Military budget in massive spending bill would usher in pay raises, new ships and planes

WASHINGTON – With a partial government shutdown looming, lawmakers on Capitol Hill were racing against the clock Thursday to approve a massive spending bill for fiscal year 2018 that includes more than $650 billion in national defense spending.

The fifth temporary funding measure for fiscal year 2018 runs out late Friday and would trigger the third federal shutdown this year. On Wednesday evening, Congress unveiled a $1.3 trillion, 2,232-page bill that, if approved, would avert the shutdown. The House approved the plan Thursday afternoon.

The military portion of the spending bill includes a significant hike in the Pentagon budget that would include a 2.4 percent pay raise for servicemembers, fund new ships and aircrafts and direct new spending on missile defense.

Read the full article on Stars and Stripes.