{"id":31962,"date":"2022-01-14T21:37:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T21:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/14\/inflation-unpredictable-funding-straining-navy-readiness-says-top-officer\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:39:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:39:32","slug":"inflation-unpredictable-funding-straining-navy-readiness-says-top-officer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/budget\/2022\/01\/14\/inflation-unpredictable-funding-straining-navy-readiness-says-top-officer\/","title":{"rendered":"Inflation and unpredictable funding are straining Navy readiness, says top officer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Inflation is harming Navy readiness and unpredictable funding<\/a> from extending a delayed defense spending bill will thwart deterrence against near peer competitors like China, according to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe price of Fleet readiness is going up,\u201d Gilday said in his written testimony the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 12. \u201cManpower, operations, and maintenance costs \u2014 which make up almost 60 percent of our budget \u2014 continue to grow above the rate of inflation. Making matters worse, inflation rose and remains at 6-8 percent, well above the historical average. This will likely exacerbate all of our readiness costs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gilday\u2019s comments coincide with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting on Jan. 12 that inflation had reached the highest 12-month increase since June 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, Gilday said the Navy\u2019s funding levels have remained \u201cflat relative to inflation for over a decade,\u201d and noted Congress stalling on passing spending bills also poses challenges to operational readiness, delays military construction projects and upends acquisition schedules, among other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\t