The NDAA: Congress’s Silent Coup Against President Trump's Authority
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 is not just another defense bill—it is a calculated effort to undermine President Trump’s incoming administration, entrench progressive priorities, and strip the executive branch of its constitutional authority. This bill codifies perpetual support for Ukraine, entrenches controversial diversity and inclusion initiatives, and favors legacy defense contractors over innovative companies like SpaceX and Anduril Industries. Below is a critical analysis of how this legislation threatens to derail the Trump agenda and compromise American sovereignty.
Ukraine and Russia Provisions: Codifying Endless War
Section 1303: This section is a blatant effort to block President Trump from negotiating peace in Ukraine. By prohibiting any recognition of Russian sovereignty over Ukrainian territory, Congress ensures that any potential deal involving territorial concessions—a common feature in peace negotiations—would be dead on arrival. This provision strips the President of a critical diplomatic tool, effectively forcing the United States into a policy of endless conflict. This is a direct attack on the administration’s ability to prioritize American interests over a European stalemate.
Sections 6412 and 6413: These provisions institutionalize U.S. involvement in Ukraine by mandating continuous assessments and working groups. Under the guise of "lessons learned," they create a bureaucratic framework that locks the U.S. into the conflict indefinitely. This is not about accountability; it is about ensuring that President Trump cannot withdraw U.S. support without facing massive institutional resistance. These measures are designed to trap the administration in an endless cycle of dependency and escalation.
Budget Shackles: Blocking Flexibility to Address Urgent Crises
General Transfer Authority: By requiring Congressional approval for reallocating defense funds, this provision effectively neuters the administration’s ability to respond to emerging threats like the border crisis. President Trump’s commitment to securing the southern border would be hamstrung by these restrictions, leaving vital resources locked in less critical areas. This is a deliberate chokehold designed to obstruct urgent executive action.
Funding Earmarks: The bill diverts significant resources to climate resilience and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. These ideological projects siphon funds away from border security, military modernization, and other pressing needs. By entrenching DEI programs, Congress ensures that these divisive policies remain embedded in the Pentagon, obstructing efforts to depoliticize the military and restore focus on mission-critical objectives.
Climate and Energy: Undermining Energy Independence
Section 319: This section weaponizes environmental regulations to obstruct fossil fuel energy projects on military installations. By embedding legal hurdles and empowering activists, Congress ensures that President Trump’s energy independence agenda is stalled at every turn. This is not about sustainability; it is about sabotaging the administration’s efforts to prioritize reliable energy sources that strengthen national security.
Military Justice and Personnel: Entrenching Woke Policies
Section 569E: This provision weaponizes mental health protections to shield certain groups from scrutiny or reassignment. If the Trump administration seeks to remove unfit or transgender individuals from critical positions, this section could be used to create endless legal and bureaucratic roadblocks. It effectively ensures that DEI and woke policies remain untouchable, regardless of their impact on military readiness.
Section 1115: While this section imposes a hiring freeze on new DEI positions, it leaves the existing infrastructure intact. By shielding entrenched bureaucracies, Congress ensures that any attempt to dismantle these programs will require exhaustive justification and litigation. This is a calculated move to block meaningful reform.
Middle East and Counterterrorism: Sabotaging U.S. Policy on Iran
Sections 1224 and 1225: These sections impose burdensome notification and reporting requirements on arms trafficking and Iran-related activities. This micromanagement effectively ties the administration’s hands, making it nearly impossible to recalibrate U.S. policy on Iran. Congress is using these provisions to dictate foreign policy, undermining the President’s ability to act decisively in addressing threats.
Indo-Pacific and AUKUS: Surrendering Sovereignty to Foreign Powers
Sections 1331–1334: These provisions mandate extensive coordination with Japan and Australia under AUKUS agreements, effectively subordinating U.S. decision-making to foreign governments. This erodes the President’s authority to act unilaterally, granting Japan and Australia undue influence over American defense policy. This is not partnership; it is a surrender of sovereignty.
Section 1313: By locking in funding for Indo-Pacific initiatives, this provision prevents the administration from reallocating resources to domestic priorities like border security. Congress is using this to hamstring President Trump’s ability to address urgent crises at home, forcing adherence to a rigid and outdated strategic framework.
Cyber and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Sabotaging Innovation
Sections 1503–1547: These provisions impose heavy bureaucratic burdens on cybersecurity and AI programs, stalling the rollout of Trump-era initiatives. The incoming AI and Crypto Czar, David Sacks, would face an uphill battle to implement transformative reforms, as Congress ensures that oversight mechanisms and procedural delays cripple innovation. This is a direct attack on efforts to modernize U.S. defenses.
Section 1531: This "Human Factors Integration Initiative" embeds layers of compliance that conflict with rapid adoption of cutting-edge AI technologies. It is a Trojan horse designed to stall AI advancements, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to adversaries who are unencumbered by such restrictions.
Congressional Overreach: Undermining Executive Authority
Section 1067: This provision requires Congressional notification for executive orders related to defense. It is a blatant violation of the separation of powers, allowing Congress to delay or obstruct critical military actions. This unprecedented overreach ensures that the President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief is subordinated to legislative whims, jeopardizing national security.
Sections 1066 and 1068: By mandating prolonged studies on autonomous weapons, these sections protect legacy contractors and block innovative companies like Anduril Industries from deploying cutting-edge systems. This is a calculated move to entrench outdated technologies and stifle competition.
Industrial Base: Targeting Innovators Like SpaceX
Section 866: This section prioritizes traditional rocket motor technologies, targeting companies like SpaceX by favoring legacy contractors. By dictating which technologies receive funding, Congress is undermining innovation and ensuring that the defense-industrial complex remains entrenched. This provision is a direct attack on President Trump’s efforts to leverage modern technologies for defense purposes.
Conclusion: A Blueprint for Sabotage
The NDAA for FY2025 is not a defense bill—it is a blueprint for sabotaging the Trump administration. By codifying endless wars, entrenching woke policies, and subordinating executive authority to Congress and foreign powers, this legislation represents an unprecedented assault on the President’s ability to govern. To overcome these challenges, the administration must fight back with bold executive actions and strategic negotiations to dismantle these constraints and restore the sovereignty of the executive branch.
If you don't already, please follow me on 𝕏 at https://x.com/amuse or medium.