U.S. House Passes $895B Defense Bill, Excludes Lend-Lease for Ukraine, Includes Pay Raises and AI Weapons Development

Dec 12, 2024, 01:00 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the 2025 defense budget, totaling $895 billion, with a vote of 281 to 140. This legislation authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and sets key defense policies. Notably, the budget does not include an extension of the lend-lease program for Ukraine, despite efforts by Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova. The bill also includes a significant pay raise for junior enlisted service members, with an increase of 14.5%, and a 4.5% raise for all other service members. It prohibits funding for transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatments could result in sterilization, a provision that has sparked controversy among Democrats. Additionally, the bill aims to enhance military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, expand joint military exercises with Israel, and includes measures to combat Chinese lobbying in Washington. The legislation now moves to the Senate for approval. The budget does not allocate new funds for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, as $300 million was already allocated in the previous budget, and it includes proposals for the development of AI-based weapons in cooperation with international partners, including Ukraine.