By Dave DeCamp
December 11, 2024 Antiwar.com
On Wednesday, the House passed the mammoth $895 billion 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual military spending bill that includes funding for the Pentagon and some military-related funding for other government agencies.
The bill passed in a vote of 281-140, with 124 Democrats voting against a provision banning the coverage of certain transgender-related treatments for children of servicemembers. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it’s expected to face some Democratic opposition but will likely pass in a vote due to be held next week.
While it is a massive bill, the NDAA does not reflect the total military spending of the US. According to veteran defense analyst Winslow Wheeler, based on the $895 billion request by the White House, US national security spending for 2025 is expected to reach about $1.77 trillion.
Wheeler’s estimate accounts for military-related spending from other government agencies not funded by the NDAA, such as the Department of Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security. It also includes the national security share of the interest accrued on the US debt and other factors.
In recent years, Congress has also authorized massive “emergency” supplemental spending bills to fund proxy wars overseas. In April, President Biden signed a massive $95 billion supplemental that included military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
-Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.
PHOTO: Washington, D.C. (Nov. 23, 2005) – An aerial view of the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer’s Mate Johnny Bivera (RELEASED).
There is more to it and behind it: Elbridge Ogden, Trumps Assistant Under Secretary of Defense hinted in interview with Amanpour on Dec. 12 that the U.S.should aim to stear nations into conflicts in order to sell arms – and that he “believes” the U.S. supports opposing sides in the Near East. Trump aims to sell both arms and mercenary services worldwide : Condottieri . The Swiss still sell mercenanries to the Vatican State, since 1525.