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Service members will receive a 3.8% pay raise beginning Jan. 1 under the final version of the annual defense policy bill announced by the House and Senate on Sunday night.
The pay increase in the proposed fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act worked out by the House and Senate is consistent with President Donald Trump’s proposed budget request.
The legislation authorizes $900.6 billion for the Defense Department (War Department), more than $8 billion over the president’s budget request.
While the bill authorizes the higher amount, congressional defense appropriators, who decide the actual funding, will determine final defense spending.
NGAUS is reviewing the always voluminous bill for language provisions that specifically impact the National Guard.
A few provisions already stand out. They include:
Personnel Totals: The Army Guard will have an authorized end strength of 328,000 Soldiers, an increase of 3,000 personnel over fiscal 2025. Authorized Air Guard end strength will be 106,300 Airmen, a decrease of 1,400 personnel from fiscal 2025.
Aviation Incentive Payments: The defense (war) secretary is required to implement and initiate aviation incentive payments no later than Jan. 1, 2027, to members of the Guard and Reserve.
Equipment Shortfalls: The defense (war) secretary shall submit a report evaluating the impact of existing equipment shortfalls on the Guard’s ability to execute homeland defense operations.
Aircraft Retirements: The Air Force is prohibited from reducing air refueling, C-130 and A-10 aircraft assigned to the Air Guard.
B-21 Raider Bomber: The Air Force shall submit a comprehensive roadmap detailing the planned force structure, basing, modernization and transition strategy for the bomber aircraft fleet for the Air Force through fiscal 2040, including the integration or Air Guard and Air Reserve into B-21 bomber aircraft operations.
The House is expected to vote on the legislation later this week. The Senate will take it up next week.
Washington Report will have further details on the bill next week.
—By John Goheen
