The Senate appeared to inch closer to a deal on the annual defense authorization bill Thursday, but the timing of a potential floor vote remains up in the air.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said the upper chamber could wrap up its work on the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act as soon as this week — if senators can clinch an agreement on a package of amendments.
The Senate’s version of the NDAA, S. 2296, contains provisions on minerals, advanced nuclear energy, chemicals and environmental cleanups. It has broad bipartisan support but has been stalled for weeks while negotiations have played out.
Leadership floated a list of amendments Thursday that included a proposal to permanently authorize year-round E15 ethanol sales, as well as language on critical mineral mapping and other priorities.
