The U.S. Senate has passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes several measures advocated by Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The bill features provisions aimed at enhancing military readiness, supporting service members, and increasing funding for military installations in North Carolina.
Senator Budd commented on the bill’s passage: “North Carolina has long stood at the forefront of America’s military strength, and I was proud to deliver key victories for our state and our nation in the FY 2026 NDAA that will further empower our servicemembers and strengthen our forces both at home and abroad. Last night, the Senate passed this historic defense package that enhances military facilities, reinforces air superiority, cuts burdensome regulations, combats terrorism, and ends discriminatory affirmative action policies at our service academies. America’s strength rests on the unmatched lethality of its armed forces, and this year’s NDAA reaffirms that commitment by advancing our military’s readiness to confront any threat and its resolve to defend the cause of freedom against any adversary.”
The legislation must now be reconciled with a version from the House of Representatives before being sent to the President for approval. Senator Budd indicated he will continue advocating for these provisions during ongoing legislative negotiations.
Among amendments included in the Senate bill are two bipartisan measures involving Senator Budd. The Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization (SEIZE) Act aims to streamline procedures for transferring confiscated Iranian weapons seized en route to groups such as Yemen’s Houthis, expediting their distribution to U.S. allies by bypassing lengthy legal processes currently required when handling equipment held by U.S. Central Command.
Another amendment co-sponsored by Senator Budd is the Comprehensive Operations for Unmanned-System Neutralization and Threat Elimination Response (COUNTER) Act, designed to enhance airspace security at American military installations.
Key personnel-focused elements within this year’s NDAA include a 3.8% pay raise for service members nationwide, development of a pilot program intended to improve Basic Allowance for Housing rates specifically for North Carolina troops and their families, prohibiting affirmative action in admissions to U.S. Service Academies, reducing certain environmental regulations affecting Department of Defense procurement processes, and accelerating deployment of mobile nuclear microreactor systems meant to improve energy resilience during forward operations.
More than $700 million is authorized for construction projects across North Carolina’s military facilities:
– Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point will receive $40 million toward F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center upgrades and $15 million for utilities modernization.
– Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is set to benefit from over $170 million across multiple projects including Special Operations Forces facilities expansions.
– Fort Bragg is allocated more than $240 million targeting power generation improvements, aircraft maintenance infrastructure, ammunition supply points, command centers, soldier readiness programs, and other initiatives.
– Seymour Johnson Air Force Base receives nearly $100 million directed toward childcare center improvements and combat arms training complexes.
– The North Carolina National Guard is allocated $69 million for aircraft maintenance hangar expansion at Salisbury Training Center.
– Funding is also designated for manufacturing initiatives in Concord and Durham related to Army vehicles, rare earth magnets production, load-carrying technology advancements, and expansion of a Defense Innovation Unit OnRamp Hub in North Carolina.
Other sections focus on homeland protection measures—such as requiring plans enabling installation commanders immediate authority against hostile drones—and directives aimed at countering threats from China by streamlining use of tactical datalinks among fighter squadrons and reporting on Chinese control over strategic foreign ports.
Provisions also extend support for U.S.-Israel defense cooperation programs through December 2028 with new authorizations totaling more than $170 million dedicated to anti-tunnel efforts, counter-unmanned aerial system cooperation initiatives, joint research on emerging technologies with Israel, continued assistance combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria—including support for Kurdish Peshmerga Forces—and requirements for Department of Defense briefings on related operations.
