Mike Johnson pushed the U.S. House National Defense Authorization Act through the House on Wednesday, where lawmakers passed the $1.15tn measure in a near-party-line vote. The bill now moves to the Senate with its Iran and voting-rule disputes still attached.
Ilhan Omar on X
Ilhan Omar, the Democratic representative from Minnesota, posted two criticisms on X as the vote neared. She wrote, “While millions of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, Congress is choosing to authorize over $1tn for the Pentagon, once again funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to defense contractors instead of investing in the needs of working people” and “The American people are sick and tired of funding atrocities abroad and want this war with Iran to end. Yet year after year, the Pentagon fails its audit with virtually no accountability, while Congress continues to increase military spending.”
Her posts tracked the unusual shape of this year’s bill. The National Defense Authorization Act typically passes Congress each year with bipartisan margins, but the House version drew sharper opposition after Donald Trump decided to attack Iran without first seeking congressional approval. Pete Hegseth said the war had already cost $37.5bn.
Mike Johnson and Save America Act
Johnson inserted the Save America Act into the legislation after acceding to rightwing lawmakers' demands. He wrote on X, “This budget resolution is our best shot at enacting as much of the Save America Act into law as possible.” The proposal would ban mail-in ballots and impose new identification restrictions on voters at the polls and when they register.
Jerry Nadler said on X, “This means the NDAA is now tied to Trump’s attempt to steal elections by making it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote.” He also wrote, “The NDAA is a costly, bad bill that funds an illegal war and undermines our democracy.”
Section 219 and the Senate
Section 219 establishes the US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, and Thomas Massie called it “a betrayal of our sovereignty.” Lauren Boebert sat out the NDAA vote because of Section 219. The fight left the bill more divided than usual, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers attacking different parts of the same measure.
Last week, Senate Democrats blocked advancement of the Senate version of the NDAA in protest of the war. Whether the Senate will advance, amend, or reject the House bill is the immediate question now, and the chamber will have to deal with the war measure and the Save America Act together if it takes up the legislation.
