Bill · H.R. 9283· House(119-HR-9283)
Critical Defense Ownership Review Act
- Introduced
- 6/11/2026
- Last activity
- 6/11/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Ro Khanna
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Critical Defense Ownership Review Act requires investment companies to get a review from the Department of Defense before acquiring a controlling interest in major defense suppliers. A controlling interest is defined as a direct or indirect equity interest of at least 25 percent or direct or indirect control. The Department of Defense must assess how these transactions affect national security, competition, and the financial stability of the supplier. Findings from these reviews are reported to antitrust authorities. Additionally, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy must conduct and report on merger and acquisition activity every three years.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+5
Increases the Department of Defense's authority to review and potentially block private sector acquisitions.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-3
Imposes additional regulatory hurdles and DoD review requirements for investment companies acquiring defense suppliers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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National Security and Public Interest: The Department of Defense will review if transactions are within the public interest and how they impact national security and the technological base (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Maintaining Competition: The bill requires an assessment of the potential effect on competition for Department of Defense contracts and subcontracts (Section 2(c)(2)).
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Ensuring Availability of Critical Goods: The review process looks for potential restrictions of goods or services critical to national security or the defense industrial base (Section 2(c)(3)).
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Financial Oversight of Suppliers: The bill requires an analysis of whether a financial plan impairs a major defense supplier's ability to maintain services and checks for risks to financial stability (Section 2(c)(4) and 2(c)(6)).
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Ongoing Monitoring: The requirement for a triennial review allows for the assessment of the financial health of firms and the supply of essential goods needed for national defense (Section 3(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Increased Costs: The Department of Defense review includes an assessment of any anticipated increased costs to the Department of Defense resulting from a transaction (Section 2(c)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners-3
- 6/11/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.