National Defense Authorization Act

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House OKs Defense Bill With Eyebrow- Raising Extras

Add-ons in annual legislation include restrictions on abortion, transgender health care, diversity training

(Newser) - The US House on Friday approved a sweeping annual defense bill that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with political add-ons from Republicans to block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon, and transgender issues that deeply divided the chamber....

Adviser: Biden Has Plan to Speed Up Vaccine Production

'You will see him invoking the Defense Production Act,' adviser says

(Newser) - With the pandemic on course to kill more Americans than died in World War II, President-elect Joe Biden is planning to invoke a wartime law to boost vaccine production, according to a member of his COVID-19 advisory board. "You will see him invoking the Defense Production Act," Dr....

House Passes Defense Bill Trump Promised to Veto

It calls for renaming of military bases that honor Confederate officers

(Newser) - A $740 billion defense policy bill that President Trump threatened to veto has passed the House with a veto-proof 295-125 majority, with 108 Republicans voting in favor of the 2021 Defense Authorization Act and 43 Democrats voting against. The bill calls for military bases and other properties named after Confederate...

Trump Doubles Down on Base Renaming With New Threat

'I will Veto' $740B annual defense bill if Elizabeth Warren-proposed amendment is included

(Newser) - An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act regarding the renaming of US military bases paying tribute to Confederate leaders has already been approved in a voice vote by the Senate's Armed Services Committee. But President Trump has just made clear he doesn't intend to let it get...

Military Bill Forces Statement About Saudi Prince

Intelligence chief must make determination on whether MBS ordered Khashoggi killing

(Newser) - The acting director of national intelligence will have 30 days to present a formal determination on the killers of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi under the military bill passed by the House this week. Though the White House was insistent that punitive measures against the Saudi regime be stripped from...

House Passes Bill Including Space Force, Parental Leave

Trump urges Senate to pass defense bill

(Newser) - The military will get a new branch and federal workers will get up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave under a massive $738 billion military bill policy passed by the House Wednesday. The Hill reports that the National Defense Authorization Act passed 377-48, with most of the votes against...

Huawei Requests Speedy End to 'Illegal' US Ban

It's seeking summary judgment, perhaps to avoid discovery

(Newser) - Huawei is accelerating with its lawsuit against the US government, demanding Washington "halt illegal action" against the world's largest telecommunications company. The Trump administration has banned government agencies from doing business with the Chinese firm, fearing Beijing could use Huawei devices for spying. But Huawei's chief legal...

Women Won't Have to Register for Draft After All

One senator calls it 'a victory for common sense'

(Newser) - Should conscription ever again be necessary in the United States, it'll still be men called first. Though now eligible to fill combat posts, women will not be forced to register for involuntary military service beginning in January 2018. The provision mandating that women sign up—backed by women's...

Defense Bill Could Allow Rendition of Americans

President would be able to send terrorist suspects anywhere he wants

(Newser) - President Obama has signaled that he will sign a defense bill this week that includes language giving him broad powers to indefinitely detain terror suspects—including, many legal analysts believe, American citizens. Now, Mother Jones has spotted another charming provision in the bill that would allow the rendition of terror...

No Clear Way for US to Prosecute Gitmo Prisoners
No Clear Way for US to Prosecute Gitmo Prisoners
ANALYSIS

No Clear Way for US to Prosecute Gitmo Prisoners

Experts split on whether to use federal courts or military commissions

(Newser) - President Obama is edging closer to his goal of closing the Guantanamo Bay prison: Congress has approved detainee trials on US soil and the National Defense Authorization Act, passed yesterday, attempts to repair the damaged legality of President Bush’s military-commissions system. But hurdles remain, with legal scholars split on...

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