As Congress mulls passing another extension of a stopgap spending measure to avoid a government shutdown, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said the Defense Department would likely face a number of unknown challenges by operating under a continuing resolution.
âSince weâve never had a year-long continuing resolution for defense, and certainly never operated under one during a time of war, itâs the effects we havenât thought of that Iâm more worried about,â he told a Senate appropriation subcommittee Tuesday.
The department has already weathered five months under a continuing resolution, which holds funding constant at the previous yearâs level. But the CR has disrupted projects and puts the militaryâs readiness and its planned round of cost savings, known as efficiencies, in jeopardy, Lynn explained.
Before the subcommittee, he reiterated statements made by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that the lack of a proper spending bill for the current fiscal year is the âcrisis at our doorstep.â
A continuation of the CR would mean a net cut of about $23 billion to the department, Lynn explained.
âItâs detrimental to readiness, to modernization and to efficient business practices,â he said.
Already, the services have cut flying hours, deferred maintenance and halted acquisitions programs, including for a Navy destroyer, a submarine and a Humvee vehicle, he said.
âThe services have delayed 75 projects that affect our capabilities and quality of life for our service men and women,â he said.