House passes defense bill renaming Pentagon to Department of War

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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