Should Congress authorize increased spending on defense technologies?
This bill outlines the key provisions aimed at strengthening U.S. defense capabilities. It authorizes full funding for the Pacific and European Deterrence Initiatives and supports Indo-Pacific Security Assistance, including defense aid to allies. This bill emphasizes lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict, condemns the October 7th Hamas attack, and increases humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Key investments include drone defenses, AI software for DOD operations, quantum computing, and cybersecurity cooperation. It authorizes a 4.5% pay raise for military personnel and requires women's Selective Service registration. Funding also expands military infrastructure and assesses deterrence strategies against nuclear competitors. Sponsor: Sen. Jack Reed (Democrat, Rhode Island)
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Opponents say
• "Amendment 2103 will not strengthen domestic capabilities, but rather doubles down on the dangerous and failed approach of offshoring critical U.S. industrial needs. By shifting naval repair work to overseas yards, it actively undermines existing U.S. shipyards and American workers. This proposal would lead to the loss of specialized work at our shipyards, adversely impacting a vital workforce, including many veterans. Further, it would lead to the unnecessary loss of critical skills and experience in our U.S. shipyard workforce. This would work at cross purposes to long term, durable solutions to grow much-needed domestic capacity." Source: Jody Calemine, Director of Government Affairs, AFL-CIO.
• "I am glad that this year’s NDAA makes important progress in a number of areas, including a well-deserved pay raise for military servicemembers, powerful new security initiatives in the Indo-Pacific, and significant support for technologies like counter-drone defenses and AI. However, I regret that I needed to vote against passage of this bill because it includes a funding increase that cannot be appropriated without breaking lawful spending caps and causing unintended harm to our military. I appreciate the need for greater defense spending to ensure our national security, but I cannot support this approach." Source: Sen. Jack Reed (Democrat, Rhode Island)
• "The undersigned associations, representing thousands of federal contractors across a wide range of industries, write to express our concerns regarding Section 828 of S. 4638, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. The Section would require Department of Defense procurement contracts to be contingent on a contractor's agreement to continually provide access to all repair materials and information, with no carve-outs or limitations to protect sensitive trade secret information. Moreover, the Section would enforce strict controls on the price at which such materials and information could be provided. This provision would impose significant burdens on contractors throughout the country, including the many small and medium-sized businesses and commercial suppliers that contractors rely on to support the Department’s operational readiness and effectiveness." Source: Irrigation Association
Proponents say
• "This bill shows there is bipartisan support for doing more to maintain deterrence and protect American interests. I am encouraged that many of my colleagues have joined me in the conversation about the need to invest more in our national defense. I look forward to discussing the peace through strength vision I have laid out in the months to come. This year’s NDAA results are a testament to the tradition of bipartisanship, vigorous debate, and good working order on which this committee prides itself." Source: Sen. Roger Wicker (Republican, Mississippi)
• "This bipartisan defense authorization bill makes critical investments in the two pillars of our national defense: advanced technologies and the talented workforce that build them, and the brave men and women dedicated to defending our nation. This national security support package recognizes the central role Connecticut plays in our nation's defense efforts. During the markup, I won $1.13 billion in funding for a second Virginia-class submarine essential to our continued undersea superiority." Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, Connecticut)
• "The NDAA is crafted each year to authorize critical funding for our national security, as well as our service members and their families. We were successful in securing many wins for South Dakota in this bill, including $282 million in funding necessary to prepare Ellsworth Air Force Base for the bed down of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber. I am particularly pleased that this year’s NDAA includes a 4.5 percent pay raise for our men and women in uniform, as well as back pay for our military members whose promotions were impacted by holds in the Senate. We never want our men and women in uniform entering a fair fight, we always want them to have the advantage. The FY25 NDAA keeps the United States ahead of the curve, especially in regard to near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this legislation through the Senate and House and signed into law." Sen. Mike Rounds (Republican, South Dakota)
- SASC Completes Markup of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Press Release)
- Pay, Health Care, and More: How the House and Senate NDAA Versions Stack Up (Military Officers Association of America)
- Infographic: The Facts About U.S. Defense Spending (The Peter G. Peterson Foundation)
- Here’s how House and Senate changed parts of Biden’s defense budget request (Federal News Network)
- Sen. Jack Reed’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
