Readiness is being strained as funding uncertainty, aging equipment and rising mission demands collide in the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request, top Guard and Reserve leaders warned. Guard and Reserve leaders testified before the House Appropriations defense subcommittee on Friday, cautioning that rising mission demands, aging equipment and funding uncertainty are straining readiness across the force as their operational role expands. “We represent 20% of the joint force, yet we