DOD now has to count the service of National Guard troops who were called to duty at Ground Zero during the immediate aftermath of 9/11. New York lawmakers Sen. Hillary Clinton (D), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D), and Rep. Peter King (R) spearheaded a successful effort to add legislation to the final 2006 defense authorization bill to extend federal retirement credit to Guardsmen called to service at the epicenter of the terror attacks. Pentagon officials had opposed the idea because some of the Guardsmen guarding Ground Zero were not federalized.
2026 NDAA: 5 Highlights for Airmen and Guardians
Dec. 18, 2025
President Donald Trump signed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 18, a day after Congress passed the annual defense policy bill for the 65th consecutive year. Here’s what it means for the Air Force and Space Force.

