On Friday, the House voted on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. While this legislation has historically had bipartisan support, this year, House Democrats added provisions that will hurt U.S. national security. Former President Obama’s years of strapped defense budgets left our military in need of consistent funding. This year, President Trump presented a budget that reflects the National Defense Strategy and was endorsed by the bi-partisan National Strategy Commission, which included former senior Obama officials. The bill put forth by the Democrats rejected these recommendations and instead:
• Cuts personnel accounts that fund troop pay, benefits and housing by $1.2 billion.
• Cuts critical funding for hypersonics, ship construction, 5G development and rapid innovation programs that are designed to deter Russia and China.
• Cuts our nuclear deterrent programs, including programs advocated by Obama Administration officials.
• Cuts readiness recovery, training and facilities maintenance just as bipartisan efforts have begun to fix the readiness crisis.
• Bans construction projects on the border and places severe restrictions on the military’s traditional missions in supporting border security. While blocking the use of military funds for border security, the NDAA is so restrictive in how DOD will transfer funds for emerging requirements it could damage our agility.
• Seeks to force the closure of GTMO. Taken together, the provisions in the NDAA represent a backdoor effort to force the Administration to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and move terrorists to the United States.
The Senate passed a bipartisan version of this bill on a vote of 86-8, providing the $750 Billion needed by the Pentagon next year. In contrast, House Democrats voted on funding cuts that have real and serious consequences on key efforts to restore readiness, sustain our forces, deter Russia and China, and ensure military modernization.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.