WASHINGTON – A defense appropriation bill that includes $4.2 billion to advance the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program at three bases, including Minot Air Force Base, was approved by the U.S. Senate Wednesday, Dec. 17.

The Senate approved the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on a 77-20 vote. The House passed the bill 312-112 last week, and it now advances to the White House to be signed into law.

“Our service members are the best in the world, and with challenges around the globe, we need to keep them ahead of our adversaries. This year’s NDAA supports our troops – providing them with a pay raise and bolstering their missions,” U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-ND, said. “Importantly for our state, we secured provisions to keep our nuclear modernization efforts moving forward at Minot Air Force Base; to advance our unmanned aerial systems, hypersonic missile testing and low-Earth orbit satellite missions in Grand Forks; and authorizations for the radar upgrades at Cavalier Space Force Station and for our National Guard Readiness Center in Jamestown. North Dakota’s missions are vital to the defense of our nation, and this NDAA ensures our state has the support necessary to continue leading the way.”

“For North Dakota, the legislation delivers big because, of course, North Dakota delivers big for national defense,” U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, said. “Really, at every turn, this legislation prioritizes modernization. It recognizes that those Remotely Piloted Aircraft are being piloted by people. It provides innovation and American strength. Without it, we risk losing our edge, and that’s happening quickly. Our adversaries are modernizing very fast. With this legislation, we do put the safety and security of the American people first.”

“This is a strong defense bill that reinforces peace through strength and helps maintain America’s edge by giving our service members the tools, training and support they deserve,” Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, R-ND, said. “It strengthens our nuclear mission at Minot, builds on North Dakota’s growing footprint in space operations at Grand Forks and Cavalier, and delivers meaningful quality-of-life improvements for military families.”

The bill advances Sentinel to replace the aging Minuteman III missiles that have served the nation for more than 50 years. The funding builds on the $2.5 million investment in the budget reconciliation bill signed July 4, Cramer said.

“Minot Air Force Base is really a symbol of North Dakota’s unmatched role in national defense,” Cramer said. “As the only base to host two of the three legs of the nuclear triad, the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and the majestic B-52 bombers, it really stands as a powerful reminder to the nation, and to the world, especially to our adversaries, of America’s deterrent might. The National Defense Authorization Act supports long-range and land-based nuclear capabilities while also driving the modernization of our nuclear arsenal to safeguard our nation not just for the time being, but for many generations.”

Also impacting Minot, the NDAA also mandates a minimum intercontinental ballistic missile count of 400. It authorizes additional procurement of the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter to modernize the aging fleet of UH-1 helicopters. It reinforces and codifies the importance of Air Force Global Strike Command as a major command in supporting United States nuclear deterrence requirements.

Other portions of the NDAA impacting North Dakota include $22 million to upgrade the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System at Cavalier, $10 million for the development of corrosion-resistant coatings produced by Technology Applications Group in Grand Forks; $500 million for Tranche 3 of the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture at Grand Forks Air Force Base; and $5.2 million to plan and design a new National Guard armory in Jamestown.

The NDAA directs the Secretary of War to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives no later than June 1, detailing the department’s plan to establish a status identifier or equivalent recognition for personnel such as the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing in Fargo, nicknamed the “Happy Hooligans.” The wing plays a central role in the state’s growing mission in remotely piloted aircraft operations.

Hoeven added the bill includes his language directing the Air Force to analyze the feasibility of developing and deploying a next-generation version of the remotely-piloted MQ-9 aircraft, capable of performing the missions currently conducted by the MQ-9 at a comparable scale.

The NDAA incorporates the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, authored by Cramer and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., which provides support for families of first responders who die from service-related cancers caused by exposure to carcinogens, ensuring their sacrifice is recognized and honored.

According to Fedorchak, the bill also provides enlisted service members with a 3.8% pay raise; restores merit-based promotions and admissions to service academies; counters antisemitism and eliminates programs that discourage military readiness, such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and climate initiatives; strengthens U.S.-Israel military operations and cooperative missile defense programs; and supports the deployment of National Guard and active-duty troops at the southwest border to intercept illegal aliens and drugs.