U.S. approves $900 billion military budget

Early Thursday, the House passed the comprehensive National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with 312 votes in favor and 112 against. The legislation authorizes $900 billion in military spending, including pay raises for service members and reforms to the U.S. weapons procurement system.

This $900.6 billion military budget now moves to the Senate for final consideration and is expected to be signed into law by Donald Trump by the end of the year.

The bill’s approval comes amid rising tensions between the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administration over military management. The White House issued a statement expressing “strong support” for the legislation, describing it as aligned with Trump’s national security agenda.

The more than 3,000-page bill sets U.S. military priorities and includes key allocations: $26 billion for warships, $38 billion for aircraft, $4 billion for ground vehicles, and $25 billion for munitions.

In addition to a 3.8% pay raise for many military personnel, the bill provides improvements to housing and base facilities. It also requires the Department of Defense to provide more information on naval operations in the Caribbean and continues support for certain European allies, including Ukraine.

The legislation represents a bipartisan compromise: some climate change and diversity initiatives have been scaled back under the Trump administration’s approach, while congressional oversight of the Pentagon has been strengthened, and some older war authorizations have been revoked.

Nevertheless, a number of hardline conservatives expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the new bill does not go far enough in reducing America’s foreign commitments.