Trump’s Vision Triumphs as Defense Bill Sidelines Woke Pentagon Policies

Paul Riverbank, 12/11/2025A rare bipartisan consensus pushed a $900 billion defense bill through the House, delivering troop pay raises, oversight reforms, and new global commitments. The measure, blending Democratic and Republican priorities, underscores both strategic resolve and Congress’s renewed oversight of Pentagon actions as U.S. security challenges grow increasingly complex.

Let’s start with the basics: The bill promises a 3.8% pay raise for the troops. For the men and women in uniform, this means more than a number in their paychecks—it’s extra dollars for housing, vital upgrades at aging bases, and the sort of day-to-day relief that rarely makes the news. Backers are pitching it as a shot in the arm for the military’s readiness, especially with the specter of China looming ever larger in strategic briefings.

Alabama’s Representative Mike Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, didn’t mince words. He called the threats facing the U.S.—China included—the toughest he’s seen in four decades. His Republican bloc, in control of the chamber, pointed to this bill as evidence Congress still values brawn and preparation over bureaucracy and drift.

Yet, this was no cakewalk. Months of back-and-forth left the legislation with more than a few compromises and, frankly, a handful of glaring omissions. Democrats and Republicans carved it up, quibbled, stitched it back together, and wound up with a bill neither side calls perfect but neither could quite walk away from. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat in the room, described the package as Congress’ “most ambitious swing at acquisition reform”—not exactly ringing praise, but perhaps the top compliment you can expect these days.

But as with any sweeping measure, not everyone left satisfied. On social and climate fronts, the bill cools off some of the Pentagon’s recent moves. Diversity and inclusion efforts took a hit, a clear nod to President Trump’s agenda. In fact, several of his executive orders made their way into the language, with Republican leaders nodding approvingly.

Democrats, meanwhile, took what wins they could muster. The act sets speed bumps in front of any plans for big troop reductions in Europe or South Korea—a line in the sand for those worried about sudden withdrawals. Support for Ukraine remains on the books, too: $400 million a year for new weapons, a clear sign most in Congress want to keep the pressure on Moscow.

Oversight, always a sticking point, gets bumped up a notch. After a concerning U.S. strike on a drug boat near Venezuela last fall, Congress inserted fresh requirements for the Pentagon to hand over raw, unedited videos and tightened the leash on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds until lawmakers see those tapes. Some say that’s not enough; there are murmurs it’s still Congress falling short of asserting its rightful authority. Rep. John Garamendi, for one, didn’t shy from voicing frustration—the kind that’s increasingly common on both sides of the aisle.

Safety questions linger, too, especially after January’s horrific midair crash near Reagan National Airport that claimed dozens of lives. A few senators, quietly and not so quietly, fear the new measures don’t pack enough punch to prevent another tragedy.

Critics on the right wanted the bill to dig deeper—on social policy, military deployments far from home, and even tangles with emerging technology like cryptocurrency. Those debates will have to wait: leadership left them out, a sign of clock-watching as the holidays approach.

Still, beneath the exposed seams and patched-over disagreements, there’s an undeniable sense among lawmakers and military brass alike that something had to get through before the year’s end. The White House, typically tight-lipped before key votes, threw its weight behind the legislation, calling it crucial to national defense as competitors and allies both keep a close eye on America’s resolve.

As the bill limps, or perhaps strides, toward the Senate, time grows short. A pre-holiday finish is anything but guaranteed. But, for a moment at least, the din of partisanship subsided and Congress showed it can still swing the hammer when duty calls.

In the words of Chairman Rogers, who’s seen more than his share of Capitol Hill turbulence: “It’s refreshing to see this kind of effort, this kind of product come to the floor in these more recent years of toxicity in this town. But that toxicity is not reflected in this product.” For once, perhaps, he’s right.

If you wandered past the marble steps of the Capitol this week, you’d have found an unusual calm in the air—a pause in a year otherwise marked by bitter fights and headlines that read like battle reports. This rare pocket of unity came as the House passed a sweeping $900 billion defense bill, no small feat in a season of legislative gridlock. The final tally, 312-112, was less a landslide and more a hard-won truce—one that left fingerprints, and indeed some bruises, from both parties.Let’s start with the basics: The bill promises a 3.8% pay raise for the troops. For the men and women in uniform, this means more than a number in their paychecks—it’s extra dollars for housing, vital upgrades at aging bases, and the sort of day-to-day relief that rarely makes the news. Backers are pitching it as a shot in the arm for the military’s readiness, especially with the specter of China looming ever larger in strategic briefings.Alabama’s Representative Mike Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, didn’t mince words. He called the threats facing the U.S.—China included—the toughest he’s seen in four decades. His Republican bloc, in control of the chamber, pointed to this bill as evidence Congress still values brawn and preparation over bureaucracy and drift.Yet, this was no cakewalk. Months of back-and-forth left the legislation with more than a few compromises and, frankly, a handful of glaring omissions. Democrats and Republicans carved it up, quibbled, stitched it back together, and wound up with a bill neither side calls perfect but neither could quite walk away from. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat in the room, described the package as Congress’ “most ambitious swing at acquisition reform”—not exactly ringing praise, but perhaps the top compliment you can expect these days.But as with any sweeping measure, not everyone left satisfied. On social and climate fronts, the bill cools off some of the Pentagon’s recent moves. Diversity and inclusion efforts took a hit, a clear nod to President Trump’s agenda. In fact, several of his executive orders made their way into the language, with Republican leaders nodding approvingly.Democrats, meanwhile, took what wins they could muster. The act sets speed bumps in front of any plans for big troop reductions in Europe or South Korea—a line in the sand for those worried about sudden withdrawals. Support for Ukraine remains on the books, too: $400 million a year for new weapons, a clear sign most in Congress want to keep the pressure on Moscow.Oversight, always a sticking point, gets bumped up a notch. After a concerning U.S. strike on a drug boat near Venezuela last fall, Congress inserted fresh requirements for the Pentagon to hand over raw, unedited videos and tightened the leash on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel funds until lawmakers see those tapes. Some say that’s not enough; there are murmurs it’s still Congress falling short of asserting its rightful authority. Rep. John Garamendi, for one, didn’t shy from voicing frustration—the kind that’s increasingly common on both sides of the aisle.Safety questions linger, too, especially after January’s horrific midair crash near Reagan National Airport that claimed dozens of lives. A few senators, quietly and not so quietly, fear the new measures don’t pack enough punch to prevent another tragedy.Critics on the right wanted the bill to dig deeper—on social policy, military deployments far from home, and even tangles with emerging technology like cryptocurrency. Those debates will have to wait: leadership left them out, a sign of clock-watching as the holidays approach.Still, beneath the exposed seams and patched-over disagreements, there’s an undeniable sense among lawmakers and military brass alike that something had to get through before the year’s end. The White House, typically tight-lipped before key votes, threw its weight behind the legislation, calling it crucial to national defense as competitors and allies both keep a close eye on America’s resolve.As the bill limps, or perhaps strides, toward the Senate, time grows short. A pre-holiday finish is anything but guaranteed. But, for a moment at least, the din of partisanship subsided and Congress showed it can still swing the hammer when duty calls.In the words of Chairman Rogers, who’s seen more than his share of Capitol Hill turbulence: “It’s refreshing to see this kind of effort, this kind of product come to the floor in these more recent years of toxicity in this town. But that toxicity is not reflected in this product.” For once, perhaps, he’s right.