On Wednesday, the House passed the mammoth $895 billion 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual military spending bill that includes funding for the Pentagon and some military-related funding for other government agencies.
The bill passed in a vote of 281-140, with 81 Democrats voting against a provision banning the coverage of certain transgender-related treatments for children of servicemembers. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it’s expected to face some Democratic opposition but will likely pass in a vote due to be held next week.
While it is a massive bill, the NDAA does not reflect the total military spending of the US. According to veteran defense analyst Winslow Wheeler, based on the $895 billion request by the White House, US national security spending for 2025 is expected to reach about $1.77 trillion.
Wheeler’s estimate accounts for military-related spending from other government agencies not funded by the NDAA, such as the Department of Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security. It also includes the national security share of the interest accrued on the US debt and other factors.
In recent years, Congress has also authorized massive “emergency” supplemental spending bills to fund proxy wars overseas. In April, President Biden signed a massive $95 billion supplemental that included military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
