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New Defense Act Includes Provisions to Rename Military Bases That Celebrate the Confederacy
Trump’s veto threat proved to be ineffectual
The National Defense Authorization Act is on its way to the Senate, despite President Donald Trump’s impotent threat to veto it. As CNN reports, “the House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a sweeping defense bill with a veto-proof majority after a veto threat from President Donald Trump sharply divided Republican lawmakers, forcing them to choose between loyalty to him and legislation that sets defense policy for the country.”
This act authorizes defense spending and sets Pentagon policy. This year, it also includes provisions on how much money Trump can designate for his border wall and “another that would require the military to rename bases that were named after figures from the Confederacy.” According to Defense News, “The House appropriators’ plan includes $1 million for ‘the renaming of installations, facilities, roads, and streets that bear the name of confederate leaders and officers since the Army has the preponderance of the entities to change.’”
The vote — and Trump’s threat to veto — left House Republicans split, but the victory was sweeping enough to be veto-proof, “a major rebuke to the president.”
