Military warns short term spending bill undermines readiness

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Congress’s temporary spending plan, the continuing resolution passed this week, avoids a government shutdown but U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warns it delays missions, undermines readiness and puts the U.S. military at a strategic disadvantage.

The continuing resolution forces the government to spend at exactly the same levels as last year, with little flexibility. U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth wrote a letter to Congressional leaders, telling them, the continuing resolution delays more than $8 billion in planned investments.

“Congress has not gotten enough of its work done,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

Cole explained the challenges of maintaining spending at previous levels.

“If we order 65 Abrams tanks last year, you’ve got to pay for 65 this year,” Cole said. “Even if you need 100, you can only go to 65. If you only need 35, you’re still at 65.”

House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) said maintaining spending at previous levels hurts agencies like NASA, too, who are at the cutting edge of research.

“Things are changing so fast, last year could almost be ancient history,” Lucas said.

Because of those drawbacks, a continuing resolution is not popular among lawmakers, but neither is a government shutdown.

“There was no agreement on the top line spending numbers, so we had no choice,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

This continuing resolution funds Congress through Dec. 20.

“It’s my hope that when we come back after Election Day, in the lame duck, the body can focus again on legislating, not just campaign season,” Lucas said.

The Secretaries of Defense and the Army have urged Congress to pass a long-term spending bill.

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