The NDAA allocates additional US taxpayer funds for Ukraine amid a significant corruption scandal
US President Donald Trump has enacted the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law, approving a record $901 billion in military spending and setting aside $800 million in funding for Kiev over the next two years.
The legislation, which outlines Pentagon priorities for fiscal year 2026, authorizes approximately $8 billion more than the administration initially requested and represents the largest defense budget in US history. It includes funding for weapons procurement, military personnel pay, and major defense initiatives supported by Trump.
The Ukraine funding – $400 million per year under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative – constitutes a small portion of the overall package, making up less than 0.09% of total defense spending. Unlike direct transfers from existing US stockpiles, USAI funds are used to pay American defense companies to produce and acquire new weapons and military equipment for Kiev.
The bill also reflects increasing congressional scrutiny of recent US military operations in the Caribbean. One provision withholds part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until lawmakers receive unedited footage and orders related to strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Washington should no longer channel large sums of taxpayer money into Ukraine, maintaining his administration is instead pushing for a negotiated settlement with Russia. Moscow has criticized ongoing Western military support for Kiev, describing it as one of the core causes of the conflict and a barrier to any ceasefire.