The ARCH Act · 119th Congress
Preserve the proof of service, before it is lost
When the Afghan government fell, access to the records that prove who stood with the United States fell with it. The Afghan Ally Records and Credential Heritage Act, the ARCH Act, directs the Department of Defense to verify and preserve those records and the biometrics tied to them, so a person's service can be verified in the years ahead.
Take action → Read our statement → Introduced August 7, 2026Bottom line up front
Save the evidence of service while it still exists
Tens of thousands of Afghans served alongside American forces as commandos, pilots, intelligence officers, judges, and defense officials. The proof of that service, the personnel files, the credentials, and the biometrics, sat in Afghan and U.S. systems that scattered or fell into Taliban hands when Kabul collapsed. Every year that passes, more of it is lost.
The ARCH Act directs the Department of Defense to stand up a secure program that verifies and preserves those records for at-risk Afghan allies. Within 180 days, an ally, a designee, or an accredited representative could apply through an online portal, from anywhere outside the United States, including from inside Afghanistan, to have that service recognized and the record preserved.
AfghanEvac supports the ARCH Act. Our goal is to see this records preservation program enacted through the FY2027 NDAA, where it stands as Section 1080, and the standalone bill underscores the bipartisan support behind it.
Where AfghanEvac stands
What we are asking the Senate to do
Take action
Add your voice
There are two ways to help move the ARCH Act. Pick the one that fits you.
Write your member of Congress
Tell the officials who represent you to support the ARCH Act and preserve the record of service for our Afghan allies. We route your message to the right offices. It takes about two minutes.
Write your reps →Endorse the ARCH Act
Add your organization to the coalition urging Congress to preserve the proof of service, through the standalone ARCH Act and Section 1080 of the FY2027 NDAA.
Endorse the Act →At a glance
Section by section
Every claim below is traceable to the text of the bill.
| Section | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sec. 2(a)-(b) – Who is an Afghan ally | Defines a set of high-risk populations, from Afghan special operations forces, the Afghan Air Force, and the Special Mission Wing to female members of the security forces, intelligence and counterterrorism personnel, judges and prosecutors, and senior Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior officials, who served at least one year between December 22, 2001, and September 1, 2021. | Draws a clear, service-based line around the people most at risk. |
| Sec. 2(c)(1) – Stand-up | Within 180 days of enactment, the Department of Defense must establish a process by which an individual may apply for classification as an Afghan ally. | Puts a clock on building the system, not a someday promise. |
| Sec. 2(c)(2) – Application system | A secure online portal that an applicant, a designee, or an accredited representative can use, from anywhere outside the United States, including from inside Afghanistan. | Reaches people in hiding who cannot walk into an embassy. |
| Sec. 2(c)(3) – Review and preservation | The Department reviews service records, DoD and contractor-held holdings, attestations from current or former U.S. officials, and available biometric data, and preserves a complete record for an ally without significant derogatory information. | Locks in the proof of service while it still exists. |
| Sec. 2(c)(4) – Denials and appeal | A denied applicant receives written notice, an appeal, and a request to reopen. | Builds in fairness and a way to fix mistakes. |
| Sec. 2(c)(5)-(6) – Duration and access | The process runs for at least ten years, charges no fees, and allows representation. | Keeps the door open long enough, and free enough, to matter. |
The provisions in full
What the bill actually says
Sec. 2(a) and (b) – The definition of an Afghan ally
The bill reaches a defined set of high-risk populations, including Afghan special operations forces, the Afghan Air Force, the Special Mission Wing, female members of the Afghan security forces, human intelligence and counterintelligence personnel, counterterrorism and counternarcotics personnel, justice-sector judges and prosecutors, and senior officials of the former Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior. Eligible individuals must have served at least one year between December 22, 2001, and September 1, 2021, in support of the United States mission.
The bill also spells out that the Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces include the Afghan National Army, the Afghan Air Force, the Afghan National Police, and other security-force entities designated by the Secretary of Defense.
Sec. 2(c)(1) and (2) – A secure portal, within 180 days
Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary of Defense must establish a process by which an individual may apply for classification as an Afghan ally. The process must include a secure online portal for submitting information and supporting documentation, and it must allow an applicant to apply themselves, a designee to apply on their behalf, or an accredited representative to apply for them.
Applications can be submitted from anywhere outside the United States, including from inside Afghanistan, so the people most in hiding are not shut out.
Sec. 2(c)(3) – What gets reviewed, and preserved
The Department reviews service records, records held within the Department and by its contractors, attestations from current or former U.S. officials, and available biometric data, including fingerprints, iris scans, and voice records. For an ally without significant derogatory information, the Department preserves a complete record for the person's potential future use, together with the information that helps verify the service.
Sec. 2(c)(4) through (6) – Denials, fees, representation, and a ten-year run
If the Department denies a request, it must provide written notice, an appeal, and a way to request that the case be reopened. The application process runs for at least ten years. The program charges no fees, and an applicant may be represented, at no cost to the government.
How we got here
Timeline
Read the record yourself
Our analysis is traceable to the text of the bill. The bill and the broader record live on The Ledger, AfghanEvac's public record.
About this analysis
Prepared by AfghanEvac and updated August 7, 2026. This analysis reflects the introduced text of the ARCH Act, the standalone companion to Section 1080 of the FY2027 NDAA. We will update this page as the bill moves.
Senate bill number, the Congress.gov page, and Senator Rounds's press release are forthcoming, and will be added here once they post.
For individuals
Write your member of Congress
Add your name and send a message urging your representatives to support the ARCH Act and preserve the record of service for our Afghan allies. We route it to the right offices. It takes about two minutes.
For organizations
Endorse the ARCH Act
Add your organization to the coalition urging Congress to preserve the record of service for at-risk Afghan allies, through the standalone ARCH Act and Section 1080 of the FY2027 NDAA. Individuals can write their member of Congress here.
Endorsements move fast. As soon as your organization signs on, the offices leading the bill are informed of your endorsement, immediately.
Educational reference only, not legal advice. This analysis is provided for general informational purposes. Immigration and national-security law is complex and changes without warning. Nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. If you or someone you know needs help with an active case, consult a qualified attorney or contact AfghanEvac.