US Debt Ceiling Controversy Delays Draft Defense Policy – Money Times

Congress leaders to us Debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, adjourned on Wednesday, a bill that sets annual policy for the Pentagon, while mandatory legislation dominated the debate over raising the debt ceiling.

House Armed Services subcommittees were scheduled to begin debating the NDAA this week, which governs how the military spends its nearly $1 trillion annual budget. But the debate has been temporarily postponed while lawmakers and the White House talk about raising the government’s $31.4 trillion debt.

Republicans Room A bill passed last month, without Democratic support, would have raised the debt ceiling only in exchange for drastic spending cuts, including sharp cuts in “prudent” spending on social programs.

Democrats criticized the bill and said it would not be considered in the bill SenateHis party controls more seats.

At the same time, Republicans have been pushing to increase defense spending, which exceeded the $850 billion in the NDAA passed last year.

“You can’t raise the defense budget while refusing to take the necessary steps to actually raise the debt ceiling and propose massive cuts to the discretionary budget,” said Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. A statement.

Congress has passed the NDAA every year since 1961. As one of the few major things that become law each year, the NDAA is closely watched as it governs everything from ship and aircraft procurement to how to deal with geopolitical threats.