US President Donald Trump signed a record $901 billion bill into law after receiving strong bipartisan support for Europe, defying Trump’s hostile posturing towards NATO.
The annual National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) sets out the country’s national security and foreign policy priorities going into the next year, lawmakers said. Confirming the development, US White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump “signed into law a measure which raises pay for US troops, codifies the country’s ‘PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH agenda,” and “funds the Golden Dome” air and missile defence system backed by Trump.
The NDAA, authorising more than $900 billion, also “removes woke priorities” like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes opposed by many conservatives, and “requires promotions based on merit, not DEI,” Kelly added. The Senate passed and approved the compromise NDAA on Wednesday in a bipartisan vote of 77-20.
The bill enjoyed strong support despite recent administration pressure on NATO allies to increase defence spending. While the bill includes measures to enhance European security, such as limiting reductions in US troop levels in Europe below 76,000 and supporting NATO commitments, it reflects bipartisan priorities.
The move authorises roughly $8 billion more than the administration requested earlier this year. Apart from the EU, the bill also lends $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine, aiming to preserve a baseline of support even as broader funding debates grind on.
