On Friday, June 14, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. With 217 federal lawmakers approving the act and 199 opposing it, the annual National Defense Authorization Act passed primarily along party lines. Only six Democrats broke with the party and voted for it while three Republicans voted against it. Ultimately, Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican representing Louisiana’s 4th congressional district, said its passage will “support our allies, and strengthen our nuclear posture and missile defense programs.”
“This year’s NDAA will refocus our military on its core mission of defending America and its interests across the globe, fund the deployment of the National Guard to the southwest border, expedite innovation and reduce the acquisition timeline for new weaponry, support our allies, and strengthen our nuclear posture and missile defense programs,” Johnson said.
Among other things, Congressman Greg Murphy, a Republican representing North Carolina’s 3rd congressional district, says the act will provide a 19.5%. pay increase for junior enlisted service members, $50 million for the F-35 Aircraft Sustainment Center and $106 million for an Aircraft Maintenance Hangar. On the opposite end of things, the act would freeze hiring for diversity, equity and inclusion jobs, bar the Tricare health care program from providing gender transition operations and “prohibit the Secretary of Defense from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services.”
“Unfortunately, House Republicans are using the NDAA — historically bipartisan legislation to support our nation’s defense — to restrict servicewomen from traveling to receive reproductive health care, including emergency medical care that could save their lives or their ability to have children,” said U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and Democratic representing Virginia’s 7th congressional district.
“I’d venture to guess that very few women serving in our military were consulted about this proposal. We should be focused on strengthening our national security, not restricting the freedoms of our troops.”
While examining the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, a group of Republicans lawmakers, including Reps. Brian Mast, Claudia Tenney and Eli Crane, also introduced and approved a measure blocking U.S. funding from aiding in the reconstruction of Gaza. According to The Intercept, the U.S. has provided nearly $13 billion in aid. However, Rep. Brian Mast feels it would be “nonsensical” to begin rebuilding an area that has been the target of military weapons for nearly a year. Furthermore, Mast argued that any group who takes control of Gaza would have “ties to terrorism and be opposed to the existence” of Israel.
“Any group that takes control of the Gaza Strip following this war will have ties to terrorism and be opposed to the existence of our ally — Israel,” Mast stated.
“Given this reality, even one penny of American tax dollars used to build or rebuild infrastructure in Gaza will just be going to subsidize the next attack on Israel. Our tax dollars should be going to support our allies, not terrorist entities holding American citizens hostage.”
House Democrats reportedly opposed the amendment, but the full House ultimately passed it two days later. Now, it will head to the Senate before it can be enacted.
