White House lists gripes with House defense policy bill

The White House is objecting to a slew of provisions in the annual defense policy bill being considered by the House this week, but says it still “supports ultimate passage.”

“The Administration appreciates the continued work of the House Armed Services Committee (Committee) on behalf of our national defense,” the White House said in a statement of administration policy issued late Tuesday. “The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an essential step in securing the Nation, and the Administration supports ultimate passage of an NDAA for the 57th consecutive year.”

The House took up its version of the NDAA on Tuesday night and is set to continue debating amendments Wednesday.

The bill would authorize about $717 billion in defense spending, including $616.7 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget and $69 billion for a war fund known as the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account.{mosads}

The money would go toward increasing the military’s end strength by 15,600 troops, giving service members at 2.6 percent pay raise, buying more equipment such as 77 F-35 fighter jets and funding more training operations to help address a slew of deadly accidents.

The bill also would authorize three more ships than the administration requested — one aircraft carrier and two littoral combat ships. But the administration said it objects to the extra aircraft carrier, arguing it “may not be sustainable” at the Navy’s current funding level.

The administration also took issue with the bill’s elimination of $222.2 million for the Boeing C-135B Stratolifter, which is used to carry out observation flights as part of a multilateral treaty known as Open Skies. The cut in funding is a response to accusations that Russia is violating the treaty, and the committee argues the United States has other means of surveillance than what’s allowed by Open Skies.

But the administration argued that “at present, the United States is not able to fully exercise its rights under the [Open Skies Treaty] as some Open Skies airfields are not accessible to the current OC-135B aircraft.”

Amid the list of objections, the statement also expressed support for the provision that would allow sanctions waivers for allies who have bought Russian weapons.

“As United States allies and partners support United States national security activities while they transition to non-Russian systems, it is important that waiver relief for this purpose be included in this legislation,” the statement said.

The White House also “strongly objects” to the fact that the bill does not address the administration’s request for a high-value detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, the statement said. The Pentagon requested $69 million to replace the top-secret portion of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility that houses 15 high-value detainees.

“The president has ordered continued detention operations at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay,” the statement said. “The current facility for high value detainees is experiencing structural and system failures that, if unaddressed, could in the future pose life and safety risks to our guard forces and the detainees being held there; it also does not meet the requirements of the aging detainee population.”

There were also several objections to reorganization efforts in the bill, including the provision that would create a new numbered air force dedicated to space and a new U.S. Space Command. President Trump has expressed support for a military branch dedicated to space, and supporters of the NDAA’s provision say it will lay the groundwork for that to eventually happen.

But the administration argued in its statement that the Pentagon is still reviewing its space organization as required by Congress last year. It will “consult with Congress” when that review is done, the statement added.

“The administration appreciates the committee’s continued focus and attention as it executes its oversight responsibilities of our nation’s military space capabilities and forces,” the statement said. “However, the administration believes that section 1601 is premature.”