House and Senate negotiators released their fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act language late Tuesday. The compromise bill would:
- Authorize $858 billion for national defense, which is above the administration’s request but matches the amount appropriators are discussing for a potential omnibus spending bill
- Provide a 4.6% pay hike for military personnel and DOD civilians
- Authorize almost $129 million for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, an increase over the administration’s request
- Rescind COVID-19 vaccinations for most service members but not require that vaccine refusers separated from service be reinstated
- Earmark $72 billion to adjust for inflation for food, fuel, housing and acquisition
- Authorize more than $2.7 billion to step up munitions production
- Require a report from inspectors general at various agencies dealing with Ukraine aid
The compromise will not include a House-approved inflation bonus of $2.4% for service members and DOD civilians who make less than $45,000 a year. About 783,000 service members and 37,000 civilians would have benefitted, CQ reported, citing a DOD spokesperson.
The House is expected to consider the NDAA later this week, with the Senate to follow. If the President is able to sign it before the end of the year, it would be the 62nd consecutive year the NDAA has been enacted.
The bill is named for Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), an Army veteran who has spent decades in the Senate as a defense champion and ADC supporter. Inhofe is retiring from the Senate in a few weeks.
Follow On Base’s ongoing NDAA coverage and analysis.
Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Pankau
