Defense | Voter.org

Passing 2025 defense spending bill will be ‘particularly difficult’

April 9, 2024 2025, Particularly, Defense, spending, Bill, 'difficult, passing0 comment

While passing the 2024 defense budget was arduous as lawmakers struggled to agree on government funding plans for nearly six months into the fiscal year, negotiating the 2025 defense spending is shaping up to be “particularly difficult.” The Pentagon proposed a fiscal 2025 budget of $ 849.8 billion, about 1% higher than this year’s budget request. The top line figure aligns with the Fiscal Responsibility Act passed last year, which sets limits on defense and non-defense discretionary spending. Defense officials said the 1% increase would not be enough to cover…

‘I didn’t do that’: Biden goes on defense over honoring Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter

April 1, 2024 That., Transgender, honoring, Visibility, Over, Biden, Defense, goes, Easter, didn't0 comment

President Biden stoked more outrage over his decision to honor Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, which was also Easter, by issuing a head-scratching denial Monday as the White House blamed the political backlash on “misinformation.” The Washington Times stories: White House

National Defense Authorization Act moves a lot of chess pieces

December 19, 2023 moves, pieces, Authorization, chess, Defense, National0 comment

The National Defense Authorization Act, which Congress finished just days ago, moves the marker on several matters peripherally connected to the armed forces. Covington and Burling attorneys Alex Hastings and Michelle Pearce dropped by the Federal News Network studios in Chevy Chase, Maryland to talk with the Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Interview Transcript: Tom Temin Let’s start with the big picture here because there’s a lot of specific provisions throughout this bill. But what fundamentally is Congress and the national security establishment, which informs much of what happens in…

Big pay raise for troops in defense bill sent to Biden. Conservatives stymied on cultural issues

December 15, 2023 Defense, issues, Conservatives, Bill, sent, Troops, “Cultural, stymied, raise, Biden0 comment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed a defense policy bill Thursday that authorizes the biggest pay raise for troops in more than two decades, overcoming objections from some conservatives concerned the measure did not do enough to restrict the Pentagon’s diversity initiatives, abortion travel policy and gender-affirming health care for transgender service members. The $ 886 billion bill was approved by a vote of 310-118 and now goes to President Joe Biden after the Senate had overwhelmingly passed it Wednesday. It is likely the last piece of major legislation Congress…

Christmas cometh; whither the Defense Authorization bill?

December 11, 2023 Defense, Bill, Christmas, Authorization, cometh, whither0 comment

It’s down to the wire for the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, over which the House and Senate are still working out differences. This as Congress prepares to depart for the holidays. For the details, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Bloomberg Government Deputy News Director Loren Duggan. Interview transcript: Tom Temin So they just need to vote, or what’s left yet to do, so that they make their annual deadline of end of calendar year? Loren Duggan Yeah, this is all about getting the final product across the…

Democrats’ Evolving Defense Means Biden Impeachment Closing In, GOP Congressman Says

November 9, 2023 Democrats, Biden, says, Defense, Means, Closing, Congressman, Impeachment, Evolving0 comment

Democrats’ evolving defense of President Joe Biden and his family’s business activities speaks volumes about where the congressional investigation that is now an impeachment inquiry is going, says Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga. “If the evidence wasn’t legitimate evidence, they would still be at their very first position,” Clyde, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, told The Daily Signal in a phone interview Wednesday. “But they are not because the evidence has refuted their position. It’s going to refute their position all the way to the point of legitimate articles…