The House will vote on the annual defense and national security package on Wednesday afternoon, marking the first signs of progress toward completing the 2026 fiscal year budget since the record-long shutdown in October.

But there are still obstacles ahead.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act itself is likely to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support, as is standard for the must-pass defense bill. However, it must first overcome a procedural hurdle that is typically dealt with along party lines — meaning GOP leaders will need to keep their party together just long enough to ensure a final vote in the afternoon.

The House will meet around 1:30 p.m. EST for a procedural vote known as the rules package, which sets the parameters for debate for each bill coming to the floor. Th

See Full Page