Ranking Member Shaheen Applauds Senate Passage of Annual Defense Bill, Highlights Key Foreign Policy Wins She Secured

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes several provisions and amendments she authored or shepherded to strengthen U.S. national security and advance America's global leadership.

"By passing the annual defense bill, the Senate has advanced U.S. national security with provisions that strengthen America's global leadership, make key commitments to our service members and invest in America's future," said Senator Shaheen. "This year's NDAA includes my measure to repeal outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria-a historic milestone that will help Syrians recover from decades of conflict and move toward stability-and my initiatives to counter the spread of Captagon, reopen the U.S. Embassy in Damascus and ensure adequate presence of U.S. troops for counterterrorism efforts. These measures will help Syria seize a generational opportunity it has right now to break free from Iran's and Russia's clutches and become a center of stability and prosperity in the region.

"The Senate NDAA includes my bipartisan legislation to combat human trafficking worldwide, reaffirms U.S. commitment to allies in the Western Balkans, and strengthens training for the Lebanese Armed Forces. It also reauthorizes the Department of State and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation on a bipartisan basis to reinforce America's diplomatic and economic leadership. Together, these measures advance our national security through diplomacy, development and democratic values."

The bill will now be conferenced with the House-passed NDAA. Below is a summary of key foreign policy and national security priorities secured by Senator Shaheen in the FY 2026 Senate NDAA.

Summary of Key National Security and Foreign Policy Priorities Senator Shaheen Secured

Repealing Syria sanctions to support stability and recovery:

Senator Shaheen authored a repeal of Caesar sanctions on Syria. Senate passage of this repeal follows intensive diplomatic efforts and bipartisan coordination to lift sanctions designed to hobble the Assad regime and give Syria a fighting chance at economic and political stability. This builds on Senator Shaheen's recent meetings with Syrian President al-Sharaa in Damascus and New York City. It also marks a historic milestone for U.S.-Syria relations and clears a pathway for Syrians to recover from decades of brutal dictatorship and conflict. The sanctions repeal also promotes the chance of ridding Syria of malign Iranian and Russian influence and building a more peaceful and prosperous future for the Syrian people and the region.

Countering Captagon production and distribution:

The Senate-passed NDAA includes Senator Shaheen's measure to counter Captagon production and distribution, supporting Syria's efforts to stem drug and weapons smuggling across its borders and into neighboring countries like Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon. The drug trade helped fuel Assad-era violence and criminality in Syria and bred instability across the region. By enhancing the security of border crossings and working to increase drug interdictions, this provision helps bring stability and security to Syria and its neighbors.

Reopening the U.S. Embassy in Damascus and ensuring adequate U.S. counterterrorism presence in Syria:

The bill includes Senator Shaheen's measures to encourage steps toward reopening the U.S. Embassy in Damascus and ensuring a sufficient U.S. counterterrorism presence in Syria. The Embassy in Damascus has been closed since 2012 and taking steps toward safely reopening it would deepen diplomatic ties, encourage private sector investment and restore services for U.S. citizens. Increasing congressional oversight of U.S. troop levels will also help ensure ISIS cannot exploit Syria's transition.

Enhancing Security Partnership with Lebanon and Jordan:

The bill includes Senator Shaheen's measure to ensure the Department of Defense can adequately train and equip the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Jordanian Armed Forces. The LAF plays a central role in decommissioning Hezbollah's arms to exert the Lebanese state's sovereignty over all of Lebanon and to stabilize the Lebanese border with Israel. This provision will ensure Iran's influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah continues to dwindle.

Combatting global human trafficking:

The NDAA includes the International Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, led by Senators Shaheen and Risch. This legislation reauthorizes and strengthens the programming, policies and funding essential to U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking around the world. With tens of millions of human trafficking victims globally, and the Trump Administration gutting the personnel and funding needed to conduct anti-trafficking work internationally, Congress must move swiftly to pass this bipartisan legislation.

Standing with Ukraine:

Senator Shaheen has consistently worked to ensure the delivery of military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and democracy amid Putin's war of aggression.

The Senate-passed NDAA includes a reauthorization of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the Department of Defense's authority to equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Senator Shaheen also secured language prohibiting the diversion of military equipment obligated for Ukraine after the Pentagon's misguided decision, since overruled by President Trump.

The Senate-passed bill also includes Shaheen-authored amendments that allow the continued sharing of U.S. information, intelligence and imagery to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield and prevent cuts to security cooperation funding for U.S. forces in Europe.

Supporting NATO Allies and Enhancing Global Partnerships:

Senator Shaheen also secured provisions that send a strong message of commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies and other U.S. partners abroad. Her legislation requires the executive branch to consult with Congress and our NATO Allies before any attempt to abdicate the Commander of U.S. European Command's dual role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. This comes after Senator Shaheen pressed senior U.S. military officials on the importance of this U.S. responsibility at NATO. An American general has also served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces in Europe since General Dwight Eisenhower assumed the role following the establishment of the NATO alliance.

The bill includes legislation led by Senator Shaheen requiring the Pentagon to consult with Congress before making changes to U.S. military force posture in Europe and on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. presence in Europe and the Indo Pacific deters adversaries and strengthens our alliances. This legislation will require the Secretary of Defense to certify to Congress that he has consulted the Secretary of State, Director of National Intelligence, senior U.S. military officers in the theaters and officials from regional governments-including NATO Allies, South Korea, Japan and others-before reducing our force presence in Europe or South Korea.

Strengthening relations between the United States and the countries in the Western Balkans:

The Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act, bipartisan legislation led by Senators Shaheen and Wicker (R-MS), would codify sanctions against those who threaten peace and stability in the Western Balkans. The legislation authorizes a regional prosperity initiative to support economic development in the region. It expands university partnerships, invests in youth initiatives, endorses the BOLD Leadership program to invest in young leaders in the region and encourages the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to consider opening a previously announced office in the Western Balkans. The measure also recognizes the key role of cyber security in protecting critical infrastructure and countering malign activities by adversaries including Russia and Iran.

Reauthorizations of the Department of State and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation:

Senator Shaheen partnered with Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to secure adoption of two amendments to reauthorize the Department of State and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Together, these amendments strengthen the State Department's core diplomatic authorities and expand the DFC's toolkit to offer alternatives to predatory financing by the People's Republic of China (PRC) while bolstering its development mandate.

The bipartisan reauthorizations of the State Department and DFC underscore the importance of a diplomacy-first foreign policy that grows America's economy through global partnerships, prevents conflicts around the world and reduces the corrupting influence of adversaries like Russia and the PRC.

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