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The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which outlines next year's U.S. defense budget, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 22 (local time).
According to Reuters and The Washington Post (WP), the NDAA for fiscal year 2027, carrying a defense budget of $1.15 trillion (approx. 1,700.27 trillion won), was approved in the House plenary session with 216 votes in favor and 212 against.
The vote fell largely along party lines, with all but seven Republicans voting in favor and all but six Democrats voting against.
Democrats have opposed heavy financial allocation to the defense sector while President Donald Trump and the Republican Party drastically cut social welfare budgets.
They also maintain a critical stance on the prolonged war with Iran.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Defense stated that the U.S. has spent $37.5 billion (approx. 55.5 trillion won) thus far due to the war in Iran.
Conversely, Republicans maintain that a budget of this scale is necessary to support the execution of operations in Iran, improve defense systems, purchase military equipment, and raise pay for service members.
The National Defense Authorization Act is an annual bill that authorizes the Defense Department's budget spending and policies.
The NDAA passed by the House includes provisions restricting the use of funds to prevent reducing the number of U.S. Forces Korea below 28,500.
It prohibits the use of any funds allocated by the NDAA as well as other laws applicable to fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
While the current NDAA only stipulates restrictions on funds under the NDAA itself, broadening the scope of budget restrictions serves to keep in check the U.S. Forces Korea reduction arguments previously mentioned by President Trump.
A separate NDAA review process is also underway in the Senate, after which a single unified bill will be formulated by reconciling the versions passed by the House and the Senate.
The adjusted final bill will be finalized after passing through both the House and the Senate again, followed by the president's signature.
Led by the Republican Party, the House also passed a separate $95 billion (approx. 140.5 trillion won) budget package on the same day containing funds related to the war in Iran and the Trump administration's key policies, with 216 members voting in favor and 214 against.
This budget package consists of $60 billion for the Department of Defense, $13 billion for other national security items, $12 billion in support for farmers, and $10 billion in state government grants to implement voter ID laws.
The Trump administration has demanded additional financial support to replenish defense budgets depleted by the war in Iran before the fiscal year 2027 defense budget is finalized.
This budget package serves as a sort of bridging measure to fill necessary defense funding until the regular budget is finalized.
However, Democrats cast unanimous opposing votes, arguing that the budget should be used to lower the cost of living for citizens.
U.S. media outlets forecasted that it remains uncertain whether the budget package will pass the Senate in its current form.
Bloomberg reported that Republican senators are currently divided between defense hardliners demanding increased defense spending and fiscal conservatives arguing that spending must be cut to reduce the budget deficit.
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