The House has rejected, on a 324-85 vote, a bid to stop the base closings and realignment package crafted this year by a special commission—based on Pentagon recommendations that the commission changed somewhat. The vote most likely means an end to congressional efforts to block the package, which is projected to take effect over a period of perhaps six or more years; in past similar situations, once one house of Congress has rejected an effort to stop a base closing package the other chamber didn’t even take up the issue. Also, the White House threatened to veto any attempt to stop the closings. The closings and realignments most likely will affect, directly, or indirectly, tens of thousands of Defense Department employees, although the number of those facing layoffs likely will be far lower, after early retirement and buyout offers, job search help and other services the Pentagon has said it will offer.