Some Differences Remain on Defense Bill

When Congress reconvenes-the House next week and the Senate the following week-one of the orders of business remaining before adjourning for the year will be the Defense Department authorization bill (S-1042 and HR-1815). Both versions extend several special downsizing authorities at DoD for four more years, but there are differences in some areas that will have to be resolved in a conference. The Senate bill contains language not in the House bill that would: order a 15 percent increase in the DoD acquisition workforce-which contains both civilian and military personnel-over three years and boost funding for acquisition workforce training; make employees of “non-appropriated fund” (self-funding) entities eligible for time off in lieu of overtime pay at the employee’s choice; and require a Government Accountability Office study of compensation and other policies for DoD civilian employees deployed in support of contingency operations.