Reference News Network, December 9 report: According to Reuters, December 7 report, U.S. lawmakers on December 7 released an annual defense policy bill authorizing a record $901 billion in national security spending for next year, which is tens of billions more than the amount requested by President Trump, and provides $400 million in military aid to Ukraine.

This comprehensive 3,000-page bill includes a 4% pay raise for military personnel but excludes bipartisan efforts to promote housing construction. Some legislators had originally hoped to include these efforts in the final bill.

House Speaker, Republican Mike Johnson issued a statement saying that this legislation will advance Trump's agenda by "ending the ideological 'woke culture' at the Pentagon, ensuring border security, revitalizing the defense industrial base, and restoring the warrior spirit."

This bill is a compromise between different versions of the Defense Authorization Act passed earlier this year by the Senate and the House.

Trump had requested Congress to provide $892.6 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2026, which is the same as the spending in 2025.

It includes funding for the Department of Defense and other agencies and programs related to security and defense.

The House bill sets spending at this level, but the Senate approved $92.5 billion.

The Defense Authorization Act authorizes various projects at the Pentagon, but does not fund them.

Congress must pass a separate appropriations bill for spending in the fiscal year ending in September 2026.

In addition to typical provisions of the Defense Authorization Act, such as purchasing military equipment and enhancing measures against global competitors, this year's bill focuses on cutting projects criticized by Trump - such as diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as deploying troops to the U.S. southwest border to intercept illegal immigrants and drugs.

The massive Defense Authorization Act is considered "must-pass" legislation.

This bill is usually released after weeks of closed-door negotiations between Republican and Democratic lawmakers, but this year's process has been more partisan. Some Democrats have threatened to delay the bill. (Translated by Qiu Fang)

Original source: toutiao.com/article/7581690412499272201/

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