The US Senate overwhelmingly approved the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing $901 billion in military spending and a 3.8% pay raise for service members, while requiring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide footage of military strikes near Venezuela. The bipartisan vote of 77-20 included provisions for troop numbers in Europe and military aid for Ukraine, but faced criticism over a clause allowing military aircraft to operate without precise location data. Democrats secured measures for greater oversight on military operations and notification of troop changes, particularly regarding Ukraine. Concerns over the legality of strikes against Venezuelan vessels were raised, leading to a hold on a portion of Hegseth’s travel funds until more information is provided.
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