US (Washington Insider Magazine) —SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — Pentagon leaders have issued a stark warning to Congress: without a full-year budget, critical defense programs—ranging from uncrewed aircraft to hypersonics—face significant delays, jeopardizing the U.S. position in a technological race against China.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall emphasized the urgency during a panel at the Reagan National Defense Forum, stating, “We cannot waste time.” He highlighted the Air Force’s recent strategic goals aimed at outpacing China’s military capabilities, including the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), designed to operate alongside F-35s later this decade. Kendall noted that while the CCA is vital, it symbolizes a broader objective: to develop faster, more cost-effective defense systems.
Reflecting on the time lost since the concept’s inception, he pointed out, “The loss of time just from when we started this concept is two years. If we don’t secure a 2024 budget, we may lose another year.”
Heidi Shyu, the Pentagon’s head of research and engineering, echoed these concerns, explaining that inconsistent funding has hindered testing of hypersonic technologies, another key area of competition. The Defense Department’s Test Resource Management Center has requested additional funding for these initiatives for FY24, but progress hinges on congressional appropriations. Shyu plans to present Congress with a list detailing which systems could be affected by a year-long continuing resolution (CR).
“China spends an enormous amount on test assets,” Shyu remarked, highlighting the growing gap in military capabilities.
For the past two months, the U.S. government has relied on CRs, which maintain spending at previous levels and prevent the initiation of new programs. The current short-term funding bill is set to expire in mid-January and early February, raising alarms about potential delays if a new spending deal isn’t reached.
Because of the frequent delays in passing budget bills, the Pentagon has adapted its budgeting approach, anticipating potential contract delays in the first quarter. Army acquisition chief Doug Bush noted that while the effects of the last two CRs have been manageable, a failure to secure a budget by January could result in significant setbacks for the Army’s plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
Bush highlighted the importance of several programs, such as air defense, long-range strike, and the new TITAN targeting system, which are either in development or nearing production.
Adding to the urgency, a provision from a recently passed debt ceiling bill mandates a 1% cut in all government spending if Congress fails to pass all 12 appropriations bills by January. This creates further complications for Pentagon officials trying to plan for future budgets. Bill LaPlante, the Defense Department’s chief acquisition officer, remarked, “What we told everybody is… remember, this is not like previous years. There are going to be some hard choices.”
The Pentagon’s plea for a full-year budget reflects the critical need for timely funding to maintain America’s defense capabilities and competitiveness on the global stage.