Freedom Caucus members are against voting on NDAA this week, questioning the need for haste.

House Freedom Caucus Delays Vote on National Defense Authorization Act

Members of the House Freedom Caucus are pushing back against bringing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the floor for a vote this week, challenging House leadership’s timeline. Their stance threatens to delay the bill’s passage out of the chamber.

Following a meeting off-site of the Capitol on Tuesday evening, conservative caucus members expressed their support for further deliberation on the bill instead of rushing it through as soon as it advances out of the House Rules Committee.

“What’s the rush?” questioned House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) during a press briefing. “When you think about it, the NDAA doesn’t have to pass this week. Why are we rushing through this?… I want it to be right when it passes. These are passed timely, but we have until November or whatever. We don’t have to do it now. So it needs to be correct.”

Perry emphasized the importance of ensuring the bill is “right and righteous” rather than hastily approved. He pointed out that the current number of amendments, exceeding 1,400, indicates the need for further refinement.

Representative Michael Cloud (R-TX) echoed Perry’s sentiment, stating, “I think if we have more time, we probably have a better bill.”

Other members of the Freedom Caucus, including Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC), who serves on the House Rules Committee, also expressed doubts about the NDAA coming up for a floor vote this week, according to Punchbowl News.

While not delving into specifics, Perry revealed that he and many caucus members have identified “half a dozen major issues” within the NDAA that require addressing before the bill can successfully pass.

The House Rules Committee reconvened at 11 p.m. on Tuesday night to continue their consideration of the NDAA.

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