1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,970 we will reconvene uh and get back to 2 00:00:03,980 --> 00:00:07,360 uh members questions . Um 3 00:00:07,940 --> 00:00:10,760 Mr Conner is up and is recognized for 4 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,593 five minutes and he is appearing 5 00:00:12,593 --> 00:00:14,816 virtually so he will be on the screen . 6 00:00:14,816 --> 00:00:16,790 Mr Connor . Do we have you ? Yes , 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,260 thank you . Mr Chairman . I want to use 8 00:00:19,260 --> 00:00:21,640 my five minutes for three different 9 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,418 parts , one to follow up on the 10 00:00:23,418 --> 00:00:25,473 chairman's comments about the office 11 00:00:25,473 --> 00:00:27,418 culture article on mr Gallagher on 12 00:00:27,418 --> 00:00:30,270 china and hopefully on Yemen , I read 13 00:00:30,270 --> 00:00:32,326 the foreign affairs article and they 14 00:00:32,326 --> 00:00:34,548 said the pentagon should look more like 15 00:00:34,548 --> 00:00:36,580 apple computers and I was of course 16 00:00:36,590 --> 00:00:38,812 struck by that , given that I represent 17 00:00:38,812 --> 00:00:41,460 apple computers and Apple Park . One of 18 00:00:41,460 --> 00:00:43,880 the reasons that I think the article 19 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:45,491 made that point is that with 20 00:00:45,491 --> 00:00:47,940 technological change so fast and so 21 00:00:47,950 --> 00:00:50,500 rapid we need to be adaptive and 22 00:00:50,500 --> 00:00:53,350 Silicon Valley you have startups that 23 00:00:53,350 --> 00:00:56,960 beat incumbents with huge uh larger 24 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:58,627 bank balances because they're 25 00:00:58,627 --> 00:01:01,270 innovative And I guess my question for 26 00:01:01,270 --> 00:01:03,670 you is secretary Austin and uh chairman 27 00:01:03,670 --> 00:01:06,960 Mellie is do you agree that critical to 28 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:09,270 leading China against China in the 21st 29 00:01:09,270 --> 00:01:11,310 century is having technological 30 00:01:11,310 --> 00:01:14,280 superiority and have have you spent 31 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,460 time with Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai 32 00:01:16,460 --> 00:01:18,627 and others in Silicon Valley ? And are 33 00:01:18,627 --> 00:01:20,250 you open to doing that ? 34 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,860 I have spent time with the ceo of 35 00:01:26,860 --> 00:01:30,000 google And uh while there are parts of 36 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,380 us that really seriously need to be 37 00:01:33,380 --> 00:01:35,700 more streamlined and more adaptive , 38 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:39,540 which I really embrace that . Um I 39 00:01:39,540 --> 00:01:41,373 would say that the Department of 40 00:01:41,373 --> 00:01:43,596 Defense turning into google is probably 41 00:01:43,596 --> 00:01:45,484 not something that , that I would 42 00:01:45,484 --> 00:01:48,610 envision , but but I clearly I'm not 43 00:01:48,610 --> 00:01:50,870 suggesting that , but I'm suggesting 44 00:01:50,870 --> 00:01:53,037 that we take the best innovative parts 45 00:01:53,037 --> 00:01:55,092 of the culture . I think that's what 46 00:01:55,092 --> 00:01:57,203 the article suggests . Absolutely , I 47 00:01:57,203 --> 00:01:59,880 absolutely agree with that . And I 48 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,200 would second that our need for 49 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,311 innovation is critical . I think that 50 00:02:04,311 --> 00:02:07,650 we are an inheritor of a industrial age 51 00:02:07,650 --> 00:02:09,870 system that goes way back not only the 52 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,010 building but the process or our 53 00:02:13,020 --> 00:02:15,242 programming systems etcetera , all date 54 00:02:15,242 --> 00:02:17,409 back to the fifties and sixties , that 55 00:02:17,409 --> 00:02:19,520 sort of thing . So it does need to be 56 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:21,742 updated . And I think getting some some 57 00:02:21,742 --> 00:02:23,853 of the best practices out of not only 58 00:02:23,853 --> 00:02:23,840 Silicon Valley , but all the commercial 59 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:26,173 best practices is definitely worthwhile . 60 00:02:26,220 --> 00:02:28,220 I've personally spent some time out 61 00:02:28,220 --> 00:02:30,220 there and that helped uh when I was 62 00:02:30,220 --> 00:02:32,387 Chief of Staff of the Army that helped 63 00:02:32,387 --> 00:02:34,553 in the concept of Army futures command 64 00:02:34,553 --> 00:02:36,776 and a few other initiatives we did . So 65 00:02:36,776 --> 00:02:38,831 I do think that's a very valuable uh 66 00:02:38,831 --> 00:02:40,942 use of time to go out and take a look 67 00:02:40,942 --> 00:02:42,942 at best practices in the commercial 68 00:02:42,942 --> 00:02:42,820 world applying to the Defense industry 69 00:02:42,830 --> 00:02:44,941 for Defense Department . Well , thank 70 00:02:44,941 --> 00:02:47,163 you . Thank you . Thank you , General I 71 00:02:47,163 --> 00:02:49,497 and if I can be of any help let me know . 72 00:02:49,497 --> 00:02:51,719 And I also think tech companies have an 73 00:02:51,719 --> 00:02:53,830 obligation to be doing more to assist 74 00:02:53,830 --> 00:02:55,552 our military . So it's uh it's 75 00:02:55,552 --> 00:02:57,980 reciprocal on representative 76 00:02:57,980 --> 00:03:00,091 Gallagher's point I share . Of course 77 00:03:00,091 --> 00:03:03,780 is uh concerns with china's potential 78 00:03:03,790 --> 00:03:06,080 invasion of Taiwan , I guess my 79 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:10,030 question is wouldn't the situation with 80 00:03:10,030 --> 00:03:12,960 Russia actually be a significant 81 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,360 deterrent to china , I mean , the 82 00:03:15,640 --> 00:03:17,790 crushing sanctions on Putin , you've 83 00:03:17,790 --> 00:03:20,010 got to think if you're g g ping that 84 00:03:20,010 --> 00:03:22,230 the world would be unified and China's 85 00:03:22,230 --> 00:03:24,940 economy would be devastated if they 86 00:03:24,950 --> 00:03:28,050 thought of any aggressive action . So 87 00:03:28,060 --> 00:03:30,290 wouldn't you say that the G D ping 88 00:03:30,290 --> 00:03:32,530 would be having uh second thoughts 89 00:03:32,530 --> 00:03:34,586 given that he's seen President biden 90 00:03:34,586 --> 00:03:36,880 rally the world and the economic impact 91 00:03:36,890 --> 00:03:39,150 of such a move would entail ? 92 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,418 I certainly would . And I would 93 00:03:42,418 --> 00:03:45,760 certainly think that he also values the 94 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,982 economic opportunities that are present 95 00:03:47,982 --> 00:03:51,930 there in Western europe . Let me 96 00:03:51,930 --> 00:03:53,874 ask two questions and then you can 97 00:03:53,874 --> 00:03:55,986 answer both hopefully with the time , 98 00:03:55,986 --> 00:03:58,097 but one on Taiwan , is there anything 99 00:03:58,097 --> 00:04:00,152 we can do to expedite our arms sales 100 00:04:00,152 --> 00:04:01,986 there ? My understanding is that 101 00:04:01,986 --> 00:04:04,041 they've been stuck because of supply 102 00:04:04,041 --> 00:04:06,152 chain issues . And then the second on 103 00:04:06,152 --> 00:04:08,152 Yemen Secretary Austin , one of the 104 00:04:08,152 --> 00:04:10,208 reasons I was strongly in support of 105 00:04:10,208 --> 00:04:12,430 your nomination to be the secretary and 106 00:04:12,430 --> 00:04:14,541 you've done an outstanding job as you 107 00:04:14,541 --> 00:04:16,874 are in early critic of the war in Yemen . 108 00:04:16,874 --> 00:04:19,097 You were right . I am encouraged by the 109 00:04:19,097 --> 00:04:21,360 recent ceasefire . Could you comment on 110 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:23,570 what the United States will do if the 111 00:04:23,570 --> 00:04:25,830 Saudis violate the ceasefire and 112 00:04:25,830 --> 00:04:28,200 whether we would be willing then to not 113 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,600 provide spare parts to the Saudis if 114 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,820 they violated ? Well , we certainly 115 00:04:33,820 --> 00:04:35,931 hope that they don't violate it . And 116 00:04:35,931 --> 00:04:37,931 we don't have any reason to believe 117 00:04:37,931 --> 00:04:41,420 that they will uh and uh again every 118 00:04:41,420 --> 00:04:44,220 situation uh will have to treat on its 119 00:04:44,220 --> 00:04:48,000 merits there , or but but I 120 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,000 think it's it's really a good first 121 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,222 step and we need to we need to continue 122 00:04:52,222 --> 00:04:54,860 to encourage our allies and partners to 123 00:04:54,860 --> 00:04:56,860 stay focused on on the right things 124 00:04:56,860 --> 00:04:59,910 here and on the Taiwan arms sales . Is 125 00:04:59,910 --> 00:05:01,966 there anything we can do to expedite 126 00:05:01,966 --> 00:05:04,243 that or why they have been slowed down ? 127 00:05:04,243 --> 00:05:07,040 Well , thanks , I this is a point of 128 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,262 focus for me and making sure that we're 129 00:05:09,262 --> 00:05:11,960 doing everything that we said we're 130 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,960 going to do in terms of uh providing 131 00:05:14,970 --> 00:05:17,510 the ability to for Taiwan to defend 132 00:05:17,510 --> 00:05:20,010 itself . Thank you , gentlemen , time 133 00:05:20,010 --> 00:05:22,066 has expired . MR Gates is recognized 134 00:05:22,066 --> 00:05:24,177 for five minutes . Secretary Austin , 135 00:05:24,177 --> 00:05:26,220 why should american taxpayers fund 136 00:05:26,220 --> 00:05:28,200 lectures at the National Defense 137 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,420 University that promote socialism as a 138 00:05:31,420 --> 00:05:33,260 strategy to combat china ? 139 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:39,529 It's uh it's the National Defense 140 00:05:39,529 --> 00:05:42,050 University as an academic Institute uh 141 00:05:42,740 --> 00:05:45,920 institution . And I don't know of any 142 00:05:46,140 --> 00:05:47,973 of any such lecture , but that's 143 00:05:47,973 --> 00:05:49,807 surprising because it was widely 144 00:05:49,807 --> 00:05:51,584 reported , the National Defense 145 00:05:51,584 --> 00:05:53,751 University had thomas Piketty come and 146 00:05:53,751 --> 00:05:55,640 this was the title of his lecture 147 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,060 responding to china the case for global 148 00:05:58,060 --> 00:06:00,950 justice and democratic socialism . So 149 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,398 now that , you know that they did this , 150 00:06:03,398 --> 00:06:05,120 would you agree that embracing 151 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,287 socialism is not an effective strategy 152 00:06:07,287 --> 00:06:10,010 to combat china ? Well , I I certainly 153 00:06:10,010 --> 00:06:12,470 don't agree with embracing socialism . 154 00:06:12,470 --> 00:06:14,526 I think that means I'm sorry , we're 155 00:06:14,526 --> 00:06:16,692 not gonna do this , we're not going to 156 00:06:16,692 --> 00:06:18,692 let the guys say forwards and still 157 00:06:18,692 --> 00:06:18,660 talking then cut him off . We're just 158 00:06:18,660 --> 00:06:20,938 now I control the time Mr Chairman yet . 159 00:06:20,938 --> 00:06:22,938 But you also have to be fair to the 160 00:06:22,938 --> 00:06:25,049 witnesses . No , I got the answer . I 161 00:06:25,049 --> 00:06:25,040 want to have a follow up . My follow up 162 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,250 question is if if we don't embrace it , 163 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,540 then I guess why did the National 164 00:06:30,540 --> 00:06:32,810 Defense University put out a statement 165 00:06:32,820 --> 00:06:35,130 again , This is funded by us taxpayers 166 00:06:35,140 --> 00:06:37,251 saying in this talk , Mr Piketty will 167 00:06:37,251 --> 00:06:40,330 argue that the right answer lies in 168 00:06:40,340 --> 00:06:42,507 ending Western arrogance and promoting 169 00:06:42,507 --> 00:06:44,820 a new emancipatory and egalitarian 170 00:06:44,820 --> 00:06:47,400 horizon on a global scale . A new form 171 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,289 of democratic and participatory , 172 00:06:49,289 --> 00:06:51,950 ecological and postcolonial socialism . 173 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,850 So why would we invite people we don't 174 00:06:54,850 --> 00:06:58,080 agree with to evangelize views and 175 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,550 values that we don't share at the 176 00:07:00,550 --> 00:07:02,670 National Defense University when we 177 00:07:02,670 --> 00:07:04,781 should be learning strategy about how 178 00:07:04,781 --> 00:07:06,503 to combat our enemies and make 179 00:07:06,503 --> 00:07:08,726 assessments that are accurate and we do 180 00:07:08,726 --> 00:07:12,410 uh learn a lot about strategy and about 181 00:07:12,420 --> 00:07:14,630 about the military and about Joint 182 00:07:14,630 --> 00:07:17,620 force development , uh and so that is 183 00:07:17,620 --> 00:07:20,210 our focus in these in these 184 00:07:20,220 --> 00:07:23,030 institutions . I don't know what the 185 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,000 what the context of this particular or 186 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,880 content of this particular Mr mr 187 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:29,936 Secretary , I've shared with you the 188 00:07:29,936 --> 00:07:31,936 context . The context wasn't better 189 00:07:31,936 --> 00:07:34,158 understand socialism , so we can defeat 190 00:07:34,158 --> 00:07:36,269 it . The context wasn't learned about 191 00:07:36,269 --> 00:07:38,602 it so that we can offer countermeasures . 192 00:07:38,602 --> 00:07:40,547 The concept was that it's time for 193 00:07:40,547 --> 00:07:42,713 socialism and the reason I know that's 194 00:07:42,713 --> 00:07:44,880 the context is because the lecture was 195 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:46,936 pulled from a book written by thomas 196 00:07:46,936 --> 00:07:49,230 Piketty entitled time for socialism and 197 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,351 and I just can't help but like notice 198 00:07:51,351 --> 00:07:53,573 you guys have been I control the time . 