Washington — The Senate is moving closer to final approval Wednesday of the annual military policy bill that would authorize $901 billion for defense programs as it puts pressure on the Defense Secretary. Pete Hegseth To provide it to legislators Video of the strikes Regarding alleged drug boats in international waters near Venezuela.
The annual National Defense Authorization Act, which would raise troop pay by 3.8%, received bipartisan support as it passed through the Senate, and the White House noted that it was in line with President Donald Trump’s national security priorities. However, legislationThe book, which is more than 3,000 pages long, revealed some points of friction between Congress and the Pentagon The Trump administration is reorienting itself Its focus is moving away from security in Europe and toward Central and South America.
The bill rejects recent moves taken by the Pentagon. He demands more information about boat strikes in the Caribbean, and demands that the United States keep its troop levels in Europe at current levels and send some military aid to Ukraine.
But in general, the bill represents a compromise between the two parties. It implements several of Trump’s executive orders and proposals to eliminate diversity and inclusion efforts in the military and grants emergency military powers on the US border with Mexico. It also strengthens congressional oversight of the Department of Defense and revokes war authorizations that are several years old.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said it was part of “the investment we must make to ensure that in a dangerous world we are prepared to defend America and American interests.”
However, he faced a sprawling bill Objections From Democratic and Republican leadership on the Senate Commerce Committee. That’s because the legislation allows military aircraft to obtain a waiver to operate without broadcasting their exact location, as an Army helicopter once did. Air collision with an aircraft In Washington, D.C., in January, which killed 67 people.
“The special exception was exactly what caused the January 29 accident that killed 67 people,” Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a news conference this week.
Cruz said he is seeking to vote on bipartisan legislation next month that would require military aircraft to use a precise location-sharing tool and improve coordination between commercial and military aircraft in congested areas.
Republicans and Democrats agreed to craft a defense bill that threatens to withhold a quarter of Hegseth’s travel budget until he provides unedited video of the raids to the House and Senate committees on armed services, along with orders authorizing them.
Hegseth was on Capitol Hill Tuesday before the bill passed to brief lawmakers Concerning the American military campaign In international waters near Venezuela. The briefing sparked mixed reactions from many lawmakers, with Republicans largely supporting the campaign, while Democrats expressed concern about it, saying they had not received enough information.
The committees are investigating September 2 strike – the first in the campaign – which resulted in the deaths of two people who survived an initial attack on their boat. The Navy admiral who ordered the “Double Tap” strike, Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, was also appearing before the committees on Wednesday in a classified briefing that will also include video of the strike in question.
The Trump administration has surprised lawmakers several times in the past year, including by moving to Stop sharing intelligence information with Ukraine And the decision to reduce the presence of American forces in NATO countries in Eastern Europe. Defense legislation requires Congress to be kept informed of decisions like this in the future, as well as when senior military leaders are removed.
The Pentagon is also required, under the legislation, to keep at least 76,000 troops and key equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a decision that such a withdrawal is in the interest of the United States. About 80,000 to 100,000 American soldiers It is usually present On European territory. A similar condition also maintains the number of US troops stationed there South Korea At a price of 28,500.
Lawmakers are also rejecting some of the Pentagon’s decisions by authorizing $400 million for each of the next two years to manufacture weapons to send to Ukraine.
Trump and Hegseth have made it a priority to purge the military of materials and programs that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues, and the defense bill would codify many of those changes. will cancel Diversity, equity and inclusion Offices and training courses, including the position of Chief Diversity Officer. These cuts would save the Pentagon about $40 million, according to the Republican-controlled House Armed Services Committee.
The US military has long found climate change to be a problem A threat to how national security is provided Because weather-related disasters can destroy military bases and equipment. But the bill includes $1.6 billion in cuts by eliminating climate change-related programs at the Pentagon.
Congress is writing a final chapter to the war in Iraq by rescinding authorization for the 2003 invasion. Now that Iraq is a strategic partner of the United States, lawmakers supporting the provision say repeal is critical to preventing future abuses. The bill also repeals the 1991 authorization that authorized the US-led Gulf War.
Rare moves by both parties to eliminate legal justifications for conflicts indicate a possible desire among lawmakers to restore some of Congress’ war powers.
Congress will also permanently lift US sanctions on Syria as part of the legislation, following the Trump administration’s decision to do so Temporarily lift many sanctions. The nation is rebuilding after the ouster of its former leader, Bashar al-Assad, and supporters of the new government say permanently lifting sanctions will spur the country’s economic rebuilding and encourage democratization.