Senate Republicans' proposed pandemic relief package includes $7 billion for new weapons procurement, ranging from F-35s to Army AH-64 Apache helicopters, drawing a sharp partisan divide on including such funds in the bill. Republicans defended the funds as a means for ensuring the Pentagon has resources to support the industrial base during the ongoing pandemic, while Democrats in both the Senate and House criticized the move as taking funds away from specific COVID-19-related measures. "With the virus continuing to spread, it is unclear when many of these employees will be able to return to their jobs. This uncertainty is weakening the manufacturing industry and could hurt our military's defense posture," Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. "Congress has not yet approved funds to mitigate losses in this industry. If nothing is done, the military could have to divert $11 billion from its core priorities to shore up defense manufacturing firms. This would weaken military readiness at a critical time and could hamper the progress we have made in rebuilding our Armed Forces."
展开▼
