House Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other GOP leaders leave after a news briefing at the Capitol. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — A gambit by House GOP leaders to tie the annual National Defense Authorization Act to a controversial voter restriction bill turned into a political quagmire this afternoon when 14 Republicans voted with Democrats to block the measure from being brought to the floor.
Lawmakers voted 198-224 against a procedural measure — known as a “rule”— that would have allowed debate to begin on the fiscal 2027 NDAA, but which would have combined the defense bill with the SAVE America Act after passage and before being sent to the Senate.
The failed vote essentially stalls movement on the House’s version of the FY27 NDAA, which authorizes $1.15 trillion in base budget funding for the Defense Department and includes provisions that would formally change its name to the War Department.
House Speaker Mike Johnson initially told reporters after the vote that House members would remain in Washington through Thursday as GOP leaders worked to get the votes to advance the rule, according to The Hill. However, GOP leaders backtracked later this afternoon and announced that members would leave for the Independence Day holiday tonight, leaving the timeline for NDAA passage unclear.
