# Universities Urge NDAA Research-Security Revisions

On November 2, 2026, the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) asked Congress to revise proposed Department of Defense research-security provisions in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act and reject measures they say could disrupt university research, international collaboration, and access to unclassified laboratories. The provisions remain subject to the NDAA conference process; the letter announces no solicitation or contract award.

- DoD-funded universities, research organizations, and contractors should assess how changes in the final conference agreement could affect foreign collaborations, funding eligibility, access to research facilities, and compliance obligations.
- Procurement and program teams can use the letter’s identified concerns to evaluate potential impacts on research partnerships and planned DoD-funded work; the final requirements are not yet established.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Education
**Topics:** Policy, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** November 03, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. House and Senate Armed Services Committees (HASC and SASC)

### Sources
- [Joint AAU-APLU FY27 NDAA Conference Letter | AAU](https://www.aau.edu/resource-library/joint-aau-aplu-fy27-ndaa-conference-letter) - Association of American Universities (AAU)