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Wednesday, November 7, 2018

What a Democrat-controlled House means for Trump's national security priorities

Democrats are projected to take back the House, and that could spell trouble for the Trump administration's national security and foreign policy measures.

Lawmakers are bracing for significant changes on the House panel that oversees national security, and by extension, the fiscal 2020 defense budget. Democrats have called for greater scrutiny of the Pentagon's colossal spending and more transparency in regards to global military operations.

The likely next leader of the House Armed Services Committee, Washington Rep. Adam Smith, has been one of the biggest critics of the Trump administration's national security policies, actions and priorities.

Smith has been critical of President Donald Trump's move to place active-duty troops on the U.S.-Mexico border, skeptical of the creation of a Space Force, and a potential U.S. withdrawal from a nuclear weapons treaty with Russia.

Smith won his race against Democrat Sarah Smith, a 30-year-old first-time candidate, to represent Washington's central Puget Sound district as expected. His opponent, a democratic socialist and activist, has been critical of the defense industrial base and military affairs.

What's more, Republicans lost two current House Armed Services Committee members.

Marine Corps veteran and Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman lost his seat to Army veteran and first-time candidate Jason Crow. Coffman held key posts on both the House Armed Services and House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Oklahoma Rep. Steve Russell, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, also lost his re-election bid.

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