Pentagon Chief Warns Six-Month Budget Bill Could Devastate Military

In a recent statement, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin emphasized the dire consequences of a proposed six-month temporary spending bill on the Defense Department. This claim was made in a letter directed at influential members of Congress over the weekend.

According to Austin, if Congress approves a continuing resolution that maintains spending at 2024 levels, rather than addressing the new 2025 budget, it could severely damage numerous defense initiatives and hinder military recruitment efforts. This recruitment process is just starting to rebound following setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his letter, Austin expressed concerns about the limitations a continuing resolution would impose on the military. He stated, “Asking the department to compete with China, let alone manage conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, while under a lengthy CR, ties our hands behind our back while expecting us to be agile and to accelerate progress.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, is preparing for a vote on a measure this week that aims to maintain federal government funding for an additional six months. This legislation is designed to rally support from conservative GOP members by introducing new requirements for voter registration, mandating proof of citizenship, which could include documentation like a birth certificate or passport.

With the budget year ending on September 30, Congress faces a pressing deadline to pass a temporary spending bill. Failure to do so would result in a government shutdown, occurring just weeks before voters head to the polls to elect the next president.

Austin warned that the proposed stop-gap bill would result in a $6 billion reduction in defense funding compared to the 2025 budget plan. The Pentagon chief noted that it would divert funds from essential new priorities while maintaining excessive funding for outdated programs.

Under a continuing resolution, the initiation of new projects or programs would be prohibited. Austin highlighted that this temporary measure could lead to a halt on important research and development projects worth over $4.3 billion. In addition, it would delay the implementation of 135 military housing and construction projects, totaling close to $10 billion.

The impact of this legislation extends to various critical defense programs, including nuclear, shipbuilding, and advanced drone projects. These initiatives not only support national security but also have significant implications for local economies and job markets across different congressional districts.

If the bill is enacted, Austin explained that the Defense Department would lack the necessary funding for federally mandated pay raises for military personnel and civilians. Consequently, the department would need to make further spending cuts to compensate, potentially affecting enlistment bonuses, training programs for the National Guard and Reserve, and active-duty troop training activities. Furthermore, these cuts could delay the replacement of military equipment currently allocated to support efforts in Ukraine.

Encouraging Congress to reconsider its approach, Austin mentioned that proceeding with the current continuing resolution would “subject service members and their families to unnecessary stress, empower our adversaries, misalign billions of dollars, damage our readiness, and impede our ability to react to emergent events.”

Highlighting a troubling trend, Austin pointed out that there have been 48 continuing resolutions enacted over the last 15 fiscal years, encompassing nearly 1,800 days. He urged Congress to break this cycle of inertia, stressing that the U.S. military cannot effectively compete with nations like China while operating under such constraints every fiscal year.

Although Speaker Johnson’s bill is unlikely to gain traction in the Democrat-controlled Senate, there remains an urgent need for Congress to pass some form of temporary spending measure before the September 30 deadline in order to prevent a government shutdown.