Outcry after $1. 15tn defense bill passes in the House – US politics live
From3h agoOutcry over the $1. 15tn defense policy bill passed in the HouseHello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. TheNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)typically passes inCongresseach year. . .
From3h agoOutcry over the $1. 15tn defense policy bill passed in the HouseHello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. TheNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)typically passes inCongresseach year with bipartisan margins. But the$1. 15tn defense policy billpassed in a near-party-line votein theHouse of Representativeson Wednesday has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in an uproar. That’s because the NDAA’s path to enactment this year has been complicated by the president’s decision to joinIsraelin attackingIranwithout first seeking authorization from Congress – awar that has already cost $37. 5bn,accordingto defense secretaryPete Hegseth. Last week,Senate Democratsblockedthe advancement of that chamber’s version of the NDAA in protest of the war. “While millions of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, Congress is choosing to authorize over $1tn for the Pentagon, once again funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to defense contractors instead of investing in the needs of working people,”Ilhan Omar, a Democratic representative from Minnesota,posted on X. Shecontinued: “The American people are sick and tired of funding atrocities abroad and want this war with Iran to end. Yet year after year, the Pentagon fails its audit with virtually no accountability, while Congress continues to increase military spending. ”Further complicating matters,Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, acceded to the demands of rightwing lawmakers and inserted into the legislationthe Save America Act, a Trump-backed proposal to ban mail-in ballots and impose new identification restrictions on voters at the polls and when they register. “This budget resolution is our best shot at enacting as much of the Save America Act into law as possible,” Johnson -posted on X. “This means the NDAA is now tied to Trump’s attempt to steal elections by making it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote,”Jerry Nadler, a Democratic representative from New York,posted on X. “The NDAA is a costly, bad bill that funds an illegal war and undermines our democracy. ”Section 219of the NDAA – which establishes theUS-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative– also had Republican representatives protesting the bill’s passage. “Section 219 is a betrayal of our sovereignty,” Kentucky conservativeThomas Massiesaid on X. Far-right firebrandLauren Boebertalsosaidshe sat out on the NDAA votebecause of Section 219. More to come. Key events1h agoDonald Trump says US will 'hold Iran responsible' for attacks by Houthis2h agoDonald Trump says nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is 'totally subject' to country joining the Abraham accords3h agoOutcry over the $1. 15tn defense policy bill passed in the HouseTaz AliGlobal oil prices have risen tomore than $100 per barrel for the first time since Mayas violence escalates in the Middle East. Brent crude, the global benchmark,increased by more than 6%after Iran’s Houthi allies attacked shipping in the Red Sea. Donald Trumpsaid he would exact “major military punishment” against the Yemen-based group as well as Iran, which he said bears responsibility for the Red Sea attack. In a short while theSenate health, education, labor and pensions committee will also vote onErica Schwartzto be new Centers of Disease Control (CDC) director. The beleaguered agency hasn’t had a dedicated leader since its last director,Susan Monarez, was pushed out by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr in August last year. The committee will also vote onKeith Sonderlingto be the new labor secretary, afterLori Chavez-DeRemerresigned amid a series of misconduct allegations – including having an affair with a subordinate and drinking on the job. Provided the committee confirms their nominations, consideration for Schwartz and Sonderling will then head to the wider Senate for a full vote. We’ll also hear from White House press secretary,Karoline Leavitt, when she will hold a briefing for reporters at 11am ET. We’ll bring you the latest lines as that gets under way. Donald Trump is in Washington today. He’ll be at the Environmental Protection Agency at 2:30pm ETto talk about the ratepayer protection pledge – an agreement signed a pledge by major tech companies that says they will bear the cost of the electricity generation required to power their datacenters. Experts, however, have called the pledge “toothless” and question how it will be enforced. Later,the president will welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers, the World Series baseball champions,to the White House at 4:30pm ET. Donald Trump says US will 'hold Iran responsible' for attacks by HouthisTrump also said the US will “holdIranresponsible” for any actions the Houthis take against shipping. He said the Houthis had acted “very professionally and smart”until they attacked Saudi Arabian ships in the Red Sea