US Senate passes defense budget with bipartisan support despite Trump threat to veto News
MotionStudios / Pixabay
US Senate passes defense budget with bipartisan support despite Trump threat to veto

The US Senate passed the $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on Friday with veto-proof majority support amidst President Trump’s threats to reject the legislation.

The defense bill, through which Congress authorizes the Pentagon budget, has passed every year for 59 consecutive years. The legislation garnered widespread bipartisan support in the Senate and passed with an 84-13 margin. It gives the troops a three percent pay increase and grants funding to the Pentagon for other national defense projects.

Trump had insisted that lawmakers use the bill to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects social media companies from liability regarding content posted to their platforms. Sponsor Jim Ifenhoe said the final legislation did not address Trump’s complaint because it was unrelated to the goal of the bill.

This is Trump’s most recent move on Section 230. Over the summer he passed an executive order seeking to narrow FCC regulations on technology platforms’ liability. This came after Twitter and Facebook began flagging his posts for containing misinformation.

Trump also objected to a provision in the NDAA that gave the Pentagon three years to rename military bases and properties that pay tribute to Confederate figures. He pledged to veto any legislation that sought to remove Confederate names from military bases earlier this year.

If Trump vetoes the legislation, Congress will have to vote again to overrule it. They have the power to overrule his veto because of the two-thirds majority margin of votes the NDAA received in both the House and the Senate. This would be the first overruled veto of Trump’s presidency.

UPDATE 12/28/20: The Democratic-led US House voted 322-87 to override President Trump’s veto. Voting in the Republican-led Senate are expected within the week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he has struck a deal with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer to hold a vote on Tuesday to complete the override.

Did you know that about 30 percent of charitable giving happens in December?
It’s an important month for nonprofits like JURIST that rely on donor support. Your gift of $50, $100, $200 or $500 will help JURIST to keep its legal news and commentary free and accessible to a worldwide public.

Thanks for your support!

DONATE NOW