Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is warning Congress that passing a temporary budget bill to keep the government open would have devastating impacts on the Defense Department. The bill would keep the federal government funded for another six months, but cap spending at 2024 levels.
In a letter to members of Congress on Sunday, Sept. 8, Austin said that the stop-gap would cut defense spending by more than $6 billion, compared to the 2025 spending proposal. Austin said that would impact thousands of defense programs and damage recruiting just as the military is starting to recover from the pandemic.
Congress needs to approve a stop-gap spending bill before the end of the budget year on Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown.