NEWS · ANALYSIS
The U.S. House of Representatives has officially passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), advancing the annual Pentagon funding measure to the Senate for final consideration. The bill, which outlines $901 billion in defense spending, cleared the chamber with a 312–112 vote — a strong bipartisan margin, despite substantial opposition from both sides.
A total of 18 Republicans and 94 Democrats voted against the legislation, reflecting ongoing disagreements over military policy, program priorities, and funding levels.
A Dramatic Lead-Up to the Final Vote
Before the House could vote on final passage, lawmakers faced a razor-thin procedural hurdle.
A rule vote — which determines whether debate on the bill could move forward — narrowly passed 215–211.
That procedural vote nearly failed until four Republican members changed their votes from “no” to “yes” at the last possible moment:
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)
- Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN)
- Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO)
Every Democrat voted against the rule.
Had those four Republicans not switched, the defense bill would have stalled on the spot — a rare and embarrassing setback for leadership.
A Pre-Negotiated Package Expected to Clear the Senate
House and Senate negotiators had already combined their separate NDAA drafts into a single compromise measure before this week’s vote. That move means the bill is likely to avoid major conflict in the upper chamber and continue forward to President Donald Trump’s desk.
The NDAA has been passed every year for more than six decades, making it one of Congress’s most consistent bipartisan obligations. However, disagreements over culture-related provisions, Ukraine funding, and Pentagon oversight have made recent cycles more contentious.
Still, with leadership from both chambers cooperating on a unified text, observers expect the Senate to approve the bill without major procedural delays.
Why This Matters
The NDAA sets policy direction for:
- Military pay and benefits
- Equipment modernization
- Global posture and operations
- Pentagon oversight
- National security initiatives
While the bill does not appropriate money (that happens through separate spending bills), it establishes what the Defense Department is allowed to spend on, how it is structured, and what programs can move forward.
This year’s version reflects a rapidly shifting global security landscape and includes significant updates related to:
- Indo-Pacific strategy
- Cyber capabilities
- Military recruitment
- Defense industry investments
- Emerging technology
With global tensions rising, lawmakers have framed this year’s bill as critical to U.S. competitiveness and readiness.
What Comes Next
The Senate is expected to take up the bill shortly.
If passed — as many anticipate — it will head directly to President Trump for signature.
The defense bill remains one of the few major pieces of legislation Congress consistently passes, even during deeply divided political periods. But the narrow procedural vote in the House shows how fragile that consensus has become.