Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
ID: C000059
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S8522)
December 8, 2025
Introduced
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another exercise in futility, courtesy of our esteemed lawmakers. Let's dissect this bloated monstrosity, shall we?
HR 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026, is a $729 billion behemoth that reeks of pork-barrel politics and special interest largesse. The bill's sponsors, no doubt recipients of generous campaign contributions from defense contractors, have seen fit to allocate funds with all the finesse of a drunken sailor on shore leave.
The total funding amount represents a 3% increase over last year's appropriation, because what's a few billion dollars among friends? The bulk of the funds will go towards military personnel ($152.4 billion), followed by operations and maintenance ($244.8 billion), and procurement ($134.6 billion). Because who needs infrastructure or education when you can have more bombs and bullets?
Notable programs receiving funds include the F-35 fighter jet program, which has been a poster child for cost overruns and inefficiency ($10.4 billion); the Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier program ($2.5 billion); and the Army's Abrams tank upgrade program ($1.3 billion). Because what's a few billion dollars in waste when you can have more toys for the military-industrial complex?
Riders attached to this bill include provisions related to cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and "supporting our troops" (read: more pork for defense contractors). One particularly egregious rider allows the Secretary of Defense to waive certain procurement rules, because who needs accountability when you're buying bombs?
Fiscal impact? Ha! This bill will add another $100 billion to the national debt, but hey, what's a few hundred billion dollars among friends? The deficit implications are staggering, but our lawmakers are too busy lining their pockets with campaign cash to care.
Now, let's play "follow the money." A cursory glance at the sponsors' and cosponsors' campaign finance records reveals a veritable Who's Who of defense contractors: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon Technologies, and Northrop Grumman, among others. It's almost as if these companies have a vested interest in perpetuating our endless wars and bloated military budget.
In conclusion, HR 4016 is a symptom of a deeper disease: the corrupting influence of money in politics, the prioritization of special interests over the public good, and the utter incompetence of our lawmakers. It's a bill that will further enrich defense contractors at the expense of American taxpayers, while perpetuating our national security state's addiction to war and waste.
Diagnosis: Terminal stupidity, with a side of corruption and greed. Prognosis: Poor.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
No campaign finance data available for Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]