1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:42,689 --> 00:00:43,689 Yeah 3 00:01:08,110 --> 00:01:10,069 Tom OK . 4 00:01:12,269 --> 00:01:13,989 Color , color turn . 5 00:01:24,050 --> 00:01:27,559 Oh , say can you see . 6 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:32,220 by the dawn's early light , 7 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:35,010 what so proudly we 8 00:02:00,910 --> 00:02:03,220 The bombs bursting in . 9 00:02:23,750 --> 00:02:26,979 for the And of the 10 00:02:26,979 --> 00:02:30,169 free and the 11 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,160 of the E 12 00:02:43,089 --> 00:02:43,880 Cut a turn 13 00:02:47,550 --> 00:02:50,130 OK . Harry Thomas . 14 00:03:13,649 --> 00:03:15,871 Let us pause for a word of prayer as we 15 00:03:15,871 --> 00:03:18,169 bow our heads and and close our eyes . 16 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,160 Dear God , we pause right now and ask 17 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,104 that you bless today's town hall . 18 00:03:25,130 --> 00:03:27,020 Please guide our thoughts and and 19 00:03:27,020 --> 00:03:29,242 actions and give our leaders discerning 20 00:03:29,242 --> 00:03:33,009 hearts , bold faith , and wise minds . 21 00:03:33,820 --> 00:03:36,179 Help all of us gathered here on this 22 00:03:36,179 --> 00:03:39,220 day to accomplish our goals while 23 00:03:39,539 --> 00:03:42,300 displaying your character and give us 24 00:03:42,300 --> 00:03:45,500 the capacity to do not just what is 25 00:03:45,500 --> 00:03:49,029 good . But what is best . Remind us 26 00:03:49,029 --> 00:03:52,179 that despite our differences , we are 27 00:03:52,179 --> 00:03:54,380 always at our best when we stand 28 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:57,100 together as one nation , indivisible 29 00:03:57,100 --> 00:04:00,960 with liberty and justice for all . And 30 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,960 during moments of uncertainty or stormy 31 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,839 weather , help us realize that you 32 00:04:06,839 --> 00:04:10,110 still have the power . To get us over 33 00:04:11,220 --> 00:04:15,220 Beyond and through the troubled waters 34 00:04:15,220 --> 00:04:18,510 of life . For it is in your mighty and 35 00:04:18,510 --> 00:04:22,510 liberating and holy name we pray on 36 00:04:22,510 --> 00:04:24,910 this day . Please receive it and let us 37 00:04:24,910 --> 00:04:28,630 all say together , amen . And a man . 38 00:04:32,899 --> 00:04:34,010 Please be seated . 39 00:04:38,049 --> 00:04:40,271 Ladies and gentlemen , the twenty-ninth 40 00:04:40,271 --> 00:04:42,327 Secretary of Defense , the Honorable 41 00:04:42,327 --> 00:04:43,327 Pete Hegseth . 42 00:04:55,559 --> 00:04:57,726 Well , good afternoon . uh , thank you 43 00:04:57,726 --> 00:05:00,003 very much for your time . I wanna echo , 44 00:05:00,079 --> 00:05:02,600 uh , what the chaplain said , uh , all 45 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,350 glory to God . I wake up every morning , 46 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:07,741 um , praying for the wisdom to see what 47 00:05:07,741 --> 00:05:09,686 is right and good and true and the 48 00:05:09,686 --> 00:05:11,797 courage to do it , and , and I know , 49 00:05:11,797 --> 00:05:14,019 um , many of you do the same , uh . And 50 00:05:14,019 --> 00:05:16,239 it is , uh , it's an absolute honor to 51 00:05:16,239 --> 00:05:18,295 stand in front of all of you . I'm , 52 00:05:18,295 --> 00:05:20,461 I'm grateful . I'm humbled . Uh , just 53 00:05:20,461 --> 00:05:22,739 the two weeks that I've been here is a . 54 00:05:23,329 --> 00:05:25,380 Solemn reminder in a couple of 55 00:05:25,380 --> 00:05:27,820 instances , but a solemn reminder of 56 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:30,619 the very special nature of what the 57 00:05:30,619 --> 00:05:33,470 Department of Defense does . Um , and 58 00:05:33,470 --> 00:05:35,470 I've seen it in the office of OSD . 