Nebraska Priorities Funded in FY26 Defense Package

Rep. Don Bacon announced that the bipartisan FY26 Defense Appropriations includes more than $508 million for Nebraska priorities and $233 million for other defense and national security projects.

The package, approved by the House 341-88, also contains a 3.8 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members. It now proceeds to the Senate for consideration.

Nebraska allocations include $474 million for two additional EC-37B Compass Call aircraft for the 55th Wing, $26 million for USSTRATCOM’s NC3 Enterprise Center REACH collaboration hub, $5 million to upgrade RC-135 aircraft at Offutt Air Force Base, and $3 million to support contingency planning for extreme health events in coordination with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Other notable investments: $200 million for the Baltic Security Initiative to strengthen deterrence in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; $20 million to develop joint military–civilian medical surge capabilities; $8 million for Global HF relay stations to improve long‑range resilient communications; and $5 million to scale rare‑earth separation processes that support defense and high‑tech manufacturing.