Senate passes $738 billion defense bill that establishes Space Force and provides paid parental leave for federal workers


The $738 billion defense bill that authorizes the creation of Space Force and provides paid parental leave for federal workers is headed to President Trump's desk.
The Senate on Tuesday passed the legislation in a 86-8 vote, CNN reports. This comes after the bill easily passed in the House of Representatives last week in a 377-48 vote.
During the course of the bill's negotiation, CNN notes that the White House agreed to providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers despite Republicans' objections in exchange for the provision establishing the new, sixth military branch, Space Force.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There aren't any provisions related to the border wall in the bill, which also provides troops with a 3 percent raise. The Associated Press notes that Democrats had to drop, among other things, a "provision to block Trump from transferring money from Pentagon accounts to construct a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border."
President Trump has said he will "immediately" sign the legislation, writing that "all of our priorities have made it into" the bill. House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.) last week told Politico the legislation is "the most progressive defense bill in the history of the country."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The genetic secrets of South Korea's female free-divers
Under The Radar Unique physiology of 'real-life mermaid' haenyeo women could help treat chronic diseases
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
Sea lion proves animals can keep a beat
speed read A sea lion named Ronan beat a group of college students in a rhythmic dance-off, says new study
-
Humans heal much slower than other mammals
Speed Read Slower healing may have been an evolutionary trade-off when we shed fur for sweat glands
-
Novel 'bone collector' caterpillar wears its prey
Speed Read Hawaiian scientists discover a carnivorous caterpillar that decorates its shell with the body parts of dead insects
-
Scientists find hint of alien life on distant world
Speed Read NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected a possible signature of life on planet K2-18b
-
Katy Perry, Gayle King visit space on Bezos rocket
Speed Read Six well-known women went into lower orbit for 11 minutes
-
Scientists map miles of wiring in mouse brain
Speed Read Researchers have created the 'largest and most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain to date,' said Nature
-
Scientists genetically revive extinct 'dire wolves'
Speed Read A 'de-extinction' company has revived the species made popular by HBO's 'Game of Thrones'
-
Dark energy may not doom the universe, data suggests
Speed Read The dark energy pushing the universe apart appears to be weakening