U.S. Senate Approves USD925B Defense Spending Package for 2026
(MENAFN) The U.S. Senate on Thursday advanced a sweeping $925 billion defense spending package for fiscal year 2026, paving the way for enhanced military funding and long-term assistance to Ukraine through 2028.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) cleared the chamber in a 77–20 vote following protracted negotiations. The bill had been stalled for weeks amid a federal government shutdown and partisan disagreements over troop compensation, as well as President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to combat illegal border crossings and conduct counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean.
Lawmakers ultimately moved forward after brokered amendments resolved the disputes.
The legislation introduces significant changes to the Pentagon’s acquisition procedures and increases funding in key defense sectors, including artificial intelligence, missile defense, autonomous systems, and next-generation military technology. It also mandates congressional notification before any withdrawal of U.S. forces from Europe or South Korea, and repeals outdated war authorizations tied to U.S. military operations in Iraq and the Persian Gulf.
A critical provision of the bill is the extension of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2028, with an expanded budget of $500 million. This initiative provides Kiev with weapons, logistics, intelligence support, and training through a mix of U.S. defense contracts and direct congressional appropriations.
The House of Representatives last month passed its version of the NDAA—priced at just under $900 billion—which also included a USAI extension, though limited funding to $400 million. Both chambers must now reconcile differences before a final bill can be sent to Trump for approval, anticipated by late November.
During his prior term, the U.S. served as Kiev’s principal military backer in its war with Moscow. Since returning to office earlier this year, Trump has refrained from authorizing new U.S.-funded arms packages, urging NATO allies in Europe to increase defense outlays and reduce reliance on American military support. Still, he recently approved NATO’s $500 million Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL)—a framework enabling U.S. weapons transfers to Kiev, funded by allied states.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned Western military aid to Ukraine, asserting it “prolongs the conflict and undermines peace efforts.”
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