WEBVTT 00:00.040 --> 00:02.151 thank you very much . Mr . Chairman , 00:02.151 --> 00:04.373 thank you to both of you for being here 00:04.373 --> 00:06.596 today . Uh Secretary Austin , I want to 00:06.596 --> 00:08.651 commend you want to commend the work 00:08.651 --> 00:10.484 that you have done so far to get 00:10.484 --> 00:12.484 Ukraine the equipment and support , 00:12.484 --> 00:14.262 they need to fight back against 00:14.262 --> 00:16.373 Russia's unforgivable attack on their 00:16.373 --> 00:18.429 country . And at the same time , I'm 00:18.429 --> 00:20.429 glad we're starting to provide more 00:20.429 --> 00:22.651 capable systems . And I really urge you 00:22.651 --> 00:24.484 to increase those deliveries and 00:24.484 --> 00:26.818 provide all the necessary training . So , 00:26.818 --> 00:28.818 Ukrainian forces do have everything 00:28.818 --> 00:30.540 they need . Now , I have heard 00:30.540 --> 00:32.540 repeatedly from people on the front 00:32.540 --> 00:34.318 lines and those involved in the 00:34.318 --> 00:36.207 logistics system in Ukraine about 00:36.207 --> 00:38.151 equipment um , that we deliver not 00:38.151 --> 00:40.484 reaching frontline units that most need , 00:40.484 --> 00:42.540 the weapons , weapons and ammunition 00:42.540 --> 00:44.651 and body armor . There there seems to 00:44.651 --> 00:46.350 be a number of logistical and 00:46.350 --> 00:49.180 institutional issues , including some 00:49.180 --> 00:51.390 diversion and hoarding which are 00:51.390 --> 00:53.446 standing in the way . So I wanted to 00:53.446 --> 00:55.668 ask you today , what is your assessment 00:55.668 --> 00:57.890 of those issues and how are you working 00:57.890 --> 01:00.001 with the Ukraine to make distribution 01:00.001 --> 01:01.834 of international assistance more 01:01.834 --> 01:03.779 transparent and effective . So the 01:03.779 --> 01:05.890 units on the front lines actually get 01:05.890 --> 01:08.740 the equipment that they need . Well , 01:08.740 --> 01:11.960 thank you , Senator , This is something 01:11.960 --> 01:14.730 that's very important to us at at the 01:14.730 --> 01:17.890 Department and to me and General Milley 01:17.890 --> 01:20.057 specifically , and we we talked to our 01:20.057 --> 01:23.090 counterparts on a weekly basis and 01:23.100 --> 01:25.267 without fail . This is a question that 01:25.267 --> 01:27.378 I ask about . We don't have people on 01:27.378 --> 01:29.211 the ground to be able to provide 01:29.211 --> 01:32.820 accurate feedback on how this equipment 01:32.820 --> 01:34.709 is moving and whether or not it's 01:34.709 --> 01:36.931 getting to where it's needed most . But 01:36.931 --> 01:38.987 the report that we get back from the 01:38.987 --> 01:41.440 senior leadership routinely is that 01:41.450 --> 01:43.617 it's getting to where it needs to go . 01:43.617 --> 01:45.561 But you know , I won't stop , I'll 01:45.561 --> 01:47.672 continue to engage and make sure that 01:47.672 --> 01:49.700 we emphasize that uh that it's 01:49.700 --> 01:51.644 important that all the stuff we're 01:51.644 --> 01:53.811 giving them gets to the right place so 01:53.811 --> 01:55.867 that they can be successful . And in 01:55.867 --> 01:57.922 addition to that , you know , when I 01:57.922 --> 02:00.390 engaged the Senior leadership in Kiev 02:00.400 --> 02:03.190 last week , I emphasized the importance 02:03.190 --> 02:06.190 of accountability as well . And and uh 02:06.200 --> 02:08.089 and they acknowledge that this is 02:08.089 --> 02:09.811 something that's important and 02:09.811 --> 02:12.033 something that they're focused on again 02:12.033 --> 02:14.256 without without people on the ground to 02:14.256 --> 02:16.367 be able to confirm or deny . Its very 02:16.367 --> 02:18.422 very difficult to do at this point . 02:18.422 --> 02:21.510 Okay , I appreciate that . Um Turning 02:21.510 --> 02:23.950 to Home Secretary Austin in january , I 02:23.950 --> 02:26.006 and many of my colleagues sent you a 02:26.006 --> 02:28.360 letter regarding D . O . D . Oversight 02:28.360 --> 02:30.520 of privatized housing after belle for 02:30.520 --> 02:32.490 beauty communities pled guilty to 02:32.490 --> 02:34.480 defrauding the government . The 02:34.490 --> 02:36.590 department's response provided few 02:36.600 --> 02:38.810 meaningful answers on how oversight is 02:38.810 --> 02:40.754 actually going to improve and that 02:40.754 --> 02:42.921 really needs to change . And on top of 02:42.921 --> 02:44.977 that , as you probably know , just a 02:44.977 --> 02:46.977 few days ago , the Senate permanent 02:46.977 --> 02:49.199 subcommittee on investigations released 02:49.199 --> 02:51.366 a report showing that after the period 02:51.366 --> 02:53.199 covered by the doj investigation 02:53.199 --> 02:55.690 Balfour . Beatty continued to fail to 02:55.690 --> 02:58.210 remediate mold failed to make critical 02:58.210 --> 03:00.930 repairs and falsified information in 03:00.930 --> 03:02.874 the database . D . O . D . Uses to 03:02.874 --> 03:05.370 calculate their incentive fee . That is 03:05.370 --> 03:07.970 really outrageous and really completely 03:07.970 --> 03:10.280 unacceptable . In my home state of 03:10.280 --> 03:12.450 Washington Balfour . Beatty continues 03:12.610 --> 03:15.200 to obstruct building sufficient housing 03:15.200 --> 03:17.120 at Fairchild and along with the 03:17.120 --> 03:19.176 shortage of housing in the community 03:19.176 --> 03:21.730 where BH fails to keep up with rent 03:21.730 --> 03:23.880 prices . That means that military 03:23.880 --> 03:26.190 families are left without housing . 03:26.200 --> 03:29.640 Some have been stuck living in out out 03:29.640 --> 03:32.610 of RVs for months now . Um , and at 03:32.610 --> 03:35.350 joint base lewiS mcchord dozens of 03:35.350 --> 03:37.650 families have sued Lincoln military 03:37.650 --> 03:39.860 housing over really deplorable living 03:39.860 --> 03:42.370 conditions . Our service members should 03:42.370 --> 03:45.000 have access to the best or at least 03:45.010 --> 03:47.730 decent housing , not the worst . Now . 03:47.740 --> 03:49.684 We all want to fix this as soon as 03:49.684 --> 03:52.230 possible . This budget requests almost 03:52.230 --> 03:53.530 $168 million 03:53.530 --> 03:58.500 $45 03:58.500 --> 04:00.760 million dollars more than last year . 04:00.840 --> 04:03.520 Can you tell me first what our military 04:03.520 --> 04:05.576 families getting out of this funding 04:05.576 --> 04:07.742 increase ? And secondly , what is your 04:07.742 --> 04:09.840 assessment of the private housing 04:09.840 --> 04:12.230 companies compliance since the plea 04:12.230 --> 04:14.174 agreement ? And will you hold them 04:14.174 --> 04:16.820 accountable for such horrendous abusive 04:16.820 --> 04:19.790 conduct uh , to your last question 04:19.790 --> 04:21.650 first , Yes , I will hold them 04:21.650 --> 04:23.890 accountable and uh , I expect the 04:23.890 --> 04:25.723 service secretaries to hold them 04:25.723 --> 04:29.020 accountable as well and , you know , 04:29.020 --> 04:31.590 they , the health and welfare of our 04:31.590 --> 04:33.646 troops . Our families is very , very 04:33.646 --> 04:36.240 important to us . Um , and , you know , 04:36.240 --> 04:39.060 we put a great deal of emphasis on this , 04:39.060 --> 04:41.640 but , you know , obviously , this is 04:41.640 --> 04:43.696 something that we can never take our 04:43.696 --> 04:45.807 eyes off of and we're not there yet . 04:45.807 --> 04:49.480 We put more more resources into into 04:49.480 --> 04:53.080 the budget so we can provide more and 04:53.090 --> 04:56.090 higher quality housing . But we're 04:56.090 --> 04:58.410 gonna have to hold the contractors 04:58.410 --> 05:01.180 accountable and we we intend to do that . 05:01.190 --> 05:03.357 I intend to do that . So what what are 05:03.357 --> 05:05.412 the military families getting out of 05:05.412 --> 05:07.301 the funding increase that's being 05:07.301 --> 05:10.100 requested ? It will be of course it's 05:10.100 --> 05:12.510 spread out over a number of different 05:12.520 --> 05:15.120 projects but it will be more in better 05:15.120 --> 05:18.910 housing . So our quality has okay well 05:18.910 --> 05:20.966 we've been told this for a long time 05:20.966 --> 05:23.188 and we're still seeing these deplorable 05:23.188 --> 05:26.200 conditions in the ongoing um really 05:26.210 --> 05:28.610 substandard housing and the challenges 05:28.610 --> 05:30.850 that our families are having . So this 05:30.850 --> 05:33.190 needs a lot of work and oversight and 05:33.190 --> 05:35.770 we have got to stay up on top of it . I 05:35.780 --> 05:38.002 want to know that you're gonna be doing 05:38.002 --> 05:40.550 that . I will thank you . Mr . Chairman 05:40.550 --> 05:42.390 Senator Moran . Thank you . Mr . 