House Democrats Support the NDAA, Even Though Their Amendments Got Sidelined

Democrats’ proposals for additional accountability measures for the Pentagon were voted down.

NDAA Rogers Smith
Tom Williams/AP

House Democrats want the National Defense Authorization Act to put a check on the Pentagon’s power. One major obstacle to getting those proposed changes in? They are already in favor of the bill.

Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, began the marathon markup Tuesday by saying the bill was an “excellent product.” He commended the committee’s chair, Rep. Mike Rogers, with doing an “outstanding job bringing people together … to prepare us to get the text right.”

Still, there was plenty that Democrats said wasn’t right with the text on Tuesday.