The commercial space industry is facing just such a development right now, with some members of Congress proposing to cut funding in half for a crew vehicle that several companies are competing to build.
"We welcome the announcement by the secretary of state for defence confirming that the SV (specialist vehicle) programme is secure in the MoD's future AFV (armoured fighting vehicle) pipeline and core programme of committed funding, " said Dr Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK, the prime contractor on the programme.
The appropriators proposed to reduce funding for the last remnant of the Future Combat System, a next-generation fighting vehicle, by about three quarters.