Franklin Applauds Passage of 2026 National Defense Authorization Act

Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) applauded House passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The measure passed the House 231-196.

"China's accelerating military buildup and the aggression of Iranian-backed terrorists in the Middle East highlight why America must pursue peace through strength on the world stage," said Congressman Franklin. "This NDAA restores focus on lethality. It strengthens our posture in the Indo-Pacific and reinforces America's commitment to Israel. The bill also makes long-overdue reforms to the Pentagon's broken acquisition system, cutting red tape and moving innovative technologies to the fight faster so our forces can win on multiple battlefields. It also honors the men and women who bear the burden of service and sacrifice by delivering better pay and benefits. They have earned it, and this defense package makes clear America will stand firmly with them and their families.

Together, these changes will revitalize our industrial base, drive American innovation and ensure our warfighters maintain the edge needed to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary."

The FY26 NDAA includes the following key provisions:

• Cutting waste and bureaucracy: Delivers more than $20 billion in savings by eliminating unnecessary costs, including DEI programs, duplicative climate initiatives and inefficient Pentagon overhead, and redirects resources to warfighting priorities;
• Improving quality of life for servicemembers: Provides a 3.8% pay raise, expands access to health and mental health care, improves housing conditions and childcare options;
• Reforming defense acquisition: Streamlines procurement to cut decision timelines from nearly three years to as few as 90 days so warfighters are not left waiting while threats evolve;
• Modernizing strategic deterrence: Advances the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, authorizes continued procurement of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and accelerates nuclear modernization to stay ahead of Russia and China;
• Strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific: Continues supporting Taiwan, expands joint exercises with allies and directs investments in advanced systems like hypersonics, AI and unmanned platforms to counter China's growing aggression; and
• Supporting Israel and countering terror: Authorizes funding for missile defense programs like Iron Dome, Arrow and David's Sling while expanding cooperation to confront Iranian-backed threats.
  
  

Read the full text of the FY26 NDAA here.

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