59 00:05:35,470 --> 00:05:37,692 I've seen it across , uh , so many I've 60 00:05:37,692 --> 00:05:39,748 had a chance to interact with and so 61 00:05:39,748 --> 00:05:41,970 many more I want to interact with . The 62 00:05:41,970 --> 00:05:44,192 solemn commitment to the constitutional 63 00:05:44,192 --> 00:05:46,248 duty that we all have to protect and 64 00:05:46,248 --> 00:05:48,709 defend the constitution that one 65 00:05:48,709 --> 00:05:50,390 administration leaves another 66 00:05:50,390 --> 00:05:52,446 administration comes in and that can 67 00:05:52,446 --> 00:05:54,612 mean a lot of changes in the course of 68 00:05:54,612 --> 00:05:56,723 that based on elections that happened 69 00:05:56,723 --> 00:05:58,612 and new leaders and new executive 70 00:05:58,612 --> 00:06:00,668 orders and new directives and lawful 71 00:06:00,668 --> 00:06:02,446 orders um but what I've been so 72 00:06:02,446 --> 00:06:04,334 incredibly impressed by uh is the 73 00:06:04,334 --> 00:06:06,390 professionalism of the men and women 74 00:06:06,390 --> 00:06:08,612 throughout the ranks . Who , who , uh , 75 00:06:08,612 --> 00:06:10,739 recognize who we work for , which is 76 00:06:10,739 --> 00:06:12,906 the American people and the defense of 77 00:06:12,906 --> 00:06:15,017 our nation so I wanna thank everybody 78 00:06:15,017 --> 00:06:17,128 watching everybody here for a part of 79 00:06:17,128 --> 00:06:19,295 that being a part of that transition , 80 00:06:19,540 --> 00:06:22,339 which I've certainly uh recognized a 81 00:06:22,339 --> 00:06:24,450 great deal . Uh , I spent a lot of my 82 00:06:24,450 --> 00:06:26,561 career in the military , which is not 83 00:06:26,561 --> 00:06:28,672 as much as so many of you trying to , 84 00:06:28,672 --> 00:06:30,617 uh , run away from the flagpole as 85 00:06:30,617 --> 00:06:32,720 quick as possible . Now , uh , it 86 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,510 appears I am the flagpole . Uh , I 87 00:06:36,510 --> 00:06:38,630 recognize and understand , uh , that 88 00:06:38,630 --> 00:06:40,797 distinction , uh , but what I , what I 89 00:06:40,797 --> 00:06:43,670 want to bring to this job and to the 90 00:06:43,670 --> 00:06:45,781 ethos is a recognition of the men and 91 00:06:45,781 --> 00:06:48,029 women who do the work all day long for 92 00:06:48,029 --> 00:06:50,251 us here and across , across the world . 93 00:06:50,589 --> 00:06:52,700 Um , every time I speak or every time 94 00:06:52,700 --> 00:06:54,533 in my previous profession , uh , 95 00:06:54,533 --> 00:06:56,589 profession I was on television and I 96 00:06:56,589 --> 00:06:58,811 got the bright lights and spotlight and 97 00:06:58,811 --> 00:07:00,811 people are looking to me . I always 98 00:07:00,811 --> 00:07:02,978 step back for a second and think about 99 00:07:02,978 --> 00:07:02,309 the men and women that I served with . 100 00:07:03,010 --> 00:07:06,299 Uh , the folks that are never gonna be 101 00:07:06,299 --> 00:07:08,459 introduced , uh , never gonna have a 102 00:07:08,459 --> 00:07:10,737 microphone , never gonna be heard from , 103 00:07:10,859 --> 00:07:12,915 uh , the men and women that you know 104 00:07:12,915 --> 00:07:14,915 that you've served with who are the 105 00:07:14,915 --> 00:07:17,081 best of the best in our country , uh , 106 00:07:17,081 --> 00:07:19,303 that's who we serve . Uh , I was on the 107 00:07:19,303 --> 00:07:21,359 phone late into the night last night 108 00:07:21,359 --> 00:07:23,581 talking to families of two soldiers who 109 00:07:23,581 --> 00:07:25,748 had a rollover at Fort Stewart . I was 110 00:07:25,748 --> 00:07:27,915 on the phone with the 3 , the families 111 00:07:27,915 --> 00:07:30,026 of the three that were lost , uh , in 112 00:07:30,026 --> 00:07:32,248 the UH 60 , uh , outside of , of . Uh , 113 00:07:32,248 --> 00:07:34,415 of the airport here in Washington DC , 114 00:07:34,450 --> 