The Senate on Thursday voted 77-20 to pass a $913.9 billion defense policy bill for fiscal year 2026, ending a monthlong delay caused by disputes over amendments that had stalled the measure, Breaking Defense said.

The Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act reportedly enables the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to start the conference process and work out a compromise between their respective versions of the bill.

Senate-Approved Amendments in FY26 NDAA

Some amendments secured bipartisan support in the upper chamber. These include a provision to extend an existing prohibition on B-1 bomber retirements through the end of fiscal year 2030 and a measure that would provide the Department of Defense with additional authorities to mitigate drone threats over military bases.

“Hundreds of drones have been spotted in the vicinity of military installations over the past few years, including military-sensitive sites like Langley Air Force Base,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

“But current laws give the Department of Defense quite limited authority to mitigate these threats, and the patchwork of interagency coordination required to address them leaves gaps that endanger our military bases and the men and women who serve there,” Gillibrand added.

House’s FY 2026 NDAA

In September, the House approved its version of the NDAA, along with the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery, or SPEED, Act. SPEED intends to shorten the Pentagon’s process of developing requirements from the current average of 800 days to just about five months.

The defense policy measure that passed the lower chamber would authorize $848 billion to modernize the U.S. military, give service members a 3.8 percent pay raise and strengthen border security efforts.

The House-passed NDAA would also codify over 45 of the administration’s executive orders and legislative proposals and advance the implementation of the Peace Through Strength agenda.

The Atlantic Council’s Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force released a report on Oct. 9 urging the U.S. to rapidly advance its hypersonic strike capabilities to counter growing threats from China and Russia.

The report titled, “The imperative for hypersonic weapons and counterhypersonic defenses,” warns that China and Russia have developed hundreds of hypersonic weapons, creating a strategic imbalance. These systems are part of broader anti-access and area-denial strategies, including advanced missile defenses, space and cyber tools, and nonkinetic disruptors.

Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force Recommendations

The task force provided 10 recommendations to Congress and the Defense Department that should help rapidly and efficiently field hypersonic weapons. These are:

• Create a senior program manager reporting to the deputy secretary of defense to oversee all high-speed weapons programs and budgets, including hypersonic offense and defense.
• Ensure stable funding and rapid deployment of first-gen hypersonic weapons, with block upgrades to expand capabilities and reduce costs. 
• Prioritize affordable next-gen systems by funding low-cost expendable missiles and reusable hypersonic aircraft.
• Accelerate fielding of hypersonic systems.
• Enhance affordability and production scalability by investing in manufacturing innovation and supply chain resilience.
• Build testing infrastructure such as hypersonic wind tunnels, flight ranges and simulation environments to support rapid development and validation.
• Develop counter-hypersonic defenses like interceptors, sensors and layered defense systems.
• Invest in reusable hypersonic aircraft support through the development of platforms for persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, or ISR, and strike missions.
• Strengthen workforce and talent pipelines through STEM education, training programs, and public-private partnerships.
• Enhance international collaboration with allies on joint development, testing and deployment of hypersonic systems.
• Establish a “Golden Dome” missile defense shield.

What Is the Atlantic Council Hypersonics Task Force?

The Atlantic Council’s Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force brings top defense leaders and industry experts together to accelerate U.S. hypersonic weapons development. It is co-chaired by former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, a Wash100 Award recipient. Other notable members include Reggie Brothers, former under secretary for science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security, also a Wash100 honoree.

The Senate has confirmed Marc Andersen as the new assistant secretary of the Army for financial management and comptroller. According to Congress records, Andersen, who was nominated to the role by President Donald Trump, secured the role in a 51-47 vote from legislators on Tuesday. 

He replaces Caral Spangler, who held the position from August 2021 through December 2024. 

Andersen was nominated to be an Army assistant secretary in March. At the time, he said in a LinkedIn post that soldiers and their families “embody the very best of America” and, if confirmed, he will ensure that the “organization that serves them reflects that same excellence.”

Who Is Marc Andersen?

Andersen brings to the role extensive leadership experience in the public and private sectors. He served as a senior partner emeritus at EY,  a consulting, assurance, tax and transaction services provider, for over 22 years. 

He also founded his own advisory services firm, called Andersen Advisory, where he also serves as a managing member. 

According to his LinkedIn profile, he also serves as a venture partner at IronGate Capital Advisors, a senior adviser for Tesla Government, a senior strategic adviser for Infuse and board of advisers chairman at vTech.