Senate passes defense policy bill

The Senate voted today 86-8 to pass the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill that approves $738 billion in total defense spending and establishes a new U.S. Space Force.

The House passed the 3,000-page bill last week and President Trump has said he will sign it.

Meanwhile, House and Senate negotiators released the terms of an FY-20 appropriations deal Monday and are expected to vote on two minibuses this week before a stopgap continuing resolution expires Friday at midnight.