US Senate passes $901 billion defense bill, including $800 million in aid for Ukraine
Photo: US Senate Speaker Mike Johnson (Getty Images)
The US Senate on Wednesday, December 17, passed a $901 billion defense policy bill for fiscal year 2026. The 3,000-page document includes $800 million in funding for Ukraine, according to CBS News.
The bill was backed by 77 senators, with 22 voting against it. Under the legislation, US defense spending in 2026 will total $901 billion.
The bill includes a record annual defense spending, a 4% pay raise for US service members, and funding for weapons procurement. It also allocates resources to programs aimed at strengthening US competitiveness in its rivalry with China and Russia.
Funding for Ukraine
The legislation provides $800 million in assistance for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Kyiv will receive $400 million per year over the next two years. The funds will be directed to US companies supplying weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The bill also authorizes the Baltic Security Initiative and allocates $175 million to support the defense of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. It limits any reduction of US troop levels in Europe below 76,000 and prohibits stripping the commander of US forces in Europe of their role as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander.
Pentagon officials are also preparing major structural changes to the US military command. These plans include cutting some positions and downgrading the functions of the US Army headquarters worldwide.
According to media reports, if adopted, the proposal would mark one of the most significant changes in US senior military leadership in decades.
It is also worth noting that US lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate to impose sanctions for purchasing or facilitating the import of Russian oil and petroleum products.
