House passes massive $883.7B defense bill

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a $883.7 billion defense policy bill, with a bipartisan vote of 281-140.

The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration, as Congress faces a looming end-of-month deadline to finalize the legislation.

The NDAA, a cornerstone of U.S. defense policy, includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for all other military personnel. It also outlines funding for key initiatives, including the procurement of seven warships, 200 aircraft, and over 300 vehicles, as well as measures to strengthen the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific and support Taiwan through a new arms purchase program.

While the NDAA traditionally garners bipartisan support, this year’s version faced pushback due to several contentious culture-war provisions. Among them is a restriction on using TRICARE funds for gender-affirming care for service members’ dependents under 18.

“As I said a few days ago, blatantly denying health care to people who need it — just because of a biased notion against transgender people — is wrong,” said Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, who opposed the legislation.

Other controversial amendments include provisions limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the Department of Defense and barring the Pentagon from contracting with vendors that boycott Israel or blacklist conservative news outlets.

Despite these objections, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) refrained from directing Democrats on how to vote, stating that while the bill contains “some troubling provisions,” it also advances key priorities for the military.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has defended the inclusion of the cultural provisions, arguing they eliminate “woke” policies within the Pentagon. However, not all Republicans agreed. House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) criticized the amendments, suggesting they were unnecessary given the potential for a change in administration after the 2024 presidential election.

“[Trump] is going to stop all these social, cultural issues from being embedded as policies. So my point is, I don’t know why this is in the bill when Jan. 20, it’s a moot point,” Rogers told reporters.

The bill’s fate now lies with the Democratic-controlled Senate, where opposition to the controversial amendments may spark additional debate. Senate GOP Whip John Thune (S.D.) has indicated that the NDAA will likely reach the floor early next week, though its final provisions remain uncertain.

The NDAA has been passed into law annually for over six decades, serving as a critical guide for defense funding and policy. However, the divide over social and cultural issues highlights the growing tension surrounding military priorities and societal values.

Beyond the cultural provisions, the NDAA includes bipartisan measures aimed at countering global threats. These include expanding U.S. capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, funding a Taiwan defense initiative modeled after the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and bolstering cybersecurity.

“We’re proud of this product,” Speaker Johnson said. “The safety and security of the American people is our top priority, and this year’s NDAA ensures our military has the resources and capabilities needed to remain the most powerful fighting force on the planet.”

However, the House’s passage of the bill is only the first step. Separate appropriations bills must be approved to allocate the necessary funding for the Pentagon’s operations in fiscal year 2025.