Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis believes that years of budget uncertainty have left the U.S. military in such a precarious position that if it is not solved soon, it will represent an existential threat to American security.
“If we don’t get budgetary predictability, if we don’t remove the defense caps, then we’re questioning whether or not America has the ability to survive,” Mattis said Sept 20. “It’s that simple.”
Secretaries of defense complaining about budget uncertainty is a time-honored tradition, especially since the enactment of the Budget Control Act in 2011. But Mattis’ comments, made during a keynote at the annual Air Force Association conference, may be the most forceful from a sitting secretary.
“Despite the casualties, the loss of our wonderful, beautiful young troops, thousands of them over the last sixteen-odd years of combat, nothing has done more damage to the readiness of our armed forces than the continuing resolutions that stop us from taking initiative, than the lack of budgetary predictability,” Mattis said.
Congress recently agreed to put the government under a continuing resolution through Dec. 10, which limits spending at fiscal year 2016 levels and prevents the Pentagon from launching new programs. This represent the 30th CR enacted over the last decade, lasting for over 1,000 days in total.
And it is unknown if regular budgetary order will return on Dec. 10 or if major
