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U.S. Capitol
The House Armed Services Committee on May 26 released its markup of the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill, largely supporting the Pentagon’s plans but avoiding, for now, weighing in on the Trump administration’s push to add funding through the separate reconciliation process.
The HASC chairman’s mark of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes the same $1.14 trillion national defense topline that was in the Pentagon’s request. The administration also is requesting an additional $350 billion in funding through reconciliation, which the measure does not include.
HASC will formally mark up the measure and include member amendments through the typical marathon hearing scheduled for June 4.
For aviation programs, the measure largely supports Pentagon plans with some limited deviations. The measure supports multiyear authorities for F-35s, F-15EXs and E-2Ds as the Pentagon looks to increase aircraft procurement. The measure would add two C-130s for the U.S. Air Force as lawmakers call on the service to outline its fleet breakdown and plans for the lifter.
The measure does not specifically dive into the back-and-forth plans for the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail, which the Pentagon sought to cancel before reversing course and saying there will be an amended budget request that will support the platform. It does, however, include military construction funding to bring the aircraft online.
The Pentagon has outlined plans to retire all of its U-2 spy planes in fiscal 2027. While the measure does not address the retirement specifically, it does add funding for aircraft modifications, indicating the need to keep the aircraft flying.
Lawmakers would also require the Air Force to complete an analysis of alternatives for a Next Generation Airlift aircraft to replace the C-17 and C-5, though the measure does not call for a similar step for tankers. The bill does add funding for additional situational awareness and connectivity modifications to C-17s and KC-135s.
The measure also does not weigh in on the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX plans, which has a down-select expected this summer. The base funding authorization mirrors the Navy’s requested $68 million in spending, though additional spending could come in the reconciliation process.
Lawmakers did weigh in on some of the administration’s more controversial force structure changes. This includes blocking spending for reducing military posture in Europe, as the Trump administration has called for pulling some forces from the continent.
The legislation also requires the Army to report on its decisions to reduce aviation forces as part of its Army Transformation Initiative, which has included large-scale reductions to the AH-64 Apache fleet along with culls to MQ-1 Gray Eagles, among others.
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