The House passed the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Dec. 10, approving a roughly $900 billion military spending blueprint that includes millions in security assistance for Ukraine and Israel.
The measure, which sets policy and funding priorities for the Pentagon, advanced by a vote of 312-112 and now heads to the Senate for consideration. While the bill authorizes Pentagon programs, it does not provide money for them; Congress must still pass a separate spending bill for the fiscal year ending September 2026, according to Reuters.
The bill allocates $800 million — $400 million annually for the next two years — for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a program that reimburses U.S. defense contractors for weapons sent to Kyiv’s armed forces. It also provides $600 million to sustain missile defense programs in Israel, including the Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems, which intercept rockets and missiles.
Additional provisions require the Pentagon to assess international arms embargoes affecting Israel, such as those responding to the war in Gaza, and evaluate U.S. capacity to meet Israel’s defense production needs.
The NDAA also repeals the “Caesar” sanctions on Syria and includes provisions aimed at countering Chinese and Russian nuclear arsenals and surveillance efforts.
Ninety-four Democrats and 18 Republicans voted against the bill, with critics in both parties arguing it costs too much overall or sends too much money to foreign wars, The Hill reported.
The NDAA authorizes a roughly 4% pay raise for U.S. service members, upgrades to military housing and childcare, and reforms to Pentagon procurement processes.
The package also targets programs President Donald Trump has criticized, including diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and codifies 15 of Trump’s executive orders, according to a House Armed Services Committee article shared on X by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
The New York Post reported that ahead of the vote, Johnson said the bill aims to codify “15 of President Trump’s executive orders, ending woke ideology at the Pentagon, securing the border, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior ethos.”
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