America’s Near-Trillion Dollar Defense Bill Adds Multiple Provisions Aimed Squarely At Hegseth’s Pentagon

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.