All I Wanted for Christmas Was a National Defense Authorization Act

Brandon ValerianoWe finally have an NDAA! This is exciting news for many, mainly because operating under a Continuing Resolution  is detrimental to national defense, since it funds past priorities without updating our outlays in light of evolving events and challenges.The FY 2020NDAA includes some provisions that might excite us, such federal parental leave, more support for child care within the military, and a pay increase for the military to retain the best and increase social services. Other contributions are less than enthralling (a paragraph on firefighting foam?!?).AsChris Preble notes, one of the main failings of the current NDAA is ripping out any provisions to revisit the AUMFs passed after 9/11 and the Iraq War. Yet  there are many other critical issues left untouched.The key challenge is the executive branch can still pilfer funds for its pet projects, such as the border wall, that Congress has allocated for other means. This infringement on legislative oversight is troubling, and it is a symptom of the wider confusion over just how the Overseas Contingency Operations fund should be used. Continuing to  authorize $71.5 billion for what amounts to a slush fund will be a decision we will look back on for decades with amazement. This financial black hole is not the place to stuff priorities that should be decided through the normal legislative process.Funding the Space Force is a reckless effort in expanding bureaucratic waste. Instead, the effort should continue ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs