Senate passes $901B defense bill, sends NDAA to Trump for signature

The Senate sent a massive defense package to President Donald Trump’s desk on Wednesday, marking one of the last remaining items of the year in the process.

Lawmakers came together to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a nearly $901 billion package filled to the brim with defense policy that unlocks funding for some of the Trump administration’s national defense priorities.

The measure passed the upper chamber on a xx-to-xx bipartisan vote. It’s a standing legislative exercise that lawmakers undertake, and one that normally comes and goes with little fuss, given that Congress usually breaks the year with it.

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But this year, the NDAA faced some obstacles in the House of Representatives that threatened its survival. Although things weren’t quite as heated in the Senate, there were still lingering issues with some provisions that were causing lawmakers heartburn.

Bipartisan frustration has erupted over a provision that would roll back some safety standards in Washington DC airspace. This comes on the heels of a collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport earlier this year that killed 67 people.

Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, asked for an amendment to the package that would remove the provision and instead include the ROTOR Act, which would mandate technology on planes to increase air traffic awareness.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks with reporters after attending the Republican senate luncheon along with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 1, 2023. You. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is also present. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

However, any changes to the package would require it to be sent back to Parliament. Cruz instead plans to pursue his own legislation to eventually spend the bills.

“I would like to see a vote on the ROTOR Act as part of any appropriations measures before the current continuing resolution expires at the end of next month,” Cruz said.

Other provisions, such as a requirement that the Pentagon release unedited footage of boat attacks in the Caribbean in exchange for full funding of the War Department’s travel fund, raised eyebrows but did not slow the package’s success.

The ruling comes as lawmakers demand greater transparency in the Trump administration’s attacks on alleged drug boats, and in particular, they want the release of footage of a Sept. 2 double attack on a ship.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 11, 2025. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed all senators on the strikes this week. While Senate Republicans came away largely satisfied, Senate Democrats blamed Hegseth’s failure to show the unedited footage to every lawmaker in the upper chamber.

“He refused,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, DY. “The administration came to this briefing empty-handed. This is the most important question we face, and if they can’t be transparent about this, how can you trust their transparency on other issues going on in the Caribbean?”

Still, the package is filled with several provisions that both sides agreed to, including guarantees on Ukrainian aid and the repeal of authorizations for the use of military force (AUMFs) in 1991 and 2002 for the Gulf War and the Iraq War, respectively, among others.

While the NDAA is now headed for Trump’s signature, the Senate still has more on its agenda before it escapes Washington until the new year.

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Senate Republicans want to name nearly 100 of Trump’s nominees, and both parties are eyeing a five-bill spending package that could ease some concerns heading into the Jan. 30 deadline to fund the government.

“This defense authorization bill, although not as defensive as many of us would like, is a step in the right direction,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “And I think the defense appropriations bill that we hope to vote on this weekend is another example of the investment we need to make to ensure that we are ready to defend America and American interests in a dangerous world.”