Senate Approves $886B Defense Bill in Bipartisan Vote

In a significant bipartisan decision reflecting enduring commitment to national defense, the U.S. Senate on December 17 passed a sweeping annual defense policy bill authorizing $886 billion for the Pentagon in fiscal year 2025, as first reported in the Defense News article titled “Senate passes major policy bill authorizing $900 billion for Pentagon.”

Passed with a decisive 87-13 vote, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sets defense priorities for the coming year and provides the legislative framework for the Defense Department’s operations. The measure includes provisions to bolster military readiness, support strategic competition with China and Russia, and enhance compensation for U.S. service members. Both chambers of Congress exhibited rare political unity during negotiations, advancing the bill after months of contentious debates over cultural and social policy provisions that had threatened to derail the legislation.

Included in the authorization is a 5.2% pay raise for military personnel, a signal priority for lawmakers across party lines amid recruitment and retention challenges within the armed forces. The bill also allocates funding for the purchase of advanced weapons systems, enhances electronic warfare capabilities, and strengthens cyber defense initiatives. Additionally, the legislation provides continued support to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, while authorizing further assistance to Taiwan in anticipation of increased tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Though the NDAA does not itself appropriate funding, it sets ceilings and establishes programs that will have to be funded through subsequent appropriations bills. Lawmakers acknowledged that the broad support for the defense package reflects shared concerns over the country’s long-term strategic posture amid shifting global dynamics.

Of particular note, the bill includes provisions to limit certain Pentagon environmental initiatives and outlines restrictions on the U.S. military’s ability to collaborate with the Chinese military, in line with a growing consensus on the need to address perceived geopolitical threats from Beijing. The legislation also incorporates measures to improve oversight of defense contracting and to streamline procurement procedures in an effort to modernize the defense industrial base.

The legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law without delay. Defense analysts suggest the passage of the NDAA reinforces the continued prioritization of military strength on Capitol Hill, even as domestic political divisions remain pronounced on other issues.

The passage of the bill represents the 63rd consecutive year that Congress has enacted a defense authorization package, underscoring its importance as one of the few reliably bipartisan efforts in an increasingly polarized political environment.