05:42.390 --> 05:44.520 Chairman thank you both for your 05:44.520 --> 05:47.020 service to our nation . In your recent 05:47.030 --> 05:49.086 written testimony you both mentioned 05:49.086 --> 05:50.919 that our adversaries are rapidly 05:50.919 --> 05:53.640 developing hypersonic missiles as 05:53.650 --> 05:56.200 hypersonic become more commonplace . It 05:56.200 --> 05:58.033 seems we can't rely upon nuclear 05:58.033 --> 06:00.260 deterrence alone to prevent hypersonic 06:00.260 --> 06:02.550 attacks . Once and once hypersonic 06:02.550 --> 06:05.400 interceptors are developed how do we 06:05.400 --> 06:07.289 plan on deploying these defensive 06:07.289 --> 06:09.400 capabilities around the globe to make 06:09.400 --> 06:11.456 certain that our deployed troops are 06:11.456 --> 06:14.400 sufficiently protected from attack and 06:14.410 --> 06:16.410 what shifts do you expect to see in 06:16.410 --> 06:18.521 missile and interceptor investment in 06:18.521 --> 06:20.688 future years . The US company , as the 06:20.688 --> 06:22.850 US as US competes with china , 06:25.140 --> 06:27.307 Hypersonic is important to us . And in 06:27.307 --> 06:29.590 this budget , I think you've seen 06:29.590 --> 06:32.820 senator that we're investing some $7.2 06:32.820 --> 06:34.931 billion dollars in long range fires . 06:35.040 --> 06:38.160 $4.7 billion dollars of that is focused 06:38.160 --> 06:40.680 on hypersonic . And so we're , we 06:40.680 --> 06:42.624 continue to develop capability for 06:42.624 --> 06:46.160 ourselves . But what's important is 06:46.160 --> 06:48.710 that we need to consider the mix the 06:48.710 --> 06:50.654 range of capabilities , the mix of 06:50.654 --> 06:52.766 capabilities that we're gonna , we're 06:52.766 --> 06:54.766 gonna bring on board to support our 06:54.766 --> 06:57.140 warfighting concepts . So hypersonic is 06:57.140 --> 06:59.362 an important capability . But there are 06:59.362 --> 07:01.529 other things that add to this equation 07:01.529 --> 07:03.862 as well in terms of defending ourselves , 07:03.862 --> 07:06.460 this is a , a priority for me . And as 07:06.460 --> 07:08.890 soon as uh , we came on board , I 07:08.890 --> 07:11.040 tasked my staff to make sure that we 07:11.050 --> 07:13.580 pulled uh , the right elements together 07:13.580 --> 07:15.524 to make sure that we were pressing 07:15.524 --> 07:19.070 forward rapidly to increase our , our 07:19.070 --> 07:22.950 efforts in developing a , our defenses 07:22.960 --> 07:25.680 against the hypersonic threat . You've 07:25.680 --> 07:27.791 seen us engage industry on this issue 07:27.840 --> 07:30.310 and will continue to press . But you 07:30.310 --> 07:32.421 know , we've made some progress , but 07:32.421 --> 07:34.477 we have a ways to go yet . What what 07:34.477 --> 07:36.199 concerns do you have about the 07:36.199 --> 07:38.366 hypersonic weapons workforce ? What do 07:38.366 --> 07:40.199 we need to do to be training and 07:40.199 --> 07:42.143 preparing ourselves ? What kind of 07:42.143 --> 07:43.921 investment in our work force is 07:43.921 --> 07:47.730 necessary in our , in 07:47.730 --> 07:51.070 our private sector workforce . Well , 07:51.160 --> 07:54.610 certainly , you know , we've , 07:54.610 --> 07:58.330 engaged the , um , engaged 07:58.330 --> 08:00.497 industry and asked them to pick up the 08:00.497 --> 08:02.608 pace . Uh , and in terms of what they 08:02.608 --> 08:05.330 need specifically in their workforce 08:05.340 --> 08:07.510 elements . Uh , that's something that 08:07.510 --> 08:09.640 we haven't discussed . But uh , but 08:09.640 --> 08:12.670 again , I I think the issue to to this 08:12.670 --> 08:14.760 point has been , you know , 08:18.240 --> 08:20.296 we've we've not pushed to the degree 08:20.296 --> 08:22.590 that we we can push and we've not 08:22.590 --> 08:24.534 invested to the degree that we can 08:24.534 --> 08:26.534 invest . And so we invested in this 08:26.534 --> 08:28.868 last year . We invested in it this year . 08:28.868 --> 08:31.034 And we're going to continue to press . 08:31.240 --> 08:34.540 Thank you . Let me let me shift . Uh , 08:34.550 --> 08:37.830 natures of my question , I had the 08:37.840 --> 08:40.380 opportunity to review and sit down with 08:40.380 --> 08:42.324 staff from the Inspector General's 08:42.324 --> 08:45.310 office To discuss their November 21 08:45.600 --> 08:47.544 report evaluating the department's 08:47.544 --> 08:49.660 implementation of suicide prevention 08:50.440 --> 08:52.590 resources for transitioning members . 08:52.740 --> 08:55.520 We know from our work on the Veterans 08:55.520 --> 08:58.460 Committee that the most vulnerable time 08:58.460 --> 09:01.520 for many members of our military as are 09:01.520 --> 09:03.687 their leaving active duty and becoming 09:03.687 --> 09:06.140 veterans . That Inspector general's 09:06.140 --> 09:07.820 report demonstrates a lack of 09:07.820 --> 09:11.550 compliance with executive order 138-2 09:11.550 --> 09:14.580 regarding mental health screenings and 09:14.580 --> 09:16.747 the warm handoff to mental health care 09:16.747 --> 09:19.210 for transitioning service members . It 09:19.210 --> 09:22.810 continues to be troubling to me , uh , 09:22.820 --> 09:26.020 that this does not seem to receive the 09:26.020 --> 09:29.310 attention that it deserves within our 09:29.310 --> 09:31.850 military community . Can you share with 09:31.850 --> 09:34.480 me either one of you what progress the 09:34.480 --> 09:36.560 department is making in implementing 09:36.560 --> 09:38.782 the inspector general's recommendations 09:38.782 --> 09:40.671 from that 21 November 21 report . 09:44.540 --> 09:46.762 What I can tell you senator is that and 09:46.762 --> 09:48.818 you've heard me say this a number of 09:48.818 --> 09:51.100 times that this is important to me . 09:51.110 --> 09:53.332 This is important to our department and 09:53.332 --> 09:55.520 this is why we've invested in in 09:55.520 --> 09:59.340 suicide prevention in mental health in 09:59.350 --> 10:01.830 in a major way . This year . We've 10:01.830 --> 10:04.290 invested invested in it last year as 10:04.290 --> 10:07.620 well . But this year uh we're investing 10:07.620 --> 10:10.290 $1.4 billion in uh in mental health 10:10.290 --> 10:13.260 efforts . Uh We continue to uh to 10:13.270 --> 10:15.492 liaise and engage with our counterparts 10:15.492 --> 10:17.548 in the V . A . To ensure that we can 10:17.548 --> 10:19.659 close as much as possible . Close the 10:19.659 --> 10:23.460 gap as as troops transition from uh 10:23.840 --> 10:27.150 from active duty to to leaving the 10:27.150 --> 10:30.910 service or going or going in any 10:30.910 --> 10:34.610 direction . So , um I've also stood up 10:34.610 --> 10:36.499 an independent independent review 10:36.499 --> 10:39.260 committee uh to uh to address this 10:39.260 --> 10:41.480 issue and give us further insights and 10:41.490 --> 10:45.400 mental health issues and also uh 10:45.410 --> 10:48.090 prevention of suicide . Uh and uh and 10:48.090 --> 10:50.034 so we're investing in this in in a 10:50.034 --> 10:52.940 major way I intended to pursue this 10:52.940 --> 10:55.080 further in in India . And I look 10:55.080 --> 10:56.969 forward to your cooperation as we 10:56.969 --> 10:59.080 figure out what language instructions 10:59.080 --> 11:01.247 might be valuable to the department to 11:01.247 --> 11:03.024 see that that gap that you just 11:03.024 --> 11:05.060 described is closed . Thank you . 11:05.070 --> 11:07.292 Before I get to Senator Durbin , I just 11:07.292 --> 11:10.110 want to add to Senator Moran's question 11:10.110 --> 11:12.680 on on the transition , we have work to 11:12.680 --> 11:14.458 do . And I know you guys aren't 11:14.458 --> 11:17.170 necessarily in the position to deal 11:17.180 --> 11:19.550 with pushing people out . You want to 11:19.560 --> 11:22.220 keep them in . But it is apparent that 11:22.230 --> 11:24.690 this is a pretty massive problem and 11:24.700 --> 11:27.380 it's both active military . And so I 11:27.380 --> 11:29.436 want to thank Senator Moran for that 11:29.436 --> 11:31.602 line of questioning . Senator Durbin , 11:31.602 --> 11:33.769 thank you Mr Chairman , thank you both 11:33.769 --> 11:35.936 for being here . General Milley and as 11:35.936 --> 11:35.480 well as Secretary Austin , thank you 11:35.480 --> 11:37.536 for what you're doing today and your 11:37.536 --> 11:40.100 years of service to our country . And 11:40.100 --> 11:42.630 so those of us who have been in the 11:42.630 --> 11:45.490 business of military politics over a 11:45.490 --> 11:47.490 period of time are considered to be 11:47.490 --> 11:49.520 wise forecasters of what's going to 11:49.520 --> 11:51.750 happen . And sometimes we are and 11:51.750 --> 11:54.410 sometimes we aren't . I can recall the 11:54.410 --> 11:56.990 early briefing on what we might expect 11:56.990 --> 11:59.212 in Ukraine when the Russian troops were 11:59.212 --> 12:01.350 all poised at the border . And if I 12:01.350 --> 12:03.710 remember it correctly , the prediction 12:03.710 --> 12:06.690 was that the city of Kiev would fall in 12:06.690 --> 12:09.190 a matter of days and that major parts 12:09.190 --> 12:11.301 of Ukraine would fall to the Russians 12:11.301 --> 12:13.370 as well . Then they would find find 12:13.370 --> 12:15.203 that the maintenance of order in 12:15.410 --> 12:17.577 conquered territory would be extremely 12:17.577 --> 12:19.354 difficult and they would face a 12:19.354 --> 12:21.521 resistance for a long period of time . 