Senate Passes National Defense Authorization Act with Support for Ukraine

The Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the massive annual defense policy bill late Thursday, October 9, as the U.S. government remains shut down.

The GOP-led chamber approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 70-20, aiming to fund the U.S. military at $924.7 billion in fiscal 2026 as well as provide assistance to Ukraine. The vote came after lawmakers reached a deal earlier in the day to unlock the stalled legislation.

The House and Senate will now work together to craft a final, reconciled version that the president will sign into law.

“The federal government’s number one responsibility is to look after the safety and security of this country. I’m glad this legislation passed the Senate with broad, bipartisan support, and I was proud to secure multiple provisions to support Iowa and invest in our state’s military installations,” Sen. Chuck Grassley said. “While this legislation sets the Defense Department up for success next year, our military service members are sadly working without pay today because Democrats have shut down the government and are holding government funding hostage for unrelated policy demands. I’m once again calling on more of my Democrat colleagues to join the three conscientious members of their party and end their partisan obstruction and join with Republicans to support a continuation of government. Our brave men and women in uniform shouldn’t have to suffer as a result of Democrats’ senseless political tactics.”

Grassley secured the following priorities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 26 NDAA:

Authorization of federal funds to support Iowa’s military installations:

• $148 million for projects at the 185th Air Refueling Wing/Sioux Gateway Airport, including aircraft parking apron, extended runway, runway repair and warm-up/holding pad;

• $13.8 million for the vehicle maintenance shop at the Waterloo Armory (Army National Guard);

• $8.5 million for Corrosion Control Research which helps support the work at the University of Northern Iowa under the STAR4D program;

• Provisions to bolster the Rock Island Arsenal through a pilot program on arsenal workload sustainment, which encourages public-private partnerships to increase minimum workloads at US owned arsenals like Rock Island;

Measures to crack down on costly price gouging by defense contractors by ensuring the Department of Defense (DoD) gets transparent pricing information. This builds on Grassley’s previous oversight work on price gouging with C-17 spare parts;

• A Grassley-led provision to allow the three Baltic countries to share High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and ammunition purchased from the United States between each other without bureaucratic red tape, to complicate Russian strategic planning;

• The Abducted Ukrainian Children Recovery and Accountability Act with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to support Ukraine’s efforts to investigate and track the nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been abducted during Putin’s brutal invasion. The bill would also assist with the rehabilitation and reintegration of children who are returned and provide justice and accountability for perpetrators of these abductions;

• The Baltic Security Initiative Act with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) to enhance and strengthen U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics amid Putin’s aggressive action in the region. The bipartisan legislation effectively codifies the Baltic Security Initiative effort; and

Provisions to increase transparency on foreign influence in U.S. policy by defining “informational materials” under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The measure would clarify what types of materials that aim to influence public opinion and policy must be both labeled with a conspicuous message and filed with the DOJ.

Grassley also secured key wins in the NDAA in his capacity as Senate Judiciary Chairman, including six bipartisan law enforcement bills that had previously been blocked by Senate Democrats since passing out of the Judiciary Committee during Police Week in May.

The six law enforcement bills passed as part of the NDAA include:

• The Grassley-Klobuchar Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act to protect officers and first responders against accidental exposure to dangerous substances;

• The Grassley-Klobuchar Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act to address law enforcement staffing shortages;

• The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act to expand mental health resources for law enforcement officers;

• The Strong Communities Act to boost law enforcement recruitment and retention;

• The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act to aid state and local law enforcement agencies in combating child sexual exploitation online; and

• The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act to expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who pass away or become permanently disabled from service-related cancers.