The National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) may be the most important piece of energy and environmental legislation most people have never heard of. It authorizes the appropriation of federal funds to support the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) and related national security programs. Passed regularly since 1961, it establishes funding levels and sets policies under which authorized funds will be spent. The NDAA for Fiscal Year 2018, signed into law by President Trump on December 12, 2017, authorizes approximately $700 billion for DoD activities.

Originally published in Pratt's Energy Law Report - July/August 2018, Volume 18-7.