WASHINGTON – Accelerating the process of “fully restoring America’s military might,” President Donald Trump has signed an annual massive defense bill involving around $700 billion into law.
Trump signed the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) at a ceremony in the White House on Tuesday. Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
The massive defense policy bill will not come into force until Congress decides to withdraw a 2011 law under which the defense budget among other federal spendings of the country was cut. According to the law, the US can spend $549 billion in 2018, but the budget will increase if US lawmakers agree to roll back the previous law.
The NDAA does not provide fundings but it authorizes “fiscal year 2018 appropriations principally for Department of Defense programs and military construction, and Department of Energy national security programs; authorizes recruitment and retention bonuses, special payments, and other authorities relating to the U.S. Armed Forces; and provides authorities related to and makes other modifications to national security, foreign affairs, and other related programs”.
In his remarks, Trump said: “In recent years, our military has undergone a series of deep budget cuts that have severely impacted our readiness, shrunk our capabilities, and placed substantial burdens on our warfighters”. He added, “When you weaken your defenses, you invite aggression”.
He further said that the legislation will enhance our readiness, expand our modernized — and modernize our forces, and help provide our servicemembers with the tools that they need to fight and to win.
“The NDAA increases the size of the American Armed Forces for the first time in seven years, and it provides our military servicemembers with their largest pay increase in eight years”.
He also urged Congress to approve the legislation to boost the strength of the armed forces. He says “Congress must finish the job by eliminating the defense sequester and passing a clean appropriations bill. I think it’s going to happen. We need our military”.
