Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is not shy about wielding his veto power, as he recently threatened to veto the House version of the 2024 defense bill. The White House criticized several Republican provisions in the bill that clash with the administration’s policies. While the amount of the bill aligned with what the Biden administration requested, it contained amendments related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, abortion, and transgender policies that the administration opposes.
The White House emphasized that House Republicans are wasting time with partisan bills that cut domestic spending to levels below the agreed-upon fiscal responsibility agreements. These cuts would have a detrimental impact on climate change and clean energy programs, nutrition services, law enforcement, education, and healthcare. Furthermore, the bill would repeal provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that support clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives, causing unacceptable harm.
In addition to these disagreements, the House defense bill also repealed the Department of Defense’s abortion travel policy and prohibited DOD programs from offering sex reassignment surgeries and gender hormone treatments for transgender individuals. It also introduced measures to counter diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the Pentagon. It seems the Republicans are determined to block the Biden administration’s “woke” agenda.
Biden threatens to Veto Republican
House Defence Bill.https://t.co/YC3kWwmHPF— Karen Power T, whutsup (@whutsup9) September 12, 2023
This clash between the House and Senate bills is breaking with historical norms, as the NDAA has typically been passed with strong bipartisan support. Now, members of both chambers will have to negotiate a compromise before the bill can be signed into law. The Senate passed its version of the defense bill, removing some of the GOP amendments, but the final bill will depend on the resolution of these differences.
The House is set to consider the defense bill this week, while the Senate is pushing for a spending level agreed upon between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. However, some Republicans in the House are seeking a lower spending level. It remains to be seen whether Democrats and Republicans can find common ground on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and climate change initiatives. Failing to pass the defense bill before the end of the current fiscal year could lead to a funding lapse and potentially trigger a partial government shutdown. Let the negotiations begin!
