After the passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act by Congress, U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued a statement outlining the key aspects of the legislation and its expected impact on national security and North Carolina.
“The FY26 appropriations package makes a critical investment in our troops by ensuring the U.S. military has the very best equipment, training, and capabilities to defend the homeland as America’s adversaries continue to threaten global stability and U.S. security.
“As the Senator for North Carolina, one of our country’s top states for our military, I am proud to have fought for key provisions increasing funding for special operators’ counter-drone technology, upgrades for the F-15E fleet, and new Army tactical vehicles. Additionally, I championed measures to continue support for our Allies and partners, including Israel, Taiwan, and the Baltics. This appropriations package also follows through on our commitment to take care of our service members by giving junior enlisted a ten percent pay raise and providing a historic investment to improve Marine Corps barracks.
“North Carolina will greatly benefit from this funding package, from revitalizing our defense industrial base to prioritizing counterdrug operations. Our state will be more secure and prosperous because of these investments,” said Senator Budd.
The act includes several technological advancements such as $3 million allocated for rare earth magnet manufacturing and $52.3 million for hypersonic readiness assessment vehicles. Funding is also provided for advanced manufacturing technologies related to supersonic aircraft ($5 million) and expansion of DIU OnRamp Hub geographic locations ($16 million).
Support for international allies features prominently in the bill with $1 billion designated for weapons and training assistance to Taiwan; $342 million allocated to counter-ISIS train-and-equip efforts; restrictions placed on defense funds directed toward the Taliban; $80 million earmarked for U.S.-Israel anti-tunneling cooperation; $75 million set aside for U.S.-Israel counter-unmanned aerial systems cooperation; $47.5 million supporting emerging technology collaboration with Israel; and $500 million reserved for Israeli missile defense programs.
For military services across branches:
– The Air Force receives substantial funding including $102 million for F-15 radar upgrades, over $213 million toward electronic warfare capabilities on F-15s, procurement funds totaling nearly $4 billion covering 24 new F-35s plus associated upgrades.
– The Army is allotted resources such as $25 million targeting SOCOM counter-UAS efforts, significant sums dedicated toward infantry squad vehicles ($246 million), heavy duty dump trucks ($47 million), Apache helicopter procurement ($360 million), improved turbine engines ($175 million), among others.
– Navy & Marine Corps appropriations include more than $3.7 billion dedicated to procuring 23 new F-35s along with additional upgrade funds.
– DOD-wide initiatives include environmental protection integration programs valued at $20 million.
– Civil Air Patrol operations are funded with almost $58 million in operations/maintenance plus allocations specifically designated toward aircraft and vehicle procurement.
Senator Budd emphasized that these investments aim not only at strengthening national defense but also at bolstering North Carolina’s economy through support of its defense industrial base and focus on local priorities such as counterdrug operations.
