Dems: Will troops be in danger if debt limit not raised?

In a letter, sent Jan. 12 to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the lawmakers ask what would happen to American troops, especially those in Afghanistan and Iraq, if the debt ceiling were reached.

“Would the troops in the field be imperiled if we reached a point where for however long the Pentagon was unable to spend money?” they asked.

Frank told The Hill last week that it would be unconscionable for the GOP to fail to raise the debt ceiling because it would have an immediate impact on U.S. troops in a time of war. He emphasized that it is the GOP’s responsibility to raise it and that they are in no position to ask favors from Democrats as a price for doing so. 

If Gates responds that reaching the debt limit would adversely impact the military and its operations, it could increase pressure on Republicans to back an increase to the limit. House GOP leaders have said the limit must be raised, but hope to extract promises of serious spending cuts in exchange for their support. 

In a letter sent to Congress earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned that catastrophic economic consequences in America and around the globe would ensue if Congress failed to increase the debt ceiling.

— Erik Wasson contributed to this report.