In July 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives took several significant steps on spending and defense policy, with some measures advancing cuts or reductions while others pushed massive increases.

1. Funding extension passed to avoid shutdown
   On July 21, the House approved a short-term funding extension (continuing resolution) to head off a partial government shutdown in the fall. The 220–205 vote extended current funding through Dec. 4, giving about two extra months to finalize full appropriations. The bill was mostly party-line, with only one Republican joining Democrats in opposition. Senate Republicans objected to missing some “anomalies” in spending, and the measure is expected to be rewritten before final passage
2. NDAA defense bill passed with pay raise for service members
   On July 21–22, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2027, a $1.15 trillion defense bill, by 216–212. It includes a 5–7% pay raise for all service members but no civilian raise, drawing Democratic criticism for leaving DoD civilian pay unchanged  The bill also allocates roughly $40 billion to the Department of Energy for nuclear oversight and over $10 billion for other military-related programs. Democrats opposed it largely over the ongoing Iran war and the bill’s $28% budget increase 
3. Budget framework for $95B package
   On July 22, House Republicans adopted a budget framework for a $95 billion party-line spending package, aiming to skirt the Senate filibuster. The framework funds the military, intelligence, farm aid, and $10 billion for election security grants to incentivize voter-ID laws. It lacks new spending offsets, prompting fiscal hawks to demand them before final passage. Civilian workforce cuts rejected
   The House also rejected an amendment to examine reducing the Pentagon’s civilian workforce by 200,000 employees, citing concerns about understaffing and operational impacts 
4. Key takeaway
   While the July 2026 House actions did not broadly cut federal spending, they did advance a major defense funding bill, a stopgap funding extension, and a budget framework for a large spending package — all with partisan divisions and unresolved debates over offsets, pay parity, and political priorities

Sources: Federal News Network, Politico, Roll Call,