The Air Force chief of staff says he doesn’t have enough pilots, planes or maintainers to meet the demands of today’s missions, and is warning that if Congress fails to pass a budget fully funding the military, the service will continue to face serious readiness challenges.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Thursday morning, Gen. David Goldfein said a year-long continuing resolution that would lock funding into this year’s levels would turn South Carolina’s Shaw Air Force Base, home of the Air Combat Command, into a “no-fly zone.”
“No enemy on the planet can do more damage to the U.S. Air Force than us not getting a budget,” Goldfein said.
Right now, the government is operating under a stop-gap continuing resolution that runs through April 28.
Though Congress has not yet passed a budget, both chambers are moving forward with appropriations bills.
Goldfein said if Congress fails to pass the budget, and again resort to a continuing resolution, it would amount to a $1.3 billion hit for the Air Force, and would not allow him to hire the people he needs to restore readiness.