199 00:07:53,700 --> 00:07:55,700 You guys have been blowing a lot of 200 00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:57,811 calls lately on matters of strategy . 201 00:07:57,811 --> 00:07:59,867 Mr Secretary , you guys told us that 202 00:07:59,867 --> 00:08:02,089 Russia couldn't lose . You told us that 203 00:08:02,089 --> 00:08:04,256 the taliban couldn't immediately win . 204 00:08:04,256 --> 00:08:06,311 And so I guess I'm wondering What in 205 00:08:06,311 --> 00:08:08,367 the $773 billion dollars that you're 206 00:08:08,367 --> 00:08:10,478 requesting today is going to help you 207 00:08:10,478 --> 00:08:12,589 make assessments that are accurate in 208 00:08:12,589 --> 00:08:14,478 the face of so many blown calls . 209 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,373 You've you've seen what's in our budget . 210 00:08:21,373 --> 00:08:23,429 You've seen how the budget matches a 211 00:08:23,429 --> 00:08:25,651 strategy and so I'll let that speak for 212 00:08:25,651 --> 00:08:27,873 itself . Well , I mean , I've also seen 213 00:08:27,873 --> 00:08:30,040 that were behind Secretary were behind 214 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:31,984 in hypersonic . We failed to deter 215 00:08:31,984 --> 00:08:34,151 Russia last year . So what do you what 216 00:08:34,151 --> 00:08:35,818 do you mean ? We're behind in 217 00:08:35,818 --> 00:08:37,929 hypersonic ? How do you okay . Who do 218 00:08:37,929 --> 00:08:40,096 you who's ahead in hypersonic ? How do 219 00:08:40,096 --> 00:08:39,530 you how do you how do you how do you 220 00:08:39,530 --> 00:08:41,752 make that assessment ? I don't know how 221 00:08:41,752 --> 00:08:43,974 I make that assessment because china is 222 00:08:43,974 --> 00:08:46,197 building hypersonic weapons systems and 223 00:08:46,197 --> 00:08:48,308 we are still developing them . I make 224 00:08:48,308 --> 00:08:50,530 that assessment because Russia actually 225 00:08:50,530 --> 00:08:52,419 development by the way , your own 226 00:08:52,419 --> 00:08:54,586 people brief us that we are behind and 227 00:08:54,586 --> 00:08:56,697 that china is winning . Are you aware 228 00:08:56,697 --> 00:08:56,450 of the briefings we get on hypersonic ? 229 00:08:57,140 --> 00:08:59,307 I am certainly aware of briefings that 230 00:08:59,307 --> 00:09:01,473 we provide to Congress . But it's it's 231 00:09:01,473 --> 00:09:03,529 not just the hypersonic all over the 232 00:09:03,529 --> 00:09:05,584 world . It's in Taiwan where china's 233 00:09:05,584 --> 00:09:07,696 last year flew more sorties than ever 234 00:09:07,696 --> 00:09:09,751 before . It's north Korea on pace to 235 00:09:09,751 --> 00:09:11,751 shatter prior records the number of 236 00:09:11,751 --> 00:09:13,584 missiles that they that they are 237 00:09:13,584 --> 00:09:15,807 testing . And so while everyone else in 238 00:09:15,807 --> 00:09:15,110 the world seems to be developing 239 00:09:15,110 --> 00:09:17,332 capabilities and being more strategic , 240 00:09:17,332 --> 00:09:19,388 we got time to embrace critical race 241 00:09:19,388 --> 00:09:21,166 theory at West Point to embrace 242 00:09:21,166 --> 00:09:23,054 socialism at the National Defense 243 00:09:23,054 --> 00:09:24,999 University to do mandatory pronoun 244 00:09:24,999 --> 00:09:26,999 training . Do you ? You know , it's 245 00:09:26,999 --> 00:09:29,221 it's again , this is the most capable , 246 00:09:29,221 --> 00:09:31,360 the most combat critical force in the 247 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,900 world . It has been and it will be so 248 00:09:33,910 --> 00:09:37,000 going forward . Not if not if we 249 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:38,889 embrace socialism , the fact that 250 00:09:38,889 --> 00:09:40,833 you're embarrassed by your by your 251 00:09:40,833 --> 00:09:42,944 country . But no , no , no , no . I'm 252 00:09:42,944 --> 00:09:45,056 embarrassed by your leadership . I am 253 00:09:45,056 --> 00:09:44,390 not embarrassed from my country . I 254 00:09:44,390 --> 00:09:47,400 wish we were listening to china . You 255 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:49,622 know what the that's you know , that is 256 00:09:49,622 --> 00:09:51,570 so that is so disgraceful that you 257 00:09:51,570 --> 00:09:53,403 would sit here and conflate your 258 00:09:53,403 --> 00:09:55,292 failures with the failures of the 259 00:09:55,292 --> 00:09:57,348 uniformed service members . You guys 260 00:09:57,348 --> 00:09:59,420 said that that Russia would overrun 261 00:09:59,420 --> 00:10:01,740 Ukraine in 36 days . You said that the 262 00:10:01,740 --> 00:10:04,073 taliban would be kept at bay for months . 263 00:10:04,073 --> 00:10:06,240 You totally blew those calls and maybe 264 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:08,129 we would be better at them if the 265 00:10:08,129 --> 00:10:10,184 National Defense University actually 266 00:10:10,184 --> 00:10:12,351 worked a little more on strategy and a 267 00:10:12,351 --> 00:10:14,573 little less on woke ism has it occurred 268 00:10:14,573 --> 00:10:14,550 to you that Russia had not overrun 269 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:16,920 Ukraine because of what we've done and 270 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:18,920 our allies have done . But that was 271 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,031 your flawed assessment . That was big 272 00:10:21,031 --> 00:10:23,198 into your flawed assessment . And so I 273 00:10:23,198 --> 00:10:25,420 saw that the Obama administration tried 274 00:10:25,420 --> 00:10:27,587 to destroy our military by starving it 275 00:10:27,587 --> 00:10:29,587 of resources and it seems the biden 276 00:10:29,587 --> 00:10:31,809 administration is trying to destroy our 277 00:10:31,809 --> 00:10:34,031 military by force feeding it woke ISM . 278 00:10:34,031 --> 00:10:36,031 I yield back . Gentleman's time has 279 00:10:36,031 --> 00:10:38,198 expired . Mr keating is recognized for 280 00:10:38,198 --> 00:10:40,142 five minutes . I'm sorry Mr kim is 281 00:10:40,142 --> 00:10:42,198 recognized for five minutes . Yeah , 282 00:10:42,198 --> 00:10:44,230 thank you to the two of you . And I 283 00:10:44,230 --> 00:10:46,174 just want to say on behalf of this 284 00:10:46,174 --> 00:10:48,008 committee , you know , we have a 285 00:10:48,008 --> 00:10:50,119 tradition of of respecting the people 286 00:10:50,119 --> 00:10:52,174 that come before this committee in a 287 00:10:52,174 --> 00:10:54,286 bipartisan way . Make sure that yes , 288 00:10:54,286 --> 00:10:56,341 we may have some disagreements about 289 00:10:56,341 --> 00:10:58,341 our policy , but all of us here are 290 00:10:58,341 --> 00:11:00,397 committed to our national security , 291 00:11:00,397 --> 00:11:02,452 committed to our service members and 292 00:11:02,452 --> 00:11:04,674 certainly committed to recognizing that 293 00:11:04,674 --> 00:11:06,730 your leadership is leadership across 294 00:11:06,730 --> 00:11:08,952 the entirety of our military , not just 295 00:11:08,952 --> 00:11:11,119 in terms of and certainly not in terms 296 00:11:11,119 --> 00:11:13,341 of any political discourse or political 297 00:11:13,341 --> 00:11:15,452 party . So I just wanted to thank you 298 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,751 All three of you for coming before us 299 00:11:17,751 --> 00:11:20,960 today . Secretary Austin . I did want 300 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,600 to ask you , um you know , I was as 301 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,656 well as many others horrified by the 302 00:11:26,656 --> 00:11:28,489 images that we saw coming out of 303 00:11:28,489 --> 00:11:30,711 Ukraine over this weekend . Um you know 304 00:11:30,711 --> 00:11:32,767 what we saw in Buka , our military's 305 00:11:32,767 --> 00:11:35,180 had extraordinary abilities to see 306 00:11:35,180 --> 00:11:37,291 where the Russian forces have been in 307 00:11:37,291 --> 00:11:39,458 Ukraine and where they're going . So , 308 00:11:39,458 --> 00:11:41,569 I wanted to just ask you , do we know 309 00:11:41,569 --> 00:11:43,736 what Russian units were in Buka , uh , 310 00:11:43,736 --> 00:11:45,680 that that may have committed these 311 00:11:45,680 --> 00:11:47,791 atrocities ? Well , we uh that that's 312 00:11:47,791 --> 00:11:49,958 the thing that we continue to research 313 00:11:49,958 --> 00:11:52,124 and there will be a significant effort 314 00:11:52,124 --> 00:11:54,400 going into matching , uh , you know , 315 00:11:54,410 --> 00:11:56,410 elements that were present with the 316 00:11:56,410 --> 00:11:58,920 time that these these events probably 317 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:00,753 occurred . But we don't know for 318 00:12:00,753 --> 00:12:02,642 certain , but we will continue to 319 00:12:02,642 --> 00:12:04,531 research . Well , there's another 320 00:12:04,531 --> 00:12:06,587 element to , you know , where we see 321 00:12:06,587 --> 00:12:08,476 these units being redeployed . So 322 00:12:08,476 --> 00:12:08,170 certainly we want to make sure that 323 00:12:08,170 --> 00:12:10,448 we're doing the accountability of this . 324 00:12:10,448 --> 00:12:12,559 But also I have real fear about where 325 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:14,503 these units may now be redeploying 326 00:12:14,503 --> 00:12:16,337 whether or not they will conduct 327 00:12:16,337 --> 00:12:18,337 similar types of atrocities against 328 00:12:18,337 --> 00:12:20,503 Ukrainians in other parts of Ukraine . 329 00:12:20,503 --> 00:12:22,726 So , I I just ask for your attention on 330 00:12:22,726 --> 00:12:24,892 that as well . Absolutely . With these 331 00:12:24,892 --> 00:12:27,100 horrific attacks . You know , we see 332 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:29,360 there's redeployment of Russian forces 333 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,650 as well . Their apparent decision to 334 00:12:31,650 --> 00:12:34,450 pull away from Kiev Secretary Blinken 335 00:12:34,450 --> 00:12:36,561 this weekend said , you know , we may 336 00:12:36,561 --> 00:12:38,617 very well be entering a new phase in 337 00:12:38,617 --> 00:12:40,617 this war . I think that's something 338 00:12:40,617 --> 00:12:42,783 that I I agree with , In my sense , it 339 00:12:42,783 --> 00:12:44,839 really does feel like where we're at 340 00:12:44,839 --> 00:12:47,061 now is different than where things were 341 00:12:47,061 --> 00:12:48,950 5-6 weeks ago , but I wanted your 342 00:12:48,950 --> 00:12:48,360 thoughts on that . Does that sound 343 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,582 right ? Does this feel like a new phase 344 00:12:50,582 --> 00:12:54,490 in the war ? I think that's right . I 345 00:12:54,490 --> 00:12:56,657 think , you know , as , you know , the 346 00:12:56,657 --> 00:12:59,040 Russians , uh I thought that they could 347 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:01,030 very quickly move into Ukraine , 348 00:13:01,030 --> 00:13:03,890 capture the capital city and and 349 00:13:03,890 --> 00:13:07,060 install their their leader of choice . 350 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:09,740 Uh and they weren't able to do that . 351 00:13:09,750 --> 00:13:13,060 And so now we see them uh re 352 00:13:13,060 --> 00:13:15,950 posturing and refocusing their main 353 00:13:15,950 --> 00:13:18,360 effort in the south and east . And so 354 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,970 as a as a enter this phase , uh it will 355 00:13:21,970 --> 00:13:24,830 probably probably be a lot more 356 00:13:24,830 --> 00:13:27,270 deliberate . Uh they'll be able to mass 357 00:13:27,270 --> 00:13:30,200 fires a lot more . And so the violence 358 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:33,780 will will probably go up in a notch 359 00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:35,891 there in terms of the types of things 360 00:13:35,891 --> 00:13:38,002 we've been seeing . So on the Russian 361 00:13:38,002 --> 00:13:39,669 side they are recalibrating , 362 00:13:39,669 --> 00:13:41,502 redeploying , you know , looking 363 00:13:41,502 --> 00:13:43,970 through your testimony to this , to 364 00:13:43,970 --> 00:13:46,192 this body . You know , you talked a lot 365 00:13:46,192 --> 00:13:48,248 about the need for us to be changing 366 00:13:48,248 --> 00:13:50,581 and adapting . The ways that we operate , 367 00:13:50,581 --> 00:13:52,637 adapt and fortify our defense , have 368 00:13:52,637 --> 00:13:54,859 resilience and adaptability in terms of 369 00:13:54,859 --> 00:13:57,081 our defense . So with this new phase of 370 00:13:57,081 --> 00:13:59,137 the war , which these shifting goals 371 00:13:59,137 --> 00:14:01,359 that we've seen from Russia , does that 372 00:14:01,359 --> 00:14:03,370 give us space to reassess what the 373 00:14:03,370 --> 00:14:05,592 Ukrainians need , as you talk about how 374 00:14:05,592 --> 00:14:07,481 we may see even greater levels of 375 00:14:07,481 --> 00:14:09,259 violence and firepower from the 376 00:14:09,259 --> 00:14:11,481 Russians . You know , does this give us 377 00:14:11,481 --> 00:14:13,703 that space to reassess what they need . 