"WASHINGTON The Senate gave final passage to an annual military policy bill Wednesday that will authorize $901 billion in defense programs while pressuring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide lawmakers with video of strikes on alleged drug boats in international water near Venezuela. The annual National Defense Authorization Act, which raises troop pay by 3.8%, gained bipartisan backing as it moved through Congress, and the White House has indicated that it is in line with President Trump's national security priorities."
"But overall, the bill represents a compromise between the parties. It implements many of Trump's executive orders and proposals on eliminating diversity and inclusion efforts in the military and grants emergency military powers at the U.S. border with Mexico. It also enhances congressional oversight of the Department of Defense, repeals several years-old war authorizations and seeks to overhaul how the Pentagon purchases weapons as the U.S. tries to outpace China in developing the next generation of military technology."
The Senate approved an annual National Defense Authorization Act authorizing $901 billion in defense programs and pushing the Defense Secretary for video of alleged drug-boat strikes near Venezuela. The bill raises troop pay by 3.8% and drew bipartisan support while aligning with the administration's national security priorities. The 3,000-plus-page measure demands more information on Caribbean strikes, maintains U.S. troop levels in Europe, and provides some military aid to Ukraine. The bill implements executive orders eliminating diversity and inclusion efforts, grants emergency military powers at the U.S.-Mexico border, enhances congressional oversight, repeals older war authorizations, and seeks major Pentagon procurement reforms to accelerate competition with China. It faced committee objections over waivers for military aircraft broadcasting requirements.
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