Trump signs NDAA

President Trump today signed into law the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

The massive piece of legislation, among many other measures, authorizes about $716 billion in total defense spending.

The bill also directs the Defense Department to establish a combatant command for space, which is slated to become a signature line of effort in the establishment of a new Space Force.

"It is now essential that we follow this bill with matching appropriations before the beginning of the fiscal year," House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Senate has yet to vote on a final defense appropriations bill, though the House has already done so.

However, the Senate has opted to forgo summer recess and is in session this week, giving lawmakers the opportunity to pass the defense spending bill with other appropriations measures as part of a legislative "minibus."

If Congress cannot pass a final appropriations package by Oct. 1, the government will be forced into either a stopgap continuing resolution or a shutdown.