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The House rejected a proposed change to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The amendment failed to pass because it did not receive a majority of votes from the members present.
This vote was to decide whether to add a specific change, known as an amendment, to H.R. 3838. This bill is the primary annual legislation that sets the budget and policies for the U.S. military, covering everything from troop salaries and healthcare to the purchase of helicopters, submarines, and advanced technology like artificial intelligence. In the House of Representatives, an amendment vote is a procedure that allows lawmakers to modify a bill before the final version is voted on. For this proposal to succeed, it required a simple majority — meaning more members had to vote 'yes' than 'no.' Because the 'no' votes outnumbered the 'yes' votes, the proposal was defeated. The amendment's failure means the proposed change will not be included in the version of the defense bill that moves forward. While the vast majority of Republicans supported the measure, it was defeated by a coalition of nearly all Democrats and 27 Republicans who joined them in opposition.
The House continued its work on the National Defense Authorization Act, considering additional amendments and a motion to recommit before a final passage vote.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. The National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most important bills Congress passes each year. Amendments to it often involve intense debate over military priorities, spending levels, and social policies within the armed forces.
Who’s affected. U.S. Military Personnel: The rejection of this amendment means the specific policy or budget change proposed will not be included in the House's defense plan.
Democrats. The Democratic caucus was nearly unanimous in its opposition to the amendment, with only five members voting in favor.
Republicans. Most Republicans supported the amendment, though 27 members defected to vote against it, which ultimately led to its failure.
On Agreeing to the Amendment
Sep 10, 2025
The House rejected a proposed change to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
The amendment failed to pass because it did not receive a majority of votes from the members present.
Lawmakers voted on whether to add a specific new provision to a larger bill. This is a common step that allows the House to debate and vote on individual policy changes before deciding whether to pass the entire legislative package.
The House continued its work on the National Defense Authorization Act, considering additional amendments and a motion to recommit before a final passage vote.
The National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most important bills Congress passes each year. Amendments to it often involve intense debate over military priorities, spending levels, and social policies within the armed forces.
The vote was largely partisan, but a small group of Republicans broke with their party leadership to join Democrats in defeating the amendment.
The Democratic caucus was nearly unanimous in its opposition to the amendment, with only five members voting in favor.
Most Republicans supported the amendment, though 27 members defected to vote against it, which ultimately led to its failure.
The chamber's one independent member voted against the amendment.