378 00:14:15,340 --> 00:14:17,260 Yeah , I I don't know if I would 379 00:14:17,260 --> 00:14:19,482 describe it as space . I would say that 380 00:14:19,482 --> 00:14:22,150 we are , I mean , we consider the 381 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,400 Ukraine Ukrainians to be in a knife 382 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,511 fight and they are working hard every 383 00:14:26,511 --> 00:14:28,678 day . We're giving them what they need 384 00:14:28,678 --> 00:14:30,789 to continue to be successful , but we 385 00:14:30,789 --> 00:14:33,011 need to also look ahead and we're doing 386 00:14:33,011 --> 00:14:35,233 that well . You know , they they are in 387 00:14:35,233 --> 00:14:37,400 a knife fight , but they're in a fight 388 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:37,010 with all sorts of different weapons 389 00:14:37,010 --> 00:14:39,270 being directed towards them . I guess 390 00:14:39,270 --> 00:14:41,770 my my more direct question to you is if 391 00:14:41,770 --> 00:14:44,530 this is a new phase of the war , do you 392 00:14:44,530 --> 00:14:47,530 feel like there's space for you and the 393 00:14:47,530 --> 00:14:49,474 administration to reconsider , for 394 00:14:49,474 --> 00:14:51,474 instance , the fighter jets and the 395 00:14:51,474 --> 00:14:53,586 transfer facilitating the transfer of 396 00:14:53,586 --> 00:14:55,474 Fido jets to Ukrainians . Is that 397 00:14:55,474 --> 00:14:57,697 something now that we're in a new phase 398 00:14:57,697 --> 00:14:59,808 that you would consider reconsider if 399 00:14:59,808 --> 00:15:01,863 you're talking about the transfer of 400 00:15:01,863 --> 00:15:03,808 Migs ? I mean , countries have the 401 00:15:03,808 --> 00:15:05,974 ability to do that now and contrary to 402 00:15:05,974 --> 00:15:08,086 popular belief , the United States is 403 00:15:08,086 --> 00:15:08,070 not standing in the way of that 404 00:15:08,070 --> 00:15:10,237 happening . Well , I agree with you on 405 00:15:10,237 --> 00:15:12,459 that front , but certainly , you know , 406 00:15:12,459 --> 00:15:14,570 the countries that were talking about 407 00:15:14,570 --> 00:15:16,626 that they've expressed challenges in 408 00:15:16,626 --> 00:15:16,230 terms of how they transfer the asking 409 00:15:16,230 --> 00:15:18,930 for us to facilitate that . Is this the 410 00:15:18,930 --> 00:15:22,750 time for us to reconsider that Well , 411 00:15:22,750 --> 00:15:25,240 this is this is a time for us to uh 412 00:15:25,250 --> 00:15:27,417 continue to focus on those things that 413 00:15:27,417 --> 00:15:29,472 are , that will be effective in this 414 00:15:29,472 --> 00:15:31,750 fight uh and even amping up , you know , 415 00:15:31,750 --> 00:15:33,940 the the capabilities that we provide 416 00:15:33,940 --> 00:15:36,107 them in terms of those things that are 417 00:15:36,107 --> 00:15:38,107 most effective . Well , I'd like to 418 00:15:38,107 --> 00:15:40,051 work with you as we enter this new 419 00:15:40,051 --> 00:15:40,020 phase to figure out what exactly we can 420 00:15:40,020 --> 00:15:42,131 do for the Ukrainians . Thank you for 421 00:15:42,131 --> 00:15:44,890 all your help . Thank you . Mr Bacon is 422 00:15:44,890 --> 00:15:46,834 recognized for five . Thank you Mr 423 00:15:46,834 --> 00:15:48,834 Chair and I thank you gentlemen for 424 00:15:48,834 --> 00:15:50,946 being here . I have four questions so 425 00:15:50,946 --> 00:15:50,730 I'm gonna try to get through them 426 00:15:50,740 --> 00:15:52,851 rather quickly . My first question is 427 00:15:52,851 --> 00:15:55,073 on the budget . The proposed budget has 428 00:15:55,073 --> 00:15:57,073 military spending under inflation , 429 00:15:57,073 --> 00:15:59,530 which is going to necessitate cuts two 430 00:15:59,540 --> 00:16:01,630 of 35 production for example . So my 431 00:16:01,630 --> 00:16:03,852 first question is with the Overall dive 432 00:16:03,852 --> 00:16:06,130 us to invest in Alaska's Gerald Millie , 433 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,089 I guess the following questions . 434 00:16:08,089 --> 00:16:10,144 Secretary Austin , but we're gonna , 435 00:16:10,144 --> 00:16:11,922 we're gonna reduce our aircraft 436 00:16:11,922 --> 00:16:14,380 inventory by 250 and Ad 75 aircraft . 437 00:16:14,430 --> 00:16:16,374 So basically for every three we're 438 00:16:16,374 --> 00:16:18,541 putting out , we're putting one in and 439 00:16:18,541 --> 00:16:20,486 ships reducing our ships by 24 and 440 00:16:20,486 --> 00:16:22,541 bringing in nine ships . So a little 441 00:16:22,541 --> 00:16:24,152 better than one out of three 442 00:16:24,152 --> 00:16:26,208 replacement . Are we taking too much 443 00:16:26,208 --> 00:16:28,900 risk ? General Milley , I don't think 444 00:16:28,900 --> 00:16:31,067 we're taking too much risk relative to 445 00:16:31,067 --> 00:16:33,178 Russia and china , which is the focus 446 00:16:33,178 --> 00:16:35,330 of the NDS focus of the budget . Um I 447 00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:37,451 recognize the numbers go down in both 448 00:16:37,451 --> 00:16:39,729 shipbuilding and an aircraft but again , 449 00:16:39,729 --> 00:16:42,800 I want to focus focus attention on the 450 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,490 capability that is being bought courses , 451 00:16:45,490 --> 00:16:47,460 just raw numbers , a lot of the 452 00:16:47,460 --> 00:16:49,571 aircraft that are coming out that are 453 00:16:49,571 --> 00:16:51,460 for example 8 10 , 8 10 is a very 454 00:16:51,460 --> 00:16:53,580 little utility relative to a high end 455 00:16:53,580 --> 00:16:55,802 war fight against china . For example . 456 00:16:55,802 --> 00:16:57,969 They may be useful as a FMS article to 457 00:16:57,969 --> 00:17:00,024 give the other countries but for our 458 00:17:00,024 --> 00:17:02,080 purposes relative to china . No . So 459 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,551 you know , the other systems that are 460 00:17:04,551 --> 00:17:06,718 divesting are recouping the money's in 461 00:17:06,718 --> 00:17:08,773 order to invest in capabilities that 462 00:17:08,773 --> 00:17:10,940 will be much more useful in the future 463 00:17:10,940 --> 00:17:12,940 operating environment . Thank you . 464 00:17:12,940 --> 00:17:14,940 Just worry about the amount of that 465 00:17:14,940 --> 00:17:14,750 we're divesting but I realize some of 466 00:17:14,750 --> 00:17:16,472 it's gonna have to happen . Uh 467 00:17:16,472 --> 00:17:18,583 Secretary Austin when I talked to the 468 00:17:18,583 --> 00:17:20,528 Baltic countries in the Baltics co 469 00:17:20,528 --> 00:17:22,583 chair for the Security Caucus , they 470 00:17:22,583 --> 00:17:24,694 said the most important thing to them 471 00:17:24,694 --> 00:17:24,130 is a permanent U . S . Presidents , 472 00:17:24,130 --> 00:17:26,241 maybe Air defense not too dogmatic of 473 00:17:26,241 --> 00:17:28,240 what type of unit , but would you 474 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:30,180 commit to at least considering a 475 00:17:30,180 --> 00:17:33,890 permanent presence in the Baltics ? Um 476 00:17:33,900 --> 00:17:36,930 I think you know that I just recently 477 00:17:36,930 --> 00:17:39,450 met with the three Ministers of Defense 478 00:17:39,450 --> 00:17:43,130 from the Baltic region uh and heard 479 00:17:43,130 --> 00:17:45,360 their concerns and uh and we'll stay 480 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:47,710 focused on their concerns . I heard the 481 00:17:47,710 --> 00:17:49,821 same thing from them that they really 482 00:17:49,821 --> 00:17:52,860 value a U . S . Footprint . I will tell 483 00:17:52,860 --> 00:17:54,900 you I will commit to you that will 484 00:17:54,900 --> 00:17:57,730 continue to work with with NATO to 485 00:17:57,730 --> 00:17:59,840 assess what the requirements will be 486 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:02,007 going forward and we will be a part of 487 00:18:02,007 --> 00:18:04,490 that of that solution . And you know , 488 00:18:04,490 --> 00:18:06,830 we're appropriate . We will we will 489 00:18:06,830 --> 00:18:09,690 commit forces . Thank you . A question 490 00:18:09,700 --> 00:18:11,700 concerning Ukraine when I've worked 491 00:18:11,700 --> 00:18:13,922 with some of your leadership as well as 492 00:18:13,922 --> 00:18:16,033 some of the Ukrainian parliamentarian 493 00:18:16,033 --> 00:18:17,978 members who came out to visit , we 494 00:18:17,978 --> 00:18:20,200 provided some very good capabilities to 495 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,311 it . But there's one area that I keep 496 00:18:22,311 --> 00:18:24,533 hearing that they're lacking and that's 497 00:18:24,533 --> 00:18:26,589 the ability Tanks and convoys behind 498 00:18:26,589 --> 00:18:28,811 the line of the fight there . They have 499 00:18:28,811 --> 00:18:31,033 the materials at the line and they have 500 00:18:31,033 --> 00:18:33,256 good air defenses but to hit tanks 1020 501 00:18:33,256 --> 00:18:34,922 miles back uh can we under in 502 00:18:34,922 --> 00:18:36,922 responsible weapons that could that 503 00:18:36,922 --> 00:18:38,922 could do that ? Are we committed to 504 00:18:38,922 --> 00:18:41,200 helping fill that niche ? Mr Secretary ? 505 00:18:41,540 --> 00:18:43,762 We are . And there are a number of ways 506 00:18:43,762 --> 00:18:45,984 you can do that . Long range fires were 507 00:18:45,984 --> 00:18:48,096 working hard . I'm personally working 508 00:18:48,096 --> 00:18:50,318 to ensure that that you know we can get 509 00:18:50,318 --> 00:18:52,580 them as much as we possibly can . The 510 00:18:52,580 --> 00:18:54,580 use of U . A . V . S have been very 511 00:18:54,580 --> 00:18:56,691 effective as well . So we'll continue 512 00:18:56,691 --> 00:18:58,913 that work . What I hear is to have some 513 00:18:58,913 --> 00:19:01,080 but not enough in that particular area 514 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,540 of the spectrum of warfare . So thank 515 00:19:03,540 --> 00:19:05,707 you . My final question is with Taiwan 516 00:19:05,940 --> 00:19:08,390 obviously the day of an invasion , it's 517 00:19:08,390 --> 00:19:10,168 too late for deterrence I think 518 00:19:10,168 --> 00:19:12,590 deterrent . A strong capable deterrence 519 00:19:12,590 --> 00:19:15,020 for Taiwan starts well hopefully 10 520 00:19:15,020 --> 00:19:16,909 years ago . But clearly now after 521 00:19:16,909 --> 00:19:19,010 Ukraine it seems to me they need of 522 00:19:19,020 --> 00:19:20,909 anti shipping missiles at a large 523 00:19:20,909 --> 00:19:23,510 quantity also a long range air defense 524 00:19:23,510 --> 00:19:25,640 capabilities . What are we doing to 525 00:19:25,650 --> 00:19:28,000 make sure that deterrence uh , is 526 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,360 effective in Taiwan . Thank you . Yeah , 527 00:19:31,370 --> 00:19:34,140 well we continue to work to do what 528 00:19:34,140 --> 00:19:37,230 we've advertised and that is to help 529 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,950 Taiwan um , provide for its uh , for 530 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:43,182 for its defense help it defend itself . 531 00:19:43,630 --> 00:19:45,797 There are a number of things that that 532 00:19:45,797 --> 00:19:47,852 we are looking at across the board . 533 00:19:47,852 --> 00:19:50,130 When I've traveled out out there there , 534 00:19:50,130 --> 00:19:52,186 sometimes they're asking for weapons 535 00:19:52,186 --> 00:19:54,352 that looks like our military but seems 536 00:19:54,352 --> 00:19:56,519 to me there are for them , they really 537 00:19:56,519 --> 00:19:58,630 do need the anti amphibious Excuse Me 538 00:19:58,630 --> 00:20:00,741 Capabilities and one Ranger Defense . 539 00:20:02,140 --> 00:20:04,362 Those those those two capabilities seem 540 00:20:04,362 --> 00:20:07,340 to be key to deterring china . And so I 541 00:20:07,340 --> 00:20:09,451 hope we're working hard in that way . 542 00:20:09,451 --> 00:20:11,618 But durability you have anything you'd 543 00:20:11,618 --> 00:20:13,840 like to add . I think those two systems 544 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,007 are important . Uh , the other thing I 545 00:20:16,007 --> 00:20:18,007 think that's an important lesson to 546 00:20:18,007 --> 00:20:20,340 draw from . Ukraine is a nation in arms . 547 00:20:20,340 --> 00:20:22,229 Uh , so if your opponent tries to 548 00:20:22,229 --> 00:20:25,360 invade you uh , and every military age , 549 00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:28,770 man and a woman is armed uh , and they 550 00:20:28,770 --> 00:20:31,080 have a little bit of training that can 551 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,191 be a very effective use . And if it's 552 00:20:33,191 --> 00:20:35,640 decentralized operation where there's 553 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,751 local initiative with junior officers 554 00:20:37,751 --> 00:20:39,950 etcetera . Taiwan is a very complex 555 00:20:39,950 --> 00:20:42,117 piece of terrain , lots of mountains , 556 00:20:42,117 --> 00:20:44,172 high density urban areas in Taipei , 557 00:20:44,172 --> 00:20:46,394 there's a lot that the Taiwanese can do 558 00:20:46,394 --> 00:20:48,450 and apologize . Gentleman's time has 559 00:20:48,450 --> 00:20:50,450 expired . We'll have to move on the 560 00:20:50,450 --> 00:20:52,561 next person . Mr keating is back with 561 00:20:52,561 --> 00:20:54,783 us and is recognized for five minutes . 562 00:20:54,783 --> 00:20:57,160 Thank you . Mr Chairman . I thank uh , 563 00:20:57,170 --> 00:20:59,337 both the secretary and the general for 564 00:20:59,337 --> 00:21:02,960 their service . Some of the uh greatest 565 00:21:02,970 --> 00:21:05,081 experts , I think on Russia that I've 566 00:21:05,081 --> 00:21:06,970 talked with over the last several 567 00:21:06,970 --> 00:21:09,450 months in particular , uh were people 568 00:21:09,450 --> 00:21:11,672 that have had long term experience with 569 00:21:11,672 --> 00:21:14,200 Russia . They include high ranking 570 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,256 foreign officials as well . And they 571 00:21:16,256 --> 00:21:19,020 pointed out to me That that that 572 00:21:19,030 --> 00:21:22,240 February 17 response by the Russian 573 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,800 Federation to what they termed the 574 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:26,510 bilateral treaty and security 575 00:21:26,510 --> 00:21:29,250 guarantees that they had wanted was 576 00:21:29,250 --> 00:21:32,420 critical to come back to . In that 577 00:21:32,430 --> 00:21:35,480 response . Uh they required a US 578 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:39,030 withdrawal of all military uh personnel 579 00:21:39,030 --> 00:21:42,010 and as well as a ban on armaments and 580 00:21:42,010 --> 00:21:44,580 related agreements , they cited in 581 00:21:44,580 --> 00:21:47,510 particular is red lines , the ce 582 00:21:47,530 --> 00:21:49,586 countries central and eastern europe 583 00:21:49,586 --> 00:21:51,530 and the SCE country's southeastern 584 00:21:51,530 --> 00:21:55,290 europe , including 12 NATO nations . I 585 00:21:55,290 --> 00:21:59,080 think it underscores the fact that this 586 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,830 is much larger than a Russian Ukraine 587 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,110 conflict . So when I look at this 588 00:22:04,110 --> 00:22:06,410 commitment , what I'd like to ask 589 00:22:06,510 --> 00:22:10,100 perhaps General Milley is , what is the 590 00:22:10,100 --> 00:22:12,590 timeframe you foresee ? Given that kind 591 00:22:12,590 --> 00:22:15,150 of understanding of what Russia thinks 592 00:22:15,350 --> 00:22:17,770 and acts , could it be something as 593 00:22:17,770 --> 00:22:20,840 long as a decade or even longer that 594 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,118 were involved in this type of conflict ? 