The U.S. House narrowly passed a $1.15 trillion defense bill, 216-212, that renames the Pentagon the 'Department of War.' The highly partisan legislation provides a 5-7% pay raise for troops but also includes conservative social riders and is linked to funding for the ongoing war with Iran, which has cost $37.5 billion. Democrats opposed the bill's high cost and its attachment to a controversial elections bill, and it faces an uncertain path in the Senate.
Defense bill passage
- ▪The Congressional Budget Office projected the renaming of the Defense Department could cost taxpayers as much as $125 million
- ▪The legislation includes conservative social policy riders, such as a prohibition on gender-related medical care under the TRICARE health program
- ▪A provision in the bill would redesignate the Department of Defense as the Department of War
- ▪The defense policy bill authorizes $1.15 trillion in spending for national security
- ▪The bill provides for a pay raise for service members ranging from 5% to 7%, depending on their rank
- ▪The White House supports the spending levels and the "Department of War" designation in the House bill
- ▪The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on July 22, 2026, with a vote of 216-212
- ▪House Republicans attached President Trump's "SAVE America Act," an elections overhaul bill, to the defense bill
U.S.-Iran war costs
- ▪Rep. Adam Smith stated that total defense spending approaches $1.6 trillion when including separate funding for the war in Iran
- ▪The ongoing war with Iran has cost U.S. taxpayers $37.5 billion, according to the Pentagon
- ▪The U.S. death toll from the conflict with Iran has reached 18 service members, with nearly 500 injured
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