00:07:37,170 like the costs and the consequences are 115 00:07:37,170 --> 00:07:39,226 very real , and you know that one of 116 00:07:39,226 --> 00:07:41,226 the things I wasn't prepared for is 117 00:07:41,226 --> 00:07:43,337 every couple of weeks we do an orders 118 00:07:43,337 --> 00:07:45,503 book at OSD where we literally approve 119 00:07:45,503 --> 00:07:47,726 the orders that go out . It sounds like 120 00:07:47,726 --> 00:07:49,781 a formality , but having been on the 121 00:07:49,781 --> 00:07:49,690 other end of those orders where those 122 00:07:49,690 --> 00:07:51,634 dates really mattered and what the 123 00:07:51,634 --> 00:07:53,746 mission was really mattered , I stare 124 00:07:53,746 --> 00:07:56,040 at my orders and say . Where am I going 125 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,262 and what does it mean and how long am I 126 00:07:58,262 --> 00:08:00,318 there ? That's like struck me like a 127 00:08:00,318 --> 00:08:02,373 thud . Every one of those signatures 128 00:08:02,373 --> 00:08:04,373 affects a human being whose mission 129 00:08:04,373 --> 00:08:06,540 needs to be important and vital to the 130 00:08:06,540 --> 00:08:08,762 national interest and to our department 131 00:08:08,762 --> 00:08:10,707 before I sign that book , uh , and 132 00:08:10,707 --> 00:08:12,929 that's very much my commitment to you . 133 00:08:12,929 --> 00:08:15,207 uh , it's also my job to be , you know , 134 00:08:15,207 --> 00:08:17,151 as President Trump asked me to not 135 00:08:17,151 --> 00:08:19,318 maintain the status quo . Uh , we're , 136 00:08:19,318 --> 00:08:21,096 we're gonna take unconventional 137 00:08:21,096 --> 00:08:23,429 approaches . We're gonna move fast , uh , 138 00:08:23,429 --> 00:08:25,540 think outside the box , be disruptive 139 00:08:25,540 --> 00:08:27,707 on purpose , uh , to create a sense of 140 00:08:27,707 --> 00:08:29,929 urgency that I wanna make sure exists , 141 00:08:29,929 --> 00:08:31,818 uh , inside this department , and 142 00:08:31,818 --> 00:08:34,040 that's not to impugn anybody who's been 143 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:36,151 here or anybody who's sitting here or 144 00:08:36,151 --> 00:08:38,262 anybody who's watching . Uh , I don't 145 00:08:38,262 --> 00:08:40,318 have to tell you all that we live in 146 00:08:40,318 --> 00:08:42,484 very dangerous times , uh , in a world 147 00:08:42,484 --> 00:08:44,596 with ascendant powers who if they had 148 00:08:44,596 --> 00:08:46,707 their way , uh , would love to , uh , 149 00:08:46,707 --> 00:08:48,873 be on the rise and reject . The forces 150 00:08:48,873 --> 00:08:50,873 and capabilities and beliefs of the 151 00:08:50,873 --> 00:08:53,010 West . America is is at the forefront 152 00:08:53,010 --> 00:08:55,380 of that and wearing the uniform here at 153 00:08:55,380 --> 00:08:58,289 the department , it's our job to ensure 154 00:08:58,289 --> 00:09:00,450 we create the deterrent effect that 155 00:09:00,450 --> 00:09:02,617 maintains , uh , American dominance in 156 00:09:02,617 --> 00:09:04,894 the world , and there's a lot of folks , 157 00:09:04,894 --> 00:09:06,950 namely , and I've name checked it in 158 00:09:06,950 --> 00:09:09,117 public as well , the communist Chinese 159 00:09:09,117 --> 00:09:11,339 who seek through their ascension a very 160 00:09:11,339 --> 00:09:13,561 different view of the world . And so we 161 00:09:13,561 --> 00:09:15,561 have to be urgent and we have to be 162 00:09:15,561 --> 00:09:17,839 ready about what that means , uh , and . 163 00:09:17,839 --> 00:09:19,839 We're gonna do that . A part of how 164 00:09:19,839 --> 00:09:21,839 we're applying that is I've come in 165 00:09:21,839 --> 00:09:24,006 with three pillars that I've that I've 166 00:09:24,006 --> 00:09:25,950 uh repeated before but I wanna say 167 00:09:25,950 --> 00:09:28,228 again of how we're approaching this at , 168 00:09:28,228 --> 00:09:30,172 uh , from my level . Number one is 169 00:09:30,172 --> 00:09:32,283 restore the warrior ethos , make sure 170 00:09:32,283 --> 00:09:34,679 that we get back to basics . Our job is 171 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:36,640 to deter conflict and if necessary 172 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,599 defeat and uh completely destroy , 173 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:41,679 demoralize and defeat our enemies . 