WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a landmark $886 billion defense bill on Dec. 22, the White House announced. The National Defense Authorization Act, gaining bipartisan support in Congress, shapes Pentagon policies and military spending priorities.
Contentious abortion provisions remain, reimbursing troops’ travel for the procedure, despite GOP opposition. Republicans, who resisted in the House, saw the Senate bypass the issue for bipartisan agreement.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) ended his 10-month military promotions blockade in December.
The Act also prevents unilateral NATO withdrawal without Senate approval and allocates $300 million for arming Ukraine. It includes a 5.2% pay raise for service members, totaling national security spending to $886 billion, a 3% increase.
Provisions target Chinese battery companies for Defense Department ineligibility, and allow rare earth elements procurement. Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder commended the Act’s passage and urged Congress to approve a supplemental budget for U.S. partner nation support and defense industrial base investments.
The Act authorized the acquisition of 13 Virginia-class subinares and overturned proposals to prematurely retire 12 ships next year. This decision contrasts with the Navy’s initial budget request, which aimed to decommission 24 ships and construct eight new ones.