Congress overrides President Trump’s strategic Pentagon decision, forcing revival of the Navy’s costly F/A-XX fighter program with nearly $1 billion in new spending.
Story Highlights
- House and Senate appropriators allocate $972 million for F/A-XX in FY26 defense bill, adding $897 million above Trump’s budget request.
- Legislators reject Pentagon’s plan to focus solely on Air Force’s F-47, mandating Navy award a single contractor for engineering and manufacturing development.
- Bill prohibits the Defense Department from pausing or canceling F/A-XX, demanding Navy accountability for past funding delays.
- Total sixth-generation fighter funding hits $3.9 billion, split between Navy’s carrier jet and Air Force’s land-based F-47 amid industrial base concerns.
Congress Defies Trump Administration Priorities
House and Senate appropriators released the conferenced FY26 defense appropriations bill on January 20, 2026, allocating $972 million in research-and-development funds for the Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter program. This funding marks an $897 million increase over President Trump’s budget request, which had deprioritized the initiative. The Pentagon had strategically chosen to concentrate resources on the Air Force’s F-47 fighter jet, citing defense industrial base limitations for developing two advanced platforms simultaneously. Congressional action reverses this executive decision through direct appropriations power.
Navy Program Gains Protection and Directives
Appropriators mandated that F/A-XX funds support awarding an engineering and manufacturing development contract to a single vendor, aligning with the Navy’s original acquisition strategy. The bill prohibits any use of funds to pause, cancel, or terminate the program, ensuring its continuation despite Pentagon objections. Lawmakers required the Navy Secretary to submit a detailed report within 45 days, covering updated schedules, contract award dates, delay explanations, and justification for underusing $454 million from the 2025 continuing resolution. This accountability measure addresses prior program stagnation.
Funding Breakdown and Strategic Implications
The FY26 bill dedicates $3.9 billion total to sixth-generation aircraft, including $3 billion for the Air Force’s F-47 built by Boeing, $972 million for F/A-XX, and $500 million extra for F-47 emerging needs. The Navy views F/A-XX as essential for carrier-based air superiority in the Indo-Pacific, featuring enhanced range, speed, stealth, and survivability. Despite internal Navy support via a $1.4 billion unfunded priority request, the Pentagon prioritized F-47 to avoid straining manufacturing capacity. Congress’s intervention sustains dual programs, potentially stressing supply chains long-term while reinforcing naval capabilities.
FY26 defense bill boosts budget by $8B, largely bypassing last-minute $28B munitions request https://t.co/Jrk5C1BItI
— Breaking Defense (@BreakingDefense) January 20, 2026
Contractor competition intensifies between Boeing and Northrop Grumman for the F/A-XX contract, with pressure for imminent award to achieve accelerated initial operational capability. This congressional override highlights legislative authority over executive budget strategies, protecting service-specific needs against unified Pentagon planning. Navy officials stress the jet’s role in maintaining fleet air dominance, justifying the funding revival amid broader defense debates.
Stakeholder Positions and Power Dynamics
The U.S. Navy supports F/A-XX development for Indo-Pacific operations, while the Trump administration and Pentagon favored F-47 focus to streamline resources. House and Senate Appropriations Committees drove the revival, with the Senate initially proposing $1.4 billion. Boeing benefits from F-47 emphasis, as Northrop Grumman competes for F/A-XX. Congress reasserts control through funding and restrictive language, compelling Pentagon compliance and accelerating procurement after months of delays.
Sources:
DefenseScoop: Navy F/A-XX fighter program gets FY26 funding boost
Defense News: US lawmakers release $839B compromise defense spending bill
Defense One: Navy’s future fighter jet program revived in new funding bills
Air & Space Forces: Congress appropriations 2026 sixth-gen fighters
The War Zone: F/A-XX naval fighter rescued from purgatory