House approves $1.1 trillion defense bill and $95 billion funding plan amid Iran conflict
The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act and a separate budget framework that together allocate over $1 trillion for defense and more than $70 billion for the U.S. operation against Iran, pending Senate action.
House Republicans approved a $1.1 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Wednesday, voting 216-212 with six Democrats joining the party line. The measure now moves to the Senate, where it will need Democratic support to meet the 60-vote threshold.
"The problem with this year's defense authorization bill is that it comes with the inclusion of $1.15 trillion in discretionary spending," said Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
Republicans described the NDAA as an investment in national defense that emphasizes innovation, lethality and readiness, while Democrats expressed concerns about funding levels and potential cuts to domestic programs.
In a separate vote, the House advanced a $95 billion budget blueprint that earmarks more than $70 billion for the ongoing conflict with Iran, $12 billion for farm assistance, and funds to implement provisions of the SAVE America Act. The 216-214 vote used the reconciliation process, allowing it to pass without the Senate’s 60-vote supermajority requirement.
Speaker Mike Johnson said the reconciliation package could be taken up by the Senate on a party-line vote, though the timeline remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated he would seek a broader funding deal for the government but warned that a partisan approach might be considered if negotiations fail.
The House also passed the Stop Insider Trading Act, a measure that would prohibit members of Congress from buying new individual stocks while in office. The bill, approved 232-198, faced criticism from watchdog groups for leaving existing holdings and other asset-class transactions untouched, and it was opposed by most Democrats.