Senators file defense authorization bill

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) and Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) filed the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization bill today.

The bill supports a total of $923 billion in national defense spending, breaking the cap mandated by the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act by about $25 billion. The bill authorizes $878 billion for the Defense Department and $33 billion for the Energy Department, with about $11.5 billion being out of the legislation’s jurisdiction.

The advancement of the bill, which does not match the FRA-aligned topline sought by the House, will be closely watched on the Senate floor, especially since Reed voted against it during committee deliberations, citing concerns about how it might pressure Senate appropriators to break the FRA.

The bill, among numerous other things, authorizes increased funding to build a second Virginia-class submarine as well as an additional $1.43 billion for a third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, which stands in contrast to House authorizers and appropriators whose bills only fund two ships.

The bill does not change the Pentagon’s request for 68 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, though House authorizers are looking to cut 10 jets and House appropriators seek to procure an additional eight jets.