- Table numbers in parentheses are increases or decreases from the FY26 Request
- FY25 requested levels come from the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation’s Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Budget Request Briefing Book
- Request Numbers in this analysis only include discretionary requests
- Numbers may not add due to rounding
Total National Defense Discretionary Spending (050)
| Allocation | FY26 Request | House | Senate | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | $848 billion | $848 billion (+$15M) | $879 billion (+$31B) | $856 billion (+$7.5B) |
| Department of Energy | $34 billion | $34 billion (-$35M) | $35 billion (+$1.3B) | $34 billion (+431M) |
| Other Defense-Related Activities | $10.2 billion | $10.2 billion (+$20M) | $11.3 billion | $10.2 billion (+$20M) |
| Total, National Defense Spending Request | $893 billion | $893 billion | $926 billion (+$32.1B) | $901 billion (+$8B) |
DOD Nuclear Weapons Funding for Select Programs
| Program | FY26 Request | House | Senate | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD)/Sentinel | $2.6 billion | $3 billion (+$400M) | $4.6 billion (+$2B) | $3.8 billion (+$1.2B) |
| Columbia Class Ballistic Missile Submarine | $9.3 billion | $9.3 billion | $9.3 billion (+$10M) | $10 billion (+$710M) |
| Trident II Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile | $2.6 billion | $2.6 billion | $2.6 billion | $2.6 billion |
| Sea Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) | $0 | $100 million (+100M) | $320 million (+320M) | $210 million (+$210M) |
| W93 Mk7 Aeroshell | $619 million | $619 million | $619 million | $619 million |
| B-21 Strategic Bomber | $5.8 billion | $5.8 billion | $5.8 billion | $5.8 billion |
| F-35 Dual Capable Aircraft Nuclear Certification | $21.8 million | $21.8 million | $21.8 million | $21.8 million |
| B-52 Upgrades | $931 million | $931 million | $931 million | $931 million |
| Long Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO) | $1 billion | $1.1 billion | $1.2 billion (+149M) | $1 billion |
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
| Program | FY26 Request | House | Senate | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Salaries and Expenses | $555 million | $555 million | $555 million | $555 million |
| Weapons Activities | $20 billion | $21 billion (+$504M) | $22 billion (+$1.8B) | $21 billion (+$954M) |
| Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation | $2.3 billion | $2.3 billion (+$5M) | $2.2 billion (-$46M) | $2.3 billion |
| Naval Reactors | $2.3 billion | $2 billion (-$320M) | $2.2 billion (-$99M) | $2.1 billion (-$245M) |
| Total, National Nuclear Security Administration | $25.2 billion | $25.4 billion (+$189M) | $26.9 billion (+$1.6B) | $26 billion (+$709M) |
DOE Nuclear Weapons Funding for Select Programs
| Program | FY26 Request | House | Senate | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B61-12 Gravity Bomb | $16 million | $16 million | $16 million | $16 million |
| B61-13 Gravity Bomb | $49.3 million | $49.3 million | $49.3 million | $49.3 million |
| W80-4 Nuclear Warhead | $1.3 billion | $1.3 billion | $1.3 billion | $1.3 billion |
| SLCM Nuclear Warhead | $0 | $100 million | $186 million (+$186M) | $50 million (+$50M) |
| W87-1 Nuclear Warhead | $649 million | $649 million | $770 million (+$121M) | $649 million |
| W93 Nuclear Warhead | $807 million | $807 million | $782 million (-$25M) | $807 million |
| Stockpile Sustainment | $1.7 billion | $1.7 billion | $1.6 billion (-$100M) | $1.7 billion |
| Weapons Dismantlement and Disposition | $82 million | $62 million (-$20M) | $87 million (+5M) | $82 million |
Plutonium Modernization
| Plutonium Modernization - Los Alamos National Lab | $1.5 billion | $1.5 billion (+$50M) | $1.5 billion | $1.5 billion |
| Plutonium Modernization - Savannah River Site | $1.2 billion | $1.2 billion | $1.2 billion | $1.2 billion |
| Total, Plutonium Modernization | $2.8 billion | $2.9 billion (+$50M) | $2.8 billion | $2.8 billion |
Select Provisions Related to Nuclear Weapons
➤ Nuclear Weapons Council
House: No similar provision
Senate: Further clarifies and potentially expands the role of the Nuclear Weapons Council as the primary mechanism for Department of Defense and Energy coordination, oversight and development of posture on nuclear deterrence activities. (Sec. 1515)
Final: Adopts Senate version with clarifying amendment. (Sec. 1631)
