Congress Unleashes Bold Military Overhaul: China Targeted, Woke Policies Rolled Back

Paul Riverbank, 12/8/2025Congress’s $900B defense bill targets China, boosts troops, rolls back woke, reforms Pentagon procurement.

At its core, the measure is about more than just numbers, but let’s not skip over the numbers. The package is $8 billion richer than the White House asked for, which tells you something about where Congress’s head is at. Part of that goes straight into the pockets of enlisted troops, who stand to see a 4% pay raise. Washington’s enduring instinct to keep the military not just competitive but dominant has always been expensive, but lawmakers like House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers see the raise as vital armor in the contest for talent, especially when rival powers are investing heavily too. “I’m eager to send this to President Trump’s desk so we can give our military the tools they need to remain the most ready, capable, and lethal force in the world,” Rogers declared, neatly summing up the mood among defense hawks.

China, as always of late, looms largest. This is an era where congressional suspicion eclipses even the rhetorical heaps seen during the Cold War, and the bill reflects it top to bottom. For starters, there’s a near-surgical excision of Chinese technology from U.S. military supply chains. From handheld electronics to core minerals needed for advanced batteries, the Pentagon is being told: source elsewhere. Chinese-made computers, components, even mundane office printers—out they go, over the next few years. The blacklist stretches beyond hardware, targeting Chinese biotech and genetic firms suspected of futureweaponizing their expertise, and blocks contracts with any companies touching Beijing’s military shadow.

But this push isn’t just about what the Pentagon buys. Lawmakers have taken steps to cut off the flow of American capital into China’s high-tech sectors. Should a U.S. firm or financier want to put money into certain Chinese technology projects—or those in similarly defined ‘countries of concern’—they’ll need to report the move to the Treasury, which now holds explicit power to block or reverse deals seen as threatening security. Congress also wants an annual ledger—who’s investing where and with what downstream risks? Expect more paperwork on this front. Meanwhile, new sanctions options are now on the table, giving the U.S. leverage against foreign companies linked to China’s military or surveillance apparatus. Some observers say these measures are as much about catching up as getting ahead.

Foreign policy focus broadens here, too. The State Department faces orders to start stationing regional “China Officers” in diplomatic outposts worldwide. Their task: monitoring China’s Belt and Road deals, reading the economic and tech landscape, and—though lawmakers are less explicit—shadowboxing with influence campaigns. Congress also wants to know how America’s diplomatic reach and intensity compares to Beijing’s, and it isn’t shy about asking for extensive reporting.

Inside the Defense Department, this bill takes a hard look at the molasses pace of acquisition. There’s new permission for longer-term contracts on weapons judged crucial, a push for experimental investment models, and—crucially—a set of “right-to-repair” demands. The age-old struggle between military outfits wanting prompt fixes and defense giants guarding proprietary information tips, at least in these pages, a little toward the Pentagon’s side: technical data must be shared, so Pentagon techs can handle their own maintenance instead of waiting on outside teams.

All eyes are on artificial intelligence, of course. Lawmakers order up an “Artificial Intelligence Futures Steering Committee” to oversee the technology’s arc within Defense, framing AI as the deciding factor in tomorrow’s arms race as much as today’s.

On the domestic politics beat, clashes surfaced quickly. One provision—popular with privacy hawks like Rep. Jim Jordan—forces the FBI to notify Congress if it opens investigations into sitting presidents or other major candidates. That sparked intra-party drama, with Rep. Elise Stefanik taking the Speaker to task, only to later claim victory as the language was restored after high-level intervention. Such dust-ups come with the territory in today’s House.

Culture-war skirmishes weren’t left out. The House attached a measure barring transgender women from participating in women’s sports at military academies—a gesture toward ongoing conservative critiques of what they call “woke” Pentagon policy.

Climate dropped down the priority list compared to previous years. The bill curtails Defense Department initiatives to buy electric or hybrid vehicles, trimming Biden-era climate ambitions in the interest, supporters argue, of logistical and operational practicality.

In terms of global commitments, the bill preserves U.S. security aid to Ukraine, laying down a steady $400 million annual stream through 2027. Israel’s missile defense also gets a solid boost: funding for systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling is locked in tight. That’s notable at a moment when both regions are nervously watching American domestic politics for cues about future support.

Congress also finally moves to retire two long-standing war authorizations dating to the Gulf and Iraq wars, declarations many argue have become legal relics seldom invoked in modern military planning. Yet here, as ever, complexity remains—the main 2001 counterterrorism authorization stands untouched.

For anyone awaiting a rebrand of the Pentagon as the “Department of War,” no dice—that idea didn’t make the final text, a nod perhaps to the symbolic weight names still carry.

The bill’s path is accelerating, with the House Rules Committee expected to greenlight a floor vote within days. After that: the Senate, and, if all proceeds smoothly, the president’s desk. Military families, policymakers, and global allies now find themselves watching closely, eyes peeled for the final contours of what could be the most consequential defense bill in a generation.

