Even in missed debt deadline, DoD would’ve been ready

Even as the debt deal appears to be have been resolved, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta had prepared guidance for DoD workers.

The debt deal appears to be have been resolved – for now. But even if Congress and the administration hadn’t come to its late-Sunday night consensus, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was ready.

Panetta told the entire DoD workforce in a message sent Friday night that even if Congress didn’t make its Aug. 2nd deadline, DoD personnel were to report to work as usual.

Meanwhile, during his latest visit to Afghanistan, service members peppered Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen with questions about the impact of the U.S. debt crisis on military operations and benefits.

Mullen has said the single biggest threat to national security is the growing debt. The more the debt grows, he said, the greater likelihood that the defense budget will get smaller.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report. For more defense news, click here.

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