Armed Forces News

The Senate version of the 2015 defense-spending bill contains provisions that would lower appropriations over the years 2016 through 2019 $40 billion, according to the independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO.) “Those implicit authorizations would modify force structure, [Defense Department] compensation and benefits, and other programs and activities,” CBO stated. The measure, if enacted, also contains several provisions that would affect direct spending. “CBO estimates that … those provisions would decrease direct spending by $1.1 billion over the 2015-2019 period and by $4.5 billion over the 2015-2024 period.” Pay-as-you-go procedures would be in place, CBO stated, because the bill would affect direct spending should it become law.