The fiscal 2026 defense policy bill draft mandates the Pentagon to create and maintain a database of commercial vendors involved in clandestine military operations. This requirement aims to enhance oversight and mitigate counterintelligence risks. The proposal is part of the broader FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, which is still in the mark-up stages and subject to reconciliations with a Senate draft. The database will facilitate deconfliction and risk assessment associated with clandestine activities supported by private contractors, aiding congressional oversight on ethical concerns and operational failures if they arise.
The draft version of the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill mandates that the Pentagon create a database of all commercial vendors involved in clandestine military operations, aiming to enhance oversight and reduce counterintelligence risks.
The measure is part of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act and requires the Defense Department to establish and regularly update a Clandestine Activities Vendor Database for risk assessment.
U.S. military forces have utilized a shadow workforce of contractors for secret missions, where operations are classified as clandestine if hidden and covert if U.S. involvement is obscured.
While the database may be classified and not publicly accessible, it could enable Congress to oversee the use of private firms in clandestine operations.
Collection
[
|
...
]