Lawmakers Back Big Military Pay Raise and Block Job Cuts

House lawmakers would back White House plans for a 3.1 percent military pay raise and a boost of nearly more 1,500 active-duty troops but also block Defense Department plans to cut about 18,000 uniformed medical jobs under draft language in their annual defense authorization bill released Monday.

The plan, which House Armed Services Committee staffers dubbed “a focus on taking care of servicemembers and their families,” follow draft legislation released last month from Senate defense lawmakers. The full House committee is expected to vote on the proposals next week, and both sides are expected to take most of the summer to negotiate a compromise bill.

Unlike recent years, when the personnel section of the annual budget policy bill has included sweeping changes to retirement and promotions policies, this year’s draft largely builds on those actions with smaller moves.

If approved, the 3.1 percent pay raise would be the largest for troops in a decade. It matches the figure proposed by the administration and the one mandated by law, although military officials have pushed for reducing that federal calculation in past years to save money for other force priorities.

For junior enlisted troops, a 3.1 percent pay raise would to about $815 more a year in pay. For senior enlisted and junior officers, the hike equals about $1,500 more. An O-4 with 12 years service would see more than $2,800 extra next year under the increase.