Digital rights groups push congress to keep encryption and interoperability mandate in US defence bill
Their position is outlined in a joint letter sent to senior members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, calling for Section 6612 of S.2296 to remain intact as negotiations advance.
A coalition of digital rights, cybersecurity, and consumer-protection organisations has urged US lawmakers to preserve a key provision in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would tighten security requirements for Pentagon communication tools. Their position is outlined in a joint letter sent to senior members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, calling for Section 6612 of S.2296 to remain intact as negotiations advance.
The provision, often referred to as the Lummis-Wyden proposal, would require the Department of Defense to adopt end-to-end encrypted communication systems wherever available. The signatories argue that recent high-profile breaches demonstrate the vulnerability of government communications when service-provider systems are compromised. They cite incidents in which Chinese state-linked hackers infiltrated Microsoft-hosted US government email accounts in 2023 and compromised major telecom networks in 2024, enabling the interception of calls and access to senior officials’ data. According to the letter, only communications protected by strong encryption remained secure during these breaches.
The organisations also warn against continued reliance on large proprietary platforms that lock agencies into closed ecosystems. Section 6612 includes a requirement for interoperability in collaboration and messaging tools, which the signatories say would lower costs, reduce dependency on single vendors, and allow the Pentagon to adopt more secure or cost-effective alternatives in future. They argue that this combination of end-to-end encryption and open standards would strengthen national security while encouraging innovation among smaller technology providers.
The letter concludes by urging lawmakers to maintain the provision during NDAA negotiations, arguing that it sets essential cybersecurity baselines for defence communications and helps protect sensitive government data from foreign adversaries. According to the coalition, preserving Section 6612 would align Pentagon procurement with modern security practices and create a more resilient communication environment for servicemembers and federal officials.
