Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26 NDAA), which includes major improvements to servicemember quality of life, ensures our warfighters remain the most lethal and well-equipped in the world, and codifies all or part of 15 of President Trump’s executive orders to promote his Peace Through Strength agenda.

Additionally, the NDAA included key provisions to support the entire Louisiana military community, including Barksdale Air Force Base and Air Force Global Strike Command, Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center, and Camp Minden.

Shreveport Times: “Barksdale, other Louisiana bases score big wins in defense bill” here or below:

Barksdale Air Force scored big wins in the annual National Defense Authorization Act passed by the U.S. House late Dec. 10, pushed through by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport-Bossier.

The nation's troops will earn a 3.8% raise in the bill, while funding also will advance key initiatives at Barksdale, Fort Polk and other Louisiana military installations.

“This legislation includes important House-passed provisions to ensure our military forces remain the most lethal in the world and can deter any adversary," Johnson said in a statement. "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."

A new study shows Louisiana's military economy accounted for $17 billion in annual activity statewide during 2024, a 77% increase in overall economic activity since 2021.

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins of Lafayette said he will continue to advocate for defense investment in Louisiana as the state's only member of the House Armed Services Committee.

“As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I worked very hard to ensure Louisiana’s military bases and defense industry businesses were properly authorized and funded," Higgins said in a text to USA Today Network Dec. 11. "The NDAA provides significant growth for shipbuilding programs in Louisiana and I will always support the men and women of our military.” 

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 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: 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.