Pentagon Spending

The House has passed its version of the annual military policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing $1.15 trillion in Pentagon spending on July 22. But the number of votes for and against tells the real story: this bill scraped by on record-thin margins (216-212). For the first time in decades, a bipartisan bloc of lawmakers has started to question if they should give another blank check to the Pentagon. Our struggle is far from over.

Along with our 250th Independence Day, this weekend marks one year since President Trump signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA).

As we said at the time, there’s nothing “beautiful” about this immoral budget bill.

A year later, here’s a look at some of the harms that are unfolding as a result:

The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are getting ready to vote on the annual military policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA. This year’s bill currently authorizes an outrageous $1.15 trillion for the Pentagon.

On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed into law the annual military policy bill (the National Defense Authorization Act or “NDAA”) for fiscal year 2026. 

The bill included a key FCNL priority that our D.C. lobbyists and grassroots advocates have spent years working for: repeal of the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, the law that authorized the Iraq War.

The Trump administration has announced plans to request $1.01 trillion for Pentagon spending for fiscal year 2026. That includes more than two thirds of the $150 billion from the reconciliation bill currently being considered by Congress, coupled with the $893 billion requested in President Donald Trump’s “skinny budget.”  

Last Friday, February 21 Senate Republicans passed a $340 billion budget framework, allocating substantial funds to military spending and border security, despite unanimous Democratic opposition. This framework includes up to $150 billion for the Pentagon and $175 billion to fund President Trump’s agenda for mass immigration detention and deportation over four years.  

Urge Congress to oppose any FY25 appropriations bills that increase the Pentagon budget beyond the limits set in the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act.

These lists contribute to ballooning military spending and compound an already dysfunctional Congressional budget process.

Instead of giving the Pentagon and weapons contractors an additional $30 billion to fund their wish list for weapons and war, the American people deserve to get our own unfunded needs met. This year, FCNL’s People’s Unfunded Priorities List highlights four key areas where these additional funds could be better spent supporting human needs.

Every year Congress requires the Pentagon to submit “wish lists” for additional weapons, offering a backdoor to boosting already exorbitant military spending. To rein in wasteful and unnecessary Pentagon spending, FCNL is supporting the bipartisan Streamline the Pentagon Budgeting Act.