12:21.840 --> 12:24.160 I remember that prediction as we all 12:24.160 --> 12:27.620 watched reality unfold Kiev today , 12:27.630 --> 12:29.930 thank goodness is still not in the 12:29.930 --> 12:31.930 hands of the Russians . Those under 12:31.930 --> 12:34.990 attack , I'm sure , and most of 12:35.000 --> 12:38.040 Ukraine has not been conquered by 12:38.040 --> 12:40.560 Russia , thank goodness . Uh and they 12:40.560 --> 12:42.727 are apparently having a difficult time 12:42.727 --> 12:44.893 hanging on to what they currently have 12:44.893 --> 12:47.810 and are fighting to extend their reach 12:47.810 --> 12:51.040 every day . And I just wonder we can 12:51.040 --> 12:53.207 assess it in many different ways , but 12:53.207 --> 12:55.429 certainly the courage and resilience of 12:55.429 --> 12:57.651 the Ukrainian people first and foremost 12:57.651 --> 12:59.596 is the reason for what we see , at 12:59.596 --> 13:01.710 least . I think so . Uh and I wonder 13:01.710 --> 13:03.599 what we've learned about Russia's 13:03.599 --> 13:06.010 military strength and what we 13:06.010 --> 13:08.121 anticipated they would deliver in the 13:08.121 --> 13:10.399 field and what they actually delivered . 13:10.399 --> 13:12.510 And I know it's been asked earlier by 13:12.510 --> 13:14.677 Senator baldwin , but a declaration of 13:14.677 --> 13:16.843 war , what would that mean in terms of 13:16.843 --> 13:19.700 Putin's capabilities in extending his 13:19.700 --> 13:23.120 military reach in Ukraine Secretary , 13:23.510 --> 13:26.830 with your permission , I'll take a I'll 13:26.840 --> 13:28.784 answer first . And if you want the 13:28.784 --> 13:30.673 chairman to respond as well sir , 13:30.673 --> 13:32.118 certainly we offer that . 13:33.540 --> 13:37.260 We , I have learned a lot about 13:38.440 --> 13:42.400 Russia's leadership at the lower levels , 13:42.420 --> 13:45.280 which I think has been very , very 13:46.040 --> 13:48.590 key in this in their efforts here . 13:49.040 --> 13:51.610 They have modern equipment , they have 13:51.610 --> 13:53.930 lots of it , they have , they have a 13:53.930 --> 13:56.530 doctrine that that really wasn't 13:56.530 --> 13:59.730 followed . Uh And uh and so as we 13:59.730 --> 14:02.450 saw things unfold on the ground , we 14:02.450 --> 14:06.380 saw them , um , not 14:06.390 --> 14:09.220 uh , not able to support themselves , 14:09.220 --> 14:11.276 logistically , we saw them make some 14:11.276 --> 14:13.510 bad assumptions at the very beginning 14:13.510 --> 14:16.370 of this . Uh , we saw them fail to 14:16.370 --> 14:18.580 integrate aerial fires with their 14:18.580 --> 14:21.320 ground maneuver uh in just a number of 14:21.320 --> 14:24.630 missteps and and I attribute a lot of 14:24.630 --> 14:28.090 that too , lack of leadership at the 14:28.090 --> 14:30.800 lower level . Uh , and then we saw 14:30.810 --> 14:33.270 Russia pushed its senior officers 14:33.270 --> 14:35.460 forward as a result of that , and many 14:35.460 --> 14:38.900 of those were killed from being forward 14:38.900 --> 14:41.067 on the battlefield . We'll see some of 14:41.067 --> 14:43.122 the same mistakes , some of the same 14:43.122 --> 14:45.990 weaknesses as a , as a prosecute the 14:45.990 --> 14:48.101 fight in the don boss and , and , and 14:48.101 --> 14:50.157 uh , and in the southern part of the 14:50.157 --> 14:52.379 country . Uh , but they will learn from 14:52.379 --> 14:54.601 the lessons uh , that , uh , learn from 14:54.601 --> 14:57.400 the what they did in the early stages 14:57.400 --> 14:59.710 of this fight . Uh , and uh , we'll see 14:59.710 --> 15:02.050 them improve their logistical efforts , 15:02.340 --> 15:04.451 uh , and we'll see them improve their 15:04.451 --> 15:06.340 massing of fires and that sort of 15:06.340 --> 15:08.451 business , but some things they won't 15:08.451 --> 15:10.396 be able to correct . So we , we've 15:10.396 --> 15:12.618 learned a lot about their leadership at 15:12.618 --> 15:14.618 the , at the lower levels and their 15:14.618 --> 15:16.673 level of training . I'd like General 15:16.673 --> 15:18.673 Miller to respond . But there was a 15:18.673 --> 15:20.784 suggestion that if declaration of war 15:20.784 --> 15:22.673 took place , that something would 15:22.673 --> 15:24.840 happen automatically under Russian law 15:24.840 --> 15:27.320 of the conscription . And that suggests 15:27.320 --> 15:30.530 to me as a civilian that a lot of 15:30.540 --> 15:33.670 untrained men in this circumstance 15:33.710 --> 15:36.010 might be called into training and 15:36.010 --> 15:38.440 exercises that they aren't prepared for . 15:38.450 --> 15:41.250 They haven't been conditioned for . 15:41.340 --> 15:43.451 That doesn't seem like it would be an 15:43.451 --> 15:45.340 immediate boost to their effort . 15:45.340 --> 15:48.290 That's exactly right senator . He would , 15:48.300 --> 15:50.390 he would be able to mobilize more 15:50.390 --> 15:52.680 people , but to adequately train those 15:52.680 --> 15:54.791 people to be more effective than what 15:54.791 --> 15:57.069 we've seen on the battlefield thus far , 15:57.069 --> 15:59.124 that's questionable . Gentlemen . If 15:59.124 --> 16:01.124 you'd respond to that question I've 16:01.124 --> 16:03.180 asked earlier , if you'd also add to 16:03.180 --> 16:05.236 your comments and I'm running out of 16:05.236 --> 16:07.180 time . I have a particular concern 16:07.180 --> 16:09.291 about Poland and the Baltics and they 16:09.291 --> 16:11.013 worry every step of the way of 16:11.013 --> 16:13.700 extension of Russian aggression into 16:13.700 --> 16:15.867 their region . I hope you will address 16:15.867 --> 16:18.033 that in your comments just very , very 16:18.033 --> 16:20.540 briefly , center uh Declaration of War 16:20.540 --> 16:22.490 does have some implications inside 16:22.490 --> 16:25.160 Russian society legally would , as the 16:25.160 --> 16:27.382 secretary said , it would allow them to 16:27.382 --> 16:29.660 mobilize additional forces , but again , 16:29.660 --> 16:31.771 training etcetera , how long it would 16:31.771 --> 16:33.827 take for them to get to the front in 16:33.827 --> 16:36.049 terms of the lessons learned leadership 16:36.049 --> 16:35.490 is clearly the key from Zelensky on 16:35.490 --> 16:37.720 down to the lowest private and as 16:37.730 --> 16:39.786 napoleon taught us a long time ago , 16:39.786 --> 16:41.786 you know , moral is the physical as 16:41.786 --> 16:44.008 three is to one . So they are capable . 16:44.008 --> 16:46.008 That is probably the most important 16:46.008 --> 16:47.841 difference right now between the 16:47.841 --> 16:49.786 Russians and the Ukrainians is the 16:49.786 --> 16:51.897 leadership throughout the levels . In 16:51.897 --> 16:51.740 addition to that is what the Western 16:51.740 --> 16:53.796 nations NATO and particularly United 16:53.796 --> 16:55.962 States taught their leaders Since 2014 16:55.962 --> 16:58.129 about Mission Command . The Ukrainians 16:58.129 --> 17:00.240 are practicing a decentralized intent 17:00.240 --> 17:02.462 based set of tactics , the Russians are 17:02.462 --> 17:04.800 practicing a top down very , very top 17:04.800 --> 17:07.480 heavy directive in nature , a sort of 17:07.490 --> 17:09.490 set of orders coming from the top , 17:09.490 --> 17:11.712 which is not necessarily the best thing 17:11.712 --> 17:13.768 to do in a dynamic battlefield . The 17:13.768 --> 17:15.823 second thing is the effective use of 17:15.823 --> 17:15.490 antitank weapons is being phenomenal on 17:15.490 --> 17:17.601 the part of the Ukrainians . Third is 17:17.601 --> 17:19.323 the denial of the airspace air 17:19.323 --> 17:21.700 supremacy . There's superiority to the 17:21.700 --> 17:23.644 Russians by the Ukrainians and the 17:23.644 --> 17:25.644 effective use of , of air defense , 17:25.644 --> 17:27.630 ground air defense systems . Uh , 17:27.640 --> 17:29.696 terrain has played to the terrain to 17:29.696 --> 17:32.970 the Ukrainian favor uh , intelligence 17:32.970 --> 17:35.026 is really important . The Ukrainians 17:35.026 --> 17:37.026 have a built in intelligence system 17:37.026 --> 17:38.859 being the people . So , uh , the 17:38.859 --> 17:41.026 Russians have walked into an area that 17:41.026 --> 17:43.081 is clearly unwelcome to them and the 17:43.081 --> 17:45.303 people who provided a massive amount of 17:45.303 --> 17:44.930 intelligence . Plus we have opened up 17:44.930 --> 17:47.152 the pipes , which I'm not gonna go into 17:47.152 --> 17:49.208 