TAKE ACTION: Sweeping Pentagon Spending Bill Faces Vote
MPower Change
(November 11, 2026) — The House and Senate will vote on the annual defense bill before the end of the year — before Democrats take the majority in Congress this coming January. We need to pressure our Members of Congress to reject this disastrous Pentagon funding bill.
Trump requested $1.5 trillion to fund his endless wars and a bloated Pentagon budget for fiscal year 2027. The sweeping bill is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and we have serious concerns.
ACTION: We’re urging Congress to oppose the NDAA once it comes to the floor for a vote.
Here’s 5 Things to Know about the Funding Bill:
- Trump requested a $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027. This would mark a massive increase in defense funding — the largest percentage increase since the Korean War and the largest total war budget in history.1
- Trump and House Republicans are pushing for at least $70 billion to fund the disastrous war on Iran.2The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has already cost American taxpayers more than $43.6 billion,3 killed at least 1,700 civilians in Iran,4 and caused global economic suffering. Voters clearly rejected Trump’s war at the ballot box on Election Day.
- The NDAA includes an insidious provision to deepen ties between the U.S. and Israeli militaries.The “U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative” would accelerate joint research, development, and production of defense technology — including AI and autonomous weapons — between the U.S. and Israel. It would increase American support for Israel’s military as Israel continues its genocide of the Palestinian people.5
- Senator Chris Van Hollen is leading the charge in the Senate to stop funding for Trump’s illegal war on Iran.Van Hollen and 11 additional Senators are calling on the House and Senate leadership to strip the upcoming defense bill of provisions that mandate defense and intelligence cooperation with Israel.6 He has stated he will do everything he can to thwart billions more in tax dollars for strikes on Iran. “If the president wants to tell the country that he’s prepared to shut down the United States government in order to conduct an illegal and senseless war in Iran, that will be his choice,” said Sen. Van Hollen.7
- The NDAA is passed every single year, typically towards the end of the year when people are paying less attention.Why? So lawmakers can push through the defense bill and keep raising the defense budget while they fail to protect and fund the programs people truly rely on: healthcare, education, SNAP, social benefits, housing, and much more. But there’s a real fight over the NDAA this year because of the decisive election results, Trump’s massive increase in the Pentagon budget, the Iran war, and Israel.
Our lawmakers can’t dump more taxpayer dollars into Trump’s unconstitutional wars, continue supporting Israel’s atrocities, and transfer money to weapons contractors at historic levels.
Thank you for everything you do.
In solidarity,Yasmine, Granate, Binita, and the team at MPower Action
P.S. Want to help build Muslim political power for this moment and beyond? Donate to MPower Action Fund.
Sources:
- “Trump requests record-breaking budget of $1.5 trillion for Pentagon,” The Washington Post, April 3, 2026.
- “House passes Pentagon funding bill and a blueprint to unlock new dollars for Iran war,” NPR, July 22, 2026.
- “Iran war’s cost grows to $43.6 billion in new US military estimate,” The Associated Press, September 18, 2026.
- “Senate Democrats Demand Public Release of Pentagon’s Secret Data Detailing Costs of Iran War,” Common Dreams, October 19, 2026.
- “The National Defense Authorization Act FY 2027 (Sec. 219 and Sec. 1217),” A New Policy, May 29, 2026.
- X post, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Nov. 10, 2026.
- “Van Hollen, Khanna Launch Effort to Cut Trump Off From Funding His War on Iran,” Truthout, November 6, 2026.
