WASHINGTON – Senator Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine Corps combat veteran who fought in Iraq, released the following statement on the passage of the final negotiated language for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
“This year’s defense authorization act delivers big wins for Arizona, including funds to support military families and upgrade critical infrastructure in Arizona, and a well-deserved pay raise for our troops. I’m proud of our work to strengthen our national security and deliver these much-needed wins for Arizona.”
Key provisions that Senator Gallego supported that are in the NDAA:
Arizona
- Fund infrastructure upgrades in Arizona installations, including:
- $32.8 million to help replace the aging infrastructure at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
- $990k to replace or repair Pole Line Road in Yuma
- $99 million to construct critical facilities at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
- $2 million to help replace the flight control tower at Fort Huachuca
- $45m to construct a much-needed child development center at Luke Force Air Base
- $4 million to replace a nearly century-old bridge at Camp Navajo
- $6 million to support the McCain Irregular Warfare Center at Arizona State University
- Authorizes the Air National Guard to acquire 10 acres of land from the Tucson International Airport in order to build a new entry gate at Morris Air National Guard Base as planned. This new entry gate will improve security and traffic for the base and local community.
National
- Authorize the Baltic Security Initiative through 2028. Senator Gallego is a longtime supporter of our allies in the Baltics, and he recently led his colleagues in condemning the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the BSI and Section 333 funding.
- Extend and increase funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) through the end of the Trump administration and require that DoD report to Congress within 48 hours of any decision to pause/restrict assistance/intel to Ukraine
- Repeal the 2002 Iraq AUMF
- Authorize $70 million for educational agencies that support military and DOD civilian dependents, especially those that support children with disabilities.
- Prohibit the Trump administration from reducing number of forces permanently deployed in EUCOM area below 76,000, keep our military bases in place, and prevent the President from giving up the top U.S. leadership role in NATO.
December 17, 2025