Defense & Aerospace Report DEFAERO Daily Pod [Nov 12, 25] Todd Harrison Reviews Recent Budget Headlines
Nov 12, 2025
Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert at the American Enterprise Institute, joins to dissect the recent government shutdown's lingering impacts on military readiness and workforce morale. He highlights the protective measures for Boeing's E-7 radar program and discusses the need for acquisition reforms spearheaded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Harrison elaborates on the shift from airborne to space-based systems and the complexities of tracking reconciliation funding in defense. His insights underscore the intricate relationship between politics and defense procurement.
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Shutdown's Lasting Readiness Costs
- The recent shutdown is a temporary reprieve but will have months-to-years lingering effects on training, maintenance, and readiness.
- Todd Harrison warns another shutdown in January is possible because underlying political issues remain unresolved.
Small Delays, Big Readiness Hit
- The shutdown's biggest damage is the cumulative "small stuff": delayed travel, training rotations, and range support that degrade readiness.
- Harrison highlights morale and voluntary attrition risk among civilian workforce as a major long-term harm.
Unpaid Leave That Kept People Working
- Todd recounts working where employees took unpaid leave yet were required to work during that leave.
- He says that experience led staff to dust off resumes and ultimately increased voluntary departures.