Military remuneration is enhanced in the latest house defense bill, also augmenting the family separation allowance.
The House and Senate have presented their respective versions of the 2026 defense policy bill, each with distinct funding levels and priorities.
The House version of the FY 2026 defense appropriations bill proposes $832 billion for defense spending, which is essentially flat compared to FY 2025 and aligns with the Pentagon’s original request. This bill emphasizes certain programs like more F-35s and the Navy’s F/A-XX fighter, but also includes programs the Pentagon wants canceled like the E-7 Wedgetail.
By contrast, the Senate Committee on Armed Services approved the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a funding authorization of $878.7 billion, which is about $30.5 billion higher than the Pentagon’s request. The Senate bill includes increases for additional F-35 purchases and extra shipbuilding funds beyond what the Pentagon requested.
In summary, the House bill funds the Pentagon close to its request at $832 billion, while the Senate bill authorizes significantly more at $878.7 billion, reflecting a $46.7 billion difference between the two chambers' defense funding levels for FY 2026.
The bills also focus on various quality-of-life improvements. For instance, two pilot programs will be authorized to expand obstetrical and gynecological care for TRICARE beneficiaries. The Child Care in Your Home Pilot Program for military families will be extended through December 31, 2029. The travel reimbursement threshold for specialty care appointments will be lowered from 100 miles to 50 miles.
Moreover, mental health services for the Cyber Mission Force will be expanded to better support their unique needs. The bill includes provisions to make it easier for service members living in unaccompanied housing to access food.
Rep. Mike Rogers (R.-Ala.) stated that the FY26 NDAA supports modernization and fundamentally reforms defense acquisition. The bill also requires the Defense Department to study new ways to calculate the Basic Allowance for Housing rate to better reflect regional market trends, as a RAND Corporation report found that the current rate-setting methodology "does not appear resilient to rapid and dramatic changes in the housing market."
The House Armed Services Committee passed a version of the 2026 defense policy bill that includes a 3.8% pay bump for service members, and the bill excludes the basic allowance for housing from income calculations, making it easier for service members to qualify for the basic needs allowance.
The House Appropriations Committee has advanced 2026 spending legislation for the Agriculture, Defense, Homeland Security, and Legislative Branch bills. The House and Senate's 2026 defense policy bills are currently being reconciled.
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- The House version of the FY 2026 defense policy bill proposes a reimagined workforce with a 3.8% pay bump for service members, aiming to improve their well-being beyond just finance.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the House bill seeks to reform defense acquisition and study new ways to calculate the Basic Allowance for Housing rate, following the findings of a RAND Corporation report.
- As part of quality-of-life improvements, both House and Senate bills focus on education-and-self-development, with proposals to expand mental health services for the Cyber Mission Force and enhance access to food for military personnel living in unaccompanied housing.
- The federal workforce, including the business sector and general-news media, are closely watching the ongoing policy debates and negotiations between the House and Senate regarding the FY 2026 defense policy bill, with potential implications for politics and future budgeting.
