U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch of Idaho voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which recently passed the Senate with a 77-20 vote. The House of Representatives had previously approved the bill by a margin of 312-112. The legislation now awaits President Trump’s signature.
Senator Crapo stated, “The FY 2026 NDAA includes a number of wins for Idaho and America. It provides our servicemembers a well-deserved pay raise and strengthens operational readiness to defend against foreign adversaries at home and abroad. The bill also secures funding for important projects at the Idaho National Laboratory which will have lasting, positive impacts on the local community, the economy and our national security.”
Senator Risch added, “The NDAA prioritizes the recruitment of top candidates to defend our nation, keep the border secure, and strengthen our national security. I am proud to support this legislation, secure critical provisions for Idaho, and give our servicemembers a well-deserved pay raise.”
Crapo and Risch noted that several provisions in the NDAA specifically benefit Idaho. These include enhancing U.S. nuclear energy leadership internationally to counteract growing influence from China and Russia in nuclear energy development; increasing efforts to stop fentanyl imports from China via Mexico; supporting tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel development at Idaho National Laboratory; and strengthening review powers for foreign land purchases near sensitive military or laboratory sites.
Other elements of the FY 2026 NDAA are a 3.8 percent pay increase for service members, continued development of missile defense systems such as Golden Dome, authorization for investments to expand naval capabilities, removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements from certain programs, prohibitions on men participating in women’s sports at military academies, reforms intended to streamline Pentagon innovation processes by removing outdated rules, restoration of munitions stocks across all services, and measures aimed at improving military recruitment.
