NDAA Likely To Pass House With Ukraine Funding Intact

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will face his next test as Speaker today when he attempts to force an uncharacteristically partisan National Defense Authorisation Act though the House of Representatives. The 1,200-plus page, must-pass, defence bill has become a culture war battleground this week with conservative Republican lawmakers attaching a number of controversial amendments to the bill in return for passage out of the House Rules Committee.

• Democrats and Senate Republicans will be relieved that five amendments which would roll back support for Ukraine were voted down by the chamber but series of amendments on gender, race, and abortion remain in place - setting up another clash with the Senate.
• Although there is some risk that hardline Republicans may vote against the bill over defense spending concerns, enough moderates Democrat are likely to support the bill to ensure its passage but
• The NDAA, which is usually a relatively uncontroversial bipartisan effort, foreshadows a more serious fight over government spending bill which will get underway in the coming weeks.
• The House will gavel in at 09:00 ET 14:00 with final votes expected by 15:00 ET 20:00 BST.