Trump Blocks Water Pipeline, Native American Reservation Bills in First Veto of Second Term

US President Donald Trump used his veto power for the first time in his second term on Monday. He blocked two bipartisan-backed bills. The White House said both bills would need a two-thirds majority in Congress to override the veto.

One of the bills, the “Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act,” aimed to bring clean water to Colorado’s Eastern Plains. The project dates back to John F. Kennedy’s presidency. It had won unanimous support in Congress, including from both Colorado Democratic Senators and Republican Representatives Lauren Boebert and Jeff Hurd.

In a letter to Congress, Trump said the pipeline would be too expensive. He said he was “preventing American taxpayers from funding expensive and unreliable policies.” After the veto, Boebert posted on social media: “This isn’t over.” She recently broke with Trump over the release of Jeffrey Epstein files, which she helped make public.

Trump also vetoed the “Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act.” The bill would have extended the Miccosukee Tribe’s control over Osceola Camp in Florida’s Everglades. The tribe had joined a lawsuit against an immigration detention center called “Alligator Alcatraz.” A federal judge ordered most of the facility dismantled. Trump said the tribe was not authorized to inhabit the area. He added that taxpayer money should not fund “projects for special interests.”

Presidential vetoes are rare. Trump vetoed 10 bills during his first term. His predecessor, Joe Biden, vetoed 13 bills over four years. These vetoes also follow Trump’s clashes with Colorado officials. He had tried to pardon GOP election official Tina Peters, who was sentenced for allowing a Trump supporter access to confidential voting information.

With both bills blocked, Congress must gather a two-thirds majority to override the vetoes. The moves show Trump’s focus on spending and policy priorities. They also highlight his willingness to oppose bipartisan support for long-standing projects.