Reuters. The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday (December 17) to advance a $901 billion bill setting policy for the Pentagon, sending the massive piece of legislation to the White House, which has said President Donald Trump will sign it into law.
The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, is a compromise between separate measures passed earlier this year in the House of Representatives and Senate. It authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending, with a 4% pay raise for the troops. It also authorizes reforms to the system for acquiring military equipment and includes efforts to boost competitiveness with U.S. archrivals China and Russia.
The Senate backed the bill by 77 to 20, with strong support from both parties. Two of the "no" votes were from Republican senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul.
"This will be the 65th year in a row, the 65th consecutive year, that Congress has come together across the aisle and across two chambers to send the president a bill designed to sustain and strengthen the national defense," said Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican Senate Armed Services Committee chairman.
The House passed the bill last week, by 312 to 112, also with broad bipartisan support.
