House Republicans on Tuesday cleared a key hurdle for a $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill after resolving a conservative standoff that delayed the legislation for weeks, putting the measure on track for final passage as early as Wednesday.
The House approved a procedural rule by a 214-211 vote, allowing debate to begin on the annual National Defense Authorization Act. Republicans are using the bill to advance several of President Donald Trump’s defense and election priorities.
The breakthrough followed an agreement between Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and conservative lawmakers led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who had blocked the bill in June due to a dispute over the SAVE America Act. This legislation would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
Under the deal, House Republicans will attach the SAVE America Act to the NDAA before sending it to the Senate, continuing the GOP strategy of pairing Trump’s election reform proposal with major legislative packages.
Johnson secured support from remaining holdouts after Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the lone Republican to vote against advancing the bill. Massie had proposed an amendment removing language that strengthens U.S.-Israel cooperation on military technology.
Lawmakers are expected to consider roughly 320 amendments, many aimed at advancing conservative priorities. Among these proposals are measures to permanently codify the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people serving openly in the military, prohibit Tricare from funding gender transition procedures, require the Pentagon to study reducing its civilian workforce by up to 200,000 employees, and block Pentagon funding for further military aid to Ukraine.
Democrats were unsuccessful in pushing amendments to reduce the bill’s spending below $1 trillion or prohibit funding for continued U.S. military operations against Iran.
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., criticized the package, calling the Iran conflict “another one of Donald Trump’s broken promises.” He questioned whether the conflict had made life better for Americans: “Maybe it’s made life better for defense contractors. Maybe for the crazy neocon warmongers that get a kick out of another war. But not for everyday people.”
House Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., dismissed McGovern’s criticism, stating that GOP priorities remain focused on national security. “The number one role of the federal government is the defense of this nation,” Foxx said.
The House also advanced a Republican budget blueprint that would launch the reconciliation process for an additional $95 billion spending package, including $60 billion for defense tied to the Iran conflict.
The NDAA sets Pentagon policy for the coming fiscal year and is one of Congress’ annual must-pass bills. Republicans hope to approve the measure this week before sending it to the Senate, where it is expected to face a more difficult path.
