House passes FY-25 defense spending bill

The House voted 217-198 today to pass the fiscal year 2025 defense appropriations bill amid opposition from Democrats and a veto threat from the White House.

The bill, which garnered the support of only five Democrats and drew opposition from only one Republican, would provide $833 billion for the Defense Department and is aligned with the cap mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The bill also adds funds to procure additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and would buy only one Virginia-class submarine, two key areas in which it differs from legislation passed by House authorizers.

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, released a statement highlighting the bill’s investments in emerging technologies and a pay raise for junior servicemembers.

“I am proud of this year’s defense appropriations bill, which adheres to the fiscal constraints of the Fiscal Responsibility Act while providing a strong military to defend America, our allies and partners,” he said.

But Democrats decried the bill’s inclusion of “poison pill” provisions aimed at abortion services, climate change mitigation efforts, and diversity initiatives.

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) released a statement saying she is disappointed “to see the Republican majority continue to use this important legislation as a vehicle to advance extreme MAGA social policies that are not supported by the American people.”

“The Fiscal Year 2025 Defense Appropriations Act is once again loaded with offensive and unnecessary provisions that divide Americans and weaken our national security,” she continued. “Like last year, Republicans have made a bad bill worse on the floor of the House of Representatives, and I am deeply concerned about the negative impacts on recruitment and retention efforts across the military if this bill were to be enacted as written.”

Meanwhile, the bill is likely dead-on-arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate and where bipartisan support has emerged to explore increasing defense spending beyond the FRA cap.