Rep. Roy issues statement on the House-passed FY26 National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C. - Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement after voting for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.

"The 2026 House-passed version of the NDAA aids a Department of War that understands the focus and priorities our military must have, while leaving behind the woke and unnecessary policies of the past administration.

This Republican majority, alongside the Trump administration, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, is sending a message to the entire world that the United States is serious once again. No more woke programs. No more progressive indoctrination programs at our elite military academies. No more watering down the physical requirements for soldiers who cannot meet the physical demands of being an American warfighter - expected to answer the call of duty at any moment. No more taxpayer dollars spent on sex changes in the military.

Additionally, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2026 provides a total discretionary allocation of $831.5 billion, which is flat to the fiscal year 2025 enacted level and adheres to the discretionary budget topline put forward in the OMB budget request. Further, this bill codifies President Trump's executive orders eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Critical Race Theory programs in the military and prohibiting several transgender initiatives.

The NDAA also included an amendment that I was happy to co-lead with the San Antonio congressional delegation, which would require the Secretary of War to examine San Antonio's potential as the headquarters of the Western Hemisphere Command. Further, the bill also contains language prohibiting the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency, preventing unelected bureaucrats from spying on the financial privacy of the American people.

Importantly, House Republicans successfully passed an amendment to the NDAA on the bipartisan legislation I introduced with Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), H.R. 1488, which repeals the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) related to Iraq. This victory builds on years of work in the 117th and 118th Congresses to restore congressional authority over foreign conflict as outlined in Article I of the Constitution. By halting endless wars and ensuring such authorizations are not exploited, this provision safeguards the role of the People's House.

Last year, the American people voted and mandated that our country return to normalcy. They were sick and tired of seeing the mightiest fighting force known to man being turned into a social experiment. The American people wanted to return the military to being mission-oriented and ready to win wars swiftly, but also provide security and safety to the Republic every soldier swears to defend.

I urge my Senate colleagues to resist calls to eliminate the hard-fought progress made by the House, refocusing our military on national security. While there will always be more work ahead, this NDAA represents a significant step in the right direction and reflects the will of the people. Americans want a strong force capable of defending this Republic - not a weak, woke military. That is why I voted YES."