Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Congress that a six-month temporary budget bill would severely impact the U.S. military, hindering key defense programs, recruitment, and readiness. Austin emphasized that the continuing resolution, which caps spending at 2024 levels, would delay over $4.3 billion in research projects, halt military construction initiatives, and force cuts to troop training and pay. He urged Congress to pass the 2025 defense budget to avoid damaging national security, while House Speaker Mike Johnson’s bill faces opposition in the Senate. Congress must pass a funding measure by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
Quick Read
- Pentagon warning: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin cautions that a six-month temporary budget bill will have “devastating effects” on U.S. military programs and readiness.
- Spending cap impact: The continuing resolution would cap spending at 2024 levels, delaying $4.3 billion in research and nearly $10 billion in military housing and construction projects.
- Recruiting challenges: The temporary measure could hurt military recruiting efforts, which are just recovering from pandemic setbacks.
- Pay raise shortfall: The bill does not fund required pay raises for troops and civilians, forcing the Pentagon to make cuts in other areas.
- Readiness at risk: Austin warns of halted enlistment bonuses, delayed National Guard and Reserve training, and impeded equipment replacement for Ukraine aid.
- Congress deadline: Congress must pass a stop-gap funding bill by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown, but Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposal faces opposition in the Senate.
Pentagon warns six-month budget bill will harm military
NEWSLOOKS- WASHINGTON (AP) —
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Congress on Sunday that a six-month temporary budget bill would have severe consequences for the military, disrupting thousands of defense programs and stifling recruitment efforts that are just beginning to recover post-pandemic.
In a letter to leaders of the House and Senate appropriations committees, Austin urged lawmakers to approve the proposed 2025 defense budget rather than a continuing resolution, which would cap spending at 2024 levels. He stressed that such a stop-gap measure would hinder the military’s ability to compete with China and manage conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
“Expecting us to be agile and to accelerate progress while operating under a lengthy CR is like tying our hands behind our back,” Austin wrote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has set up a vote this week on a temporary six-month bill that would keep the federal government funded but also requires proof of citizenship for voter registration, a move aimed at satisfying conservative Republicans. Congress must pass a spending bill before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
Austin said the stop-gap measure would cut more than $6 billion from defense funding compared to the 2025 budget proposal. This reduction would halt over $4.3 billion in research and development projects and delay 135 military housing and construction projects totaling nearly $10 billion.
Additionally, key defense programs—including nuclear, shipbuilding, drone, and weapons initiatives—would be slowed, impacting jobs and local economies in various congressional districts. The bill would also block new projects from starting and force the Pentagon to make cuts to offset pay raises for troops and civilians, which could reduce enlistment bonuses, delay National Guard and Reserve training, and limit active-duty flight hours and training.
Austin warned that this pattern of passing continuing resolutions—48 times over the past 15 years—must end to allow the U.S. military to remain competitive globally, particularly against China. The bill faces slim chances in the Democratic-controlled Senate, but Congress will need to pass some type of funding measure by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.
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