WASHINGTON — A House panel is recommending a "full" 2.4 percent pay raise for service members next year, bucking President Trump's plans for a slightly smaller paycheck boost.

Officials from the House Armed Services Committee's military personnel panel are backing the larger pay raise in its draft of the annual defense authorization bill, part of Congress' fiscal 2018 budget plan for the military.

Last month, White House officials unveiled plans for a 2.1 percent hike that would match the increase service members received in January. If it becomes law, the raise will represent on the second time since 2010 that troops have received a boost of more than 2 percent.


PAY CHARTS FOR EVERY RANK: COMPARE THE TWO PLANS

It translates roughly into $50 more per month for most junior enlisted troops and another $115 for younger officers. 

But the proposal is 0.3 percentage points below the expected rise in private sector wages, the legislative standard for military pay increases. House officials are pushing for that higher number, arguing the money is needed to keep military wages on pace with private sector.

The 0.3 percentage point difference translates into about $85 lost a year for the junior enlisted, $130 for the senior enlisted and junior officers, and $240 for mid-career officers.

Formal language on the pay raise fight is expected from the full committee next week. Officials have not yet released details of how they'll pay for the extra wages. 

Pentagon officials have said the proposed pay raise trim will save the department $200 million next year and $1.4 billion over the next five years.

Last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday dismissed concerns about a growing pay gap between service members and their civilian counterparts, calling current military salaries "competitive" with private-sector wages.

He said while paying appropriate salaries is a key component of recruiting and retention, those needs must be balanced with ensuring that training and equipment needs are filled.

But outside advocates have argued that compounding lower-than-expected pay raises cheat troops and their families out of thousands of dollars in salary, and make early departures from the ranks more attractive.

Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

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