Federal Eye: 'Don't ask, don't tell' compromise in the works

White House officials, Democratic congressional leaders and gay rights groups met on Monday to discuss a possible repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Such a reversal would take effect after the Pentagon completes a study on how to integrate openly gay service members, according to multiple officials.

White House and Pentagon staffers met separately with representatives of gay rights organizations and congressional staffers to discuss what it would take to include a repeal of the policy in this year's defense spending bill, officials said.

"Given that Congress insists on addressing this issue this week, we are trying to gain a better understanding of the legislative proposals they will be considering," said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is set to vote Thursday on adding a repeal to the defense authorization bill. Committee Chairman Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) favors a repeal, but at least six senators on the panel are considered undecided. The House may also vote on a similar measure this week by Rep. Patrick J. Murphy (D-Pa.). House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) declined to include Murphy's bill in passing the House version of the defense spending measure last week, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has said she will allow a floor vote if there is enough support in favor of a repeal. Congressional aides said it's unclear whether Murphy has the votes necessary to pass his bill.

Any repeal would take effect only after President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen review the Pentagon study and certify that the new law can be implemented without a negative impact on military readiness, recruitment and retention, according to the sources.

The deal is consistent with a compromise pushed by repeal supporters in recent weeks and would allow Obama to fulfill his promise to work with Congress to repeal the policy, allow Congress to take vote on a repeal this year and permit completion and thoughtful consideration of the Pentagon study.

Gates and Mullen have told Congress that they support allowing gays to serve openly, but lawmakers have been slow to act after Gates asked lawmakers to wait until the completion of the Pentagon study.