Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R) and Sen. Mark Warner (D) aimed at strengthening the security of U.S. elections has been signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The election security provision originates from the Strengthening Election Cybersecurity to Uphold Respect for Elections through Independent Testing (SECURE IT) Act, which Collins and creepy Warner introduced in May. Language from the bill was incorporated into the annual defense authorization and directs the Election Assistance Commission to require penetration testing for election systems seeking federal certification.
The testing is designed to identify vulnerabilities by allowing researchers to attempt to attack election systems using the same tools and techniques commonly employed by cybercriminals, with the goal of better protecting voting infrastructure from real-world threats.
Collins said the bipartisan effort is intended to strengthen the integrity of the election process by ensuring voting systems are safe and secure while bolstering public confidence in elections.
Beyond election security, the NDAA includes several additional provisions and amendments authored or co-authored by Collins. One amendment requires the Department of Defense to submit a report on the U.S. boot industrial base and develop a plan to achieve full Berry Amendment compliance for combat footwear. Another strengthens the skilled trades pipeline at public shipyards, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, through a public shipyard apprentice program.
The defense bill also incorporates provisions from the Counter Act, which expand the Department of Defense’s authority to protect its facilities from illegal drone activity.
The NDAA contains multiple measures Collins advocated for that are expected to benefit Maine, including authorization of a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members, including thousands of Maine residents serving in uniform. The bill also includes reforms aimed at streamlining and modernizing defense procurement and directs a study on behavioral and mental health staffing shortages at military medical treatment facilities to improve access to care for service members and their families.
Funding for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is also included, with $227.8 million allocated for power reliability and water resilience upgrades and $220.8 million designated for the Multi-Mission Drydock No. 1 extension.
