Congress prepares $901B Defense bill for House vote this week
WASHINGTON, DC: Congressional negotiators on Sunday, December 7, unveiled the long-awaited text of the National Defense Authorization Act, setting up a possible House vote as early as this week.
The sprawling legislation outlines Pentagon policy for the coming year and includes significant limits on the administration's ability to scale back US forces in Europe.
Lawmakers also added an $8 billion increase above President Trump's request and advanced new restrictions on US investment in China. But the omission of several conservative-backed provisions could complicate the bill's path forward.
Limits on troop reductions and bipartisan pushback
The compromise on NDAA reflects months of work in both chambers and a clear bipartisan resolve to restrain the administration's efforts to reduce America's military footprint in Europe.
Lawmakers from both parties argued that steep troop cuts could send the wrong signal at a time of heightened tension with Russia, noting that recent moves such as removing a rotational Army brigade from Romania had sparked alarm on Capitol Hill.
Under the new bill, the Pentagon would be barred from lowering the number of US troops stationed or deployed in Europe below 76,000 for more than 45 days.
That is, unless Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the head of US European Command certify that such a reduction serves US national security interests and that NATO allies were properly consulted. They must also provide a detailed assessment of the potential impact.
Similar provisions would prevent the administration from significantly reducing US forces on the Korean Peninsula below 28,500 troops.
This too mirrors the language the Senate originally approved. Lawmakers also moved to prevent the US from stepping away from its historic leadership of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe role, a position that has traditionally been held by a US officer leading the European Command.
"Trump's America First Investment Policy just went to the next level and will put Beijing on notice," Rep Andy Barr, R-Ky, said of the section restricting US investment in Chinese military-linked entities.
"No more letting American investors unknowingly bankroll China's military, surveillance and tech capabilities," he added.
Compromise between House and Senate versions
While the defense policy bill does not itself appropriate funding, lawmakers agreed to recommend a top-line of roughly $901 billion, an increase from Trump's request and a middle ground between the House and Senate versions.
A House Republican aide, who was granted anonymity, called the adjustment a "fiscally responsible increase that meets our defense needs."
The bill also repeals two long-standing military authorizations tied to the 1991 Gulf War and the 2002 Iraq invasion. Support for ending these authorizations has grown in recent years, with lawmakers arguing they could be misused by future presidents.
A GOP aide noted that the repeals would not affect Trump's authority as commander-in-chief.
