House GOP advances $1.15 trillion defense bill

House Republicans on Tuesday cleared a key hurdle for a $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill after resolving a conservative standoff that delayed the legislation for weeks, putting the measure on track for final passage as early as Wednesday.

According to Politico, the House approved a procedural rule by a 214-211 vote, allowing debate to begin on the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which Republicans are using to advance several of President Donald Trump's defense and election priorities.

The breakthrough reportedly follows an agreement between Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and conservative lawmakers led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who had blocked the bill in June due to a dispute over the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Under the deal, House Republicans will attach the SAVE America Act to the NDAA before sending it to the Senate, continuing the GOP strategy of pairing Trump's election reform proposal with major legislative packages.

Politico reported that Johnson also spent Tuesday locking down support from remaining holdouts. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the lone Republican to vote against advancing the bill after House leadership declined to allow his amendment removing language that strengthens U.S.-Israel cooperation on military technology.

Lawmakers are expected to consider roughly 320 amendments, many aimed at advancing conservative priorities.

Among the proposals are measures to permanently codify the Trump administration's ban on transgender people serving openly in the military, prohibit Tricare from funding gender transition procedures, require the Pentagon to study reducing its civilian workforce by up to 200,000 employees, and block Pentagon funding for further military aid to Ukraine, according to Politico.

Democrats were reportedly unsuccessful in pushing amendments to reduce the bill's spending below $1 trillion or prohibit funding for continued U.S. military operations against Iran.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., blasted the package, calling the Iran conflict "another one of Donald Trump's broken promises."

"Does anyone think that's made life better for the American people?" McGovern said. "Maybe it's made life better for defense contractors. Maybe for the crazy neocon warmongers that get a kick out of another war. But not for everyday people."

House Rules Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., dismissed McGovern's criticism, saying GOP priorities remain focused on national security.

"The number one role of the federal government is the defense of this nation," Foxx said, according to Politico.

The House also reportedly advanced a Republican budget blueprint that would launch the reconciliation process for an additional $95 billion spending package, including $60 billion for defense tied to the Iran conflict.

The NDAA is one of Congress' annual must-pass bills and sets Pentagon policy for the coming fiscal year.

Republicans hope to approve the measure this week before sending it to the Senate, where it is expected to face a more difficult path.