Senate Committee Backs $852 Billion Defense Budget with Ukraine Aid

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The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved an $852 billion defense spending package for fiscal year 2026, moving the legislation forward with a bipartisan vote of 26 to 3. The bill exceeds the administration’s original request by over $21 billion and includes nearly $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, despite earlier efforts by the Trump administration to cut such funding.

The approved aid package allocates $800 million to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and another $225 million for the Baltic Security Initiative. The inclusion of these provisions highlights strong Senate backing for continued support to European allies amid ongoing security concerns in the region.

The committee’s decision reflects growing congressional alignment on national defense priorities, particularly around deterrence in Europe and investments in emerging military technologies such as unmanned systems. Senate leaders from both parties have emphasized the need to adapt the U.S. defense strategy in light of evolving global threats.

Although the bill has cleared a key committee hurdle, it must still pass a full Senate vote and be reconciled with the House version, which notably excludes Ukraine related funding. The final legislation will then require presidential approval before becoming law.

Lawmakers supporting the bill argue that the increased budget strengthens the United States’ global defense posture and signals a continued commitment to NATO partners. The bipartisan support also suggests that foreign military aid, especially to Ukraine, remains a congressional priority, regardless of shifting executive branch positions.

The bill’s fate now depends on negotiations between both chambers of Congress. Observers expect Ukraine funding to be a central point of contention as lawmakers work to finalise the broader defense budget ahead of the next fiscal year.