President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Dec. 18, authorizing $901 billion in military and national security programs for fiscal year 2026.
The $901 billion topline authorization comes as a compromise between the House of Representatives, which initially sought an $893 billion authorization, and the Senate, which initially sought $925 billion.
While the NDAA provides the authority for various military and national security programs in a given year, the actual funding comes in a separate appropriation bill.
The annual defense authorization typically covers weapons development and procurement programs. This year’s more than 3,000-page authorization supports Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative and the continued development of the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation stealth fighter, dubbed the F-47. Other lines of authorization support existing weapons systems, land vehicles, aircraft, and shipbuilding efforts….