Unlike many other agencies, the Pentagon has not been afraid to complain to lawmakers about the effects of the standoff. With a budget that reflects roughly 3 percent of the U.S. economy, the effects are already being felt.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in January that the lack of a budget was causing a "crisis on my doorstep" that could result in less time at sea for the Navy, fewer fighter jets in the air and delays in maintaining equipment.
"Frankly, that's how you hollow out a military even in wartime," he said.
Within a static budget, the Pentagon has had to find an additional $8 billion for pay raises, increased fuel costs and increased medical costs by diverting money that was earmarked for supplies and weapons programs, other Defense officials have told Congress.
Among the activities affected by the continuing resolution:
- The Navy has delayed construction on a Virginia-class submarine, a destroyer and an aircraft carrier.
- The Army has delayed purchasing more Chinook helicopters and postponed refurbishment of war-torn Humvees.
- The Army has stopped work on its Stryker mobile gun system.
- The Army lacks money to upgrade its Apache Longbow helicopters, but is forced to keep buying new Humvees that it does not want.
- A Pentagon freeze on civilian hiring has threatened the department's plans to step up oversight of its contracting.
- The Air Force had planned to purchase 48 MQ-9 Reaper drones for use in Afghanistan, but can't buy more than 24.
The Pentagon has already had to delay 75 projects, which could lead to higher costs when they resume.
"There's no question that we will spend more money for the same goods if we don't receive the money in a timely way," Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn told the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 1.
The construction delays from Navy-related projects alone could cost the U.S. 10,000 jobs, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 8. It could take three years for the Navy's plans to get back on track, he said.
Top defense companies have warned that budget-related disruptions could drive up costs.
In Maine, General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works shipyard had expected to be well along the planning process by now for a new DDG-51 destroyer for the Navy. Though construction wouldn't begin for several years, the shipyard needs to begin figuring out which dry dock to reserve and which of its 5,600 workers to assign to a project that can take up to five years from order to delivery.
That planning process has become even more complex now that the project is in budgetary limbo, said shipyard spokesman Jim DeMartini. Another chunk of anticipated work overseeing maintenance and modernization efforts at other shipyards around the country has also been put on hold, he said.
"The more uncertain we are downstream about what kind of work we're going to have, the more difficult it becomes for us to put together a logical plan and execute to that plan," DeMartini said.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in January that the lack of a budget was causing a "crisis on my doorstep" that could result in less time at sea for the Navy, fewer fighter jets in the air and delays in maintaining equipment.
"Frankly, that's how you hollow out a military even in wartime," he said.
Within a static budget, the Pentagon has had to find an additional $8 billion for pay raises, increased fuel costs and increased medical costs by diverting money that was earmarked for supplies and weapons programs, other Defense officials have told Congress.
Among the activities affected by the continuing resolution:
- The Navy has delayed construction on a Virginia-class submarine, a destroyer and an aircraft carrier.
- The Army has delayed purchasing more Chinook helicopters and postponed refurbishment of war-torn Humvees.
- The Army has stopped work on its Stryker mobile gun system.
- The Army lacks money to upgrade its Apache Longbow helicopters, but is forced to keep buying new Humvees that it does not want.
- A Pentagon freeze on civilian hiring has threatened the department's plans to step up oversight of its contracting.
- The Air Force had planned to purchase 48 MQ-9 Reaper drones for use in Afghanistan, but can't buy more than 24.
The Pentagon has already had to delay 75 projects, which could lead to higher costs when they resume.
"There's no question that we will spend more money for the same goods if we don't receive the money in a timely way," Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn told the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 1.
The construction delays from Navy-related projects alone could cost the U.S. 10,000 jobs, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 8. It could take three years for the Navy's plans to get back on track, he said.
Top defense companies have warned that budget-related disruptions could drive up costs.
In Maine, General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works shipyard had expected to be well along the planning process by now for a new DDG-51 destroyer for the Navy. Though construction wouldn't begin for several years, the shipyard needs to begin figuring out which dry dock to reserve and which of its 5,600 workers to assign to a project that can take up to five years from order to delivery.
That planning process has become even more complex now that the project is in budgetary limbo, said shipyard spokesman Jim DeMartini. Another chunk of anticipated work overseeing maintenance and modernization efforts at other shipyards around the country has also been put on hold, he said.
"The more uncertain we are downstream about what kind of work we're going to have, the more difficult it becomes for us to put together a logical plan and execute to that plan," DeMartini said.
