Shutdown Halts Military Exercises and Weakens Deterrence

Washington, D.C.—Today, Secretary Robert Wilkie, Co-Chair of American Security and former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, issued the following statement on the shutdown’s impact on U.S. military readiness:

“The federal government shutdown is directly undermining America’s deterrence posture and weakening our ability to stand up to global adversaries.

Critical military exercises have been delayed or canceled, including those designed to deter China, test new capabilities, and validate key defense strategies. Joint training with our ally the Philippines, a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific security cooperation, has been halted. Planning for large-scale readiness drills has been postponed.

Every canceled exercise sends a message of hesitation and vulnerability to our enemies. America’s strength lies in its preparedness, and right now, that strength is being squandered. It’s time to reopen the government, restore full military operations, and put national security above partisan politics.”