US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

41 U.S.C. § 1904

Certain transactions for defense against attack

(a)

Authority.—

(1)

In general .—

1
1 See References in Text note below.
The head of an executive agency that engages in basic research, applied research, advanced research, and development projects that are necessary to the responsibilities of the executive agency in the field of research and development and have the potential to facilitate defense against or recovery from terrorism or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack may exercise the same authority (subject to the same restrictions and conditions) with respect to the research and projects as the Secretary of Defense may exercise under section 2371  of title 10, except for subsections (b) and (f) of section 2371.
(2)

Prototype projects .—

1Public Law 103–16010 U.S.C. 2371The head of an executive agency, under the authority of paragraph (1), may carry out prototype projects that meet the requirements of paragraph (1) in accordance with the requirements and conditions provided for carrying out prototype projects under section 845  of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (, note), including that, to the maximum extent practicable, competitive procedures shall be used when entering into agreements to carry out projects under section 845(a) of that Act and that the period of authority to carry out projects under section 845(a) of that Act terminates as provided in section 845(i) of that Act.
(3)

Application of requirements and conditions .—

In applying the requirements and conditions of section 845 of that Act under this subsection—
(A)
section 845(c) of that Act shall apply with respect to prototype projects carried out under paragraph (2); and
(B)
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall perform the functions of the Secretary of Defense under section 845(d) of that Act.
(4)

Applicability to selected executive agencies.—

(A)

Office of management and budget .—

The head of an executive agency may exercise authority under this subsection for a project only if authorized by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(B)

Department of homeland security .—

6 U.S.C. 391Authority under this subsection does not apply to the Secretary of Homeland Security while section 831 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 () is in effect.
(b)

Regulations .—

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. No transaction may be conducted under the authority of this section before the regulations take effect.
(c)

Annual Report .—

1The annual report of the head of an executive agency that is required under section 2371(h)  of title 10, as applied to the head of the executive agency by subsection (a), shall be submitted to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives.
(d)

Termination of Authority .—

The authority to carry out transactions under subsection (a) terminates on .

Pub. L. 111–350, § 3124 Stat. 3721(, , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

1904

41:428a note.

Pub. L. 108–136, title XIV, § 1441, Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1673.

Public Law 103–16010 U.S.C. 2371Public Law 108–136117 Stat. 1554Public Law 109–163119 Stat. 3387In subsection (a)(2), the reference to subsection (g) of section 845 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (, note) is changed to subsection (i) because of section 847(c)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (, ), which redesignated subsection (g) as subsection (h), and section 823(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (, ), which redesignated subsection (h) as subsection (i).

In subsection (a)(3)(A), the words “paragraph (2)” are substituted for “this paragraph” to correct the cross-reference.

In subsection (a)(4)(A), the words “to use the authority for such project” are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (c), the words “Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs” are substituted for “Committee on Governmental Affairs” on authority of Senate Resolution No. 445 (108th Congress, ). The words “Committee on Oversight and Government Reform” are substituted for “Committee on Government Reform” on authority of Rule X(1)(m) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, adopted by House Resolution No. 6 (110th Congress, ).

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 2371 of title 10section 4021 of title 10Pub. L. 116–283, § 1841(b)(1)Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(u)(2)(B)135 Stat. 2151, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was renumbered by , as amended by , , .

Public Law 103–16010 U.S.C. 2371Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, § 815(c)129 Stat. 896Section 845 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (, note), referred to in subsec. (a)(2), was repealed by , , .

Section 2371(h) of title 10Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(f)(20)128 Stat. 3511, referred to in subsec. (c), was repealed by , , .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, . Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, .