The US Congress on Friday dealt President Donald Trump a blow in his last days in office with the Senate voting overwhelmingly to override his veto of a sweeping defense bill, the first time lawmakers have done so during his presidency.
By a lopsided vote of 81-13, well more than the two-thirds of the 100-member chamber required, the Republican-controlled Senate approved the $740.5 billion National Defense Authorization Act to fund the military for fiscal 2021.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives had voted 322 to 87 on Monday to override Trump’s veto.
Both houses of Congress had easily passed the legislation in early December by strong majorities, but Trump, citing a litany of objections, vetoed it on December 23.
“It’s time for us to deliver this bill,” Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said at the start of Friday’s session.
“It’s our chance to remind brave service members and their families that we have their backs.”
The vote completed a stunning rebuke in the waning weeks of Trump’s presidency.
It came in an extraordinary New Year’s Day session necessitated by his veto, possibly the final act of the outgoing Congress.
New members will be sworn in on Sunday, just 17 days before Democrat Joe Biden is inaugurated to succeed Trump.
Source: AFP
