The House Appropriations Committee on Monday released a bill that would appropriate $831.5 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2026, adhering to the discretionary budget topline in the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed budget.
Advancing US Military Superiority
The FY 2026 defense appropriations bill seeks to enhance investments in 5th and 6th generation aircraft, including the F-35, F-47 and F/A-XX; support modernization of the nuclear triad that includes the B-21 Raider, Columbia-class submarine and Sentinel; and targeting resources for unmanned aerial systems, uncrewed maritime platforms and land-based counter-unmanned aerial systems to advance capabilities and strengthen national defense.
The measure would invest in national security space, including missile tracking satellite, proliferated missile warning and next-generation intelligence collection systems; allocate about $13 billion for missile defense and space programs in support of the Golden Dome project; and preserve F-15s and U-2s while investing in next-generation fighter aircraft and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.
The proposed legislation would continue to prioritize innovation by providing $1.3 billion combined for the Defense Innovation Unit, the Office of Strategic Capital, and the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program.
Space Systems Procurement
The measure includes $2 billion to buy 11 space launch missions under the third phase of the National Security Space Launch contract and $680 million to procure two GPS IIIF spacecraft.
Under the defense bill, $7 billion would go to classified space programs, $3.9 billion for missile warning/missile tracking systems and $1.8 billion for jam-resistant and wideband military satellite communications.
Hypersonics Programs
The legislation would provide $955 million for the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon; $483.5 million for the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile program; $806 million for the continued development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike program; and $412 million for hypersonics test infrastructure.
Other DOD Provisions
The bill proposes an increase of 3.8 percent in basic pay for all military personnel; seeks to reduce $3.6 billion and almost 45,000 civilian full-time equivalents to capture Workforce Acceleration and Recapitalization Initiative efforts; and requires detailed reporting on DOD’s proposed allocations and expenditures of reconciliation.
