02.03.26

Congress Approves FY 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill

The bill now heads to the President to be signed into law

Washington, D.C. –Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Defense Appropriations Act by a vote of 217 to 214. The legislation, which passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 71 to 29, provides U.S. military services with the funding needed to deter China and Russia, support service members and their families, and strengthen the defense industrial base. It now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

 

The bill provides $838.7 billion in discretionary funding, including $838.5 billion in defense funding and $180 million in nondefense funding.

 

“At a time when we face numerous complex threats around the globe, this legislation makes much-needed investments in shipbuilding, expands critical munitions production, provides support for our allies, and funds drone and counter-drone technologies that are increasingly changing the battlefield. This bill also invests in the brave men and women that make up our Armed Forces, showing our continued commitment to their readiness, well-being, and mission success,” said Senator Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee.

 

“Robust full-year defense appropriations are how we show we’re serious about restoring peace through strength,” said Senator Mitch McConnell, Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “Threats to America’s security and interests are growing, and the capabilities and industrial base we need to deter them will not come cheap. This bill is an overdue down-payment on strengthening the common defense – work that must continue year after year.”

 

Bill Highlights:

 

Service Members: $193.3 billion for the pay and benefits of service members and families, which fully funds both the 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members and the 10 percent additional pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers.

 

Military Readiness: $294.4 billion for the sustainment of operations, weapons, training, and readiness activities.

  • Increase of $1.9 billion for ship operations costs.
  • Increase of $130 million for Marine Corps barracks revitalization.

 

Security Cooperation: $3.7 billion to strengthen security cooperation programs, reinforcing the strategic importance of supporting vulnerable partners as a core U.S. national security interest.

 

Munitions: Provides multiyear procurement contract authority for 8 critical munitions and an additional $3 billion for munitions production and research and development.

  • Increase of $2.1 billion for additional quantities above the request, including $500 million for PATRIOT PAC-3 missiles, $300 million for THAAD interceptors, and $475 million for Standard Missile-3 IB, which reflect critical investments in near-term air/missile defense and Golden Dome requirements.
  • Increase of $650 million to expand production capacity of solid rocket motors.
  • Increase of $115 million to accelerate development of Multi-Mission Affordable Capacity Effector - an advanced, hypersonic air-to-surface missile.

 

Procurement and Research and Development (R&D): $167.5 billion for the procurement of weapon systems and $145.9 billion for research, development, and testing of platforms.

  • Increase of $280 million for F-135 spare engines and $160 million for F-35 sustainment spare parts to address operational readiness challenges.
  • Increase of $357.1 million for drone and counter-drone capabilities.
  • Increase of $1.6 billion for various air and missile defense efforts.

 

Army: $27.9 billion for procurement and $16.7 billion in R&D.

  • Increase of $58.8 million for an additional four Abrams tanks.
  • Increase of $360 million to procure twelve additional AH-64E aircraft.
  • Increase of $167 million to procure five additional UH-60 aircraft and $65 million for advanced procurement in FY 2027.
  • Increase of $50 million for Antilock Brake System/Electronic Stability Control for Army High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) to provide proven life-saving retrofits.
  • Increase of $175 million for continuation of the Improved Turbine Engine Program.
  • Increase of $464.8 million for Paladin Integrated Management

 

Navy: $70.0 billion for procurement and $28.1 billion in R&D.

  • Increase of $6.3 billion for Shipbuilding for a total of $27.2 billion in the bill, including an additional $1.0 billion for a third DDG 51 destroyer, $450 million in large surface combatant infrastructure investments, $300 million for DDG 51 wage enhancements, $1.9 billion to fully fund the second Virginia-class sub, $285 million for the submarine maritime industrial base, $800 million for the Medium Landing Ship program to accelerate procurement of vessels for the Marine Corps, $242 million for long lead materials and to begin engineering and construction of the FF(X)-Frigate, part of the President’s Golden Fleet initiative, and $485 million for the completion of prior-year shipbuilding programs and outfitting.
  • Increase of $897 billion to advance F/A-XX, the Navy’s 6th generation strike fighter aircraft.
  • Includes $1.1 billion for up to three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft in support of the Navy’s carrier-based Airborne Early Warning and Control mission.
  • Increase of $500 million for four additional KC-130Js for the Navy Reserve.

 

Air Force: $57.3 billion in procurement and $50.6 billion in R&D.

  • Increase of $500 million for the F-47 6th generation fighter aircraft program.
  • Increase of $976 million for six C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard.
  • Increase of $474 million for two EA-37B Compass Call aircraft to expand the Air Force’s electronic attack capacity.
  • Increase of $900 million to continue the E-7 Wedgetail early warning and control and battle management mission aircraft.
  • Increase of $402 million for the procurement of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters.
  • Supports the President’s Budget Request for the Sentinel Program at $2.6 billion.

 

Space Force: $4.0 billion for procurement and $14.9 billion for R&D.

  • Increase of $50 million to continue development of Space Development Agency’s warfighter centric capabilities.
  • Increase of $30 million to continue the space-based Commercial ISR pilot focused on responsive Combatant Command tasking and an increase of $50 million to establish a program of record for the Commercial procurement of tactical ISR .

 

National Guard: $800 million for the National Guard and Reserve modernization fund to address capability gaps and equipment shortfalls.

 

U.S.-Israeli Missile Defense: $500 million for Israel Cooperative Programs including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense. The bill also includes $75.0 million for counter-drone and directed energy development, $47.5 million for emerging technology cooperation, and $80.0 million for anti-tunneling cooperation with the State of Israel.

 

General Provisions Highlights: 

  • $25 million for U.S. Africa Command.
  • $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, $200 million for the Baltic Security Initiative, and increased funding for the Philippines, Bahrain, Jordan, and other key American security partners.
  • The bill retains policy provisions prohibiting funding for Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China.

 

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