House panel's markup of defense policy bill authorizes $1.8B projects for Guam

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

The House Armed Services Committee’s markup of the new defense policy bill includes more than $1.85 billion in proposed military investments for Guam, highlighting the island’s position at the core of the U.S. Indo-Pacific defense strategy.

“This markup sends a clear message: Guam is not just a strategic location, we are a strategic priority,” Guam Del. James Moylan said. “We’re seeing a nearly $400 million increase across (military construction) and Guam defense system investments.”

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Moylan said Guam projects authorized under the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act would equip the island “with the advanced capabilities needed to remain a regional powerhouse, ready to defend our allies, and protect our people.”

“This investment addresses one of our island’s most pressing vulnerabilities,” Moylan said. “It helps close the infrastructural gaps caused by Typhoon Mawar and is a meaningful step in Guam’s recovery and long-term resilience.”

The NDAA markup was released Tuesday.

A key provision in the bill includes $63 million  for power generation and

 microgrid infrastructure, aimed at stabilizing Guam’s energy grid and reducing chronic load shedding.

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The bill also includes language to expand living quarters allowance to all DoD civilian employees with permanent duty stations on Guam—a longtime equity issue that Moylan prioritized to ensure local civilian personnel serving alongside military members receive equal support. 

In total, Guam’s military construction  portfolio for FY26 totals over  $740

million, a significant increase from last year’s $543 million.

Housing investments total $105 million and funding for Guam’s integrated missile defense system and supporting infrastructure is set at $816 million, reflecting a nearly $210 million increase from last fiscal year.

As the NDAA now moves to the full House for consideration, Moylan emphasized the importance of maintaining these provisions through the next legislative phase.

“This funding supports not just our defense mission, but our island’s economy by creating local jobs, improving infrastructure, and preparing Guam for the future," Moylan said.

"The inclusion of these priorities in the committee’s markup reflects significant progress, but the work doesn’t stop here," he added.

 U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said this year’s NDAA focuses on reforming the defense department’s “broken acquisition system” by streamlining the acquisition process.

 “While our adversaries collaborate on the development and deployment of innovative new capabilities, we are facing challenges,” Rogers said in his opening statement. “Our defense industrial base has atrophied significantly, making it harder for us to sustain prolonged conflicts.” 

He described the FY26NDAA as “a strong bill that will help reform the acquisition system, revitalize the defense industrial base, and build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and our other adversaries.”

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