➤ Sentinel ICBM Levels
House: Restricts funding to reduce the number of deployed ICBMs below 400 or ICBM alert levels. (Sec. 1623)
Senate: Establishes September 30, 2033 as the target date for initial operational capability for the Sentinel ICBM program and adds the requirement that enough ICBMs are in the total U.S. inventory so that no fewer than 400 can be deployed at any time. Also restricts funding to reduce the number of deployed ICBMs below 400 or ICBM alert levels. (Sec. 1511)
Final: Adopts the House provision with the inclusion into Title 10 of the U.S. Code establishing a minimum ICBM and launcher inventory and eliminating the need to include this provision every year and making it potentially harder to repeal. (Sec. 1632)
➤ Minuteman III Sustainment
House: Requires the Secretary of the Air Force to submit a strategy on the sustainment of the Minuteman III and maximization of the “end-of-life margin.” (Sec. 1624)
Senate: No similar provision
Final: Adopts House provision with clarifying amendment. (Sec. 1641)
➤ Nuclear Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N)
House: Removes SLCM-N’s designation as a “major defense acquisition program.” (Sec. 1622)
Senate: Authorizes a middle-tier acquisition pathway to speed up development and deployment of the SLCM-N and updates the target date for initial operational capability (IOC) from 2034 to 2032. (Sec. 1517)
Final: Adopts the Senate provision without the middle-tier acquisition language but requiring a limited number of SLCM-N, determined by the Nuclear Weapons Council, before IOC (Sec. 1633)
➤ B-21 Certification Requirements
House: No similar provision
Senate: Updates the 2013 B-21 nuclear certification to specifically mention the Long Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO) and calls for nuclear certification within 180 days of initial operational capability. (Sec. 1513)
Final: Adopts the Senate provision (Sec. 1634)
➤ Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs
House: Requires a report on progress on establishment of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs within 60 days of passage. (Sec. 1625)
Senate: Restricts 50% of funds for multiple Department of Defense offices until the Department more effectively restructures and aligns staffing of the newly established the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs. (Sec. 1514)
Final: Adopts Senate provision with a reporting requirement and specific implementation deadlines. (Sec. 1635)
➤ Strategic Posture Commission (SPC) Recommendations
House: No similar provision
Senate: Limits expenditure of funds for multiple Department of Defense accounts until the Department completes the first annual briefing on the implementation of the SPC recommendations. (Sec. 1519)
Final: Adopts Senate provision (Sec. 1639)
➤ Compensation Caps for NNSA Contractors
House: No similar provision
Senate: Prohibits compensation caps for non-federal NNSA contractors employed at federally funded centers in support of nuclear weapons or Golden Dome activities. (Sec. 1521)
Final: Adopts Senate provision but limits the prohibition to FY 2026 and includes a reporting requirement. (Sec. 1640)
➤ Atomic Energy Defense Activities
House: No similar provision
Senate: Shifts provisions that make up the Atomic Energy Defense Act and consolidates into Title 10 from Title 50 of the U.S. Code. (Sec. 3111)
Final: Adopts Senate provision (Sec. 3111)
➤ Plutonium Pit Production
House: Codifies NNSA’s two-site strategy and explicitly states 30 pits per year at Los Alamos National Laboratory and 50 pits per year at Savannah River Site requirements. (Sec. 3111)
Senate: Specifies numbers for plutonium pit production leading up to the 80 pits per year requirement. Commits to the two-site strategy at Los Alamos and Savannah River and pushes the 80 pits per year requirement back to 2032. Opens the door for annual production above 80 pits per year. (Sec. 3112)
Final: Adopts House provision with technical amendment. (Sec. 3112)
➤ NNSA Rapid Capabilities Development
House: Creates a Rapid Capabilities Program at NNSA to develop new nuclear weapons or modified nuclear weapons that meet military requirements within five years and create a specific budget line item for this program. (Sec. 3112)
Senate: Repeals the Stockpile Responsiveness Program and establishes new Rapid Capabilities position and office. (Sec. 3113)
