Today, the House of Representatives approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act with a vote of 221 to 209. The bill was introduced by Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert.
“Providing our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to keep America safe is one of the most important constitutional responsibilities of Congress,” said Rep. Calvert. “The passage of the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act advances our national security goals by investing in the platforms and programs that enhance America’s military dominance.”
The bill aims to invest in America’s military superiority, improve efficiency within the Department of Defense, protect from border threats, and support troops and their families. It includes a 3.8% pay increase for all military personnel effective January 1, 2026, continues pay increases for junior enlisted servicemembers from Fiscal Year 2025, and saves over $662 million by slowing permanent change of station moves.
Investments include enhancements in aircraft like the F-35 and F/A-XX, modernization of nuclear capabilities such as the B-21 Raider and Columbia Class Submarine, and funding for unmanned systems. The bill allocates about $13 billion for missile defense and space programs and over $2.6 billion for hypersonics programs.
Additionally, it invests $131 million in a Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network to strengthen the defense industrial base and supports Israel with $500 million for cooperative missile defense programs.
Efforts to shape a more efficient Department of Defense include reducing civilian full-time equivalents by almost 45,000 positions to capture Workforce Acceleration efforts while eliminating waste through cooperation with DOGE.
The act also addresses international drug trafficking by providing $1.15 billion for counter-drug programs, increasing funding for National Guard Counterdrug Program initiatives, and transferring Mexico’s jurisdiction from U.S. Northern Command to U.S. Southern Command.
