July 17, 2025
By Staff
Representative Elise Stefanik advanced sweeping military investments this week, moving the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 through the House Armed Services Committee with targeted gains for Fort Drum, Rome Labs, and Upstate New York.
“Today, I am proud to advance this year’s America First defense bill that responsibly and rightfully strengthens our military in the face of the rapidly evolving threats posed by our adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea,” said Stefanik, Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference. “This bill will lead the charge in reforming our broken acquisition system, revitalizing our defense industrial base, and further increasing the readiness, capabilities, and lethality of our fighting force.”
Stefanik announced that she helped authorize over $22 million for New York’s 21st District, focusing on bolstering the Fort Drum community, supporting military families, and enhancing troop readiness. She emphasized her support for a 3.8% pay raise for all service members and backed President Trump’s “America First Peace Through Strength” initiative.
The defense package includes $892.6 billion in authorized spending, along with $150 billion in mandatory funding. The total allocation of over $1 trillion marks a nearly 14% increase from the previous year.
Key provisions targeting Fort Drum include funding for multi-domain joint operations, protection from drone attacks, and directives for developing next-generation weapons systems. The bill also mandates briefings on missile defense efforts and requires planning to diversify counter-unmanned aircraft systems.
Rome Labs stands to gain significantly, with $10 million authorized for its Future Flag exercise, $5 million for the Army Research Lab’s contribution to the same program, and $2.5 million for photonic quantum computing initiatives. Stefanik also secured language directing evaluations of rare earth magnet and aluminum-lithium alloy supply chains, both with ties to the region.
The NDAA supports domestic deployment of counter-drone technologies, with potential benefits for facilities in NY-21. It also provides sustained funding for Impact Aid schools serving military families at Fort Drum.
Other family-focused measures include investments in housing, childcare, and education continuity during relocations. The bill allocates $77 million for the Armed Forces Retirement Home and introduces a pilot program on childcare worker compensation. A report is also required on Department of Defense school policies regarding student cell phone use.
The bill maintains strong commitments to U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. It allocates $300 million for joint programs, including anti-tunnel and counter-drone operations. It also establishes new partnerships in emerging tech fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity.
To confront threats from China, the bill bans defense contracts with companies tied to the Chinese military and increases Indo-Pacific construction funding. It adds Chinese drone companies to the FCC’s Covered List and enhances air force readiness for operations in that region.
The legislation further expands investments in hypersonics, AI, and unmanned systems. It authorizes more OnRamp Hubs to support defense innovation and calls for performance evaluations across the defense workforce.
To streamline military procurement, the NDAA reforms acquisition protocols, boosts oversight, and increases funding for precision missile technologies and national missile defense systems.
The House will next bring the NDAA to the floor for debate and vote.
-Read the story in Finger Lakes 1 HERE.
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