Waiver authority for limitation on live fire trauma training

Section 1050 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (Public Law 119–60; 139 Stat. 1042) is amended— (1) by striking Beginning and inserting the following: (1) In general Beginning; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Waiver authority (1) In general The Secretary may waive the application of subsection (a) with respect to a unit or command for a period of one year, and may renew such a waiver for additional one-year periods, if the application of that subsection is demonstrated to have a direct impact on the operational readiness of the unit or command, as the case may be. (2) Notification required Not later than 15 days after issuing or renewing a waiver under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a notification that includes, at a minimum— (A) an identification of the unit or command to which the waiver applies; (B) a description of the assessed impact to operational readiness that necessitated the waiver; (C) a description of ongoing efforts to increase combat medic training in civilian settings; and (D) a certification that no technically acceptable alternative exists to replace the use of live animals..