House Adopts Amendment to Cut Defense Budget by 0.5% if Pentagon Fails Audit

The U.S. House of Representatives has adopted an amendment introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment, passed via voice vote on Tuesday evening, mandates a 0.5 percent reduction in the defense budget if any component of the Pentagon fails to receive a passing audit. This move ties defense funding directly to the Pentagon's financial accountability, reflecting ongoing congressional scrutiny over the Department of Defense's inability to pass a full audit. The amendment is part of broader efforts to enforce fiscal discipline within the military's budget, which has faced repeated audit failures in recent years.