Defense & Intelligence Policy, Business and Technology

Senators eye defense bill as a way to challenge Trump's foreign policy

The Washington Post: Rank-and-file senators are eyeing the annual defense bill the Senate will take up this week as a chance to challenge President Trump’s recent controversial moves on national security — but thus far, Republican leaders have resisted their efforts.

Senators of both parties are drafting amendments that would step up sanctions against North Korea, roll back Trump’s order to ban transgender troops from the military and force Congress to vote within six months on a replacement authorization for use of military force, or AUMF, against extremist groups. Each of those initiatives grapples with an international crisis that Trump has tackled — with mixed reviews — in the past several weeks, from committing troops to combat in Afghanistan to promising “fire and fury” against North Korea.

But the defense bill’s gatekeeper, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), has not promised support to any of the amendments and has been unclear about whether he will even allow the measures a vote on the floor.

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