Addressing the concerns of Redstone Arsenal officials and those who work on the sprawling facility, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong championed a provision to allow military installations to contract personnel for security guard functions when enlisted soldiers are not available.

The language proposed by Strong in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 ensures Redstone Arsenal is able to maintain secure, efficient access for the thousands of employees, contractors, and service members who enter through its gates daily.

“Every day, nearly 50,000 men and women come to work on Redstone Arsenal,” said Strong (R-Huntsville). “Unlike other military bases and installations, Redstone does not have a large population of junior enlisted personnel to help fill the gaps with gate security positions.

“I thank (House Armed Services Chairman Mike) Rogers for including this provision to allow military installations – like Redstone – to contract personnel for security guard functions, ensuring installation access is secure and seamless for our personnel.”

Last month, Redstone Arsenal changed the operational hours of Gate 3 due to federal funding cuts and hiring freezes.

The move follows a similar one in June when Gate 8 on Goss Road was closed to traffic after an assessment of current security measures, operational needs, and available resources.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes policy and appropriations for the Department of Defense, nuclear weapons programs within the Department of Energy, and other defense-related activities.

The NDAA, which passed the House by a vote of 231 to 196, awaits consideration in the Senate. Once passed, the two versions will be conferenced to resolve differences before going to the president’s desk for his signature.

Courtesy of 256 Today.