(The Center Square) – An estimated 91,000 active service members in North Carolina are set for 3.8% raises, and major military installations have ongoing funding toward $740.48 million in projects.
The $900.6 billion National Defense Authorization Act of 2026 passed the Senate 77-20 on Wednesday and heads to the desk of second-term Republican President Donald Trump. The bill is for Department of Defense authorizations, military construction, energy security, military pay raises, border security and strategic competition.
North Carolina is home to five major military bases plus a Coast Guard station and Army military ocean terminal on the coast.
The annual appropriation has been passed 65 consecutive years. Trump has indicated he’ll sign, and that was possible later Wednesday.
For the Tarheel State installations:
• At Seymour Johnson, there is a $54 million authorization for a child development center; $41 million for the Combat Arms Training Complex; and required reports related to F-15E maintenance and upgrades to F-15E Strike Eagle engine propulsion capabilities.
• At Fort Bragg, there is $400.8 million across seven areas. The largest funding is $145 million for Special Operations Forces Operational Ammunition Supply Point. Next is $80 million for a Special Operations Forces Mission Command Center and $80 million for power generation and a resilient microgrid to keep critical missions running.
Also at Fort Bragg, the bill sends $44.7 million to upgrades of the Freedom Village, known also as Forward Operating Base Freedom; $24 million for an aircraft maintenance hangar; $19 million for an automated infantry platoon battle course; and $8.1 million for the Special Operations Forces Joint Intelligence Center.
• At Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, there is $90 million for an operations facility; $51.4 million for Special Operations Forces Combat Service Support/Motor Transport Expansion; and $48.28 million for amphibious combat vehicle shelters.
• At Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, there is $40 million for the F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center at the Fleet Readiness Center East; and $15 million for flightline utilities needed for additional F-35 squadrons. The FRC East funding ensures Marine F-35Es will be maintained for the next 50 years.
Additionally, there’s a one-for-one replacement in place for Seymour Johnson should F-15E aircraft get transferred.
The package authorizes $38 billion for aircraft, $34 billion for nuclear defense, $26 billion for shipbuilding, $25 billion for munitions and $900 million to combat drug trafficking.
The bill, haggled over by both parties and the White House to reach current form, codifies 15 executive orders from Trump and 30 significant legislative proposals.
The Senate vote, where the chamber has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents caucusing with the minority party, included two Republicans and an independent voting nay. Included in the yeas were 27 Democrats and one independent.
Passage was 312-112 in the House of Representatives where Republicans have majority at 220-213 with two vacancies. The nays included 18 Republicans, and the yeas had 115 Democrats. Five Republicans and four Democrats did not vote.