detail here at an open hearing . But 17:49.208 --> 17:50.986 there's a significant amount of 17:50.986 --> 17:53.041 intelligence flowing to Ukraine from 17:53.041 --> 17:54.986 the United States , all of that in 17:54.986 --> 17:57.041 combination and many , many more are 17:57.041 --> 17:56.650 some of the early lessons learned that 17:56.650 --> 17:58.872 have made the difference as what you've 17:58.872 --> 18:00.928 seen in terms of predictions . Those 18:00.928 --> 18:03.039 were early assessments . Uh , and war 18:03.039 --> 18:04.872 is a dynamic interaction between 18:04.872 --> 18:06.817 competing wills . So between those 18:06.817 --> 18:08.817 predictions that you heard in early 18:08.817 --> 18:10.850 february and in january , a lot of 18:10.850 --> 18:13.260 things happened on that battlefield In 18:13.260 --> 18:15.320 preparation prior to the invasion on 18:15.320 --> 18:17.542 the 24th , not the least of which is an 18:17.542 --> 18:19.431 intelligence flow from the United 18:19.431 --> 18:21.376 States and that made a significant 18:21.376 --> 18:23.264 difference in outcomes . And then 18:23.264 --> 18:26.540 Poland and Balk . It's so Poland is 18:26.550 --> 18:29.080 Baltics . Yeah , Poland , Poland is 18:29.090 --> 18:31.423 clearly , you know , these are all NATO , 18:31.423 --> 18:33.670 Article five allies . As you know the 18:33.670 --> 18:35.726 United States Under the direction of 18:35.726 --> 18:37.837 President Secretary Defense . We went 18:37.837 --> 18:40.190 ahead and directed us troops . So right 18:40.190 --> 18:42.468 now you have U . S . Troops in Estonia , 18:42.468 --> 18:44.720 Latvia , Lithuania Poland Romania , 18:44.730 --> 18:46.940 Hungary . The whole the whole all the 18:46.940 --> 18:49.560 entire belt has US troops in there . 18:50.040 --> 18:52.207 And that was done immediately in order 18:52.207 --> 18:55.440 to reinforce the NATO Article five 18:55.450 --> 18:57.672 deterrence posture of the United States 18:57.672 --> 18:59.783 and to assure our allies That they're 18:59.783 --> 19:02.006 not going to be left alone . So that is 19:02.006 --> 19:04.228 a critical component . As the president 19:04.228 --> 19:06.394 has said many many times as members of 19:06.394 --> 19:05.970 Congress has said many many times . 19:05.980 --> 19:08.036 Article five matters . It's a Senate 19:08.036 --> 19:10.258 ratified treaty uh in the United States 19:10.258 --> 19:12.424 will not give up we will protect every 19:12.424 --> 19:14.758 inch of NATO territory . Senator Graham . 19:15.440 --> 19:17.850 Thank you . Mr Chairman thank you both 19:17.850 --> 19:21.240 for coming . General Austin uh this 19:21.240 --> 19:24.550 budget request . Is it a 4% increase ? 19:28.140 --> 19:31.060 Yes . From last year's . Okay . What's 19:31.060 --> 19:34.740 the inflation rate Current current 19:34.740 --> 19:37.210 inflation rate is uh well above that . 19:37.220 --> 19:39.630 Okay , so this budget doesn't keep up 19:39.630 --> 19:43.400 with inflation number one uh percentage 19:43.400 --> 19:46.960 of GDP spent on defense . What 19:46.970 --> 19:49.360 percentage does this budget represent ? 19:50.640 --> 19:54.590 I think it's 3.1 . Okay . How many 19:54.590 --> 19:57.840 times have we been below 3% 19:58.000 --> 20:01.910 since World War II ? Mhm . I 20:01.920 --> 20:05.360 don't know senator . Well you need to 20:05.360 --> 20:07.520 look it up in 1940 , 20:08.440 --> 20:12.030 2000 2001 ? And the 10 year 20:12.030 --> 20:15.530 window the fiscal year defense plan In 20:15.530 --> 20:19.430 year 10 2032 what percentage 20:19.440 --> 20:22.170 of GDP will be spent on defense 20:24.420 --> 20:28.060 In the 10 year window FY 32 . 20:28.440 --> 20:30.660 The trajectory on where will we be in 20:30.660 --> 20:34.640 Fy 32 ? We should be 20:34.640 --> 20:36.696 a bit above where we are right now . 20:36.696 --> 20:38.862 What ? 2.4% . If the numbers I've been 20:38.862 --> 20:41.470 given ? All right . So over time we 20:41.470 --> 20:44.240 spend less historically than we've ever 20:44.240 --> 20:47.230 spent And given the 10 years that I'm 20:47.230 --> 20:49.174 looking at . I don't see it . Real 20:49.174 --> 20:51.174 peace dividend out there . How many 20:51.174 --> 20:53.341 current battle for ships do we have in 20:53.341 --> 20:56.720 the Navy ? So 20:58.540 --> 21:02.130 We have 296 . We have 11 aircraft 21:02.130 --> 21:05.290 carriers . How many ships does china 21:05.290 --> 21:08.400 have ? I think the latest number was 21:08.400 --> 21:11.650 around 400 . Yeah . 355 . They're going 21:11.650 --> 21:15.630 to 422 by the end of Well for 60 by 21:15.630 --> 21:18.920 2030 . Where will we be in terms of 21:18.920 --> 21:22.170 ships by the end of 2032 . 21:24.140 --> 21:27.450 Us ships It's 280 . 21:28.040 --> 21:29.984 So the bottom line is we're on the 21:29.984 --> 21:31.818 wrong path here . From my humble 21:31.818 --> 21:34.096 opinion we're spending below inflation . 21:34.620 --> 21:36.731 The chinese are increasing their navy 21:37.140 --> 21:40.250 By 2032 . We'll have these numbers . 21:40.250 --> 21:42.417 All right . We'll have 280 ships below 21:42.417 --> 21:45.670 what we have today . Uh GDP spent on 21:45.670 --> 21:48.920 defense will be at 2.4% . I don't know 21:48.920 --> 21:51.142 what kind of world we're looking at out 21:51.142 --> 21:53.253 there . But you're seeing a different 21:53.253 --> 21:55.309 world than I am . And I hope we in a 21:55.309 --> 21:57.420 bipartisan way , you can correct this 21:57.420 --> 21:59.420 because I think in really many ways 21:59.420 --> 22:01.309 this is dangerous . Afghanistan , 22:01.309 --> 22:04.210 General Milley . Um , I think you and 22:04.300 --> 22:07.490 uh Secretary Austin said last year That 22:07.490 --> 22:10.860 we could expect in the next 2-3 years 22:11.540 --> 22:13.373 threats to the american homeland 22:13.373 --> 22:15.750 emerged from Afghanistan . Is that 22:15.750 --> 22:19.250 still accurate ? I still believe that 22:19.250 --> 22:21.417 to be a correct assessment as it moved 22:21.417 --> 22:23.417 one way or the other . We're saying 22:23.417 --> 22:25.639 initial indications as you have seen in 22:25.639 --> 22:27.750 the media as well and you're privy to 22:27.750 --> 22:29.917 some of the intelligence which I won't 22:29.917 --> 22:31.806 go over here . But ISIS and other 22:31.806 --> 22:33.806 groups are trying to put themselves 22:33.806 --> 22:36.028 back together . They have not succeeded 22:36.028 --> 22:38.139 yet and they have not yet presented a 22:38.139 --> 22:40.194 threat to the U . S . Homeland . But 22:40.194 --> 22:40.060 we're watching that very , very closely 22:40.440 --> 22:42.440 and if they raise their head and do 22:42.440 --> 22:44.384 present a threat , then we'll take 22:44.384 --> 22:46.218 appropriate actions are over the 22:46.218 --> 22:47.996 horizon , capability to monitor 22:47.996 --> 22:50.020 Afghanistan sufficient . I think we 22:50.020 --> 22:52.242 have room to improve to be sure we do . 22:52.242 --> 22:55.560 I don't want to do anything classified 22:55.560 --> 22:58.440 here , but r I . S our presence in 22:58.440 --> 23:00.662 Afghanistan , I think you'll be shocked 23:00.662 --> 23:02.551 to know what it is and where it's 23:02.551 --> 23:04.662 headed to both of you . You advocated 23:04.662 --> 23:07.310 for a troop troops to remain in 23:07.310 --> 23:10.160 Afghanistan , Is that correct ? It's 23:10.160 --> 23:12.382 the President's decision , but that was 23:12.382 --> 23:14.493 the position of both of you . Is that 23:14.493 --> 23:16.771 correct ? That's correct ? To be clear . 23:16.771 --> 23:18.882 Senator . I support the President . I 23:18.882 --> 23:18.680 know , but the recommendation you gave 23:18.680 --> 23:20.902 want to be clear was it would be better 23:20.902 --> 23:23.069 off to have a residual force . Is that 23:23.069 --> 23:25.236 accurate ? And and so , you know , I I 23:25.236 --> 23:28.480 will never . Well , the records replete 23:28.490 --> 23:30.546 with the fact that it was and I just 23:30.546 --> 23:32.657 want to compliment you both trying to 23:32.657 --> 23:34.823 compliment you . Hear that ? I thought 23:34.823 --> 23:36.934 that was the right decision that that 23:36.934 --> 23:39.900 pulling everybody out of Afghanistan uh 23:39.910 --> 23:42.350 was a mistake . Do you believe that our 23:42.350 --> 23:45.540 withdrawal from Afghanistan made it 23:45.540 --> 23:47.540 more likely that Putin would invade 23:47.540 --> 23:51.260 Ukraine ? I think that President Putin 23:51.260 --> 23:53.290 made his decision to invade Ukraine 23:53.290 --> 23:54.901 long before we pulled out of 23:54.901 --> 23:57.179 Afghanistan . To be very , very candid . 23:57.179 --> 23:59.401 Why didn't he do it before ? Why didn't 23:59.401 --> 24:01.401 he do it before ? Um I think he was 24:01.401 --> 24:03.568 preparing the force last year . He ran 24:03.568 --> 24:05.670 a very , very large exercise and 24:05.680 --> 24:07.847 getting the force ready . Why did they 24:07.847 --> 24:11.640 invade Crimea when they did in 2014 ? 