McKeon ‘disappointed’ GE and Rolls-Royce not funding second F-35 engine

McKeon connected the second engine’s demise to the potential for $600 billion in
automatic cuts through sequestration in January 2013, warning against waiting a full year
before changing the automatic cuts.

{mosads}“Decisions that could cripple our national security and our
economy are being made today that will be difficult, if not impossible, to undo
tomorrow,” he said.

Funding for the second engine was not included in the 2012
Defense authorization bill that passed the Senate on Thursday, nor in the House
version. The Pentagon has also suggested jettisoning the program.

McKeon said he will propose legislation that would undo
sequestration cuts to the Defense budget.