The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have reached a compromise on a defense policy bill that would allocate $583 billion in fiscal 2015 funding for the Pentagon, Defense News reported Tuesday.John Bennett writes the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act includes a $350 million budget to operate and maintain Air Force A-10 fighter jets and an additional $5 billion to expand military operations against the Islamic State group.
Negotiators of both chambers also agreed to authorize $1.6 billion for the F-35 Lightning II program in the current fiscal year, according to Bennett’s article.
Bennett reports the NDAA would also preserve the Navy‘s fleet of 11 aircraft carriers as well as fund USS George Washington refueling.
The House could vote on the bill this week and the Senate could take up the legislation next week.
