The widening fight with the Islamic State (ISIS) and scheduled spending cuts at the Pentagon are on a collision course, says House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers.
"I don't think sequestration and increased efforts in Syria, [and] in Iraq are compatible," Rogers, a Kentucky Republican, said on the "Kruser and Krew" radio program on Lexington, Kentucky's,
WVLK radio.
"I would hope and trust that budget committees, House and Senate, would recommend ways to deal with sequestration . . . to prevent undo harm, particularly to the Defense Department," he added.
Rogers said the Pentagon has enough funding for now from the recent stopgap spending bill; the continuing resolution funds the government at fiscal 2014 levels and expires Dec. 11. Fiscal year 2015 starts Oct. 1.
But sequestration could force the Pentagon to cut $50 billion from its budget next year because the budget resolution Congress approved last December, which only covers fiscal 2014 and 2015, delayed the implementation of those across-the-board cuts,
The Hill notes.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has already warned that the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria is likely to put the squeeze on a Pentagon budget with existing federal spending caps.
"We're going to require
additional funding from Congress as we go forward," Hagel said last week.
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