialing processes are used to control access to Department of Defense and other military facilities and can be updated to align with modern security standards.

Access to the Pentagon and comparable military installations is generally treated as a privilege rather than a legal right, allowing authorities to impose rules and conditions on entry and behavior within those facilities.

A 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that Department of Defense barracks are chronically neglected, experience increased deterioration, receive low priority in the Defense Department's budget, and that poor living conditions undermine service members' quality of life and readiness.

The Department of Defense can revoke or deny press credentials for unauthorized access to, attempted unauthorized access to, or unauthorized disclosure of classified information or information designated as controlled unclassified information.

The U.S. Congress passes an annual defense appropriations bill to allocate funding for the Department of Defense.

Congress can consider individual annual appropriations bills that fund specific federal departments or programs, such as a year-long appropriations bill to fund the Department of Defense.

10 U.S. Code § 2601 authorizes the Secretary of Defense to use certain funds for Department of Defense purposes.

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) has implemented a policy that ties media credentials and access to Pentagon workspaces to agreement with specific press restrictions, including provisions that journalists could be deemed security risks and have Pentagon press badges revoked for soliciting information not released by the department, even if that information is unclassified.

U.S. congressional defense committees are required to be provided copies of executed military orders within 15 days of issuance as part of congressional oversight procedures.

U.S. governmental responsibilities for nuclear testing are divided such that the Department of Defense (Pentagon) is responsible for testing nuclear-capable delivery vehicles, while the Department of Energy has jurisdiction over testing nuclear explosives.

The Department of Defense uses a central legislative affairs office to coordinate and manage interactions between Pentagon personnel and the U.S. Congress, with the stated purpose of improving accuracy, responsiveness, and transparency in communications.