Cassidy Secures Louisiana Wins in National Defense Package Headed to President Trump’s Desk

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) issued the following statement on his support for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) headed to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed into law. The package includes several key Louisiana priorities Cassidy worked on with others to secure.

"America's strength begins with the men and women who serve," said Dr. Cassidy. "Let's invest in our service members and their families to ensure the United States remains prepared to face any challenge."

Provisions Cassidy helped champion for Louisiana in the NDAA include:

• $116 million for the Weapons Generation Facility at Barksdale.
• $18 million for personnel housing at Barksdale.
• $2.2 million for design work for a Child Development Center at Barksdale.
• $931 million for the continued modernization of the B-52 bomber which will primarily go to Barksdale.

The NDAA also includes language to:

• Establish a Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program as a program of record, building on Cassidy's prior $6 million investment that added LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) as a National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) pilot site. This will stabilize long-term funding, strengthen LSUHS's partnership with Barksdale and the Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs, and enhance Louisiana's role in national disaster and medical readiness.
• Codify the Air Force Global Strike Command, solidifying even further the importance of Barksdale's Global Strike Command.

Add specific authorities and funding limitations related to Medium and Large Unmanned Surface Vessels. The bill exempts unmanned surface and underwater vehicles from specific senior technical authority requirements to accelerate development and acquisition, directly benefiting shipbuilders in Louisiana.

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