The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion defense policy bill on Wednesday in a narrow 216–212 vote, advancing a central pillar of President Donald Trump’s military platform despite fierce Democratic opposition over the unauthorized war with Iran and attached partisan policy provisions.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed almost entirely along party lines, with all but six Democrats voting against the measure alongside seven dissenting House Republicans. The legislation includes 5% to 7% pay raises for service members, significant military infrastructure spending, and formalizes renaming the Pentagon as the “Department of War.”
Opposition to the sweeping legislation centered on several major flashpoints. Democrats refused to support the bill partly in protest over President Donald Trump’s unilateral military operations against Iran, which were launched without prior congressional authorization and followed the collapse of recent peace negotiations.
The measure also drew criticism over voting provisions added by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who incorporated elements of the Trump-backed SAVE America Act into the defense package. Those provisions sought to impose stricter voter identification rules nationwide and place new limits on mail-in voting.
The final text further intensified partisan divisions by including conservative amendments tied to culture-war issues. These included restrictions on military healthcare coverage for some gender-affirming care and a ban on transgender athletes competing in Defense Department-run schools.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it faces a challenging path forward as leadership navigates tight margins and bipartisan resistance to passing defense increases through procedural reconciliation.
