House passes massive $886 BILLION defense bill despite Republican turmoil over inclusion of short-term extension of FBI spy tool: Lawmakers flee D.C. for holidays as Senate is still negotiating border security and Ukraine and Israel aid

The House of Representatives passed the expansive $886 annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a pay raise for troops and a four-month extension of the FBI's controversial spying tool.

The vote was 310 to 118. The bill was widely opposed by 73 right-wing Republicans who felt it did not contain enough conservative provisions, but received support from 164 Democrats.

The Senate passed the NDAA on a vote of 87-13 on Wednesday evening, so the package goes to President Biden for his signature. Now, House lawmakers are fleeing DC to begin their three-week Christmas vacation.

But senators remain on Capitol Hill as they try to reach an agreement with the White House on adding border security measures to an additional $110 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific.

Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus were furious with the final version of the NDAA discussed with the Senate — which extended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) before it expires at the end of the year and removed some of the tough Republican amendments. .

“I'm disappointed,” Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., told DailyMail.com about the bill. “The House of Representatives voted for a very conservative bill,” he said of the House-passed version last summer, which went further on social issues and stripped “woke” provisions for the military.

“We have eliminated taxpayer funding for abortions, for transgender surgeries, and for new Green Deal provisions,” he continued. “I knew there would be a compromise, but to accept an NDAA that would essentially undo all the good work done by Republicans in the House of Representatives? That is unacceptable.'

Hardline conservatives revealed a public split with Speaker Mike Johnson — who first said he would not tie FISA to the NDAA and changed his mind days later.

“Johnson starts from the same place I do, an extremely conservative view,” Rosendale said. 'He has an extremely bad counselor around him. That undermines his self-confidence and gives him bad advice, which then leads to bad decisions.'

“We should not govern by fear and failure,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, told DailyMail.com.

“The Mike Johnson who stands up to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and the border should do the same with the NDAA and FISA.”

The legislation provides a four-month extension of the FBI's controversial surveillance tool, Section 702 of the FISA.

Lawmakers are working on a series of improvements to the law – which allows the US to surveil foreigners in an effort to thwart terrorists – before renewing it as a number of abuses have occurred.

But here's where things get tricky: Two Republican Party-led committees are advancing different versions of their reauthorization bills.

Earlier this week, Speaker Johnson had plans to put both on the floor — one from the judiciary and one from Intel — in a “queen of the hill” style to see which bill gains more support. But after that decision was reversed, neither bill was voted on this week.

And a four-month extension was included in the final wording of the NDAA bill.

That decision comes after far-right Republicans in the House Freedom Caucus showed early signs of frustration with Johnson over his handling of the FISA reauthorization. They issued an ominous threat in opposing the NDAA's inclusion of FISA.

“Any reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) should only be considered with significant reforms and as a stand-alone measure,” the statement said.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told DailyMail.com on Thursday that the short-term extension is “ripe for reform.”

He applauded a number of “key big win” provisions, including how it “focuses our attention on China” and also eradicates “discriminatory DEI (diversity, equity, inclusivity) indoctrination in our military.”

“And I'm proud of the amendments that passed, and I also support our men and women in the military. So there are a lot of victories in it,” said Schmitt, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The NDAA also includes a 5.2 percent pay increase for U.S. troops and requires the Pentagon to inform service members discharged for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine that they can be reinstated.

It also includes $800 million in additional authorized funds for Ukraine – through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative – and $11.5 billion to deter the growing threat from China.

It strengthens the United States' trilateral alliance with Britain and Australia through the AUKUS program and authorizes the group's joint nuclear submarine mission.

Additionally, the legislation includes Republican-led measures to combat “woke” issues within the U.S. military, including teaching critical race theory.

But it does not preclude the Pentagon's current policy of reimbursing troops for travel expenses to obtain abortions, an issue that has held back Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., more than 400 military promotions.

The passage comes as the Senate remains divided over whether to approve a major separate spending request for more than $61 billion for Ukraine and additional aid to Israel and Taiwan. Republicans are demanding that major border security measures be included in such a package.

President Biden has indicated he is open to working with Republicans on border security to get crucial aid to Ukraine and other U.S. allies.

Reports this week indicated that the Biden administration is in talks with negotiators in Congress to dramatically expand detentions and deportations at the border, as well as revive the pandemic-era Title 42 policy by allowing migrants to be deported without hearing asylum applications.

In return, Republicans would accept Biden's proposal. But it remains to be seen whether lawmakers can reach an agreement before the Christmas recess.

The Senate Majority Leader said Thursday morning that negotiators from the White House, Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans “will continue to negotiate an additional national security package.”

'Yesterday we had another productive round of discussions and more progress was made. But there is still more work to do,” he said.

Last week, Republican senators blocked President Biden's request for $110 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as the GOP demands tighter security measures be included at the southern border.

The package included $61 billion to Ukraine, in addition to aid to Israel in its ongoing war with Hamas terrorists, humanitarian aid to Gaza and funds to support U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific.