This is the annual bill that funds and sets rules for the U.S. military and the nuclear weapons programs run through the Department of Energy. It decides how many troops are in the active-duty and reserve forces, sets policies on military pay and health care, and authorizes the purchase of new aircraft, ships, and other equipment. It also covers military construction projects (like new bases or facility upgrades), U.S. military relationships with other countries in places like the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, and efforts on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence for defense purposes. Additionally, it directs the Pentagon to check on the supply of certain materials needed to build weapons and equipment—like specific metals and industrial chemicals—so the U.S. doesn't run short, and it lets a Pentagon office invest money directly in private companies working on batteries and critical minerals used in defense technology.