The United States Senate has passed a $901bn bill setting defence policy and spending for the 2026 fiscal year, combining priorities backed by President Donald Trump’s administration with provisions designed to preserve congressional oversight of US military power.
The National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) was approved in a 77-20 vote on Wednesday with senators adopting legislation passed by the House of Representatives last month. It now goes to Trump for his signature.
Several provisions in the bill aim to limit how quickly the Trump administration can reduce US military commitments abroad, reflecting pressure from Democrats and some Republicans. The legislation requires the Pentagon to keep at least 76,000 US troops in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and any reduction is deemed to be in the national interest. Similar safeguards prevent troop levels in South Korea from falling below 28,500.
Congress also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, authorising $800m through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative over two years, plus an additional $400m annually to manufacture weapons.
At the same time, the bill aligns with a strategic pivot to the Asia Pacific, allocating $1bn to the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative to counter China’s expanding military influence.
