Vote passes after White House drops threat of veto over provisions regarding handling of terror suspects

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

The House of Representatives has passed a $662bn defence bill after the White House dropped a veto threat over provisions regarding the handling of terror suspects.

The vote on Wednesday evening was 283 to 136. In a closed-door meeting, conservative Republicans had expressed some concerns over the provisions, fearing an expanded role for the military in domestic law enforcement.

The bill would authorise money for military personnel, weapons systems, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and national security programs in the energy department.

The White House had threatened a veto but was mollified by revisions to the provision mandating military custody for terror suspects.