• Capitol Hill lawmakers in the $1.7 trillion funding bill they passed last week reinstated a waiver allowing U.S. service academy athletes to defer their active-duty service to play professional sports.
• The waiver was in place for years until Congress earlier this month in passing it annual Defense authorization bill required two years of active-duty service before any such waiver could be granted.
• The passage of the Defense bill upended Army star linebacker Andre Carter II plans to enter the National Football League and play professionally.
• Carter stayed at West Point instead of transferring under the assumption the existing rule would not be changed.
• The senior is considered by some sports analysts as a potential first-round pick in the NFL draft in spring 2023.

Tagged: Capitol Hill