President Clinton Wednesday signed the 1998 Defense Authorization bill, extending buyout authority for the Defense Department until the end of fiscal 2001, providing higher bonuses for pilots who stay in the service longer, and calling for cuts in the Air Force, the Navy, Pentagon headquarters and the department's acquisition workforce.
The bill also changes the rule governing depot maintenance work, allowing 50 percent of the work to be contracted out, while requiring that the other half be done by federal employees. The bill instructs the Defense Department to pursue electronic commerce, but repeals requirements to use the Federal Acquisition Computer Network (FACNET).
In signing the bill, Clinton said he was disappointed that Congress did not authorize additional rounds of base closures. "I call on the Congress to support the Department of Defense request for additional BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure] rounds," Clinton said.
Clinton also said a provision that prohibits the president and other officials from taking action against employees who disclose classified information to Congress raises "serious constitutional issues." A similar provision in the 1998 Intelligence Authorization bill was struck by Congress after the president threatened to veto the bill over it. Clinton said Congress does not have the constitutional right to prevent the president from controlling employees' disclosures. He said the defense bill's provision "will be construed and carried out in keeping with the president's constitutional responsibilities."
Other provisions include:
- A 2.8 percent raise for service members.
- A reduction of active-duty military personnel by 20,000 in 1998--11,000 from the Navy and 9,000 from the Air Force.
- A 25 percent reduction in DoD headquarters management and support personnel. The department's acquisition workforce would be reduced by 25,000 positions in 1998, though the secretary of Defense is given permission to waive the cut.
- Several family-friendly provisions to improve benefits for military personnel and their families, including higher separation allowances when service members are stationed away from home, more money for family housing, $32 million for seven child development centers and increased funding for the Defense Health Program.
- Additional money for recruitment advertising.
- Army drill sergeant selection and training reform, including psychological screenings and a revised evaluation system.
- Permission for DoD agencies to bypass the Defense Automation and Printing Service for printing work.
- A requirement that 90 percent of purchases under $2,500 be made using government purchase cards by Oct. 1, 2000.
- $11.5 billion for Energy Department military programs, down $2.1 billion from the president's request.
- A measure allowing buyouts for Panama Canal Commission employees next year.
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