The final version of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act should include the House’s ban on corrosive race-based policies and strong research security provisions aimed at preventing Chinese anti-DOD espionage along with the Senate’s strong support for military construction in the Indo-Pacific and shipbuilding, including a third Arleigh Burke–class destroyer, a second Virginia-class submarine, and fenced-off funding for the Constellation-class frigate. Crucially, it should not add women to the draft. Ideally, the result will be a defense budget that flows from strategy, focusing by necessity on the Indo-Pacific, and leads to a less politicized DOD that is more focused on remaining as capable and lethal as possible to protect the national security interests of the American people.