{"id":45805,"date":"2018-08-14T19:47:33","date_gmt":"2018-08-14T19:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/14\/trump-signals-he-may-ignore-russia-provisions-in-defense-bill-he-just-signed\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:09:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:09:22","slug":"trump-signals-he-may-ignore-russia-provisions-in-defense-bill-he-just-signed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/08\/14\/trump-signals-he-may-ignore-russia-provisions-in-defense-bill-he-just-signed\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump signals he may ignore Russia provisions in defense bill he just signed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement he reserves the right to ignore the defense authorization law\u2019<\/a>s ban on U.S. recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, among 50 other provisions he says tread on his authority as president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump issued a 15-page signing statement<\/a> Monday to accompany the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act<\/a> that voiced his constitutional concerns with an array of language, including limits on U.S. support to the Saudi campaign in Yemen, limits on transfers of Guantanamo Bay detainees, limits on withdrawing U.S. forces from South Korea and enhanced reporting of civilian casualties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump was also concerned with provisions limiting his ability to retire Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft and to retire intercontinental ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump objected to four of eight provisions focused on Russia. For example, the law would limit the use of federal funds to recognize Russian control over Crimea, but Trump asserted his authority as commander in chief, saying the law would unduly \u201cdictate the position of the United States in external military and foreign affairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crimea was seized from Ukraine by Russia and annexed in March 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump invoked executive privilege against a requirement he report to Congress on whether he has raised the topic of the New START Treaty with Moscow. (Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he told Trump that Russia is prepared to extend the treaty, which calls for deployable nuclear warheads and bombs to be capped at 1,550, beyond its 2021 expiration date.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump voiced concerns Congress was handcuffing his military and diplomatic powers over a ban on military-to-military cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, limits on his implementation of the Open Skies Treaty \u2014 which allows reciprocal reconnaissance flights \u2014 and a mandate he report whether Russia is breaching the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a ceremony at Fort Drum, New York, on Monday<\/a>, Trump signed<\/a> the sweeping $716 billion authorization measure, calling it \u201cthe most significant investment in our military and our war fighters in modern history.\u201d But hours later, the White House released the signing statement criticizing portions of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement itself is not unusual. President Barack Obama and other presidents have asserted they can interpret and ignore portions of law because the provisions exceed Congress\u2019 constitutional authority. Obama also objected to the 2017 NDAA\u2019s far-reaching reorganization of the Pentagon, as well as its restrictions on transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees, among other provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump objected to a mandate he designate a National Security Council official responsible for the U.S. government\u2019s response to malign foreign influence operations and campaigns. (Trump has sent mixed messages about Russia\u2019s alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, even as the heads of U.S. national security agencies have said Russia acted to influence and disrupt that election and is working to do the same with 2018 midterms.)<\/p>\n\n\n\t