- House passes Finance Bill 2027 National Defense Authorization Act by 216-212.
- Passage sends NDAA to compromise negotiations with Senate.
- The NDAA has passed for 65 consecutive years, but faces challenges this year.
WASHINGTON: The US House narrowly passed its version of a massive defense bill on Wednesday, despite concerns from Democrats about its huge price tag, the Iran war and a provision that would strengthen Pentagon ties to Israel.
The fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which authorizes an unprecedented $1.15 trillion in spending for the military, passed the House by 216 to 212.
The vote was largely along party lines, with all but seven Republicans voting in favor of the measure and all but six Democrats voting against.
Democrats protested the huge sum approved for the Pentagon at a time when President Donald Trump and his Republicans are cutting spending on social programs.
They also protest the ongoing and deeply unpopular war with Iran, which the Pentagon said has cost $37.5 billion so far.
Republicans said the trillion-dollar spending is essential to support the military as it wages war in Iran, fund the development of defense systems and purchase equipment, and provide benefits to troops such as pay raises of up to 7% and the construction of barracks and family housing.
Another measure that worried Democrats was a provision that would significantly expand military technology cooperation between the US and Israel, despite calls from many Americans – particularly on the left – to roll back US aid to Israel over concerns about the large number of Palestinian civilians from its attacks in Gaza.
In 2026, the “must-pass” bill may not pass
Historically viewed by both parties as “must-pass legislation,” the NDAA is one of the few major bills that always makes it through Congress, having become law for 65 consecutive years.
This year’s bill faces major challenges due to deep partisan divisions within Congress on issues ranging from the massive size of the military budget to the Iran war, aid to Israel and Ukraine and “culture war” causes such as the treatment of transgender troops.
The fate of the fiscal 2027 NDAA was also complicated because Republicans voted to attach it to the “SAVE America Act,” Trump-backed legislation to tighten ballot restrictions, before sending it to the Senate. The impact of this decision on the fate of the NDAA was unclear, as there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass the ballot measure.
Senate Democrats blocked the Senate version of the NDAA last week. House Republican leaders have vowed to try again to advance the bill before they leave Washington for their August recess.
It is early in the NDAA process.
Each year, the House and Senate pass their own versions of the NDAA before Armed Services Committee negotiators agree on a compromise version that then comes to a vote in each chamber.
If the compromise version is approved, it will be sent to the White House, where Trump can sign it into law or veto it.
