Both houses of Congress have their own versions of the National Defense Authorization Act, and now must create a cohesive bill for signing. Unlike last year, where this process was completed in August, funding for the Defense Department is still unauthorized in FY20. Alan Chvotkin, executive VP & counsel at the Professional Services Council, says that there are a few points of contention that are preventing movement on the bill.
“They have to do with some of the foreign policy issues, the authorization of the use of military force, and even the use of some chemicals in DoD work. These remain sticking points that have to be worked out,” Chvotkin said. “The number one issue still standing in the way is money. There’s no agreement on the top line, of how much appropriations, and until they resolve the money a lot of things lay in wait for that resolution.”
