The House has voted for a $633 billion defense bill for next year despite Pentagon complaints that it spares outdated but politically popular weapons at the expense of the military's ability to fight.
House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a $633 billion defense bill that would tighten sanctions on Iran and give the Pentagon some leeway in developing alternative fuels.
A bipartisan group of House members says any budget deal to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts should include "substantial defense savings."
Warfighters heading to Afghanistan would receive less training while the Navy would be forced to buy fewer ships if lawmakers fail in the next five months to come up with an alternative deficit-reduction plan, a Pentagon official said Wednesday.
The House has passed a massive $662 billion defense bill after last-minute changes ensured President Barack Obama's ability to prosecute terrorist suspects in the civilian justice system.