Biden Approves $886 Billion Defense Bill and FISA Extension on Friday, Right Before Christmas

(Worthy News) – On Friday, President Biden approved the $886 billion defense bill, providing the military with its most substantial pay raise in years. The bill, however, also prolongs the government’s authority to monitor phone and internet activities of non-U.S. residents abroad, a measure that has raised concerns among critics about potential implications for Americans.

The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act provides a 5.2% pay raise for military personnel and boosts the national security budget by 3% to $886 billion. This bill received bipartisan support from Congress this month.

The NDAA also includes a four-month extension of a contentious domestic surveillance program. This extension grants legislators additional time to modify or maintain the program, identified as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Critics of FISA highlight the FBI’s misuse of its extensive surveillance capabilities, noting about 300,000 instances of improper use between 2020 and early 2021. This misuse includes conducting searches on Americans linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and individuals apprehended in Black Lives Matter protests.

NDAA Support for Israel

The NDAA encompasses key measures for Israel and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with a notable focus on defense and technology.

Primarily, it dedicates $500 million for missile defense collaboration, supporting the Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems.

Additionally, the legislation sets aside $47.5 million for new U.S.-Israel partnerships in emerging defense technologies, including AI and cybersecurity. The budget for their joint counter-drone program has increased by nearly 40% to $55 million, and the U.S.-Israel Anti-Tunneling Cooperation Program has been extended until 2026.

The NDAA provides Israel with various armaments, such as precision-guided munitions. The Pentagon is also sending U.S. KC-46 refueling tankers to Israel, a move that could indicate preparations for potential conflict with Iran.

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