595 00:22:24,940 --> 00:22:27,051 That's hard to challenge . It's a bit 596 00:22:27,051 --> 00:22:29,273 early still , even though we're a month 597 00:22:29,273 --> 00:22:31,710 plus into the war . Um , there is much 598 00:22:31,710 --> 00:22:33,932 of the ground war left in Ukraine , but 599 00:22:33,932 --> 00:22:35,988 I do think this is a very protracted 600 00:22:35,988 --> 00:22:37,988 conflict . Uh , and I think it's at 601 00:22:37,988 --> 00:22:40,154 least measured in years . I don't know 602 00:22:40,154 --> 00:22:42,266 about decade , but at least years for 603 00:22:42,266 --> 00:22:44,488 sure . This is a very extended conflict 604 00:22:44,488 --> 00:22:46,654 that Russia has initiated . Uh and and 605 00:22:46,654 --> 00:22:48,877 I think that NATO , the United States , 606 00:22:48,877 --> 00:22:50,830 Ukraine and all of the allies and 607 00:22:50,830 --> 00:22:52,886 partners that are supporting Ukraine 608 00:22:52,886 --> 00:22:55,108 are gonna be involved in this for quite 609 00:22:55,108 --> 00:22:57,163 some time . Secretary Austin , could 610 00:22:57,163 --> 00:22:59,441 you reflect on this as well ? You know , 611 00:22:59,441 --> 00:23:01,608 the fact that the breath of what their 612 00:23:01,608 --> 00:23:03,663 requests are and their demands are , 613 00:23:03,663 --> 00:23:05,719 How's that reflected in our policy ? 614 00:23:05,719 --> 00:23:07,497 Because indeed this is far more 615 00:23:07,497 --> 00:23:09,774 expansive than just Russia and Ukraine . 616 00:23:11,740 --> 00:23:14,930 Yeah , the the ask were , yeah , 617 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,450 and I agree with you . They were very 618 00:23:18,460 --> 00:23:21,600 extensive . Having said that , you know , 619 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:23,920 and much of that , we , I couldn't 620 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,970 possibly do . But having said that , 621 00:23:26,980 --> 00:23:30,210 we're gonna always look and we're on 622 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,150 negotiating with with countries , we're 623 00:23:33,150 --> 00:23:35,261 gonna always look for things where we 624 00:23:35,261 --> 00:23:37,400 can find common agreement and uh and 625 00:23:37,410 --> 00:23:40,010 and and work from that build from that . 626 00:23:40,020 --> 00:23:43,460 So , uh you are correct 627 00:23:43,470 --> 00:23:47,170 that that initial tranche of of demands 628 00:23:47,170 --> 00:23:49,520 for lack of a better term was something 629 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:53,360 that was not not acceptable to 630 00:23:53,370 --> 00:23:55,560 uh to Ukraine , but most importantly , 631 00:23:56,420 --> 00:23:58,760 and tomato and to and to us 632 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,150 also , I mean , what could we do in 633 00:24:04,150 --> 00:24:07,030 terms of policy for our partners right 634 00:24:07,030 --> 00:24:10,440 now ? Uh two examples are Georgia and 635 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:12,640 Finland that aren't NATO countries , 636 00:24:12,650 --> 00:24:15,760 what can we do to help support their 637 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,816 concerns with the Russian aggression 638 00:24:17,816 --> 00:24:19,038 that's taking place . 639 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,220 But we can do a lot . We can do more of 640 00:24:25,220 --> 00:24:27,387 what we're doing in terms of you heard 641 00:24:27,387 --> 00:24:29,830 us talk earlier about about our 642 00:24:29,830 --> 00:24:33,660 engagement in in helping them build 643 00:24:33,660 --> 00:24:35,730 their forces and as they look to 644 00:24:35,730 --> 00:24:38,790 acquire different types of equipment to 645 00:24:38,790 --> 00:24:41,210 defend themselves , we can do that as 646 00:24:41,210 --> 00:24:44,060 well . And I know that you know 647 00:24:44,710 --> 00:24:48,040 there are aspiring countries who aspire 648 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:50,570 to be a part of NATO and NATO should 649 00:24:50,570 --> 00:24:53,850 continue to engage them . Given the 650 00:24:53,850 --> 00:24:55,961 fact there's one minute left , I just 651 00:24:55,961 --> 00:24:58,330 like to ask you to amplify if you could 652 00:24:58,340 --> 00:25:00,451 some of your comments you made in the 653 00:25:00,451 --> 00:25:02,396 opening about undersea warfare and 654 00:25:02,396 --> 00:25:04,451 research and making sure we have the 655 00:25:04,451 --> 00:25:06,451 proper investments in that regard . 656 00:25:06,451 --> 00:25:08,673 What do you see as the specific threats 657 00:25:08,673 --> 00:25:10,920 and how can we address them in about 46 658 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,580 seconds . I 659 00:25:14,590 --> 00:25:16,840 think the threats continue to evolve . 660 00:25:16,850 --> 00:25:20,780 China does have uh substantial um 661 00:25:20,790 --> 00:25:23,110 capability under seat but Russia does 662 00:25:23,110 --> 00:25:25,430 as well . And so we want to make sure 663 00:25:25,430 --> 00:25:27,597 that as we look across the landscape , 664 00:25:27,597 --> 00:25:29,819 were able to meet any emerging threat . 665 00:25:30,340 --> 00:25:32,900 Great thank you . Mr Chairman . Now 666 00:25:32,900 --> 00:25:35,860 you're back . Thank you . Mr Banks has 667 00:25:35,860 --> 00:25:38,082 recognized for five minutes . Secretary 668 00:25:38,082 --> 00:25:39,916 Austin , The new york Times this 669 00:25:39,916 --> 00:25:42,082 morning reported the daily average for 670 00:25:42,082 --> 00:25:44,082 covid 19 cases in the U . S . Is at 671 00:25:44,082 --> 00:25:46,900 27,573 . Much less than the 672 00:25:46,900 --> 00:25:50,840 .0001% of the total US 673 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:53,860 population with covid cases at all time . 674 00:25:53,860 --> 00:25:56,000 Lows . Why are we still enforcing the 675 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,111 covid vaccine mandate on our military 676 00:25:58,111 --> 00:26:01,770 personnel ? We've seen 677 00:26:01,780 --> 00:26:04,770 variants of this uh this virus uh 678 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,170 you know wayne and and then grow again . 679 00:26:09,180 --> 00:26:12,300 Uh And and so uh this is a medical 680 00:26:12,310 --> 00:26:14,254 readiness requirements and it will 681 00:26:14,254 --> 00:26:16,380 remain so general Milley during a 682 00:26:16,380 --> 00:26:18,547 moment of increased action from Russia 683 00:26:18,547 --> 00:26:20,769 to china . Is it worth it ? Is it worth 684 00:26:20,769 --> 00:26:24,700 sacrificing our in strength for vaccine 685 00:26:24,700 --> 00:26:26,922 mandates . Would you rather take have a 686 00:26:26,922 --> 00:26:28,978 few extra battalions of unvaccinated 687 00:26:28,978 --> 00:26:30,820 soldiers or not have them at all 688 00:26:30,850 --> 00:26:34,820 because of this ? Thanks congressman . 689 00:26:34,820 --> 00:26:36,820 I don't think it's an either or . I 690 00:26:36,820 --> 00:26:38,653 think we're an organization that 691 00:26:38,653 --> 00:26:40,987 requires your you're a veteran yourself . 692 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,184 We get a lot of vaccinations . The 693 00:26:43,184 --> 00:26:46,920 anthrax is very very low in in out 694 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:48,642 there and we still get anthrax 695 00:26:48,642 --> 00:26:50,753 vaccination and so on . So so I think 696 00:26:50,753 --> 00:26:52,642 getting vaccinated as part of the 697 00:26:52,642 --> 00:26:54,698 readiness issue of the health of the 698 00:26:54,698 --> 00:26:54,390 force ? The numbers are very low by the 699 00:26:54,390 --> 00:26:56,446 way of those that are refusing to be 700 00:26:56,446 --> 00:26:58,557 vaccinated and they're even lower . I 701 00:26:58,557 --> 00:27:00,557 mean it's tiny the numbers that are 702 00:27:00,557 --> 00:27:02,668 actually being asked to process out . 703 00:27:02,668 --> 00:27:04,834 So I think it's manageable and I think 704 00:27:04,834 --> 00:27:06,946 that um I would prefer that everybody 705 00:27:06,946 --> 00:27:08,779 just go ahead and get vaccinated 706 00:27:08,779 --> 00:27:10,890 According to a CNN article on January 707 00:27:10,890 --> 00:27:13,112 18 . The Army National Guard missed its 708 00:27:13,112 --> 00:27:17,040 goal by over 8000 adding only 34,658 709 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,850 recruits for fy 21 2023 defense budget 710 00:27:20,850 --> 00:27:22,461 request just released by the 711 00:27:22,461 --> 00:27:24,628 administration reduces the size of the 712 00:27:24,628 --> 00:27:26,900 army by 12,000 soldiers . Is the army 713 00:27:26,900 --> 00:27:29,122 cutting their numbers because they know 714 00:27:29,122 --> 00:27:31,122 they can't recruit enough people to 715 00:27:31,122 --> 00:27:33,067 meet their quotas . I've talked to 716 00:27:33,067 --> 00:27:35,233 General McConnell about it a couple of 717 00:27:35,233 --> 00:27:37,178 different times . Um , I think two 718 00:27:37,178 --> 00:27:39,067 major factors . One is , um , the 719 00:27:39,067 --> 00:27:41,510 population at large . Um , the , those 720 00:27:41,510 --> 00:27:43,566 those that are eligible to enter the 721 00:27:43,566 --> 00:27:45,454 military . Um , those numbers are 722 00:27:45,454 --> 00:27:47,566 actually pretty low . That's , that's 723 00:27:47,566 --> 00:27:49,566 one point is that it's the sessions 724 00:27:49,566 --> 00:27:49,170 challenge that's out there in 725 00:27:49,170 --> 00:27:51,340 recruiting on an annual basis . The 726 00:27:51,340 --> 00:27:53,290 second piece is that they want to 727 00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:55,740 reduce manpower in order to get the , 728 00:27:55,750 --> 00:27:57,750 save the money and recoup that into 729 00:27:57,750 --> 00:27:59,917 modernization efforts . Uh , Those are 730 00:27:59,917 --> 00:28:02,340 the two fundamental reasons that the 731 00:28:02,340 --> 00:28:04,284 army is doing what they're doing . 732 00:28:04,340 --> 00:28:06,507 General . Is it a coincidence that the 733 00:28:06,507 --> 00:28:08,507 army is moving forward with now and 734 00:28:08,507 --> 00:28:11,400 voluntarily separating our soldiers And 735 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,590 then offering a new $50,000 signing 736 00:28:13,590 --> 00:28:15,646 bonus recruits just who want to join 737 00:28:15,646 --> 00:28:18,010 the army ? How much additional costs 738 00:28:18,010 --> 00:28:20,140 are we going to incur because of the 739 00:28:20,140 --> 00:28:22,307 increased recruiting bonuses to combat 740 00:28:22,307 --> 00:28:24,196 projected losses for unvaccinated 741 00:28:24,196 --> 00:28:26,251 military personnel . I'd have to get 742 00:28:26,251 --> 00:28:28,473 back to you on a cost analysis in terms 743 00:28:28,473 --> 00:28:30,584 of the actual dollars relative to the 744 00:28:30,584 --> 00:28:32,918 bonus . You mentioned the $50,000 bonus . 745 00:28:32,918 --> 00:28:34,973 But again , I go back to , I checked 746 00:28:34,973 --> 00:28:37,196 with General McConnell just yesterday . 747 00:28:37,196 --> 00:28:39,473 The numbers are actually being um , uh , 748 00:28:39,473 --> 00:28:41,473 compelled to depart The military is 749 00:28:41,473 --> 00:28:43,473 very , very small in the army and I 750 00:28:43,473 --> 00:28:45,307 think it's likewise in the other 751 00:28:45,307 --> 00:28:44,850 services as well . There is a 752 00:28:44,850 --> 00:28:47,017 recruiting challenge though , uh , for 753 00:28:47,017 --> 00:28:48,906 the army , the other services are 754 00:28:48,906 --> 00:28:51,128 meeting their recruiting goals there on 755 00:28:51,128 --> 00:28:53,239 glide path for this fiscal year . But 756 00:28:53,239 --> 00:28:53,000 the army has challenged both . Garden 757 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,630 active General Milley . On March 18 , 758 00:28:55,630 --> 00:28:57,741 the us army discharged three soldiers 759 00:28:57,750 --> 00:28:59,972 the first time it has booted troops for 760 00:28:59,972 --> 00:29:01,972 failing to comply with the COVID-19 761 00:29:01,972 --> 00:29:04,083 vaccine mandate . It's projected that 762 00:29:04,083 --> 00:29:06,300 2,692 soldiers the size of a couple of 763 00:29:06,310 --> 00:29:08,850 army battalions have not taken . The 764 00:29:08,850 --> 00:29:10,961 vaccine will likely be separated from 765 00:29:10,961 --> 00:29:12,961 the army . Once again . How is this 766 00:29:12,961 --> 00:29:14,961 loss of personnel going to hurt the 767 00:29:14,961 --> 00:29:17,017 overall and strength of the army ? I 768 00:29:17,017 --> 00:29:19,183 think if 2000 are kicked out , I think 769 00:29:19,183 --> 00:29:21,294 that would hurt . But I think there's 770 00:29:21,294 --> 00:29:21,200 an issue of education here and 771 00:29:21,210 --> 00:29:23,940 persuasion uh , and making sure that 772 00:29:23,940 --> 00:29:25,884 these soldiers are making informed 773 00:29:25,884 --> 00:29:28,570 decisions . As of March three Army 774 00:29:28,570 --> 00:29:30,792 commanders have relieved a total of six 775 00:29:30,792 --> 00:29:32,990 regular army leaders Including two 776 00:29:32,990 --> 00:29:35,720 battalion commanders and issued 3,103 777 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:37,831 general officer written Reprimands to 778 00:29:37,831 --> 00:29:39,887 regular army soldiers for not taking 779 00:29:39,887 --> 00:29:42,053 the vaccination . How has this loss of 780 00:29:42,053 --> 00:29:45,030 leadership and focus on administrative 781 00:29:45,030 --> 00:29:47,030 burdens , improved army warfighting 782 00:29:47,030 --> 00:29:49,141 readiness and enhanced combat power ? 783 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:51,550 Well , again , congressman , I think 784 00:29:51,550 --> 00:29:53,494 that the idea of the health of the 785 00:29:53,494 --> 00:29:55,661 force , the readiness of the force and 786 00:29:55,661 --> 00:29:57,883 getting a vaccination is a contributing 787 00:29:57,883 --> 00:29:59,550 factor to that . I think it's 788 00:29:59,550 --> 00:30:01,772 fundamental to the overall readiness of 789 00:30:01,772 --> 00:30:03,550 the force . So um I regret that 790 00:30:03,550 --> 00:30:05,550 commanders are getting relieved for 791 00:30:05,550 --> 00:30:05,040 things like that . I didn't know the 792 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:07,096 numbers that you mentioned . I'll go 793 00:30:07,096 --> 00:30:09,096 back to the army and get the actual 794 00:30:09,096 --> 00:30:12,330 data . Um but we are an institution uh 795 00:30:12,340 --> 00:30:14,110 that that has a soul set of 796 00:30:14,110 --> 00:30:16,277 requirements in terms of the health of 797 00:30:16,277 --> 00:30:18,388 the force and shots and etcetera . Uh 798 00:30:18,388 --> 00:30:20,554 And there's a policy and our job is to 799 00:30:20,554 --> 00:30:22,499 enforce the policy . Thank you . I 800 00:30:22,499 --> 00:30:24,666 yield back . Mr Crow is recognized for 801 00:30:24,666 --> 00:30:26,721 five minutes . Thank you Mr Chairman 802 00:30:26,721 --> 00:30:28,888 and thank you to all of you for coming 803 00:30:28,888 --> 00:30:31,110 in for your service to the country . Um 804 00:30:31,110 --> 00:30:32,610 Real quick under the prior 805 00:30:32,610 --> 00:30:34,721 administration , they made a decision 806 00:30:34,721 --> 00:30:36,888 to move space command from colorado to 807 00:30:36,888 --> 00:30:38,777 Alabama and there's a significant 808 00:30:38,777 --> 00:30:41,750 allegations of improper process . Uh 809 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:44,370 The G A O . And D O D I G are 810 00:30:44,370 --> 00:30:46,426 conducting reviews of that process . 