A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law.
The legislation, known as the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, was passed by a large bipartisan majority and includes a 4% pay rise for U.S. service members, funding to counter China and Russia, and continued support for Ukraine and NATO allies in Europe.
The Senate voted 77–20 in favour, a day after the bill was approved by the House of Representatives. The White House has said President Trump intends to sign the measure.
The NDAA authorises record annual military spending and is passed by Congress every year to set defence priorities and policies, though it does not allocate funding directly.
The legislation also strengthens U.S. commitments in Europe, despite recent uncertainty over Washington’s long-term posture on the continent.
It limits the Pentagon’s ability to reduce U.S. troop numbers in Europe below 76,000 and ensures the top U.S. military commander in Europe retains the role of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander.
In addition, the bill provides $175 million to support the defence of the Baltic states - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - through the Baltic Security Initiative.
Lawmakers from both parties highlighted the NDAA’s long tradition of bipartisan cooperation. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it marked the 65th consecutive year Congress had passed the legislation.
“This bill is designed to sustain and strengthen the national defence,” he said.
The measure authorises $8 billion more than President Trump had requested and includes reforms to the military’s equipment procurement system, as well as initiatives aimed at boosting U.S. competitiveness with China and Russia.
The bill also contains several politically sensitive provisions. It repeals long-standing authorisations for the use of military force against Iraq, in a move intended to reassert Congress’s authority over decisions to deploy U.S. troops.
It includes restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes at the Pentagon and bars transgender women from competing in women’s sports at U.S. military academies.
The NDAA also includes a provision that could restrict Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget if he does not provide Congress with unedited footage of recent U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels.
Once signed by President Trump, the bill will formally set U.S. defence policy for the coming year.
A Turkish-owned cargo ship was struck by a drone in the Black Sea after leaving a Ukrainian port, in the latest incident to raise concerns over the sa...
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has promised that the U.S. will “pay the price” following what Iranian authorities said was a...
Russia has extended its ban on exports of gasoline, diesel, marine fuel and gasoil until 31 January 2027, as Moscow seeks to stabilise its domestic fu...
Saudi Arabia said its overnight strikes on Iran-backed group targets in Iraq were carried out in self-defence and warned it would take further military action if the groups launched new attacks against the kingdom.
The U.S. military said it completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran, a two-hour operation that hit dozens of targets. Washington described the strikes as a "powerful response" to Iranian missile attacks targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East a day earlier.
Thousands of migrants have crossed into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco, overwhelming border security and prompting local authorities to call for a national emergency and military deployment.
A fire involving two gas vessels at Egypt's Damietta port has prompted conflicting reports over whether the incident was caused by a drone strike or an onboard technical fault. Egyptian authorities said there were no casualties.
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Japan’s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture has risen to 30, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Thursday, as water and power shortages left survivors exposed to extreme summer heat.
Thousands of people spent the night on beaches, waiting by fences or wading through the sea in the hope of reaching Europe, as an estimated 49,000 migrants crossed into Spain's enclave of Ceuta in just 24 hours.
Carlos Cordeiro, senior adviser to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned with immediate effect in protest over proposals to sell a stake in the FIFA World Cup, calling the plan "a bad deal for football."
Ukraine targeted a warehouse belonging to Russia’s largest retailer, Wildberries, and an oil refinery overnight, while Moscow said its forces struck a ship carrying military cargo in the Black Sea.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 31st of July, covering the latest developments.
At least 18 coal miners have been killed and 14 others remain trapped after a powerful methane gas explosion caused part of a mining complex to collapse in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, officials said on Thursday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment