US House passes $1.15 trillion military bill expanding Israel cooperation

The US House of Representatives has narrowly passed a $1.15 trillion military spending package that includes a measure to expand military technology cooperation with Israel. The vote took place on Wednesday and passed by 216 to 212, with most lawmakers voting along party lines. The bill now moves to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain.

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The package is the 2027 National Defence Authorisation Act, a major annual defence bill that sets policy and spending priorities for the armed forces. According to the supplied material, six Democrats voted in favour and seven Republicans voted against it. Republican Representative Thomas Massie criticised the measure after the vote, saying Section 219 would merge US military technology and supply chains with Israel's and urging the Senate to reject it.

The legislation comes amid President Donald Trump's push for a sharp increase in military spending, with the package linked to a request to raise the defence budget from $900 billion last year to $1.5 trillion. The supplied material also says the bill is tied to the war on Iran launched by the US and Israel in late February. Democrats have objected both to the cost of the package and to the Israel cooperation provision, while Senate Democrats previously blocked debate on the NDAA.

The vote matters because the NDAA is usually treated as must-pass legislation and often becomes a vehicle for broader defence and foreign policy priorities. In this case, the bill also includes aid for Ukraine and the SAVE America Act, which is described in the supplied material as a presidential priority involving new voting restrictions. That combination has made the package politically sensitive and increased the likelihood of a difficult Senate debate.

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The measure has also drawn attention because of the wider debate over US military assistance to Israel and the scale of the conflict in Iran. The supplied material says the cooperation clause has faced scrutiny at a time when support among voters for ending military assistance to Israel is growing. It also notes that Trump has defended the spending increase as necessary while the United States remains engaged in the war on Iran.

What happens next will depend on whether the Senate takes up the bill and whether enough support emerges to overcome objections from Democrats. The supplied material says Senate Democrats are likely to challenge the cost and the attached provisions, while the chamber has already blocked debate once. It remains unclear whether the package will advance in its current form or be revised before any final vote.

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