811 00:30:46,426 --> 00:30:48,426 And if either of those reviews find 812 00:30:48,426 --> 00:30:50,426 that the process was not credible . 813 00:30:50,426 --> 00:30:52,510 Well , the department commit to 814 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:54,742 revisiting that process and starting it 815 00:30:54,742 --> 00:30:56,520 over and doing it in a fair and 816 00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:00,170 transparent way . If there have been uh 817 00:31:01,340 --> 00:31:03,520 mhm . Things that were improperly or 818 00:31:03,530 --> 00:31:05,641 illegally done , then certainly we'll 819 00:31:05,641 --> 00:31:09,100 revisit that um next on the Ukraine 820 00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:10,989 front of a bunch of my colleagues 821 00:31:10,989 --> 00:31:13,044 already talked about Ukraine and the 822 00:31:13,044 --> 00:31:15,156 evolution of of support . But can you 823 00:31:15,156 --> 00:31:17,156 just very briefly Mr Secretary talk 824 00:31:17,156 --> 00:31:19,378 about how how should our support evolve 825 00:31:19,378 --> 00:31:22,540 as this goes from a short term fight , 826 00:31:22,610 --> 00:31:24,832 us providing things that are needed and 827 00:31:24,832 --> 00:31:27,110 can be used now on the battlefield to 828 00:31:27,110 --> 00:31:29,110 transition to a longer term fight , 829 00:31:29,110 --> 00:31:31,054 like the national security adviser 830 00:31:31,054 --> 00:31:33,054 indicated yesterday . How does that 831 00:31:33,054 --> 00:31:35,520 change the nature of our support ? Yeah , 832 00:31:35,530 --> 00:31:39,350 I I believe that what Mr Sullivan 833 00:31:39,350 --> 00:31:41,700 was describing was this fight that's 834 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:44,340 going to take place in the in the south 835 00:31:44,340 --> 00:31:47,330 and east of the country . Uh and it 836 00:31:47,330 --> 00:31:49,530 will take as he described it probably 837 00:31:49,530 --> 00:31:52,170 weeks for that to play out versus days . 838 00:31:52,540 --> 00:31:56,070 Uh And so um we continue to look at 839 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,980 what we think uh and we don't think we 840 00:31:58,980 --> 00:32:01,410 know uh the Ukrainians will need 841 00:32:01,420 --> 00:32:03,364 because we're talking to them on a 842 00:32:03,364 --> 00:32:05,476 daily basis and it'll be a lot of the 843 00:32:05,476 --> 00:32:07,642 same things that we provided already . 844 00:32:07,642 --> 00:32:09,698 But we look for things that also can 845 00:32:09,698 --> 00:32:12,020 can provide them an advantage in this 846 00:32:12,020 --> 00:32:14,520 fight . And you've seen us began to 847 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:16,742 deploy some of those things . Well , we 848 00:32:16,742 --> 00:32:18,798 appreciate your work very much . You 849 00:32:18,798 --> 00:32:21,020 know , this has been a herculean effort 850 00:32:21,020 --> 00:32:20,420 by the men and women of the military 851 00:32:20,420 --> 00:32:22,800 and administration , the Department and 852 00:32:22,810 --> 00:32:24,977 I thank you for that effort because it 853 00:32:24,977 --> 00:32:27,280 is saving lives . You know , um This 854 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,502 committee does have a long tradition of 855 00:32:29,502 --> 00:32:31,558 bipartisanship . Uh there are people 856 00:32:31,558 --> 00:32:33,447 that have served many people have 857 00:32:33,447 --> 00:32:35,447 served in uniform , but there are a 858 00:32:35,447 --> 00:32:37,613 very small handful of folks that don't 859 00:32:37,613 --> 00:32:39,391 understand service . They don't 860 00:32:39,391 --> 00:32:41,447 understand sacrifice that attack and 861 00:32:41,447 --> 00:32:43,613 malign you and your service . Somebody 862 00:32:43,613 --> 00:32:45,724 who has dedicated your entire life to 863 00:32:45,724 --> 00:32:47,780 service , who sometimes will compare 864 00:32:47,780 --> 00:32:50,002 our military to other militaries , call 865 00:32:50,002 --> 00:32:52,169 us woke make up these contrived boogie 866 00:32:52,169 --> 00:32:54,391 man's of socialism or pull out lectures 867 00:32:54,391 --> 00:32:56,710 at universities . But I have , I've 868 00:32:56,710 --> 00:32:58,766 known you for some time now and I've 869 00:32:58,766 --> 00:33:00,766 seen the pride that you take in our 870 00:33:00,766 --> 00:33:02,932 servicemen and women in the pride that 871 00:33:02,932 --> 00:33:05,043 you've taken this work and how you've 872 00:33:05,043 --> 00:33:07,680 put your entire life uh focused on this . 873 00:33:07,690 --> 00:33:09,579 So can you just take with the two 874 00:33:09,579 --> 00:33:11,523 minutes remaining , Could you just 875 00:33:11,523 --> 00:33:13,690 paint a picture for this committee and 876 00:33:13,690 --> 00:33:15,634 for the american people about what 877 00:33:15,634 --> 00:33:18,520 makes you most proud of the men and 878 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:21,020 women of our military and what life is 879 00:33:21,020 --> 00:33:23,340 like on a daily basis for the minimum . 880 00:33:23,340 --> 00:33:27,310 In that you lied . Thanks . 881 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,570 Um , as you've heard me say a number of 882 00:33:30,570 --> 00:33:34,010 times , you know , my focus 24 hours a 883 00:33:34,010 --> 00:33:36,440 day , seven days a week is on defending 884 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,070 this country . Um , and I'm proud to be 885 00:33:39,070 --> 00:33:42,160 able to serve alongside the men and 886 00:33:42,160 --> 00:33:44,920 women who occupy our ranks . They are 887 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:46,976 committed to this and I've been with 888 00:33:46,976 --> 00:33:48,920 them , you know , most recently in 889 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:51,690 Poland , uh in other Baltic , in Baltic 890 00:33:51,690 --> 00:33:54,000 states and in other Eastern flank 891 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,830 countries . I've been with them in the , 892 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:59,540 in the , in the pacific they are all 893 00:33:59,540 --> 00:34:03,540 focused on the task at hand , training 894 00:34:03,540 --> 00:34:06,400 and being ready to , to to perform 895 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:09,350 their missions that and all of those 896 00:34:09,350 --> 00:34:11,461 missions contribute to the defense of 897 00:34:11,461 --> 00:34:13,239 this country and protecting our 898 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:15,461 interests . And I just gotta tell you , 899 00:34:15,461 --> 00:34:18,020 I am incredibly proud of them day in 900 00:34:18,020 --> 00:34:21,460 and day out , they volunteer to do uh 901 00:34:21,470 --> 00:34:25,330 incredible things in on behalf of this 902 00:34:25,330 --> 00:34:28,830 country and we owe them A debt of 903 00:34:28,830 --> 00:34:30,886 gratitude that we can probably never 904 00:34:30,886 --> 00:34:32,941 repay we or their families a debt of 905 00:34:32,941 --> 00:34:35,163 gratitude as well . But they are , they 906 00:34:35,163 --> 00:34:37,610 are smart , they are fit , they are , 907 00:34:37,620 --> 00:34:40,200 they are focused uh and uh and they 908 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:44,200 spend 99% of their time focused on 909 00:34:44,210 --> 00:34:46,560 defending this country and developing 910 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:48,727 additional capabilities that they will 911 00:34:48,727 --> 00:34:50,338 need to be successful on the 912 00:34:50,338 --> 00:34:52,504 battlefield . So any notion that there 913 00:34:52,504 --> 00:34:54,840 woke or that our military is woke , you 914 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:56,729 know , I take issue with that and 915 00:34:56,729 --> 00:34:58,729 because it's just not true , it's a 916 00:34:58,729 --> 00:35:00,990 false narrative and they deserve better 917 00:35:00,990 --> 00:35:03,420 than that . I couldn't agree more . 918 00:35:03,420 --> 00:35:05,476 They do deserve better than that and 919 00:35:05,476 --> 00:35:07,531 they're getting better than that and 920 00:35:07,531 --> 00:35:09,531 your leadership and and frankly the 921 00:35:09,531 --> 00:35:11,753 leadership and the focus of most people 922 00:35:11,753 --> 00:35:13,809 on this committee who take this work 923 00:35:13,809 --> 00:35:13,740 seriously , who are engaged in very 924 00:35:13,740 --> 00:35:15,851 difficult policy discussions and know 925 00:35:15,851 --> 00:35:18,073 the threats that we face . I appreciate 926 00:35:18,073 --> 00:35:20,184 your leadership . Chairman , Millie's 927 00:35:20,184 --> 00:35:22,184 leadership Mr McCord . You are more 928 00:35:22,184 --> 00:35:24,351 appreciated than this hearing probably 929 00:35:24,351 --> 00:35:26,573 indicates , but we appreciate your work 930 00:35:26,573 --> 00:35:28,740 as well . Mr Chairman , I yield back . 931 00:35:28,740 --> 00:35:28,710 Thank you very much . Mr Bergman is 932 00:35:28,710 --> 00:35:30,932 recognized for five minutes . Thank you 933 00:35:30,932 --> 00:35:34,900 Mr Chairman . Um one of my colleagues 934 00:35:35,390 --> 00:35:38,670 asked General Milley that you would 935 00:35:38,940 --> 00:35:41,051 commit to ensuring that the Gold Star 936 00:35:41,051 --> 00:35:43,273 family criteria remained the same and I 937 00:35:43,273 --> 00:35:46,360 believe I heard you say yes , I am very 938 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:48,416 committed to that . Okay , Secretary 939 00:35:48,416 --> 00:35:50,638 Austin , I'd like to hear it from you . 940 00:35:50,638 --> 00:35:52,471 Yes , that's very good . That is 941 00:35:52,471 --> 00:35:56,040 probably one of the most solemn duties 942 00:35:56,050 --> 00:35:59,880 that we have is to appropriately 943 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:02,190 honor not only the men and women who 944 00:36:02,830 --> 00:36:05,400 die in service of our country in combat 945 00:36:05,410 --> 00:36:08,550 but also their families as well . Um 946 00:36:09,830 --> 00:36:11,497 Let's talk a little bit about 947 00:36:11,497 --> 00:36:14,820 recruiting General Miller , You opened 948 00:36:14,820 --> 00:36:16,740 up your statement and I think 949 00:36:16,740 --> 00:36:18,740 accurately so by saying we have the 950 00:36:18,740 --> 00:36:21,120 best lead , best trained , best 951 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:23,287 equipped etcetera etcetera military in 952 00:36:23,287 --> 00:36:26,070 the world , do we have the best 953 00:36:26,070 --> 00:36:28,460 recruited military in your estimation ? 954 00:36:30,730 --> 00:36:33,870 The best recruited , I think all 955 00:36:33,870 --> 00:36:36,150 militaries are a reflection of the 956 00:36:36,150 --> 00:36:38,380 societies they come from . Uh And we 957 00:36:38,380 --> 00:36:40,158 have a particularly challenging 958 00:36:40,158 --> 00:36:42,102 recruiting environment as a former 959 00:36:42,102 --> 00:36:44,324 Chief Staff of the army . That was true 960 00:36:44,324 --> 00:36:43,740 then , and it's true now and it's been 961 00:36:43,740 --> 00:36:46,320 true for quite a long time in terms of 962 00:36:46,330 --> 00:36:48,052 the the military has very high 963 00:36:48,052 --> 00:36:50,390 standards to get in . Uh and 964 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,980 unfortunately uh the amount of eligible 965 00:36:53,990 --> 00:36:57,180 military age men and women um have gone 966 00:36:57,180 --> 00:36:59,180 down in terms of the standards over 967 00:36:59,180 --> 00:37:01,069 time . So I think we're in a very 968 00:37:01,069 --> 00:37:03,124 challenging recruiting environment , 969 00:37:03,124 --> 00:37:05,347 but I do think those that do get in are 970 00:37:05,347 --> 00:37:07,347 the finest and the best uh and I do 971 00:37:07,347 --> 00:37:09,458 think that we recruit the best of our 972 00:37:09,458 --> 00:37:12,240 society . So we've got roughly 70 973 00:37:12,250 --> 00:37:15,290 roughly 70% who are ineligible for 974 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:17,244 various reasons ? So we've already 975 00:37:17,244 --> 00:37:19,510 knocked that down to 30% . Has the 976 00:37:19,510 --> 00:37:23,470 Department of Defense spent any , I 977 00:37:23,470 --> 00:37:26,250 guess research dollars to determine 978 00:37:26,350 --> 00:37:29,740 what is going to be the propensity of 979 00:37:29,740 --> 00:37:33,510 that remaining 30% to serve to 980 00:37:33,510 --> 00:37:37,460 get involved too at whatever level . I 981 00:37:37,460 --> 00:37:40,610 mean , is there any data being that you 982 00:37:40,610 --> 00:37:43,560 guys are accumulating to to enable us 983 00:37:43,560 --> 00:37:46,860 to better ? There is the there's a lot 984 00:37:46,860 --> 00:37:49,160 of data , there's a lot of money . 985 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:51,160 There's a lot of research that goes 986 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:53,271 into that very question propensity to 987 00:37:53,271 --> 00:37:55,216 serve . Uh We can get you that . I 988 00:37:55,216 --> 00:37:57,438 don't have it at my fingertips . Well , 989 00:37:57,438 --> 00:37:57,020 we can get you the actual data each of 990 00:37:57,020 --> 00:37:58,964 the services do . Yeah . Well this 991 00:37:58,964 --> 00:38:01,131 committee , you know is bipartisan and 992 00:38:01,131 --> 00:38:03,187 I don't think there's one of us that 993 00:38:03,187 --> 00:38:06,450 sit in here that don't want to see um 994 00:38:06,460 --> 00:38:09,760 the men and women who are eligible to 995 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:13,680 serve , get the right message so that 996 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:16,170 they will get over that hump if you 997 00:38:16,170 --> 00:38:19,280 will acquire . Why not ? And you 998 00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:21,970 mentioned that this year , the army and 999 00:38:21,970 --> 00:38:24,080 the Guard is not going to meet their 1000 00:38:24,080 --> 00:38:26,136 recruiting numbers now . Is that Air 1001 00:38:26,136 --> 00:38:28,191 Guard or Army Guard or Both Guards ? 