The Pentagon will continue paying contractors at the expedited pace started in the early days of the pandemic, Bloomberg reported.

The Trump administration first sped up the payments to ensure defense contractors could stay afloat and pay employees.

“At this juncture, the department cannot project when the increased progress payment rates will be rescinded, as the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis continues to impact the defense industrial base,” department spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell said.

Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor T. McBride