Pentagon Predicts The Government Shutdown Will Increase Weapons Costs

Business Insider/Reuters: Government shutdown predicted to increase weapons costs for the Pentagon

* A US government shutdown is predicted to stall defense contracts and ultimately increase weapons costs.
* The potential shutdown could cost hundreds of millions of dollars for the Defense Department, or even billions government-wide in terms of legal disputes over contracts.
* The Defense Department has the biggest portion of discretionary spending.

A U.S. government shutdown will stall new defense department contracts and ultimately increase the costs of weapons, creating even more budgetary headaches as lawmakers grapple with a government funding crisis.

Defense companies and Pentagon officials lamented the potential federal spending woes, saying it will hurt small suppliers who feed into weapons production while hitting bigger firms when the contract process is put on hold.

Congress has been struggling for months to agree on long-term government funding levels that may also include protections from deportation for 700,000 young undocumented immigrants. The federal government is operating on a third temporary funding measure since the new fiscal year began in October.

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WNU Editor: U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis describes a few more impacts of a government shutdown .... Mattis: Government Shutdown Would Have ‘Terrible Impact’ on Military (Washington Free Beacon).