House Passes $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill Renaming Department of War

The United States House of Representatives narrowly approved the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2027 on Wednesday in a 216-212 vote. The legislation authorizes a record $1.15 trillion for military programs, increases pay for servicemembers, and renames the Department of Defense as the Department of War. Mike Johnson, as House Speaker, oversaw the passage of the bill, which codifies 65 executive orders from President Donald Trump and incorporates the SAVE America Act to require documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration.

The bill faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers and a minority of Republicans who criticized the inclusion of extremist policy riders. A primary point of contention was Section 219, which establishes a U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative. Opponents argued this specific provision integrates the U.S. military too closely with Israel and undermines American sovereignty.

Following the House vote, the legislation moves to the Senate for negotiations. Lawmakers must now reconcile the House version with the Senate version before the final bill can be sent to President Trump for his signature. Senate Democrats recently blocked a procedural vote to advance the NDAA, citing the resumption of hostilities in Iran as a reason for their refusal to proceed with the bill at this time.