Final: Adopts the House provision with an amendment that creates an advisory board for the new office. (Sec. 3113)
➤ Department of Energy Cost Overruns
House: No similar provision
Senate: Adjusts timing of notification on NNSA cost overruns before entering Phase 6.3 or Phase 3 of the project. (Sec. 3115)
Final: Adopts Senate provision but changes it from 6.3/3 to 6.4/4. (Sec. 3116)
➤ Stockpile Stewardship, Management and Responsiveness Plan
House: Changes SSMP report to biennial. (Sec. 3121)
Senate: Requires additional reporting on nuclear infrastructure investments and a review of the NNSA’s “Enterprise Blueprint” by the Nuclear Weapons Council. (Sec. 3124/Sec. 3114)
Final: Adopts the House provision with a briefing requirement based on the Senate provision. (Sec. 3121)
Missile Defeat and Defense Funding Select Systems
| Program | FY26 Request | House | Senate | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) | $1.2 billion | $1.2 billion (+$10M) | $1.3 billion (+$150M) | $1.9 billion (+$725M) |
| Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense | $1.4 billion | $1.4 billion | $1.8 billion (+$418M) | $1.8 billion (+$400M) |
| Ground-Based Midcourse Defense/Next Generation Interceptor | $2.6 billion | $2.2 billion (-$400M) | $2.6 billion | $2.6 billion |
| Guam Integrated Air and Missile Defense System | $140 million | $140 million | $256 million (+$116M) | $140 million |
| Iron Dome | $60 million | $60 million | $60 million | $60 million |
Select Provisions Related to Missile Defense
➤ National Missile Defense Policy
House: Revises U.S. national missile defense policy to specifically reference deployment of a next-generation missile defense shield and deter and defend against “any foreign aerial attack on the homeland.” (Sec. 1641)
Senate: Revises U.S. national missile defense policy to specifically reference deployment of a next-generation missile defense shield and deter and defend against “increasingly complex ballistic, hypersonic glide, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial threats.” Also requires annual briefings on Golden Dome progress. (Sec. 1531a)
Final: Adopts House provision with amendment to mention growing threats (Sec. 1651)
➤ Golden Dome
House: Requires a plan for Golden Dome, including what the system architecture will be, within 180 days of passage. Also requires annual updates and consolidated budget exhibits for Golden Dome components from FY 2028-FY 2030. Also requires a report on U.S. theater missile defense posture within one year of passage. (Sec. 1642)
Senate: Requires annual briefing on Golden Dome progress (Sec. 1531a); ensures improvements to missile defense also include improvements for Hawaii and Alaska (Sec. 1532); requires a robust testing regime for interceptors and all similar systems used for Golden Dome and requires presentation of detailed test plans (Sec. 1543); requires a series of funding assessments to assess acceleration of missile defense technologies and programs and that testing and initial fielding of the Next Generation Interceptor should be completed no later than January 1, 2028. (Sec.1544)
Final: Adopts House provision but also requires both annual reports and quarterly briefings on the development of the next-generation missile defense architecture. (Sec. 1652)
➤ Privatized or Subscription-Based Missile Defense
House: Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from developing, deploying, testing, or operating missile defense systems that are not owned and operated by the U.S. military. (Sec. 1643)
Senate: No similar provision
Final: Adopts the House provision (Sec. 1654)
➤ Space-Based Missile Defense
House: No similar provision
Senate: Limits funds for multiple Department of Defense offices until the Department partners with the Institute for Defense Analyses to study the feasibility and advisability of developing a space-based missile defense capability. (Sec. 1540)
Final: Adopts Senate provision (Sec. 1659)
Miscellaneous Programs and Provisions of Interest
➤ Pay Raise: Authorizes a 3.8% pay raise for servicemembers.
➤ CTR Funds
House: Authorizes $282.2 million, the requested level, for the Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. (Sec.1651)
Senate: Authorizes $282.2 million, the requested level, for the Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. (Sec. 1301)
Final: Adopts Senate provision (Sec. 1691)
Final Passage
As of the publication of this analysis, the final NDAA had not passed both chambers of Congress.
