House passes defense bill to raise troop pay and overhaul weapons purchases

WASHINGTON AP The House voted to pass a sweeping defense guidelines bill Wednesday that authorizes billion in military programs including a pay raise for troops and an overhaul of how the Department of Defense buys weapons The bill s passage on a - vote comes at a time of increasing friction between the Republican-controlled Congress and President Donald Trump s administration over the management of the military The annual National Defense Authorization Act typically gains bipartisan backing and the White House has signaled strong backing for the must-pass measure saying it is in line with Trump s national precaution agenda Yet tucked into the over- -page bill are several measures that push back against the Department of Defense including a demand for more information on boat strikes in the Caribbean and encouragement for allies in Europe such as Ukraine Overall the sweeping bill calls for a pay raise for various military members as well as housing and facility improvements on military bases It also strikes a compromise between the political parties cutting weather and diversity efforts in line with Trump s agenda while also boosting congressional oversight of the Pentagon and repealing several old war authorizations Still hard-line conservatives stated they were frustrated that the bill does not do more to cut U S commitments overseas We need a ready capable and lethal fighting force because the threats to our nation especially those from China are more complex and challenging than at any point in the last years explained Rep Mike Rogers the GOP chair of the House Armed Services Committee Lawmakers overseeing the military explained the bill would change how the Pentagon buys weapons with an emphasis on speed after years of delay by the defense industry It s also a key priority for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Rep Adam Smith the top Democrat on the armed services panel called the bill the the greater part ambitious swing at acquisition adjustment that we ve taken Still Smith lamented that the bill does not do as much as Democrats would like to rein in the Trump administration but called it a step in the right direction towards reasserting the authority of Congress The biggest concern I have is that the Pentagon being run by Secretary Hegseth and by President Trump is exclusively not accountable to Congress or accountable to the law he declared The law next heads to the Senate where leaders are working to pass the bill before lawmakers depart Washington for a holiday break Several senators on both sides of the aisle have criticized the bill for not doing enough to restrict military flights over Washington They had pushed for reforms after a midair collision this year between an Army helicopter and a jetliner killed all people aboard the two aircraft near Washington s Ronald Reagan National Airport The National Transportation Safety Board and families of the casualties have also voiced opposition to that section of the bill raising concerns that it would make the airspace more dangerous Here s what the defense bill does as it makes its way through Congress Boat strike videos and congressional oversight Lawmakers included a provision that would cut Hegseth s journey budget by a quarter until the Pentagon provides Congress with unedited video of the strikes against alleged drug boats near Venezuela Lawmakers are asserting their oversight role after a Sept strike where the U S military fired on two survivors who were holding on to a boat that had partially been destroyed The bill also demands that Hegseth allow Congress to review the orders for the strikes Reaffirm commitments to Europe and Korea Trump s ongoing sponsorship for Ukraine and other allies in Eastern Europe has been under doubt over the last year but lawmakers included several positions meant to keep up U S encouragement for countering Russian aggression in the region The defense bill requires the Pentagon to keep at least troops and major equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U S interests Around to U S troops are usually present on European soil It also authorizes million for each of the next two years to manufacture weapons to be sent to Ukraine Additionally there is a provision to keep U S troops stationed in South Korea setting the minimum requirement at Cuts to situation and diversity initiatives The bill makes billion in cuts to atmosphere change-related spending the House Armed Services Committee noted U S military assessments have long detected that environment change is a threat to national defense with bases being pummeled by hurricanes or routinely flooded The bill also would save million by repealing diversity equity and inclusion offices programs and trainings the committee disclosed The position of chief diversity officer would be cut for example Iraq War resolution repeal Congress is putting an official end to the war in Iraq by repealing the authorization for the invasion Supporters in both the House and Senate say the repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses and to reinforce that Iraq is now a strategic partner of the U S The resolution has been rarely used in up-to-date years But the first Trump administration cited it as part of its legal justification for a U S drone strike that killed Iranian Gen Qassim Suleimani Lifting final Syria sanctions Congress would permanently remove U S sanctions put on Syria after the Trump administration temporarily lifted numerous penalties Lawmakers imposed economically crippling sanctions on the country in to punish former leader Bashar Assad for human rights abuses during the nearly -year civil war After Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa led a thriving insurgency to depose Assad he is seeking to rebuild his nation s financial system Advocates of a permanent repeal have commented international companies are unlikely to invest in projects needed for the country s reconstruction as long as there is a threat of sanctions returning Lack of IVF coverage Democrats criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for stripping a provision from the bill to expand coverage of in vitro fertilization for proceeding duty personnel An earlier version covered the therapeutic procedure known as IVF which helps people facing infertility have children