The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by an 84-13 vote on Friday, defying President Trump’s threat to veto the bill if it does not repeal liability protections for social media companies.
Why it matters: Both the House and Senate have now passed the bill by a veto-proof two-thirds majority, though it’s unclear if the same number of lawmakers that voted to pass the bill would vote to overturn a Trump veto. Overriding Trump’s veto would serve as a rare Republican rebuke to the president in his last weeks in office.
- The NDAA, which this year authorizes a $740 billion budget for essential defense spending, will now head to Trump’s desk. It has been passed by Congress every year since 1967.
- The bill includes provisions that would grant a pay raise for troops, allow paid parental leave for federal employees and boost anti-discrimination protections for federal employees. Continue reading.