Joe Gould writes Carter raised his concerns over the House and Senate versions of the 2017 NDAA as a joint conference committee works to reconcile differences between the two drafts.
âThe [Defense Department] is engaged in multiple overseas conflicts, including in the ongoing fight against [the Islamic State group], and is about to experience a transition to a new presidential administration,” he noted.
“With this backdrop, the first rule for the NDAA must be: do no harm.”
He said he believes the Senate’s proposed DoD reforms and policy changes do not meet that standard.
Carter added a House proposal to shift a portion of overseas contingency funds to pay for the department’s routine operations would risk the safety of warfighters and embolden adversaries.