Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning has urged Congress to approve a full-year continuing resolution to fund the federal government for the remainder of the 2025 fiscal year. The statement comes as the House prepares to vote on the measure, with only days left before a potential government shutdown.
"Nearly six months into the fiscal year and with just days until a government shutdown, the Aerospace Industries Association urges Congress to vote to fund the federal government and maintain critical federal programs, including those that bolster national security, support the space economy, and maintain safe and efficient air travel and transport," Fanning stated.
The proposed resolution includes a slight increase in defense funding and flexibility for "new starts" at the Department of Defense. This would ensure that modernization initiatives aimed at countering China and other adversaries continue without interruption. Fanning emphasized that while not ideal, this resolution is preferable to a destabilizing shutdown for the American aerospace and defense industry.
Fanning added, "Now is the time to put fiscal year 2025 behind us and to move on to funding for fiscal year 2026 – a prime opportunity to advance aviation modernization, invest in next-generation space technology, and to expand the capacity of the defense industrial base."
He also expressed gratitude towards key members of Congress: "We thank Chairwoman Collins, Chairman Cole, Ranking Member Murray, and Ranking Member DeLauro for their tireless efforts to enact appropriations legislation, and we look forward to working with the Appropriations committees on next year’s funding bills, starting as soon as possible."
