Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, in a Sept. 18 letter to congressional leaders, itemized the significant challenges a continuing resolution of any length would pose to the Air Force and Space Force.
"A CR of any length impacts DAF readiness, hinders acceleration of the Space Force, delays military construction projects, reduces aircraft availability, and curbs modernization in our race for technological superiority," Kendall said in his letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
"A CR also sets us back in meeting the pacing challenge presented by the People's Republic of China, which continues to invest heavily in capabilities designed to prevent the United States and its allies from projecting power in the Western Pacific," the letter said.
The two-page letter offers specifics under the headings, Impacts to Personnel & Readiness, Impacts to Modernization, and Impacts to MILCON.
In those sections, Kendall said a temporary spending plan which in Congress is called a "continuing resolution," degrades the Department's efforts to improve housing, provide basic pay, meet recruiting goals and retain personnel.
The letter outlines how a CR would prevent the Department from spurring production increases for munition stockpiles and impede development of the B-21 bomber and modernizing the land-based nuclear deterrent, among other impacts to include halting Space Force development on launch and range test system software.
Kendall told the lawmakers that he is especially worried about the impact of a long-term CR. "In the event of a year-long CR, four Air Force Operational Imperative initiatives would also experience delays, hindering the DAF's ability to close key capability gaps, accelerate development, and assure U.S. advantage against pacing challenges …," he said.
Despite the concerns, Kendall said the Department was ready to work with Congress on completing work on a full and new budget for fiscal year 2025. That fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
"The DAF greatly values our partnership with Congress and appreciates your commitment to our Airmen and Guardians," Kendall said.
The full letter can be found here.
