WEBVTT 00:00.440 --> 00:03.970 we will reconvene uh and get back to 00:03.980 --> 00:07.360 uh members questions . Um 00:07.940 --> 00:10.760 Mr Conner is up and is recognized for 00:10.760 --> 00:12.593 five minutes and he is appearing 00:12.593 --> 00:14.816 virtually so he will be on the screen . 00:14.816 --> 00:16.790 Mr Connor . Do we have you ? Yes , 00:16.800 --> 00:19.260 thank you . Mr Chairman . I want to use 00:19.260 --> 00:21.640 my five minutes for three different 00:21.640 --> 00:23.418 parts , one to follow up on the 00:23.418 --> 00:25.473 chairman's comments about the office 00:25.473 --> 00:27.418 culture article on mr Gallagher on 00:27.418 --> 00:30.270 china and hopefully on Yemen , I read 00:30.270 --> 00:32.326 the foreign affairs article and they 00:32.326 --> 00:34.548 said the pentagon should look more like 00:34.548 --> 00:36.580 apple computers and I was of course 00:36.590 --> 00:38.812 struck by that , given that I represent 00:38.812 --> 00:41.460 apple computers and Apple Park . One of 00:41.460 --> 00:43.880 the reasons that I think the article 00:43.880 --> 00:45.491 made that point is that with 00:45.491 --> 00:47.940 technological change so fast and so 00:47.950 --> 00:50.500 rapid we need to be adaptive and 00:50.500 --> 00:53.350 Silicon Valley you have startups that 00:53.350 --> 00:56.960 beat incumbents with huge uh larger 00:56.960 --> 00:58.627 bank balances because they're 00:58.627 --> 01:01.270 innovative And I guess my question for 01:01.270 --> 01:03.670 you is secretary Austin and uh chairman 01:03.670 --> 01:06.960 Mellie is do you agree that critical to 01:06.960 --> 01:09.270 leading China against China in the 21st 01:09.270 --> 01:11.310 century is having technological 01:11.310 --> 01:14.280 superiority and have have you spent 01:14.280 --> 01:16.460 time with Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai 01:16.460 --> 01:18.627 and others in Silicon Valley ? And are 01:18.627 --> 01:20.250 you open to doing that ? 01:23.840 --> 01:26.860 I have spent time with the ceo of 01:26.860 --> 01:30.000 google And uh while there are parts of 01:30.000 --> 01:33.380 us that really seriously need to be 01:33.380 --> 01:35.700 more streamlined and more adaptive , 01:35.700 --> 01:39.540 which I really embrace that . Um I 01:39.540 --> 01:41.373 would say that the Department of 01:41.373 --> 01:43.596 Defense turning into google is probably 01:43.596 --> 01:45.484 not something that , that I would 01:45.484 --> 01:48.610 envision , but but I clearly I'm not 01:48.610 --> 01:50.870 suggesting that , but I'm suggesting 01:50.870 --> 01:53.037 that we take the best innovative parts 01:53.037 --> 01:55.092 of the culture . I think that's what 01:55.092 --> 01:57.203 the article suggests . Absolutely , I 01:57.203 --> 01:59.880 absolutely agree with that . And I 01:59.880 --> 02:02.200 would second that our need for 02:02.200 --> 02:04.311 innovation is critical . I think that 02:04.311 --> 02:07.650 we are an inheritor of a industrial age 02:07.650 --> 02:09.870 system that goes way back not only the 02:09.960 --> 02:13.010 building but the process or our 02:13.020 --> 02:15.242 programming systems etcetera , all date 02:15.242 --> 02:17.409 back to the fifties and sixties , that 02:17.409 --> 02:19.520 sort of thing . So it does need to be 02:19.520 --> 02:21.742 updated . And I think getting some some 02:21.742 --> 02:23.853 of the best practices out of not only 02:23.853 --> 02:23.840 Silicon Valley , but all the commercial 02:23.840 --> 02:26.173 best practices is definitely worthwhile . 02:26.220 --> 02:28.220 I've personally spent some time out 02:28.220 --> 02:30.220 there and that helped uh when I was 02:30.220 --> 02:32.387 Chief of Staff of the Army that helped 02:32.387 --> 02:34.553 in the concept of Army futures command 02:34.553 --> 02:36.776 and a few other initiatives we did . So 02:36.776 --> 02:38.831 I do think that's a very valuable uh 02:38.831 --> 02:40.942 use of time to go out and take a look 02:40.942 --> 02:42.942 at best practices in the commercial 02:42.942 --> 02:42.820 world applying to the Defense industry 02:42.830 --> 02:44.941 for Defense Department . Well , thank 02:44.941 --> 02:47.163 you . Thank you . Thank you , General I 02:47.163 --> 02:49.497 and if I can be of any help let me know . 02:49.497 --> 02:51.719 And I also think tech companies have an 02:51.719 --> 02:53.830 obligation to be doing more to assist 02:53.830 --> 02:55.552 our military . So it's uh it's 02:55.552 --> 02:57.980 reciprocal on representative 02:57.980 --> 03:00.091 Gallagher's point I share . Of course 03:00.091 --> 03:03.780 is uh concerns with china's potential 03:03.790 --> 03:06.080 invasion of Taiwan , I guess my 03:06.080 --> 03:10.030 question is wouldn't the situation with 03:10.030 --> 03:12.960 Russia actually be a significant 03:12.960 --> 03:15.360 deterrent to china , I mean , the 03:15.640 --> 03:17.790 crushing sanctions on Putin , you've 03:17.790 --> 03:20.010 got to think if you're g g ping that 03:20.010 --> 03:22.230 the world would be unified and China's 03:22.230 --> 03:24.940 economy would be devastated if they 03:24.950 --> 03:28.050 thought of any aggressive action . So 03:28.060 --> 03:30.290 wouldn't you say that the G D ping 03:30.290 --> 03:32.530 would be having uh second thoughts 03:32.530 --> 03:34.586 given that he's seen President biden 03:34.586 --> 03:36.880 rally the world and the economic impact 03:36.890 --> 03:39.150 of such a move would entail ? 03:40.640 --> 03:42.418 I certainly would . And I would 03:42.418 --> 03:45.760 certainly think that he also values the 03:45.760 --> 03:47.982 economic opportunities that are present 03:47.982 --> 03:51.930 there in Western europe . Let me 03:51.930 --> 03:53.874 ask two questions and then you can 03:53.874 --> 03:55.986 answer both hopefully with the time , 03:55.986 --> 03:58.097 but one on Taiwan , is there anything 03:58.097 --> 04:00.152 we can do to expedite our arms sales 04:00.152 --> 04:01.986 there ? My understanding is that 04:01.986 --> 04:04.041 they've been stuck because of supply 04:04.041 --> 04:06.152 chain issues . And then the second on 04:06.152 --> 04:08.152 Yemen Secretary Austin , one of the 04:08.152 --> 04:10.208 reasons I was strongly in support of 04:10.208 --> 04:12.430 your nomination to be the secretary and 04:12.430 --> 04:14.541 you've done an outstanding job as you 04:14.541 --> 04:16.874 are in early critic of the war in Yemen . 04:16.874 --> 04:19.097 You were right . I am encouraged by the 04:19.097 --> 04:21.360 recent ceasefire . Could you comment on 04:21.440 --> 04:23.570 what the United States will do if the 04:23.570 --> 04:25.830 Saudis violate the ceasefire and 04:25.830 --> 04:28.200 whether we would be willing then to not 04:28.200 --> 04:30.600 provide spare parts to the Saudis if 04:30.600 --> 04:33.820 they violated ? Well , we certainly 04:33.820 --> 04:35.931 hope that they don't violate it . And 04:35.931 --> 04:37.931 we don't have any reason to believe 04:37.931 --> 04:41.420 that they will uh and uh again every 04:41.420 --> 04:44.220 situation uh will have to treat on its 04:44.220 --> 04:48.000 merits there , or but but I 04:48.000 --> 04:50.000 think it's it's really a good first 04:50.000 --> 04:52.222 step and we need to we need to continue 04:52.222 --> 04:54.860 to encourage our allies and partners to 04:54.860 --> 04:56.860 stay focused on on the right things 04:56.860 --> 04:59.910 here and on the Taiwan arms sales . Is 04:59.910 --> 05:01.966 there anything we can do to expedite 05:01.966 --> 05:04.243 that or why they have been slowed down ? 05:04.243 --> 05:07.040 Well , thanks , I this is a point of 05:07.040 --> 05:09.262 focus for me and making sure that we're 05:09.262 --> 05:11.960 doing everything that we said we're 05:11.960 --> 05:14.960 going to do in terms of uh providing 05:14.970 --> 05:17.510 the ability to for Taiwan to defend 05:17.510 --> 05:20.010 itself . Thank you , gentlemen , time 05:20.010 --> 05:22.066 has expired . MR Gates is recognized 05:22.066 --> 05:24.177 for five minutes . Secretary Austin , 05:24.177 --> 05:26.220 why should american taxpayers fund 05:26.220 --> 05:28.200 lectures at the National Defense 05:28.200 --> 05:31.420 University that promote socialism as a 05:31.420 --> 05:33.260 strategy to combat china ? 05:37.640 --> 05:39.529 It's uh it's the National Defense 05:39.529 --> 05:42.050 University as an academic Institute uh 05:42.740 --> 05:45.920 institution . And I don't know of any 05:46.140 --> 05:47.973 of any such lecture , but that's 05:47.973 --> 05:49.807 surprising because it was widely 05:49.807 --> 05:51.584 reported , the National Defense 05:51.584 --> 05:53.751 University had thomas Piketty come and 05:53.751 --> 05:55.640 this was the title of his lecture 05:55.640 --> 05:58.060 responding to china the case for global 05:58.060 --> 06:00.950 justice and democratic socialism . So 06:01.120 --> 06:03.398 now that , you know that they did this , 06:03.398 --> 06:05.120 would you agree that embracing 06:05.120 --> 06:07.287 socialism is not an effective strategy 06:07.287 --> 06:10.010 to combat china ? Well , I I certainly 06:10.010 --> 06:12.470 don't agree with embracing socialism . 06:12.470 --> 06:14.526 I think that means I'm sorry , we're 06:14.526 --> 06:16.692 not gonna do this , we're not going to 06:16.692 --> 06:18.692 let the guys say forwards and still 06:18.692 --> 06:18.660 talking then cut him off . We're just 06:18.660 --> 06:20.938 now I control the time Mr Chairman yet . 06:20.938 --> 06:22.938 But you also have to be fair to the 06:22.938 --> 06:25.049 witnesses . No , I got the answer . I 06:25.049 --> 06:25.040 want to have a follow up . My follow up 06:25.040 --> 06:28.250 question is if if we don't embrace it , 06:28.640 --> 06:30.540 then I guess why did the National 06:30.540 --> 06:32.810 Defense University put out a statement 06:32.820 --> 06:35.130 again , This is funded by us taxpayers 06:35.140 --> 06:37.251 saying in this talk , Mr Piketty will 06:37.251 --> 06:40.330 argue that the right answer lies in 06:40.340 --> 06:42.507 ending Western arrogance and promoting 06:42.507 --> 06:44.820 a new emancipatory and egalitarian 06:44.820 --> 06:47.400 horizon on a global scale . A new form 06:47.400 --> 06:49.289 of democratic and participatory , 06:49.289 --> 06:51.950 ecological and postcolonial socialism . 06:51.960 --> 06:54.850 So why would we invite people we don't 06:54.850 --> 06:58.080 agree with to evangelize views and 06:58.080 --> 07:00.550 values that we don't share at the 07:00.550 --> 07:02.670 National Defense University when we 07:02.670 --> 07:04.781 should be learning strategy about how 07:04.781 --> 07:06.503 to combat our enemies and make 07:06.503 --> 07:08.726 assessments that are accurate and we do 07:08.726 --> 07:12.410 uh learn a lot about strategy and about 07:12.420 --> 07:14.630 about the military and about Joint 07:14.630 --> 07:17.620 force development , uh and so that is 07:17.620 --> 07:20.210 our focus in these in these 07:20.220 --> 07:23.030 institutions . I don't know what the 07:23.040 --> 07:26.000 what the context of this particular or 07:26.000 --> 07:27.880 content of this particular Mr mr 07:27.880 --> 07:29.936 Secretary , I've shared with you the 07:29.936 --> 07:31.936 context . The context wasn't better 07:31.936 --> 07:34.158 understand socialism , so we can defeat 07:34.158 --> 07:36.269 it . The context wasn't learned about 07:36.269 --> 07:38.602 it so that we can offer countermeasures . 07:38.602 --> 07:40.547 The concept was that it's time for 07:40.547 --> 07:42.713 socialism and the reason I know that's 07:42.713 --> 07:44.880 the context is because the lecture was 07:44.880 --> 07:46.936 pulled from a book written by thomas 07:46.936 --> 07:49.230 Piketty entitled time for socialism and 07:49.240 --> 07:51.351 and I just can't help but like notice 07:51.351 --> 07:53.573 you guys have been I control the time . 07:53.700 --> 07:55.700 You guys have been blowing a lot of 07:55.700 --> 07:57.811 calls lately on matters of strategy . 07:57.811 --> 07:59.867 Mr Secretary , you guys told us that 07:59.867 --> 08:02.089 Russia couldn't lose . You told us that 08:02.089 --> 08:04.256 the taliban couldn't immediately win . 