Defense secretary: Putting off spending bill anew 'will do real harm'

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter advised Congress in a statement this week on the importance of financing the government for the rest of the year through the current spending bill.

With current government funding expiring on Friday, Congress is still debating a $1.1 trillion spending bill that would fund government operations for the rest of the year.

“At a time when our security environment demands a dynamic and agile military, it is vital that negotiations on Capitol Hill arrive at an agreement to fund all of government for the remainder of the fiscal year, consistent with the funding levels set in the budget agreement achieved earlier this year," Carter said. "Further delaying such funding will do real harm."

Carter was particularly concerned with the potential problems that would come from insufficient funding for defense.

"It harms our ability to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIL and to confront the many complex national security challenges around the world," Carter said. "Failure to act sends the wrong message to our troops, our allies and our enemies."

Carter also urged Congress to set aside "extraneous policy fights" and focus on securing funding for the government.