Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, which ultimately passed this afternoon by a vote of 350-80:

“As a 28-year Navy combat veteran, I understand the importance and necessity of ensuring we maintain the most lethal military force in the world. Yet while investing in our military to strengthen our nation’s readiness and defense capabilities is the intended and chief purpose of the NDAA, Democrats have weaponized this critical package to advance radical policies and wasteful spending. For example, the Left turned the NDAA into a Trojan horse for dangerous gun control by including a severely misleading ‘voluntary safe firearm storage pilot program’ in the legislation.

“Additionally, while I applaud my Republican colleagues on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for removing President Biden’s unconstitutional vaccine mandate that has unquestionably damaged our military’s physical readiness, recruitment, and retention, the NDAA falls short of reinstating service members who were unlawfully expelled from service for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine — including troops who were denied religious exemptions. It is imperative that we restore and repay every solitary service member who faced this medical tyranny and grave injustice.

“Furthermore, the NDAA squanders taxpayer dollars on Green New Deal initiatives, woke proposals, and foreign-aid programs. These resources should be spent on bolstering our nation’s readiness against aggressive adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Unfortunately, the NDAA diverts funds to defending the sovereignty of foreign countries like Jordan, Lebanon, and Ukraine instead of prioritizing our own national security and defense capabilities. I refuse to send another dime to Ukraine without a full audit of the billions of dollars in U.S. aid already sent overseas, and I condemn Democrats for rejecting my amendment to the NDAA that would install an Inspector General to provide oversight and accountability for Ukraine aid.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues under a House Republican majority next year to concentrate the NDAA on funding the U.S. military’s central mission and reinstating every service member unjustly forced out of service by the Biden Administration.”