Senate Passes $901B Defense Authorization Act

The U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026 on Wednesday, approving a $901 billion defense policy bill in a 77-20 vote that sets military spending priorities and imposes restrictions on troop reductions in key regions. The legislation, which cleared the House last month, now awaits President Donald Trump's signature to become law.

The bill authorizes funding for a range of national security initiatives while requiring certifications and consultations before any significant drawdowns of U.S. forces abroad. It prohibits the use of authorized funds to reduce the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea without a determination that such a move serves U.S. national security interests and follows discussions with allies, including South Korea. A similar provision mandates maintaining at least 76,000 U.S. soldiers in Europe unless the Pentagon certifies to Congress that reductions align with national interests after consulting NATO partners. These measures address concerns over potential unilateral withdrawals, echoing a restriction included in defense bills during Trump's first term but absent for the past five years.