National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 was a significant piece of congressional legislation that authorized Department of Defense spending and set national security policy for the fiscal year. The act, passed with strong bipartisan support, addressed a wide range of issues from military pay and force structure to major strategic initiatives. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 23, 2016, after extensive negotiations between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Overview and legislative history

The legislation originated as Senate bill S.2943, introduced by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain in May 2016. The bill progressed through the Congress with substantial majorities, reflecting bipartisan agreement on core defense priorities amidst a contentious election year. Key figures in its passage included Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and ranking members like Jack Reed of the Senate. The final version reconciled differences between the House and Senate bills through a conference committee, culminating in a veto-proof majority vote in both chambers.

Major provisions

The act authorized a base budget of approximately $543 billion for the Department of Defense, with an additional $59 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding. It included a 2.1% pay raise for members of the U.S. military, exceeding the administration's request. Major strategic provisions established the European Deterrence Initiative to counter Russian aggression and mandated a comprehensive review of nuclear weapons policy. The legislation also blocked the BRAC process, authorized new attack submarines and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, and strengthened cyber warfare capabilities.

Controversial elements and debate

Significant debate surrounded a provision requiring women to register with the Selective Service System, which was ultimately removed from the final bill. Controversy also arose over amendments related to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, with the act maintaining strict prohibitions on transferring detainees to the United States. Other contentious issues included restrictions on the Pentagon's ability to contract with the Russian firm Rosoboronexport and legislative language seen as opposing the DoD's efforts to address climate change. Advocacy groups like the ACLU criticized continued authorization for military detention under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force.

Implementation and impact

Implementation of the act directed the Pentagon to increase rotational deployments to Eastern Europe under the NATO framework and accelerated the fight against the Islamic State. The mandated Nuclear Posture Review directly influenced subsequent policy under the Trump administration. The funding and authorities provided significantly bolstered the U.S. Pacific Command's presence in the South China Sea and supported ongoing operations in Afghanistan. The prohibition on BRAC forced the military to maintain infrastructure the Secretary of Defense had deemed excess.

Fiscal details and appropriations

The authorized $602 billion in total discretionary spending aligned with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 but exceeded the budget caps set by the Budget Control Act of 2011. The act funded an end strength of 1,281,900 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. It provided $8.1 billion for Special Operations Command activities and over $10 billion for Missile Defense Agency programs, including enhancements to the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system. Separate appropriations bills were required to provide the actual budget outlays authorized by the legislation.

Category:United States federal defense and national security legislation Category:114th United States Congress Category:2016 in American law