House advances annual defense policy bill, teeing up final vote

The House advanced the annual defense policy bill on Tuesday, teeing up the mammoth measure for a final vote later this week.

The chamber voted 211-207 along party lines to adopt the rule — which governs debate for legislation — for the sprawling bill, formally opening up debate in the chamber. The House is expected to vote on final passage this week, which will require majority support in the chamber, before sending the legislation to the Senate ahead of the end-of-year deadline.

The bill — known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — has a $883.7 billion topline and includes bipartisan provisions like a 19.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members, increasing the U.S.’s presence in the Indo-Pacific and funding the construction of seven new ships.

It does, however, contain some GOP-led amendments pertaining to culture war issues that are sparking opposition among Democrats and threatening to make the typically bipartisan measure more partisan than usual.

The measure, for example, included language that would restrict the use of funds from TRICARE, the health care program for active duty service members, from being used to cover gender-affirming care for transgender children under the age of 18.

Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, did not reveal how he plans to vote, but blasted the transgender-related provision in a statement.

“Blanketly denying health care to people who clearly need it, just because of a biased notion against transgender people, is wrong,” Smith wrote. “This provision injected a level of partisanship not traditionally seen in defense bills. Speaker Johnson is pandering to the most extreme elements of his party to ensure that he retains his speakership. In doing so, he has upended what had been a bipartisan process.”

The NDAA also includes an amendment that would restrict the Defense Department from establishing any new positions related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) a year after the legislation passes.

Congressional leaders unveiled the legislation over the weekend following months of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations. House Republicans approved their own version of the NDAA in June, and the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced their edition that same month, forcing congressional leaders to work out a compromise product — which is the typical sequence of events for the NDAA.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) hailed the compromise measure on Tuesday, telling reporters at a press conference surrounded by other members of GOP leadership, “we’re proud of this product.”

“The safety and security of the American people is our top priority, and this year's NDAA ensures our military has the resources and the capabilities needed to remain the most powerful fighting force on the planet,” he added.