WASHINGTON–After nearly a year of wariness by credit unions over what provisions it might contain, Congress has approved the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act wthout any of the language CUs opposed. The giant legislation, however, also doesn’t include a number of things credit unions had been seeking.
The landmark annual military policy bill will now go to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
“The final NDAA package remained largely neutral for credit unions, and we thank lawmakers for saying ‘no’ to provisions that could have harmed our industry,” Scott Simpson, president and CEO of America’s Credit Unions, said in a statement. “We will continue working with policymakers to advance priorities that were left out of the final NDAA, related to CLF enhancements, CDFI improvements, and housing affordability, to ensure credit unions can strengthen their service to the 144 million members who rely on them.”
The sweeping legislation authorizes about $901 billion in defense programs, maintaining a decades-long tradition of annual defense policy approval. It passed the House last week and won final approval in the Senate.
As the CU Daily has been reporting, credit unions have been concerned that it would carry various provisions they oppose, such as language from the Credit Card Competition Act. That legislation had strong support from the nation’s retailers and merchants.
The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) issued a statement commending Congress s for advancing the NDAA without the CCCA language or Durbin–Marshall amendments, an outcome that safeguards the financial stability of military communities.
‘Sincere Appreciation’
“We extend our sincere appreciation to Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) for their leadership in proposing the inclusion of Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) provisions,” Jason Stverak, DCUC chief advocacy officer, said in a statement. “Although these measures were not incorporated in the final bill, DCUC looks forward to continuing its work with both congressional leaders to ensure this important initiative advances in future legislation.”
The Defense Council said it is also encouraged by recent discussions indicating that the annual defense bill may place increased emphasis on veteran-focused initiatives and priorities in the future.
Also in the Bill
Key provisions include a roughly 4% pay raise for service members, expanded weapons procurement, and strengthened U.S. commitments to allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, including aid to Ukraine and Baltic partners. Lawmakers also barred sharp reductions in troop levels in Europe and South Korea without congressional consultation, according to Reuters.
Supporters hailed the measure as vital to modernizing the military and countering global threats. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce praised the legislation for bolstering national security and enabling business participation in defense innovation.
However, the bill drew criticism from some advocates disappointed that certain widely supported provisions — such as right-to-repair for service members and broader acquisition reforms — were scaled back or removed during negotiations, according to Federal News Network.
