The likeliest outcome is therefore neither a sudden, history-altering reduction in defence spending, nor a quick fix that lets Congress wriggle out of its trap, but a drawn-out and perhaps salutary election-year debate about how much defence to buy at a time of distress.
"The principle of Universal Credit is sound but our research has found the actual roll-out could unintentionally trap people in poverty and hardship, " the organisation's chief executive Julia Unwin said.