The 2024 Air Force Association’s Warfare Symposium in Colorado could be characterized by the theme of change. Air Force and Space Force leaders emphasized the need to prepare troops for evolving threats worldwide. However, the leaders also expressed frustration over the delay in implementing these plans, attributing it to Congress.
During the symposium’s opening event, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall highlighted the urgency of modernizing the military, citing China’s aggressive military buildup over the past two decades.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are out of time,” Kendall said. “We are out of time. We are out of time…. because for at least two decades, China has been building a military that is designed, purpose-built to deter and defeat the United States if we intervene in the Western Pacific.”
Kendall stressed that the United States is engaged in a competition that could escalate into conflict at any time.
The United States does not seek a conflict. We have every hope that one can be avoided. We are, however, involved in a competition, an enduring competition, that could turn into a conflict at any time.
Frank Kendall, Air Force Secretary
“The United States does not seek a conflict,” Kendall said. “We have every hope that one can be avoided. We are, however, involved in a competition, an enduring competition, that could turn into a conflict at any time. We can no longer regard conflict as a distant possibility, or a future problem that we might have to confront. The risk of conflict is here now, and that risk will increase with time.”
Kendall, who assumed office in 2021, has been advocating for what he calls “operational imperatives” to guide the investment of Congress’s funds.
“That work had a major impact on the FY 24 budget that was submitted a year ago,” Kendall said. “We’re still, by the way, waiting for the Congress to appropriate the FY 24 funds that we need now to modernize the Air and Space Forces and to defend the nation. Congress, if you’re listening, an FY 24 appropriation would be very welcome, and once again, please do not subject us to a disastrous yearlong CR and sequestration.”
Under a continuing resolution, service branches are forced to operate at the same spending levels as the previous fiscal year. This also means there is virtually no new spending, so no new projects can begin.
Air Force Special Operations Command Commander Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind highlighted the challenges posed by continuing resolutions, including funding uncertainty and limitations on new initiatives.
“With any sort of continuing resolution is that uncertainty of funding as it goes forward,” Bauernfeind said. “In some cases with new starts, we fundamentally can’t even start the work we need to do. And so without that monetary aspect in place, we’re sitting on our hands and we’re not moving forward. Even with continuing resolution, the second aspect of it is are we going to overspend what we expect to get. So people tend to become more conservative, thereby pulling their punches a little bit in the execution of those resources. And both of those get solved with Congress’ guidance in the form of a budget.”
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