This.

Isn't that what the culture war is all about? Distract from the fact that republicans and democrats really aren't that different when it comes to their support in the military industrial complex?

Rand Paul (R) from Kentucky

from Grok:

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, officially titled the "Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025" (H.R. 5009), was signed into law by President Joe Biden on December 23, 2024. Here are some key details about the NDAA 2025:

Budget Authorization: The bill authorizes $895 billion for military spending, marking a 1% increase from the previous fiscal year. This includes funding for various defense-related activities, military construction, and defense programs at the Department of Energy.

Military Pay and Quality of Life: It includes a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for all other Department of Defense (DoD) personnel, effective from April 1. There are also provisions aimed at improving the quality of life for military personnel, including measures to support spouses and families.

Policy and Provisions: The act includes the Intelligence Authorization Act but allows some Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) provisions from the previous year to lapse.

It has provisions that could impact international negotiations or fora due to restrictions on executive branch actions, which has raised some concerns from the President.

There are specific authorizations and policies for defense activities, including support for technologies like counter-drone defenses and AI, and security initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.

Controversial Elements: Some sections of the act have been contentious, such as those related to gender identity policies within the military, which could affect healthcare coverage for service members' families.

The bill passed with significant support but faced opposition from some Democrats over certain social policy amendments.

International Relations: The act also includes provisions for international cooperation, notably with Taiwan under the new Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative to enhance defense capabilities and bilateral ties.

This NDAA reflects ongoing debates about defense spending, military policy, and international strategy, with a focus on both military readiness and service member welfare.

Yup, spending our hard earned money before it's even made. Love being a good ole tax slave to people who's incomes are never effected by their own decisions.

Wonder how many times Warren and Vance have been on the same page voting-wise.

What is the problem? It is just too bad that it doesn't take a 2/3s majority to pass this kind of isht. Perhaps Trump will start impounding the monies for the bases he will be closing and the biowarfare labs he will be closing. :) I can see that the surface fleet will be coming back due to the new forms of warfare and the cost disadvantages of having some of those ships sunk by cheap weapons. He may even ground some of the ultra-expensive aircraft that are easily shot down. Those idiots passed the NDAA bill just to waste all of the resources that can be taken out by such things as drones and cheaper missiles. Disgusting. :(