Potential Army Air Force budget cut may amount to a staggering $14 billion under the new agreement.
The Air Force could incur costs of up to $14 billion if a full-year continuing resolution (CR) is implemented instead of an authorized and appropriated budget for fiscal 2025, according to Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain, the deputy chief of staff for operations.
Speaking at a Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing on March 12, Spain stated that a CR would potentially impact Air Force readiness by as much as $4 billion. However, with the inclusion of flexibility and anomalies, the actual impact could rise to $14 billion, a figure the service cannot afford, Spain told the committee.
The flexibility and anomalies Spain mentioned refer to special permissions that would allow the services to undertake new programs, typically prohibited under a CR. Spain expressed hope for the final version of the CR to include these flexibilities to enable the Air Force to allocate funds as necessary to maintain readiness.
Spain did not specify the specific cuts or reductions required to meet the CR's spending limits. Instead, he focused on the four primary pillars of Air Force readiness that could be affected: parts and supply, people, flying and training, and current infrastructure. Additionally, other programs impacting future readiness would also be affected, such as rebuilding acquisitions, long-term sustainment, and recruiting and retention at an adequate pace.
The Air Force might also benefit from flexibility on quality-of-life accounts to mitigate potential funding shortages in certain areas. Spain emphasized that while Airmen will continue to perform their duties, budget constraints could increase their level of risk. The Air Force currently operates with the oldest airplanes, the smallest force, and fewer monthly flying hours than at any point in its history.
Meanwhile, China's military forces are expanding and modernizing their nuclear capabilities and long-range missile programs. Recent Chinese test flights of sixth-generation aircraft highlight the elevated threat in the strategic environment, according to Spain.
In light of these challenges, the Air Force is shifting its focus from individual elements of readiness toward a more holistic approach, recognizing the necessity of synchronizing these elements to create a warfighting capability over time. The service is prioritizing parts and supply, manpower, and infrastructure directly to core readiness outcomes.
SASC Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) concurred that a year-long CR would leave the defense budget underfunded. He expressed concerns that the CR's additional funding, in both the Senate and House versions, may not be sufficient to counter the increasing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea.
Wicker and other service representatives participating in the hearing agreed that the only thing worse than a year-long CR would be a government shutdown, which could occur if Congress fails to pass the CR or an alternative measure this week. A shutdown looms as the deadline approaches.
During the hearing, focus was placed on how a year-long CR would affect each service branch. Each service representative explained how cuts imposed by the CR would require raids on other accounts to make up for the shortfalls. Wicker suggested increasing military end strength as a means of reversing reductions approved in 2023 when the services could not meet their recruitment goals. All witnesses reported that their services exceeded the recruitment targets for fiscal 2024, albeit at a reduced scale compared to previous years.
Spain, for his part, highlighted that the Air Force was above its recruitment goals for the year and had the largest delayed-entry pool in a decade. He attributed this success to additional recruiters and increased training. Spain stressed that the Air Force is currently in a better position than it has been in the last 15 years.
- The Air Force could face a $14 billion shortfall if a full-year continuing resolution (CR) is implemented instead of an authorized and appropriated budget for fiscal 2025, Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain mentioned at a Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing.
- Speaking at the hearing, Spain stated that a CR could potentially impact Air Force readiness by as much as $4 billion, but with the inclusion of flexibility and anomalies, the actual impact could rise to $14 billion.
- The general emphasized that budget constraints could increase Airmen's level of risk, as the Air Force currently operates with the oldest airplanes, the smallest force, and fewer monthly flying hours than at any point in its history.
- Meanwhile, China's military forces are expanding and modernizing their nuclear capabilities and long-range missile programs, posing an elevated threat in the strategic environment, according to Spain.
- In response to these challenges, the Air Force is shifting its focus to a more holistic approach, recognizing the necessity of synchronizing parts and supply, manpower, and infrastructure to create a warfighting capability over time.
- SASC Chairman Roger Wicker expressed concerns that the CR's additional funding may not be sufficient to counter the increasing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea, suggesting increasing military end strength as a means of reversing reductions.
