"Partisan Minefields Threaten Passage of 62-Year Defense Bill in Senate and House"

The annual Defense authorization bill, which has historically passed Congress on time for 62 years, is facing significant challenges in the Senate and House due to partisan disagreements. Conservatives are opposing the inclusion of a short-term surveillance authorization and demanding military policy reforms, targeting issues such as abortion reimbursement, gender transition surgery, and critical race theory. There are also disputes over adding legislation related to cryptocurrencies and compensating victims of nuclear contamination. These conflicts threaten to derail the bill's passage before Christmas, as it becomes a magnet for controversy in the absence of other spending bills.