Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Armed Services Committee released a fact sheet detailing the serious national security consequences of the Democrats' refusal to open the government, which is directly undermining America's combat readiness, as well as the welfare of our servicemembers and the civilians who support them.
Instead of prioritizing the men and women who serve and protect our country, Democrats are using America's national security as political leverage.
Highlighted national security impacts are below, and available online here:
America’s Nuclear Deterrent Is Being Weakened
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has been forced to furlough 80% of its workforce.
Critical work to modernize our nuclear triad, restore our nuclear industrial base, and properly manage our stockpile of nuclear weapons has been stopped.
America’s nuclear stockpile is essential to ensuring our national security and global stability.
As we confront the challenge of deterring two nuclear powers – China and Russia – NNSA’s work has never been more important.
Servicemembers May Be Forced to Work Without Pay
While the Democrats keep the government closed, all military personnel on active duty, including National Guard and Reservists on Federal orders, must continue to report for duty and carry out assigned orders.
These 2 million servicemembers will be forced to work without pay if the Democrats don’t vote to open the government by the end of the month.
The Democrats’ shutdown disproportionally affects military families:
1 in 5 military families have only 1 source of income
1 in 4 servicemembers struggle to put food on the table
1 in 3 servicemembers live paycheck to paycheck
2 in 3 military families have less than $3,000 in savings
Servicemembers Are Losing Access to Vital Services
Servicemembers and their families continue to have access to critical healthcare, but elective surgery and other routine medical and dental procedures have been stopped.
Department of Defense Tuition Assistance has been paused, which prevents many members of the military from taking classes for their personal and professional development.
Permanent changes of station have been significantly limited, which means families remain stuck at their current location, despite already having begun the process of moving. Preparations for schooling and childcare must be reconsidered and families that have already ended a lease or sold their homes need to find new housing arrangements.
Critical Capabilities for Our Warfighters Are Being Delayed
The military cannot enter into new contracts or renew existing contracts during the shutdown, needlessly delaying the acquisition of critical capabilities for our warfighters.
There has been a three-month delay in deploying the Air Force Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) program, which is central to our air combat capabilities. The JATM is necessary to catch up with China, which has significantly outpaced the U.S. in the ability to target important assets with ultra-long-range air missiles.
Current and Long-Term Combat Readiness Is Being Degraded
Critical exercises have been delayed or cancelled, including activities to deter China through new capabilities testing, validating operational concepts, and informing force posture.
Military exercises with the Philippines have been canceled.
Planning for large-scale military exercises has been postponed.
Ongoing intelligence that informs weapons development and predicts geopolitical conditions has been stopped, hurting our ability to equip our troops and prepare for future threats.
The time to complete necessary Naval ship maintenance has increased and the growing backlog of repairs will be more and more difficult to overcome once the government opens.
Essential Training Has Been Paused
Military training and education have been slashed, preventing military personnel from acquiring and maintaining critical skills and certifications, reducing military readiness and delaying updates to operational plans.
The Army has cancelled approximately 150 professional military education (PME) courses, impacting nearly 5,000 personnel.
Critical training institutions like the Command and General Staff College, the Sergeants Major Academy, and Army War College have severe instructor shortages.
Required training for Fire and Emergency Services and Naval Security Forces has been delayed.
Civilian Defense Employees Aren’t Being Paid
Over 220,000 DoD civilians that perform critical national security activities must continue to report to work but will not be paid until the government is funded.
Another 330,000 civilians have been furloughed, including military technicians.
Essential maintenance performed by civilians has been stopped because of furloughs, which could force longer periods of equipment downtime and decreased combat readiness.
