U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) is sponsoring legislation that would give the U.S. State Department authorization to provide military financing to U.S. partners and allies on terms that put America first.
“America produces the most lethal, effective weapons and military equipment without exception,” Rep. Mast said on Monday. “Our partners look first to America as the partner of choice because there is no comparison. This bill would ensure we continue to arm our partners and allies under terms that put America first. At its core, this is about increasing integration with our allies, deterring adversaries, and strengthening our defense industrial base. This is the definition of Peace through Strength.”
Rep. Mast on May 4 sponsored the Foreign Military Financing Loan Authorization Act of 2026, H.R. 8661, to expand upon presidential executive orders on Reforming Foreign Defense Sales and Establishing an America First Arms Transfer Strategy, which outline steps to increase domestic defense production capacity, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and prioritize American interests by leveraging foreign purchases and investment to support U.S.-based manufacturing.
Foreign military financing (FMF) has historically been provided to America’s foreign partners and allies on a non-repayable grant basis, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Mast’s office.
In recent years, however, Congress has appropriated funding for FMF to be provided on a loan basis, allowing the U.S. to be repaid for certain FMF assistance, the summary says.
H.R. 8661 would authorize the Secretary of State to issue foreign military financing loans or loan guarantees, and to establish flexible terms for such loans to ensure U.S. loans remain competitive and stay on terms that are beneficial to the U.S.
Additionally, the State Department would be authorized to use money collected from Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases (FMS administrative fees) to help fund the additional activities created by the legislation.
The measure would build upon key legislation spearheaded by the Foreign Affairs Committee’s bipartisan Foreign Military Sales Task Force, which Rep. Mast established last year to improve the U.S. defense industrial base, eliminate red tape in the arms sales process, and improve interoperability and efficiency with our foreign partners.