Senate Advances $500 Million Defense Aid for Ukraine in 2026 Bill

Senate Moves to Support Ukraine with New Defense Funding In a recent effort to bolster security assistance to Ukraine, the Senate has unveiled a fiscal 2026 defense policy bill proposing $500 million for long-term military aid. This decision follows the Pentagon's controversial temporary suspension of military equipment deliveries to the country just a week prior. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the Senate Armed Services Committee recently advanced with a substantial 26-1 vote, will rejuvenate the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This initiative is essential as it allows the Pentagon to aid Ukraine while also utilizing funds that had been depleted earlier this year. The assistance program is one of the primary channels through which the United States has supplied military support to Ukraine over the past three years. Rather than transferring existing U.S. weapons directly, the Pentagon engages with defense contractors to manufacture the necessary arms, which are then delivered over time to Ukraine. A congressional aide, speaking anonymously, highlighted the initiative's significance, stating, “It’s not nearly enough in terms of scale. But the intent is to show that we believe Ukraine requires additional support.” US resumes sending some weapons to Ukraine after Pentagon pause Additionally, the bill aims not only to provide new funding but also to authorize the support initiative through to 2028. In contrast, the House Armed Services Committee has proposed $300 million for the same purpose in its version of the NDAA. In its late-June budget request, the Pentagon had refrained from asking for further funds for this initiative, deeming it misaligned with the president’s priorities. The proposal arrives on the heels of a Pentagon review that had seen a temporary halt in arms deliveries, a move taken after some concerns regarding the readiness of U.S. military stockpiles were identified. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell clarified during a briefing, “We can’t give weapons to everybody all around the world. We have to look out for America and defending our homeland.” This pause was part of a broader assessment of U.S. military aid worldwide, although specific details regarding other affected nations were not disclosed. While the White House confirmed the suspension of aid, it later disputed the claim of a formal pause. In the wake of the suspension, President Trump advocated for continued U.S. military support for Ukraine, asserting, “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,” Parnell reiterated in a subsequent statement.