08:04.256 --> 08:06.311 And so I guess I'm wondering What in 08:06.311 --> 08:08.367 the $773 billion dollars that you're 08:08.367 --> 08:10.478 requesting today is going to help you 08:10.478 --> 08:12.589 make assessments that are accurate in 08:12.589 --> 08:14.478 the face of so many blown calls . 08:19.040 --> 08:21.373 You've you've seen what's in our budget . 08:21.373 --> 08:23.429 You've seen how the budget matches a 08:23.429 --> 08:25.651 strategy and so I'll let that speak for 08:25.651 --> 08:27.873 itself . Well , I mean , I've also seen 08:27.873 --> 08:30.040 that were behind Secretary were behind 08:30.040 --> 08:31.984 in hypersonic . We failed to deter 08:31.984 --> 08:34.151 Russia last year . So what do you what 08:34.151 --> 08:35.818 do you mean ? We're behind in 08:35.818 --> 08:37.929 hypersonic ? How do you okay . Who do 08:37.929 --> 08:40.096 you who's ahead in hypersonic ? How do 08:40.096 --> 08:39.530 you how do you how do you how do you 08:39.530 --> 08:41.752 make that assessment ? I don't know how 08:41.752 --> 08:43.974 I make that assessment because china is 08:43.974 --> 08:46.197 building hypersonic weapons systems and 08:46.197 --> 08:48.308 we are still developing them . I make 08:48.308 --> 08:50.530 that assessment because Russia actually 08:50.530 --> 08:52.419 development by the way , your own 08:52.419 --> 08:54.586 people brief us that we are behind and 08:54.586 --> 08:56.697 that china is winning . Are you aware 08:56.697 --> 08:56.450 of the briefings we get on hypersonic ? 08:57.140 --> 08:59.307 I am certainly aware of briefings that 08:59.307 --> 09:01.473 we provide to Congress . But it's it's 09:01.473 --> 09:03.529 not just the hypersonic all over the 09:03.529 --> 09:05.584 world . It's in Taiwan where china's 09:05.584 --> 09:07.696 last year flew more sorties than ever 09:07.696 --> 09:09.751 before . It's north Korea on pace to 09:09.751 --> 09:11.751 shatter prior records the number of 09:11.751 --> 09:13.584 missiles that they that they are 09:13.584 --> 09:15.807 testing . And so while everyone else in 09:15.807 --> 09:15.110 the world seems to be developing 09:15.110 --> 09:17.332 capabilities and being more strategic , 09:17.332 --> 09:19.388 we got time to embrace critical race 09:19.388 --> 09:21.166 theory at West Point to embrace 09:21.166 --> 09:23.054 socialism at the National Defense 09:23.054 --> 09:24.999 University to do mandatory pronoun 09:24.999 --> 09:26.999 training . Do you ? You know , it's 09:26.999 --> 09:29.221 it's again , this is the most capable , 09:29.221 --> 09:31.360 the most combat critical force in the 09:31.360 --> 09:33.900 world . It has been and it will be so 09:33.910 --> 09:37.000 going forward . Not if not if we 09:37.000 --> 09:38.889 embrace socialism , the fact that 09:38.889 --> 09:40.833 you're embarrassed by your by your 09:40.833 --> 09:42.944 country . But no , no , no , no . I'm 09:42.944 --> 09:45.056 embarrassed by your leadership . I am 09:45.056 --> 09:44.390 not embarrassed from my country . I 09:44.390 --> 09:47.400 wish we were listening to china . You 09:47.400 --> 09:49.622 know what the that's you know , that is 09:49.622 --> 09:51.570 so that is so disgraceful that you 09:51.570 --> 09:53.403 would sit here and conflate your 09:53.403 --> 09:55.292 failures with the failures of the 09:55.292 --> 09:57.348 uniformed service members . You guys 09:57.348 --> 09:59.420 said that that Russia would overrun 09:59.420 --> 10:01.740 Ukraine in 36 days . You said that the 10:01.740 --> 10:04.073 taliban would be kept at bay for months . 10:04.073 --> 10:06.240 You totally blew those calls and maybe 10:06.240 --> 10:08.129 we would be better at them if the 10:08.129 --> 10:10.184 National Defense University actually 10:10.184 --> 10:12.351 worked a little more on strategy and a 10:12.351 --> 10:14.573 little less on woke ism has it occurred 10:14.573 --> 10:14.550 to you that Russia had not overrun 10:14.560 --> 10:16.920 Ukraine because of what we've done and 10:16.920 --> 10:18.920 our allies have done . But that was 10:18.920 --> 10:21.031 your flawed assessment . That was big 10:21.031 --> 10:23.198 into your flawed assessment . And so I 10:23.198 --> 10:25.420 saw that the Obama administration tried 10:25.420 --> 10:27.587 to destroy our military by starving it 10:27.587 --> 10:29.587 of resources and it seems the biden 10:29.587 --> 10:31.809 administration is trying to destroy our 10:31.809 --> 10:34.031 military by force feeding it woke ISM . 10:34.031 --> 10:36.031 I yield back . Gentleman's time has 10:36.031 --> 10:38.198 expired . Mr keating is recognized for 10:38.198 --> 10:40.142 five minutes . I'm sorry Mr kim is 10:40.142 --> 10:42.198 recognized for five minutes . Yeah , 10:42.198 --> 10:44.230 thank you to the two of you . And I 10:44.230 --> 10:46.174 just want to say on behalf of this 10:46.174 --> 10:48.008 committee , you know , we have a 10:48.008 --> 10:50.119 tradition of of respecting the people 10:50.119 --> 10:52.174 that come before this committee in a 10:52.174 --> 10:54.286 bipartisan way . Make sure that yes , 10:54.286 --> 10:56.341 we may have some disagreements about 10:56.341 --> 10:58.341 our policy , but all of us here are 10:58.341 --> 11:00.397 committed to our national security , 11:00.397 --> 11:02.452 committed to our service members and 11:02.452 --> 11:04.674 certainly committed to recognizing that 11:04.674 --> 11:06.730 your leadership is leadership across 11:06.730 --> 11:08.952 the entirety of our military , not just 11:08.952 --> 11:11.119 in terms of and certainly not in terms 11:11.119 --> 11:13.341 of any political discourse or political 11:13.341 --> 11:15.452 party . So I just wanted to thank you 11:15.640 --> 11:17.751 All three of you for coming before us 11:17.751 --> 11:20.960 today . Secretary Austin . I did want 11:20.960 --> 11:24.600 to ask you , um you know , I was as 11:24.600 --> 11:26.656 well as many others horrified by the 11:26.656 --> 11:28.489 images that we saw coming out of 11:28.489 --> 11:30.711 Ukraine over this weekend . Um you know 11:30.711 --> 11:32.767 what we saw in Buka , our military's 11:32.767 --> 11:35.180 had extraordinary abilities to see 11:35.180 --> 11:37.291 where the Russian forces have been in 11:37.291 --> 11:39.458 Ukraine and where they're going . So , 11:39.458 --> 11:41.569 I wanted to just ask you , do we know 11:41.569 --> 11:43.736 what Russian units were in Buka , uh , 11:43.736 --> 11:45.680 that that may have committed these 11:45.680 --> 11:47.791 atrocities ? Well , we uh that that's 11:47.791 --> 11:49.958 the thing that we continue to research 11:49.958 --> 11:52.124 and there will be a significant effort 11:52.124 --> 11:54.400 going into matching , uh , you know , 11:54.410 --> 11:56.410 elements that were present with the 11:56.410 --> 11:58.920 time that these these events probably 11:58.920 --> 12:00.753 occurred . But we don't know for 12:00.753 --> 12:02.642 certain , but we will continue to 12:02.642 --> 12:04.531 research . Well , there's another 12:04.531 --> 12:06.587 element to , you know , where we see 12:06.587 --> 12:08.476 these units being redeployed . So 12:08.476 --> 12:08.170 certainly we want to make sure that 12:08.170 --> 12:10.448 we're doing the accountability of this . 12:10.448 --> 12:12.559 But also I have real fear about where 12:12.559 --> 12:14.503 these units may now be redeploying 12:14.503 --> 12:16.337 whether or not they will conduct 12:16.337 --> 12:18.337 similar types of atrocities against 12:18.337 --> 12:20.503 Ukrainians in other parts of Ukraine . 12:20.503 --> 12:22.726 So , I I just ask for your attention on 12:22.726 --> 12:24.892 that as well . Absolutely . With these 12:24.892 --> 12:27.100 horrific attacks . You know , we see 12:27.100 --> 12:29.360 there's redeployment of Russian forces 12:29.360 --> 12:31.650 as well . Their apparent decision to 12:31.650 --> 12:34.450 pull away from Kiev Secretary Blinken 12:34.450 --> 12:36.561 this weekend said , you know , we may 12:36.561 --> 12:38.617 very well be entering a new phase in 12:38.617 --> 12:40.617 this war . I think that's something 12:40.617 --> 12:42.783 that I I agree with , In my sense , it 12:42.783 --> 12:44.839 really does feel like where we're at 12:44.839 --> 12:47.061 now is different than where things were 12:47.061 --> 12:48.950 5-6 weeks ago , but I wanted your 12:48.950 --> 12:48.360 thoughts on that . Does that sound 12:48.360 --> 12:50.582 right ? Does this feel like a new phase 12:50.582 --> 12:54.490 in the war ? I think that's right . I 12:54.490 --> 12:56.657 think , you know , as , you know , the 12:56.657 --> 12:59.040 Russians , uh I thought that they could 12:59.040 --> 13:01.030 very quickly move into Ukraine , 13:01.030 --> 13:03.890 capture the capital city and and 13:03.890 --> 13:07.060 install their their leader of choice . 13:07.440 --> 13:09.740 Uh and they weren't able to do that . 13:09.750 --> 13:13.060 And so now we see them uh re 13:13.060 --> 13:15.950 posturing and refocusing their main 13:15.950 --> 13:18.360 effort in the south and east . And so 13:18.360 --> 13:21.970 as a as a enter this phase , uh it will 13:21.970 --> 13:24.830 probably probably be a lot more 13:24.830 --> 13:27.270 deliberate . Uh they'll be able to mass 13:27.270 --> 13:30.200 fires a lot more . And so the violence 13:30.200 --> 13:33.780 will will probably go up in a notch 13:33.780 --> 13:35.891 there in terms of the types of things 13:35.891 --> 13:38.002 we've been seeing . So on the Russian 13:38.002 --> 13:39.669 side they are recalibrating , 13:39.669 --> 13:41.502 redeploying , you know , looking 13:41.502 --> 13:43.970 through your testimony to this , to 13:43.970 --> 13:46.192 this body . You know , you talked a lot 13:46.192 --> 13:48.248 about the need for us to be changing 13:48.248 --> 13:50.581 and adapting . The ways that we operate , 13:50.581 --> 13:52.637 adapt and fortify our defense , have 13:52.637 --> 13:54.859 resilience and adaptability in terms of 13:54.859 --> 13:57.081 our defense . So with this new phase of 13:57.081 --> 13:59.137 the war , which these shifting goals 13:59.137 --> 14:01.359 that we've seen from Russia , does that 14:01.359 --> 14:03.370 give us space to reassess what the 14:03.370 --> 14:05.592 Ukrainians need , as you talk about how 14:05.592 --> 14:07.481 we may see even greater levels of 14:07.481 --> 14:09.259 violence and firepower from the 14:09.259 --> 14:11.481 Russians . You know , does this give us 14:11.481 --> 14:13.703 that space to reassess what they need . 14:15.340 --> 14:17.260 Yeah , I I don't know if I would 14:17.260 --> 14:19.482 describe it as space . I would say that 14:19.482 --> 14:22.150 we are , I mean , we consider the 14:22.160 --> 14:24.400 Ukraine Ukrainians to be in a knife 14:24.400 --> 14:26.511 fight and they are working hard every 14:26.511 --> 14:28.678 day . We're giving them what they need 14:28.678 --> 14:30.789 to continue to be successful , but we 14:30.789 --> 14:33.011 need to also look ahead and we're doing 14:33.011 --> 14:35.233 that well . You know , they they are in 14:35.233 --> 14:37.400 a knife fight , but they're in a fight 14:37.400 --> 14:37.010 with all sorts of different weapons 14:37.010 --> 14:39.270 being directed towards them . I guess 14:39.270 --> 14:41.770 my my more direct question to you is if 14:41.770 --> 14:44.530 this is a new phase of the war , do you 14:44.530 --> 14:47.530 feel like there's space for you and the 14:47.530 --> 14:49.474 administration to reconsider , for 14:49.474 --> 14:51.474 instance , the fighter jets and the 14:51.474 --> 14:53.586 transfer facilitating the transfer of 14:53.586 --> 14:55.474 Fido jets to Ukrainians . Is that 14:55.474 --> 14:57.697 something now that we're in a new phase 14:57.697 --> 14:59.808 that you would consider reconsider if 14:59.808 --> 15:01.863 you're talking about the transfer of 15:01.863 --> 15:03.808 Migs ? I mean , countries have the 15:03.808 --> 15:05.974 ability to do that now and contrary to 15:05.974 --> 15:08.086 popular belief , the United States is 15:08.086 --> 15:08.070 not standing in the way of that 15:08.070 --> 15:10.237 happening . Well , I agree with you on 15:10.237 --> 15:12.459 that front , but certainly , you know , 15:12.459 --> 15:14.570 the countries that were talking about 15:14.570 --> 15:16.626 that they've expressed challenges in 15:16.626 --> 15:16.230 terms of how they transfer the asking 15:16.230 --> 15:18.930 for us to facilitate that . Is this the 15:18.930 --> 15:22.750 time for us to reconsider that Well , 15:22.750 --> 15:25.240 this is this is a time for us to uh 15:25.250 --> 15:27.417 continue to focus on those things that 15:27.417 --> 15:29.472 are , that will be effective in this 15:29.472 --> 15:31.750 fight uh and even amping up , you know , 15:31.750 --> 15:33.940 the the capabilities that we provide 15:33.940 --> 15:36.107 them in terms of those things that are 15:36.107 --> 15:38.107 most effective . Well , I'd like to 15:38.107 --> 15:40.051 work with you as we enter this new 15:40.051 --> 15:40.020 phase to figure out what exactly we can 15:40.020 --> 15:42.131 do for the Ukrainians . Thank you for 15:42.131 --> 15:44.890 all your help . Thank you . Mr Bacon is 15:44.890 --> 15:46.834 recognized for five . Thank you Mr 15:46.834 --> 15:48.834 Chair and I thank you gentlemen for 15:48.834 --> 15:50.946 being here . I have four questions so 15:50.946 --> 15:50.730 I'm gonna try to get through them 15:50.740 --> 15:52.851 rather quickly . My first question is 15:52.851 --> 15:55.073 on the budget . The proposed budget has 15:55.073 --> 15:57.073 military spending under inflation , 15:57.073 --> 15:59.530 which is going to necessitate cuts two 15:59.540 --> 16:01.630 of 35 production for example . So my 16:01.630 --> 16:03.852 first question is with the Overall dive 16:03.852 --> 16:06.130 us to invest in Alaska's Gerald Millie , 16:06.200 --> 16:08.089 I guess the following questions . 