In new letters to top Senate Appropriations leaders, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown Jr., and Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force detail the severe repercussions that a first-ever full-year continuing resolution (CR) for the Department of Defense (DoD) would have on national defense strategy, servicemembers and their families, and military readiness.
The letters were sent to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) ahead of the upcoming funding deadlines in January and February. Secretary Austin emphasized that the DoD has never operated under a full-year CR and stated that it would "misalign billions of dollars, subject service members and their families to unnecessary stress, damage our readiness, and impede our ability to react to emergent events."
Under a full-year CR, defense programs would receive at least $26.6 billion less than the agreed-upon topline of $886.3 billion for Fiscal Year 2024. This potential cut of 4.1% would hinder the Department's ability to innovate, modernize, and meet the challenge posed by the People's Republic of China.
Chairman Brown echoed the need for a full-year appropriation, stating that it would enable the DoD to execute its strategy while a year-long CR would prevent the Department from executing procurement contracts, delaying important modernization projects, and creating a significant shortfall in personnel funding. He warned that a full-year CR would have devastating impacts on personnel, nuclear triad modernization, shipbuilding, munitions production, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command priorities.
Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth expressed concerns about the consequences for recruiting efforts, acquisition portfolio, and military construction programs. She emphasized the importance of avoiding the harm a year-long CR would inflict on the Army's ability to achieve its mission and make crucial investments in future capabilities.
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro highlighted the need for Congress to approve the Department's budget request to maintain a forward U.S. presence and a competitive advantage over adversaries. He warned that a full-year CR would jeopardize the ability of Sailors and Marines to deter and respond to acts of aggression.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall emphasized that the longer the Department of the Air Force operates under any CR, the more time adversaries have to gain an advantage. He pointed out that any length of CR would impact readiness, hinder the acceleration of the U.S. Space Force, delay military construction projects, reduce aircraft availability, and curb modernization efforts.
The letters from top defense leaders serve as a call to action for Congress to pass bipartisan, full-year appropriations bills that prioritize national defense and ensure the readiness of the U.S. military. The potential harm of a year-long CR on our national defense, servicemembers, and strategic capabilities cannot be ignored. It is crucial for Congress to act swiftly and provide the necessary funding to support our defense strategy. Failure to do so would not only hinder our ability to protect the nation but also send a dangerous signal of faltering global leadership.
To learn more, click on this link: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/new-secretary-of-defense-top-pentagon-leadership-sound-alarm-that-a-year-long-cr-would-jeopardize-our-national-defense
