Surprise, Surprise: GOP-Led House Approves $607 Billion Bill to Keep Guantanamo OPEN

The House just passed a new defense budget on Thursday which prevents Guantanamo detainees from being transferred to the United States mainland or other countries for another year. The $607 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed easily with a 370-58 vote.

The White House criticized the act, saying it did not make “fiscal or national security sense” to continue operating the prison. Located in Cuba, it costs $400 million a year to run. Obama vetoed a previous version of the NDAA because of excessive spending. He also had concerns about the status of the Guantanamo Bay facility, which currently holds 112 prisoners.

The current version of the bill contains $5 billion in cuts, however there are no amendments to the Guantanamo provisions which would make the transport of prisoners impossible.

The act also restricts the list of countries where prisoners can be sent to and requires unattainable promises that they will not engage in any “hostile activities.” Although the president has the option to veto the bill again, he has not issued a veto threat. The White House claimed on Wednesday that it “wouldn’t rule out the President using every element of his authority.”  The White House has promised to deliver a detailed plan for the shutdown of Guantanamo.

What do you think of the NDAA? Should it have passed? Let us know in the comments below!