A long-term continuing resolution would be “damaging” to the Department of Defense, which has already been operating on a budget created years ago, the top House defense appropriator said Wednesday.

“We’re still open and doing business as the Department of Defense… [but] it’s damaging to the day-to-day operations of the department,” Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) told Breaking Defense.

Current fiscal year spending expires at the end of the month. Calvert suggested continuing the current levels until November to give Congress time to pass full appropriations bills. The White House has suggested a stopgap stretching into early next year.

But Calvert noted DOD is already operating on a full-year continuing resolution that essentially froze spending at fiscal year 2024 levels.

“We’re doing everything we can to make sure we can pass a defense appropriation bill and to and to keep our doors open. It’s important,” he said. “It’s been destructive to have a CR this last year.”

Navy photo by William J. Busby III