House narrowly passes $1.15 trillion defense bill: What to know

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved its version of a sweeping defense policy bill on Wednesday, overcoming Democratic opposition centered on the measure's record price tag, the ongoing war with Iran and a provision expanding Pentagon cooperation with Israel.

The fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes a record $1.15 trillion in military spending, passed the House in a 216-212 vote.

What they're saying:

Republicans defended the spending package, saying the more than $1 trillion authorization is needed to sustain military operations in Iran, finance new defense systems and equipment, and provide benefits for service members, including pay raises of up to 7% and funding for barracks and family housing.

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The measure cleared the chamber largely along party lines. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the bill, while six Democrats broke with their party to support it.

The other side:

Democrats argued the legislation authorizes too much Pentagon spending at a time when President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are cutting funding for social programs.

Lawmakers also criticized continued funding tied to the war with Iran, which the Pentagon has said has cost the United States $37.5 billion so far.

Another provision drawing Democratic criticism would significantly expand military technology cooperation between the United States and Israel, despite growing calls from many Americans — particularly on the political left — to reduce U.S. support for Israel over concerns about the impact of its military campaign in Gaza on Palestinian civilians.

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The backstory:

Long considered "must-pass legislation," the NDAA has been enacted every year for the past 65 years, making it one of the few major bills that routinely clears Congress.

What's next:

This year's measure faces steeper hurdles because of sharp partisan disagreements over the size of the military budget, the war with Iran, aid to Israel and Ukraine, and "culture war" issues, including policies affecting transgender service members.

The bill's path also became more complicated after House Republicans attached it to the Trump-backed "SAVE America Act," which would tighten voting restrictions, before sending it to the Senate. It remains unclear how that move will affect the defense bill's prospects because the voting legislation lacks enough support to pass the Senate.

Senate Democrats blocked that chamber's version of the NDAA last week, though Republican leaders have pledged to try again before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess.

The NDAA process is still in its early stages.

Each year, the House and Senate approve separate versions of the defense authorization bill before negotiators from the Armed Services committees reconcile the differences into a compromise measure that must pass both chambers.

If approved by both the House and Senate, the final bill would be sent to the White House, where Trump could sign it into law or veto it.