WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson commended House passage of S. 1017, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26 NDAA). This annual legislation includes major priorities for the Louisiana military community, particularly Barksdale Air Force Base and Air Force Global Strike Command, Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center, and Camp Minden.
“This year’s National Defense Authorization Act helps advance President Trump and Republicans’ Peace Through Strength Agenda by codifying 15 of President Trump’s executive orders, ending woke ideology at the Pentagon, securing the border, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior ethos.
“This legislation includes important House-passed provisions to ensure our military forces remain the most lethal in the world and can deter any adversary. It roots out Biden-era wokeism in our military and restores merit-based promotions and admissions to service academies, prohibits contracts with partisan firms, counters antisemitism, and halts harmful, unnecessary programs like CRT, DEI, and climate initiatives.
“President Trump has made clear the past few decades of investments propping up Communist China’s aggression must come to an end, and this bill includes important guardrails to protect America’s long-term investments, economic interests, and sensitive data.
“The NDAA builds on the landmark investments included in the Working Families Tax Cut, ensuring America has both the economic strength and the military power to deter our enemies and protect our interests worldwide. The legislation improves the livelihoods of America’s brave men and women in uniform by giving them a well-deserved pay raise, and ensures our warfighters have access to the best and most innovative military technologies.
“Under President Trump, the U.S. is rebuilding strength, restoring deterrence, and proving America will not back down. President Trump and Republicans promised peace through strength. The FY26 NDAA delivers it,” Speaker Johnson said.
Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District Provisions included in the FY26 NDAA:
Barksdale Air Force Base
- Weapons Generation Facility Dormitory ($18 million)
- This dormitory will be built to support the new $275 million Weapons Generation Facility, which is currently under construction.
- Child Development Center Design ($2.2 million)
- This funding will support a new Child Development Center (CDC) at Barksdale. It will build a 13-room addition to the existing CDC. The existing facility is undersized and in poor condition.
Air Force B-52 Program
- The NDAA includes $931 million for the continued modernization of the B-52. These upgrades will allow the B-52 to continue to serve as the core of the Air Force’s bomber mission.
Long Range Standoff Weapon
- $607 million to support the continued development of the new Long Range Standoff Weapon (LSRO). The LRSO will replace the existing air launched cruise missiles (ALCM), which have been in service since the 1980s.
Air Force Global Strike Command
- Codifying Air Force Global Strike Command
- The NDAA establishes the Global Strike Command as an Air Force Major Command. The Commander of Global Strike Command will continue to serve as the Single Point of contact to the Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force for carrying out all aspects of nuclear and long-range strike missions of the Air Force, solidifying even further the importance of Barksdale Air Force Base’s Global Strike Command.
- Bomber Aircraft Force Structure and Transition Roadmap
- The Air Force will be required to submit to Congress a comprehensive roadmap detailing the planned force structure, basing, modernization, and transition strategy for the bomber aircraft fleet of the Air Force through fiscal year 2040. This report will update Congress on the status of B-52 modernization and future basing plans for the B-21.
Military Community
- Authorizes the creation of the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program, which can leverage the new campus of LSU-Heath Shreveport to mobilize direct support to military medical treatment facilities and provide support to other requirements of the military health system.
Since his original appointment to the House Armed Services Committee in 2021, Speaker Johnson has secured:
- Nearly $787 million in military construction projects for the state of Louisiana.
- $377.7 million for Barksdale Air Force Base
- $311.8 million for Fort Polk
- $13.8 million for Camp Minden
- Over $4.1 billion for the Air Force B-52 program
- Over $3.6 billion for the Long Range Standoff Weapon program
In addition, this year’s NDAA:
- Advances the Trump Administration’s efforts to improve servicemember quality of life with a 3.8% pay increase and improved benefits for military families.
- Codifies President Trump’s work to end DEI and wokeness in the military and returns to a focus on the warrior ethos.
- Fully supports President Trump’s top priorities, including the Golden Dome, F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines, warships, and autonomous systems.
- Advances President Trump’s agenda to revitalize American shipbuilding.
- Fully funds and provides additional authorities for the Department of War to support border security efforts.
FY26 NDAA Bill Text, HERE.
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