Polarized Defense: the NDAA in an Era of Partisan Polarization
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Authors
Knights, Kijana
Issue Date
2025
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
This study examines whether increased congressional polarization has diminished
bipartisan support for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), traditionally a
bipartisan piece of legislation. Using DW-NOMINATE scores to measure polarization
and analyzing House voting patterns from the 101st to 117th Congress (1989-2022),
this research finds that more polarized members are significantly more likely to vote
against the NDAA. The effect has intensified over time, with polarization having a
stronger negative impact on NDAA support in the post-2002 period compared to earlier
years. Linear regression analysis reveals that a one-unit increase in polarization
score corresponds to a 0.749 decrease in likelihood of supporting the NDAA. These
findings suggest that as the NDAA increasingly serves as a vehicle for non-defense
policies, it becomes vulnerable to the same partisan dynamics affecting other legislation,
potentially threatening its 60-year streak of passage and America’s defense policy
stability.
Description
Citation
Knights, Kijana. "Polarized Defense: the NDAA in an Era of Partisan Polarization." West Point Journal of Politics and Security, Volume 3 Issue 1; Spring 2025.
Publisher
West Point Press