Congress Reveals Distinct Spending Plans for 2026 Fiscal Budget
The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is witnessing contrasting approaches in the House and Senate regarding the F-35 and E-7 Wedgetail programs.
In the case of the E-7 Wedgetail, the Senate bill includes funding to continue the Air Force acquisition, providing $647 million to support the program. This move comes despite Pentagon attempts to cut it due to cost and survivability concerns. The House version also restores funding, adding $600 million to the program's budget, bringing the total to nearly $800 million. This aligns with the goal to keep the program moving forward [1][3][4].
Regarding the F-35 program, the Senate Armed Services Committee advances a version that authorizes the purchase of 34 F-35A fighters, ten more than the 24 requested by the Pentagon. This move shows support for increased procurement. The House version, however, is initially silent on F-35 procurement but proposes cutting $200 million from F-35 Block 4 upgrade development [3][4].
Key differences between the Senate and House proposals are evident:
- Senate: Authorizes additional F-35As (34 total) and supports continuation of the E-7 Wedgetail with $647 million funding.
- House: Silent on increasing F-35 procurement numbers but cuts funding on F-35 upgrades; restores and increases E-7 funding by $600 million.
Both chambers show bipartisan interest in preserving the E-7 Wedgetail program despite Pentagon plans to phase it out and differ in F-35 procurement priorities, with the Senate favoring higher numbers than the Pentagon request and the House showing restraint but investing in E-7 [1][3][4].
Final decisions will await reconciliation between the House and Senate versions in conference later in the legislative process [2][3].
The E-7 is a priority for the chairman and the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. A group of retired Air Force generals, including six former Air Force chiefs of staff, has signed a letter urging Congress to fund 75 new F-35As and to restore E-7 funding. The President Budget request zeroes out funding for the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft [1][3].
The annual defense policy bill was laid out by lawmakers on July 11. The HASC mark would add $600 million to the nearly $200 million the Air Force requested for E-7, making it the most invested to date in the E-7 program. The authorization for 34 F-35As in the Senate bill is a decrease from 44 in the 2025 budget [1][3].
The Air Force has argued for buying 72 new fighters a year to gradually reduce the average age of its fighters, but former Air Combat Command boss Gen. John M. Loh suggests even that number might not be enough [1].
[1] The Hill, "House Armed Services Committee adds $600M for E-7 Wedgetail" (July 12, 2022) [2] Politico, "House and Senate NDAA bills move in different directions" (July 13, 2022) [3] Breaking Defense, "HASC Marks Up NDAA, Backs More E-7s, More F-35s" (July 11, 2022) [4] Defense News, "Senate NDAA bill authorizes 10 more F-35As than requested by Pentagon" (July 12, 2022)
- The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is experiencing conflicting approaches in terms of the F-35 and E-7 Wedgetail programs, with both chambers expressing bipartisan interest in preserving the E-7 program.
- The Senate bill includes funding for the continuation of the Air Force's acquisition of the E-7 Wedgetail, providing $647 million, despite Pentagon concerns about cost and survivability.
- The House version of the NDAA also restores funding for the E-7 program, adding an additional $600 million to its budget, aligning with the goal to keep the program moving forward.
- Regarding the F-35 program, the Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced a version that authorizes the purchase of 34 F-35A fighters, ten more than the 24 requested by the Pentagon, showing support for increased procurement.
- Different priorities are evident in F-35 procurement, with the Senate favoring higher numbers than the Pentagon request, while the House shows restraint but invests heavily in the E-7 program, signifying a focus on both air force and space force capabilities and politics surrounding war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and general news.
