House passes defense bill to raise troop pay and overhaul weapons purchases

The House of Representatives passed a comprehensive defense policy bill Wednesday that authorizes $900 billion in military programs amid growing tensions between Congress and the Trump administration over defense management.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed with strong bipartisan support on a 312-112 vote. Despite the White House signaling “strong support” for the legislation, the 3,000-page bill contains several provisions that challenge the Department of Defense’s autonomy and establish greater congressional oversight.

“We need a ready, capable and lethal fighting force because the threats to our nation, especially those from China, are more complex and challenging than at any point in the last 40 years,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

The legislation includes a 3.8% pay raise for military personnel and improvements to housing and facilities on military bases. It also implements significant reforms to the Pentagon’s weapons procurement process, which lawmakers describe as the most ambitious acquisition reform effort in years.

Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the armed services panel, acknowledged the bill doesn’t do everything Democrats wanted to check the administration but called it “a step in the right direction towards reasserting the authority of Congress.”

“The biggest concern I have is that the Pentagon, being run by Secretary Hegseth and by President Trump, is simply not accountable to Congress or accountable to the law,” Smith said.

One of the bill’s most notable provisions aims to accelerate how the Pentagon purchases weapons systems. Defense acquisition has long been plagued by delays and cost overruns, and streamlining this process is a key priority for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The legislation also asserts congressional oversight by threatening to cut Hegseth’s travel budget by 25% unless the Pentagon provides unedited video footage of controversial boat strikes near Venezuela. This comes after a September 2 incident where U.S. military forces fired on two survivors clinging to a partially destroyed boat, raising questions about military conduct and transparency.

In a significant foreign policy statement, the bill reaffirms American commitments to European allies by requiring the Pentagon to maintain at least 76,000 troops in Europe, unless NATO allies are consulted and such withdrawal is deemed in U.S. interests. Currently, between 80,000 and 100,000 American troops are stationed across European soil.

The legislation also authorizes $400 million annually for the next two years to manufacture weapons for Ukraine, demonstrating continued congressional support despite questions about President Trump’s commitment to the country. Similarly, the bill mandates maintaining at least 28,500 troops in South Korea, ensuring stability in that strategic relationship.

Reflecting the administration’s priorities, the bill cuts $1.6 billion in climate change-related spending, despite Pentagon assessments identifying climate change as a significant national security threat affecting military installations worldwide. Additionally, it eliminates approximately $40 million in diversity, equity and inclusion programs, including the elimination of the chief diversity officer position.

In a historic move, the bill officially ends the Iraq War by repealing the 2003 invasion authorization. Supporters argue this repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses of executive power and to recognize Iraq as a strategic partner rather than an adversary. The 2002 resolution has rarely been invoked in recent years, though the first Trump administration cited it as partial legal justification for the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassim Suleimani.

The legislation also permanently removes U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria in 2019. Following Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s successful insurgency against former leader Bashar Assad, the new administration is seeking to rebuild the nation’s war-torn economy. Advocates argue that permanent sanction removal is necessary to encourage international investment in Syria’s reconstruction.

Democrats criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for removing a provision that would have expanded coverage of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for active duty personnel, a procedure that helps service members facing infertility have children.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where leaders are working to pass it before lawmakers depart Washington for the holiday recess, despite criticism from several senators who believe it doesn’t do enough to restrict military flights over Washington following a deadly midair collision earlier this year.