Several GOP holdouts switch to “yes” after securing concessions on Ukraine aid and digital currency restrictions.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The House of Representatives on Wednesday advanced the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) backed by President Donald Trump, overcoming a brief standoff with conservative Republicans who threatened to block the legislation.
The procedural vote remained open for more than an hour as holdouts, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Anna Paulina Luna, Tim Burchett, and Josh Brecheen, reversed their initial opposition after winning assurances from House and administration officials. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to maintain a “no” vote.
Conservatives objected to provisions omitting a permanent ban on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and authorizing $400 million in new security assistance for Ukraine. Luna said the group received a commitment to make the CBDC ban permanent despite opposition from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, while Burchett cited an agreement with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to halt taxpayer funding to the Taliban.
“The House will go to war with the Senate over that,” Luna told reporters after the vote.
All Democrats opposed the procedural rule, though many are expected to support the final passage of the NDAA.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported that a White House document confirmed Trump “strongly supports” the bill.
“NDAA in current form is NO GO,” Luna wrote on X shortly before the vote but ultimately backed it after the concessions.
Most Republicans supported the 3,000-page measure, which codifies several Trump-era executive orders, restricts investments in China, and provides a pay raise for U.S. service members.
Greene, despite her vote to advance the bill, sharply criticized its funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and attacked GOP leadership for failing to secure a CBDC ban promised earlier this year. “As usual, he didn’t keep his promise, it’s not in the NDAA so the CBDC loophole remains,” Greene posted.
Rep. Keith Self of Texas introduced an amendment to restore the CBDC ban, but the House Rules Committee declined to advance it. “Without that language, I’m inclined to leave it,” Self said.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass as early as next week. Sen. Rand Paul has already announced his opposition, saying on X that its Ukraine funding “is not America First” link.
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