24:13.840 --> 24:16.118 I can't answer that question right now . 24:16.118 --> 24:18.284 I think it's because I've got a theory 24:18.284 --> 24:20.284 here that that with all due respect 24:20.284 --> 24:22.450 that Afghanistan sent the worst 24:22.450 --> 24:25.420 possible signal to our adversaries and 24:25.420 --> 24:28.680 our allies , President biden and 24:28.690 --> 24:30.801 Secretary Blinken have said they have 24:30.801 --> 24:32.801 no regrets regarding our withdrawal 24:32.801 --> 24:35.240 from Afghanistan . Secretary Austin . 24:35.240 --> 24:38.080 Do you have any regrets ? Senator ? As 24:38.080 --> 24:40.024 I said , I support the President's 24:40.024 --> 24:42.760 decision . And uh and again , um 24:43.580 --> 24:46.070 What about you ? General Milley , I 24:46.070 --> 24:48.980 deeply regret the loss of 13 11 marines , 24:48.990 --> 24:51.220 one sailor . And yeah , I do too . I 24:51.220 --> 24:53.387 really regret the loss of everybody we 24:53.387 --> 24:55.276 we've lost over there and all the 24:55.276 --> 24:57.387 wounded . But do you have any regrets 24:57.387 --> 24:59.553 in terms of our national security that 24:59.553 --> 25:02.660 maybe we made the wrong decision ? 25:03.640 --> 25:05.810 Senator ? I'm a soldier and I execute 25:05.810 --> 25:07.921 the decisions that I'm told to make . 25:07.921 --> 25:10.143 Um and I don't think at this point it's 25:10.143 --> 25:12.366 helpful for me to express regret or not 25:12.366 --> 25:14.366 enough . So I want to work with you 25:14.366 --> 25:17.730 both . Um Chairman Durbin has been 25:17.730 --> 25:19.952 great on Ukraine . We want to do more , 25:19.952 --> 25:22.119 not less . We're gonna send a signal , 25:22.119 --> 25:24.030 we're in it to win it . And uh I 25:24.030 --> 25:26.870 appreciate the robust response is 25:26.870 --> 25:29.092 getting better every day . So thank you 25:29.092 --> 25:31.092 both . In terms of the budget , the 25:31.092 --> 25:33.203 budget before us is inadequate to the 25:33.203 --> 25:35.259 threats we face and over time it's a 25:35.259 --> 25:37.481 disaster and I'd like to fix it . Thank 25:37.481 --> 25:41.430 you . Senator Hovan , Thanks Mr . 25:41.430 --> 25:43.541 Chairman , question for both of you . 25:43.541 --> 25:46.560 Uh what weapons systems uh does Ukraine 25:46.570 --> 25:49.820 need uh and 25:49.830 --> 25:53.030 most need the most and need the soonest 25:53.030 --> 25:56.180 that they don't have . What what 25:56.180 --> 25:58.700 they've asked for , Senator is uh long 25:58.700 --> 26:01.250 range fire capability . And uh we're 26:01.250 --> 26:03.360 providing that as you've seen with 26:05.010 --> 26:08.360 Most recently 9155 26:09.480 --> 26:12.090 systems and they're able to capable of 26:12.090 --> 26:13.923 using them or do they need to be 26:13.923 --> 26:15.979 trained and they're using them now . 26:15.979 --> 26:18.201 They're using them as we speak , As you 26:18.201 --> 26:20.090 may know . We we took a number of 26:20.090 --> 26:22.201 troops out and uh and trained them up 26:22.201 --> 26:25.660 very quickly on 155 put them back into 26:26.230 --> 26:28.590 into action and they are employing 26:28.590 --> 26:30.812 those weapons systems now they have the 26:30.812 --> 26:33.160 ammunition That we're providing them 26:33.160 --> 26:35.216 and other countries are providing on 26:35.216 --> 26:37.410 155 capability as well . They've also 26:37.410 --> 26:40.110 asked for armored capability , tanks 26:40.110 --> 26:43.340 and armored vehicles , uh and countries 26:43.340 --> 26:46.450 in the region are providing that . And 26:46.740 --> 26:50.670 as we witnessed in our meeting 26:50.670 --> 26:54.260 that we held in Ramstein a week ago , 26:54.740 --> 26:57.350 countries like Canada and Germany are 26:57.350 --> 26:59.461 stepping up providing armored vehicle 26:59.461 --> 27:02.340 capability and so their their 27:02.340 --> 27:04.507 capability overall is increasing . And 27:04.507 --> 27:06.618 then again they put the put the stuff 27:06.618 --> 27:08.784 that we provided them to very good use 27:08.784 --> 27:10.896 in addition to the U . A . V . S that 27:10.896 --> 27:12.673 were also provided general same 27:12.673 --> 27:14.729 question , same thing . Uh Senator I 27:14.729 --> 27:16.673 talked to my counterpart literally 27:16.673 --> 27:18.896 every other day um and we worked very , 27:18.896 --> 27:21.062 very hard to get him what he thinks he 27:21.062 --> 27:23.173 needs long range fires , specifically 27:23.173 --> 27:25.760 cannon artillery And rocket artillery . 27:25.760 --> 27:28.010 They were used to using the old Soviet 27:28.010 --> 27:30.350 Model 152 artillery ammunition became a 27:30.350 --> 27:33.000 problem . So we're moving to a NATO 27:33.000 --> 27:35.180 standard . So the United States and 27:35.180 --> 27:37.180 many of our allies and partners are 27:37.180 --> 27:39.347 providing him with multiple battalions 27:39.347 --> 27:41.970 worth of 155 cannon and the ammunition 27:41.970 --> 27:44.026 to go with it . Plus the radars plus 27:44.026 --> 27:46.081 the fire direction center the entire 27:46.081 --> 27:48.081 package for effective use of fire . 27:48.081 --> 27:50.192 That's the most important thing right 27:50.192 --> 27:52.359 now in the current fight secondly , is 27:52.359 --> 27:54.581 to continue to sustain him on anti tank 27:54.581 --> 27:56.748 weapons , very effective anti aircraft 27:56.748 --> 27:58.970 weapons , ground based either SAm's and 27:58.970 --> 28:01.192 or manpads . Those are probably the top 28:01.192 --> 28:03.248 three . And the number four would be 28:03.248 --> 28:05.470 his ground maneuver capability of tanks 28:05.470 --> 28:07.692 and mech infantry vehicles , which many 28:07.692 --> 28:09.914 countries are now helping to contribute 28:09.914 --> 28:11.914 as well . So those would be the top 28:11.914 --> 28:11.540 four , There's a whole laundry list 28:11.550 --> 28:13.883 below that , but those are the top four . 28:13.940 --> 28:15.940 Looking at what the Ukrainians have 28:15.940 --> 28:17.884 done to the Russian tanks with our 28:17.884 --> 28:20.740 javelins . Do we have something that is 28:20.740 --> 28:22.629 going to ensure that the tanks we 28:22.629 --> 28:25.150 provide are able to defeat that same 28:25.150 --> 28:27.550 type of shoulder mounted threat and 28:27.550 --> 28:31.350 truly be effective ? The tanks that 28:31.350 --> 28:34.000 we that we that have been provided to 28:34.000 --> 28:36.420 them . Senator have been uh , tanks 28:36.420 --> 28:38.531 that they are accustomed to using and 28:38.531 --> 28:41.770 that they have the the the maintenance 28:41.770 --> 28:44.630 capabilities to maintain . So , um , 28:44.640 --> 28:47.360 we've seen tanks , uh , a number of 28:47.360 --> 28:50.150 tanks being provided by countries like 28:50.150 --> 28:52.039 Poland and others that are in the 28:52.039 --> 28:55.460 neighborhood . And and again , 28:57.320 --> 28:59.264 Russians don't have something that 28:59.264 --> 29:01.560 approaches the javelin . So that's a 29:02.940 --> 29:05.020 All right . So then , uh , next 29:05.020 --> 29:07.690 question , have we fully utilized the 29:07.700 --> 29:10.070 funds that we've already provided such 29:10.070 --> 29:12.126 that you need this ? And when do you 29:12.126 --> 29:14.181 need this supplemental ? And have we 29:14.181 --> 29:16.403 really focused on the lethal aid versus 29:16.403 --> 29:18.292 getting other things in this ? 33 29:18.292 --> 29:20.126 billion supplemental ? Yeah , we 29:20.126 --> 29:22.237 absolutely have focused on the lethal 29:22.237 --> 29:24.348 aid Senator and we're at the very end 29:24.348 --> 29:27.890 of our drawdown capability here . Uh so 29:27.900 --> 29:29.844 um , you know , we're very quickly 29:29.844 --> 29:31.678 going to run out of out of fun . 29:32.340 --> 29:34.507 General . Did you have anything to add 29:34.507 --> 29:36.729 to that ? No , I think it's clear to me 29:36.729 --> 29:38.618 that the monies that congress has 29:38.618 --> 29:40.790 provided is overwhelmingly in support 29:40.790 --> 29:42.790 of lethal aid . There's no question 29:42.790 --> 29:45.012 about it . It's almost all lethal aid . 29:45.012 --> 29:47.012 Actually , I'm switching gears here 29:47.012 --> 29:49.290 more along the lines of Senator Graham . 29:49.540 --> 29:51.960 Um are you both this question for both ? 29:51.970 --> 29:54.040 Are you both fully committed to 29:54.050 --> 29:57.130 upgrading , updating and modernizing 29:57.140 --> 30:00.280 our nuclear triad ? And is the funding 30:00.280 --> 30:02.760 in this budget adequate to do that ? 30:03.240 --> 30:07.000 $34 billion allocated to 30:07.000 --> 30:09.650 that ? Uh that effort in this budget . 30:09.660 --> 30:12.330 Uh and yes , Senator , I am absolutely 30:12.330 --> 30:14.274 fully committed to modernizing the 30:14.274 --> 30:16.860 triad . 