WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership and a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, today voted to pass the final version of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The final bill also included the passage of the FY26 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) authorizing intelligence community (IC) activities for the next fiscal year.
“Today, I voted to pass the national defense authorization bill to support our troops, strengthen military readiness, and revitalize our defense industrial base. It also includes my important provision combatting the illegal weaponization of the deep state. As the chief advocate for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division in Congress, I proudly delivered millions in funding to support the Fort Drum community in the North Country," said Chairwoman Stefanik.
The FY26 NDAA authorizes discretionary defense spending of $900.6 billion. In addition to the NDAA authorization, the Republican majority’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) included $150 billion in mandatory defense funding that provided over $1 trillion in funding for national defense in a single year for the first time ever. Even with this record investment, the bill still provides over $20 billion in savings as a result of the administration’s efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse.
The bill also codifies all or part of 15 of President Trump’s executive orders and 30 legislative provisions requested by the Trump administration, including codifying President Trump’s push to restore meritocracy in our military.
Preventing Weaponization of FBI in the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA)
Congresswoman Stefanik successfully fought for inclusion of her congressional notification language that would ensure the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discloses any counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates seeking office.
The language, included in the FY26 Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA), prevents the FBI from secretly launching investigations into federal candidates to impact elections, as it did during the 2016 election, when then-FBI Director James Comey opened an illegal “counterintelligence investigation” into President Trump. It was Congresswoman Stefanik’s questioning of Comey in 2017 that led to the start of the investigation into the corrupt Crossfire Hurricane operation that resulted in fully clearing President Trump’s name and exposing criminal acts from James Comey and the Obama Administration.
Stefanik also supported and worked to secure numerous provisions to support the North Country, Fort Drum, Rome Labs, military families, our national defense, and our allies and partners, including the following:
Fighting for Wins for Rome Labs
- Authorizes $10 million in funding for a distributed quantum networking testbed for AFRL Rome.
- Authorizes $5 million in funding for the development of the Agile, Assured, and Autonomous Battle Management Network and Readiness Accelerator at AFRL Rome.
- Authorizes $2.5 million in funding for photonic quantum computing for Rome Labs.
Securing Wins for the Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division
- Directs the Secretary of War to provide a report to the congressional armed services committees on its efforts to promote missile defense systems.
- Secures a $70 million increase in funding for DoW Impact Aid schools for Fort Drum families and other military personnel families.
Supporting Our Servicemembers and Their Families
- The FY26 NDAA supports the Trump administration’s budget request for a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers and improves housing, education, and access to childcare for military families.
- Includes a provision to reduce challenges military families encounter when relocating across state lines, especially in terms of school enrollment, credit transfers, academic continuity, and access to special education services.
- Delivers $77 million for Armed Forces Retirement Home Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026 to benefit the operation of the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
- Requests a pilot program on childcare worker compensation to improve quality and affordability for military families.
- Requires a report detailing current regulations on cell phone usage in the Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) that operates K-12 schools on military bases to evaluate the harmful effects of screen time on students.
Supporting Our Ally Israel
- Modifies and extends the United States-Israel Anti-Tunnel Cooperation through 2028 and authorizes an additional $80 million toward the cooperation.
- Modifies and extends the United States-Israel Cooperation to Counter Unmanned Systems (C-UAS) in all warfighting domains and authorizes an additional $70 million toward the cooperation.
- Authorizes a total of $350 million toward United States-Israel cooperative programs.
- Establishes an emerging technology cooperation program with Israel and certain partner countries, led by the Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate of the Department of Defense, to conduct joint research, development, test, and evaluation in the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, quantum, and automation.
- Convenes the U.S.-Israel Defense Industrial Base Working Group to study the potential for further defense industrial base integration between the U.S. and Israel.
Confronting the CCP and Foreign Adversaries
- Prohibits defense companies from contracting with the Department of Defense if they work with Chinese military companies or their subsidiaries.
- Directs a briefing on plans to enhance warfighting readiness across United States air assets to better prepare U.S. forces for the threats, distances, and geography that will cause challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
- Phases out DoD acquisition of Communist Chinese-affiliated computers and printers and prohibits procurement of 3D printers connected to US adversaries.
- Closes contractor loopholes to prohibit access to Department of Defense (DoD) sensitive data by persons who are not United States citizens following the discovery that companies like Microsoft exploited loopholes in federal guidance.
Keeping Pace with Emerging Technologies in the 21st Century
- Funds next-generation weapons, AI, hypersonics, and unmanned systems to ensure America stays ahead of China, Russia, and any adversarial threat.
- Implements mandatory key performance objectives (KPOs) for evaluating civilian and military personnel in the defense workplace much like the civilian sector.
- Authorizes the Department of Defense (DoD) to stand up at least two additional OnRamp Hubs through the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in fiscal year 2026, lowering barriers for nontraditional innovators and talent to work with DoD.
Strengthening National Defense
- Increases appropriations by $18 million to advance the development of high-altitude precision effects glide munitions.
- Authorizes the Golden Dome for America by requiring annual reports and consolidated budget exhibits for activities related to the next generation missile defense architecture.
- Authorizes robust funding for the Missile Defense Agency.
- Authorizes robust funding for critical missile defense projects that are imperative to our national security.
- Fundamentally reforms the DoW acquisition process, speeding up the delivery of new technologies to the warfighter.
