Approved by the Senate in a 77-20 vote and earlier passed by the House, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) allocates USD 8 billion more than the president initially requested. It includes a 4% pay raise for U.S. service members and numerous provisions related to foreign policy.
In a statement released on the White House website, Trump described the legislation as a tool for implementing a strategy of “peace through strength,” strengthening the defense industrial base, and ending funding for “wasteful and radical programs that undermine troop morale.”
The bill earmarks USD 400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which finances U.S. arms deliveries to Ukraine, and USD 175 million for the Baltic Security Initiative, aimed at boosting defense capabilities in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Of particular importance to Poland, the legislation also references eight U.S. military infrastructure projects located in Polish-financed bases. These include facilities in Drawsko Pomorskie, Powidz, Łask, and Wrocław, totaling USD 504 million in investment.
In a key provision, the bill prohibits reducing the number of U.S. troops stationed in Europe below 76,000 for more than 45 days unless both the Secretary of Defense and the head of U.S. European Command submit detailed justifications to Congress. These reports must confirm that any drawdown aligns with U.S. national security interests and has been coordinated with NATO allies.
According to U.S. European Command, more than 80,000 American troops are currently deployed in Europe, including around 10,000 in Poland.
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Source: PAP, IAR, RMF24