House Passes $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill Renaming Pentagon to Department of War

The United States House of Representatives narrowly passed the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a 216-212 vote on July 22. The legislation authorizes $1.15 trillion in national security spending and officially renames the Department of Defense as the Department of War, a move supported by Donald Trump to recognize a willingness to fight and win wars. The bill includes service member pay raises of 5% to 7%, expanded military technology cooperation with Israel, and the codification of 65 executive orders.

Speaker Mike Johnson attached the SAVE America Act to the measure, which requires photo identification for voter registration and restricts mail-in ballots. The bill also includes conservative social riders, such as prohibiting gender-related medical care under TRICARE and easing restrictions on privately owned firearms on military bases.

Democrats and some Republicans opposed the bill, citing the high cost and the ongoing conflict with Iran. While the base budget is $1.15 trillion, some lawmakers claim total spending approaches $1.6 trillion when accounting for war efforts. The House also approved a separate $95 billion funding bill, with $73 billion designated for operations against Iran, which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth estimated has already cost $37.5 billion.

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where passage is uncertain. Senate Democrats previously blocked a procedural vote to advance the NDAA, arguing that the resumption of hostilities in Iran makes the bill's current form unacceptable.