On Wednesday, December 17, the US Senate passed the 2026 Fiscal Year National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), also known as the Defense Budget Act, with a vote of 77 in favor and 20 against. The bill, which runs to 3086 pages, will now be sent to President Trump for his signature.
The Senate’s approval of the bipartisan bill establishes the defense priorities for the next fiscal year and authorizes funding levels for defense and national security projects. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a similar version of the NDAA with a bipartisan vote of 312 to 112.
The annual defense budget bill for 2026 authorizes $900 billion in funding for the Department of Defense, including a 4% pay raise for military personnel, expanded budget for anti-drone measures, and investments in the “Iron Dome” missile defense system and nuclear modernization plans.
The bill identifies Beijing as a major strategic challenge for the United States in military, industrial, diplomatic, and global economic arenas. It includes new restrictions on biotech and tech investments, prohibits Chinese-made goods from entering the Pentagon supply chain, expands diplomatic and intelligence efforts to track global CCP infiltration, and reshapes the Indo-Pacific region in collaboration with US allies. The bill also boosts political, economic, and military support for Taiwan.
Furthermore, the bill restricts the Pentagon from reducing the number of troops stationed or deployed in Europe to below 76,000 for more than 45 days unless the Department of Defense confirms consultations with NATO allies and the troop reduction is in the US interest. It also prevents the US European Command from relinquishing the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
One provision in the bill stipulates that the US government cannot cut off intelligence assistance to Ukraine without 48 hours advance notice, detailing the reasons for the aid cessation, its impact on Ukraine, and its duration. The bill also mandates providing $400 million in aid to Ukraine over the next two years.
The bill repeals provisions authorizing the use of military force in the Gulf War and Iraq War by presidents in 1991 and 2002, respectively, which had been utilized in Middle East conflicts in previous administrations.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated on Tuesday that the defense budget bill represents the most significant reform of the Pentagon’s operations in a generation, aiming to make the US military stronger, more agile, and better equipped to handle any mission.