Discussions to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) continue, with House Armed Services Committee leaders positive they will complete the work before Congress adjourns next month. House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) stated he is confident negotiators from his committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) will finish reconciling their two bills and both chambers will pass a final version of the bill.

The House of Representatives advanced its version of the NDAA (H.R. 3838) on September 10 by a vote of 231-196. The Senate passed its version (S. 2296) on October 9 by a vote of 77-20. The two chambers need to resolve the differences between their two bills and approve a final conference report before it can be sent to President Trump to be signed into law. The annual NDAA was first passed in 1961, and Congress has successfully passed the measure every year since.

One sticking point in this year’s negotiations is that the Senate bill would provide more than $31 billion in funding beyond the Pentagon’s budget request for FY2026. The House-passed bill authorizes $882.6 billion – the same amount requested by President Trump. The Senate bill authorizes $913.9 billion. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of HASC, recently predicted the final compromise bill would reject that boost in spending, although he emphasized those negotiations are ongoing.

We will keep you posted as negotiators continue their work on the NDAA.