16:08.089 --> 16:10.144 Secretary Austin , but we're gonna , 16:10.144 --> 16:11.922 we're gonna reduce our aircraft 16:11.922 --> 16:14.380 inventory by 250 and Ad 75 aircraft . 16:14.430 --> 16:16.374 So basically for every three we're 16:16.374 --> 16:18.541 putting out , we're putting one in and 16:18.541 --> 16:20.486 ships reducing our ships by 24 and 16:20.486 --> 16:22.541 bringing in nine ships . So a little 16:22.541 --> 16:24.152 better than one out of three 16:24.152 --> 16:26.208 replacement . Are we taking too much 16:26.208 --> 16:28.900 risk ? General Milley , I don't think 16:28.900 --> 16:31.067 we're taking too much risk relative to 16:31.067 --> 16:33.178 Russia and china , which is the focus 16:33.178 --> 16:35.330 of the NDS focus of the budget . Um I 16:35.340 --> 16:37.451 recognize the numbers go down in both 16:37.451 --> 16:39.729 shipbuilding and an aircraft but again , 16:39.729 --> 16:42.800 I want to focus focus attention on the 16:42.800 --> 16:45.490 capability that is being bought courses , 16:45.490 --> 16:47.460 just raw numbers , a lot of the 16:47.460 --> 16:49.571 aircraft that are coming out that are 16:49.571 --> 16:51.460 for example 8 10 , 8 10 is a very 16:51.460 --> 16:53.580 little utility relative to a high end 16:53.580 --> 16:55.802 war fight against china . For example . 16:55.802 --> 16:57.969 They may be useful as a FMS article to 16:57.969 --> 17:00.024 give the other countries but for our 17:00.024 --> 17:02.080 purposes relative to china . No . So 17:02.440 --> 17:04.551 you know , the other systems that are 17:04.551 --> 17:06.718 divesting are recouping the money's in 17:06.718 --> 17:08.773 order to invest in capabilities that 17:08.773 --> 17:10.940 will be much more useful in the future 17:10.940 --> 17:12.940 operating environment . Thank you . 17:12.940 --> 17:14.940 Just worry about the amount of that 17:14.940 --> 17:14.750 we're divesting but I realize some of 17:14.750 --> 17:16.472 it's gonna have to happen . Uh 17:16.472 --> 17:18.583 Secretary Austin when I talked to the 17:18.583 --> 17:20.528 Baltic countries in the Baltics co 17:20.528 --> 17:22.583 chair for the Security Caucus , they 17:22.583 --> 17:24.694 said the most important thing to them 17:24.694 --> 17:24.130 is a permanent U . S . Presidents , 17:24.130 --> 17:26.241 maybe Air defense not too dogmatic of 17:26.241 --> 17:28.240 what type of unit , but would you 17:28.240 --> 17:30.180 commit to at least considering a 17:30.180 --> 17:33.890 permanent presence in the Baltics ? Um 17:33.900 --> 17:36.930 I think you know that I just recently 17:36.930 --> 17:39.450 met with the three Ministers of Defense 17:39.450 --> 17:43.130 from the Baltic region uh and heard 17:43.130 --> 17:45.360 their concerns and uh and we'll stay 17:45.360 --> 17:47.710 focused on their concerns . I heard the 17:47.710 --> 17:49.821 same thing from them that they really 17:49.821 --> 17:52.860 value a U . S . Footprint . I will tell 17:52.860 --> 17:54.900 you I will commit to you that will 17:54.900 --> 17:57.730 continue to work with with NATO to 17:57.730 --> 17:59.840 assess what the requirements will be 17:59.840 --> 18:02.007 going forward and we will be a part of 18:02.007 --> 18:04.490 that of that solution . And you know , 18:04.490 --> 18:06.830 we're appropriate . We will we will 18:06.830 --> 18:09.690 commit forces . Thank you . A question 18:09.700 --> 18:11.700 concerning Ukraine when I've worked 18:11.700 --> 18:13.922 with some of your leadership as well as 18:13.922 --> 18:16.033 some of the Ukrainian parliamentarian 18:16.033 --> 18:17.978 members who came out to visit , we 18:17.978 --> 18:20.200 provided some very good capabilities to 18:20.200 --> 18:22.311 it . But there's one area that I keep 18:22.311 --> 18:24.533 hearing that they're lacking and that's 18:24.533 --> 18:26.589 the ability Tanks and convoys behind 18:26.589 --> 18:28.811 the line of the fight there . They have 18:28.811 --> 18:31.033 the materials at the line and they have 18:31.033 --> 18:33.256 good air defenses but to hit tanks 1020 18:33.256 --> 18:34.922 miles back uh can we under in 18:34.922 --> 18:36.922 responsible weapons that could that 18:36.922 --> 18:38.922 could do that ? Are we committed to 18:38.922 --> 18:41.200 helping fill that niche ? Mr Secretary ? 18:41.540 --> 18:43.762 We are . And there are a number of ways 18:43.762 --> 18:45.984 you can do that . Long range fires were 18:45.984 --> 18:48.096 working hard . I'm personally working 18:48.096 --> 18:50.318 to ensure that that you know we can get 18:50.318 --> 18:52.580 them as much as we possibly can . The 18:52.580 --> 18:54.580 use of U . A . V . S have been very 18:54.580 --> 18:56.691 effective as well . So we'll continue 18:56.691 --> 18:58.913 that work . What I hear is to have some 18:58.913 --> 19:01.080 but not enough in that particular area 19:01.080 --> 19:03.540 of the spectrum of warfare . So thank 19:03.540 --> 19:05.707 you . My final question is with Taiwan 19:05.940 --> 19:08.390 obviously the day of an invasion , it's 19:08.390 --> 19:10.168 too late for deterrence I think 19:10.168 --> 19:12.590 deterrent . A strong capable deterrence 19:12.590 --> 19:15.020 for Taiwan starts well hopefully 10 19:15.020 --> 19:16.909 years ago . But clearly now after 19:16.909 --> 19:19.010 Ukraine it seems to me they need of 19:19.020 --> 19:20.909 anti shipping missiles at a large 19:20.909 --> 19:23.510 quantity also a long range air defense 19:23.510 --> 19:25.640 capabilities . What are we doing to 19:25.650 --> 19:28.000 make sure that deterrence uh , is 19:28.000 --> 19:31.360 effective in Taiwan . Thank you . Yeah , 19:31.370 --> 19:34.140 well we continue to work to do what 19:34.140 --> 19:37.230 we've advertised and that is to help 19:37.240 --> 19:40.950 Taiwan um , provide for its uh , for 19:40.960 --> 19:43.182 for its defense help it defend itself . 19:43.630 --> 19:45.797 There are a number of things that that 19:45.797 --> 19:47.852 we are looking at across the board . 19:47.852 --> 19:50.130 When I've traveled out out there there , 19:50.130 --> 19:52.186 sometimes they're asking for weapons 19:52.186 --> 19:54.352 that looks like our military but seems 19:54.352 --> 19:56.519 to me there are for them , they really 19:56.519 --> 19:58.630 do need the anti amphibious Excuse Me 19:58.630 --> 20:00.741 Capabilities and one Ranger Defense . 20:02.140 --> 20:04.362 Those those those two capabilities seem 20:04.362 --> 20:07.340 to be key to deterring china . And so I 20:07.340 --> 20:09.451 hope we're working hard in that way . 20:09.451 --> 20:11.618 But durability you have anything you'd 20:11.618 --> 20:13.840 like to add . I think those two systems 20:13.840 --> 20:16.007 are important . Uh , the other thing I 20:16.007 --> 20:18.007 think that's an important lesson to 20:18.007 --> 20:20.340 draw from . Ukraine is a nation in arms . 20:20.340 --> 20:22.229 Uh , so if your opponent tries to 20:22.229 --> 20:25.360 invade you uh , and every military age , 20:25.360 --> 20:28.770 man and a woman is armed uh , and they 20:28.770 --> 20:31.080 have a little bit of training that can 20:31.080 --> 20:33.191 be a very effective use . And if it's 20:33.191 --> 20:35.640 decentralized operation where there's 20:35.640 --> 20:37.751 local initiative with junior officers 20:37.751 --> 20:39.950 etcetera . Taiwan is a very complex 20:39.950 --> 20:42.117 piece of terrain , lots of mountains , 20:42.117 --> 20:44.172 high density urban areas in Taipei , 20:44.172 --> 20:46.394 there's a lot that the Taiwanese can do 20:46.394 --> 20:48.450 and apologize . Gentleman's time has 20:48.450 --> 20:50.450 expired . We'll have to move on the 20:50.450 --> 20:52.561 next person . Mr keating is back with 20:52.561 --> 20:54.783 us and is recognized for five minutes . 20:54.783 --> 20:57.160 Thank you . Mr Chairman . I thank uh , 20:57.170 --> 20:59.337 both the secretary and the general for 20:59.337 --> 21:02.960 their service . Some of the uh greatest 21:02.970 --> 21:05.081 experts , I think on Russia that I've 21:05.081 --> 21:06.970 talked with over the last several 21:06.970 --> 21:09.450 months in particular , uh were people 21:09.450 --> 21:11.672 that have had long term experience with 21:11.672 --> 21:14.200 Russia . They include high ranking 21:14.200 --> 21:16.256 foreign officials as well . And they 21:16.256 --> 21:19.020 pointed out to me That that that 21:19.030 --> 21:22.240 February 17 response by the Russian 21:22.240 --> 21:24.800 Federation to what they termed the 21:24.800 --> 21:26.510 bilateral treaty and security 21:26.510 --> 21:29.250 guarantees that they had wanted was 21:29.250 --> 21:32.420 critical to come back to . In that 21:32.430 --> 21:35.480 response . Uh they required a US 21:35.480 --> 21:39.030 withdrawal of all military uh personnel 21:39.030 --> 21:42.010 and as well as a ban on armaments and 21:42.010 --> 21:44.580 related agreements , they cited in 21:44.580 --> 21:47.510 particular is red lines , the ce 21:47.530 --> 21:49.586 countries central and eastern europe 21:49.586 --> 21:51.530 and the SCE country's southeastern 21:51.530 --> 21:55.290 europe , including 12 NATO nations . I 21:55.290 --> 21:59.080 think it underscores the fact that this 21:59.080 --> 22:01.830 is much larger than a Russian Ukraine 22:01.840 --> 22:04.110 conflict . So when I look at this 22:04.110 --> 22:06.410 commitment , what I'd like to ask 22:06.510 --> 22:10.100 perhaps General Milley is , what is the 22:10.100 --> 22:12.590 timeframe you foresee ? Given that kind 22:12.590 --> 22:15.150 of understanding of what Russia thinks 22:15.350 --> 22:17.770 and acts , could it be something as 22:17.770 --> 22:20.840 long as a decade or even longer that 22:20.840 --> 22:23.118 were involved in this type of conflict ? 22:24.940 --> 22:27.051 That's hard to challenge . It's a bit 22:27.051 --> 22:29.273 early still , even though we're a month 22:29.273 --> 22:31.710 plus into the war . Um , there is much 22:31.710 --> 22:33.932 of the ground war left in Ukraine , but 22:33.932 --> 22:35.988 I do think this is a very protracted 22:35.988 --> 22:37.988 conflict . Uh , and I think it's at 22:37.988 --> 22:40.154 least measured in years . I don't know 22:40.154 --> 22:42.266 about decade , but at least years for 22:42.266 --> 22:44.488 sure . This is a very extended conflict 22:44.488 --> 22:46.654 that Russia has initiated . Uh and and 22:46.654 --> 22:48.877 I think that NATO , the United States , 22:48.877 --> 22:50.830 Ukraine and all of the allies and 22:50.830 --> 22:52.886 partners that are supporting Ukraine 22:52.886 --> 22:55.108 are gonna be involved in this for quite 22:55.108 --> 22:57.163 some time . Secretary Austin , could 22:57.163 --> 22:59.441 you reflect on this as well ? You know , 22:59.441 --> 23:01.608 the fact that the breath of what their 23:01.608 --> 23:03.663 requests are and their demands are , 23:03.663 --> 23:05.719 How's that reflected in our policy ? 