Obama to Cut Military Pay Raise Nearly in Half

As President Barack Obama attempts to rally the American people and members of Congress to back his unpopular plan to strike Syria, Obama says he wants to cut the 1.8% raise the Republican-led House approved and that troops are due under the Federal Pay Comparability Act to only 1% for personnel and their families.

Obama said even though he is “strongly committed to supporting our uniformed service members,” the U.S. is still recovering “from serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare” and that America has to stay “on a sustainable fiscal course.”

The Navy Times says Congress may override Obama’s pay order but would need $580 million to offset the difference in 2014. By comparison, Obama spent $1,010,354,195 on Syrian humanitarian aid for fiscal years 2012 and 2013.