The House and Senate Armed Services Committees on Saturday released the 1,813 pages of legislative text for a $895.2 billion compromise National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.
“The newly revealed topline means the NDAA will come in under the congressionally mandated budget caps imposed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), despite a push in the Senate to go over that number,” Breaking Defense noted.
The bill includes a 4.5% pay increase for servicemembers — and a historic 14.5% raise for the lowest-ranking enlisted personnel. It also includes measures meant to improve servicemembers’ housing and childcare. It reportedly still includes culture war measures opposed by Democrats, including a ban on the Pentagon providing transgender medical treatment for minors or funding critical race theory, as well as restrictions on military diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The House is poised to take up the bill later this week after the House Rules Committee advanced the legislation in a vote this afternoon.
