House Approves $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill Amid Fierce Iran War Funding Battle

The U.S. House of Representatives just gave President Donald Trump a significant victory by passing a massive $1.15 trillion defense policy bill, a move that dramatically boosts military spending but fractured the usual bipartisan agreement on national security. The approval of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, on July 22, 2026, happened on a near party-line vote, highlighting deep political divisions over funding for the ongoing, costly war in Iran. This year's NDAA marks a sharp break from tradition, as most Democrats opposed the bill due to its provisions related to the war in Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, without direct congressional authorization. The conflict has already cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars, with some estimates running as high as $113.3 billion by mid-June 2026. Republicans, however, pushed through a separate $95 billion budget blueprint, earmarking over $70 billion specifically for the Iran War, aiming to use a special 'Budget Reconciliation' process in the U.S. Senate to bypass Democratic opposition and the typical 60-vote threshold required for most legislation. Now, the spotlight shifts to the U.S. Senate, where a similar $1.15 trillion defense bill was blocked just last week by Democrats frustrated with President Trump's handling of the Iran War. The House-passed NDAA includes a welcome 5-7% pay raise for U.S. military service members and controversial proposals like renaming the Department of Defense to the 'Department of War.' The coming weeks will show if Republicans can navigate the Senate's procedural hurdles to secure funding for the war, setting the stage for a contentious legislative battle that will shape America's role in the ongoing conflict.