Trump signs $716 bln defense authorization bill

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Monday signed the 716-billion-dollar National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law.

The bill for the fiscal year 2019 was named after Republican Senator John Mccain, a former Republican presidential nominee and one of Trump's leading critics within the party.

The president made a speech before his signature at Fort Drum, a northern New York military base, but didn't mention the ailing senator's name.

The bill provides about 616.9 billion dollars for the base Pentagon budget, 21.9 billion for nuclear weapons and 69 billion in war funding.

It also authorizes a 2.6-percent pay raise for members of the military, boosts the ranks of the US military services by 15,600 active troops and approves the purchase of 13 new Navy warships and 77 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets.

The bill was passed 87 to 10 in the Senate on Aug. 1 after being approved by the House.

Every year, the House and Senate come together to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes the policies under which funding will be set by the appropriations committees.