1002 00:38:28,191 --> 00:38:30,302 Army Guard . Okay . Air Force Marines 1003 00:38:30,302 --> 00:38:32,469 and Navy are meeting their goals right 1004 00:38:32,469 --> 00:38:34,636 now . Army is not both Active Army and 1005 00:38:34,636 --> 00:38:38,010 Guard . Okay , So if we're just talking 1006 00:38:38,010 --> 00:38:40,300 about the Army and the Army Guard not 1007 00:38:40,300 --> 00:38:42,900 meeting their uh , their end strength , 1008 00:38:43,720 --> 00:38:45,831 is there any plan ? If you ask any of 1009 00:38:45,831 --> 00:38:47,887 the other services who are meeting , 1010 00:38:47,887 --> 00:38:50,130 there's maybe up it if they're meeting 1011 00:38:50,130 --> 00:38:52,130 their goals , do they have room for 1012 00:38:52,130 --> 00:38:54,074 more ? Are we looking at increased 1013 00:38:54,074 --> 00:38:56,019 capabilities ? I'm not sure what's 1014 00:38:56,019 --> 00:38:58,130 going on with the , with the army and 1015 00:38:58,130 --> 00:39:00,241 the Army guard . But is there , do we 1016 00:39:00,241 --> 00:39:02,408 have people waiting in line to sign up 1017 00:39:02,408 --> 00:39:04,630 for the Air Force or the Navy or the or 1018 00:39:04,630 --> 00:39:08,520 the Marine Corps ? The Navy is actually , 1019 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:10,950 I think it's the Navy is actually 102% 1020 00:39:10,950 --> 00:39:12,950 on glide path . So they're actually 1021 00:39:12,950 --> 00:39:15,440 over Their objectives . Air Force and 1022 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:17,496 Marines are meeting their objectives 1023 00:39:17,496 --> 00:39:19,662 and army is about , I want to say it's 1024 00:39:19,662 --> 00:39:21,829 about 10-15 points below the objective 1025 00:39:21,829 --> 00:39:23,884 right now . Now the year is not over 1026 00:39:23,884 --> 00:39:25,940 the years young were for four months 1027 00:39:25,940 --> 00:39:27,940 into the year . Typically this data 1028 00:39:27,940 --> 00:39:29,940 will change very significantly upon 1029 00:39:29,940 --> 00:39:32,107 high school graduation . Um come , you 1030 00:39:32,107 --> 00:39:34,162 know , come june july time frame and 1031 00:39:34,162 --> 00:39:36,384 that's the big months at which there is 1032 00:39:36,384 --> 00:39:38,496 a big huge data correction . What the 1033 00:39:38,496 --> 00:39:40,718 army is projecting over time is they'll 1034 00:39:40,718 --> 00:39:42,940 committed a few percentage points below 1035 00:39:42,940 --> 00:39:45,051 objective for the year as opposed Are 1036 00:39:45,051 --> 00:39:47,384 we sacrificing inequality to make those . 1037 00:39:47,384 --> 00:39:49,350 No , not at all . The what they're 1038 00:39:49,350 --> 00:39:51,072 doing is ensuring that they're 1039 00:39:51,072 --> 00:39:53,017 enforcing the quality of the force 1040 00:39:53,017 --> 00:39:55,072 coming in . Okay . And just just for 1041 00:39:55,072 --> 00:39:57,183 the sake of discussion here , we know 1042 00:39:57,183 --> 00:39:59,406 we have a significant number of men and 1043 00:39:59,406 --> 00:40:01,350 women who are no longer in service 1044 00:40:01,350 --> 00:40:03,406 because of their refusal to take the 1045 00:40:03,406 --> 00:40:06,520 Covid vaccine . If for whatever reason 1046 00:40:07,510 --> 00:40:10,360 any or all of them decided they wanted 1047 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:12,304 to re affiliate with the service , 1048 00:40:13,610 --> 00:40:16,370 would they be given an option ? I'd 1049 00:40:16,370 --> 00:40:18,320 have to get with the each of the 1050 00:40:18,320 --> 00:40:20,542 service chiefs in terms of the policies 1051 00:40:20,542 --> 00:40:22,653 inside the service . But i if someone 1052 00:40:22,653 --> 00:40:24,820 wants to get the shot and come on back 1053 00:40:24,820 --> 00:40:26,987 in , I don't know , we've got millions 1054 00:40:26,987 --> 00:40:29,209 and millions and millions of dollars of 1055 00:40:29,209 --> 00:40:31,153 training those people that will be 1056 00:40:31,153 --> 00:40:31,030 forced out and we want to comply with 1057 00:40:31,030 --> 00:40:33,141 the rules and regulations . This time 1058 00:40:33,141 --> 00:40:36,450 has expired . Slotkin is recognized for 1059 00:40:36,450 --> 00:40:38,617 five minutes . Thanks for being here . 1060 00:40:38,617 --> 00:40:40,728 I know we're about to start our three 1061 00:40:40,728 --> 00:40:42,950 of this hearing and I want to associate 1062 00:40:42,950 --> 00:40:44,839 myself with the comments um , the 1063 00:40:44,839 --> 00:40:46,894 respectful comments on both sides of 1064 00:40:46,894 --> 00:40:48,894 the aisle for those who made it and 1065 00:40:48,894 --> 00:40:50,783 apologize for those um who aren't 1066 00:40:50,783 --> 00:40:52,728 respectful as you come up here for 1067 00:40:52,728 --> 00:40:54,950 these hearings . I think that there's a 1068 00:40:54,950 --> 00:40:56,950 lot um a lot of the issues that are 1069 00:40:56,950 --> 00:40:58,783 affecting the average american , 1070 00:40:58,783 --> 00:41:00,950 particularly around prices and budgets 1071 00:41:00,950 --> 00:41:02,920 and supply chains are now we were 1072 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:04,753 seeing really affect the U . S . 1073 00:41:04,753 --> 00:41:06,976 Military . So my questions are going to 1074 00:41:06,976 --> 00:41:09,031 focus mostly on that and Mr McCord . 1075 00:41:09,031 --> 00:41:11,142 I'm going to give you a chance to get 1076 00:41:11,142 --> 00:41:13,530 in the game here . Um , I 1st and 1st 1077 00:41:13,530 --> 00:41:15,752 and foremost . Um actually I start with 1078 00:41:15,752 --> 00:41:18,770 MR Secretary Austin on supply chains , 1079 00:41:18,780 --> 00:41:21,630 right ? I represent a district that has 1080 00:41:21,630 --> 00:41:23,852 two GM factories , one has been off and 1081 00:41:23,852 --> 00:41:26,074 on dormant for the past year because we 1082 00:41:26,074 --> 00:41:28,550 can't get a 14 cent microchip myself 1083 00:41:28,550 --> 00:41:30,550 and and congressman Gallagher led a 1084 00:41:30,550 --> 00:41:33,180 task force um on D . O . D . And sort 1085 00:41:33,180 --> 00:41:35,236 of highlighting the issues on supply 1086 00:41:35,236 --> 00:41:37,291 chains that the department had . You 1087 00:41:37,291 --> 00:41:39,513 know , you picked up the rug on some of 1088 00:41:39,513 --> 00:41:41,347 our supply chains in the Defense 1089 00:41:41,347 --> 00:41:43,513 Department . There was a lot of creepy 1090 00:41:43,513 --> 00:41:42,940 crawlies under there , a lot of 1091 00:41:42,940 --> 00:41:45,950 dependencies on places like china that 1092 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:47,960 even for our U . S . Military we we 1093 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,460 still had , can you tell us um we had 1094 00:41:50,470 --> 00:41:52,637 some prescriptions in the last N . D . 1095 00:41:52,637 --> 00:41:54,803 A . But help give us some comfort that 1096 00:41:54,803 --> 00:41:57,137 like our private sector companies D . O . 1097 00:41:57,137 --> 00:41:59,248 D . Is is actually kind of getting in 1098 00:41:59,248 --> 00:42:01,137 the game and looking at this as a 1099 00:42:01,137 --> 00:42:03,950 vulnerability we are in in the game . 1100 00:42:03,950 --> 00:42:07,090 As you know , it's uh it's been and is 1101 00:42:07,090 --> 00:42:11,020 a an area of emphasis for for the 1102 00:42:11,020 --> 00:42:13,020 president and for the government at 1103 00:42:13,020 --> 00:42:16,520 large . So Dodd is doing its part this 1104 00:42:16,520 --> 00:42:18,520 is especially important to us as we 1105 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:21,680 look at components of our critical 1106 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:24,900 weapons systems that use uh 1107 00:42:24,910 --> 00:42:28,000 microchips that that use 1108 00:42:28,010 --> 00:42:30,910 critical material , strategic materials 1109 00:42:30,920 --> 00:42:33,600 we want to make sure that that we are 1110 00:42:33,600 --> 00:42:37,110 not vulnerable to to right because I 1111 00:42:37,110 --> 00:42:39,440 think the thing that while a GM plant 1112 00:42:39,450 --> 00:42:41,790 um can shut down the U . S . Military 1113 00:42:41,790 --> 00:42:44,360 doesn't have that that privilege of 1114 00:42:44,370 --> 00:42:46,592 being able to shut down and just taking 1115 00:42:46,592 --> 00:42:48,703 an economic hit . It's the protection 1116 00:42:48,703 --> 00:42:50,926 of the country . Um uh Mr McCord on the 1117 00:42:50,926 --> 00:42:53,092 budget . We've had a lot of discussion 1118 00:42:53,092 --> 00:42:54,981 discussion here about whether the 1119 00:42:54,981 --> 00:42:57,037 proposed president's budget keeps up 1120 00:42:57,037 --> 00:42:59,259 with the rate of inflation and you said 1121 00:42:59,259 --> 00:43:01,370 that um you crafted the budget with a 1122 00:43:01,370 --> 00:43:03,481 4% inflation rate . We know that that 1123 00:43:03,481 --> 00:43:05,970 has largely gone up . Um I know that 1124 00:43:05,980 --> 00:43:08,036 frankly on a bipartisan basis people 1125 00:43:08,036 --> 00:43:10,202 are interested in at least making sure 1126 00:43:10,202 --> 00:43:12,202 that the department is keeping pace 1127 00:43:12,202 --> 00:43:14,540 with the um with the with inflation . 1128 00:43:14,550 --> 00:43:16,940 Um would you be willing to consider 1129 00:43:16,940 --> 00:43:19,770 coming back to us and keying the budget 1130 00:43:19,780 --> 00:43:22,510 to the rate of inflation very short . 1131 00:43:22,520 --> 00:43:24,790 Yes or no congresswoman ? Yes . I think 1132 00:43:24,790 --> 00:43:27,420 we were going to need to work with the 1133 00:43:27,420 --> 00:43:29,642 committees . I believe going forward to 1134 00:43:29,642 --> 00:43:31,698 look at what's actually happening on 1135 00:43:31,698 --> 00:43:34,510 the ground . And we had as a secretary 1136 00:43:34,510 --> 00:43:36,677 so we had to snap a chalk line at some 1137 00:43:36,677 --> 00:43:38,788 point to finish the budget . You have 1138 00:43:38,788 --> 00:43:38,610 to make some assumptions and then move 1139 00:43:38,610 --> 00:43:41,810 on . And those we we normally revisit 1140 00:43:41,820 --> 00:43:43,764 our own situation internally which 1141 00:43:43,764 --> 00:43:45,987 generates reprogramming that we send to 1142 00:43:45,987 --> 00:43:48,153 you . We'll do that as soon as as soon 1143 00:43:48,153 --> 00:43:50,264 as possible this year as well . And I 1144 00:43:50,264 --> 00:43:52,487 think there's nowhere that's more clear 1145 00:43:52,487 --> 00:43:54,487 where inflation is really kind of a 1146 00:43:54,487 --> 00:43:56,709 punch in the gut at least in a district 1147 00:43:56,709 --> 00:43:58,820 like mine where people drive 40 miles 1148 00:43:58,820 --> 00:44:01,153 one way to work . It's the price of gas . 1149 00:44:01,153 --> 00:44:00,810 And as I see it , the Department of 1150 00:44:00,810 --> 00:44:03,032 Defense is one of the biggest consumers 1151 00:44:03,032 --> 00:44:05,199 may be in the world of gasoline . Um , 1152 00:44:05,199 --> 00:44:07,560 and I think you noted it was about $12 1153 00:44:07,560 --> 00:44:10,270 billion . We spend a year on gas . What 1154 00:44:10,270 --> 00:44:12,159 if anything has the Department of 1155 00:44:12,159 --> 00:44:14,326 Defense done advocating with the White 1156 00:44:14,326 --> 00:44:16,492 House to do more to try and affect the 1157 00:44:16,492 --> 00:44:19,820 price of gas ? Congressman ? As you say , 1158 00:44:19,820 --> 00:44:22,000 we we consume a lot of gas , but we we 1159 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:24,111 are small compared to the market . We 1160 00:44:24,111 --> 00:44:26,333 cannot drive the market by ourselves as 1161 00:44:26,333 --> 00:44:28,444 1% of the of the market . We're about 1162 00:44:28,444 --> 00:44:30,611 15% of the jet fuel market . So we are 1163 00:44:30,611 --> 00:44:32,778 a significant player there . But we we 1164 00:44:32,778 --> 00:44:34,722 are ultimately at the mercy of the 1165 00:44:34,722 --> 00:44:36,944 markets the way most other entities are 1166 00:44:36,944 --> 00:44:38,944 and uh are are few . Our budget was 1167 00:44:38,944 --> 00:44:41,500 done before Putin's invasion of Ukraine 1168 00:44:41,500 --> 00:44:43,611 spiked oil prices of course that that 1169 00:44:43,611 --> 00:44:45,722 spike make him down slowly , make him 1170 00:44:45,722 --> 00:44:47,833 down quickly . That's one of the many 1171 00:44:47,833 --> 00:44:49,833 variables out there . But we we are 1172 00:44:49,833 --> 00:44:52,000 going to have to adjust for that going 1173 00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:51,950 forward . Okay . I would just say is 1174 00:44:51,950 --> 00:44:54,061 one of the biggest consumers at least 1175 00:44:54,061 --> 00:44:56,283 in the United States of gas . That your 1176 00:44:56,283 --> 00:44:58,506 voice in the conversation on doing more 1177 00:44:58,506 --> 00:45:00,450 to try and lower the prices of gas 1178 00:45:00,450 --> 00:45:02,561 would be would be helpful . Um lastly 1179 00:45:02,561 --> 00:45:04,672 mr McCord . We passed on a bipartisan 1180 00:45:04,672 --> 00:45:06,839 basis . An amendment in the last years 1181 00:45:06,839 --> 00:45:08,728 N . D . A . That helps to try and 1182 00:45:08,728 --> 00:45:10,950 examine the amount of pork . And I mean 1183 00:45:10,950 --> 00:45:12,839 congressional pork that is in the 1184 00:45:12,839 --> 00:45:14,783 Department of Defense budget . The 1185 00:45:14,783 --> 00:45:16,950 things that you all have tried to kill 1186 00:45:16,950 --> 00:45:19,006 the legacy weapons systems you don't 1187 00:45:19,006 --> 00:45:21,061 want anymore . The facilities you've 1188 00:45:21,061 --> 00:45:23,117 tried to to shut down that amendment 1189 00:45:23,117 --> 00:45:25,117 required a report . Um What is your 1190 00:45:25,117 --> 00:45:27,228 assessment ? I mean I know the report 1191 00:45:27,228 --> 00:45:29,394 isn't done yet . Of what percentage of 1192 00:45:29,394 --> 00:45:31,506 the department budget are things that 1193 00:45:31,506 --> 00:45:31,320 the U . S . Congress has required you 1194 00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:34,890 to provide a congressman again reports 1195 00:45:34,890 --> 00:45:37,120 not reports not done . But I think in 1196 00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:39,940 most years it averages in the in the 3 1197 00:45:39,940 --> 00:45:42,230 to 5% range . So it's it's you know 1198 00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:43,962 it's not overwhelming but it's 1199 00:45:43,962 --> 00:45:45,962 significant . The rest of this will 1200 00:45:45,962 --> 00:45:48,073 have to take for the record . General 1201 00:45:48,073 --> 00:45:47,740 Lady's time has expired . Mr waltz is 1202 00:45:47,740 --> 00:45:50,073 recognized for five minutes . Thank you . 1203 00:45:50,073 --> 00:45:52,407 Mr Chairman Secretary Austin a year ago . 1204 00:45:52,890 --> 00:45:55,920 Uh The rise of extremism particularly 1205 00:45:55,930 --> 00:45:57,930 white supremacy within the military 1206 00:45:57,930 --> 00:45:59,950 within our ranks . It was a top 1207 00:45:59,950 --> 00:46:02,117 priority for you . In fact it was your 1208 00:46:02,117 --> 00:46:04,890 first memo yet the department released 1209 00:46:04,890 --> 00:46:08,220 a study this year a year later Showing 1210 00:46:08,220 --> 00:46:11,160 that 100 members of the military 1211 00:46:11,160 --> 00:46:13,500 participated in some type of extremism . 