US Senate advances massive Pentagon spending bill
The US Senate on Thursday approved a $925 billion defense spending bill for fiscal year 2026, extending and boosting Ukraine aid through 2028.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed 77–20 after weeks of delay. The bill had been stalled amid disputes over troop pay during the ongoing government shutdown, triggered by Congress’ failure to approve fiscal year 2026 funding, as well as over President Donald Trump’s use of the National Guard to curb illegal migration and US military operations against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean. Lawmakers ultimately advanced the measure after agreeing to several amendments.
The legislation reforms the Pentagon’s contracting system and expands investments in advanced technologies, missile defense, unmanned systems, and AI. It requires the Pentagon to brief lawmakers before withdrawing US troops from Europe or South Korea, while repealing long-standing war authorizations from the Iraq and Persian Gulf conflicts used to justify US interventions abroad.
The NDAA also extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through 2028 and raises its funding to $500 million. The program supplies Kiev with weapons, training, intelligence, and logistics through congressional allocations and contracts with US defense manufacturers.
The House of Representatives passed its own version of the defense bill last month – totaling nearly $900 billion – which also extended Ukraine aid, but capped it at $400 million. The two chambers must now reconcile their drafts before sending the final version to Trump for signing, expected by late November.
Under the previous administration, Washington was Kiev’s largest donor in its conflict with Moscow. Since returning to office earlier this year, Trump has not approved new US-funded military aid, instead urging European NATO members to increase defense spending and take greater responsibility for their security without relying on Washington. However, last month he authorized NATO’s $500 million Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) – a mechanism through which the US can supply Kiev with weapons while other member states cover the costs.
Moscow has condemned Western aid and arms deliveries to Kiev, warning that they prolong the conflict and undermine peace efforts.