With its eye-popping price tag brushing up against $900 billion, the defense policy legislation now barreling through Congress signals both continuity and a sharp break from the past. As lawmakers hustle toward a vote, the bill throws down a set of notably stark priorities—most notably dialing up the focus on China, clamping down on cross-border investment, and nudging the Pentagon’s old procurement machine into something resembling the 21st century.At its core, the measure is about more than just numbers, but let’s not skip over the numbers. The package is $8 billion richer than the White House asked for, which tells you something about where Congress’s head is at. Part of that goes straight into the pockets of enlisted troops, who stand to see a 4% pay raise. Washington’s enduring instinct to keep the military not just competitive but dominant has always been expensive, but lawmakers like House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers see the raise as vital armor in the contest for talent, especially when rival powers are investing heavily too. “I’m eager to send this to President Trump’s desk so we can give our military the tools they need to remain the most ready, capable, and lethal force in the world,” Rogers declared, neatly summing up the mood among defense hawks.China, as always of late, looms largest. This is an era where congressional suspicion eclipses even the rhetorical heaps seen during the Cold War, and the bill reflects it top to bottom. For starters, there’s a near-surgical excision of Chinese technology from U.S. military supply chains. From handheld electronics to core minerals needed for advanced batteries, the Pentagon is being told: source elsewhere. Chinese-made computers, components, even mundane office printers—out they go, over the next few years. The blacklist stretches beyond hardware, targeting Chinese biotech and genetic firms suspected of futureweaponizing their expertise, and blocks contracts with any companies touching Beijing’s military shadow.But this push isn’t just about what the Pentagon buys. Lawmakers have taken steps to cut off the flow of American capital into China’s high-tech sectors. Should a U.S. firm or financier want to put money into certain Chinese technology projects—or those in similarly defined ‘countries of concern’—they’ll need to report the move to the Treasury, which now holds explicit power to block or reverse deals seen as threatening security. Congress also wants an annual ledger—who’s investing where and with what downstream risks? Expect more paperwork on this front. Meanwhile, new sanctions options are now on the table, giving the U.S. leverage against foreign companies linked to China’s military or surveillance apparatus. Some observers say these measures are as much about catching up as getting ahead.Foreign policy focus broadens here, too. The State Department faces orders to start stationing regional “China Officers” in diplomatic outposts worldwide. Their task: monitoring China’s Belt and Road deals, reading the economic and tech landscape, and—though lawmakers are less explicit—shadowboxing with influence campaigns. Congress also wants to know how America’s diplomatic reach and intensity compares to Beijing’s, and it isn’t shy about asking for extensive reporting.Inside the Defense Department, this bill takes a hard look at the molasses pace of acquisition. There’s new permission for longer-term contracts on weapons judged crucial, a push for experimental investment models, and—crucially—a set of “right-to-repair” demands. The age-old struggle between military outfits wanting prompt fixes and defense giants guarding proprietary information tips, at least in these pages, a little toward the Pentagon’s side: technical data must be shared, so Pentagon techs can handle their own maintenance instead of waiting on outside teams.All eyes are on artificial intelligence, of course. Lawmakers order up an “Artificial Intelligence Futures Steering Committee” to oversee the technology’s arc within Defense, framing AI as the deciding factor in tomorrow’s arms race as much as today’s.On the domestic politics beat, clashes surfaced quickly. One provision—popular with privacy hawks like Rep. Jim Jordan—forces the FBI to notify Congress if it opens investigations into sitting presidents or other major candidates. That sparked intra-party drama, with Rep. Elise Stefanik taking the Speaker to task, only to later claim victory as the language was restored after high-level intervention. Such dust-ups come with the territory in today’s House.Culture-war skirmishes weren’t left out. The House attached a measure barring transgender women from participating in women’s sports at military academies—a gesture toward ongoing conservative critiques of what they call “woke” Pentagon policy.Climate dropped down the priority list compared to previous years. The bill curtails Defense Department initiatives to buy electric or hybrid vehicles, trimming Biden-era climate ambitions in the interest, supporters argue, of logistical and operational practicality.In terms of global commitments, the bill preserves U.S. security aid to Ukraine, laying down a steady $400 million annual stream through 2027. Israel’s missile defense also gets a solid boost: funding for systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling is locked in tight. That’s notable at a moment when both regions are nervously watching American domestic politics for cues about future support.Congress also finally moves to retire two long-standing war authorizations dating to the Gulf and Iraq wars, declarations many argue have become legal relics seldom invoked in modern military planning. Yet here, as ever, complexity remains—the main 2001 counterterrorism authorization stands untouched.For anyone awaiting a rebrand of the Pentagon as the “Department of War,” no dice—that idea didn’t make the final text, a nod perhaps to the symbolic weight names still carry.The bill’s path is accelerating, with the House Rules Committee expected to greenlight a floor vote within days. After that: the Senate, and, if all proceeds smoothly, the president’s desk. Military families, policymakers, and global allies now find themselves watching closely, eyes peeled for the final contours of what could be the most consequential defense bill in a generation.