On July 14, the House passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA – H.R. 7900) by a strong bipartisan vote of 329-101. The bill would authorize $840.2 billion in spending for the Pentagon.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “For over six decades, the NDAA has served the American people as a legislative foundation for national security policymaking rooted in our democratic values. Today’s successful vote marks another chapter in that history – with considerable gains for those currently serving our country in uniform.” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), the ranking member of the committee, said H.R. 7900 is “the definition of a bipartisan bill.”

During deliberations of the bill on the floor, the House adopted the FMA-endorsed Connolly-Fitzpatrick Amendment that would prevent any administration from creating a "Schedule F" without Congressional approval. The amendment passed by a vote of 215-200. FMA opposed the original Executive Order that created Schedule F in late 2020, and signed onto a joint letter with the Federal-Postal Coalition to all members of the House in support of the Connolly-Fitzpatrick Amendment.

The letter argued, “A competitive, merit-based civil service provides continuity through changing administrations, preserves institutional knowledge and expertise within the federal government, and safeguards the rule of law. Civil service rules ensure federal employees are hired and fired based on their competence, or lack thereof, and not what political connections they have or lack. The rules also protect employees from being removed for choosing adherence to the Constitution, laws and professional standards over politically motivated actions or perceived allegiance to a president or political party. In so doing, the rules protect against abuse of power by the executive branch, providing greater assurance that laws passed by Congress will be faithfully executed. This system must be protected for the sake of all Americans.”

The Senate Armed Services Committee filed its version of the NDAA, with topline numbers of $847 billion, on July 18, and the Senate is expected to consider it in September. The bill does not include similar language to the House-adopted amendment regarding Schedule F, so FMA will work to maintain that language when House and Senate conferees iron out the final conference report. To view the full text of the Senate NDAA, click here. To view the funding tables, click here.