1212 00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:17,190 Uh that's 100 out of 2.5 million by my 1213 00:46:17,190 --> 00:46:19,260 math . That shows that 1214 00:46:19,260 --> 00:46:22,600 99.996 1215 00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:25,113 of our military members have not 1216 00:46:25,113 --> 00:46:27,450 participated in any form of extremism . 1217 00:46:27,580 --> 00:46:30,370 So with that data now being data driven 1218 00:46:30,380 --> 00:46:32,547 that's still a top priority for you or 1219 00:46:32,547 --> 00:46:36,000 can we move on . You made a couple of 1220 00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:39,600 points here . And let me say that my 1221 00:46:39,600 --> 00:46:41,900 top priority is defending this country . 1222 00:46:41,930 --> 00:46:44,610 It has been and it will always be on 1223 00:46:44,610 --> 00:46:47,680 the issue of the percentages of people 1224 00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:50,520 that Have are participating in 1225 00:46:50,520 --> 00:46:53,970 extremist activities . Uh you've heard 1226 00:46:53,970 --> 00:46:57,790 me say that 99.9% of our people 1227 00:46:57,800 --> 00:47:00,650 are doing the right thing every day and 1228 00:47:00,650 --> 00:47:02,706 I'm proud of them for what they do . 1229 00:47:02,706 --> 00:47:04,930 But a small percentage of people can 1230 00:47:04,930 --> 00:47:07,400 have an outsized impact on . Thank you . 1231 00:47:07,400 --> 00:47:09,567 Mr Secretary forgive me . I have a few 1232 00:47:09,567 --> 00:47:11,733 questions . I think we have to be very 1233 00:47:11,733 --> 00:47:13,789 careful . We're also show seeing and 1234 00:47:13,789 --> 00:47:16,000 polling a record drop in public 1235 00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:18,040 confidence in the United States 1236 00:47:18,040 --> 00:47:20,040 military . So I think we have to be 1237 00:47:20,040 --> 00:47:22,262 very careful about narratives . We even 1238 00:47:22,262 --> 00:47:24,484 had a hearing here in this committee on 1239 00:47:24,484 --> 00:47:26,429 the rising tide of white supremacy 1240 00:47:26,429 --> 00:47:28,373 within our military and keep those 1241 00:47:28,373 --> 00:47:30,040 narratives Data driven . So I 1242 00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:33,820 appreciate 99.99 6% . Um one is too 1243 00:47:33,820 --> 00:47:35,987 many . Absolutely . And we always have 1244 00:47:35,987 --> 00:47:37,931 to be vigilant . But we have to be 1245 00:47:37,931 --> 00:47:40,153 careful about our neighbors . I need to 1246 00:47:40,153 --> 00:47:42,700 move on . Uh Chairman Milley . We are 1247 00:47:42,700 --> 00:47:45,580 absolutely providing more sophisticated 1248 00:47:45,580 --> 00:47:47,469 equipment now to the Ukrainians , 1249 00:47:47,870 --> 00:47:49,620 counter battery radar . My 1250 00:47:49,620 --> 00:47:51,787 understanding puma U . A . V . S . And 1251 00:47:51,787 --> 00:47:53,842 the latest package . Finally I would 1252 00:47:53,842 --> 00:47:55,731 argue that this is belated . They 1253 00:47:55,731 --> 00:47:57,842 should have had it last year . Um but 1254 00:47:57,842 --> 00:47:59,787 we are we do have it in train . My 1255 00:47:59,787 --> 00:48:02,330 concern is that general , the NATO 1256 00:48:02,330 --> 00:48:04,441 commander ? General Walters testified 1257 00:48:04,441 --> 00:48:06,330 that as a policy matter we're not 1258 00:48:06,330 --> 00:48:08,330 conducting any training on this new 1259 00:48:08,330 --> 00:48:10,552 equipment . So my question is why not ? 1260 00:48:11,270 --> 00:48:13,103 We're not conducting training in 1261 00:48:13,103 --> 00:48:15,270 Ukraine ? Were not conducting training 1262 00:48:15,270 --> 00:48:17,570 in Poland outside of Ukraine . That's 1263 00:48:17,570 --> 00:48:19,737 what he testified . There is literally 1264 00:48:19,737 --> 00:48:23,710 a handle and maybe a um and so my 1265 00:48:23,710 --> 00:48:25,599 question is , you know , that the 1266 00:48:25,599 --> 00:48:28,140 training on this , I think you said we 1267 00:48:28,140 --> 00:48:30,418 were not conducting training in Poland , 1268 00:48:31,070 --> 00:48:33,237 but as you rightly point out , some of 1269 00:48:33,237 --> 00:48:36,700 this gear does require . Okay then that 1270 00:48:36,710 --> 00:48:38,543 drives my question then , are we 1271 00:48:38,543 --> 00:48:40,488 training the Ukrainians outside of 1272 00:48:40,488 --> 00:48:42,654 Ukraine in any location to use some of 1273 00:48:42,654 --> 00:48:44,840 the gear ? You certainly they have to 1274 00:48:44,840 --> 00:48:47,390 have training and and we're doing that 1275 00:48:47,400 --> 00:48:49,550 great . That's fantastic . And that's 1276 00:48:49,560 --> 00:48:51,671 thank you for clarifying that . Being 1277 00:48:51,671 --> 00:48:54,004 trained right here in the United States . 1278 00:48:54,004 --> 00:48:56,171 So the Ukrainians are sending military 1279 00:48:56,240 --> 00:48:58,440 soldiers off and we're trained not , I 1280 00:48:58,440 --> 00:49:02,190 met , you know , on the counter battery 1281 00:49:02,190 --> 00:49:05,010 on the latest variants on the things 1282 00:49:05,010 --> 00:49:07,121 that we're providing , We're training 1283 00:49:07,121 --> 00:49:09,288 them how to use it . And you can touch 1284 00:49:09,288 --> 00:49:11,510 the Ukrainians that are already here to 1285 00:49:11,510 --> 00:49:13,830 to leverage them as well . Fantastic . 1286 00:49:13,840 --> 00:49:17,290 Uh , On the switchblade , 600 variants . 1287 00:49:17,970 --> 00:49:20,500 Your assistant secretary for I ? S a 1288 00:49:20,860 --> 00:49:23,082 testified last week that there's a memo 1289 00:49:23,082 --> 00:49:25,310 on your desk . Mr Secretary to give it 1290 00:49:25,310 --> 00:49:27,310 the correct procurement authorities 1291 00:49:27,310 --> 00:49:29,477 that we need or the designation to get 1292 00:49:29,477 --> 00:49:31,421 that thing moving . Is that are we 1293 00:49:31,421 --> 00:49:33,532 cleared up there ? Can we move that ? 1294 00:49:34,170 --> 00:49:36,930 The switch will age 600 and 300 will 1295 00:49:36,930 --> 00:49:39,097 move as quickly as they possibly can . 1296 00:49:40,870 --> 00:49:44,350 Okay . Um Secretary General Walters 1297 00:49:44,360 --> 00:49:47,990 also testified that the Ukrainians 1298 00:49:47,990 --> 00:49:50,157 would have been more effective if they 1299 00:49:50,157 --> 00:49:52,212 had had Stingers pre invasion . They 1300 00:49:52,212 --> 00:49:54,157 had had them on day one trained up 1301 00:49:54,157 --> 00:49:56,268 ready to go . General Milley . Do you 1302 00:49:56,268 --> 00:49:58,900 disagree ? I think they the area 1303 00:49:58,900 --> 00:50:01,460 defense system , the larger air defense 1304 00:50:01,460 --> 00:50:04,270 of Sam's the S 300 Stingers for the 1305 00:50:04,270 --> 00:50:06,492 Manpads but and all the other varieties 1306 00:50:06,492 --> 00:50:08,659 that the european countries have , the 1307 00:50:08,659 --> 00:50:10,437 more that they had prior to the 1308 00:50:10,437 --> 00:50:09,950 invasion , the better off they would 1309 00:50:09,950 --> 00:50:12,172 have been . But I would say caveat this 1310 00:50:12,172 --> 00:50:14,500 Russia has not even today established 1311 00:50:14,510 --> 00:50:16,621 air superiority and that's because of 1312 00:50:16,621 --> 00:50:18,899 the effective use of manpads and there ? 1313 00:50:18,899 --> 00:50:21,010 S 300 . Absolutely . But you wouldn't 1314 00:50:21,010 --> 00:50:23,121 disagree . Would have could have been 1315 00:50:23,121 --> 00:50:22,630 more would have been better . And I do 1316 00:50:22,630 --> 00:50:24,741 think there's a lot of parallels . Mr 1317 00:50:24,741 --> 00:50:27,900 Secretary to our approach to Taiwan , I 1318 00:50:27,910 --> 00:50:29,966 respectfully disagree with you there 1319 00:50:29,966 --> 00:50:32,132 there are a lot of parallels and there 1320 00:50:32,132 --> 00:50:34,077 are a lot of things . We should be 1321 00:50:34,077 --> 00:50:36,299 learning the effectiveness of sanctions 1322 00:50:36,299 --> 00:50:38,410 as a deterrent and having giving them 1323 00:50:38,410 --> 00:50:40,410 the weapons systems . They need pre 1324 00:50:40,410 --> 00:50:42,688 invasion , not having a tough response , 1325 00:50:42,688 --> 00:50:44,910 a robust response . Post invasion final 1326 00:50:44,910 --> 00:50:47,188 question . General Milley is the I . R . 1327 00:50:47,188 --> 00:50:49,354 T . C . A terrorist organization . And 1328 00:50:49,354 --> 00:50:49,060 should it remain so your best military 1329 00:50:49,060 --> 00:50:51,116 advice . I have to take that one for 1330 00:50:51,116 --> 00:50:53,227 the record because gentleman's out of 1331 00:50:53,227 --> 00:50:55,449 time . Thank you is recognized for five 1332 00:50:55,449 --> 00:50:58,750 minutes . Right . Thank you . Mr Chair 1333 00:50:58,750 --> 00:51:00,750 and thank you . Secretary Austin . 1334 00:51:00,760 --> 00:51:02,860 General Milley and Mr McCord for 1335 00:51:02,860 --> 00:51:05,082 appearing before us today . I very much 1336 00:51:05,082 --> 00:51:07,193 appreciate the challenging times that 1337 00:51:07,193 --> 00:51:09,416 you and the department are in right now 1338 00:51:09,416 --> 00:51:11,304 as we are facing and watching the 1339 00:51:11,304 --> 00:51:13,416 horrific events of the war in Ukraine 1340 00:51:13,416 --> 00:51:15,082 unfold . I also know that the 1341 00:51:15,082 --> 00:51:17,193 department's budget request this year 1342 00:51:17,193 --> 00:51:19,416 is focused largely on modernization and 1343 00:51:19,416 --> 00:51:21,471 transformation of the force . And in 1344 00:51:21,471 --> 00:51:23,471 your written testimonies , you have 1345 00:51:23,471 --> 00:51:25,471 mentioned how the department has to 1346 00:51:25,471 --> 00:51:25,110 modernize and divest from legacy 1347 00:51:25,110 --> 00:51:27,380 platforms that may no longer meet the 1348 00:51:27,380 --> 00:51:29,491 needs of the of the force . Right now 1349 00:51:29,491 --> 00:51:31,324 here in this country , President 1350 00:51:31,324 --> 00:51:33,436 Zelensky has repeatedly called on the 1351 00:51:33,436 --> 00:51:35,602 United States to transfer aircraft and 1352 00:51:35,602 --> 00:51:37,850 other weapons systems to Ukraine . And 1353 00:51:37,850 --> 00:51:40,630 so here we potentially have supply with 1354 00:51:40,630 --> 00:51:43,370 a known demand . Is there anything that 1355 00:51:43,370 --> 00:51:45,592 is preventing the Department of Defense 1356 00:51:45,592 --> 00:51:47,426 from transferring legacy weapons 1357 00:51:47,426 --> 00:51:49,648 systems ? And I'll just give an example 1358 00:51:49,648 --> 00:51:51,703 as the A 10 and other excess defense 1359 00:51:51,703 --> 00:51:54,120 articles to Ukraine ? Or are there any 1360 00:51:54,120 --> 00:51:56,231 things that are preventing us for the 1361 00:51:56,231 --> 00:51:58,398 training , preventing the training for 1362 00:51:58,398 --> 00:52:00,176 those ? Is there any additional 1363 00:52:00,176 --> 00:52:02,287 authority that you need to be able to 1364 00:52:02,287 --> 00:52:04,287 expedite or approve transferring of 1365 00:52:04,287 --> 00:52:06,453 weapons systems to Ukraine ? Secretary 1366 00:52:06,453 --> 00:52:09,020 Austin . Um if at this point , there , 1367 00:52:09,020 --> 00:52:11,020 there are no additional authorities 1368 00:52:11,020 --> 00:52:13,131 that we need and certainly if we need 1369 00:52:13,131 --> 00:52:15,020 additional authorities , we won't 1370 00:52:15,020 --> 00:52:17,020 hesitate to come ask you for them . 1371 00:52:17,020 --> 00:52:19,242 Thank you . And with my next question , 1372 00:52:19,242 --> 00:52:21,353 as we do identify weapons and systems 1373 00:52:21,353 --> 00:52:23,576 that we can are interested in investing 1374 00:52:23,576 --> 00:52:25,742 in . Uh is there a process by which we 1375 00:52:25,742 --> 00:52:27,853 can conduct due diligence to identify 1376 00:52:27,853 --> 00:52:30,020 possible items for transfer to Ukraine 1377 00:52:30,020 --> 00:52:33,160 or to Mr Walters ? Point to be more 1378 00:52:33,160 --> 00:52:35,216 thoughtful about the future of other 1379 00:52:35,216 --> 00:52:37,630 possible conflicts . It will be based 1380 00:52:37,630 --> 00:52:40,510 upon their request , their request and 1381 00:52:40,510 --> 00:52:43,550 our assessment of what um , what we 1382 00:52:43,550 --> 00:52:46,110 have available . Also the threat in the 1383 00:52:46,110 --> 00:52:48,277 environment plays a big part of this . 1384 00:52:48,277 --> 00:52:50,680 The ability to maintain the capability 1385 00:52:50,680 --> 00:52:52,840 that we give them is also very , very 1386 00:52:52,840 --> 00:52:54,951 important and the ability to train on 1387 00:52:54,951 --> 00:52:57,680 those on that equipment is also key . 1388 00:52:58,150 --> 00:53:00,740 And so using as the the a 10 is just an 1389 00:53:00,740 --> 00:53:02,907 example and knowing that we originally 1390 00:53:02,907 --> 00:53:04,962 anticipated that this war would be a 1391 00:53:04,962 --> 00:53:07,018 matter of days and hours rather than 1392 00:53:07,018 --> 00:53:09,200 now months and possibly years . Using 1393 00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:11,840 that a 10 as an example , is there a 1394 00:53:11,850 --> 00:53:13,961 possibility of what is the department 1395 00:53:13,961 --> 00:53:16,072 planned for the 21 8 tens that are in 1396 00:53:16,072 --> 00:53:18,239 the plan right now to divest from Fort 1397 00:53:18,239 --> 00:53:20,183 Wayne and what is the condition of 1398 00:53:20,183 --> 00:53:23,910 those aircraft ? Again ? Uh , it's it's 1399 00:53:23,910 --> 00:53:26,650 not just exporting the a 10 , it's also 1400 00:53:26,650 --> 00:53:28,483 whether or not that aircraft can 1401 00:53:28,483 --> 00:53:30,650 survive in that environment , which is 1402 00:53:30,650 --> 00:53:32,650 a key issue . And then number two , 1403 00:53:32,650 --> 00:53:34,650 whether or not they can sustain the 1404 00:53:34,650 --> 00:53:36,817 aircraft once we provided to them , it 1405 00:53:36,817 --> 00:53:38,928 is completely different as you know , 1406 00:53:38,928 --> 00:53:41,150 from any uh any platform that they have 1407 00:53:41,150 --> 00:53:43,317 are currently using . And so this is a 1408 00:53:43,317 --> 00:53:45,539 big step and then training the pilots . 