U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Thursday night. The legislation aims to advance President Trump’s national security agenda by establishing policy reforms and authorizing funding for the U.S. Department of Defense and other national security initiatives.
“President Trump has set a course to restore the strength of our national defense to ensure our fighting men and women have the tools, technology, and training to defend our interest in an increasingly hostile world. The FY2026 NDAA builds on the down payment we made with the One Big Beautiful Bill by authorizing funding priorities and reforms,” Hyde-Smith said. “I thank Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker for his leadership on this bill.”
The Senate-approved NDAA (S.2296) includes provisions such as Pentagon budgeting and acquisition reforms, increased shipbuilding funding, a 3.8 percent pay raise for military personnel, support for nuclear weapons programs, and resources for military construction and family housing projects. The bill passed with a 77-20 vote in the Senate and will now move to a conference committee to address differences with a version passed by the House.
Senator Hyde-Smith is a member of both the Senate Appropriations Committee and its Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA). In July, this committee approved the FY2026 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill, which was later passed by the full Senate in August. Additionally, the FY2026 Defense Appropriations Bill cleared committee review in early August and awaits consideration by the entire Senate. Both bills contain funding designated for defense-related projects in Mississippi.
