AFA Applauds Government Reopening, Urges Congress to Pass Full-Year Appropriations

The Air & Space Forces Association commends lawmakers for ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. All Americans can rejoice that Airmen and Guardians, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and defense civilians can get back to the business of ensuring our National Security without worry about when their next paycheck will arrive.

Still, the solution reached this week is temporary, yet another Continuing Resolution that fails to deliver a full spending bill for the Department of Defense and most other government agencies. This is especially important to our Space Force, which simply cannot execute the missions that Congress has assigned them unless Congress allows them to acquire the new systems needed to execute those missions. Without a full budget, new military programs cannot start, money-saving multi-year contracts cannot be signed, and military readiness cannot be improved and assured. It Is imperative that Congress pass full-year appropriations bills and end this cycle of destructive temporary measures.

It is likewise imperative that the United States should never again use our uniformed service members and their civilian counterparts as bargaining chips in high stakes political standoffs. The men and women who volunteered to fight for our freedom ask little in return. A predictable paycheck is a small price to pay for our security.

Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.)
President & CEO