House Passes Defense Bill Amid Iran War Divide - The New York Times

House Approves $1.15 Trillion Defense Policy Bill on 216-212 Vote

The House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion defense authorization measure on July 22, 2026, with a 216-212 vote. Six Democrats joined 210 Republicans in support, while seven Republicans voted against the legislation. The bill authorizes funding levels and policy changes for the Department of Defense for the coming fiscal year.

The measure provides a pay increase for service members, additional funds for missile defense production, and resources for strategic investments in critical minerals. It also directs the department on the integration and regulation of artificial intelligence systems. A provision in the bill would rename the Department of Defense the Department of War.

Representative Mike Rogers, Republican of Alabama and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, described the legislation as addressing long-term shortfalls in military capacity. He stated that decades of underinvestment have left the United States unable to produce equipment at the rate required for sustained operations and cited reductions in the defense industrial base and weapon stockpiles.

Representative Adam Smith, Democrat of Washington and ranking member of the committee, opposed the bill. He said Republicans had incorporated provisions that aligned the measure with administration priorities on military spending and had blocked certain Democratic amendments. Smith noted that the legislation would continue to fund operations connected to the conflict involving Iran and argued that the overall trajectory of defense budgets, including separate emergency and reconciliation measures, raised questions about long-term fiscal balance with other federal programs.

The vote occurred as the House prepared to recess. Lawmakers had previously referenced a memorandum of understanding and announced cease-fire related to the Iran conflict as potential steps toward reduced involvement. The measure now moves to the Senate, where further changes are expected before any final version could reach the president.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier in the week. He characterized the administration’s requested emergency funding as necessary to address immediate requirements during ongoing operations and reported that costs associated with the Iran conflict had reached $37.5 billion to date. Hegseth described the broader funding approach as a multi-year commitment to expand military capabilities amid concurrent security challenges involving multiple state actors.

President Trump posted on social media that any attacks by Iran on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz would prompt U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including bridges or power plants. He separately stated that additional military action against Iran would follow.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act has historically passed with broad support from both parties. The 2026 version’s narrower margin reflects divisions over spending totals and the connection between the authorization and current military operations. The Senate is expected to consider amendments that could alter funding levels or policy language before a conference committee reconciles differences with the House version.

Additional provisions in the House bill address recruitment and retention incentives, procurement reforms for munitions, and reporting requirements on supply chain vulnerabilities. The legislation does not alter statutory limits on the number of active-duty personnel but authorizes adjustments to end-strength targets for certain components.

Democratic leaders have indicated they will seek changes in the Senate to address domestic spending priorities and to require additional congressional review of military operations. Republican leaders have stated that the current authorization levels are required to meet existing production shortfalls and to maintain deterrence commitments.

The bill’s path forward depends on negotiations that typically produce a final version by the end of the calendar year. Any enacted measure would set baseline funding for the Department of Defense before separate appropriations bills determine actual outlays.