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.
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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.
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