23:05.719 --> 23:07.497 Because indeed this is far more 23:07.497 --> 23:09.774 expansive than just Russia and Ukraine . 23:11.740 --> 23:14.930 Yeah , the the ask were , yeah , 23:16.240 --> 23:18.450 and I agree with you . They were very 23:18.460 --> 23:21.600 extensive . Having said that , you know , 23:21.600 --> 23:23.920 and much of that , we , I couldn't 23:23.920 --> 23:26.970 possibly do . But having said that , 23:26.980 --> 23:30.210 we're gonna always look and we're on 23:30.400 --> 23:33.150 negotiating with with countries , we're 23:33.150 --> 23:35.261 gonna always look for things where we 23:35.261 --> 23:37.400 can find common agreement and uh and 23:37.410 --> 23:40.010 and and work from that build from that . 23:40.020 --> 23:43.460 So , uh you are correct 23:43.470 --> 23:47.170 that that initial tranche of of demands 23:47.170 --> 23:49.520 for lack of a better term was something 23:49.520 --> 23:53.360 that was not not acceptable to 23:53.370 --> 23:55.560 uh to Ukraine , but most importantly , 23:56.420 --> 23:58.760 and tomato and to and to us 24:01.840 --> 24:04.150 also , I mean , what could we do in 24:04.150 --> 24:07.030 terms of policy for our partners right 24:07.030 --> 24:10.440 now ? Uh two examples are Georgia and 24:10.440 --> 24:12.640 Finland that aren't NATO countries , 24:12.650 --> 24:15.760 what can we do to help support their 24:15.760 --> 24:17.816 concerns with the Russian aggression 24:17.816 --> 24:19.038 that's taking place . 24:22.040 --> 24:25.220 But we can do a lot . We can do more of 24:25.220 --> 24:27.387 what we're doing in terms of you heard 24:27.387 --> 24:29.830 us talk earlier about about our 24:29.830 --> 24:33.660 engagement in in helping them build 24:33.660 --> 24:35.730 their forces and as they look to 24:35.730 --> 24:38.790 acquire different types of equipment to 24:38.790 --> 24:41.210 defend themselves , we can do that as 24:41.210 --> 24:44.060 well . And I know that you know 24:44.710 --> 24:48.040 there are aspiring countries who aspire 24:48.040 --> 24:50.570 to be a part of NATO and NATO should 24:50.570 --> 24:53.850 continue to engage them . Given the 24:53.850 --> 24:55.961 fact there's one minute left , I just 24:55.961 --> 24:58.330 like to ask you to amplify if you could 24:58.340 --> 25:00.451 some of your comments you made in the 25:00.451 --> 25:02.396 opening about undersea warfare and 25:02.396 --> 25:04.451 research and making sure we have the 25:04.451 --> 25:06.451 proper investments in that regard . 25:06.451 --> 25:08.673 What do you see as the specific threats 25:08.673 --> 25:10.920 and how can we address them in about 46 25:10.920 --> 25:14.580 seconds . I 25:14.590 --> 25:16.840 think the threats continue to evolve . 25:16.850 --> 25:20.780 China does have uh substantial um 25:20.790 --> 25:23.110 capability under seat but Russia does 25:23.110 --> 25:25.430 as well . And so we want to make sure 25:25.430 --> 25:27.597 that as we look across the landscape , 25:27.597 --> 25:29.819 were able to meet any emerging threat . 25:30.340 --> 25:32.900 Great thank you . Mr Chairman . Now 25:32.900 --> 25:35.860 you're back . Thank you . Mr Banks has 25:35.860 --> 25:38.082 recognized for five minutes . Secretary 25:38.082 --> 25:39.916 Austin , The new york Times this 25:39.916 --> 25:42.082 morning reported the daily average for 25:42.082 --> 25:44.082 covid 19 cases in the U . S . Is at 25:44.082 --> 25:46.900 27,573 . Much less than the 25:46.900 --> 25:50.840 .0001% of the total US 25:50.840 --> 25:53.860 population with covid cases at all time . 25:53.860 --> 25:56.000 Lows . Why are we still enforcing the 25:56.000 --> 25:58.111 covid vaccine mandate on our military 25:58.111 --> 26:01.770 personnel ? We've seen 26:01.780 --> 26:04.770 variants of this uh this virus uh 26:05.840 --> 26:09.170 you know wayne and and then grow again . 26:09.180 --> 26:12.300 Uh And and so uh this is a medical 26:12.310 --> 26:14.254 readiness requirements and it will 26:14.254 --> 26:16.380 remain so general Milley during a 26:16.380 --> 26:18.547 moment of increased action from Russia 26:18.547 --> 26:20.769 to china . Is it worth it ? Is it worth 26:20.769 --> 26:24.700 sacrificing our in strength for vaccine 26:24.700 --> 26:26.922 mandates . Would you rather take have a 26:26.922 --> 26:28.978 few extra battalions of unvaccinated 26:28.978 --> 26:30.820 soldiers or not have them at all 26:30.850 --> 26:34.820 because of this ? Thanks congressman . 26:34.820 --> 26:36.820 I don't think it's an either or . I 26:36.820 --> 26:38.653 think we're an organization that 26:38.653 --> 26:40.987 requires your you're a veteran yourself . 26:41.240 --> 26:43.184 We get a lot of vaccinations . The 26:43.184 --> 26:46.920 anthrax is very very low in in out 26:46.920 --> 26:48.642 there and we still get anthrax 26:48.642 --> 26:50.753 vaccination and so on . So so I think 26:50.753 --> 26:52.642 getting vaccinated as part of the 26:52.642 --> 26:54.698 readiness issue of the health of the 26:54.698 --> 26:54.390 force ? The numbers are very low by the 26:54.390 --> 26:56.446 way of those that are refusing to be 26:56.446 --> 26:58.557 vaccinated and they're even lower . I 26:58.557 --> 27:00.557 mean it's tiny the numbers that are 27:00.557 --> 27:02.668 actually being asked to process out . 27:02.668 --> 27:04.834 So I think it's manageable and I think 27:04.834 --> 27:06.946 that um I would prefer that everybody 27:06.946 --> 27:08.779 just go ahead and get vaccinated 27:08.779 --> 27:10.890 According to a CNN article on January 27:10.890 --> 27:13.112 18 . The Army National Guard missed its 27:13.112 --> 27:17.040 goal by over 8000 adding only 34,658 27:17.040 --> 27:20.850 recruits for fy 21 2023 defense budget 27:20.850 --> 27:22.461 request just released by the 27:22.461 --> 27:24.628 administration reduces the size of the 27:24.628 --> 27:26.900 army by 12,000 soldiers . Is the army 27:26.900 --> 27:29.122 cutting their numbers because they know 27:29.122 --> 27:31.122 they can't recruit enough people to 27:31.122 --> 27:33.067 meet their quotas . I've talked to 27:33.067 --> 27:35.233 General McConnell about it a couple of 27:35.233 --> 27:37.178 different times . Um , I think two 27:37.178 --> 27:39.067 major factors . One is , um , the 27:39.067 --> 27:41.510 population at large . Um , the , those 27:41.510 --> 27:43.566 those that are eligible to enter the 27:43.566 --> 27:45.454 military . Um , those numbers are 27:45.454 --> 27:47.566 actually pretty low . That's , that's 27:47.566 --> 27:49.566 one point is that it's the sessions 27:49.566 --> 27:49.170 challenge that's out there in 27:49.170 --> 27:51.340 recruiting on an annual basis . The 27:51.340 --> 27:53.290 second piece is that they want to 27:53.300 --> 27:55.740 reduce manpower in order to get the , 27:55.750 --> 27:57.750 save the money and recoup that into 27:57.750 --> 27:59.917 modernization efforts . Uh , Those are 27:59.917 --> 28:02.340 the two fundamental reasons that the 28:02.340 --> 28:04.284 army is doing what they're doing . 28:04.340 --> 28:06.507 General . Is it a coincidence that the 28:06.507 --> 28:08.507 army is moving forward with now and 28:08.507 --> 28:11.400 voluntarily separating our soldiers And 28:11.400 --> 28:13.590 then offering a new $50,000 signing 28:13.590 --> 28:15.646 bonus recruits just who want to join 28:15.646 --> 28:18.010 the army ? How much additional costs 28:18.010 --> 28:20.140 are we going to incur because of the 28:20.140 --> 28:22.307 increased recruiting bonuses to combat 28:22.307 --> 28:24.196 projected losses for unvaccinated 28:24.196 --> 28:26.251 military personnel . I'd have to get 28:26.251 --> 28:28.473 back to you on a cost analysis in terms 28:28.473 --> 28:30.584 of the actual dollars relative to the 28:30.584 --> 28:32.918 bonus . You mentioned the $50,000 bonus . 28:32.918 --> 28:34.973 But again , I go back to , I checked 28:34.973 --> 28:37.196 with General McConnell just yesterday . 28:37.196 --> 28:39.473 The numbers are actually being um , uh , 28:39.473 --> 28:41.473 compelled to depart The military is 28:41.473 --> 28:43.473 very , very small in the army and I 28:43.473 --> 28:45.307 think it's likewise in the other 28:45.307 --> 28:44.850 services as well . There is a 28:44.850 --> 28:47.017 recruiting challenge though , uh , for 28:47.017 --> 28:48.906 the army , the other services are 28:48.906 --> 28:51.128 meeting their recruiting goals there on 28:51.128 --> 28:53.239 glide path for this fiscal year . But 28:53.239 --> 28:53.000 the army has challenged both . Garden 28:53.000 --> 28:55.630 active General Milley . On March 18 , 28:55.630 --> 28:57.741 the us army discharged three soldiers 28:57.750 --> 28:59.972 the first time it has booted troops for 28:59.972 --> 29:01.972 failing to comply with the COVID-19 29:01.972 --> 29:04.083 vaccine mandate . It's projected that 29:04.083 --> 29:06.300 2,692 soldiers the size of a couple of 29:06.310 --> 29:08.850 army battalions have not taken . The 29:08.850 --> 29:10.961 vaccine will likely be separated from 29:10.961 --> 29:12.961 the army . Once again . How is this 29:12.961 --> 29:14.961 loss of personnel going to hurt the 29:14.961 --> 29:17.017 overall and strength of the army ? I 29:17.017 --> 29:19.183 think if 2000 are kicked out , I think 29:19.183 --> 29:21.294 that would hurt . But I think there's 29:21.294 --> 29:21.200 an issue of education here and 29:21.210 --> 29:23.940 persuasion uh , and making sure that 29:23.940 --> 29:25.884 these soldiers are making informed 29:25.884 --> 29:28.570 decisions . As of March three Army 29:28.570 --> 29:30.792 commanders have relieved a total of six 29:30.792 --> 29:32.990 regular army leaders Including two 29:32.990 --> 29:35.720 battalion commanders and issued 3,103 29:35.720 --> 29:37.831 general officer written Reprimands to 29:37.831 --> 29:39.887 regular army soldiers for not taking 29:39.887 --> 29:42.053 the vaccination . How has this loss of 29:42.053 --> 29:45.030 leadership and focus on administrative 29:45.030 --> 29:47.030 burdens , improved army warfighting 29:47.030 --> 29:49.141 readiness and enhanced combat power ? 29:49.440 --> 29:51.550 Well , again , congressman , I think 29:51.550 --> 29:53.494 that the idea of the health of the 29:53.494 --> 29:55.661 force , the readiness of the force and 29:55.661 --> 29:57.883 getting a vaccination is a contributing 29:57.883 --> 29:59.550 factor to that . I think it's 29:59.550 --> 30:01.772 fundamental to the overall readiness of 30:01.772 --> 30:03.550 the force . So um I regret that 30:03.550 --> 30:05.550 commanders are getting relieved for 30:05.550 --> 30:05.040 things like that . I didn't know the 30:05.040 --> 30:07.096 numbers that you mentioned . I'll go 30:07.096 --> 30:09.096 back to the army and get the actual 30:09.096 --> 30:12.330 data . Um but we are an institution uh 30:12.340 --> 30:14.110 that that has a soul set of 30:14.110 --> 30:16.277 requirements in terms of the health of 30:16.277 --> 30:18.388 the force and shots and etcetera . Uh 30:18.388 --> 30:20.554 And there's a policy and our job is to 30:20.554 --> 30:22.499 enforce the policy . Thank you . I 30:22.499 --> 30:24.666 yield back . Mr Crow is recognized for 30:24.666 --> 30:26.721 five minutes . Thank you Mr Chairman 30:26.721 --> 30:28.888 and thank you to all of you for coming 30:28.888 --> 30:31.110 in for your service to the country . Um 30:31.110 --> 30:32.610 Real quick under the prior 30:32.610 --> 30:34.721 administration , they made a decision 30:34.721 --> 30:36.888 to move space command from colorado to 30:36.888 --> 30:38.777 Alabama and there's a significant 30:38.777 --> 30:41.750 allegations of improper process . Uh 30:41.760 --> 30:44.370 The G A O . And D O D I G are 30:44.370 --> 30:46.426 conducting reviews of that process . 30:46.426 --> 30:48.426 And if either of those reviews find 30:48.426 --> 30:50.426 that the process was not credible . 