House narrowly passes $1.15 trillion defense bill, approving raises for troops, adopting Department of War name

WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed the $1.15 trillion defense policy bill amid increasing tension over military spending and the war with Iran.

The National Defense Authorization Act, normally one of the more bipartisan bills Congress passes each year, narrowly passed, 216-212. Six Democrats voted for the bill, and seven Republicans voted against it.

Congress has been tackling a record $1.5 trillion defense budget request from the Trump administration for fiscal year 2027. The budget request asks Congress to approve $1.15 trillion through its annual appropriations process and to enact the remaining $350 billion through a legislative tactic known as reconciliation, which allows measures to pass with a simple majority in the Senate.

It authorizes pay raises for troops requested by the Trump administration, including 7% for ranks E-5 and below, 6% for E-6 through O-3 and 5% for ranks O-4 and higher.

The bill includes a proposal to formally rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War after President Donald Trump authorized the use of the name last year. The proposed change is estimated to cost up to $125 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The measure also matches the administration’s requests to grow the force amid a recruiting boon for the services. The Army would add 15,000 soldiers, the Navy 13,000 sailors, the Air Force 8,900 airmen, the Space Force 2,800 guardians and 1,400 Marines.

Democrats took issue with the price tag, and opposed some of the conservative social policy riders, including a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender people.

“This bill advances President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda by giving every service member a pay raise, strengthening our defense industrial base, expanding American manufacturing and ensuring our military remains the strongest in the world,” Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said in a post on X.

Rep. Adam Smith, of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said the Trump administration’s request is approaching $1.6 trillion if efforts to pay for the war in Iran and increase weapons stockpiles are added.

“The problem is the $1.6 trillion price tag — a 60% increase in the defense budget at a time when our country is running a nearly $2 trillion deficit,” Smith said in a statement. “Our country faces threats, and DOD has modernization needs, but I will not support making massive cuts to critically important domestic programs and slashing taxes to meet those needs.” 

The bill will be attached to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, Trump’s voter ID bill, before being sent to the Senate, which has not yet approved its version of the defense measure. Last week, Senate Democrats blocked its advancement, citing ‌frustration with the Iran war and Trump’s failure to consult with Congress about his decision to send U.S. forces into the conflict.

It’s possible that a final product won’t be ready until after the midterm elections, The Associated Press reported.

Separately, the House adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators on Tuesday that the cost of the Iran war has risen to $37.5 billion, while stating the Pentagon’s case for supplemental funding, as the conflict stretches into its fifth month.

The U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding last month to end the war and enter into a 60-day period of negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.

Both nations began trading strikes this month after accusing the other of violating a June ceasefire. Iran has resumed targeting oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. Navy reinstated its blockade on Iranian ports.

In total, 18 service members have died and 447 have been injured as part of Operation Epic Fury, according to the Pentagon’s system.