U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured key wins in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will strengthen Missouri’s military installations and defense industrial base, modernize the Pentagon’s acquisition strategy, and enhance military readiness both at home and abroad.
Schmitt’s Comments
Senator Schmitt stated in relation to the F&26 National Defense Authorization Act:
To effectively deter our adversaries and guarantee the safety and prosperity of our great nation, we must ensure our military has the resources and capabilities delivered on time to respond to today’s challenges. This bill strengthens Missouri’s military installations and defense industrial base, unleashes competition and innovation, and ensures we remain the most lethal and capable fighting force in the world. Missouri, and the country, is stronger and safer thanks to this NDAA. [1]
Missouri Wins
Missouri had many wins in the NDAA, some of them including $127 million for Whiteman Air Force Basemilitary construction investments for the stationing of the B-21 long-range bomber; $500 million to produce F-47s in St. Louis; $576 million to modernize and sustain F/A-18E/Fs and EA-18Gs in St. Louis; $132.6 million for the Joint Assault Bridge, which will be made in Carthage, Missouri; $5 million to produce Sea-Launched aerial drones in Springfield, Missouri; and protection of hospital-level services at the soon to open, state-of-the-art General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.
National Security
The NDAA also provides national security wins. Some of the wins that Senator Schmitt helped secure include the AI Physical and cybersecurity procurement which requires the Department of War (DoW) to develop physical and cybersecurity requirements for implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems before they are integrated into the larger DoW network; the Cybersecurity of the Panama Canal which establishes a pilot program for the U.S. military to enhance cybersecurity around the Panama Canal; and Support Dual Sixth Generation Fighter Programs: which aims to solidify the industrial base capability to select the Navy’s sixth-gen platform, the F/A-XX.