30:50.426 --> 30:52.510 Well , the department commit to 30:52.520 --> 30:54.742 revisiting that process and starting it 30:54.742 --> 30:56.520 over and doing it in a fair and 30:56.520 --> 31:00.170 transparent way . If there have been uh 31:01.340 --> 31:03.520 mhm . Things that were improperly or 31:03.530 --> 31:05.641 illegally done , then certainly we'll 31:05.641 --> 31:09.100 revisit that um next on the Ukraine 31:09.100 --> 31:10.989 front of a bunch of my colleagues 31:10.989 --> 31:13.044 already talked about Ukraine and the 31:13.044 --> 31:15.156 evolution of of support . But can you 31:15.156 --> 31:17.156 just very briefly Mr Secretary talk 31:17.156 --> 31:19.378 about how how should our support evolve 31:19.378 --> 31:22.540 as this goes from a short term fight , 31:22.610 --> 31:24.832 us providing things that are needed and 31:24.832 --> 31:27.110 can be used now on the battlefield to 31:27.110 --> 31:29.110 transition to a longer term fight , 31:29.110 --> 31:31.054 like the national security adviser 31:31.054 --> 31:33.054 indicated yesterday . How does that 31:33.054 --> 31:35.520 change the nature of our support ? Yeah , 31:35.530 --> 31:39.350 I I believe that what Mr Sullivan 31:39.350 --> 31:41.700 was describing was this fight that's 31:41.700 --> 31:44.340 going to take place in the in the south 31:44.340 --> 31:47.330 and east of the country . Uh and it 31:47.330 --> 31:49.530 will take as he described it probably 31:49.530 --> 31:52.170 weeks for that to play out versus days . 31:52.540 --> 31:56.070 Uh And so um we continue to look at 31:56.080 --> 31:58.980 what we think uh and we don't think we 31:58.980 --> 32:01.410 know uh the Ukrainians will need 32:01.420 --> 32:03.364 because we're talking to them on a 32:03.364 --> 32:05.476 daily basis and it'll be a lot of the 32:05.476 --> 32:07.642 same things that we provided already . 32:07.642 --> 32:09.698 But we look for things that also can 32:09.698 --> 32:12.020 can provide them an advantage in this 32:12.020 --> 32:14.520 fight . And you've seen us began to 32:14.520 --> 32:16.742 deploy some of those things . Well , we 32:16.742 --> 32:18.798 appreciate your work very much . You 32:18.798 --> 32:21.020 know , this has been a herculean effort 32:21.020 --> 32:20.420 by the men and women of the military 32:20.420 --> 32:22.800 and administration , the Department and 32:22.810 --> 32:24.977 I thank you for that effort because it 32:24.977 --> 32:27.280 is saving lives . You know , um This 32:27.280 --> 32:29.502 committee does have a long tradition of 32:29.502 --> 32:31.558 bipartisanship . Uh there are people 32:31.558 --> 32:33.447 that have served many people have 32:33.447 --> 32:35.447 served in uniform , but there are a 32:35.447 --> 32:37.613 very small handful of folks that don't 32:37.613 --> 32:39.391 understand service . They don't 32:39.391 --> 32:41.447 understand sacrifice that attack and 32:41.447 --> 32:43.613 malign you and your service . Somebody 32:43.613 --> 32:45.724 who has dedicated your entire life to 32:45.724 --> 32:47.780 service , who sometimes will compare 32:47.780 --> 32:50.002 our military to other militaries , call 32:50.002 --> 32:52.169 us woke make up these contrived boogie 32:52.169 --> 32:54.391 man's of socialism or pull out lectures 32:54.391 --> 32:56.710 at universities . But I have , I've 32:56.710 --> 32:58.766 known you for some time now and I've 32:58.766 --> 33:00.766 seen the pride that you take in our 33:00.766 --> 33:02.932 servicemen and women in the pride that 33:02.932 --> 33:05.043 you've taken this work and how you've 33:05.043 --> 33:07.680 put your entire life uh focused on this . 33:07.690 --> 33:09.579 So can you just take with the two 33:09.579 --> 33:11.523 minutes remaining , Could you just 33:11.523 --> 33:13.690 paint a picture for this committee and 33:13.690 --> 33:15.634 for the american people about what 33:15.634 --> 33:18.520 makes you most proud of the men and 33:18.520 --> 33:21.020 women of our military and what life is 33:21.020 --> 33:23.340 like on a daily basis for the minimum . 33:23.340 --> 33:27.310 In that you lied . Thanks . 33:27.320 --> 33:30.570 Um , as you've heard me say a number of 33:30.570 --> 33:34.010 times , you know , my focus 24 hours a 33:34.010 --> 33:36.440 day , seven days a week is on defending 33:36.440 --> 33:39.070 this country . Um , and I'm proud to be 33:39.070 --> 33:42.160 able to serve alongside the men and 33:42.160 --> 33:44.920 women who occupy our ranks . They are 33:44.920 --> 33:46.976 committed to this and I've been with 33:46.976 --> 33:48.920 them , you know , most recently in 33:48.920 --> 33:51.690 Poland , uh in other Baltic , in Baltic 33:51.690 --> 33:54.000 states and in other Eastern flank 33:54.000 --> 33:56.830 countries . I've been with them in the , 33:56.840 --> 33:59.540 in the , in the pacific they are all 33:59.540 --> 34:03.540 focused on the task at hand , training 34:03.540 --> 34:06.400 and being ready to , to to perform 34:06.400 --> 34:09.350 their missions that and all of those 34:09.350 --> 34:11.461 missions contribute to the defense of 34:11.461 --> 34:13.239 this country and protecting our 34:13.239 --> 34:15.461 interests . And I just gotta tell you , 34:15.461 --> 34:18.020 I am incredibly proud of them day in 34:18.020 --> 34:21.460 and day out , they volunteer to do uh 34:21.470 --> 34:25.330 incredible things in on behalf of this 34:25.330 --> 34:28.830 country and we owe them A debt of 34:28.830 --> 34:30.886 gratitude that we can probably never 34:30.886 --> 34:32.941 repay we or their families a debt of 34:32.941 --> 34:35.163 gratitude as well . But they are , they 34:35.163 --> 34:37.610 are smart , they are fit , they are , 34:37.620 --> 34:40.200 they are focused uh and uh and they 34:40.200 --> 34:44.200 spend 99% of their time focused on 34:44.210 --> 34:46.560 defending this country and developing 34:46.560 --> 34:48.727 additional capabilities that they will 34:48.727 --> 34:50.338 need to be successful on the 34:50.338 --> 34:52.504 battlefield . So any notion that there 34:52.504 --> 34:54.840 woke or that our military is woke , you 34:54.840 --> 34:56.729 know , I take issue with that and 34:56.729 --> 34:58.729 because it's just not true , it's a 34:58.729 --> 35:00.990 false narrative and they deserve better 35:00.990 --> 35:03.420 than that . I couldn't agree more . 35:03.420 --> 35:05.476 They do deserve better than that and 35:05.476 --> 35:07.531 they're getting better than that and 35:07.531 --> 35:09.531 your leadership and and frankly the 35:09.531 --> 35:11.753 leadership and the focus of most people 35:11.753 --> 35:13.809 on this committee who take this work 35:13.809 --> 35:13.740 seriously , who are engaged in very 35:13.740 --> 35:15.851 difficult policy discussions and know 35:15.851 --> 35:18.073 the threats that we face . I appreciate 35:18.073 --> 35:20.184 your leadership . Chairman , Millie's 35:20.184 --> 35:22.184 leadership Mr McCord . You are more 35:22.184 --> 35:24.351 appreciated than this hearing probably 35:24.351 --> 35:26.573 indicates , but we appreciate your work 35:26.573 --> 35:28.740 as well . Mr Chairman , I yield back . 35:28.740 --> 35:28.710 Thank you very much . Mr Bergman is 35:28.710 --> 35:30.932 recognized for five minutes . Thank you 35:30.932 --> 35:34.900 Mr Chairman . Um one of my colleagues 35:35.390 --> 35:38.670 asked General Milley that you would 35:38.940 --> 35:41.051 commit to ensuring that the Gold Star 35:41.051 --> 35:43.273 family criteria remained the same and I 35:43.273 --> 35:46.360 believe I heard you say yes , I am very 35:46.360 --> 35:48.416 committed to that . Okay , Secretary 35:48.416 --> 35:50.638 Austin , I'd like to hear it from you . 35:50.638 --> 35:52.471 Yes , that's very good . That is 35:52.471 --> 35:56.040 probably one of the most solemn duties 35:56.050 --> 35:59.880 that we have is to appropriately 35:59.880 --> 36:02.190 honor not only the men and women who 36:02.830 --> 36:05.400 die in service of our country in combat 36:05.410 --> 36:08.550 but also their families as well . Um 36:09.830 --> 36:11.497 Let's talk a little bit about 36:11.497 --> 36:14.820 recruiting General Miller , You opened 36:14.820 --> 36:16.740 up your statement and I think 36:16.740 --> 36:18.740 accurately so by saying we have the 36:18.740 --> 36:21.120 best lead , best trained , best 36:21.120 --> 36:23.287 equipped etcetera etcetera military in 36:23.287 --> 36:26.070 the world , do we have the best 36:26.070 --> 36:28.460 recruited military in your estimation ? 36:30.730 --> 36:33.870 The best recruited , I think all 36:33.870 --> 36:36.150 militaries are a reflection of the 36:36.150 --> 36:38.380 societies they come from . Uh And we 36:38.380 --> 36:40.158 have a particularly challenging 36:40.158 --> 36:42.102 recruiting environment as a former 36:42.102 --> 36:44.324 Chief Staff of the army . That was true 36:44.324 --> 36:43.740 then , and it's true now and it's been 36:43.740 --> 36:46.320 true for quite a long time in terms of 36:46.330 --> 36:48.052 the the military has very high 36:48.052 --> 36:50.390 standards to get in . Uh and 36:50.400 --> 36:53.980 unfortunately uh the amount of eligible 36:53.990 --> 36:57.180 military age men and women um have gone 36:57.180 --> 36:59.180 down in terms of the standards over 36:59.180 --> 37:01.069 time . So I think we're in a very 37:01.069 --> 37:03.124 challenging recruiting environment , 37:03.124 --> 37:05.347 but I do think those that do get in are 37:05.347 --> 37:07.347 the finest and the best uh and I do 37:07.347 --> 37:09.458 think that we recruit the best of our 37:09.458 --> 37:12.240 society . So we've got roughly 70 37:12.250 --> 37:15.290 roughly 70% who are ineligible for 37:15.300 --> 37:17.244 various reasons ? So we've already 37:17.244 --> 37:19.510 knocked that down to 30% . Has the 37:19.510 --> 37:23.470 Department of Defense spent any , I 37:23.470 --> 37:26.250 guess research dollars to determine 37:26.350 --> 37:29.740 what is going to be the propensity of 37:29.740 --> 37:33.510 that remaining 30% to serve to 37:33.510 --> 37:37.460 get involved too at whatever level . I 37:37.460 --> 37:40.610 mean , is there any data being that you 37:40.610 --> 37:43.560 guys are accumulating to to enable us 37:43.560 --> 37:46.860 to better ? There is the there's a lot 37:46.860 --> 37:49.160 of data , there's a lot of money . 37:49.160 --> 37:51.160 There's a lot of research that goes 37:51.160 --> 37:53.271 into that very question propensity to 37:53.271 --> 37:55.216 serve . Uh We can get you that . I 37:55.216 --> 37:57.438 don't have it at my fingertips . Well , 37:57.438 --> 37:57.020 we can get you the actual data each of 37:57.020 --> 37:58.964 the services do . Yeah . Well this 37:58.964 --> 38:01.131 committee , you know is bipartisan and 38:01.131 --> 38:03.187 I don't think there's one of us that 38:03.187 --> 38:06.450 sit in here that don't want to see um 38:06.460 --> 38:09.760 the men and women who are eligible to 38:09.760 --> 38:13.680 serve , get the right message so that 38:13.680 --> 38:16.170 they will get over that hump if you 38:16.170 --> 38:19.280 will acquire . Why not ? And you 38:19.280 --> 38:21.970 mentioned that this year , the army and 38:21.970 --> 38:24.080 the Guard is not going to meet their 38:24.080 --> 38:26.136 recruiting numbers now . Is that Air 38:26.136 --> 38:28.191 Guard or Army Guard or Both Guards ? 38:28.191 --> 38:30.302 Army Guard . Okay . Air Force Marines 38:30.302 --> 38:32.469 and Navy are meeting their goals right 38:32.469 --> 38:34.636 now . Army is not both Active Army and 38:34.636 --> 38:38.010 Guard . Okay , So if we're just talking 38:38.010 --> 38:40.300 about the Army and the Army Guard not 38:40.300 --> 38:42.900 meeting their uh , their end strength , 38:43.720 --> 38:45.831 is there any plan ? If you ask any of 38:45.831 --> 38:47.887 the other services who are meeting , 38:47.887 --> 38:50.130 there's maybe up it if they're meeting 38:50.130 --> 38:52.130 their goals , do they have room for 38:52.130 --> 38:54.074 more ? Are we looking at increased 38:54.074 --> 38:56.019 capabilities ? I'm not sure what's 38:56.019 --> 38:58.130 going on with the , with the army and 38:58.130 --> 39:00.241 the Army guard . But is there , do we 39:00.241 --> 39:02.408 have people waiting in line to sign up 39:02.408 --> 39:04.630 for the Air Force or the Navy or the or 39:04.630 --> 39:08.520 the Marine Corps ? The Navy is actually , 39:08.520 --> 39:10.950 I think it's the Navy is actually 102% 39:10.950 --> 39:12.950 on glide path . So they're actually 39:12.950 --> 39:15.440 over Their objectives . Air Force and 39:15.440 --> 39:17.496 Marines are meeting their objectives 39:17.496 --> 39:19.662 and army is about , I want to say it's 39:19.662 --> 39:21.829 about 10-15 points below the objective 39:21.829 --> 39:23.884 right now . Now the year is not over 39:23.884 --> 39:25.940 the years young were for four months 39:25.940 --> 39:27.940 into the year . Typically this data 39:27.940 --> 39:29.940 will change very significantly upon 39:29.940 --> 39:32.107 high school graduation . Um come , you 39:32.107 --> 39:34.162 know , come june july time frame and 39:34.162 --> 39:36.384 that's the big months at which there is 39:36.384 --> 39:38.496 a big huge data correction . What the 39:38.496 --> 39:40.718 army is projecting over time is they'll 39:40.718 --> 39:42.940 committed a few percentage points below 39:42.940 --> 39:45.051 objective for the year as opposed Are 39:45.051 --> 39:47.384 we sacrificing inequality to make those . 