100% . It's the number one 30:16.860 --> 30:18.990 priority to in this budget and it'll 30:18.990 --> 30:20.934 have to be sustained over time and 30:20.934 --> 30:23.046 future budgets . But that will ensure 30:23.046 --> 30:25.268 the protection of the United States for 30:25.268 --> 30:24.720 many , many years and we need to 30:24.730 --> 30:27.060 reinvest and recapitalize it . No one . 30:27.440 --> 30:29.440 Thank you . I appreciate that . And 30:29.440 --> 30:31.830 agree 100% . Final question , are you 30:31.830 --> 30:34.810 familiar with um sky range for 30:34.820 --> 30:37.070 developing the sky range system to test 30:37.070 --> 30:39.310 hyper sonics as a way to actually do it 30:39.310 --> 30:41.421 rather than lining up naval ships and 30:41.421 --> 30:43.754 trying to do it . And do you support it , 30:43.754 --> 30:45.810 including using the global hawks for 30:45.810 --> 30:48.200 that purpose . I am familiar with it , 30:48.210 --> 30:50.450 Senator . And yes , I do support it . 30:50.520 --> 30:52.680 And uh and again the Air Force will 30:52.680 --> 30:54.850 continue to work to make sure that the 30:54.850 --> 30:56.961 right capabilities are in place to to 30:56.961 --> 30:59.070 support that effort . Thank you . I 30:59.080 --> 31:01.980 appreciate Senator murkowski . Thank 31:01.980 --> 31:05.270 you . Mr Chairman , gentlemen , thank 31:05.270 --> 31:07.159 you both for your leadership . We 31:07.159 --> 31:09.330 appreciate it at all times . But 31:09.340 --> 31:11.062 certainly at these very , very 31:11.062 --> 31:13.062 difficult and challenging times . I 31:13.062 --> 31:15.229 want to just follow on Senator Hogan's 31:15.229 --> 31:18.760 comments about hyper sonics . Um we are 31:18.770 --> 31:20.840 in a unique position as you know in 31:20.840 --> 31:23.420 Alaska and providing the only location 31:23.420 --> 31:26.270 of supporting both short and long range 31:26.280 --> 31:29.080 hypersonic weapons testing within the 31:29.080 --> 31:31.790 country just because of of where we are 31:31.790 --> 31:34.560 with the unique geographic location . 31:35.040 --> 31:38.660 Um nobody in the way down there for the 31:38.660 --> 31:42.570 most part and I know that this is 31:42.570 --> 31:44.580 something that General Milley , you 31:44.580 --> 31:47.180 have you have spoken a lot about with 31:47.180 --> 31:50.640 regards to china china's hypersonic 31:50.640 --> 31:54.490 weapons testing ability just 31:54.490 --> 31:56.434 very briefly whether or not you're 31:56.434 --> 31:59.380 looking at the illusions for for this 31:59.380 --> 32:03.080 in terms of opportunity for testing Yes . 32:03.110 --> 32:05.332 In conjunction with our spaceport there 32:05.332 --> 32:07.499 in kodiak as as the short short answer 32:07.499 --> 32:09.221 is yes . And hypersonic are an 32:09.221 --> 32:11.332 important weapon in in a in an entire 32:11.332 --> 32:13.610 array of weapons systems . As you know , 32:13.610 --> 32:15.388 the Russians have already fired 32:15.388 --> 32:17.610 hypersonic weapons in in Ukraine . I do 32:17.610 --> 32:19.832 want to caveat that though . But but it 32:19.832 --> 32:22.070 is the key to it is in its name . It is 32:22.070 --> 32:24.040 very , very fast and there is no 32:24.040 --> 32:26.860 effective defensive weapon against it 32:27.240 --> 32:29.630 per se to shoot it down . So the key is 32:29.640 --> 32:32.530 sent him ran and asked earlier the key 32:32.530 --> 32:34.752 is to shoot the archer , not the arrows 32:34.840 --> 32:37.080 and to get at the system at its launch 32:37.080 --> 32:39.191 sites . The other key from protection 32:39.191 --> 32:41.302 standpoint is not only the integrated 32:41.302 --> 32:43.358 air missile ballistic defense system 32:43.358 --> 32:45.636 but it's also the tactics of the units . 32:45.636 --> 32:47.802 So units are going to have to be as we 32:47.802 --> 32:50.024 move into the changing character of war 32:50.024 --> 32:52.247 in the future , units and organizations 32:52.247 --> 32:51.960 and equipment are gonna have to be 32:51.960 --> 32:54.870 smaller , faster . Uh much more hidden 32:54.870 --> 32:56.759 in the sense of not quite totally 32:56.759 --> 32:58.926 invisible , probably never get there . 32:58.926 --> 33:00.814 But uh we we need to be very very 33:00.814 --> 33:03.037 difficult to find on a battlefield . So 33:03.037 --> 33:05.092 a constant state of moving in motion 33:05.320 --> 33:07.542 invisible to the extent that's possible 33:07.640 --> 33:11.180 smaller in general and speed will 33:11.180 --> 33:13.291 matter on future battlefields because 33:13.810 --> 33:15.977 so far what we've seen with hypersonic 33:15.977 --> 33:17.977 says they're very effective against 33:17.977 --> 33:19.977 fixed targets , much more difficult 33:19.977 --> 33:22.650 against moving targets . Let me let me 33:22.650 --> 33:25.790 ask about the javelins . He was just 33:25.790 --> 33:27.623 speaking about that with Senator 33:27.623 --> 33:30.640 Senator Hovan Mr . Secretary and we've 33:30.640 --> 33:33.200 been working with a constituent of mine . 33:33.200 --> 33:36.220 He's an army special forces that he's 33:36.230 --> 33:38.870 been in Ukraine training ground forces 33:38.870 --> 33:41.037 for the past couple of months . He has 33:41.037 --> 33:42.950 facilitated several requirements 33:42.950 --> 33:45.117 letters from the Ukrainian Ministry of 33:45.117 --> 33:47.320 Defense verifying the need for javelin 33:47.330 --> 33:50.310 training kits including the head of 33:50.310 --> 33:53.170 Ukrainian defense Intelligence . I 33:53.170 --> 33:55.360 understand these documents have been 33:55.360 --> 33:58.090 pushed to your office . Obviously the 33:58.090 --> 33:59.900 javelins have the ability to 33:59.900 --> 34:02.350 significantly help Ukrainian forces . 34:02.740 --> 34:05.510 But what we're hearing is that the new 34:05.510 --> 34:08.060 Ukrainian troops are not provided 34:08.070 --> 34:11.530 adequate training to operate these 34:11.540 --> 34:14.640 $200,000 weapons 34:14.650 --> 34:17.630 systems . And they're looking at an 34:17.640 --> 34:20.030 article that came out um just just a 34:20.030 --> 34:23.860 few uh a week ago now with regards to 34:23.860 --> 34:26.150 to the training aspect of it . So the 34:26.150 --> 34:28.660 question to you is is whether or not 34:29.740 --> 34:31.851 they they have enough of the javelins 34:31.851 --> 34:34.250 that they need . But what we're doing 34:34.250 --> 34:38.060 to help facilitate then the training 34:38.070 --> 34:39.959 so that they can most effectively 34:39.959 --> 34:43.180 deploy these weapons . And and what is 34:43.180 --> 34:45.810 d . O . D telling the Ukrainian 34:45.820 --> 34:48.380 Ministry of Defense in response to 34:48.380 --> 34:50.491 their ask for more trainers , how are 34:50.491 --> 34:53.140 we doing on that side ? First of all , 34:53.150 --> 34:55.261 thank you Senator . I would highlight 34:55.261 --> 34:58.120 that we have taken at this point , 34:58.150 --> 35:00.890 several 100 troops out of out of 35:00.890 --> 35:03.030 Ukraine train them in other countries 35:03.030 --> 35:06.240 on artillery , operation of U . A . V . 35:06.240 --> 35:09.380 S . Uh and other things and and they've 35:09.380 --> 35:12.280 been reintroduced into the fight . So 35:12.290 --> 35:14.401 training is something that that we're 35:14.401 --> 35:18.070 doing . Uh But the issue is that in my 35:18.070 --> 35:19.903 engagements with the Minister of 35:19.903 --> 35:22.126 Defense and I think also with the Chief 35:22.126 --> 35:24.348 of Defense and the Chairman , the issue 35:24.348 --> 35:26.430 of uh specific issue of training on 35:26.430 --> 35:29.960 javelins has never come up . But if if 35:30.340 --> 35:32.562 if they raise that issue , certainly we 35:32.562 --> 35:34.840 stand ready to to train them if it is a 35:34.840 --> 35:37.007 requirement . And since you brought it 35:37.007 --> 35:39.229 up , no doubt it is , we'll go back and 35:39.229 --> 35:41.284 check with them again and the people 35:41.284 --> 35:43.229 that they need to train , we stand 35:43.229 --> 35:45.340 ready to train them and we're pushing 35:45.340 --> 35:47.507 training kits into into the country as 35:47.507 --> 35:49.750 well . I will be happy to follow up and 35:49.760 --> 35:51.816 and provide you with the information 35:51.816 --> 35:53.871 that we have on this and I thank you 35:53.871 --> 35:55.982 for that . Um then just very lastly , 35:55.982 --> 35:58.093 and this doesn't require a response . 35:58.093 --> 35:58.020 But this is with regards to arctic 35:58.030 --> 36:00.252 operations . You'd be disappointed if I 36:00.252 --> 36:03.760 didn't raise it with you . But I am 36:03.770 --> 36:05.770 thankful that you have stressed the 36:05.770 --> 36:08.180 importance of supporting arctic 36:08.180 --> 36:09.958 operations , the training , the 36:09.958 --> 36:12.150 equipment of our joint forces in this 36:12.150 --> 36:15.690 important region . I know you've got uh 36:15.700 --> 36:17.756 good progress that we have made with 36:17.756 --> 36:19.867 regards to the Ted stevens Securities 36:19.867 --> 36:22.190 Arctic Security Studies Center in in 36:22.190 --> 36:25.230 Alaska , the first Deputy Assistant 36:25.240 --> 36:27.620 Secretary of Defense for Arctic Affairs . 