With the Pentagon newly flush from a two-year funding deal, the House and Senate are now heading toward final negotiations on an annual defense authorization bill that will help direct how the money is spent.

Lawmakers will have to roll up their sleeves and settle disagreements over aircraft, ships and space policy in the coming weeks and months as part of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act conference committee, which usually produces a final bill in the fall.

Recommended Stories

Heritage, Trump’s favorite think tank, calls for $17 billion defense boost and 26,500 more troops in 2019

Senate passes defense bill with measure that would kill Trump’s ZTE deal

House, Senate lawmakers agree to boost ship and aircraft numbers in $675 spending bill