<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The US House of Representatives has narrowly passed a defense department annual budget that includes controversial amendments on abortion and gender reassignment surgery.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) must still be passed by the Democrat-controlled Senate, which is unlikely to approve the existing bill.</div><div><br></div><div>Democrats say Republicans have hijacked the bill and risk US national security.</div><div>The $886bn (£675bn) bill funds the Pentagon for one year.</div><div><br></div><div>It also sets its policy agenda and includes a 5.2% pay rise for troops and measures to address China and Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>The narrow margin - 219 to 210 - by which the annual defence bill passed the House is yet another indication of the sharp partisan divides within the chamber. Only four Democrats supported the spending package, while four Republicans opposed it.</div><div><br></div><div>Military expenditures are usually one area that garners broad bipartisan support in Washington - few politicians want to be seen as soft on national security, and big military contracts are often a way legislators can direct federal money - and jobs - to their home constituencies.</div><div><br></div><div>Conservative Republicans, however, have been focused on using the defence legislation to advance hot-button cultural and social priorities, including limiting government support for abortion and transgender health services.</div><div><br></div><div>That virtually ensured Democrats would oppose the bill en masse. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>