Senate Passes Defense Policy Bill Amid Shutdown
The Senate passed the annual defense policy bill on Thursday, finally breaking through weeks of stalemate over the substantial $879 billion package. This move is somewhat unusual, considering it happened during a government shutdown.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which allocates $879 billion for the U.S. military and outlines the National Defense Strategy, was approved with a significant 77-20 vote late Thursday night. During a rapid series of decisions, the Senate also passed seven amendments while turning down nine others.
With this passage, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are expected to start reconciling the differing versions of the bill from each chamber. The House’s version had been passed back in September without any Democratic support.
In a related discussion, Rep. Chris Van Hollen put forward an amendment stipulating that the president or the secretary of defense must get permission from state governors before deploying the National Guard within their state or any other U.S. jurisdiction. He quoted Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, expressing concern about governors clashing. However, Republican Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt argued that this would weaken federal control over the D.C. National Guard. Ultimately, this amendment was rejected by a vote of 47-50.
Another significant amendment, co-sponsored by Democratic Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Indiana Senator Todd Young, aimed to revoke the authorizations for the Iraq wars dating back to 1991 and 2002. This change has been a long-awaited step toward reducing government war powers established during earlier conflicts. Young mentioned that it’s important to reflect modern realities, noting Iraq’s current partnership status rather than viewing it as an adversary.
On the contrary, an amendment from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that sought to block President Trump’s acquisition of Qatari jets was also dismissed. Schumer expressed frustration about the perceived extravagance of such purchases while citizens deal with soaring prices for everyday expenses.
The NDAA encompasses a variety of directives. Among them are provisions aimed at removing DEI mandates in the Department of Defense, limiting gender reassignment surgeries on military bases, and forbidding admissions to military academies based on race or gender criteria.
Additionally, the bill touches on foreign policy, including increased support for Ukraine, expanded relations in the Middle East, and new industrial partnerships with Taiwan. It also imposes restrictions on purchasing Chinese-made materials, such as solar panels and semiconductors, and prohibits the operation of these vehicles on Pentagon grounds.
Senator Roger Wicker, the Mississippi Republican and chairman of the Armed Services Committee, emphasized the bill’s focus on national security and bipartisan cooperation in his arguments on the Senate floor. He underscored that it reflects the security priorities of both parties and aims to enhance the nation’s defenses.
