House Officially Passes Defense Bill with 5% to 7% Military Pay Raise. Here Are 7 More Changes – Military.com

House Officially Passes Defense Bill with 5% to 7% Military Pay Raise. Here Are 7 More Changes  Military.com

The House passed its defense bill with a proposed 5% to 7% military pay raise. Here are seven key changes for troops and families. Military pay raises of up to 7%, faster health care for transitioning service members and several reforms affecting the U.S. Air Force Academy are one step closer to becoming law after the House of Representatives approved its version of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday. The annual defense policy bill passed the House 216-212, authorizing roughly $1.15 trillion in national security spending while establishing policy priorities for the Department of Defense for the coming fiscal year. While the legislation still must clear the Senate before reaching President Donald Trump's desk, the House vote provides the clearest picture yet of what lawmakers want to include in next year's defense package.

Here are the seven biggest changes service members and military families should know. The House bill includes one of the largest proposed military pay raises in years, providing increases ranging from 5% to 7%, depending on rank. Lawmakers said the increase is intended to improve recruiting and retention while helping military families keep pace with rising costs. The exact pay raise could still change as the House and Senate negotiate a final version of the bill. Why it matters: If enacted, the pay