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.
