The House overwhelmingly approved a massive $900 billion defense policy bill on Wednesday, sending a clear message to the White House: we will fund the military, but we’re watching how you run it.
Passed on a bipartisan 312-112 vote, the legislation secures a 3.8% pay raise for troops and promises faster weapons buying, but it also reflects growing friction between Capitol Hill and the Trump administration.
While the White House signaled strong support for the bill, lawmakers tucked in several provisions that push back against the Department of Defense. Most notably, the House voted to slash Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget by 25% until the Pentagon hands over unedited video footage of a controversial Sept. 2 boat strike near Venezuela.
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The 3,000-page package strikes a stark political compromise. To satisfy conservatives, it cuts $1.6 billion in climate change spending and eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and training. In return, Democrats secured stricter oversight measures and an ambitious overhaul of acquisition protocols designed to speed up how the military buys technology.
Beyond the budget battles, the bill reshapes U.S. foreign policy. It officially repeals the 2002 authorization for the invasion of Iraq, permanently lifts sanctions on Syria to aid reconstruction, and locks in troop minimums for Europe and South Korea to reassure allies.
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However, the legislation has drawn criticism for what it leaves out: Democrats blasted the removal of IVF coverage expansion, while safety advocates are alarmed that it ignores calls to restrict flights over Washington, D.C., following a deadly midair collision earlier this year.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where leaders are racing to pass it before the holiday break.
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