At a Glance
- Trump vetoes water pipeline and land bills
- Move hits former ally Lauren Boebert and Miccosukee Tribe
- Vetoes cited cost and opposition to immigration policy
- Why it matters: Shows Trump penalizing bipartisan allies and tribal interests, affecting water access and land control
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump exercised his first vetoes of his second term, rejecting two bipartisan bills that had been supported by both parties. The vetoes hit a Colorado congresswoman who had once been a staunch ally and a Florida tribe that had sued the administration over an Everglades detention center.
Veto of Water Pipeline Bill
The first veto targeted the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, a bill sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert that aimed to improve drinking water access in eastern Colorado. Trump cited the cost of the pipeline as the main reason for his decision, while Boebert suggested the move may be political retaliation.
Lauren Boebert stated:
> ‘I sincerely hope this veto has nothing to do with political retaliation for calling out corruption and demanding accountability. Americans deserve leadership that puts people over politics.’
Jeff Hurd expressed disappointment:
> ‘This was a bipartisan, unanimous bill passed by Congress to uphold a long-standing federal commitment to southeastern Colorado.’
Veto of Miccosukee Tribe Bill
The second veto concerned legislation that would have given the Miccosukee Tribe more control over some of its lands. Trump explained the veto in a letter to Congress, saying the tribe had actively sought to obstruct immigration policies that the American people voted for.
President Trump wrote:
> ‘The Miccosukee Tribe has actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people decisively voted for when I was elected.’
The tribe had been part of a lawsuit over the Everglades detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
Congressional Override
Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, but it is unclear whether enough Republicans will support the override, especially as midterm elections approach.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s vetoes target a former ally and a tribal group, highlighting intra-party tensions.
- The water pipeline bill was rejected mainly on cost grounds.
- The Miccosukee Tribe bill was vetoed over alleged obstruction of immigration policy.
The vetoes illustrate how President Trump is willing to use his veto power to punish bipartisan allies and tribal interests, even as the political stakes rise ahead of the midterms.
