Tom Rooney Warns that Defense Cuts Could Undermine Security

From his perch on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney warned that defense cuts -- which are looming as a bipartisan joint committee set up to cut the federal budget appears stalled -- could undermine national security.

Rooney pointed to a letter from U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and insisted that looming cuts would have a severe impact. In the letter to U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Panetta argued that the department would face a 23 percent cut -- leaving America its smallest ground forces since 1940, the fewest ships since 1915 and the smallest Air Force ever.

If the joint deficit committee cannot reach an agreement and automatic defense cuts are triggered, our national security will be severely weakened, Rooney said in a statement released on Tuesday. As Secretary Panetta stated, the impact of these cuts -- which would bring the total cut to the Department of Defense to $1 trillion -- would be devastating.

While our military would be much smaller, our weapons systems more outdated, and our overall readiness greatly weakened, the threats we face would be unabated.Our enemies would only grow stronger and more confident in the face of an American military that could no longer meet our defense needs, Rooney added. We must reach an agreement to tackle our deficits without crippling our defense. Failing to heed the warnings of Secretary Panetta and our military leaders would be irresponsible and unacceptable.