Home Business Legal Senate Passes $901 Billion NDA...

Senate Passes $901 Billion NDAA, Sends Bill to White House

Legal

Senate Passes $901B NDAA, Heads to White House Now

Business Honor
18 December, 2025

The Senate passes a $901 billion defense bill with troop pay raise, Ukraine aid, and Pentagon reforms, now awaiting presidential signature.

The United States Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass the $901 billion Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sending it to the White House. President Donald Trump has stated that he will sign the bill into law. The NDAA reflects an agreement between the House and Senate versions of the defense bill. It sets a record of $901 billion in military spending, which includes a 4% pay increase for soldiers, and updates the military purchasing system. It further improves the United States' competition with China and Russia. The bill passed 77 to 20, with Republican Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul voting against it. Last week, the House passed the bill 312 to 112.

"This will be the 65th consecutive year that Congress has come together to maintain and improve national defense," said Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The Act provides $800 million to Ukraine over the next two years under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. It also offers $175 million to help Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia through the Baltic Security Initiative. In addition, the law ensures that at least 76,000 US troops remain in Europe and requires the US European Commander to keep the NATO Supreme Commander designation.

Other sections repeal the 1991 and 2002 approvals for the use of military force against Iraq, as well as the "Caesar" sanctions imposed on Syria. The NDAA also establishes executive orders that reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the Pentagon and prohibit transgender women from engaging in women's sports at US military schools. The total expense of the NDAA exceeds the administration's request by $8 billion. Despite security issues raised by a recent Army Black Hawk helicopter disaster, lawmakers maintained strong bipartisan backing. The law now heads to the White House, maintaining Congress' long history of passing annual defense legislation and guiding US military policy for the coming year.