House Committee on Armed Services

The House Armed Services Committee is responsible for funding and oversight of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as substantial portions of the Department of Energy. Its jurisdiction covers defense policy, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Defense Department, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, and detainee affairs. The committee's primary legislative product is the National Defense Authorization Act, which has been passed and signed into law every year since 1962.

Bills referred to the committee are reviewed through a seven-member subcommittee structure covering specific defense areas: Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation; Intelligence and Special Operations; Military Personnel; Readiness; Seapower and Projection Forces; Strategic Forces; and Tactical Air and Land Forces. The full committee holds hearings on policy issues and specific bill proposals, conducts markups to develop legislation, and reports recommendations to the House floor.

The committee is chaired by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), with Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) serving as Ranking Member. The 57-member committee includes both Republicans and Democrats. Recent activity includes work on the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, aviation safety reforms following a 2025 midair collision near Washington, D.C., and oversight hearings on military posture, cyber defense, intelligence operations, and defense acquisition reform.