The new version of Congress’s near-trillion dollar defense budget bill includes multiple provisions aimed squarely at reigning in War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026 includes multiple amendments that target key decisions made by Pentagon leaders, including a provision that would slash Hegseth’s travel budget pending the Pentagon handing over unedited footage of strikes against vessels in the Caribbean. The bill also requires the Pentagon to station at least 76,000 troops in Europe for more than 45 days and blocks major equipment removals, despite the admin’s goals in reducing European commitments.
Additionally, the bill also requires that Congress be notified of any removals of Joint Chiefs, combatant commanders and judge advocates general, responding to the numerous firings in the miliary under Hegseth’s Pentagon.
The current operation in the South Caribbean has so far killed 87 suspected drug cartel members. Recently, controversy surrounding the alleged “double tap” of survivors during one of the strikes drew sharp criticism and scrutiny from observers and congressional members.
Some Republican lawmakers revolted after the Pentagon moved to draw down troops in Romania in October. The Pentagon assured the lawmakers that the move did not mark a withdrawal from Europe or a lessened commitment to NATO.
The bill also conflicts in part with the Trump administration’s stated goal of drawing back on direct involvement in Europe in the recently-released National Security Strategy (NSS), sending $200 million to security initiatives in Europe while sending an additional $400 million for Ukraine assistance.
Lawmakers, both Democrat and Republican, have aimed their fury at Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who is a prominent voice inside the Pentagon advocating for increased focus on China and scaling back commitments in Europe and the Middle East.
The bill passed the House by a large, bipartisan margin, and will be considered in the Senate within the next week. Republicans have argued that the bill codifies many of President Trump’s executive orders including the elimination of DEI funding in the military, the emergency declaration at the southern border, and the Golden Dome missile defense project among many others.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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