COMMITTEE RELEASES FY26 DEFENSE BILL

Washington, D.C. – June 9, 2025 - Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Bill. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 10th at 12:00 p.m., during a closed markup.

Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert said, "Keeping Americans safe amidst mounting national security threats around the world requires a significant and multi-faceted investment in our military. The FY26 Defense Appropriations Bill provides the resources necessary for maintaining American military superiority, leveraging our technological innovation into tactical advantages on the battlefield, and supporting the Defense Department’s most valuable assets – our warfighters. Together, with the significant defense funding advancing through Congress as part of the reconciliation process, the FY26 bill will lift total defense spending over $1 trillion in the next fiscal year, representing a historic commitment to strengthening and modernizing America’s national defense. I’m thankful for the contributions of Chairman Cole and all of my Subcommittee colleagues in shaping this important bill."Chairman Tom Cole said, "George Washington counseled that the best way to preserve peace is to be prepared for war. From our first president to today’s America First agenda, that lesson continues to guide us. This FY26 defense bill invests in restoring deterrence and building the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force required to confront the threats of today and tomorrow. It recognizes the vital role of our armed forces and the need for innovative, well-equipped, mission-focused resources. In an increasingly dangerous world, we reiterate that we are not only vigilant — but unwavering in our duty to protect the American people and preserve the freedoms generations have fought to defend. Chairman Calvert has focused every investment on modernizing our military, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and improving lethality and the quality of life for our troops."The Fiscal Year 2026 Defense BillThe Defense Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $831.5 billion, which is flat to the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level, advances the America First agenda, and adheres to the discretionary budget topline put forward in the OMB budget request. The bill invests in America’s military superiority, shapes a more efficient and effective Department of Defense, protects from threats at America’s border, and takes care of our troops and their families.Key TakeawaysChampions America’s military superiority by: 

• Enhancing investments in 5th and 6th generation aircraft including the F-35, F-47, and F/A-XX.  

• Supporting the modernization of the nuclear triad: the B-21 Raider, the Columbia Class Submarine, and Sentinel.

• Targeting resources for unmanned aerial systems, uncrewed maritime platforms, and land-based counter-unmanned aerial systems to advance capabilities and strengthen our national defense.

• Investing in national security space, including proliferated missile warning, missile tracking satellite, and next generation intelligence collection systems to ensure national leaders have real-time global situational awareness.

• Allocating approximately $13 billion for missile defense and space programs to augment and integrate in support of the Golden Dome effort.

• Providing over $2.6 billion for hypersonics programs.

• Reversing the “divest to invest” trend by preserving F-15s and U-2s while investing in next-generation fighters and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.

• Continuing to prioritize innovation through over $1.3 billion combined for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT), and Office of Strategic Capital (OSC).

• Supporting our close ally Israel by providing $500 million for the Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Programs, and $122.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperative development programs.

Cares for our troops and their families by: 

• Including an increase of 3.8% in basic pay for all military personnel effective January 1, 2026.

• Continuing historic pay increases enacted in Fiscal Year 2025 for junior enlisted servicemembers.

• Improving quality of life, readiness, and continuity for servicemembers by slowing permanent change of station moves, saving over $662 million.

Shapes a more efficient and effective Department of Defense by: 

• Reducing $3.6 billion and almost 45,000 civilian full-time equivalents to capture Workforce Acceleration and Recapitalization Initiative efforts.

• Prioritizing fiscal sanity and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse through codifying both the Department’s cooperation with DOGE and streamlined functions and management improvements at the Pentagon.

• Requiring detailed reporting on the Department’s proposed allocations and expenditures of reconciliation.

Combats international actors who facilitate drug trafficking and manufacturing by: 

• Providing $1.15 billion for counter drug programs, which is $245 million above the budget request.

• Increasing funding for the National Guard Counterdrug Program.

• Transferring Mexico from U.S. Northern Command’s jurisdiction to U.S. Southern Command for better coordination and prioritization.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

• Codifying President Trump’s executive actions to end discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs by prohibiting funding for DEI efforts and Critical Race Theory.

• Backing President Trump’s executive action to restore free speech by prohibiting funding for federal government censorship.

• Amplifying President Trump’s executive action to restore readiness by prohibiting funding for sex-change surgeries.

• Reinforcing President Trump’s executive action on withdrawing funding from United Nations organizations acting contrary to U.S. interests by prohibiting funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

• Continuing the prohibition on funding for any discriminatory action against individuals advocating for traditional marriage.

• Advancing prohibitions on funding for abortion-related travel, drag queen shows, and COVID vaccine and mask mandates.

Source:  House Appropriations Committee