House votes to adopt Department of War renaming as part of annual defense bill

Key Points:

• The House passed a $1.15 trillion defense policy bill that includes renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War and proposes a 5% to 7% pay raise for service members next year.
• The bill passed narrowly (216-212) amid strong partisan divisions, with Democrats opposing steep Pentagon spending increases and conservative social policy riders, including restrictions on gender-related medical care and eased firearm rules on military bases.
• Republican leaders attached former President Trump's elections overhaul bill to the defense bill, intensifying partisan tensions as some GOP lawmakers push for its inclusion in must-pass legislation.
• House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Mike Rogers emphasized the need to reverse underinvestment in the military, while Democratic ranking member Rep. Adam Smith criticized the overall defense spending as excessive and expressed concern over ongoing conflict with Iran.
• The White House supports the spending levels and department renaming but has concerns about provisions limiting presidential authority over military installation names; the renaming could cost taxpayers up to $125 million, and the Senate has yet to approve its version of the bill.