Pentagon Earmarks $130 Million in 2026 Budget to Support U.S.-Backed Forces in Syria

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Defense has submitted its proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to Congress, allocating $130 million in support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) as part of its ongoing campaign to combat the terrorist Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria. 

The funding request, detailed in the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund (CTEF) program, aims to bolster partner forces through training, logistical support, and infrastructure improvements at detention centers housing ISIS fighters. The budget also includes expanded operations targeting ISIS remnants in northeast and southeast Syria, and increased security around the al-Hol displacement camp and the Syrian desert region. 

According to the Department of Defense, the 2026 funding—while slightly lower than the $147.9 million in 2025 and $156 million in 2024—reflects “measurable progress” in rehabilitating detention infrastructure over the past two years. Notably, reductions in the Infrastructure Repair and Renewal category have contributed to the overall decrease in funding. 

Still, the Pentagon emphasized the strategic importance of the program: “The CTEF remains essential to empowering partner forces in counter-ISIS operations and preventing the group’s resurgence.” 

The 2026 budget allocates $65 million for salaries and financial incentives for vetted local partner forces in Syria, slightly up from $58.9 million in 2025, though still below the 2024 figure of $71.8 million. However, the “train and equip” category has seen a sharp reduction of over 50%, down from $35 million in 2024 to $15.6 million in 2025—an amount expected to remain steady in 2026. 

While funding has trended downward overall, U.S. military planners appear to be maintaining their reliance on the SDF and affiliated forces, even as American diplomatic engagement with the transitional Syrian government has cautiously resumed. Intelligence reports continue to warn of ISIS plots to destabilize parts of the country, particularly in under-governed areas and vulnerable detention facilities. 

The CTEF framework also focuses on boosting the number of trained guards and modernizing key detention sites—efforts designed to reduce the risk of mass breakouts, which could fuel a potential ISIS resurgence. 

In a parallel development, U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack is expected to meet with SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi this week, underscoring Washington’s continued coordination with the Kurdish-led force and the broader U.S.-led coalition in Syria and Iraq. 

Although long-term solutions remain elusive, the Pentagon reiterated that the repatriation of foreign fighters remains the “most sustainable path” for resolving Syria’s security challenges. In the meantime, the 2026 budget aims to reinforce stability, disrupt terrorist networks, and support a delicate balance of forces in a fractured region still reeling from a decade of war.