Congress Finalizes NDAA, Including Federal Leave Provisions

Congress finalized its conference report on the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on December 3, preparing the expansive piece of legislation with provisions related to many agencies and federal employees for a final vote.

The $740.5 billion bill includes provisions for federal employees to carry over an additional 25% of annual leave into 2021, prohibiting the Department of Defense from reducing its civilian workforce until the agency conducts an impact assessment, and a 3% military service member pay raise.

Despite criticism about what the NDAA does not address, both Democrats and Republicans are praising the bill. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) and Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said in a joint statement, “This agreement is the product of months of hard-fought negotiations. This year we have toiled through almost 2,200 provisions to reach compromise on important issues affecting our national security and our military.” Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) also released a joint statement in support of the bill.

President Trump had threatened to veto the NDAA unless it included a provision to repeal the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which shields tech companies from liability from content posted by their users, and excluded any requirement for the military to remove Confederate names from military bases. Congress did not acquiesce to either demand.

Although the bill is expected to pass both houses of Congress, it remains unclear whether it will pass with veto-proof majorities.