{"id":52965,"date":"2020-07-02T03:23:06","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T03:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/02\/next-gen-icbm-program-survives-defunding-attempt-in-house-panel\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:52:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:52:47","slug":"next-gen-icbm-program-survives-defunding-attempt-in-house-panel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2020\/07\/02\/next-gen-icbm-program-survives-defunding-attempt-in-house-panel\/","title":{"rendered":"Next-gen ICBM program survives defunding attempt in House panel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday shot down a plan to slash funding for the Air Force\u2019s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program<\/a>. The vote was a bipartisan 44-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal was to transfer $1 billion to a pandemic preparedness fund from the next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile effort, for which Northrop Grumman is the sole competitor. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., sponsored it. Though HASC Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., supported it, most of the committee\u2019s Democrats did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe United States does not need to be modernizing the ICBMs,\u201d Khanna said, citing experts who see the sea- and air-based legs of the nuclear triad as sufficient. \u201cIf there is an accidental launch of an ICBM, you can\u2019t take it back. On the other hand, you can call a submarine back, you can call an aerial bomber back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The language would likely have been a sticking point in negotiations with the GOP-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee. The president requested $1.5 billion for the GBSD program for fiscal 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the most part, fights over nuclear weapons reductions were left out by Democratic leaders anxious to avoid last year\u2019s bruising partisan fights. Those fights may yet surface when members offer amendments on the House floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve disagreed with it, but I\u2019m putting all of that aside for the moment,\u201d Smith said of the president\u2019s nuclear plans. \u201cWe had that debate last year. It came out the way it came out. It\u2019s not going to change this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HASC Republicans argued that cutting the GBSD program would undermine America\u2019s nuclear deterrent as Russia and China beef up their arsenals. They\u2019ve also said the nation has dedicated sufficient resources to respond to COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis amendment helps America\u2019s adversaries,\u201d said Liz Cheney, R-Wyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\t