Congress Passes Short-Term Spending Bill, Raises Concerns for Defense Department Funding
As Congress passed its fourth consecutive short-term spending bill on Thursday, concerns have been raised about the impact on Defense Department funding. The temporary measure extends funding at fiscal 2023 levels through March 22, leaving the Pentagon uncertain about its budget for the fiscal year 2024. This uncertainty has significant implications for the implementation of new modernization programs and the expansion of the defense-industrial base, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
The lack of a full-year funding plan has put key government programs in limbo, resulting in wasted taxpayer money on outdated budgets and hindering progress towards national security, technological advancement, and American competitiveness in industries such as aerospace. Eric Fanning, CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, expressed his concerns over this situation, emphasizing the need for forward progress and adequate funding.
The House voted 320-99 in favor of the temporary spending measure, with the Senate following suit shortly thereafter with a 77-13 vote. While this bill ensures funding until March 8 for Veterans Affairs and military construction, Defense Department funding is set to expire two weeks later. Congress is expected to vote on the FY24 Veterans Affairs and military construction spending bill next week, but the Pentagon’s funding remains unresolved.
The appropriations bill for the Pentagon has faced opposition from the right-wing House Freedom Caucus. The caucus has insisted on policy riders that Democrats have rejected, including bans on the Pentagon’s abortion travel leave policy and medical care for transgender troops. These disagreements have further delayed the passage of a comprehensive defense budget.
If Congress fails to pass a full FY24 federal budget by April 30, the debt ceiling agreement will trigger a one-year continuing resolution that would result in a 1% sequester across all federal agencies, including the Pentagon. Such a scenario would force the Defense Department to prioritize current operations, personnel, and acquisition and modernization efforts. However, this approach would lead to billions of dollars in “misaligned” funds and necessitate unprecedented reprogramming requests to Congress.
The Navy, for instance, would need a $13 billion reprogramming request to address $26 billion in misaligned funds. Additionally, the Virginia-class attack submarine program would face a $2 billion shortfall, while amphibious ship spending would suffer an $800 million deficit. The Navy’s Columbia-class ballistic submarine program, which is at risk of falling behind schedule, has received a $2.2 billion carveout to ensure continuity.
Other services would also face challenges in initiating new initiatives. The lack of funding would impede critical munitions ramp-up efforts following the increased supply of arms to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo highlighted the need for funding to restore munitions capabilities and enable industry to invest in workforce and infrastructure.
Furthermore, the $95 billion foreign aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which includes funding for munitions-industrial base ramp-up, has faced hurdles in the House. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has not brought it up for a vote after the Senate approved it 70-29 earlier this month.
The Air Force has also expressed concerns about the potential impact of a 1% sequester. It would reduce its buying power by $13 billion and halt $2.8 billion in space modernization projects.
The passage of another short-term spending bill has once again highlighted the challenges faced by the Defense Department in planning for the fiscal year 2024. The lack of a comprehensive budget jeopardizes national security, technological advancements, and the defense-industrial base. While Congress is expected to address Veterans Affairs and military construction funding soon, the Pentagon awaits resolution on its crucial budgetary needs.
Bryant Harris, a seasoned Congress reporter for Defense News, has been tracking U.S. foreign policy, national security, international affairs, and politics in Washington since 2014. His expertise in these areas provides valuable insights into the implications of the short-term spending bill and its potential impact on the Defense Department.
