SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, is celebrating the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, a sweeping defense policy bill signed into law by President Trump last week.
The final legislation authorizes a record $901 billion in military spending, nearly $8 billion more than originally requested by the administration. The bill received support from Alabama’s entire congressional delegation and includes a wide range of military, foreign policy, and oversight provisions.
Among its major components is a nearly 4 percent pay raise for military service members and $400 million in aid for Ukraine over the next two years. The law also includes provisions that roll back existing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives within the Pentagon.
In a notable oversight measure, the bill withholds a portion of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until the Department of Defense provides Congress with unedited footage and documentation related to U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats off the coast of Venezuela. Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about those operations in recent weeks.
Britt praised the bill’s passage in a statement released late last week.
“The NDAA has passed annually for 65 years in a row and is one of our nation’s most important pieces of legislation,” Britt said. “I’m proud to have supported the FY26 NDAA, which strengthens our military, ensures America is prepared to meet 21st-century threats, and maintains our global leadership.”
The legislation also includes significant military construction funding for Alabama, allocating:
•$50 million for an access control point at Anniston Army Depot
•$55 million for a propulsion systems building at Redstone Arsenal
•$64 million for a warehouse at the Defense Logistics Agency facility in Anniston
•$28 million for maintenance support at Maxwell Air Force Base
Additionally, the law incorporates a provision introduced by Rep. Dale Strong, R-Alabama, granting military installations greater flexibility to issue short-term contracts for security and fire personnel during staffing shortages.
Britt said the bill strengthens Alabama’s role in national defense, calling the state’s contribution “incalculable” and emphasizing continued federal investment in its military infrastructure.