President Obama has followed through on a pledge to veto a $612 billion military spending bill passed by congressional Republicans. The measure lets the Pentagon sidestep mandatory “sequestration” budget cuts for the Defense Department, while the cuts remain in effect for domestic programs. The bill would also make it more difficult to close Guantánamo.

President Obama: “I’m going to be sending it back to Congress, and my message to them is very simple: Let’s do this right. We’re in the midst of budget discussions. Let’s have a budget that properly funds our national security as well as economic security. Let’s make sure that we’re able in a constructive way to reform our military spending, to make it sustainable over the long term. And let’s make sure that, in a responsible way, we can draw down the populations in Guantánamo, make sure that the American people are safe, and make sure that we’re not providing the kinds of recruitment tools to terrorists that are so dangerous.”