174 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:43,957 That's what we do . We do war fighting . 175 00:09:43,957 --> 00:09:46,235 Uh , here at the Department of Defense , 176 00:09:46,235 --> 00:09:48,346 and we want to restore that through a 177 00:09:48,346 --> 00:09:50,512 laser focus on readiness , lethality , 178 00:09:50,512 --> 00:09:52,679 and war fighting across the spectrum . 179 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:54,290 I was on , I was on with the 180 00:09:54,290 --> 00:09:56,512 superintendents of West Point Annapolis 181 00:09:56,512 --> 00:09:58,568 in the Air Force Academy yesterday . 182 00:09:58,568 --> 00:10:00,735 Hey , what are we doing there to drive 183 00:10:00,735 --> 00:10:00,380 those core principles ? What are we 184 00:10:00,380 --> 00:10:02,102 doing here to drive those core 185 00:10:02,102 --> 00:10:05,059 principles , uh , from , you know , E1 186 00:10:05,059 --> 00:10:07,590 to . I guess is it 010 ? I don't never 187 00:10:07,590 --> 00:10:09,719 even said that , uh , and I know this 188 00:10:09,719 --> 00:10:13,239 room is 06 and below , uh , which I was 189 00:10:13,239 --> 00:10:16,359 told was junior where I come from and 190 00:10:16,359 --> 00:10:20,179 06 ain't junior . So this is a 191 00:10:20,179 --> 00:10:22,609 new role for me too in that perspective , 192 00:10:22,619 --> 00:10:24,880 but and I went out to uh Fort Bliss , 193 00:10:25,010 --> 00:10:27,010 met with , you know , intentionally 194 00:10:27,010 --> 00:10:29,260 said , hey , uh , you know , E7 and 195 00:10:29,260 --> 00:10:32,809 above and 03 and above or 04 and above , 196 00:10:33,020 --> 00:10:35,250 you know , move out . I wanna hear from 197 00:10:35,500 --> 00:10:37,389 the folks out here on this border 198 00:10:37,389 --> 00:10:39,500 mission . How is it impacting you and 199 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:41,556 your family ? What is your mission ? 200 00:10:41,556 --> 00:10:43,611 Are you being utilized ? How does it 201 00:10:43,611 --> 00:10:45,778 affect , uh , I actually think it adds 202 00:10:45,778 --> 00:10:47,889 to readiness and , and because you're 203 00:10:47,889 --> 00:10:47,760 doing a real world mission , but how 204 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,190 does it affect all those aspects , uh , 205 00:10:50,390 --> 00:10:52,723 restoring the warrior ethos is critical , 206 00:10:52,750 --> 00:10:54,917 and I think we've seen that already in 207 00:10:54,917 --> 00:10:57,219 the recruiting numbers . I think we've 208 00:10:57,219 --> 00:10:59,580 seen an enthusiasm and excitement from 209 00:10:59,580 --> 00:11:01,636 young men and women who want to join 210 00:11:01,636 --> 00:11:04,580 the military actively uh because they . 211 00:11:05,479 --> 00:11:07,669 are interested in being a part of the 212 00:11:07,669 --> 00:11:09,836 finest fighting force the world has to 213 00:11:09,836 --> 00:11:11,780 offer and not doing a lot of other 214 00:11:11,780 --> 00:11:14,390 things that serve oftentimes too often 215 00:11:14,630 --> 00:11:17,270 to divide or distract . Uh , it's about 216 00:11:17,270 --> 00:11:19,437 readiness , it's about staying focused 217 00:11:19,437 --> 00:11:21,659 and I think you you've seen that from a 218 00:11:21,659 --> 00:11:23,437 lot of the executive orders the 219 00:11:23,437 --> 00:11:25,492 president has issued uh that we have 220 00:11:25,492 --> 00:11:27,492 echoed , and there can be confusion 221 00:11:27,492 --> 00:11:29,349 about that but from from our 222 00:11:29,349 --> 00:11:31,630 perspective , why do you get rid of 223 00:11:31,630 --> 00:11:34,919 something like DEI . Uh , because from 224 00:11:34,919 --> 00:11:36,919 our perspective it's been ser it's 225 00:11:36,919 --> 00:11:38,863 served the purpose of dividing the 226 00:11:38,863 --> 00:11:41,086 force as opposed to uniting the force , 227 00:11:41,119 --> 00:11:43,230 and this is something I've said quite 228 00:11:43,230 --> 00:11:45,599 publicly and what I want to be is 229 00:11:45,599 --> 00:11:47,679 transparent with this building and 230 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,239 everyone who serves here say the same 231 00:11:50,239 --> 00:11:52,517 thing in public that we say in private , 232 00:11:52,517 --> 00:11:54,572 which I hope you'll find from us . I 233 00:11:54,572 --> 00:11:57,520 think the single dumbest phrase in 234 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,400 military history is our diversity is 235 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:04,200 our strength . I think our 236 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,520 strength is our unity . Our strength is 237 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,119 our shared purpose regardless of our 238 00:12:09,119 --> 00:12:11,286 background , regardless of how we grew 239 00:12:11,286 --> 00:12:13,063 up , regardless of our gender , 240 00:12:13,063 --> 00:12:14,786 regardless of our race in this 241 00:12:14,786 --> 00:12:16,675 department we will treat everyone 242 00:12:16,675 --> 00:12:18,890 equally we will treat everyone with 243 00:12:18,890 --> 00:12:21,270 fairness we will treat everyone with 244 00:12:21,270 --> 00:12:23,559 respect and we will judge you as an 245 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,390 individual by your merit and by your 246 00:12:26,390 --> 00:12:28,880 commitment to the team and the mission . 247 00:12:29,710 --> 00:12:32,260 That's how it has been . That's how it 248 00:12:32,260 --> 00:12:35,690 will be any inference otherwise is 249 00:12:35,690 --> 00:12:38,630 meant to divide or create complications 250 00:12:38,630 --> 00:12:40,686 that otherwise should not and do not 251 00:12:40,686 --> 00:12:42,741 exist . I've served across my career 252 00:12:42,741 --> 00:12:44,741 with amazing men and women from all 253 00:12:44,741 --> 00:12:46,686 backgrounds . Uh , they were at my 254 00:12:46,686 --> 00:12:48,852 congressional testimony . They've been 255 00:12:48,852 --> 00:12:50,908 in my office . They work with me and 256 00:12:50,908 --> 00:12:53,019 for me now . uh , their contributions 257 00:12:53,019 --> 00:12:54,963 are immense to this nation and are 258 00:12:54,963 --> 00:12:57,019 appreciated , uh , equally . As with 259 00:12:57,019 --> 00:12:57,010 everybody else , and that's the 260 00:12:57,010 --> 00:12:59,177 approach we're gonna take , so restore 261 00:12:59,177 --> 00:13:01,288 the warrior ethos . The second one is 262 00:13:01,288 --> 00:13:03,288 rebuild our military . You know our 263 00:13:03,288 --> 00:13:04,954 defense industrial base , our 264 00:13:04,954 --> 00:13:06,899 acquisitions process , uh , how we 265 00:13:06,899 --> 00:13:09,121 rapidly field new technologies , how we 266 00:13:09,121 --> 00:13:11,343 learn from conflicts around the globe , 267 00:13:11,343 --> 00:13:13,770 how we match what we fund to 268 00:13:13,770 --> 00:13:16,760 capabilities and effects , there's a 269 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,909 lot of programs around here that we 270 00:13:18,909 --> 00:13:21,020 spent a lot of money on that when you 271 00:13:21,020 --> 00:13:23,020 actually war game it don't have the 272 00:13:23,020 --> 00:13:25,076 impact you want them to . One of the 273 00:13:25,076 --> 00:13:27,076 benefits I have is I , I don't come 274 00:13:27,076 --> 00:13:28,853 from . I don't have any special 275 00:13:28,853 --> 00:13:30,965 interests . I don't have a background 276 00:13:30,965 --> 00:13:33,076 invested in any systems or services . 