Defense secretary says temporary budget bill would severely impact military

[KARAH RUCKER]

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 20-24 LEVELS.

In a letter sent to members of Congress Sunday — AUSTIN SAYS THAT STOP-GAP WOULD CUT DEFENSE SPENDING BY MORE THAN 6 BILLION DOLLARS — COMPARED TO THE 20-25 SPENDING PROPOSAL. — WHICH AUSTIN SAYS 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 SEPTEMBER 30-TH TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.