Trump set to approve defense spending bill with aid for Ukraine - Reuters
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump plans to sign a nearly $1 trillion annual defense policy bill on Thursday, December 18, reports Reuters.
The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026, or NDAA, authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending - $8 billion more than Trump had requested.
The sweeping legislation sets policy on everything from how many ships, aircraft, and missile systems are purchased to military pay raises and how the US responds to geopolitical threats.
Reuters notes that the bill is a compromise, combining separate measures that had already been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate ahead of its approval this month.
Trump has been lukewarm about strengthening European security, arguing that allies should pay for it themselves. His recently released National Security Strategy is seen as Russia-friendly and as a reassessment of US relations with the continent, the outlet adds.
Ukraine mentioned in the bill
The security assistance agreement for Ukraine for fiscal year 2026 provides $800 million for Ukraine — $400 million in each of the next two years — under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds US companies to supply weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces.
This comes as Trump’s team is holding talks with Ukraine and Russia in an effort to halt Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The defense bill also authorizes the Baltic Security Initiative and allocates $175 million to support the defense of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
In addition, it limits the Pentagon’s ability to reduce the number of US troops in Europe below 76,000 and bars the US. European commander from relinquishing the role of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander.
In a statement, the White House said Trump supports the bill because it codifies into law elements of many of his executive orders, including funding for the Golden Dome missile defense system and the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the Pentagon.
Events leading up to the NDAA approval
As reported, on December 11, the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, approved the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026 (NDAA).
Earlier reports noted that the updated version of the US 2026 defense budget bill tightened restrictions on reducing military forces in Europe and South Korea. The legislation aims to maintain stability in key regions and strengthen Washington’s position among allies.
Before that, US lawmakers released the final version of the 2026 defense bill, codifying a record level of spending on national security and support for Ukraine.
