President Donald Trump exercised his veto power for the first time since returning to the White House, rejecting two bipartisan bills intended to facilitate the construction of a water pipeline in Colorado and to enhance the control of the Miccosukee Native American Tribe over a section of the Everglades. The vetoes were announced by the White House on X, following the bills' passage through both the House and Senate via voice votes. To override the vetoes, both chambers of Congress would need to achieve a two-thirds majority in favor of the bills.

The first bill, known as the Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act, aimed to incorporate the Osceola Camp village into the area managed by the Miccosukee Tribe, while also mandating the Department of the Interior to take measures to protect the village from flooding. This legislation received support from Republican Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez and Democratic Representative Darren Soto. Gimenez characterized the bill as a matter of fairness and conservation, emphasizing the tribe's right to protect their homes and way of life.

In his message to Congress, Trump criticized the bill, claiming it favored "special interests" and accused the Miccosukee Tribe of obstructing his immigration policies. He referenced the tribe's involvement in a lawsuit against an immigration detention center in the Everglades, which the tribe argued could negatively impact their environment and cultural practices.

Trump also contended that the Osceola Camp was established without proper authorization, asserting that it was not the federal government's duty to address issues in an area the tribe was not authorized to occupy. CBS News has sought comments from the tribe regarding the veto.

The second bill vetoed was the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, which aimed to complete a long-planned water pipeline project that could benefit approximately 50,000 residents in southeastern Colorado. Originally proposed during President John F. Kennedy's administration, the project faced delays partly due to federal funding requirements. A 2009 law modified the funding structure, allowing local governments to cover only a portion of the costs. The recently passed bill sought to alleviate local entities' financial burdens by reducing interest payments and extending repayment timelines.

Trump justified his veto by framing it as part of a broader initiative to eliminate what he termed "taxpayer handouts," highlighting the projected cost of the pipeline, which the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation estimated at $1.4 billion in 2023, a significant increase from earlier projections. He argued that the legislation perpetuated ineffective past policies by imposing additional costs on federal taxpayers.

The bill garnered support from Colorado's Democratic senators and Republican Representatives Lauren Boebert and Jeff Hurd, whose districts would be served by the pipeline. Boebert expressed disappointment over the veto, labeling the bill as "non-controversial" and questioning whether the veto was politically motivated. Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper criticized Trump for engaging in partisan politics at the expense of rural communities lacking access to clean drinking water, while fellow Senator Michael Bennet accused the president of seeking revenge. Boebert previously diverged from Trump on a separate issue, indicating a complex relationship between the two.