Dear Friends,
Earlier this week, Congress released its draft of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, proposing a total national defense topline of roughly $924.7 billion. This ambitious funding reflects a clear commitment to modernizing our military, strengthening readiness, and ensuring the United States maintains a decisive edge over its adversaries.
The legislation invests in the capabilities that matter most. It dedicates $26 billion to revitalizing naval shipbuilding, over $38 billion to aircraft and next-generation fighters, and $25 billion to rebuilding our depleted munitions stockpiles. At the same time, it accelerates innovation and industrial resilience by streamlining acquisition, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and scaling production of low-cost drones and other advanced systems. By reindustrializing the defense enterprise, the NDAA ensures we can meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s threats.
Strategically, the bill strengthens America’s global posture, maintaining minimum troop levels in Europe and South Korea, supporting Ukraine, and funding allied deterrence initiatives worldwide. It also refocuses the military on merit and operational excellence, eliminating ideological programs while addressing recruitment and retention issues through pay increases.
This year’s NDAA marks a decisive step toward strengthening our national security, accelerating innovation, refocusing the military on core capabilities, and deepening our ties with allies. Through this legislation, Congress is laying the groundwork for a more capable, ready, and strategically aligned U.S. force.
Follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook—and help spread the word by sharing our newsletter with friends, family, and veterans in your community. Together, we can preserve the blessings of American liberty.
Signed,
Garrett Exner
Board Member, Veterans On Duty
