House Advances Sweeping Maritime Reforms In FY27 Defense Bill

On July 22, 2026, the House narrowly approved the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800) by a vote of 216 to 212, sending the measure to the Senate. Tucked inside the massive defense policy bill are two amendments that, together, amount to the broadest rewrite of federal maritime law in a generation.

A New Shipbuilding and Governance Framework

The first amendment, sponsored by Seapower Subcommittee Chair Trent Kelly (R-MS), reworks the “Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security for America Act.” Among its most notable features, the bill would create a new maritime security advisor position within the Executive Office of the President to lead a Maritime Security Board and coordinate the country’s overall maritime strategy. It also sets up a Maritime Security Trust Fund, capped at $20 billion, to support shipbuilding and the broader industrial base, with actual funding left to future budget requests.