House Votes to Shortchange War-Fighting Fund to Buy Aircraft
- Defense authorization bill would set 2017 military priorities
- Passage of $610.5 billion measure delays draft-women decision
This article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. House passed a $610.5 billion defense policy bill that would give the Pentagon less war-fighting money than requested to make the balance sheets work, at least temporarily, while permitting billions extra for new fighter aircraft, helicopters, military personnel and their pay.
The strategy, which would require emergency funding next year to continue the fight against Islamic State terrorists, has already brought a veto threat from the White House. But the legislation’s chief author, Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry, said the war-fund maneuver is the best way to pay for all the things needed to improve combat readiness.