Senate Passes $886 Billion Defense Policy Bill

The Senate on Dec. 13 overwhelmingly passed a $886 billion defense policy bill, sending the measure to the House just a day before lawmakers recess for the Christmas break. The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was approved by the Senate in a 87-13 vote after debate on the floor for more than seven hours. The House is due to vote on the bill on Dec. 14, where it faces opposition by some conservatives over the removal of certain provisions targeting the Pentagon’s “woke” policies in the compromise version of the legislation. Other lawmakers have also taken issue with a provision that grants a four-month extension to controversial warrantless surveillance powers under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)....