The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act by a vote of 87-9. The bill allocates $153.5 billion in discretionary funding, which includes $19.8 billion for defense and $133.6 billion for nondefense programs.
Senator Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, said, “The investments this legislation makes in critical Department of Defense infrastructure will help to strengthen our national security, improve our military’s readiness and safety, and reduce maintenance costs. The bill also supports much-needed funding to improve medical care and housing for our nation’s veterans.”
Senator John Boozman, Chair of the MilCon-VA Appropriations Subcommittee, added, “Providing the resources that support our veterans and their loved ones as well as ensure the Defense Department is able to project power globally, enhance our warfighting capabilities and train our forces is essential, and I’m pleased my colleagues approved this legislation in bipartisan fashion. I’m proud to have secured funding for Arkansas-based national security components including Red River Army Depot and the Arkansas National Guard in addition to tools that help make certain we deliver the benefits and services that veterans deserve.”
The bill provides $19.8 billion for military construction projects at more than 280 bases worldwide. Of this amount, $1.9 billion is directed toward improving and maintaining housing for service members and their families.
For the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the legislation allocates $133.3 billion to support health care services and benefits for veterans.
The act retains provisions that prevent the realignment or closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay or the construction of a new facility in the United States to house detainees from Guantanamo.
A new provision included in the bill prohibits the VA from purchasing technology equipment made by Chinese companies listed by federal agencies such as Defense, Treasury, Commerce, or Homeland Security.
