Lawmakers have moved to prevent the Defense Department from privatizing military commissaries as part of Congress’ proposed compromise defense policy bill.

In the proposed fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act released Sunday night, lawmakers reinforced previous restrictions on privatizing commissaries under law. The proposed legislation includes language stating that DOD “may not take” any action that conflicts with an existing provision that restricts private companies from managing the commissary system or a commissary store.

Lawmakers’ actions come in response to an April 7 DOD memorandum that directed all functions that are not inherently governmental to be prioritized for privatization. It specifically cited recreation and retail sales as examples, which would include th

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