U.S. House passes 901 bln USD defense bill

Alsharq Tribune-M.Essam 

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday evening passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), authorizing 901 billion U.S. dollars in defense spending.

The bill, passed by 312 to 112, is heading to the Senate for approval.

Eighteen Republicans and 94 Democrats voted "no" in the final vote.

The legislation was aimed at "codifying 15 of President (Donald) Trump's executive orders, ending woke ideology at the Pentagon, securing the border, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior ethos," said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson before the vote.

The 3,000-plus page bill includes a nearly 4 percent raise in military pay, an overhaul that will speed up Pentagon arms purchases, as well as measures for developing the "Golden Dome" missile defense system and promoting military readiness.

Since House and Senate leaders already have combined their own versions of the bill into one negotiated package, the legislation is expected to garner bipartisan support in the Senate, local media reported.