House Passes $900B Defense Bill With Bipartisan Support

After months of bipartisan negotiations and noteworthy omissions, the House passed the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026 on Wednesday, sending it to the Senate.

The 3,086-page bill passed 312-112 with 197 Republicans and 115 Democrats. Trump will sign the bill after the GOP-controlled Senate clears it.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., said the bill “delivers” for the military and emphasizes preparedness and deterrence. He called it a “strong” bipartisan package for defense acquisition reform that enhances the lives of service members and their families.

The NDAA funds military pay and health care, R&D, shipbuilding, border security, and nuclear activities across the Departments of Defense and Energy. The GOP summary cites $291 billion for operations and maintenance, $234 billion for personnel and health care, $162 billion for procurement, $146 billion for R&D, $34 billion for nuclear defense, and $20 billion for military construction and family housing.

The measure increases service members' salaries by 3.8%, extends recruitment bonuses, increases the family separation allowance, and requires a housing allowance study to account for rising rents. It also funds a $175 million Baltic Security Initiative, $400 million for Ukraine security, $1 billion for Taiwan security, and $1.5 billion for the Philippines.

The Act expands the Pacific Deterrence Initiative in the Indo-Pacific, supporting hypersonics, AI, and cyber capabilities, and more than $2.7 billion for military construction. Next-generation aircraft programs receive over $38 billion, and shipbuilding $26 billion.

The bill cuts DEI activities, climate-related spending, consulting contracts, and superfluous bureaucracy, saving taxpayers almost $20 billion, according to supporters. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the committee's top Democrat, called it the most sweeping acquisition reform push in years.

Critics criticized various clauses and exclusions. The final law does not require active-duty service members to receive IVF coverage. It also abolishes Defense Department DEI offices permanently and removes a House provision reinstating civilian collective bargaining rights.

The bill also funds the Pentagon inspector general and mandates quarterly budget reports. It withholds the defense secretary's travel funds until the Caribbean airstrikes are known.

The NDAA codifies 15 Trump executive actions, including border security, defense acquisition reform, and missile defense.