WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The House is expected to vote this week on a bill authorizing $900 billion for military programs, including boosting pay for service members, cutting and requiring footage to be released of forces .
The National Defense Authorization Act is traditionally a strong bipartisan bill that lays out the nation’s defense policies. But it’s coming up for a vote as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the boat strikes off Venezuela’s coast.
Lawmakers’ concerns are apparent in the compromise bill released Sunday by the House Armed Services Committee. While it incorporates many of , the defense bill demands more accountability over the administration’s campaign against Latin American drug cartels. It also reasserts a U.S. commitment to Europe following intense criticism of allies in Trump鈥檚 recently released national security strategy.
The House could vote as early as Wednesday on this year’s NDAA. Here are key things to know about the bill:
Demand for boat strike videos
Lawmakers are demanding the Pentagon hand over unedited video of strikes against drug cartels, threatening to withhold a quarter of Hegseth鈥檚 travel budget if it doesn鈥檛.
The congressional committees overseeing the military have been for more answers on a Sept. 2 strike following reports that U.S. forces clinging to wreckage after their alleged drug-smuggling boat was attacked.
The legislation also requires the Pentagon to provide the orders behind each attack. Legal experts and some Democrats say the Sept. 2 follow-up strike , despite the Trump administration’s assertions that the U.S. is in an .
Aid for Ukraine
The legislation authorizes $400 million for each of the next two years to manufacture weapons to be sent to Ukraine.
The money represents only a small part of Kyiv鈥檚 overall needs for , but it is still a show of support from Congress at a time when Trump鈥檚 backing for Ukraine has been in doubt.
The bill also requires the Pentagon to provide intelligence support for Ukraine, which the for several weeks earlier this year.
Keeping US troops in Europe, Korea
Congress is trying to reaffirm its commitment to European allies and 鈥� a notable stance given the posture of the Trump administration.
One provision in the defense authorization bill requires the Pentagon to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.
Around 80,000 to 100,000 U.S. troops on European soil. NATO allies have that the Trump administration might drastically cut their numbers and leave a security vacuum as European countries confront an increasingly aggressive Russia.
The Army that the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division will return to its base in Kentucky as previously planned but that no other U.S. troops would rotate into Europe to replace it.
The Trump administration says it’s been reviewing its military posture in Europe and elsewhere. In , Hegseth criticized previous U.S. policies that 鈥渢urned American allies into dependents.”
The defense bill also contains a provision to keep U.S. troops stationed in , setting the minimum requirement at 28,500.
Lack of IVF coverage
The bill is notable for lacking a provision to expand coverage of in vitro fertilization for active duty personnel. An covered , which helps people facing infertility to build their families.
Rep. Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat, said Sunday that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson removed for military health insurance to cover IVF for American troops.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an unbelievably selfish and callous move against people who鈥檝e served and sacrificed so much for us, especially when he and his own staff have access to health care plans that provide IVF coverage,鈥� Jacobs said in a news release.
Johnson鈥檚 office did not respond to an email seeking comment. He praised the NDAA in a statement for delivering on 鈥淭rump鈥檚 promise of peace through strength,鈥� while noting that it provides a nearly 4% raise for service members.
Iraq war resolution repeal
The legislation also would put an official end to the by for the 2003 invasion.
Supporters in both the House and Senate say the repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses and to reinforce that Iraq is now a strategic partner of the U.S. Both chambers to include an amendment in the 2026 defense bill revoking the 2002 war resolution.
The 2002 resolution has been rarely used in recent years. But the first Trump administration cited it as part of its legal justification for a 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani.
Lifting final Syria sanctions
Congress would permanently remove the harshest U.S. sanctions left on Syria after the .
Congress had imposed economically crippling sanctions on the country in 2019 to punish former leader Bashar Assad for human rights abuses during the nearly 14-year civil war. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is seeking to after he led a a year ago.
While the Trump administration had issued temporary waivers on the sanctions known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, they can only be permanently repealed by a vote in Congress.
Advocates of a permanent repeal have said international companies are unlikely to invest in projects needed for the country鈥檚 reconstruction as long as there is a threat of sanctions returning.
Cuts to climate and diversity initiatives
The bill makes $1.6 billion in cuts to climate change-related spending, the House Armed Services Committee said. The panel does not outline what would be eliminated, but the military has previously and to a changing climate.
U.S. military assessments have long found that climate change is a , with bases being pummeled by hurricanes or routinely flooded.
The bill also would save $40 million by repealing offices, programs and trainings, the committee said. For example, the position of chief diversity officer would be cut.
The Trump administration has ordered climate and DEI programs cut across the federal government.
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