National Security Legislative Calendar

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June 30, 2025 Update

[New information bolded and italicized]

The Senate worked through the weekend on the Big Beautiful Bill Act. After much negotiation, the bill cleared its first procedural hurdle Saturday in a 51-49 vote. Republican Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted with Democrats to block the measure. President Donald Trump had threatened to support a primary challenge against Sen. Tillis if he opposed the legislation. On Sunday, Sen. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection in 2026 rather than face a MAGA challenger.

The Senate proceeded to a so-called “vote-a-rama” Monday morning, which could last all day. The legislation will likely ultimately pass the Senate, though Vice President JD Vance may be called on to cast a tie-breaking vote.

Prospects in the House could be more difficult. The ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus already publicly opposed the Senate version of the legislation. President Trump will likely need to weigh in and lean on Members if he wants the Big Beautiful Bill Act on his desk by July 4. As a reminder, this legislation contains much of President Trump’s legislative agenda, including $150 billion in additional spending for the military.

In other news, the Senate did not pass Sen. Kaine’s War Powers Resolution regarding U.S. involvement in Iran. The 53-47 vote saw Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) side with Democrats, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voted with Republicans in opposition. Amid comments from President Trump that he has not ruled out striking Iran, this legislation would have been instrumental in ensuring Congress exercised its constitutional right to declare war.

It is unclear when the House will consider its own version, or versions, of War Powers Resolutions on the same topic. Two versions have been introduced; one led by Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) and another led by Reps. Jim Himes (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY).
The Department of Defense also finally released its fiscal year 2026 budget justification. The much-delayed documents provide more detailed insight into the administration’s unusual budget process. Looking only at the discretionary request numbers, one might think that the Pentagon is receiving a relatively “flat” budget compared to last year. However, when the reconciliation bill funding is, rightfully, added to the mix, the request rises to a jaw-dropping $1 trillion.

Key Fiscal Year 2026 National Security Bills

Fiscal Year 2025 Continuing Resolution

The House narrowly approved the full year Continuing Resolution (CR) in a 217-213 vote on March 11. The Senate then had three days to avert government shutdown, which House Speaker Mike Johnson hoped would force Senators into action on an unpopular, partisan CR. He got his wish when enough Democrats voted to proceed to a final vote, a step which required 60 votes.

The vote was controversial, with the Democrats’ divisions represented by Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) first saying he would block consideration of the vote and then changing his mind. Ten Democrats and independents voted with the Republicans in favor of cloture, arguing that a shuttered government would provide President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE operation more of an opportunity to fire people, shut down agencies and block the work of the government. On the final 54-46 vote in favor of the measure, only Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Angus King (I-ME) voted in favor with most Republicans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only Republican to oppose the bill.

While the bill had few national security provisions, it boosted defense spending by $6 billion while cutting non-defense spending by $13 billion from current levels and shifted $185 million from non-proliferation to weapons programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration. That shift impacts most of the national laboratories and efforts to ensure nuclear materials safety, among other things.

Reconciliation Bill: One Big Beautiful Bill Act

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), with much help from President Donald Trump, again successfully navigated the competing House Republican factions to pass the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation was approved in the House by the narrowest of margins, 215-214. After weeks of difficult negotiations and lots of side deals, the reconciliation bill now heads to the Senate where it is likely to meet a buzzsaw of changes. In addition to $150 billion more for the Pentagon, the bill includes:

Nearly $1 trillion in cuts from Medicaid and food stamps
Work requirements for Medicaid starting at the end of 2026
Raising the debt ceiling by $4 trillion
$25 billion to begin Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system
Limiting judges’ power to hold the Trump administration in contempt
Phasing out Biden-era energy tax credits sooner than planned
Increasing the state and local tax deduction
Making trillions of dollars of income tax breaks permanent
Allocating $45 billion to build new immigration detention facilities
Allowing certain taxpayers to deduct income from tips on tax returns

The Congressional Budget Office said the bill will increase the budget deficit by $3.8 trillion between 2026-2034. As alluded to earlier, this legislation is a long way to final passage. It is clear that Senators have major disagreements with the House-passed bill. Some topics likely to be addressed in the Senate: spending cuts, knocking people off Medicaid, food assistance and the state-and-local-tax deduction cap. It is important to remember, however, that unlike many legislative efforts, reconciliation only needs a simple majority for passage in the Senate.

Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Bill

Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bills

On June 12, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY26 Defense appropriations bill 36-27. Combined with funding allocated via reconciliation, this legislation would lift total military spending over $1 trillion in the next fiscal year. Click here for the Committee summary of the bill. Key provisions include, but are not limited to:

$13 billion more for President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system
More than $10 billion for Columbia Class submarines
$3.8 billion for the B-21 Raider
$2 billion for the Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)

Authorization to Use Military Force

Aid to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Taiwan

Tentative 2024 Congressional Recess Schedule

*When noted that both the Senate and House are in session, the House and Senate schedules may diverge by a day or two*

July 4: Independence Day federal holiday

July 7 – July 31: Both Senate and House largely in session

August 4 – August 29: Congressional Recess

September 1: Labor Day

September 2 – September 19: Both Senate and House largely in session

September 22 – September 26: Congressional Recess

September 29 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session

October 1 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session

October 13: Columbus Day

November 3 – November 7: Both Senate and House largely in session

November 10 – November 14: Congressional Recess

November 11: Veterans’ Day

November 17- November 21: Both Senate and House in session

November 24 – November 28: Congressional Recess

November 27: Thanksgiving

December 1- December 19: Both Senate and House largely in session

December 19: Target Congressional adjournment

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June 30, 2025 Update

[New information bolded and italicized]

Key Fiscal Year 2026 National Security Bills

Fiscal Year 2025 Continuing Resolution

Reconciliation Bill: One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Bill

Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Bills

Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)

Authorization to Use Military Force

Aid to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Taiwan

Tentative 2024 Congressional Recess Schedule

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