Reconsideration of the National Defense Authorization Act... US Congress Overrides Trump’s Veto for the First Time

Including Clause Restricting USFK Reduction
House Passes, Senate Reconsideration Expected
House Also Approves $2000 Cash Payment
Biden Supports $2000 Payment... Expected to Be Discussed by Next Administration

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is attending the plenary session on the 28th. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Congress has reapproved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). With the Senate also expected to reapprove the NDAA the following day, it is anticipated that the first veto override since President Trump's inauguration will take place. The House of Representatives, led by the Democratic Party, also passed a bill proposing a $2,000 cash payment to all citizens as advocated by President Trump, but its passage in the Republican-led Senate remains uncertain.

According to U.S. media including CNN, on the 28th (local time), the House reapproved the NDAA for fiscal year 2021, which includes provisions preventing the reduction of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea from current levels, with 322 votes in favor and 87 against. This surpasses the two-thirds majority required to override President Trump's veto. If the Senate follows suit on the 29th and reapproves the NDAA, the president's veto will be nullified. U.S. media outlets predict that the Senate will also reapprove the NDAA.

President Trump vetoed the $740 billion NDAA, arguing that Congress's restrictions on reducing U.S. troop numbers in South Korea, Germany, and Afghanistan are unconstitutional.

The House also passed a bill to increase the individual stimulus payment related to the COVID-19 pandemic from $600 to $2,000. The bill, which both the House and Senate agreed upon and which President Trump signed the day before, provided up to $600 per adult for economic stimulus. The Democratic Party launched an offensive, insisting on raising the payment to $2,000 despite President Trump's signature on the bill. The Democrats had originally advocated for a $2,000 payment.

However, the likelihood of the bill passing the Senate is low. The Republican majority in the Senate opposes the increase in the stimulus payment. If the Republicans reject the bill in the Senate, it would be seen as defying President Trump, drawing significant attention. A major foreign news outlet reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made no comments regarding the vote.

The $2,000 payment is expected to be discussed in the next administration as well. President-elect Joe Biden expressed support for the $2,000 payment during a press conference that day. If the Democratic Party wins both Senate runoff seats in Georgia's election on January 5, becoming the Senate majority, the $2,000 payment is likely to gain strong momentum.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.