WE ARE NOW IN THE SECOND MONTH of fiscal 2020, but it might as well be the 14th month of fiscal 2019. Why? Because Congress has not yet reached agreement on defense appropriations for fiscal 2020. This piece of legislation specifies expenditures for the Defense Department, including the National Guard; and, when combined with the annual National Defense Authorization Act, enables DoD to conduct business. Let's be clear, both consistent defense appropriations and an annual NDAA are critical to the nation. To give themselves more time to reach agreement on appropriations, Congress passed a stopgap budget called a continuing resolution just before Oct. l.The government stays open, but with the previous year's funding levels and no new programs.
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