US Defense Chiefs Warn of Possible Conflict with China, Call for Increased Budget

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley pushed back against defense budget cuts, warning that it would have a serious impact on the U.S. military's warfighting capability, readiness, and training. Austin also raised concerns about cybersecurity and civilian personnel in the Pentagon. Meanwhile, Austin told Congress that the recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping "sends a very troubling message" to the world, and that if China decides to provide lethal support to Russia's war in Ukraine, it "would prolong the conflict" and "broaden the conflict potentially - not only in the region, but globally."