36:27.630 --> 36:30.380 You've got North com tasked with an 36:30.390 --> 36:32.612 arctic security assessment . So there's 36:32.612 --> 36:34.830 a lot coming on in in this way . I 36:34.830 --> 36:37.052 understand there's a report coming up . 36:37.052 --> 36:39.163 We'll look forward uh to to reviewing 36:39.163 --> 36:41.386 that and and being there to support you 36:41.386 --> 36:43.219 in all those efforts , but truly 36:43.219 --> 36:45.163 appreciate the heightened level of 36:45.163 --> 36:47.330 engagement in this very important part 36:47.330 --> 36:49.710 of of our responsibility . Thank you Mr 36:49.710 --> 36:51.988 Chairman , thank you Senator murkowski . 36:51.988 --> 36:54.890 Um I'm gonna take my question time now , 36:54.900 --> 36:57.011 fellas , we've been at this for about 36:57.011 --> 36:59.011 an hour and 37 minutes , which is a 36:59.011 --> 37:01.178 little longer than I had anticipated , 37:01.178 --> 37:03.233 but it's a big budget and it's worth 37:03.233 --> 37:05.456 every question to be asked . And I just 37:05.456 --> 37:07.622 want to start by thanking you guys for 37:07.622 --> 37:09.789 what you're doing . I mean , the truth 37:09.789 --> 37:13.060 is , is $773 billion . Um You're gonna 37:13.060 --> 37:15.060 have people come in saying it's too 37:15.060 --> 37:17.227 much , you're gonna have people coming 37:17.227 --> 37:19.338 in saying it's too little , as you've 37:19.338 --> 37:18.760 already pointed out , secretary , you 37:18.760 --> 37:20.982 have to snap the shock line somewhere . 37:20.982 --> 37:23.360 That's a good analogy , And and I just 37:23.360 --> 37:25.416 appreciate the work that you've done 37:25.416 --> 37:27.582 because anybody can pick holes in it , 37:27.582 --> 37:30.620 anybody can pick holes in it and to 37:30.620 --> 37:32.787 talk about where we're gonna be in the 37:32.787 --> 37:35.710 next decade , 10 years from now is 37:35.710 --> 37:38.050 pretty interesting because you have to 37:38.050 --> 37:40.272 have people around you nimble enough to 37:40.272 --> 37:42.217 know whether we're even gonna need 37:42.217 --> 37:44.161 ships or tanks or if it's gonna be 37:44.161 --> 37:46.106 fought in outer space , or if it's 37:46.106 --> 37:48.050 gonna be fought in the cyber realm 37:48.050 --> 37:50.217 wherever it's going to be fought . And 37:50.217 --> 37:52.383 the truth is , if you screw up , we're 37:52.383 --> 37:52.170 all gonna have opinions and we're gonna 37:52.170 --> 37:55.050 beat the out of you . And so you've got 37:55.050 --> 37:57.217 to do what's best for this country and 37:57.217 --> 37:59.383 best for the people who are super into 37:59.383 --> 38:01.550 you . And I just want to thank you for 38:01.550 --> 38:04.740 that . Talking about the area of um 38:04.750 --> 38:08.640 Decommissioning divesting . Um 38:08.650 --> 38:11.000 It's always a challenge . You've always 38:11.000 --> 38:13.000 got people in the Senate that don't 38:13.000 --> 38:15.520 want to see certain things go away . Um , 38:15.530 --> 38:17.990 but , but I want to talk about a 38:17.990 --> 38:20.340 proposal to get rid of ships that quite 38:20.340 --> 38:22.920 frankly , we just put into service . In 38:22.920 --> 38:25.142 fact , some of them aren't even totally 38:25.142 --> 38:27.142 put into service yet . The littoral 38:27.142 --> 38:29.710 combat ships . Um , how much confidence 38:29.710 --> 38:31.821 do you have in the analysis that that 38:31.821 --> 38:33.877 these things just aren't fit for the 38:33.877 --> 38:37.530 fight ? I'm very , very confident 38:37.540 --> 38:40.540 Chairman . I again , I think you hit 38:40.540 --> 38:42.760 the nail on the head . There were 38:42.760 --> 38:45.090 looking to acquire capabilities that 38:45.090 --> 38:47.220 are relevant in the future fight and 38:47.220 --> 38:50.820 survivable . The earlier variants of 38:50.820 --> 38:53.070 this , of the ship that you mentioned , 38:53.520 --> 38:56.240 uh , did not live up to expectations . 38:56.240 --> 38:59.650 It's very expensive to maintain . And 38:59.650 --> 39:01.970 so we've made the decision that could 39:01.970 --> 39:05.340 be uh better to 39:05.350 --> 39:07.420 decommission those ships and invest 39:07.430 --> 39:10.370 those resources and in acquiring 39:10.370 --> 39:13.160 capabilities that are more agile and 39:13.160 --> 39:15.160 more relevant to the future . Fight 39:15.160 --> 39:17.650 more survivable . Um , 39:19.120 --> 39:23.100 and those those ships have been 39:23.100 --> 39:25.540 on the books for , um , like I said , 39:25.540 --> 39:27.540 they're not , I think there's still 39:27.540 --> 39:29.880 some in process , But they were 39:29.880 --> 39:32.102 designed what , 20 years ago , 15 years 39:32.102 --> 39:34.158 ago do you do , you know offhand ? I 39:34.158 --> 39:36.380 think it was about 20 years ago , about 39:36.380 --> 39:38.491 20 years ago and it's already changed 39:38.520 --> 39:40.520 In 20 years . Uh , and pretty 39:40.520 --> 39:42.687 dramatically , I might add , I want to 39:42.687 --> 39:44.853 talk a little bit about something it's 39:44.853 --> 39:46.853 already been visited . And that's , 39:46.853 --> 39:46.340 that's accountability . There's been 39:46.340 --> 39:47.520 $3.7 billion 39:47.520 --> 39:53.840 16.4 39:53.850 --> 39:56.170 uh projected to go out . You had said 39:56.170 --> 39:58.840 with earlier questions that um , 39:59.720 --> 40:02.050 you're reasonably confident that the 40:02.060 --> 40:04.171 that the that the weaponry is getting 40:04.171 --> 40:06.670 to the to the Ukrainians and I get it , 40:06.680 --> 40:08.680 you don't have people on the ground 40:08.680 --> 40:10.958 there to be able to monitor everything . 40:10.958 --> 40:13.490 But but the the question is , and is is 40:13.490 --> 40:16.520 that are we making sure that 40:17.210 --> 40:20.300 number one , none of these weapons are 40:20.300 --> 40:22.522 falling into the wrong hands . Is there 40:22.522 --> 40:24.590 any way to even do that ? And then 40:24.590 --> 40:26.646 number two , are we making sure that 40:27.080 --> 40:29.080 the taxpayer dollars that are being 40:29.080 --> 40:32.690 spent um are are actually 40:32.700 --> 40:35.960 um , making a difference . And I'm 40:35.960 --> 40:38.960 talking a significant difference . Well , 40:38.960 --> 40:40.849 first of all , I I think they are 40:40.849 --> 40:43.016 making a difference , chairman . And , 40:43.016 --> 40:45.300 you know , just look at the battlefield 40:45.300 --> 40:48.250 today versus what we're looking at a 40:48.260 --> 40:51.000 couple of weeks ago , we see that the 40:51.000 --> 40:53.880 Russians , uh , the Ukrainians have 40:53.880 --> 40:57.230 defeated the Russians around Kiev and 40:57.240 --> 40:59.430 they've they've moved back . They're 40:59.430 --> 41:02.030 focused on the south and east now . Uh 41:02.030 --> 41:04.310 And uh we expect that to be a bit of a 41:04.310 --> 41:06.800 different flavor of fight that employs 41:06.800 --> 41:09.580 more long range fires , a bit more 41:09.580 --> 41:12.500 maneuver , uh and the Ukrainians have 41:12.500 --> 41:15.170 asked for what they believe is relevant 41:15.180 --> 41:18.910 in that fight . And uh the department 41:18.920 --> 41:21.770 and the joint staff under Chairman , uh 41:21.780 --> 41:23.947 Chairman's leadership . They're really 41:23.947 --> 41:26.500 hustled to get the capabilities that to 41:26.500 --> 41:28.722 them as quickly as possible . And we've 41:28.722 --> 41:30.944 engaged other other countries to do the 41:30.944 --> 41:33.380 same to provide additional capability . 