The Bush administration has raised several objections to a bill (S-600) pending a Senate vote that would make several changes in personnel policies affecting foreign service employees as part of a bill reauthorizing many activities of the State Department and other agencies involved in foreign relations. The measure would set a 60-day deadline from enactment for issuing regulations regarding retirement credit for certain service abroad under State’s spousal employment program, which the administration said would “undermine fundamental principles underlying federal retirement law.” The White House objected on budget grounds to authority to raise overseas hardship and danger pay benefits from 25 to 35 percent, and said bill language to reduce the percentage of foreign service officers “low-ranked” and thus subject to removal under certain circumstances “could weaken accountability for performance.”