House Armed Services Committee NDAA Draft Leaks Secret Clause Giving Pentagon Veto Power Over AI Startups—Who Benefits?
In a shocking twist that industry watchdogs are calling a 'backdoor takeover,' a leaked draft of the House Armed Services Committee's version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reportedly includes a secret clause that would hand the Pentagon veto power over any AI startup receiving federal research grants. Skeptical observers are immediately asking: Who benefits from this power grab? The clause, slipped in without public debate, would effectively let the Department of Defense halt the operations of any non-Defense AI firm deemed a 'national security risk'—a term conveniently left undefined. Proponents argue it's about protecting military code, but critics point to a recent surge in lobbying by legacy defense contractors whose stock prices have tanked due to agile AI startups. With no hearings held on the measure, this 'quiet amendment' is raising eyebrows as Congress rushes to pass the NDAA. The buried language suggests the Committee is less interested in innovation and more in shielding old-money war machine enclaves from competition.