Aerospace Industries Assoc. To Trump: NDAA Veto ‘Undermines Security,’ Calls For Congress To Override

WASHINGTON: For 59 years in a row Congress has passed and presidents have signed the National Defense Authorization Act. Today President Donald Trump vetoed the bill that authorizes spending for the military which includes raises for troops at home and serving overseas.

The powerful Aerospace Industries Association, the single largest advocate for the defense industry, was unequivocal in its reaction to the veto:

“There is no more essential duty for the American government than to ensure the safety and security of its people. The President’s veto undermines our national security preparedness and jeopardizes the jobs of Americans who make up our defense industrial base at a time when the country is in crisis. It is also a letdown for our troops and their families, both of who selflessly continue to serve our country. We urge Congress to prioritize national security and override this veto,” said a statement by AIA President & CEO Eric Fanning.

The top Democrats on the Senate and House Armed Services Committees issued a sharply worded critiques of the president’s action.

Rep. Adam Smith, HASC chairman, said the president “has made it clear that does not care about the needs of our military personnel and their families,” adding, “while the President may not care about our service members and their families, Congress still places an immense value on their service and sacrifice.”

Ranking SASC chairman Sen. Jack Reed said:

“This veto seems to be Trump’s parting gift to Putin and a lump of coal for our troops. This bill is critically important to our national defense and the quality of life for Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen. Not only is President Trump denying troops in the field hazard pay, he is also refusing to provide critical help for their families including health care and other support.

“Donald Trump is showing more devotion to Confederate base names than to the men and women who defend our nation. His irrational veto of this bipartisan NDAA fails U.S. forces that are serving in harm’s way and harms U.S. national security.”

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican, had already planned to counter any veto and has scheduled a Senate session for Dec. 29. McConnell, and his Democratic counterpart, Charles Schumer, agreed to a rare post-Christmas session when the august body would “process” a veto override should the House pass one.

“My intention was and is to ensure the Senate continues fulfilling our obligation to the men and women of our armed forces. I hope the president will not veto this bill,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. But he has.

A stalwart Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham, tweeted today that “Congress should vote to Repeal Section 230 as requested by President @realDonaldTrump. I will not vote to override presidential veto unless effort is made to wind down Section 230.”

Congress has made clear to the president they do not value his criticisms of the bill. The Senate approved it 84-13; the House vote was 335-78-1.

The only question is, will Republicans in the House and Senate stand with President Trump or oppose him on this matter. If they oppose him, it will be another in a string of losses by the president following losing the presidential election last month, followed by over 50 court losses trying to overturn the results in a series of battleground states.

The administration’s biggest objection to the bill involves language that would repeal a law that protects social media companies from lawsuits, Sec. 230.

In a statement this afternoon, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, James Inhofe, argued Congress should pull that measure from the bill and vote on it separately: “We can and should use another legislative vehicle to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act – a priority the President and I share.”

It’s not clear yet whether Sen. McConnell agrees with Inhofe. At least once in recent history a vetoed NDAA was subject to a similar tweak and passed. In today’s political climate who knows what might happen.

The president’s statement reiterated the reasons he’s given earlier for threatening to veto the bill and Congress has made clear they do not agree. “I will not approve this bill, which would put the interests of the Washington, D.C. establishment over those of the American people.”

Trump is still weighing another veto of the $2.3 trillion omnibus package passed by Congress earlier this week, which would fund the entire federal government and provide $900 billion in Covid relief. On Tuesday night, Trump posted a video to his Twitter account railing against foreign aid, which he claimed to be part of the Covid package. The aid, which the Trump White House itself requested earlier this year, is actually part of the federal funding bill.

The final decision lies with Congress.