Magnolia State News
Senate passes FY2026 Defense Appropriations Bill with key funding secured for Mississippi
By Magnolia State News
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has announced the Senate’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bill, which contains funding for national security efforts in Mississippi. Hyde-Smith, who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, played a role in securing resources that support defense activities within her state.
According to Hyde-Smith, the bill aligns with President Trump’s “Peace Through Strength” approach by increasing funds for Department of Defense operations, supporting service members and their families, and strengthening the defense industrial base. “President Trump demands that national security be laser-focused on just that, national security. The Senate defense funding bill provides strong support for a mission that is focused on facing down known, new, and yet-to-be-revealed threats to our country,” Hyde-Smith said. “Mississippi plays an important role in this defense mission. As such, it includes significant funding for national security work performed by industries and our universities in our state.”
The bill passed with a 71-29 vote and will return to the House as part of a five-bill package (HR.7148) before being sent to President Trump for his signature.
Highlights relevant to Mississippi include $27.15 billion allocated for shipbuilding—an increase of $6.3 billion from previous levels—which covers DDG-51 Destroyers, two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, one Columbia-Class ballistic missile submarine, and $1.5 billion for maritime industrial base improvements. Additional funds are included for Special Operations vessels built on the Gulf Coast.
Research and development at Mississippi’s universities receive support under this legislation. Funding is provided for research conducted at institutions including the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and Jackson State University.
The measure also addresses compensation and benefits by allocating $193.1 billion to pay service members and their families. This fully funds both a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members and an additional 10 percent pay raise specifically for junior enlisted personnel. There is also $24 million designated to assist United Service Organizations (USO) initiatives.
For National Guard programs, $800 million is set aside for modernization efforts aimed at addressing equipment shortfalls and enhancing training programs such as Multi-Domain Operation training and Armed Forces Trauma training.
Additionally, $30 million supports National Guard Counter-Drug School activities; Mississippi hosts one of only five such schoolhouses nationwide.
Hyde-Smith noted that passage of HR.7148 means the Senate has approved 11 out of 12 annual appropriations bills—a contrast with previous years when fewer bills reached the Senate floor.