US Senate passes $901bn defence bill

Legislation reflects Democrats’ efforts to question tighter oversight of Trump administration’s subject action.

The United States Senate has passed a $901bn measure mounting defence policy and spending for the 2026 fiscal year, combining priorities backed by President Donald Trump’s medication with provisions designed to sphere legislature oversight of US subject power.

The National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA) was approved successful a 77-20 ballot connected Wednesday with senators adopting authorities passed by the House of Representatives past month. It present goes to Trump for his signature.

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Several provisions successful the measure bespeak efforts by Democratic lawmakers, supported by immoderate Republicans, to constrain however rapidly the Trump medication whitethorn standard backmost US subject commitments successful Europe.

The measure requires the Pentagon to support astatine slightest 76,000 US soldiers successful Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and the medication determines that a simplification would beryllium successful the US nationalist interest. The US typically stations 80,000 to 100,000 soldiers crossed the continent. A akin measurement prevents reductions successful US unit levels successful South Korea beneath 28,500 soldiers.

Congress besides reinforced its backing for Ukraine, authorising $800m nether the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative with $400m allocated for each of the adjacent 2 years. A further $400m per twelvemonth was approved to manufacture weapons for Ukraine, signalling continued legislature enactment for Kyiv and cementing Washington’s committedness to Europe’s defence.

Asia Pacific focus, legislature oversight

The measure besides reflects priorities aligned with the Trump administration’s nationalist information strategy, which places the Asia Pacific astatine the centre of US overseas argumentation and describes the portion arsenic a cardinal economical and geopolitical battleground.

In enactment with that approach, the NDAA provides $1bn for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, aimed astatine strengthening defence practice arsenic the US seeks to antagonistic China’s increasing subject influence.

The authorities authorises $600m successful information assistance for Israel, including backing for associated rocket defence programmes, specified arsenic the Iron Dome, a measurement that has agelong drawn wide bipartisan enactment successful Congress.

The NDAA increases reporting requirements connected US subject activity, an country successful which Democrats successful peculiar person sought greater oversight.

It directs the Department of Defense to supply Congress with further accusation connected strikes targeting suspected smuggling and trafficking operations successful the Caribbean and the eastbound Pacific, adding unit connected Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to supply lawmakers with video footage of US strikes connected alleged drug-smuggling boats operating successful planetary waters adjacent Venezuela.

Lawmakers moved to fortify oversight aft a September onslaught killed 2 radical who had survived an earlier onslaught connected their boat.

Some Democratic lawmakers said they were not briefed successful beforehand connected elements of the campaign, prompting calls for clearer reporting requirements.

Sanctions and America First

The authorities repeals the 2003 authorisation for the US penetration of Iraq and the 1991 authorisation for the Gulf War. Supporters from some parties said the repeals trim the hazard of aboriginal subject enactment being undertaken without explicit legislature approval.

The measure besides permanently lifts US sanctions connected Syria imposed during the authorities of President Bashar al-Assad aft the Trump administration’s earlier determination to temporarily easiness restrictions. Supporters reason the determination volition enactment Syria’s reconstruction aft al-Assad’s removal from powerfulness a twelvemonth ago.

Other provisions align much intimately with priorities precocious by Trump and Republican lawmakers nether the administration’s America First agenda.

The NDAA eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion offices and grooming programmes wrong the Department of Defense, including the relation of main diverseness officer. The House Armed Services Committee claims the changes would prevention astir $40m.

The measure besides cuts $1.6bn from Pentagon programmes related to clime change. While the US subject has antecedently identified climate-related risks arsenic a origin affecting bases and operations, the Trump medication and Republican leaders person said defence spending should prioritise contiguous subject capabilities.