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The House of Representatives on Wednesday night approved its version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, advancing a massive $848 billion policy bill that includes pay raises for service members and federal border funding.
The measure passed largely along party lines in a 231-196 vote, with 17 Democrats joining Republicans in support and four Republicans opposing the bill. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted against it.
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers are debating their own version this week. Both chambers must reconcile differences before a final bill reaches President Donald Trump’s desk.
Among the most significant provisions is a reform of the Pentagon’s acquisition process, aimed at reducing the time it takes to validate requirements for new procurement programs. The bill also provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for service members across all branches, along with improvements in schools, housing and healthcare, according to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers.
“Today’s vote to advance the FY26 NDAA is a vote to modernize our military, support our troops, and restore American deterrence,” Rogers said in a statement. “As we face the most complex global threat environment since WWII, it’s critical that the United States has a ready, capable, and lethal fighting force to secure our homeland.
“Along with the One Big, Beautiful Bill, the FY26 NDAA makes a generational investment in our national defense and implements President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda,” he added.
The House also considered several amendments, rejecting proposals to block funding for Ukraine and to cut support for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The bill includes $400 million in aid for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia’s invasion.
Lawmakers approved an amendment repealing the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force in the Middle East, measures that initially cleared the way for U.S. military action in Iraq. The annual defense authorization bill is considered essential legislation, though debates over foreign aid and U.S. military engagement globally continue to divide members of both parties.
