A Pentagon spending bill that includes $2.5 billion to pay for a major hike in junior enlisted troops’ salaries has passed the House, but the White House is contending that amount falls short of what would actually be needed to cover the raises.
The House approved its version of the fiscal 2025 Defense Department appropriations bill on Friday in a 217-198 largely party-line vote.
The bill will almost certainly be overhauled before it becomes law since it includes a number of conservative policy riders opposed by the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House that would roll back Pentagon policies on abortion, LGBTQ+ troops and diversity.
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As written now, the bill includes funding intended to pay for a proposal in Congress’ separate annual defense policy bill that would significantly boost junior enlisted troop pay next year.
“There’s no greater responsibility than supporting our service members and their families, which is why the bill includes a 4.5% pay raise for all military personnel, plus $2.5 billion toward an additional 15% pay raise for junior enlisted service members,” Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s defense subpanel, said in a statement Friday.
Under the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which the chamber approved earlier this month, E-1s through E-4s would get a…
