MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — President Donald Trump has signed into law two provisions authored by U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
Johnson said the provisions are aimed at strengthening America’s military readiness by countering China’s growing influence and establishing participation standards for women’s sports at U.S. military academies.
One provision directs the Department of Defense to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to strengthen defense industrial cooperation with U.S. allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region. The measure calls for identifying specific actions and priority systems to expand joint development, production, and sustainment of military capabilities.
Johnson said the strategy is intended to reinforce existing cooperation with Taiwan while expanding efforts throughout the broader Indo-Pacific region.
“My provisions will keep our military focused on what matters – military readiness and combatting our greatest threat, China,” Johnson said in a statement.
The second provision, known as the Protection of Women in Sports at Military Academies Act, prohibits biological males from competing in women’s sports at U.S. military service academies. Johnson said the legislation aligns with the original intent of Title IX, which was enacted to ensure equal athletic opportunities for women.
Johnson introduced the legislation in June. Identical legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama. Both provisions were adopted into the NDAA before being signed into law by the president.