1409 00:53:45,539 --> 00:53:47,650 It's not a matter of days , this is a 1410 00:53:47,650 --> 00:53:49,817 matter of months . Yes , yes sir . And 1411 00:53:49,817 --> 00:53:52,039 I actually have done some investigation 1412 00:53:52,039 --> 00:53:54,261 and I think that that we're on the same 1413 00:53:54,261 --> 00:53:56,372 page that our understanding is on the 1414 00:53:56,372 --> 00:53:55,950 order of magnitude of a couple of 1415 00:53:55,950 --> 00:53:58,117 months and I know the anticipation was 1416 00:53:58,117 --> 00:54:00,172 that this would not last that long , 1417 00:54:00,172 --> 00:54:02,228 but it's clear that it might still , 1418 00:54:02,228 --> 00:54:04,450 And again , the a 10 is just an example 1419 00:54:04,450 --> 00:54:06,561 of something that we might be looking 1420 00:54:06,561 --> 00:54:08,561 into . And with the remainder of my 1421 00:54:08,561 --> 00:54:10,561 time , we are now in the fifth week 1422 00:54:10,561 --> 00:54:12,561 with no apparent end and we need to 1423 00:54:12,561 --> 00:54:14,617 make sure that we're coming to terms 1424 00:54:14,617 --> 00:54:16,839 with the fact that this could be longer 1425 00:54:16,839 --> 00:54:19,061 than we anticipated . I'm interested in 1426 00:54:19,061 --> 00:54:21,172 the planned reduction of end strength 1427 00:54:21,172 --> 00:54:23,506 across the Army , Navy and Marine Corps , 1428 00:54:23,506 --> 00:54:23,070 the Navy , as we know , is already 1429 00:54:23,070 --> 00:54:25,237 short of personnel and sea duty bill . 1430 00:54:25,237 --> 00:54:27,403 It's the Air Force is suffering from a 1431 00:54:27,403 --> 00:54:29,570 critical shortage of pilots . How does 1432 00:54:29,570 --> 00:54:31,792 the department forecasting and planning 1433 00:54:31,792 --> 00:54:33,810 for this prolonged war in Ukraine ? 1434 00:54:33,950 --> 00:54:36,240 Maybe General Milley , we could ask you 1435 00:54:36,250 --> 00:54:37,750 that particular question . 1436 00:54:40,840 --> 00:54:42,784 Well , first , we are not directly 1437 00:54:42,784 --> 00:54:45,118 engaged in combat operations in Ukraine . 1438 00:54:45,340 --> 00:54:47,173 We are conducting deterrence and 1439 00:54:47,173 --> 00:54:49,284 assurance operations in the periphery 1440 00:54:49,284 --> 00:54:51,284 countries . The Article five NATO's 1441 00:54:51,284 --> 00:54:53,340 Article five countries . Having said 1442 00:54:53,340 --> 00:54:55,507 that in terms of the end strengths and 1443 00:54:55,507 --> 00:54:57,729 the modest reductions and end strengths 1444 00:54:57,729 --> 00:54:59,673 of each of the services . What the 1445 00:54:59,673 --> 00:54:59,620 services have opted to do is reduce and 1446 00:54:59,620 --> 00:55:01,509 strength a little bit in order to 1447 00:55:01,509 --> 00:55:03,564 recoup savings in order to modernize 1448 00:55:03,564 --> 00:55:05,453 the force aiming towards the 2030 1449 00:55:05,453 --> 00:55:07,590 timeframe 2030 plus . Uh and that's 1450 00:55:07,590 --> 00:55:09,701 where you see these modest reductions 1451 00:55:09,701 --> 00:55:11,979 in industry . Um , and that's , I mean , 1452 00:55:11,979 --> 00:55:14,201 what what they're trying to do is focus 1453 00:55:14,201 --> 00:55:16,750 on china in Russia , secondarily as the 1454 00:55:16,750 --> 00:55:18,770 two principal threats in order to 1455 00:55:18,780 --> 00:55:20,780 modernize and upgrade their force . 1456 00:55:21,140 --> 00:55:23,251 Yeah . And I think that I think where 1457 00:55:23,251 --> 00:55:25,450 my my interest is is that my 1458 00:55:25,450 --> 00:55:27,728 understanding is that we don't have it . 1459 00:55:27,728 --> 00:55:29,894 We haven't accounted for what might be 1460 00:55:29,894 --> 00:55:32,006 a continued and increased presence in 1461 00:55:32,006 --> 00:55:34,283 europe in our force reduction planning . 1462 00:55:34,283 --> 00:55:36,760 Um yeah , that the force posture , the 1463 00:55:36,760 --> 00:55:39,220 long term force posture in europe is 1464 00:55:39,220 --> 00:55:41,580 yet to be decided . It's under debate 1465 00:55:41,580 --> 00:55:43,636 right now . It's under review . NATO 1466 00:55:43,636 --> 00:55:45,691 plays a big part in that and and and 1467 00:55:45,691 --> 00:55:47,636 general Walters will be making his 1468 00:55:47,636 --> 00:55:49,802 recommendations as secretary on that . 1469 00:55:49,802 --> 00:55:51,691 But clearly because of the war in 1470 00:55:51,691 --> 00:55:53,413 Ukraine , there's a at least a 1471 00:55:53,413 --> 00:55:55,524 possibility if not the probability of 1472 00:55:55,524 --> 00:55:55,450 an increased force presence over a 1473 00:55:55,450 --> 00:55:57,450 lengthy period of time that doesn't 1474 00:55:57,450 --> 00:55:59,339 have to be Stationing that can be 1475 00:55:59,339 --> 00:55:59,200 rotational . It can be a lot of 1476 00:55:59,560 --> 00:56:02,730 different ways . Gentlemen . Mr johnson 1477 00:56:02,730 --> 00:56:04,897 is recognized for five minutes . Thank 1478 00:56:04,897 --> 00:56:06,897 you . Mr Chairman Mr Secretary , we 1479 00:56:06,897 --> 00:56:09,008 need to understand the recruiting and 1480 00:56:09,008 --> 00:56:08,880 retention challenges that the 1481 00:56:08,880 --> 00:56:11,102 Department of Defense faces this year . 1482 00:56:11,102 --> 00:56:13,102 And I'm not sure if all the answers 1483 00:56:13,102 --> 00:56:15,324 provided thus far clarified it yet . So 1484 00:56:15,324 --> 00:56:17,547 I have a couple questions on that . The 1485 00:56:17,547 --> 00:56:17,320 army has decided to cut active duty 1486 00:56:17,320 --> 00:56:19,590 strength by 12,000 soldiers in fiscal 1487 00:56:19,590 --> 00:56:22,940 year 23 Undersecretary Gabe camarillo 1488 00:56:22,940 --> 00:56:25,170 said last week . He said , quote , like 1489 00:56:25,170 --> 00:56:27,281 every other employer in the economy , 1490 00:56:27,281 --> 00:56:28,948 we're facing some challenging 1491 00:56:28,948 --> 00:56:31,059 conditions in terms of our ability to 1492 00:56:31,059 --> 00:56:33,226 recruit and attract talent . Given the 1493 00:56:33,226 --> 00:56:35,337 particular particular conditions of a 1494 00:56:35,337 --> 00:56:37,448 very tight labor market , our ability 1495 00:56:37,448 --> 00:56:39,670 to meet all of our projected recruiting 1496 00:56:39,670 --> 00:56:39,120 goals were a little bit challenged , 1497 00:56:39,120 --> 00:56:41,290 unquote . Do you agree with Secretary 1498 00:56:41,300 --> 00:56:43,300 Camarena's assessment that it's the 1499 00:56:43,300 --> 00:56:45,522 tight labor market , that's the primary 1500 00:56:45,522 --> 00:56:47,522 driver of recruitment challenges at 1501 00:56:47,522 --> 00:56:49,856 least for the army . Thanks congressman . 1502 00:56:49,856 --> 00:56:52,022 I think actually there are a number of 1503 00:56:52,022 --> 00:56:54,244 things that go into this equation . The 1504 00:56:54,244 --> 00:56:56,356 fact that unemployment is below 4% is 1505 00:56:56,356 --> 00:56:59,370 uh , is a key issue . But also if you 1506 00:56:59,370 --> 00:57:01,640 take a look at the impact of covid over 1507 00:57:01,640 --> 00:57:03,696 the last couple couple of years , as 1508 00:57:03,696 --> 00:57:06,320 you know , our recruiters , uh , 1509 00:57:06,330 --> 00:57:09,520 recruit a lot of kids out of , out of 1510 00:57:09,520 --> 00:57:11,742 high school and those high schools have 1511 00:57:11,742 --> 00:57:14,790 been in session on an infrequent basis 1512 00:57:14,790 --> 00:57:16,970 in terms of actual , uh , physical 1513 00:57:16,980 --> 00:57:19,036 presence there . So it's made things 1514 00:57:19,036 --> 00:57:21,258 more complicated . Chairman mentioned a 1515 00:57:21,258 --> 00:57:23,680 smaller population to recruit from . Uh , 1516 00:57:23,690 --> 00:57:26,160 so as we , as we combine all of those 1517 00:57:26,160 --> 00:57:28,271 things , uh , then , you know , there 1518 00:57:28,271 --> 00:57:30,271 are headwinds and you know , and it 1519 00:57:30,271 --> 00:57:32,440 will be uh there'll be headwinds for 1520 00:57:32,440 --> 00:57:34,551 all of the services going forward . I 1521 00:57:34,551 --> 00:57:36,440 think that's true . But I want to 1522 00:57:36,440 --> 00:57:38,440 acknowledge here that the objective 1523 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:38,270 facts . If we review the objective 1524 00:57:38,270 --> 00:57:40,610 facts , I think the largest headwind is 1525 00:57:40,620 --> 00:57:43,100 inescapably the reaction that D . O . D . 1526 00:57:43,100 --> 00:57:45,780 Took two Covid and it let me provide 1527 00:57:45,780 --> 00:57:47,724 some stats . Two years ago , right 1528 00:57:47,724 --> 00:57:49,947 before the pandemic struck , we had the 1529 00:57:49,947 --> 00:57:49,790 greatest economy in the history of the 1530 00:57:49,790 --> 00:57:51,630 world . There were recruitment 1531 00:57:51,630 --> 00:57:53,741 challenges . There have been for many 1532 00:57:53,741 --> 00:57:55,852 years , but we didn't have the budget 1533 00:57:55,852 --> 00:57:57,630 request proposing to cut 12,000 1534 00:57:57,630 --> 00:57:59,741 soldiers from the army like like this 1535 00:57:59,741 --> 00:58:01,963 year's budget asked . So what's changed 1536 00:58:01,963 --> 00:58:04,186 over the last 24 months ? It's it's the 1537 00:58:04,186 --> 00:58:06,352 department's Covid vaccine mandate and 1538 00:58:06,352 --> 00:58:05,520 there's just no way around it . I mean , 1539 00:58:05,520 --> 00:58:07,742 some have alluded to it already today . 1540 00:58:07,742 --> 00:58:09,909 But um , requiring young men and women 1541 00:58:09,909 --> 00:58:12,076 to take the vaccine has disqualified a 1542 00:58:12,076 --> 00:58:14,076 huge portion of the population from 1543 00:58:14,076 --> 00:58:16,020 military service . And here's some 1544 00:58:16,020 --> 00:58:18,020 proof nationwide , more than 40% of 1545 00:58:18,020 --> 00:58:20,187 males aged 18 to 24 have chosen not to 1546 00:58:20,187 --> 00:58:22,520 become fully vaccinated and as a result , 1547 00:58:22,520 --> 00:58:24,353 there now ineligible to join the 1548 00:58:24,353 --> 00:58:26,690 military right off the bat . That's 40% 1549 00:58:26,700 --> 00:58:28,533 of the target demographic that's 1550 00:58:28,533 --> 00:58:30,533 immediately ineligible to serve . I 1551 00:58:30,533 --> 00:58:32,422 mean , this is just a fact in the 1552 00:58:32,422 --> 00:58:34,589 southeast portion of the country where 1553 00:58:34,589 --> 00:58:36,756 I'm from . That number is even greater 1554 00:58:36,756 --> 00:58:38,867 according to CDC 52% of 18 to 24 year 1555 00:58:38,867 --> 00:58:41,033 old men in that region have chosen not 1556 00:58:41,033 --> 00:58:43,089 to receive the vaccine . So why does 1557 00:58:43,089 --> 00:58:45,256 that specific geographic region matter 1558 00:58:45,256 --> 00:58:47,200 so much ? What makes the Southeast 1559 00:58:47,200 --> 00:58:48,922 important is that according to 1560 00:58:48,922 --> 00:58:48,920 undersecretary of defense for personnel 1561 00:58:48,920 --> 00:58:51,240 and readiness , Southern states produce 1562 00:58:51,240 --> 00:58:54,180 nearly 47% of military enlistments in 1563 00:58:54,180 --> 00:58:56,410 2019 . That's Georgia , south Carolina 1564 00:58:56,410 --> 00:58:58,188 florida Virginia Missouri texas 1565 00:58:58,188 --> 00:59:00,630 Oklahoma Arkansas fertile ground for D . 1566 00:59:00,630 --> 00:59:02,741 O . D . Recruiters . But these states 1567 00:59:02,741 --> 00:59:04,908 send their sons and daughters to serve 1568 00:59:04,908 --> 00:59:07,074 the nation at drastically higher rates 1569 00:59:07,074 --> 00:59:09,074 than other states do . They contain 1570 00:59:09,074 --> 00:59:11,220 Only 38% of 18 to 24 year olds in 1571 00:59:11,220 --> 00:59:13,331 America , but they account for nearly 1572 00:59:13,331 --> 00:59:15,220 half of all the enlistment . So I 1573 00:59:15,220 --> 00:59:17,387 understand what's being said about the 1574 00:59:17,387 --> 00:59:19,609 tight labor market and the inability to 1575 00:59:19,609 --> 00:59:19,270 meet fitness standards and all the rest . 1576 00:59:19,270 --> 00:59:21,270 But it's pretty plain if we look at 1577 00:59:21,270 --> 00:59:23,214 this , the D . O . D . Is having a 1578 00:59:23,214 --> 00:59:25,437 recruiting and retention crisis because 1579 00:59:25,437 --> 00:59:27,492 it has disqualified over half of the 1580 00:59:27,492 --> 00:59:29,492 male population from serving in the 1581 00:59:29,492 --> 00:59:31,326 military and its best recruiting 1582 00:59:31,326 --> 00:59:33,548 grounds and nearly 40% of men and women 1583 00:59:33,548 --> 00:59:35,548 aged 18 to 24 nationwide . And then 1584 00:59:35,548 --> 00:59:37,770 we're adding fuel to the crisis because 1585 00:59:37,770 --> 00:59:39,492 there's this charade about the 1586 00:59:39,492 --> 00:59:41,714 religious exemption process for service 1587 00:59:41,714 --> 00:59:41,660 service members and I believe it's 1588 00:59:41,660 --> 00:59:43,882 blatantly unconstitutional . Let me ask 1589 00:59:43,882 --> 00:59:46,049 you quickly in the time that remains , 1590 00:59:46,049 --> 00:59:48,216 uh , in light of the obvious impact on 1591 00:59:48,216 --> 00:59:47,970 recruitment and retention attention . 1592 00:59:47,970 --> 00:59:50,081 Does the department have any plans to 1593 00:59:50,081 --> 00:59:52,026 repeal or modify the current Covid 1594 00:59:52,026 --> 00:59:54,150 vaccine requirement ? I do not . 1595 00:59:55,920 --> 00:59:58,142 Let me let me ask you . Um , if you can 1596 00:59:58,142 --> 01:00:00,400 tell us how many religious exemptions 1597 01:00:00,400 --> 01:00:02,567 to the Covid vaccine have been granted 1598 01:00:02,567 --> 01:00:04,567 across all services . And I'll note 1599 01:00:04,567 --> 01:00:06,610 that in february 15 exemptions were 1600 01:00:06,610 --> 01:00:08,666 granted out of 16,000 applications . 1601 01:00:10,810 --> 01:00:12,860 Okay . I'm gonna take take that 1602 01:00:12,860 --> 01:00:15,027 question and other covid questions for 1603 01:00:15,027 --> 01:00:17,249 the record . As you know , this is uh , 1604 01:00:17,249 --> 01:00:20,480 an issue in litigation . And so I'll 1605 01:00:20,480 --> 01:00:22,536 take your questions for the record . 1606 01:00:22,536 --> 01:00:24,536 Well , in the , in the 40 seconds I 1607 01:00:24,536 --> 01:00:26,591 have remaining . I'll just state the 1608 01:00:26,591 --> 01:00:26,560 obvious would have a lot of people back 1609 01:00:26,560 --> 01:00:28,893 home are asking me and asking all of us . 1610 01:00:28,893 --> 01:00:31,004 And that is if it's so obvious that a 1611 01:00:31,004 --> 01:00:33,800 vaccine mandate has is causing this 1612 01:00:33,800 --> 01:00:36,160 deficit in the number of troops . uh , 1613 01:00:36,170 --> 01:00:38,226 then why don't we just change it ? I 1614 01:00:38,226 --> 01:00:40,392 mean , it seems to be behind certainly 1615 01:00:40,392 --> 01:00:42,392 disagree with the premise with your 1616 01:00:42,392 --> 01:00:41,860 premise . I know you do , but I mean 1617 01:00:41,870 --> 01:00:43,981 obviously it's having a direct effect 1618 01:00:43,981 --> 01:00:45,870 on our numbers of recruitment and 1619 01:00:45,870 --> 01:00:47,981 retention and readiness , which is of 1620 01:00:47,981 --> 01:00:50,203 great concern to all of us . And I know 1621 01:00:50,203 --> 01:00:49,030 you're not going to change your mind 1622 01:00:49,030 --> 01:00:51,086 here today , But I'm registering the 1623 01:00:51,086 --> 01:00:52,863 concern of my district and many 1624 01:00:52,863 --> 01:00:55,086 millions of americans that we represent 1625 01:00:55,110 --> 01:00:57,277 who share this opinion and I hope that 1626 01:00:57,277 --> 01:00:59,550 you'll take it under advisement , are 1627 01:00:59,550 --> 01:00:59,940 you back