New Space Force Chief Warns Stopgap Budget Stalls 10 Percent of Programs

Roughly one in ten of the Space Force's programs cannot move forward under the continuing resolution now in effect, the service's new top uniformed official said. Gen. Douglas Schiess, sworn in as chief of space operations on Sept. 3, warned that the funding measure set to run until mid-December will slow the service at a moment when threats are advancing.

The stopgap measure passed by lawmakers earlier this month averted a government shutdown but carries consequences for the Space Force, according to Schiess. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Air and Space Forces Association conference at National Harbor, Md., he said the service can continue most of its work under the resolution but a portion of planned efforts cannot proceed without a new spending bill or a special congressional carveout known as an anomaly.

Schiess said roughly 90 percent of the Space Force's programs come from last year, meaning they can continue under a continuing resolution. About 10 percent of the service's planned efforts cannot proceed without a full budget. "We're thankful that we have a CR for going into October, but I would really be more thankful if we had a budget," he said. "It's gonna slow us down, and the threat is not slowing down, so we have to continue to get after that. So I just urge our congressional colleagues and folks to get after getting us the budget."

Space Force Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna, appearing alongside Schiess, noted that emerging missions like space control and space superiority previously "didn't exist." That means the service "need[s] to be able to move forward and get an acquisition process so we can build and take possession of the systems" required to accomplish its goals, he said. The Space Force is requesting $71.2 billion in fiscal 2027, up from $40 billion enacted in FY26, and officials are pushing to grow the branch to roughly 20,000 Guardians and civilians by the end of the decade. The FY27 budget itself hangs in the balance, with lawmakers on both sides casting doubt on the administration's $350 billion reconciliation request for the Pentagon.

In his first major keynote address as the service's top official, Schiess outlined three priorities: forging the Guardian ethos, arming and growing the Space Force, and integrating Guardian power at scale. He echoed remarks from Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who revealed the Space Force possesses "space control weapons" in orbit. "Let me be crystal clear: today, Guardians operate on-orbit weapons that can defend the joint force against space-enabled attacks," Schiess said. Asked why officials chose to disclose orbital weaponry after years of circumspection, he reasoned the disclosure provides deterrent value, and pointed to what military leaders describe as concerning behaviors by Russia and China, including the ability to grapple other satellites and change their orbits.

Schiess framed the budget impasse as a direct drag on a service racing to field new capabilities against fast-moving threats. "The threat is not slowing down," he said, tying the delay to the service's need to build and sustain what he called its combat advantage. "We will make disciplined and responsible choices about how we build and sustain our combat advantage, which means scaling our ability to respond to threats," he said, adding, "by the way, we need your help, Congress."

The continuing resolution is set to stretch until mid-December, running past the November elections. Schiess urged Congress to pass a full budget.