Using 2012 figures from the Office of Management and Budget, the cap number currently stands at $763,000 per employee, Zachary Fryer-Biggs writes.
Marion Blakey, CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, told Federal Times the defense sector competes with high-tech firms such as Intel and Google for talent but the high-tech sector does not operate under the same caps the defense sector does.
The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act in a unanimous vote Dec. 4 and also included a 5 percent cut to the Defense Department‘s civilian and contractor workforce.
The House passed its version in the summer, so a joint House-Senate committee must reconcile differences in both chambers’ versions before sending a final bill to the White House.