The House approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday, endorsing President Trump’s requested spending level of $1.15 trillion for national security and incorporating his proposal to officially designate the Department of Defense as the Department of War. The measure would also authorize military pay increases ranging from 5 to 7 percent depending on rank.
The vote tally of 216-212 marked a departure from the typical bipartisan character of the annual defense bill. Democratic lawmakers opposed the spending increases, arguing that the defense budget requests would reach approximately $1.6 trillion when accounting for separate allocations related to the war in Iran and weapons stockpile enhancements. Ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Smith contended that such levels were unreasonable given economic pressures on American households and expressed concerns about open-ended military commitments.
Republicans in leadership emphasized the necessity of addressing what they characterized as decades of underinvestment in the armed forces and defense industrial base. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers stated the bill would support efforts to deter China and other adversaries, and he indicated his intention to work toward a bipartisan final product acceptable to both chambers.
The measure includes provisions that drew Democratic objections, including a prohibition on gender-related medical care under the military health program TRICARE and modifications to restrictions on privately owned firearms on military bases. Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to attach the Republican elections overhaul legislation to the defense bill intensified partisan divisions. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Department of War designation could cost up to $125 million to implement.
The Senate has not yet approved its version of the defense bill, and final legislation may not be ready until after the midterm elections. The White House indicated it would work with Congress on concerns regarding provisions related to presidential authority over military installation naming, a matter with historical significance following recent controversies over base names honoring Confederate figures.
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