Despite failing to incorporate several key legislative priorities aimed at curbing China's influence into the annual defense bill, Republicans are devising alternative strategies to enact these measures before year-end. The House is scheduled to vote on the extensive 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a $895 billion budget plan for the Pentagon. While typically bipartisan, this year's NDAA lacks provisions restricting U.S. investments in Chinese Communist Party-linked companies, a key concern for House Speaker Mike Johnson. Republicans intend to introduce these provisions into other essential legislation, potentially a continuing resolution that would extend the funding deadline and maintain current budget levels.

Speaker Johnson affirmed the ongoing efforts to achieve consensus on these China-related provisions, emphasizing the need for additional time to secure passage before the year concludes. One omitted provision would restrict U.S. investment in Chinese military technology development, mirroring a rule implemented by the Biden administration. This rule mandates government notification of specific investments and prohibits others, particularly in sectors like artificial intelligence, computer chips, and quantum computing, which have both commercial and military applications.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reportedly opposed including this provision in the NDAA. Speculation suggests Democratic resistance stemmed from Republican insistence on banning military healthcare coverage for gender-affirming surgeries for dependent minors. Rep. Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, indicated his opposition to the bill due to this transgender provision.

Another significant omission from the NDAA is the Biosecure Act, which would prevent the U.S. government from contracting with companies linked to concerning biotechnology firms. Reps. Jim McGovern and Jamie Raskin reportedly obstructed this act's inclusion. McGovern previously voiced concerns about the bill's efficacy, arguing its narrow focus could be circumvented and that targeting specific companies without thorough investigation deviates from established U.S. procedures.

This follows a previous report concerning the presence of a machine operated by a Chinese military-linked biotech company, BGI, at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. BGI is among the companies targeted by the Biosecure Act. By attaching these provisions to must-pass legislation, Republicans aim to circumvent the Democratic-controlled Senate, where House GOP bills frequently face obstacles.