$832 billion defense bill passed by the House
According to The New York Post, the House approved the Department of Defense Appropriations Act in a 221-209 vote on Friday. The outlet noted that only five Democrats voted in support of the bill, while every Republican representative supported the bill except Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.).
'Providing our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to keep America safe is one of the most important constitutional responsibilities of Congress. The passage of the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act advances our national security goals by investing in the platforms and programs that enhance America's military dominance,' Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) said in a Friday press release.
Calvert added, 'The bill makes innovation a priority by expanding programs I have championed that rapidly deploy cutting-edge, difference making systems into the hands of our warfighters. Our troops are the backbone of our national security and receive a well-deserved pay raise in this bill.'
READ MORE: New defense tech company reveals major power development
The New York Post reported that the House's Department of Defense Appropriations Act includes a 3.8% pay increase for National Guard troops, active-duty military members, and reserve military members. According to Federal News Network, the bill also includes a 60% increase in the military's family separation allowance.
Federal News Network reported that the House's Department of Defense Appropriations Act would increase the military's separation allowance to $400 each month for U.S. service members. The outlet noted that while Fiscal Year 2024's defense bill previously authorized the Department of Defense to increase pay for military members who are involuntarily separated from dependents from $250 per month to $400 per month, the Pentagon has not yet increased the pay.
In a statement following the House Armed Services Committee's approval of the bill ahead of the full House vote on the legislation, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) explained that it has 'never been more important to have a ready, lethal, and capable fighting force' then at a time when the United States facing 'rapidly evolving' and 'complex' threats across the globe.
'Equipping an innovative and agile military requires an efficient and streamlined acquisition process,' Rogers added. 'The FY26 NDAA supports modernization and fundamentally reforms defense acquisition by cutting red tape, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles, and encouraging innovation.'
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