last night. In a post on Truth Social, he said:A year ago the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis, for their interference with commerce and trade, by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night. Please let this TRUTH serve to represent thatif they do this again, the U. S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have,until now, acted very professionally and smart. My colleague Taz Ali has more on our Middle East liveblog here:Donald Trump says nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is 'totally subject' to country joining the Abraham accordsDonald Trump has posted on Truth Social that thelandmark nuclear deal the US signed with Saudi Arabiayesterday is “totally subject” to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham accords. The president wrote: “The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use such as the ones thatIranand UAE (and others) already have, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords. The United States is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities. ”In addition to passing theNational Defense Authorization Act– a key plank ofthe president’s plantospend $1. 5tn on the militaryin the 2027 fiscal year – House Republicans on Wednesday agreed to begin the process ofwriting a $95bn billto fund thewar with Iran. The passage of this budget resolution paves the way for thecreation of a reconciliation bill, which can advance through the Senate under special rules thatcircumvent the Democratic filibusterand requires only a simple majority to pass. Like the NDAA, the budget resolution will also likely be used by the House administration committee to passthe Save America Actinto law, which will ban mail-in ballots nationwide and impose enhanced strict identification requirements on voters when they cast ballots and register. The Guardian’s Chris Stein has more here:The House passed theNational Defense Authorization Actin a 216-212 vote, with all but sixDemocratsopposing its passage and sevenRepublicansbreaking ranks to oppose the measure. These are the Democrats thatvoted for NDAA:Henry Cuellarof TexasDonald Davisof North CarolinaJared Goldenof MaineVicente Gonzalezof TexasAdam Grayof CaliforniaMarie Gluesenkamp Perezof WashingtonThese are the Republicans that voted against it:Josh Brecheenof Oklahoma. “While I support providing for a robust national defense, I could not in good conscience vote for this legislation as it authorizes a $263. 4bn (29. 6%) increase over the authorized level for the previous fiscal year,” Brecheenposted on X. Tim Burchettof TennesseeElijah Craneof ArizonaHarriet Hagemanof WyomingAnna Paulina Lunaof FloridaThomas Massieof KentuckyChip Royof TexasThe bill now goes to theSenate. Outcry over the $1. 15tn defense policy bill passed in the HouseHello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. TheNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)typically passes inCongresseach year with bipartisan margins. But the$1. 15tn defense policy billpassed in a near-party-line votein theHouse of Representativeson Wednesday has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in an uproar. That’s because the NDAA’s path to enactment this year has been complicated by the president’s decision to joinIsraelin attackingIranwithout first seeking authorization from Congress – awar that has already cost $37. 5bn,accordingto defense secretaryPete Hegseth. Last week,Senate Democratsblockedthe advancement of that chamber’s version of the NDAA in protest of the war. “While millions of Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, Congress is choosing to authorize over $1tn for the Pentagon, once again funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to defense contractors instead of investing in the needs of working people,”Ilhan Omar, a Democratic representative from Minnesota,posted on X. Shecontinued: “The American people are sick and tired of funding atrocities abroad and want this war with Iran to end. Yet year after year, the Pentagon fails its audit with virtually no accountability, while Congress continues to increase military spending. ”Further complicating matters,Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, acceded to the demands of rightwing lawmakers and inserted into the legislationthe Save America Act, a Trump-backed proposal to ban mail-in ballots and impose new identification restrictions on voters at the polls and when they register. “This budget resolution is our best shot at enacting as much of the Save America Act into law as possible,” Johnson -posted on X. “This means the NDAA is now tied to Trump’s attempt to steal elections by making it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote,”Jerry Nadler, a Democratic representative from New York,posted on X. “The NDAA is a costly, bad bill that funds an illegal war and undermines our democracy. ”Section 219of the NDAA – which establishes theUS-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative– also had Republican representatives protesting the bill’s passage. “Section 219 is a betrayal of our sovereignty,” Kentucky conservativeThomas Massiesaid on X. Far-right firebrandLauren Boebertalsosaidshe sat out on the NDAA votebecause of Section 219. More to come.