House Passes $900 Billion Defense Bill With Surprise Wins for Ukraine and the Lumbee Tribe

Hegseth Loses Travel Budget Over Boat Strikes

The House just passed a defense bill that gives troops a raise, keeps soldiers in Europe, and officially ends the Iraq War on paper.

But the real story is what Congress buried in the 3,086 pages.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth won’t get his full travel budget until he hands over video of boat strikes that killed dozens of people in the Caribbean.

Ukraine gets $800 million the White House tried to kill. And a Native American tribe in North Carolina finally won a fight that started before the Spanish-American War.

Congress Votes 312-112 on December 10

The House passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act with broad bipartisan support, authorizing $900 billion in military spending.

That’s $8 billion more than President Trump requested in his budget. The bill now heads to the Senate, where leaders want to pass it before the holiday break.

The White House signaled support, calling it aligned with Trump’s national security agenda. But several provisions push back hard against the Pentagon.

Hegseth’s Travel Cut by 25 Percent

Congress is demanding answers about U.S. military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

The bill cuts Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget by a quarter until he provides lawmakers with unedited video of the strikes and lets them review the orders behind them.

Lawmakers are asserting oversight after reports that a September 2 strike hit two survivors holding onto wreckage from a partially destroyed boat.

At Least 86 Killed Since September

The Trump administration announced the first strike against alleged drug smugglers in early September.

Since then, at least 86 people have died across 22 known operations.

The military calls the targets “narco-terrorists” after the State Department designated several cartels as terrorist organizations.

But lawmakers want to see exactly what happened before signing off on Hegseth’s travel expenses. The investigations are ongoing in both chambers.

All Troops Get a 3.8 Percent Raise

The bill delivers a 3. 8% pay increase for all military service members, plus expanded bonuses and special pay.

It also puts $1.5 billion toward military housing and facility improvements on bases.

Lawmakers on both sides called the bill’s acquisition reforms its centerpiece, aiming to speed up how the Pentagon buys weapons after years of delays.

Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called it the most ambitious overhaul they’ve attempted.

Ukraine Gets $400 Million Per Year

Despite the Trump administration trying to eliminate Ukraine funding from its budget request, Congress authorized $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative in both 2026 and 2027.

The money goes toward American-made weapons for Ukraine’s military.

It’s a fraction of the nearly $70 billion the Biden administration sent, but supporters say it signals that the U.S. hasn’t abandoned Kyiv.

Some conservatives objected. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said he thought they were getting out of Ukraine.

Europe Troop Levels Protected at 76,000

The bill bars the Pentagon from dropping U.S. forces in Europe below 76,000 for more than 45 days without consulting NATO allies and certifying the drawdown serves American interests.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 U.S. troops are usually stationed on the continent.

The provision reflects bipartisan concern about shrinking America’s European presence. Similar restrictions apply to South Korea.

The bill also blocks the U.S. European Commander from giving up the title of NATO Supreme Commander.

Iraq War Powers Repealed After 22 Years

Congress is officially ending the legal authority for wars that ended decades ago. Presidents have cited these laws to justify strikes.

The bill repeals both the 1991 Gulf War authorization and the 2002 Iraq War authorization that President George W. Bush used to invade Iraq.

Trump’s first administration used the 2002 authorization as partial justification for killing Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

Now that door closes.

Lumbee Tribe Wins 137-Year Fight

North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe is about to become federally recognized after trying since 1888. The tribe has nearly 60,000 members concentrated in Robeson County, one of the poorest parts of the state.

Federal recognition unlocks funding for healthcare through the Indian Health Service, education programs, and the authority to take land into trust.

Both Trump and Kamala Harris promised recognition during the 2024 campaign.

IVF Coverage Stripped by Johnson

Speaker Mike Johnson removed a provision that would have required military insurance to cover IVF for all service members.

The language had passed both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

Critics say Johnson acted on his personal opposition to the fertility treatment, which some anti-abortion advocates oppose because it can involve discarding embryos.

Reproductive health groups called it a dishonor to troops who sacrifice their fertility in service. Johnson’s office said he supports IVF with “pro-life protections.”

Climate and DEI Programs Eliminated

The bill cuts $1. 6 billion in Pentagon climate change spending and saves $40 million by eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, programs, and training.

The chief diversity officer position is gone. The bill also bans transgender women from women’s athletics at military academies.

Military assessments have long identified climate change as a national security threat, with bases damaged by hurricanes and flooding.

But Speaker Johnson called these “harmful, unnecessary programs” from the Biden era.

Bill Backs Golden Dome and Border Troops

The legislation codifies 15 of Trump’s executive orders.

It supports the Golden Dome missile defense system Trump wants operational by 2029, though experts call that timeline optimistic.

It authorizes active-duty troops at the southern border to intercept illegal immigration and drugs. It strengthens U.S. -Israel military cooperation and expands counter-drone defenses.

And it bars the Pentagon from reducing its nuclear missile arsenal below 400 ICBMs. The Senate is expected to pass the bill next week.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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