Navy CR planning looks 'dismal'

The Navy is planning for the possibility of a one-year continuing resolution (CR) while the U.S. Senate remains stalled in its appropriations process. Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer, speaking to reporters at a Heritage Foundation breakfast Oct. 30, said the sea-service has planned for the current stopgap CR in effect through Nov. 21, and is evaluating what a potential full-year CR may look like. "All of them are dismal," he said. CRs restrict the Defense Department's budget to the previous fiscal year levels and precludes the services from spending money on new programs. In September, DoD said the current CR would interrupt several programs, including the Navy's Advanced Helicopter Training System that was tentatively scheduled to be awarded in the first quarter of FY 2020. Navy also intended to purchase its first future frigate FFG(X), in FY-20, with a design and construction contract expected in July, according to the its FY-20 budget books. Last month, the Senate failed to pass a minibus spending package due to disagreements over the Trump administration's push to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. (Source: Inside Defense 10/30/19) https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/navy-planning-one-year-cr