The Senate Armed Services Committee passed on Thursday a bill that would authorize $617.6 billion in base budget for the Defense Department and $68.5 billion in overseas contingency operations funds for fiscal 2019, The Hill reported Thursday.The panel’s version of fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act would allocate $21.6 billion for the Energy Department’s defense-related initiatives, $7.6 billion for 75 F-35 fighter aircraft and $65 million for the development of a low-yield nuclear warhead.
The measure, which was named after SASC Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), would also earmark $23.1 billion for the procurement of 10 new ships, including a littoral combat ship, two Virginia-class submarines and three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
The FY 2019 NDAA seeks to advance “readiness restoration, capabilities modernization and concept development†in an effort to keep the U.S. military edge over potential adversaries, according to the bill’s summary.
The House on Thursday voted 351-66 to clear its proposed FY 2019 NDAA that would allocate $717 billion in defense budget.
