U.S. House Approves $893 Billion Defense Bill, Including $400 Million for Ukraine

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed an $892.6 billion defense policy bill that boosts military readiness and service members’ pay, while also embedding a series of Republican-led social policy restrictions.

The Gaze reports this, referring to The New York Times.

The legislation, approved in a largely party-line vote of 231 to 196, reflects how Republicans have increasingly used the Pentagon’s annual policy measure to advance conservative priorities. 

Among its provisions are bans on gender-affirming care for service members, the rejection of efforts to protect abortion access within the military, and curbs on diversity and climate-related initiatives.

For the third consecutive year, the bill incorporates measures rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and channels more surplus military weapons into civilian firearms programs – provisions that have alienated even some Democrats who had initially been open to supporting it.

Beyond the cultural battles, lawmakers on both sides agreed the bill is intended to modernize how the Pentagon identifies and fulfills defense needs from budgeting and research to contracting, production, and supply chains. 

Both Republicans and Democrats also backed provisions aimed at reclaiming congressional oversight of military operations after decades of expanded executive authority.

Despite widespread Republican skepticism over U.S. assistance to Kyiv, the bill earmarks $400 million for the Pentagon’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. 

A proposal by Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to slash that funding was defeated with bipartisan opposition.

Lawmakers also added a provision requiring the Pentagon to inform Congress if the administration plans to cancel or suspend Ukraine aid approved by legislators, a move seen as a response to the Defense Department’s decision earlier this summer to pause deliveries without notifying Capitol Hill.

The sweeping legislation is now expected to move to the Senate, where further negotiations are likely before it becomes law.

As The Gaze previously reported, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could revise its approach to Russia if it becomes clear that his recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska yields no tangible results.