Senate Votes $901 Billion Act
The U.S. Senate took a major step Monday toward approving the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), voting to end debate on the annual defense policy bill while leaving open the question of whether any last-minute changes will be allowed.
The Senate’s 76–20 procedural vote curtailed additional debate and cleared the way for a final vote later this week. The NDAA outlines military programs, defense initiatives, and national security policy for the next fiscal year.
Although the legislation does not directly fund government operations, Congress has passed an NDAA every year for more than six decades, making it one of Washington’s most reliable and significant national security measures.
Bipartisan Amendment on Military Aviation Safety Still Unsettled
The defense bill includes a bipartisan proposal from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) that would remove new restrictions on U.S. military helicopter operations in heavily trafficked domestic airspace, including the Washington, D.C., region.
Those restrictions were drafted following a January midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial passenger jet. The tragic accident claimed 67 lives and prompted safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Under the proposed restrictions, the Department of Defense would be barred from conducting certain manned helicopter training missions unless aircraft are actively equipped with systems that alert pilots to nearby commercial air traffic. The proposal would also require annual Pentagon reports to Congress on near-miss incidents between military and civilian aircraft.
Although the Cruz-Cantwell amendment remained under consideration when the Senate moved to close debate, the cloture vote did not adopt any pending amendments. Senate leadership can still block the proposal by choosing not to schedule a vote.
NDAA Includes Major National Security and Oversight Provisions
Beyond aviation safety, the NDAA contains a wide range of defense-related policy measures. These include provisions to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force, which were tied to the Gulf War and Iraq War.
The bill also increases congressional oversight of recent U.S. military operations and includes language addressing actions taken during the Trump administration against suspected drug-smuggling vessels operating in the Caribbean—efforts widely supported by conservatives focused on border security and international crime.
Senate Leadership Signals Changes Are Unlikely
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota has suggested that changes to the NDAA are improbable at this point. Any Senate-approved amendment would force the legislation back to the House, a step House leaders caution could threaten its final approval.
The House approved the NDAA on December 10 by a decisive 312–112 bipartisan vote, reflecting broad support for the defense package.
“If the Senate passes the NDAA without amendments, the bill can move directly to President Donald Trump for his signature,” Thune said, adding that undoing the current version would be difficult.
“It’d be really hard to undo the NDAA now,” Thune noted.
What Comes Next for the Defense Bill
If the Senate clears the NDAA without changes, the legislation will head straight to the White House. If lawmakers approve amendments—such as the Cruz aviation safety proposal—the bill would return to the House, potentially triggering further negotiations or a conference committee.
According to reports, Senator Cruz may seek to attach his aviation safety measure to a separate spending package expected to move through the Senate in the coming days.
For now, Senate leaders appear focused on final passage, aiming to avoid delays and ensure the nation’s annual defense bill reaches the president without disruption.
