Several uniformed chiefs from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force testified before the House Armed Services Committee last week, identifying the key military programs that might falter due to a government shutdown, NJ.com reports.
The military faces either a $52 billion spending reduction beginning Oct. 1 – the start of the 2014 fiscal year – or a "continuing budget resolution" bill that will freeze the spending budget at the 2013 amount. The news source reports that both scenarios would have detrimental effects on the U.S. uniformed forces.
According to the news outlet, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno warned the House committee that more than 100 of the branch's acquisitions programs, including the ground combat vehicle program and the Army's Aerial Scout program, will be impacted.
Odierno called the results of the impending budget cuts "extensive modernization program shortfalls," a sentiment echoed by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos.
"If we are to succeed on future battlefields we must modernize and we must care for our infrastructure and training facilities," Amos said. "Soon there will be little left within these accounts to offset our readiness requirements."
Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, added that not only will the Navy lose more than 10 aircraft carriers, but it will also only complete the renovations of facilities that are "safety-essential," the news source reports.
All uniformed chiefs predicted a decrease in membership of their active-duty forces.