Pentagon leaders warned senators on Wednesday that the U.S. military’s combat readiness and modernization efforts could be significantly affected if the temporary budget bill does not increase military spending.
According to The Associated Press, leaders from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps told the Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee on Wednesday that if the U.S. military is not granted additional resources as part of the temporary funding bill, the military will need flexibility to shift funding around to ensure that the Pentagon’s top priorities are funded.
The Associated Press reported that the warning from top military leaders comes as Congress has not been able to pass a full Fiscal Year 2025 budget and has been forced to approve temporary funding bills that have limited military funding to levels similar to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. The outlet noted that the temporary funding bill passed on Tuesday by the U.S. House of Representatives would decrease non-defense spending by $14 billion and increase defense spending by roughly $6 billion.
The military leaders warned that by not passing a defense spending bill and continuing to use temporary funding bills, the military’s current budget does not allow the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps to begin new contracts for modernizing military weapons, improving housing, and making other necessary improvements.
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“Ultimately, the Army can afford a large, ready or modern force, but with the current budget, it cannot afford all three,” Gen. James Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army, told the Senate subcommittee on Wednesday. “Either we provide soldiers the capabilities needed to win or accept greater risks in other areas.”
Mingus warned that if the Army is forced to “accept greater risks” due to the current budget situation, the Army will not just experience budget adjustments and project delays but will face “real-world battlefield consequences.” The Army’s vice chief of staff added, “We need to invest in the things and training our soldiers need for the next fight, not the last fight.”
According to The Associated Press, Adm. James Kilby, vice chief of U.S. naval operations, warned that insufficient funding for the military will “slow shipbuilding, including our amphibious warships.” Meanwhile, other military leaders warned that both the Navy and the Marine Corps would be negatively impacted if the military is not able to fully fund shipbuilding and maintenance programs.
Additionally, Air Force Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain, deputy Air Force chief of staff, warned that the Air Force’s combat readiness will be affected “to the tune of about $4 billion” under the temporary funding bill.
