President Donald Trump signs the Fiscal 2018 defense authorization bill at the White House on Tuesday. Screenshot from White House video.
President Donald Trump signed the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act during a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.
“This historical legislation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our men and women in uniform, the greatest fighting force in the history of the world,” Trump said in remarks made before the signing. “This legislation represents a momentous step toward rebuilding our military and securing the future for our children.”
Trump said the bill, which authorizes $700 billion in national defense spending, will “enhance our readiness, expand and modernize our forces, and provide our service members with the tools they need to fight and win.”
The NDAA “authorizes funding for our continued campaign against ISIS,” which Trump said has seen “more success … in the last eight months than the entire previous administration has had during its entire term.”
Trump also said the bill “improves missile defense capabilities,” allowing the administration to place “maximum pressure on the vile dictatorship in North Korea.”
In order for the increased NDAA funding levels to take effect, however, Congress must act further to alter the spending caps set by the 2011 Budget Control Act. Trump acknowledged this challenge and asked Congress to “finish the job by eliminating the defense sequester and passing a clean appropriations bill.”
“We need our military,” Trump said, “it’s got to be perfecto.”