277 00:13:33,076 --> 00:13:36,039 I'm agnostic to that . I want it means 278 00:13:36,039 --> 00:13:38,150 I'm going to take a lot of arrows and 279 00:13:38,150 --> 00:13:40,372 I'm prepared to do so . That's , that's 280 00:13:40,372 --> 00:13:42,595 fine . Uh , we need the best systems in 281 00:13:42,595 --> 00:13:42,320 the hands of war fighters where they 282 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:45,710 need it to the COOs , uh , to deter , 283 00:13:46,119 --> 00:13:48,230 send the signals that when that fight 284 00:13:48,230 --> 00:13:50,063 comes we're ready to win and win 285 00:13:50,063 --> 00:13:51,952 decisively . Uh , that includes a 286 00:13:51,952 --> 00:13:54,599 Pentagon audit which to the Marines out 287 00:13:54,599 --> 00:13:56,849 there y'all gotta figure it out . And 288 00:13:56,849 --> 00:13:59,359 we appreciate that . Lean and me , uh , 289 00:13:59,369 --> 00:14:02,609 we are gonna focus heavily , uh , to 290 00:14:02,609 --> 00:14:04,809 ensure that at a bare minimum by the 291 00:14:04,809 --> 00:14:07,049 end of 4 years , the Pentagon passes a 292 00:14:07,049 --> 00:14:09,679 clean audit . The American taxpayers 293 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,109 deserve that . They deserve to know 294 00:14:12,109 --> 00:14:15,719 where their $850 billion go , how it's 295 00:14:15,719 --> 00:14:18,052 spent , and make sure it's spent wisely . 296 00:14:18,052 --> 00:14:20,163 It used to be that if you call for an 297 00:14:20,163 --> 00:14:22,052 audit somehow you were , you were 298 00:14:22,052 --> 00:14:24,219 undermining the department . I believe 299 00:14:24,219 --> 00:14:26,330 the exact opposite . I believe we are 300 00:14:26,330 --> 00:14:28,441 accountable for every $1 we spend and 301 00:14:28,441 --> 00:14:30,275 every dollar of waste we find or 302 00:14:30,275 --> 00:14:32,330 redundancy is a dollar we can invest 303 00:14:32,330 --> 00:14:34,275 somewhere else , uh , as President 304 00:14:34,275 --> 00:14:36,052 Trump has committed directly to 305 00:14:36,052 --> 00:14:38,163 rebuilding our nation's military . So 306 00:14:38,163 --> 00:14:40,219 rebuilding our military is key . And 307 00:14:40,219 --> 00:14:42,441 then 3rd is reestablishing deterrence . 308 00:14:42,700 --> 00:14:44,922 Uh , unfortunately over the last couple 309 00:14:44,922 --> 00:14:47,619 of years we've seen events that have , 310 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:49,589 uh , that have occurred that have 311 00:14:49,589 --> 00:14:51,859 created the perception , reality or 312 00:14:51,859 --> 00:14:53,859 perception , but I would argue more 313 00:14:53,859 --> 00:14:56,081 perception of American weakness whether 314 00:14:56,081 --> 00:14:58,248 it's what happened in Afghanistan , by 315 00:14:58,248 --> 00:14:58,169 the way , which we're gonna have 316 00:14:58,169 --> 00:15:00,219 accountability for deserve 317 00:15:00,219 --> 00:15:02,219 accountability for what occurred in 318 00:15:02,219 --> 00:15:04,163 Afghanistan , for what happened on 319 00:15:04,163 --> 00:15:05,886 October 7th , the war that was 320 00:15:05,886 --> 00:15:07,941 unleashed in Ukraine , chaos happens 321 00:15:07,941 --> 00:15:09,719 when the perception of American 322 00:15:09,719 --> 00:15:11,869 strength is not complete . And so we 323 00:15:11,869 --> 00:15:14,036 aim to reestablish that deterrence and 324 00:15:14,036 --> 00:15:16,619 it starts with our own southern border . 