House Approves $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill Deepening U.S.-Israel Military Ties

Measure funding Iran conflict and key Trump priorities clears chamber on near party-line vote; Senate prospects remain unclear.

Published On 23 Jul 202623 Jul 2026

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly advanced a sprawling $1.15 trillion military spending package Wednesday, overcoming Democratic objections to its price tag and provisions deepening defense technology collaboration with Israel.

The chamber approved the legislation by a 216–212 margin, largely along party lines. Six Democrats crossed the aisle to support the measure, while seven Republicans voted against it.

“Final vote total for the NDAA today which tragically merges our military technology and supply chains with Israel’s,” Representative Thomas Massie (R‑Ky.), a frequent critic of the administration’s Iran policy, wrote on social media. “Let’s hope this version fails in the Senate because Section 219 is a betrayal of our sovereignty.”

The fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act reflects President Donald Trump’s demand for a historic expansion of the Pentagon’s budget, raising baseline spending from $900 billion to $1.5 trillion. The White House argues the increase is essential to sustain the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran, launched jointly with Israel in late February—a conflict that remains broadly unpopular with the public.

The bill has also drawn scrutiny for a provision that would expand military-technological cooperation with Israel, even as polling shows growing voter support for conditioning or ending military aid to the country.

Its path forward in the Senate is uncertain. Democrats there blocked debate on the NDAA last week, with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑N.Y.) labeling it a “permission slip” for the war in Iran. The party is also likely to resist the legislation’s high cost while the administration pursues cuts to social programs.

Although the NDAA is traditionally considered must-pass legislation, this year’s version bundles several contentious measures, including continued aid for Ukraine and the SAVE America Act—a presidential priority that would impose new voting restrictions based on unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud.

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