House Approves $895B Defense Bill for 2025

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2025, authorizing $895 billion in defense spending with a 1% increase from the previous year. The bill includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others, addressing the financial struggles faced by military families. However, the bill also contains a contentious provision banning certain gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender children of military members, which has led to opposition from some Democrats. Despite the controversy, the bill passed with a 281-140 vote and now moves to the Senate. The package also allocates funds for infrastructure improvements, such as military housing and child care, benefiting San Diego's defense economy and Camp Pendleton. The Senate will consider the bill next, with calls from some lawmakers to remove the controversial provision before it becomes law.