House Republicans’ proposals to cut the federal budget could hurt military families and national security, Pentagon Comptroller Michael McCord said in a letter to House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), as Defense News and other outlets reported.

Some House Republicans want to return to the budget levels enacted for fiscal year 2022. Drastic defense cuts are unlikely, but some have floated ideas such as reducing the DOD civilian workforce.

“After two consecutive years in which Congress has increased the funding level above the levels we have requested, such an immediate about-face to deep cuts to the defense program the President and secretary believe we need would be extremely disruptive and inefficient and would be certain to result in the waste of funding Congress recently approved, as multiple efforts to accelerate our capabilities would have to be stopped in their tracks,” McCord wrote.

McCord wrote that the cuts would hurt military families, make it tougher to raise pay as the administration has proposed and further set back recruitment and retention.

The Pentagon’s public posture against GOP cuts comes ahead of budget hearings this week, as On Base reported. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley and McCord will testify Thursday before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

DOD photo by Lisa Ferdinando