Congress Approves $900.6 Billion Defense Budget, Includes Acquisition Reforms

The House passed the fiscal 2026 defense authorization bill, authorizing $900.6 billion in defense funds. The bill includes acquisition reform provisions and language aimed at preventing the cancelation of the Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail program. It also slows some of the service’s planned retirements, including stopping the service from mothballing all of its A-10s. The final language combines elements from both proposals. The bill is now headed to the Senate for passage before Congress goes on holiday break. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a key piece of legislation that authorizes defense spending and sets defense policy. The HASC majority released a fact sheet outlining the procurement plan, which includes $26 billion for shipbuilding, $38 billion for aircraft, and $4 billion for ground vehicles. However, it is congressional appropriators that hold the power of the purse, and policy changes in the NDAA are backed with the force of law.