
Armed services committee leaders remain adamant that a deal could be reached for the fiscal year 2020 defense authorizing bill by early next week, but must still reach consensus on the same key issues that have plagued the deal all fall. Following assertions on Wednesday that a deal could be reached either Friday or next Monday, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters Thursday morning that conferees “have a couple of areas that…