41:33.390 --> 41:35.830 But in terms of accountability , uh we 41:35.830 --> 41:37.997 we have to depend on the Ukrainians at 41:37.997 --> 41:41.220 this point to uh to do the right thing 41:41.220 --> 41:44.830 and and and make sure that they are 41:45.610 --> 41:48.170 prudent and careful about how they 41:48.180 --> 41:50.402 issue these weapons out and account for 41:50.402 --> 41:52.620 these weapons . Again , I I engaged a 41:52.620 --> 41:54.731 very senior leadership in the country 41:54.731 --> 41:56.898 on this issue and they assured me that 41:56.898 --> 41:59.064 this is something that's important and 41:59.064 --> 42:01.120 they'll they'll continue to focus on 42:01.120 --> 42:04.990 for for resupplying . Um There's a 42:04.990 --> 42:07.046 lot of stories about coal production 42:07.046 --> 42:09.046 lines , about the fact that we have 42:09.046 --> 42:11.101 supply chain issues when it comes to 42:11.101 --> 42:12.879 replacing everything that we're 42:12.879 --> 42:14.879 shipping in the Ukraine and and our 42:14.879 --> 42:17.430 allies are shipping into Ukraine to you 42:17.430 --> 42:19.652 said you thought , and don't let me put 42:19.652 --> 42:22.510 words in your mouth that the weaponry 42:22.510 --> 42:24.677 could be replaced within the next year 42:24.677 --> 42:27.950 with this budget . It's all of it won't 42:27.950 --> 42:30.240 be replaced within a within a year . I 42:30.250 --> 42:33.860 it will see production lines operate 42:33.860 --> 42:36.510 at at different speeds just based upon 42:36.510 --> 42:38.760 what they are . We were optimistic 42:38.760 --> 42:41.680 about the javelin being 42:42.100 --> 42:45.670 the industry being able to increase uh 42:45.680 --> 42:47.830 the production rate in a very 42:47.830 --> 42:50.410 meaningful way and uh and their 42:50.410 --> 42:52.990 decisions to be made about the on the 42:53.000 --> 42:55.111 on the Stinger going forward . But in 42:55.111 --> 42:57.370 every case , uh the , you know , the 42:57.380 --> 42:59.860 industry has leaned into this and is 42:59.860 --> 43:01.890 willing to work with us to increase 43:01.890 --> 43:04.057 production as much as possible and the 43:04.057 --> 43:06.020 dollars in this budget accomplish 43:06.500 --> 43:08.667 accomplish getting those production up 43:08.667 --> 43:11.160 lines up and it and it accomplishes 43:11.160 --> 43:13.730 getting what we need to replace what's 43:13.730 --> 43:15.730 being utilized and the supplemental 43:15.730 --> 43:18.250 that we've asked you for right senator 43:19.400 --> 43:23.300 um in the opening statement um 43:23.310 --> 43:25.477 and this is for you , General Milley I 43:25.477 --> 43:28.790 believe asking for 100 and 30 43:28.800 --> 43:30.990 billion in R . And D spending . That's 43:30.990 --> 43:33.500 10 billion over 2020 to 12 billion over 43:33.500 --> 43:36.240 the previous year . Procurement 43:36.250 --> 43:39.620 conversely is flat at about 144 billion 43:40.500 --> 43:42.800 for years . R . And D . Has been used 43:42.800 --> 43:46.020 in mature and prototype technologies 43:46.400 --> 43:50.360 like a I like hyper sonics um which 43:50.360 --> 43:52.620 are important . Um 43:54.300 --> 43:56.411 if we're gonna if we're gonna compete 43:56.411 --> 43:59.520 particularly with china . So 44:00.000 --> 44:02.260 when when will they become real 44:02.260 --> 44:05.850 programs and and and wildly feeling my 44:05.850 --> 44:08.830 concern is is that we're prototype and 44:08.830 --> 44:10.941 everything to death and it never gets 44:10.941 --> 44:12.997 to the field . Is this a concern you 44:12.997 --> 44:15.630 have number one General and number two , 44:15.640 --> 44:17.196 can you give me any sort of 44:17.196 --> 44:19.362 expectations when we might see some of 44:19.362 --> 44:21.480 this stuff come to reality . And I 44:21.480 --> 44:23.880 think the time window and again , I 44:23.880 --> 44:25.547 agree with your comment about 44:25.547 --> 44:28.380 predicting 10 , 15 years out but we do 44:28.380 --> 44:30.547 know the broad outlines or at least we 44:30.547 --> 44:32.658 think we know the broad outlines well 44:32.658 --> 44:34.658 the future operating environment in 44:34.658 --> 44:36.602 this changing character of war and 44:36.602 --> 44:38.950 these programs will need to be online 44:38.960 --> 44:42.030 fielded in the hands of The force in 44:42.030 --> 44:44.030 the in the hands of the joint force 44:44.030 --> 44:47.750 inside of 10 years . If we are going to 44:47.760 --> 44:51.560 have an opportunity to be superior 44:51.580 --> 44:53.802 to our adversaries specifically China . 44:53.802 --> 44:56.024 The programs . I'm specifically talking 44:56.024 --> 44:58.024 about our artificial intelligence , 44:58.024 --> 45:00.191 robotics , hypersonic . There's a wide 45:00.191 --> 45:02.358 variety of these technologies that are 45:02.358 --> 45:04.580 coming online . But in addition to that 45:04.580 --> 45:04.510 it's more than just the technologies , 45:04.700 --> 45:06.867 the Joint warfighter concept . We have 45:06.867 --> 45:08.978 to get that on the street . We've got 45:08.978 --> 45:11.200 to make sure that our organizations are 45:11.200 --> 45:13.422 doctrines and our talent management are 45:13.422 --> 45:15.589 all adjusted . We've got to shift this 45:15.589 --> 45:17.644 military from its current state That 45:17.644 --> 45:19.978 we're in and we have to bias the future . 45:19.978 --> 45:22.144 We have to make some predictions as as 45:22.144 --> 45:24.089 as risky as that can be as to what 45:24.089 --> 45:26.200 warfare will look like in the 20s 30s 45:26.200 --> 45:28.367 and 2040s . And we've got to move this 45:28.367 --> 45:30.533 organization in that direction . If we 45:30.533 --> 45:32.644 fail to do that , we'll be condemning 45:32.644 --> 45:34.867 generations to come to be on the losing 45:34.867 --> 45:36.867 side of the war . We can do it . We 45:36.867 --> 45:39.033 were capable of doing it . This budget 45:39.033 --> 45:41.256 puts us on that path . Okay . And so is 45:41.256 --> 45:44.000 that's good to know that's that's good 45:44.000 --> 45:46.950 enough . Um One last question then I'll 45:46.950 --> 45:50.200 let you guys go Mr Secretary of the 45:50.210 --> 45:53.080 2022 National Defense Strategy . It 45:53.080 --> 45:55.380 does continue to highlight china's are 45:55.380 --> 45:58.300 most consequential strategic competitor 45:58.300 --> 46:01.400 and pacing challenge is the Russian 46:01.400 --> 46:03.289 invasion of Ukraine caused you to 46:03.289 --> 46:05.289 rethink the department's priorities 46:05.289 --> 46:08.270 laid out in the N . D . S . And uh and 46:08.270 --> 46:10.480 we will that have budget implications 46:10.480 --> 46:14.170 if if the answer is yes . Mhm . It is 46:14.170 --> 46:16.059 not chairman . As you look at the 46:16.059 --> 46:18.440 strategy you see , we we characterize 46:18.450 --> 46:20.710 the Russian Russia as an acute threat 46:21.290 --> 46:23.890 in the capabilities that we're going 46:23.890 --> 46:26.810 after and to support our our 46:26.820 --> 46:30.400 competition with with china uh are 46:30.410 --> 46:33.320 very , very relevant to what we're 46:33.330 --> 46:35.497 seeing . And potentially we'll have to 46:35.497 --> 46:38.820 do uh in an extreme case with with 46:38.820 --> 46:41.340 respect to Russia . Uh and and we , you 46:41.340 --> 46:43.396 know , we're part of a the strongest 46:43.396 --> 46:46.440 alliance in the world with with NATO . 46:46.450 --> 46:48.540 It's not only our capability that's 46:48.540 --> 46:50.373 relevant there but it's also the 46:50.373 --> 46:52.484 capability of our all of our allies . 46:52.484 --> 46:54.596 So what we're going after is relevant 46:54.596 --> 46:57.000 to both both areas of competition . 46:57.980 --> 46:59.970 Thank you both . I just want to 46:59.970 --> 47:01.940 acknowledge that Senator Shelby's 47:01.940 --> 47:04.480 statement will be a part of the record 47:04.490 --> 47:08.350 and uh and let him know that we 47:08.350 --> 47:11.340 missed him here today and and we look 47:11.340 --> 47:14.040 forward for him to return very very 47:14.040 --> 47:15.800 soon . Um 47:17.080 --> 47:20.310 Everybody has theories . Everybody has 47:20.320 --> 47:24.010 2020 hindsight . And I can tell you 47:24.020 --> 47:27.800 um just as a statement for the record , 47:28.480 --> 47:32.120 the some can say that the pullout of 47:32.120 --> 47:34.990 Afghanistan was a mistake . I think it 47:34.990 --> 47:38.070 was a decision that had to be made that 47:38.080 --> 47:40.860 quite frankly it could be questioned 47:40.860 --> 47:42.804 either way if we left troops there 47:42.804 --> 47:44.860 would have been questioned if we had 47:44.860 --> 47:46.638 pulled out troops , we could be 47:46.638 --> 47:48.582 questioned . But to say that Putin 47:48.582 --> 47:50.804 invaded Ukraine because of the pull out 47:50.804 --> 47:52.916 Afghanistan is the most bizarre thing 47:52.916 --> 47:52.750 I've ever heard . It was just his 47:52.750 --> 47:55.490 theory . So I got mine . I think the 47:55.490 --> 47:57.712 reason Putin invaded Ukraine is because 47:57.712 --> 47:59.712 president trump empowered him to do 47:59.712 --> 48:01.860 such . I don't expect a response from 48:01.860 --> 48:03.582 you guys on that , but this is 48:03.582 --> 48:06.990 absolutely ridiculous . Um I want to 48:07.000 --> 48:09.450 once again appreciate your guys 48:09.450 --> 48:11.710 testimony here today . Senators may 48:11.710 --> 48:13.880 submit , submit additional written 48:13.880 --> 48:16.560 questions and we ask that you respond 48:16.560 --> 48:18.838 to them in a reasonable period of time . 48:18.838 --> 48:21.004 In other words , as quick as you can . 48:21.510 --> 48:23.490 This defense subcommittee were 48:23.500 --> 48:27.090 reconvene on Tuesday May 10th At 10 a.m . 48:27.090 --> 48:29.257 to hear from the Secretary of the Army 48:29.257 --> 48:31.201 and the Army Chief of Staff . This 48:31.201 --> 48:32.410 committee stands in recess .