CBO: House Defense Bill Would Save $3.4 Billion

The House version of the 2016 defense-spending bill would lower appropriations by $3.4 billion from 2017 through 2020, according to the cost estimate prepared by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The measure, H.R. 1735, includes approval of roughly $605.3 billion for military functions under the Defense Department and, to a much lesser extent, Department of Energy. According to the CBO, the House version would include $515.6 billion in appropriations that would count against defense caps set under the Budget Control Act of 2011, which outlined a plan to implement cuts in defense spending over a 10-year period. The measure also includes designations of troop strength for each service – as well as significant changes in compensation, health care, retirement, and other activities – all aimed at reducing spending.