FY22 NDAA §256 — DoD AI Test and Evaluation Master Plan (Pub. L. 117-81)
United States · Pub. L. No. 117-81, §256 (Dec. 27, 2021)
Section 256 of the FY22 NDAA (Pub. L. 117-81) directed the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive AI test and evaluation master plan covering data quality, model validation, and adversarial robustness. One of several discrete AI-related provisions across the FY22 NDAA — together they formed the federal government's first comprehensive AI safety-testing framework.
Technical detail
Pub. L. No. 117-81, §256 (Dec. 27, 2021) — directed DoD to develop and submit to Congress a comprehensive AI test and evaluation master plan addressing (1) data quality assurance, (2) model validation and verification methodologies, (3) adversarial robustness testing protocols, (4) deployment monitoring requirements. Related FY22 NDAA AI provisions: §1551 (DoD AI/ML Cyber Threat Information Sharing), §240 (Joint AI Center renamed CDAO), §1542 (AI in cybersecurity).
Who is protected: Public via downstream AI safety-testing standards
Who must comply: Department of Defense
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | United States |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2021-12-27 |
| Enacted | 2021-12-27 |
| Citation | Pub. L. No. 117-81, §256 (Dec. 27, 2021) |
| Enforced by | DoD Chief Digital and AI Officer (CDAO) |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Topics | government use of AI |
| Last verified | 2026-06-17 |
| Official source | Pub. L. 117-81 (FY22 NDAA, PDF) ↗ |
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