US House passes massive $1.08 trillion defence bill

The US House of Representatives has approved a $US738 billion bill setting policy for the US Department of Defence, including the creation of a Space Force.

US President Donald Trump is expected to be impeached by the House of Representatives today.

US President Donald Trump is expected to be impeached by the House of Representatives today. Source: AAP

The US House of Representatives has approved a $US738 billion ($A1.08 trillion) bill setting policy for the US Department of Defence on everything from family leave to fighter jets and the creation of a Space Force.

The count in the Democratic-controlled chamber was 377-48, enough to send the conference report on the National Defence Authorisation Act, or NDAA, to the Senate, where a vote is expected by the end of next week.

President Donald Trump has promised to sign the legislation as soon as it passes Congress.
A handful of mostly left-leaning House Democrats opposed the bill because it did not include policy planks including a ban on support for Saudi Arabia's air campaign in Yemen and a measure barring Mr Trump from using military funds to build a wall on the border with Mexico.

Those had been included in a version of the NDAA the House passed in October, but not in the version passed by the Republican-controlled Senate.

They were removed during several months of negotiations with Senate Republicans and Trump administration officials.
Donald Trump with the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act
File photo from 2018: US President Donald Trump has signed off on a bill authorising significant investment in defence. Source: AAP
The fiscal 2020 NDAA increases defence spending by about $US20 billion, or about 2.8 per cent, and creates a Space Force as a new branch of the US military, both Trump priorities.

It increases pay for the troops by 3.1 per cent and mandates 12 weeks' paid leave so federal workers can care for their families.

And it includes foreign policy provisions including sanctions on Turkey over its purchase of a Russian missile defence system and tough response to North Korea's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world
US House passes massive $1.08 trillion defence bill | SBS News