Washington: The Democratic-controlled House has voted to override President Donald Trump’s veto of a defense policy bill.
House members voted 322-87 to override the veto, properly above the two-thirds necessary to override. If authorized by two-thirds of the Senate, the override would be the 1st of Trump’s presidency.
Trump rejected the defense bill final week, saying it failed to limit social media organizations he claims have been biased against him throughout his failed reelection campaign.
Trump also opposes language that permits for the renaming of military bases that honor Confederate leaders.
The defense bill, recognized as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, affirms 3 per cent spend raises for US troops and authorises more than USD 740 billion in military applications and building.
Trump’s veto of the bill provoked swift condemnation, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it “an act of staggering recklessness that harms our troops, endangers our security and undermines the will of the bipartisan Congress”.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, named the bill “absolutely vital to our national security and our troops,” adding, “Our guys and ladies who volunteer to put on the uniform should not be denied what they want – ever”.