NDAA MARATHON MARKUP: Grab your energy drinks. Rep. Mac Thornberry and his House Armed Services Committee begin a marathon markup of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act this morning. The mammoth bill already includes nearly $631 billion in base defense spending and $65 billion for overseas operations, about $29 billion more than Trump’s proposal to buy additional aircraft, ships and troops. But committee debate over the legislation will happen today as members vote on scores of amendments during an annual markup session that lasts into the wee hours of the morning.
At the same time, Sen. John McCain and the Senate Armed Services Committee also appeared likely to complete their version of the NDAA bill today after a whirlwind series of closed hearings that began Monday. That could put Congress’ two visions of defense policy for the coming fiscal year on the table before the July 4 break. McCain, a defense hawk like Thornberry, has pressed for $640 billion in base defense spending and $60 billion in the OCO account.
