President Trump Vetoes US Military Bill worth $740 Billion

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US President Donald Trump has vetoed the massive annual US military bill outlining the Defense Department’s budget. The President cited his opposition to a clause in the bill to rechristen 10 military bases named for Confederate figureheads. He once again repeated his unrelated demand that the US Congress reform Section 230, the bylaw that governs freedom of speech on the internet. Both chambers of Congress have made plans to return to Washington after Christmas to override Wednesday’s veto and make the $740 billion bill law. It breezed to the president’s desk with veto-proof majorities of 335-78 in the House and 84-13 in the Senate. It might be the first time one of Trump’s vetoes has been overridden. Point to be noted that President Trump previously vetoed eight bills.

President Trump has been threatening to veto the annual NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) since this summer. He was also calling the provision to rename military bases such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Hood in Texas, and Fort Benning in Georgia, the “Elizabeth ‘Pocahantas’ Warren Amendment”. However, the Massachusetts Democrat has been joined by most Republican senators in supporting the renaming clause. The defense bill was considered a must-pass item by Republicans and Democrats and it has become law without much drama for 59 consecutive years. It is noteworthy that the move was most important for annual legislation, guiding military spending levels, troop deployments around the world, and setting other policy parameters. President Trump also vetoed the bill on Wednesday because it doesn’t contain language repealing or altering legal liability protections for social media firms.

On Wednesday, some leading Democrats had strong words of reproach for Trump’s maneuver, which will achieve none of his actual policy objectives. It will force members of the US Congress back to Washington when they would otherwise be at home for the holidays. House leaders from both parties have agreed to be in session on Monday, 28 December, to vote on overriding Trump’s veto. The US Senate is also planning to follow suit the following day. Democratic Senator Mark Warner issued a statement on Wednesday and said, “It’s unconscionable that the President would choose to throw a wrench into the passage of a bill as critical as our nation’s annual defense bill. The President’s decision to veto this bipartisan legislation on his way out the door poses a serious threat to US national security”.