REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SMITH ON HOW CONGRESS WILL SHAPE US DEFENSE POLICY - Join the Atlantic Council will host an #ACFrontPage conversation with Representative Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, on the future of US defense strategy and the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This event is part of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s flagship Commanders Series, supported by Saab.

As a key voice shaping the NDAA, Smith will share his insights on the evolving security landscape facing the United States and its allies. He will discuss Congress’s role in ensuring the Pentagon can meet the challenges of strategic competition, modernization, and global instability, while maintaining bipartisan support for a strong and sustainable national defense.

Smith will also outline his priorities for the FY 2026 defense bill, reflect on lessons from his tenure as committee chair and ranking member, and offer his perspective on the future of US military readiness, innovation, and global leadership.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 11/06/2025