U.S. Senate Panel Backs $500M Ukraine Aid Boost in 2026 Defense Bill
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced a draft of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a significant increase in military aid to Ukraine.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Reuters.
The draft bill, passed with broad bipartisan support in a 26-1 vote on July 9, includes a provision to extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2028, raising the annual funding cap from $300 million in 2025 to $500 million.
The initiative is designed to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities as it continues to resist Russian military aggression.
While the Senate bill raises the ceiling for Ukrainian aid, the House of Representatives’ version of the NDAA maintains the previous year’s $300 million allocation, setting the stage for negotiations between the two chambers in the months ahead.
Beyond Ukraine, the $925 billion NDAA outlines broader national defense priorities.
Of the total, $878.7 billion is allocated to the Department of Defense, while $35.2 billion is directed to the Department of Energy, which oversees the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The bill also grants $6 billion in general transfer authority to address emerging, high-priority needs.
Among other provisions, the Senate bill blocks the Biden administration’s request to retire a portion of the Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet, widely valued for its close air support capabilities. Under the proposed law, the number of A-10s must not fall below 103 aircraft in the Fiscal Year 2026.
The NDAA also addresses mounting global threats, highlighting the strategic challenges posed by China, Iran, and North Korea. It calls for continued investment in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, hypersonic systems, and unmanned platforms, to maintain U.S. military superiority.
The full Senate will now consider the committee's draft as the NDAA progresses through the legislative process, with final passage expected later this year.
As The Gaze reported earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States will send additional weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive in nature, to help the country defend itself against renewed Russian military advances.