Hill Air Force Base officials are struggling to plan for the future as Congress debates military appropriations in the overdue fiscal year 2018 budget.
Though a nearly $700 billion defense authorization bill awaits President Donald Trump’s approval, Department of Defense appropriations remain uncertain until Congress passes a budget bill, which will decide how much money is allocated to defense.
Officials at Utah’s Hill Air Force Base — still feeling the effects of the 2011 debt-ceiling debacle and subsequent sequestration that capped military spending — told reporters in a conference call Wednesday that they’re concerned.
If a budget passes and adheres to 2011 Budget Control Act spending caps, Hill officials believe they won’t have enough money to operate the base and achieve their mission of combat readiness.