39:47.384 --> 39:49.350 No , not at all . The what they're 39:49.350 --> 39:51.072 doing is ensuring that they're 39:51.072 --> 39:53.017 enforcing the quality of the force 39:53.017 --> 39:55.072 coming in . Okay . And just just for 39:55.072 --> 39:57.183 the sake of discussion here , we know 39:57.183 --> 39:59.406 we have a significant number of men and 39:59.406 --> 40:01.350 women who are no longer in service 40:01.350 --> 40:03.406 because of their refusal to take the 40:03.406 --> 40:06.520 Covid vaccine . If for whatever reason 40:07.510 --> 40:10.360 any or all of them decided they wanted 40:10.360 --> 40:12.304 to re affiliate with the service , 40:13.610 --> 40:16.370 would they be given an option ? I'd 40:16.370 --> 40:18.320 have to get with the each of the 40:18.320 --> 40:20.542 service chiefs in terms of the policies 40:20.542 --> 40:22.653 inside the service . But i if someone 40:22.653 --> 40:24.820 wants to get the shot and come on back 40:24.820 --> 40:26.987 in , I don't know , we've got millions 40:26.987 --> 40:29.209 and millions and millions of dollars of 40:29.209 --> 40:31.153 training those people that will be 40:31.153 --> 40:31.030 forced out and we want to comply with 40:31.030 --> 40:33.141 the rules and regulations . This time 40:33.141 --> 40:36.450 has expired . Slotkin is recognized for 40:36.450 --> 40:38.617 five minutes . Thanks for being here . 40:38.617 --> 40:40.728 I know we're about to start our three 40:40.728 --> 40:42.950 of this hearing and I want to associate 40:42.950 --> 40:44.839 myself with the comments um , the 40:44.839 --> 40:46.894 respectful comments on both sides of 40:46.894 --> 40:48.894 the aisle for those who made it and 40:48.894 --> 40:50.783 apologize for those um who aren't 40:50.783 --> 40:52.728 respectful as you come up here for 40:52.728 --> 40:54.950 these hearings . I think that there's a 40:54.950 --> 40:56.950 lot um a lot of the issues that are 40:56.950 --> 40:58.783 affecting the average american , 40:58.783 --> 41:00.950 particularly around prices and budgets 41:00.950 --> 41:02.920 and supply chains are now we were 41:02.920 --> 41:04.753 seeing really affect the U . S . 41:04.753 --> 41:06.976 Military . So my questions are going to 41:06.976 --> 41:09.031 focus mostly on that and Mr McCord . 41:09.031 --> 41:11.142 I'm going to give you a chance to get 41:11.142 --> 41:13.530 in the game here . Um , I 1st and 1st 41:13.530 --> 41:15.752 and foremost . Um actually I start with 41:15.752 --> 41:18.770 MR Secretary Austin on supply chains , 41:18.780 --> 41:21.630 right ? I represent a district that has 41:21.630 --> 41:23.852 two GM factories , one has been off and 41:23.852 --> 41:26.074 on dormant for the past year because we 41:26.074 --> 41:28.550 can't get a 14 cent microchip myself 41:28.550 --> 41:30.550 and and congressman Gallagher led a 41:30.550 --> 41:33.180 task force um on D . O . D . And sort 41:33.180 --> 41:35.236 of highlighting the issues on supply 41:35.236 --> 41:37.291 chains that the department had . You 41:37.291 --> 41:39.513 know , you picked up the rug on some of 41:39.513 --> 41:41.347 our supply chains in the Defense 41:41.347 --> 41:43.513 Department . There was a lot of creepy 41:43.513 --> 41:42.940 crawlies under there , a lot of 41:42.940 --> 41:45.950 dependencies on places like china that 41:45.960 --> 41:47.960 even for our U . S . Military we we 41:47.960 --> 41:50.460 still had , can you tell us um we had 41:50.470 --> 41:52.637 some prescriptions in the last N . D . 41:52.637 --> 41:54.803 A . But help give us some comfort that 41:54.803 --> 41:57.137 like our private sector companies D . O . 41:57.137 --> 41:59.248 D . Is is actually kind of getting in 41:59.248 --> 42:01.137 the game and looking at this as a 42:01.137 --> 42:03.950 vulnerability we are in in the game . 42:03.950 --> 42:07.090 As you know , it's uh it's been and is 42:07.090 --> 42:11.020 a an area of emphasis for for the 42:11.020 --> 42:13.020 president and for the government at 42:13.020 --> 42:16.520 large . So Dodd is doing its part this 42:16.520 --> 42:18.520 is especially important to us as we 42:18.520 --> 42:21.680 look at components of our critical 42:21.680 --> 42:24.900 weapons systems that use uh 42:24.910 --> 42:28.000 microchips that that use 42:28.010 --> 42:30.910 critical material , strategic materials 42:30.920 --> 42:33.600 we want to make sure that that we are 42:33.600 --> 42:37.110 not vulnerable to to right because I 42:37.110 --> 42:39.440 think the thing that while a GM plant 42:39.450 --> 42:41.790 um can shut down the U . S . Military 42:41.790 --> 42:44.360 doesn't have that that privilege of 42:44.370 --> 42:46.592 being able to shut down and just taking 42:46.592 --> 42:48.703 an economic hit . It's the protection 42:48.703 --> 42:50.926 of the country . Um uh Mr McCord on the 42:50.926 --> 42:53.092 budget . We've had a lot of discussion 42:53.092 --> 42:54.981 discussion here about whether the 42:54.981 --> 42:57.037 proposed president's budget keeps up 42:57.037 --> 42:59.259 with the rate of inflation and you said 42:59.259 --> 43:01.370 that um you crafted the budget with a 43:01.370 --> 43:03.481 4% inflation rate . We know that that 43:03.481 --> 43:05.970 has largely gone up . Um I know that 43:05.980 --> 43:08.036 frankly on a bipartisan basis people 43:08.036 --> 43:10.202 are interested in at least making sure 43:10.202 --> 43:12.202 that the department is keeping pace 43:12.202 --> 43:14.540 with the um with the with inflation . 43:14.550 --> 43:16.940 Um would you be willing to consider 43:16.940 --> 43:19.770 coming back to us and keying the budget 43:19.780 --> 43:22.510 to the rate of inflation very short . 43:22.520 --> 43:24.790 Yes or no congresswoman ? Yes . I think 43:24.790 --> 43:27.420 we were going to need to work with the 43:27.420 --> 43:29.642 committees . I believe going forward to 43:29.642 --> 43:31.698 look at what's actually happening on 43:31.698 --> 43:34.510 the ground . And we had as a secretary 43:34.510 --> 43:36.677 so we had to snap a chalk line at some 43:36.677 --> 43:38.788 point to finish the budget . You have 43:38.788 --> 43:38.610 to make some assumptions and then move 43:38.610 --> 43:41.810 on . And those we we normally revisit 43:41.820 --> 43:43.764 our own situation internally which 43:43.764 --> 43:45.987 generates reprogramming that we send to 43:45.987 --> 43:48.153 you . We'll do that as soon as as soon 43:48.153 --> 43:50.264 as possible this year as well . And I 43:50.264 --> 43:52.487 think there's nowhere that's more clear 43:52.487 --> 43:54.487 where inflation is really kind of a 43:54.487 --> 43:56.709 punch in the gut at least in a district 43:56.709 --> 43:58.820 like mine where people drive 40 miles 43:58.820 --> 44:01.153 one way to work . It's the price of gas . 44:01.153 --> 44:00.810 And as I see it , the Department of 44:00.810 --> 44:03.032 Defense is one of the biggest consumers 44:03.032 --> 44:05.199 may be in the world of gasoline . Um , 44:05.199 --> 44:07.560 and I think you noted it was about $12 44:07.560 --> 44:10.270 billion . We spend a year on gas . What 44:10.270 --> 44:12.159 if anything has the Department of 44:12.159 --> 44:14.326 Defense done advocating with the White 44:14.326 --> 44:16.492 House to do more to try and affect the 44:16.492 --> 44:19.820 price of gas ? Congressman ? As you say , 44:19.820 --> 44:22.000 we we consume a lot of gas , but we we 44:22.000 --> 44:24.111 are small compared to the market . We 44:24.111 --> 44:26.333 cannot drive the market by ourselves as 44:26.333 --> 44:28.444 1% of the of the market . We're about 44:28.444 --> 44:30.611 15% of the jet fuel market . So we are 44:30.611 --> 44:32.778 a significant player there . But we we 44:32.778 --> 44:34.722 are ultimately at the mercy of the 44:34.722 --> 44:36.944 markets the way most other entities are 44:36.944 --> 44:38.944 and uh are are few . Our budget was 44:38.944 --> 44:41.500 done before Putin's invasion of Ukraine 44:41.500 --> 44:43.611 spiked oil prices of course that that 44:43.611 --> 44:45.722 spike make him down slowly , make him 44:45.722 --> 44:47.833 down quickly . That's one of the many 44:47.833 --> 44:49.833 variables out there . But we we are 44:49.833 --> 44:52.000 going to have to adjust for that going 44:52.000 --> 44:51.950 forward . Okay . I would just say is 44:51.950 --> 44:54.061 one of the biggest consumers at least 44:54.061 --> 44:56.283 in the United States of gas . That your 44:56.283 --> 44:58.506 voice in the conversation on doing more 44:58.506 --> 45:00.450 to try and lower the prices of gas 45:00.450 --> 45:02.561 would be would be helpful . Um lastly 45:02.561 --> 45:04.672 mr McCord . We passed on a bipartisan 45:04.672 --> 45:06.839 basis . An amendment in the last years 45:06.839 --> 45:08.728 N . D . A . That helps to try and 45:08.728 --> 45:10.950 examine the amount of pork . And I mean 45:10.950 --> 45:12.839 congressional pork that is in the 45:12.839 --> 45:14.783 Department of Defense budget . The 45:14.783 --> 45:16.950 things that you all have tried to kill 45:16.950 --> 45:19.006 the legacy weapons systems you don't 45:19.006 --> 45:21.061 want anymore . The facilities you've 45:21.061 --> 45:23.117 tried to to shut down that amendment 45:23.117 --> 45:25.117 required a report . Um What is your 45:25.117 --> 45:27.228 assessment ? I mean I know the report 45:27.228 --> 45:29.394 isn't done yet . Of what percentage of 45:29.394 --> 45:31.506 the department budget are things that 45:31.506 --> 45:31.320 the U . S . Congress has required you 45:31.320 --> 45:34.890 to provide a congressman again reports 45:34.890 --> 45:37.120 not reports not done . But I think in 45:37.120 --> 45:39.940 most years it averages in the in the 3 45:39.940 --> 45:42.230 to 5% range . So it's it's you know 45:42.240 --> 45:43.962 it's not overwhelming but it's 45:43.962 --> 45:45.962 significant . The rest of this will 45:45.962 --> 45:48.073 have to take for the record . General 45:48.073 --> 45:47.740 Lady's time has expired . Mr waltz is 45:47.740 --> 45:50.073 recognized for five minutes . Thank you . 45:50.073 --> 45:52.407 Mr Chairman Secretary Austin a year ago . 45:52.890 --> 45:55.920 Uh The rise of extremism particularly 45:55.930 --> 45:57.930 white supremacy within the military 45:57.930 --> 45:59.950 within our ranks . It was a top 45:59.950 --> 46:02.117 priority for you . In fact it was your 46:02.117 --> 46:04.890 first memo yet the department released 46:04.890 --> 46:08.220 a study this year a year later Showing 46:08.220 --> 46:11.160 that 100 members of the military 46:11.160 --> 46:13.500 participated in some type of extremism . 46:14.280 --> 46:17.190 Uh that's 100 out of 2.5 million by my 46:17.190 --> 46:19.260 math . That shows that 46:19.260 --> 46:22.600 99.996 46:23.280 --> 46:25.113 of our military members have not 46:25.113 --> 46:27.450 participated in any form of extremism . 46:27.580 --> 46:30.370 So with that data now being data driven 46:30.380 --> 46:32.547 that's still a top priority for you or 46:32.547 --> 46:36.000 can we move on . You made a couple of 46:36.000 --> 46:39.600 points here . And let me say that my 46:39.600 --> 46:41.900 top priority is defending this country . 