Senator Schumer, it’s time to prioritize national security and move this bill quickly

America’s enemies and allies alike surely see President Biden’s cognitive decline as yet more evidence of the nation’s weakness.

The Senate shouldn’t reinforce that dangerous message by further delaying passage of a key national-security bill: the National Defense Authorization Act.  

The legislation authorizes yearly defense policy and programs, outlining their scope and projected costs.

It’s often passed with bipartisan support in the fall, and the House has already OK’d its version.

Yet Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — focused on the Democrats’ electoral woes — has dragged his feet so far.

Yet his chamber heads out for a five-week recess after next week.

Russian and Chinese warplanes did a pointed sortie off Alaska as the president spoke about his decision to drop his re-election bid Wednesday night. Worse tests are likely ahead.

Schumer should commit to bringing up the Defense bill before the recess and seeing it rapidly through to show that America still regards national security as a top priority — a vital signal for both friend and foe.

It would also be widely popular: Per a recent Senate Opportunity Fund poll, a whopping 73% of voters believe the Senate “should immediately take up this year’s NDAA to strengthen America’s Armed Forces.”

Schumer has no political (or other) reason to delay. And every reason to move swiftly.