Authorizes defense programs and sets military policy for fiscal 2025 (House version)

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

✎ Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This House-passed version of the yearly National Defense Authorization Act would authorize funding levels and set policy for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense, military construction, and the Department of Energy's national security programs.^2,3 It would authorize spending but would not itself provide the money, which comes through separate appropriations bills.³ Among other things, it would raise basic pay for junior enlisted troops (pay grades E-1 to E-4) by an average of 15% on top of the 4.5% inflation adjustment for 2025, set troop levels, and require a third missile defense interceptor site on the East Coast by the end of 2030.³ Amendments adopted on the House floor added provisions that would bar the department from paying for or reimbursing abortion-related expenses, bar the military health program TRICARE from covering gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments, and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion offices in the armed forces and the department.³

§2Status

§3How Congress voted

Why this matters: The official count.