The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2021 (H.R. 6395) authorizes $740 billion in military spending. When President Donald Trump vetoed the NDAA on December 23, 2020, he stated in his veto message that “my administration recognizes the importance of the Act to our national security.” But, he also said, “Numerous provisions in the Act particularly contradict my Administration’s foreign policy, particularly my efforts to bring the troops home. I oppose endless wars, as does the American public.” He also cited other reasons for vetoing the NDAA, including Congress’ failure to end Section 230, which protects the social-media giants from liability for content posted on their sites, allowing them to create leftist monopolies.
The Senate overrode President Trump’s veto of the NDAA on January 1, 2021 by a vote of 81 to 13 (Roll Call 292). We have assigned pluses to the nays because the act includes spending not only for legitimate national defense, but also for military interventionism in foreign lands that does not make America safer. Also, the legislation undercuts the president’s legitimate authority as commander-in-chief by restricting his ability to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea.
