The Senate passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act, authorizing $901 billion in defense spending and a 3.8% pay raise for troops, while demanding more Pentagon transparency on strikes against alleged drug boats near Venezuela.

The 3,000-page bill balances bipartisan priorities, maintaining U.S. troop levels in Europe, providing military aid to Ukraine, and implementing Trump administration policies on military diversity and border powers.

It also increases congressional oversight of the Department of Defense, repeals older war authorizations, and seeks to modernize Pentagon weapons procurement amid competition with China.

Some provisions sparked controversy, including a waiver allowing military aircraft to operate without broadcasting precise locations, which critics link to a January midair collision in D.C. that killed 67 people, NPR has reported.

Senators like Ted Cruz are pushing separate legislation to improve military and commercial aircraft coordination to prevent future accidents.