HASC has incorporated language from the Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTS) Act into the 2026 NDAA, which now moves to the House of Representatives for a full vote.
The language mandates that within two years, the US Defence Secretary must establish regulations forbidding military personnel from wearing optional combat boots as part of their uniform unless those boots are manufactured in the US with American-made materials, barring certain exceptions.
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Furthermore, the proposed NDAA for the House includes a clause aimed at closing a loophole provided by a statutory exemption under the Berry Amendment.
This exemption currently permits the US military to procure textiles from foreign sources for purchases not exceeding $150,000.
The new provision seeks to eliminate this exemption, thereby encouraging procurement from American textile producers.
NCTO president and CEO Kim Glas said: “We applaud the HASC for passing the FY 2026 NDAA and including provisions that would help boost domestic manufacturing, strengthen American economic competitiveness, and meet the mission-critical needs of our Armed Forces.
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By GlobalData“The Berry Amendment requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to purchase 100% US-made textiles and clothing. But the small-purchase exemption in the statute has led to US military purchases of foreign-made textile articles largely at the expense of American textile manufacturers who have potentially lost several million dollars per year in US government sales.”
The removal of this exemption is expected to enhance procurement of American-made military textile products and ensure compliance with the Berry Amendment.
NCTO also praised the inclusion of the BOOTS Act in the NDAA, which supports domestic production of military footwear.
“This is a win for the American textile and apparel industry, a key strategic contributor to our national defence that supplies over 8,000 products a year to our men and women in uniform. The industry provides high-tech, functional components for the US government, including more than $1.8bn worth of vital uniforms and equipment for our armed forces annually.
“After passage of the FY 2026 NDAA by the full House, we look forward to working with the Senate and House to ensure this provision is included in the final NDAA conference report,” Glas added.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), while still “reviewing” the NDAA’s details, acknowledged its importance for strengthening domestic manufacturing within defence.
AAFA president and CEO Stephen Lamar said: “We will be working with Congress to make sure the final bill, once it is presented to President Trump for signature, preserves these measures.”
“We will also be advocating to ensure that the NDAA helps wean the US Government away from its addiction to forced prison labour in the US federal prison system. At a time when are working to strengthen the defence industrial base and promote more Made in USA, it is endlessly frustrating when the US Government continues to award contracts in a preferential manner to US federal prison factories.”
In December last year, AAFA criticised government measures aimed at enhancing procurement of US-made defence goods without addressing forced labour issues within US prisons.
