In a Pentagon statement, Lloyd Austin thanked Congress for approving continued government funding, which he said will ensure “our brave service members and our dedicated civilian personnel are paid before the holidays.”
At the same time, the US Secretary of Defense asked Congress to accept full-year appropriations. “As we have long recognized, operating under short-term rolling resolutions interferes with staff’s ability to execute Department programs and undermines our national security and competitiveness,” the Pentagon chief said in a statement.
Austin also called on lawmakers to quickly consider and approve requests for additional funding for military aid to Ukraine and Israel to support Washington’s “allies and partners” at a critical time. He said this would enable “key investments in our defense industrial base”.
“These investments will mean greater prosperity for the country and greater security abroad,” the head of the US Department of Defense said in a statement.
US President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on temporary government funding to avoid the so-called shutdown, a suspension of government agencies, which could occur as early as December 17. November. Expenses for assistance to Israel and Ukraine were not included in the document.
