“I feel industrial base issues are completely legitimate because having the best defense industrial and technology base in the world is not a birthright,” Carter said during a Sept. 1 interview. “It’s not about jobs, it’s about certain kinds of jobs: very skilled, very rare kinds of skills that are not easily replicated in the commercial world and if allowed to erode would be difficult to rebuild.”

“In the cases of the cancellation of the next-generation bomber and TSAT, we need to look at the implications of our program moves for these specialized skill sets. I intend to do so.”

via Carter: DoD Plans Must Consider Industry’s Health – Defense News.