Obama Vetoes Defense Spending Bill

President Obama vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act — the measure that funds the Defense Department — at an unusual White House ceremony on Oct. 22. The bill, which has been signed into law for 53 consecutive years, is one of only a few pieces of bipartisan legislation.

According to Obama, “As president and commander in chief, my first and most important responsibility is keeping the American people safe,” adding that this bill falls woefully short of doing just that.

After Congress sent the bill to the White House, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, said that vetoing the bill is “not only irresponsible, it just doesn’t make sense.”

One major consequence of a vetoed authorization bill will be the loss of the military’s retirement overhaul, which has been debated for years.