Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement following the House passage of H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2026.
“After four years of failed Democratic leadership diminishing our standing on the world stage, peace through strength is back. Under the leadership of President Trump and House Republicans, our United States military is stronger than ever, equipped, and ready to defend our nation against any threat,” said Congressman Brett Guthrie.“As a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, I know firsthand that peace is best preserved through a strong U.S. military! This bill invests billions into the men and women who volunteer to keep our nation safe and ensures that American industries can manufacture the necessary tools to accomplish the mission.”
Background:
H.R. 4016 builds upon Republicans’ agenda of investing in our military strength to restore America’s standing as a deterrent to those who attempt to spread chaos and destruction. By allocating $831.5 billion for the Department of Defense, Congress is sending a clear message to the world: America is back.
Specifically, this legislation:
- Includes an increase of 3.8% in basic pay for all military personnel effective January 1, 2026.
- Invests in youth development and workforce programs that prepare our next generation soldiers and businesses including Apex Accelerators, Starbase, the National Guard Youth Challenge, and U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Programs.
- Allocates $36.9 billion for 28 ships including six battle force ships
- Dedicates $1.5 billion for the Maritime Industrial Base to invest in critical areas including supplier capacity and capability, strategic outsourcing, workforce training, and technology and infrastructure.
- Enhances investments in 5th and 6th generation aircraft.
- Allocates approximately $13 billion for missile defense and space programs to augment and integrate in support of the Golden Dome effort.
- Delivers increases for the State Partnership Program operations and personnel costs for both the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.
More information about the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2026 prior to adoption of amendments can be found here.
