Rogers Champions FY26 NDAA: Reforming Acquisitions, Supporting Servicemembers, and Countering China

Washington, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) took to the House floor this week to present the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, highlighting sweeping reforms to Pentagon acquisitions, historic investments in servicemember quality of life, and a sharpened focus on countering threats from China in the Indo-Pacific.

"This is a good product that was worked in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion," Rogers said, underscoring the broad coalition behind the legislation. "Fixing acquisitions will go a long way toward ensuring our warfighters are the most capable fighting force on the planet."

Reforming Pentagon Acquisitions

At the heart of the FY26 NDAA is a push to overhaul what Rogers called the Pentagon's "broken acquisition process." The bill prioritizes commercial solutions, trims regulatory burdens, and seeks to end bureaucratic inertia that has slowed delivery of critical capabilities to the field. Rogers emphasized that these reforms are designed to ensure speed and scale in equipping U.S. forces.

Investing in Servicemember Quality of Life

Rogers stressed that readiness is not only about weapons systems but also about the men and women who serve. The FY26 NDAA includes:

- 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers, aligned with the Trump Administration's proposal.

- Nearly $3 billion for construction of barracks, family housing, dining facilities, medical centers, childcare facilities, and schools.

- Expanded access to mental health services for servicemembers.

"Our committee will continue to make improving the quality of life for our servicemembers a top priority," Rogers said.

Countering China and Strengthening Indo-Pacific Posture

Rogers warned that the threats facing the United States, particularly from China, are "more complex and challenging than at any point in the last 40 years." The FY26 NDAA responds with provisions to:

- Remove adversaries from the U.S. defense supply chain.

- Extend the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to bolster U.S. posture in the region.

- Enhance U.S. ability to conduct military operations in the Pacific.

- Strengthen Taiwan's defenses and build allied capacity across the Indo-Pacific.

Historic Investments in U.S. Military Capabilities

The bill authorizes unprecedented levels of funding to modernize and expand U.S. military power:

- $26 billion for shipbuilding, including submarines and surface vessels.

- $38 billion for next-generation fighter aircraft to ensure air dominance.

- $25 billion to restore America's arsenal of munitions.

- $145 billion for research and development of innovative technologies to prepare for future battlefields.

"These investments will increase the lethality of our forces to prepare for, and deter, global threats," Rogers said.

Delivering Peace Through Strength

Rogers framed the FY26 NDAA as a continuation of President Trump's "Peace Through Strength Agenda," arguing that the bill both deters adversaries and delivers for servicemembers. "It will fundamentally reform the defense acquisition enterprise. It will continue historic improvements in the quality of life for our servicemembers and their families. It will build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and our other adversaries," Rogers concluded. "I urge all members to support it."