House Republicans passed $1.1 trillion in funding for the military on Wednesday, in a final flurry of activity before leaving Washington for a more than month-long recess.The funding, an annual military policy bill called the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, passed by a vote of 216 to 212, with six Democrats joining Republicans to support the bill.It now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain path forward.The bill — typically advanced with broad bipartisan majorities — has become a largely party-line effort this year.
Republicans call the bill "a generational investment in America's national defense" that "builds the fighting force of the future by prioritizing innovation, lethality, and readiness."Democrats, even reliable military advocates, disagree."The problem with this year's defense authorization bill is that it comes with the inclusion of $1.15 trillion in discretionary spending," Rep.Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Service Committee, said in a statement.
"I cannot and do not support meeting these needs by making massive cuts to critically important domestic programs and slashing taxes."Republicans in the Senate will need support for the bill from Democrats in order to clear the 60-vote threshold needed to pass most legislation through the chamber.Last week, Senate Democrats blocked a version of the bill from coming up for a vote, demanding concessions that curb President Trump's war effort in Iran.The NDAA debate comes at a contentious time for the Pentagon.
Any progress toward a resolution to the U.S.-Iran war has crumbled as the two sides continue to trade attacks.Meanwhile, the war has already cost taxpayers $37.5 billion, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.In recent days, at least four U.S.
service members have been killed, bringing the nation's death toll from the conflict to 18.Nearly 500 service members have been injured.
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