McDowell Amendment to NDAA Strengthens U.S. Intelligence Against Cartels

Washington, D.C. – Today, an amendment proposed by Congressman Addison McDowell (NC-06) to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House by voice vote. The amendment equips Congress with the intelligence it needs to confront the growing military power of drug cartels operating across the Western Hemisphere.

“Every day, military-age men fight in the hills of South America with weapons we usually only see in war zones,” said Rep. McDowell. “These cartels have built billion-dollar empires on the destruction of American communities. The more our families suffer, the more they profit – and in return, they invest in drones, encrypted communications, and advanced weaponry to tighten their grip on the region.”

McDowell’s amendment requires the Department of Defense and the intelligence community to deliver an annual report to Congress and the American people on the cartels’ structure, capabilities, and reach.

Specifically, the amendment will:

• Require an annual report from the Department of Defense and intelligence community on cartel structure, capabilities, and geographic reach.
• Provide Congress and the American people with a report to increase transparency and awareness of cartel activity.
• Equip U.S. Armed Forces with better intelligence to counter cartel operations and prevent further militarization.
• Strengthen America’s response to the drug crisis by linking national security tools directly to combating cartel-driven violence and trafficking.

“Let’s be clear, they are no longer street gangs. They are foreign terrorist organizations carrying out militant-style attacks, using guerrilla warfare tactics that threaten America’s national security,” Rep. McDowell continued. “We cannot fight blindfolded. Our Armed Forces need the best intelligence to confront this threat and stop the drug crisis that has already claimed too many American lives.”

The amendment was adopted as part of the NDAA, which is considered must-pass legislation to fund and guide America’s national defense.

Read the full amendment here.