House passes $1.15 trillion defense bill, renames Pentagon 'Department of War'

Democrats oppose measure over spending, social policy riders

The House on Wednesday passed a $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act that would rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War and authorize President Donald Trump’s requested defense spending. The 216-212 vote fell largely along party lines.

The legislation, typically one of the most bipartisan measures Congress takes up each year, saw near-unanimous Democratic opposition this cycle. Democrats objected to the steep increase in Pentagon funding while Republicans pursued cuts to non-defense programs through other bills.

The bill includes a pay raise for service members ranging from 5% to 7% depending on rank. It also contains conservative social policy riders, including a prohibition on gender-related medical care under the military health program TRICARE and a provision easing hurdles for service members to carry privately owned firearms on base. The firearms provision follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier policy on the issue.