WASHINGTON — The House passed its version of the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill today, with members rallying to protect funding for military aid to Ukraine and to speed defense procurement at home.
The 231-196 vote was split mostly down party lines due to the addition of Republican-backed amendments on culture war issues, such as several measures pertaining to transgender individuals.
The centerpiece of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act is a wide-ranging proposal meant to help speed up and streamline the defense acquisition process, specifically by cutting the time it takes for the Pentagon to validate requirements for a new procurement program.
The bill, which authorizes $848 billion for defense but does not obligate spending, largely sticks to the amounts laid out in the Pentagon’s budget request.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, announced on Tuesday that he would not support the bill if it included “problematic amendments included in the rule that focus on divisive topics rather than strengthening our national security.” He also criticized House Republicans for blocking debate on Democrat-led amendments on topics such as the Trump administration’s use of the US military for domestic law enforcement.
“We didn’t get any of the amendments or debates that we wanted. Not a single solitary one,” he said on the floor today.
There were two notable shows of bipartisanship. First, Democrats and Republicans largely banded together to defeat amendments from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., that would have prohibited funding for Ukraine and eradicated funding for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. (The House NDAA authorizes $400 million for Ukraine, but no money is included in the House’s version of the defense appropriations bill, which actually greenlights the Pentagon’s budget.)
Two Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee — Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska and Mike Turner of Ohio — spoke against the move to curb further military aid to Ukraine.
“A Ukrainian victory is in our security interests,” Bacon said, adding that Russia could put military pressure on the Baltic countries if Ukraine falls. “It’s not conservative to appease [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” he added.
The Ukraine funding prohibition was shot down in a 60-372 vote, while the Taiwan amendment was defeated 9-422.
Members also voted in favor of an amendment that repeals the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) related to Iraq, which saw 49 Republicans join Democrats in a 261-167 vote. The measure’s cosponsors — Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas — have said the war authorizations are outdated and no longer serve a purpose.
Over Democrats’ objections, Republicans passed six amendments targeting transgender individuals, including one that prohibits the Pentagon from covering gender-related medical treatment under TRICARE.
GOP members also successfully backed an amendment that eliminates a Pentagon preference for hybrid or electric vehicles.
The House’s NDAA will have to be reconciled with the Senate’s version of the bill, which authorizes a topline that is $32 billion larger than the House version. The Senate is also debating its NDAA on the floor this week, with passage likely by end of week.
You can read more about the FY26 NDAA here:
House committee’s NDAA authorizes more money for Ukraine, thwarts troops reductions in Europe
HASC adds funds for Virginia class subs, Ukraine in FY26 policy bill
SASC version of defense policy bill adds $32B to boost F-35s, shipbuilding