The US House of Representatives bill on Friday,
tossing out several amendments aimed at reining in the massive
levels of defence spending and restricting arms sales to human
rights violators and reducing military presence in the Middle
East.
The stage is now set for a potential showdown, as the Senate
will
The fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sets policy for the Pentagon and authorises a record $886bn in spending, and was approved on a slim margin of 219-210.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee's amendment, which sought to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorisations for the use of military force bill.
Anti-war groups and progressive lawmakers say they hope that repealing the AUMFs would rein in the White House's war powers, increase congressional oversight and make military conflict less likely. However, without being included in the NDAA, they would have to repeal them through a stand-alone bill.
Another amendment that didn't make it was introduced by Congressman Jamaal Bowman, and sought to withdraw all US troops from Syria. Bowman has sought to reduce the American military presence in Syria since 2021, following President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw the US military from Afghanistan.