House lawmakers on Wednesday approved plans for a $893 billion defense authorization bill despite strong objections from Democratic lawmakers about social issue fights and a lack of restrictions on presidential use of the National Guard.

The final 231-196 vote by the chamber included only 17 Democrats backing the must-pass budget policy measure , which includes a host of pay and benefits reauthorizations as well as spending guidelines for hundreds of Pentagon programs. Four Republicans voted against it.

The measure includes a 3.8% pay raise for service members in 2026 and an increase of the Defense Department’s end strength by about 26,000 troops next year. It also includes a series of reforms to the military’s defense acquisition process , with the goal of speeding the fielding

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