WARP Act of 2026

and development of standardized skill sustainment metrics applicable across the Armed Forces. (2) Coordination.--In carrying out the research activities under paragraph (1), the official designated under subsection (b) shall coordinate with the following entities, as appropriate: (A) The Army Research Institute for Behavioral and Social Sciences. (B) The Office of Naval Research. (C) The Air Force Research Laboratory Human Effectiveness Directorate. (D) The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. (E) The military departments. (F) Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness. (G) Such other research entities and operational commands as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate. (3) Research methodology.--Research conducted under this subsection shall-- (A) establish baseline measurements of task performance and cognitive capabilities prior to artificial intelligence system use; (B) assess performance changes during routine artificial intelligence-assisted operations; (C) evaluate skill sustainment when artificial intelligence systems are removed or unavailable; (D) measure recovery timelines to baseline proficiency after extended artificial intelligence- assisted operations; and (E) identify factors that accelerate or support skill sustainment. (e) Reports.-- (1) Initial report.-- (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the assessment required under subsection (a). (B) Elements.--The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) An identification of military occupational specialties and operational roles where proficiency sustainment will be most critical based on which are most vulnerable to hard-to-recover skill atrophy. (ii) Preliminary findings from controlled operational experiments and the design of longitudinal studies under subsection (d)(1). (iii) An assessment of opportunities to strengthen readiness based on identification of high-level risks to proficiency based on current or planned artificial intelligence deployment practices. (iv) Recommended changes to policies, training, doctrine, or acquisition requirements to optimize human and artificial intelligence integration. (v) Recommendations for updates, identified as near- or long-term in nature, to existing training programs, certification standards, and operational doctrine to build and sustain critical and hard-to-recover proficiencies and identification of the Department of Defense component or office best positioned to implement each such recommendation. (vi) An identification of any additional authorities, resources, research partnerships with academic institutions or federally funded research and development centers, or technical expertise needed to conduct the research activities described in subsection (d). (2) Longitudinal study report.-- (A) In general.--Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing the findings of the longitudinal studies conducted under subsection (d)(1). (B) Elements.--The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include the following: (i) An identification of measured rates of retention and atrophy of hard-to-recover skills across different military occupational specialties and operational contexts. (ii) An assessment of skill recovery trajectories and the time required to restore baseline proficiency. (iii) An evaluation of degraded-mode performance outcomes under simulated contested conditions. (iv) Updated recommendations for policies, training protocols, doctrine, acquisition requirements, or readiness metrics based on research findings. (v) Any update to the recommendations made under paragraph (1)(B)(v). (f) Briefings.-- (1) Initial briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the submittal of the initial report under subsection (e)(1), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the findings and recommendations contained in such report. (2) Longitudinal study briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the submittal of the longitudinal study report under subsection (e)(2), the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees a briefing on the findings and recommendations contained in such report. (g) Review of Training and Doctrine.--The Secretary of Defense shall assess whether existing training programs, certification standards, and operational doctrine adequately account for the effects of artificial intelligence-enabled systems on skill retention and degraded-mode performance and shall include in the reports required under subsection (e)-- (1) recommendations for updates, as appropriate, identified as near-term or longer-term in nature; and (2) identification of the Department of Defense component or office best positioned to consider implementation of each such recommendation. (h) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Artificial intelligence system.--The term ``artificial intelligence system'' has the meaning given the term ``artificial intelligence'' in section 238(g) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 4061 note prec.). (2) Artificial intelligence-enabled system.--The term ``artificial intelligence-enabled system'' means any weapons system, decision support tool, or operational capability that incorporates or relies on an artificial intelligence system. (3) Congressional defense committees.--The term ``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code. (4) Degraded-mode operations.--The term ``degraded-mode operations'' means military operations conducted when artificial intelligence systems or supporting infrastructure are unavailable, partially functional, compromised, or under adversarial attack. (5) Primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency planning.--The term ``primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency planning'' means a framework for ensuring continuity of operations when primary systems become unavailable, requiring personnel to employ alternate approaches, contingency plans, or emergency procedures. <all>