US House approves defense policy bill with 'culture war' amendments

11/9/2025 12:33

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, authorizing nearly $900 billion in military spending and featuring a plan to streamline the defense acquisition process.



The vote on the proposal for spending similar to last year's level was 231 to 196, largely along party lines. All but four Republicans backed the bill and all but 17 Democrats opposed, mostly due to amendments addressing divisive social issues.



One such amendment would bar the Pentagon's health insurance from covering gender-related medical treatment.



Representative Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, voted no, accusing Republicans of focusing on politics rather than security.



"They included countless partisan amendments that sought to score points in a right-wing culture war rather than focus on the real needs of our service members and their families," Smith said in a statement.