The Senate just dropped a mammoth $900 billion defense bill that’s got everyone talking.
CBS News reported that on Wednesday, the upper chamber passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a commanding 77-20 vote, sending the sprawling 3,000-plus-page legislation to the president’s desk for a signature.
Last week, the House gave its nod to the NDAA with a solid 312-112 tally, though not without some conservative grumbling over provisions like Ukraine aid, which drew procedural headaches for Speaker Mike Johnson.
The NDAA, a yearly tradition for 65 consecutive years, sailed through with bipartisan backing, proving that even in a polarized Congress, defense remains a unifying force.
Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, couldn’t resist a victory lap, saying, "This will be the 65th year in a row, the 65th consecutive year that Congress has come together across the aisle and across two chambers to send the president a bill designed to sustain and strengthen the national defense."
This bill isn’t just big in price tag—it’s a policy behemoth, codifying over a dozen of President Trump’s executive orders while packing in a 3.8% pay raise for all service members.
But let’s not pretend it’s all kumbaya—some of the NDAA’s measures are raising eyebrows, like authorizing active-duty troops at the U.S.-Mexico border and banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the Defense Department.
Then there’s the prohibition on transgender women participating in women’s athletic programs at military academies—a move sure to rile up the progressive crowd who see it as a step backward. While respecting everyone’s dignity, it’s hard not to notice this aligns with a push to keep military focus on readiness, not social experiments.
The bill also greenlights a "Golden Dome" missile defense shield and allocates $400 million in military aid to Ukraine for both 2026 and 2027, a sticking point for some fiscal hawks.
On the foreign policy front, the NDAA rolls back old legal justifications for U.S. attacks on Iraq and repeals certain sanctions on Syria, while limiting troop reductions in Europe.
It even withholds part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until the Pentagon coughs up footage of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela—a subtle jab at bureaucratic foot-dragging.
Yet, not all are thrilled with the bill’s scope, as some lawmakers worry it falls short on restricting military aircraft near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a concern amplified by safety advocates.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, sounded the alarm, stating the NDAA "does not in any way enhance safety" and "reverses safety changes" made after a tragic midair collision in January that claimed 67 lives.
She added that the bill "essentially gives the military unfettered access to the crowded and complex D.C. airspace." If that doesn’t make you grip your armrest tighter, it’s a stark reminder that safety can’t take a backseat to military convenience.
Thankfully, Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, alongside Sen. Jerry Moran, pushed through the ROTOR Act with unanimous Senate consent on Wednesday, aiming to tighten D.C. airspace rules, with White House support signaling hope for House passage soon.
