In a 79-10 vote, the Senate today passed the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a $716 billion military spending bill. The bill had already passed in the House last week, and is expected to be signed by President Trump.
The bill sets the base Pentagon budget at $616.9 billion, with another $69 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations, alongside $21.9 billion for the Energy Department for the massive nuclear weapons modernization program.
This was the single largest increase in military spending year-over-year in 15 years, and is the latest in the annual push between President Trump and Congress to see who can outdo the other in spending increases.
The bill authorizes the purchase of 13 new warships, 77 more F-35s, and new low-yield nuclear weapons to be launched by submarine. The $716 billion is by far the most spent by any nation on their military, and almost five times as much as the next largest nation, China.
This bill aims to limit US involvement in the Yemen War, as well as forcing the US to better vet the Syrian factions it arms to prevent arming terrorist groups. The bill also includes language cautioning that nothing in the bill is intended to authorize an attack on Iran.
WOW party on merchants of death.
What could I possibly say that hasn’t already been said about my evil government.
YOUR tax dollars at work, making the rich even richer. That’s what it’s all about, in the end. This is certainly not for “defense” of our country.
It’s to keep the plebeians in control.
We’re just rolling in dough. Yup.
For a country in no danger except for its own stupidity and belligerence, all of this “defense spending” is a huuuge waste. Real efforts at diplomacy, negotiations, keeping to international laws and agreements, rejection of threats and accusations to others ( based on no evidence) would go a long way to reduce tension in the globe, but I suppose would be less profitable for the MIC.
Trump peace train is a steamer……