46:41.930 --> 46:44.610 It has been and it will always be on 46:44.610 --> 46:47.680 the issue of the percentages of people 46:47.680 --> 46:50.520 that Have are participating in 46:50.520 --> 46:53.970 extremist activities . Uh you've heard 46:53.970 --> 46:57.790 me say that 99.9% of our people 46:57.800 --> 47:00.650 are doing the right thing every day and 47:00.650 --> 47:02.706 I'm proud of them for what they do . 47:02.706 --> 47:04.930 But a small percentage of people can 47:04.930 --> 47:07.400 have an outsized impact on . Thank you . 47:07.400 --> 47:09.567 Mr Secretary forgive me . I have a few 47:09.567 --> 47:11.733 questions . I think we have to be very 47:11.733 --> 47:13.789 careful . We're also show seeing and 47:13.789 --> 47:16.000 polling a record drop in public 47:16.000 --> 47:18.040 confidence in the United States 47:18.040 --> 47:20.040 military . So I think we have to be 47:20.040 --> 47:22.262 very careful about narratives . We even 47:22.262 --> 47:24.484 had a hearing here in this committee on 47:24.484 --> 47:26.429 the rising tide of white supremacy 47:26.429 --> 47:28.373 within our military and keep those 47:28.373 --> 47:30.040 narratives Data driven . So I 47:30.040 --> 47:33.820 appreciate 99.99 6% . Um one is too 47:33.820 --> 47:35.987 many . Absolutely . And we always have 47:35.987 --> 47:37.931 to be vigilant . But we have to be 47:37.931 --> 47:40.153 careful about our neighbors . I need to 47:40.153 --> 47:42.700 move on . Uh Chairman Milley . We are 47:42.700 --> 47:45.580 absolutely providing more sophisticated 47:45.580 --> 47:47.469 equipment now to the Ukrainians , 47:47.870 --> 47:49.620 counter battery radar . My 47:49.620 --> 47:51.787 understanding puma U . A . V . S . And 47:51.787 --> 47:53.842 the latest package . Finally I would 47:53.842 --> 47:55.731 argue that this is belated . They 47:55.731 --> 47:57.842 should have had it last year . Um but 47:57.842 --> 47:59.787 we are we do have it in train . My 47:59.787 --> 48:02.330 concern is that general , the NATO 48:02.330 --> 48:04.441 commander ? General Walters testified 48:04.441 --> 48:06.330 that as a policy matter we're not 48:06.330 --> 48:08.330 conducting any training on this new 48:08.330 --> 48:10.552 equipment . So my question is why not ? 48:11.270 --> 48:13.103 We're not conducting training in 48:13.103 --> 48:15.270 Ukraine ? Were not conducting training 48:15.270 --> 48:17.570 in Poland outside of Ukraine . That's 48:17.570 --> 48:19.737 what he testified . There is literally 48:19.737 --> 48:23.710 a handle and maybe a um and so my 48:23.710 --> 48:25.599 question is , you know , that the 48:25.599 --> 48:28.140 training on this , I think you said we 48:28.140 --> 48:30.418 were not conducting training in Poland , 48:31.070 --> 48:33.237 but as you rightly point out , some of 48:33.237 --> 48:36.700 this gear does require . Okay then that 48:36.710 --> 48:38.543 drives my question then , are we 48:38.543 --> 48:40.488 training the Ukrainians outside of 48:40.488 --> 48:42.654 Ukraine in any location to use some of 48:42.654 --> 48:44.840 the gear ? You certainly they have to 48:44.840 --> 48:47.390 have training and and we're doing that 48:47.400 --> 48:49.550 great . That's fantastic . And that's 48:49.560 --> 48:51.671 thank you for clarifying that . Being 48:51.671 --> 48:54.004 trained right here in the United States . 48:54.004 --> 48:56.171 So the Ukrainians are sending military 48:56.240 --> 48:58.440 soldiers off and we're trained not , I 48:58.440 --> 49:02.190 met , you know , on the counter battery 49:02.190 --> 49:05.010 on the latest variants on the things 49:05.010 --> 49:07.121 that we're providing , We're training 49:07.121 --> 49:09.288 them how to use it . And you can touch 49:09.288 --> 49:11.510 the Ukrainians that are already here to 49:11.510 --> 49:13.830 to leverage them as well . Fantastic . 49:13.840 --> 49:17.290 Uh , On the switchblade , 600 variants . 49:17.970 --> 49:20.500 Your assistant secretary for I ? S a 49:20.860 --> 49:23.082 testified last week that there's a memo 49:23.082 --> 49:25.310 on your desk . Mr Secretary to give it 49:25.310 --> 49:27.310 the correct procurement authorities 49:27.310 --> 49:29.477 that we need or the designation to get 49:29.477 --> 49:31.421 that thing moving . Is that are we 49:31.421 --> 49:33.532 cleared up there ? Can we move that ? 49:34.170 --> 49:36.930 The switch will age 600 and 300 will 49:36.930 --> 49:39.097 move as quickly as they possibly can . 49:40.870 --> 49:44.350 Okay . Um Secretary General Walters 49:44.360 --> 49:47.990 also testified that the Ukrainians 49:47.990 --> 49:50.157 would have been more effective if they 49:50.157 --> 49:52.212 had had Stingers pre invasion . They 49:52.212 --> 49:54.157 had had them on day one trained up 49:54.157 --> 49:56.268 ready to go . General Milley . Do you 49:56.268 --> 49:58.900 disagree ? I think they the area 49:58.900 --> 50:01.460 defense system , the larger air defense 50:01.460 --> 50:04.270 of Sam's the S 300 Stingers for the 50:04.270 --> 50:06.492 Manpads but and all the other varieties 50:06.492 --> 50:08.659 that the european countries have , the 50:08.659 --> 50:10.437 more that they had prior to the 50:10.437 --> 50:09.950 invasion , the better off they would 50:09.950 --> 50:12.172 have been . But I would say caveat this 50:12.172 --> 50:14.500 Russia has not even today established 50:14.510 --> 50:16.621 air superiority and that's because of 50:16.621 --> 50:18.899 the effective use of manpads and there ? 50:18.899 --> 50:21.010 S 300 . Absolutely . But you wouldn't 50:21.010 --> 50:23.121 disagree . Would have could have been 50:23.121 --> 50:22.630 more would have been better . And I do 50:22.630 --> 50:24.741 think there's a lot of parallels . Mr 50:24.741 --> 50:27.900 Secretary to our approach to Taiwan , I 50:27.910 --> 50:29.966 respectfully disagree with you there 50:29.966 --> 50:32.132 there are a lot of parallels and there 50:32.132 --> 50:34.077 are a lot of things . We should be 50:34.077 --> 50:36.299 learning the effectiveness of sanctions 50:36.299 --> 50:38.410 as a deterrent and having giving them 50:38.410 --> 50:40.410 the weapons systems . They need pre 50:40.410 --> 50:42.688 invasion , not having a tough response , 50:42.688 --> 50:44.910 a robust response . Post invasion final 50:44.910 --> 50:47.188 question . General Milley is the I . R . 50:47.188 --> 50:49.354 T . C . A terrorist organization . And 50:49.354 --> 50:49.060 should it remain so your best military 50:49.060 --> 50:51.116 advice . I have to take that one for 50:51.116 --> 50:53.227 the record because gentleman's out of 50:53.227 --> 50:55.449 time . Thank you is recognized for five 50:55.449 --> 50:58.750 minutes . Right . Thank you . Mr Chair 50:58.750 --> 51:00.750 and thank you . Secretary Austin . 51:00.760 --> 51:02.860 General Milley and Mr McCord for 51:02.860 --> 51:05.082 appearing before us today . I very much 51:05.082 --> 51:07.193 appreciate the challenging times that 51:07.193 --> 51:09.416 you and the department are in right now 51:09.416 --> 51:11.304 as we are facing and watching the 51:11.304 --> 51:13.416 horrific events of the war in Ukraine 51:13.416 --> 51:15.082 unfold . I also know that the 51:15.082 --> 51:17.193 department's budget request this year 51:17.193 --> 51:19.416 is focused largely on modernization and 51:19.416 --> 51:21.471 transformation of the force . And in 51:21.471 --> 51:23.471 your written testimonies , you have 51:23.471 --> 51:25.471 mentioned how the department has to 51:25.471 --> 51:25.110 modernize and divest from legacy 51:25.110 --> 51:27.380 platforms that may no longer meet the 51:27.380 --> 51:29.491 needs of the of the force . Right now 51:29.491 --> 51:31.324 here in this country , President 51:31.324 --> 51:33.436 Zelensky has repeatedly called on the 51:33.436 --> 51:35.602 United States to transfer aircraft and 51:35.602 --> 51:37.850 other weapons systems to Ukraine . And 51:37.850 --> 51:40.630 so here we potentially have supply with 51:40.630 --> 51:43.370 a known demand . Is there anything that 51:43.370 --> 51:45.592 is preventing the Department of Defense 51:45.592 --> 51:47.426 from transferring legacy weapons 51:47.426 --> 51:49.648 systems ? And I'll just give an example 51:49.648 --> 51:51.703 as the A 10 and other excess defense 51:51.703 --> 51:54.120 articles to Ukraine ? Or are there any 51:54.120 --> 51:56.231 things that are preventing us for the 51:56.231 --> 51:58.398 training , preventing the training for 51:58.398 --> 52:00.176 those ? Is there any additional 52:00.176 --> 52:02.287 authority that you need to be able to 52:02.287 --> 52:04.287 expedite or approve transferring of 52:04.287 --> 52:06.453 weapons systems to Ukraine ? Secretary 52:06.453 --> 52:09.020 Austin . Um if at this point , there , 52:09.020 --> 52:11.020 there are no additional authorities 52:11.020 --> 52:13.131 that we need and certainly if we need 52:13.131 --> 52:15.020 additional authorities , we won't 52:15.020 --> 52:17.020 hesitate to come ask you for them . 52:17.020 --> 52:19.242 Thank you . And with my next question , 52:19.242 --> 52:21.353 as we do identify weapons and systems 52:21.353 --> 52:23.576 that we can are interested in investing 52:23.576 --> 52:25.742 in . Uh is there a process by which we 52:25.742 --> 52:27.853 can conduct due diligence to identify 52:27.853 --> 52:30.020 possible items for transfer to Ukraine 52:30.020 --> 52:33.160 or to Mr Walters ? Point to be more 52:33.160 --> 52:35.216 thoughtful about the future of other 52:35.216 --> 52:37.630 possible conflicts . It will be based 52:37.630 --> 52:40.510 upon their request , their request and 52:40.510 --> 52:43.550 our assessment of what um , what we 52:43.550 --> 52:46.110 have available . Also the threat in the 52:46.110 --> 52:48.277 environment plays a big part of this . 52:48.277 --> 52:50.680 The ability to maintain the capability 52:50.680 --> 52:52.840 that we give them is also very , very 52:52.840 --> 52:54.951 important and the ability to train on 52:54.951 --> 52:57.680 those on that equipment is also key . 52:58.150 --> 53:00.740 And so using as the the a 10 is just an 53:00.740 --> 53:02.907 example and knowing that we originally 53:02.907 --> 53:04.962 anticipated that this war would be a 53:04.962 --> 53:07.018 matter of days and hours rather than 53:07.018 --> 53:09.200 now months and possibly years . Using 53:09.200 --> 53:11.840 that a 10 as an example , is there a 53:11.850 --> 53:13.961 possibility of what is the department 53:13.961 --> 53:16.072 planned for the 21 8 tens that are in 53:16.072 --> 53:18.239 the plan right now to divest from Fort 53:18.239 --> 53:20.183 Wayne and what is the condition of 53:20.183 --> 53:23.910 those aircraft ? Again ? Uh , it's it's 53:23.910 --> 53:26.650 not just exporting the a 10 , it's also 53:26.650 --> 53:28.483 whether or not that aircraft can 53:28.483 --> 53:30.650 survive in that environment , which is 53:30.650 --> 53:32.650 a key issue . And then number two , 53:32.650 --> 53:34.650 whether or not they can sustain the 53:34.650 --> 53:36.817 aircraft once we provided to them , it 53:36.817 --> 53:38.928 is completely different as you know , 53:38.928 --> 53:41.150 from any uh any platform that they have 53:41.150 --> 53:43.317 are currently using . And so this is a 53:43.317 --> 53:45.539 big step and then training the pilots . 53:45.539 --> 53:47.650 It's not a matter of days , this is a 53:47.650 --> 53:49.817 matter of months . Yes , yes sir . And 53:49.817 --> 53:52.039 I actually have done some investigation 53:52.039 --> 53:54.261 and I think that that we're on the same 53:54.261 --> 53:56.372 page that our understanding is on the 53:56.372 --> 53:55.950 order of magnitude of a couple of 53:55.950 --> 53:58.117 months and I know the anticipation was 53:58.117 --> 54:00.172 that this would not last that long , 54:00.172 --> 54:02.228 but it's clear that it might still , 54:02.228 --> 54:04.450 And again , the a 10 is just an example 54:04.450 --> 54:06.561 of something that we might be looking 54:06.561 --> 54:08.561 into . And with the remainder of my 54:08.561 --> 54:10.561 time , we are now in the fifth week 54:10.561 --> 54:12.561 with no apparent end and we need to 54:12.561 --> 54:14.617 make sure that we're coming to terms 54:14.617 --> 54:16.839 with the fact that this could be longer 54:16.839 --> 54:19.061 than we anticipated . I'm interested in 54:19.061 --> 54:21.172 the planned reduction of end strength 54:21.172 --> 54:23.506 across the Army , Navy and Marine Corps , 54:23.506 --> 54:23.070 the Navy , as we know , is already 54:23.070 --> 54:25.237 short of personnel and sea duty bill . 