Marketplace All-in-One A defense bill about more than just defense
Dec 15, 2025
Kimberly Adams, Senior Washington correspondent for Marketplace, delves into the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act, highlighting its unexpected non-defense provisions like climate spending cuts. Su Lin Wong, Asia correspondent for The Economist, reveals how China dominates global money laundering through mirror transactions, driven by strict capital controls. They discuss the underground banking networks involving wealthy individuals and criminal groups, as well as the enforcement challenges faced by authorities in both China and the U.S.
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NDAA Carries Far More Than Military Funding
- The $900 billion NDAA includes major defense items plus many unrelated policy riders and cut proposals.
- Kimberly Adams says lawmakers use the must-pass bill to insert controversial non-defense measures and political messaging.
Key Policy Changes Hide Inside The Bill
- The bill contains a 3.8% military pay raise and $400 million for Ukraine, but also attempts to cut climate and DEI spending.
- William Hartung and Kimberly Adams note these non-defense fights reflect broader congressional gridlock and messaging battles.
Airspace Change Sparks Bipartisan Pushback
- A contested provision would reopen DC-area airspace to helicopter training despite safety concerns.
- National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Helmendy called the change a 'significant safety setback.'