Congress both appropriates and authorizes money.
Slowing down government is fine with me too. I like gridlock. I don’t like stupid decisions like this one though because I believe it puts our military readiness at risk. You are 75% done with a program that has been funded for well over a decade. Makes no sense to cancel it now. Go after something that doesn’t involve national defense.
As a former zoomie, I follow all things related to AF. I'm fine with not having a 2nd engine for the F-35. I'd rather have the money spent on unmanned fighters and bombers.
I will check out alleys before I pass them, in case the fighter mafia wants to do me in for that heresy, but I've studied air power HARD since 1980. We need to move forward to Gen 6 (unmanned) and leave gen 5 like we did the B-57 Hustler. Great plane. Wrong plane.
/johnny