54:25.237 --> 54:27.403 It's the Air Force is suffering from a 54:27.403 --> 54:29.570 critical shortage of pilots . How does 54:29.570 --> 54:31.792 the department forecasting and planning 54:31.792 --> 54:33.810 for this prolonged war in Ukraine ? 54:33.950 --> 54:36.240 Maybe General Milley , we could ask you 54:36.250 --> 54:37.750 that particular question . 54:40.840 --> 54:42.784 Well , first , we are not directly 54:42.784 --> 54:45.118 engaged in combat operations in Ukraine . 54:45.340 --> 54:47.173 We are conducting deterrence and 54:47.173 --> 54:49.284 assurance operations in the periphery 54:49.284 --> 54:51.284 countries . The Article five NATO's 54:51.284 --> 54:53.340 Article five countries . Having said 54:53.340 --> 54:55.507 that in terms of the end strengths and 54:55.507 --> 54:57.729 the modest reductions and end strengths 54:57.729 --> 54:59.673 of each of the services . What the 54:59.673 --> 54:59.620 services have opted to do is reduce and 54:59.620 --> 55:01.509 strength a little bit in order to 55:01.509 --> 55:03.564 recoup savings in order to modernize 55:03.564 --> 55:05.453 the force aiming towards the 2030 55:05.453 --> 55:07.590 timeframe 2030 plus . Uh and that's 55:07.590 --> 55:09.701 where you see these modest reductions 55:09.701 --> 55:11.979 in industry . Um , and that's , I mean , 55:11.979 --> 55:14.201 what what they're trying to do is focus 55:14.201 --> 55:16.750 on china in Russia , secondarily as the 55:16.750 --> 55:18.770 two principal threats in order to 55:18.780 --> 55:20.780 modernize and upgrade their force . 55:21.140 --> 55:23.251 Yeah . And I think that I think where 55:23.251 --> 55:25.450 my my interest is is that my 55:25.450 --> 55:27.728 understanding is that we don't have it . 55:27.728 --> 55:29.894 We haven't accounted for what might be 55:29.894 --> 55:32.006 a continued and increased presence in 55:32.006 --> 55:34.283 europe in our force reduction planning . 55:34.283 --> 55:36.760 Um yeah , that the force posture , the 55:36.760 --> 55:39.220 long term force posture in europe is 55:39.220 --> 55:41.580 yet to be decided . It's under debate 55:41.580 --> 55:43.636 right now . It's under review . NATO 55:43.636 --> 55:45.691 plays a big part in that and and and 55:45.691 --> 55:47.636 general Walters will be making his 55:47.636 --> 55:49.802 recommendations as secretary on that . 55:49.802 --> 55:51.691 But clearly because of the war in 55:51.691 --> 55:53.413 Ukraine , there's a at least a 55:53.413 --> 55:55.524 possibility if not the probability of 55:55.524 --> 55:55.450 an increased force presence over a 55:55.450 --> 55:57.450 lengthy period of time that doesn't 55:57.450 --> 55:59.339 have to be Stationing that can be 55:59.339 --> 55:59.200 rotational . It can be a lot of 55:59.560 --> 56:02.730 different ways . Gentlemen . Mr johnson 56:02.730 --> 56:04.897 is recognized for five minutes . Thank 56:04.897 --> 56:06.897 you . Mr Chairman Mr Secretary , we 56:06.897 --> 56:09.008 need to understand the recruiting and 56:09.008 --> 56:08.880 retention challenges that the 56:08.880 --> 56:11.102 Department of Defense faces this year . 56:11.102 --> 56:13.102 And I'm not sure if all the answers 56:13.102 --> 56:15.324 provided thus far clarified it yet . So 56:15.324 --> 56:17.547 I have a couple questions on that . The 56:17.547 --> 56:17.320 army has decided to cut active duty 56:17.320 --> 56:19.590 strength by 12,000 soldiers in fiscal 56:19.590 --> 56:22.940 year 23 Undersecretary Gabe camarillo 56:22.940 --> 56:25.170 said last week . He said , quote , like 56:25.170 --> 56:27.281 every other employer in the economy , 56:27.281 --> 56:28.948 we're facing some challenging 56:28.948 --> 56:31.059 conditions in terms of our ability to 56:31.059 --> 56:33.226 recruit and attract talent . Given the 56:33.226 --> 56:35.337 particular particular conditions of a 56:35.337 --> 56:37.448 very tight labor market , our ability 56:37.448 --> 56:39.670 to meet all of our projected recruiting 56:39.670 --> 56:39.120 goals were a little bit challenged , 56:39.120 --> 56:41.290 unquote . Do you agree with Secretary 56:41.300 --> 56:43.300 Camarena's assessment that it's the 56:43.300 --> 56:45.522 tight labor market , that's the primary 56:45.522 --> 56:47.522 driver of recruitment challenges at 56:47.522 --> 56:49.856 least for the army . Thanks congressman . 56:49.856 --> 56:52.022 I think actually there are a number of 56:52.022 --> 56:54.244 things that go into this equation . The 56:54.244 --> 56:56.356 fact that unemployment is below 4% is 56:56.356 --> 56:59.370 uh , is a key issue . But also if you 56:59.370 --> 57:01.640 take a look at the impact of covid over 57:01.640 --> 57:03.696 the last couple couple of years , as 57:03.696 --> 57:06.320 you know , our recruiters , uh , 57:06.330 --> 57:09.520 recruit a lot of kids out of , out of 57:09.520 --> 57:11.742 high school and those high schools have 57:11.742 --> 57:14.790 been in session on an infrequent basis 57:14.790 --> 57:16.970 in terms of actual , uh , physical 57:16.980 --> 57:19.036 presence there . So it's made things 57:19.036 --> 57:21.258 more complicated . Chairman mentioned a 57:21.258 --> 57:23.680 smaller population to recruit from . Uh , 57:23.690 --> 57:26.160 so as we , as we combine all of those 57:26.160 --> 57:28.271 things , uh , then , you know , there 57:28.271 --> 57:30.271 are headwinds and you know , and it 57:30.271 --> 57:32.440 will be uh there'll be headwinds for 57:32.440 --> 57:34.551 all of the services going forward . I 57:34.551 --> 57:36.440 think that's true . But I want to 57:36.440 --> 57:38.440 acknowledge here that the objective 57:38.440 --> 57:38.270 facts . If we review the objective 57:38.270 --> 57:40.610 facts , I think the largest headwind is 57:40.620 --> 57:43.100 inescapably the reaction that D . O . D . 57:43.100 --> 57:45.780 Took two Covid and it let me provide 57:45.780 --> 57:47.724 some stats . Two years ago , right 57:47.724 --> 57:49.947 before the pandemic struck , we had the 57:49.947 --> 57:49.790 greatest economy in the history of the 57:49.790 --> 57:51.630 world . There were recruitment 57:51.630 --> 57:53.741 challenges . There have been for many 57:53.741 --> 57:55.852 years , but we didn't have the budget 57:55.852 --> 57:57.630 request proposing to cut 12,000 57:57.630 --> 57:59.741 soldiers from the army like like this 57:59.741 --> 58:01.963 year's budget asked . So what's changed 58:01.963 --> 58:04.186 over the last 24 months ? It's it's the 58:04.186 --> 58:06.352 department's Covid vaccine mandate and 58:06.352 --> 58:05.520 there's just no way around it . I mean , 58:05.520 --> 58:07.742 some have alluded to it already today . 58:07.742 --> 58:09.909 But um , requiring young men and women 58:09.909 --> 58:12.076 to take the vaccine has disqualified a 58:12.076 --> 58:14.076 huge portion of the population from 58:14.076 --> 58:16.020 military service . And here's some 58:16.020 --> 58:18.020 proof nationwide , more than 40% of 58:18.020 --> 58:20.187 males aged 18 to 24 have chosen not to 58:20.187 --> 58:22.520 become fully vaccinated and as a result , 58:22.520 --> 58:24.353 there now ineligible to join the 58:24.353 --> 58:26.690 military right off the bat . That's 40% 58:26.700 --> 58:28.533 of the target demographic that's 58:28.533 --> 58:30.533 immediately ineligible to serve . I 58:30.533 --> 58:32.422 mean , this is just a fact in the 58:32.422 --> 58:34.589 southeast portion of the country where 58:34.589 --> 58:36.756 I'm from . That number is even greater 58:36.756 --> 58:38.867 according to CDC 52% of 18 to 24 year 58:38.867 --> 58:41.033 old men in that region have chosen not 58:41.033 --> 58:43.089 to receive the vaccine . So why does 58:43.089 --> 58:45.256 that specific geographic region matter 58:45.256 --> 58:47.200 so much ? What makes the Southeast 58:47.200 --> 58:48.922 important is that according to 58:48.922 --> 58:48.920 undersecretary of defense for personnel 58:48.920 --> 58:51.240 and readiness , Southern states produce 58:51.240 --> 58:54.180 nearly 47% of military enlistments in 58:54.180 --> 58:56.410 2019 . That's Georgia , south Carolina 58:56.410 --> 58:58.188 florida Virginia Missouri texas 58:58.188 --> 59:00.630 Oklahoma Arkansas fertile ground for D . 59:00.630 --> 59:02.741 O . D . Recruiters . But these states 59:02.741 --> 59:04.908 send their sons and daughters to serve 59:04.908 --> 59:07.074 the nation at drastically higher rates 59:07.074 --> 59:09.074 than other states do . They contain 59:09.074 --> 59:11.220 Only 38% of 18 to 24 year olds in 59:11.220 --> 59:13.331 America , but they account for nearly 59:13.331 --> 59:15.220 half of all the enlistment . So I 59:15.220 --> 59:17.387 understand what's being said about the 59:17.387 --> 59:19.609 tight labor market and the inability to 59:19.609 --> 59:19.270 meet fitness standards and all the rest . 59:19.270 --> 59:21.270 But it's pretty plain if we look at 59:21.270 --> 59:23.214 this , the D . O . D . Is having a 59:23.214 --> 59:25.437 recruiting and retention crisis because 59:25.437 --> 59:27.492 it has disqualified over half of the 59:27.492 --> 59:29.492 male population from serving in the 59:29.492 --> 59:31.326 military and its best recruiting 59:31.326 --> 59:33.548 grounds and nearly 40% of men and women 59:33.548 --> 59:35.548 aged 18 to 24 nationwide . And then 59:35.548 --> 59:37.770 we're adding fuel to the crisis because 59:37.770 --> 59:39.492 there's this charade about the 59:39.492 --> 59:41.714 religious exemption process for service 59:41.714 --> 59:41.660 service members and I believe it's 59:41.660 --> 59:43.882 blatantly unconstitutional . Let me ask 59:43.882 --> 59:46.049 you quickly in the time that remains , 59:46.049 --> 59:48.216 uh , in light of the obvious impact on 59:48.216 --> 59:47.970 recruitment and retention attention . 59:47.970 --> 59:50.081 Does the department have any plans to 59:50.081 --> 59:52.026 repeal or modify the current Covid 59:52.026 --> 59:54.150 vaccine requirement ? I do not . 59:55.920 --> 59:58.142 Let me let me ask you . Um , if you can 59:58.142 --> 01:00:00.400 tell us how many religious exemptions 01:00:00.400 --> 01:00:02.567 to the Covid vaccine have been granted 01:00:02.567 --> 01:00:04.567 across all services . And I'll note 01:00:04.567 --> 01:00:06.610 that in february 15 exemptions were 01:00:06.610 --> 01:00:08.666 granted out of 16,000 applications . 01:00:10.810 --> 01:00:12.860 Okay . I'm gonna take take that 01:00:12.860 --> 01:00:15.027 question and other covid questions for 01:00:15.027 --> 01:00:17.249 the record . As you know , this is uh , 01:00:17.249 --> 01:00:20.480 an issue in litigation . And so I'll 01:00:20.480 --> 01:00:22.536 take your questions for the record . 01:00:22.536 --> 01:00:24.536 Well , in the , in the 40 seconds I 01:00:24.536 --> 01:00:26.591 have remaining . I'll just state the 01:00:26.591 --> 01:00:26.560 obvious would have a lot of people back 01:00:26.560 --> 01:00:28.893 home are asking me and asking all of us . 01:00:28.893 --> 01:00:31.004 And that is if it's so obvious that a 01:00:31.004 --> 01:00:33.800 vaccine mandate has is causing this 01:00:33.800 --> 01:00:36.160 deficit in the number of troops . uh , 01:00:36.170 --> 01:00:38.226 then why don't we just change it ? I 01:00:38.226 --> 01:00:40.392 mean , it seems to be behind certainly 01:00:40.392 --> 01:00:42.392 disagree with the premise with your 01:00:42.392 --> 01:00:41.860 premise . I know you do , but I mean 01:00:41.870 --> 01:00:43.981 obviously it's having a direct effect 01:00:43.981 --> 01:00:45.870 on our numbers of recruitment and 01:00:45.870 --> 01:00:47.981 retention and readiness , which is of 01:00:47.981 --> 01:00:50.203 great concern to all of us . And I know 01:00:50.203 --> 01:00:49.030 you're not going to change your mind 01:00:49.030 --> 01:00:51.086 here today , But I'm registering the 01:00:51.086 --> 01:00:52.863 concern of my district and many 01:00:52.863 --> 01:00:55.086 millions of americans that we represent 01:00:55.110 --> 01:00:57.277 who share this opinion and I hope that 01:00:57.277 --> 01:00:59.550 you'll take it under advisement , are 01:00:59.550 --> 01:00:59.940 you back