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Showing Original Post only (View all)Congress, White House near deal to create Space Force in exchange for paid leave for federal workers [View all]
Source: WaPo
Congressional lawmakers and the White House are on the verge of reaching a sweeping agreement that would extend 12 weeks of paid parental leave to federal workers in exchange for making Space Force the sixth branch of the U.S. military, according to four people with knowledge of the tentative deal.
The deal is part of a defense authorization bill that is slated to pass this month. If consummated, the agreement could mark one of the biggest deals President Trump has cut with Congress. It would secure a massive expansion of benefits for federal workers, something Democrats have long sought, in exchange for a realignment of the U.S. military that Trump has sought to secure as part of his legacy.
Multiple people close to the negotiations stressed any final package must still be approved, and Trump has been known to change his mind even when negotiations reach a final stage. The president could also be more eager to cement the deal than fiscal-hawk conservative Republicans in Congress, who might complain about the cost.
Still, some top White House officials were already celebrating the possible addition of a new federal paid leave policy.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/12/06/congress-white-house-near-deal-create-space-force-exchange-paid-leave-federal-workers/