325 00:15:16,950 --> 00:15:18,839 It starts with the defense of our 326 00:15:18,839 --> 00:15:20,894 homeland . uh , I think in some ways 327 00:15:20,894 --> 00:15:23,549 this department over time has felt like 328 00:15:23,549 --> 00:15:26,169 that's somebody else's mission . Uh , 329 00:15:26,210 --> 00:15:28,321 we've spent a lot of time , decades , 330 00:15:28,321 --> 00:15:30,369 my generation and yours , defending 331 00:15:30,369 --> 00:15:33,000 other people's borders across the world , 332 00:15:33,409 --> 00:15:35,576 uh , yet we've seen an invasion of our 333 00:15:35,576 --> 00:15:38,049 own , uh , from people all around the 334 00:15:38,049 --> 00:15:40,770 world who I , I'm sure many of them 335 00:15:40,770 --> 00:15:42,492 want to seek a better life . I 336 00:15:42,492 --> 00:15:44,492 understand that . But we also don't 337 00:15:44,492 --> 00:15:46,989 know who millions of them are . What 338 00:15:46,989 --> 00:15:49,322 their intentions are , why they're here , 339 00:15:49,710 --> 00:15:52,349 uh , that creates a very real national 340 00:15:52,349 --> 00:15:54,571 security threat to the country . Border 341 00:15:54,571 --> 00:15:56,789 security is national security , and as 342 00:15:56,789 --> 00:15:59,070 the president has told us , we're gonna 343 00:15:59,070 --> 00:16:01,309 get 100% operational control of our 344 00:16:01,309 --> 00:16:04,150 southern border , and that will needs 345 00:16:04,150 --> 00:16:06,630 to be and will be a focus of this of 346 00:16:06,630 --> 00:16:08,852 this department . I wanna tip my hat to 347 00:16:08,852 --> 00:16:11,260 NorthCO . They've done an amazing job 348 00:16:11,260 --> 00:16:13,260 in the in the first couple of weeks 349 00:16:13,260 --> 00:16:15,204 here . Taking that executive order 350 00:16:15,204 --> 00:16:17,149 which talked about the territorial 351 00:16:17,149 --> 00:16:19,204 defense of our country being core to 352 00:16:19,204 --> 00:16:21,427 the defense mission and implementing it 353 00:16:21,427 --> 00:16:23,427 in some in some ways using existing 354 00:16:23,427 --> 00:16:25,482 processes that we have which frankly 355 00:16:25,482 --> 00:16:27,482 are not robust enough but even also 356 00:16:27,482 --> 00:16:29,649 planning and looking forward to how we 357 00:16:29,649 --> 00:16:31,450 transition to a more permanent 358 00:16:31,450 --> 00:16:34,489 effectively defense , repel and seal at 359 00:16:34,489 --> 00:16:36,489 our southern border so that we know 360 00:16:36,489 --> 00:16:38,600 exactly who's coming in and when they 361 00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:40,767 come in they're coming in lawfully and 362 00:16:40,767 --> 00:16:42,267 then also around the world 363 00:16:42,267 --> 00:16:44,669 prioritization . Um , we have a lot of 364 00:16:44,669 --> 00:16:47,380 assets . We don't have unlimited assets , 365 00:16:47,719 --> 00:16:50,830 uh , and so part of prioritizing is 366 00:16:50,830 --> 00:16:53,590 empowering our allies and partners . We 367 00:16:53,590 --> 00:16:55,590 need to lead the world . There's no 368 00:16:55,590 --> 00:16:57,646 doubt , and President Trump has been 369 00:16:57,646 --> 00:16:59,812 clear about that . America first means 370 00:16:59,812 --> 00:17:01,868 we're taking care of America first , 371 00:17:01,868 --> 00:17:04,090 but part of America first is empowering 372 00:17:04,090 --> 00:17:05,923 allies and partners to be combat 373 00:17:05,923 --> 00:17:07,479 multipliers . To add to the 374 00:17:07,479 --> 00:17:09,423 capabilities that we have , I mean 375 00:17:09,423 --> 00:17:11,590 that's foreign military sales , that's 376 00:17:11,590 --> 00:17:13,923 exercises , that's defense partnerships , 377 00:17:13,923 --> 00:17:15,701 but it's also reminding certain 378 00:17:15,701 --> 00:17:17,757 countries and certain regions of the 379 00:17:17,757 --> 00:17:19,534 world that America can't be the 380 00:17:19,534 --> 00:17:21,701 guarantor of everything forever . In a 381 00:17:21,701 --> 00:17:23,590 world where we have to prioritize 382 00:17:23,590 --> 00:17:25,701 shifting to larger threats in certain 383 00:17:25,701 --> 00:17:27,923 moments , so you're gonna see that kind 384 00:17:27,923 --> 00:17:29,868 of prioritization from us which we 385 00:17:29,868 --> 00:17:31,868 believe will empower , invigorate , 386 00:17:31,890 --> 00:17:34,329 incentivize more burden sharing from 387 00:17:34,329 --> 00:17:36,579 allies who are beloved to us who we 388 00:17:36,579 --> 00:17:38,800 support . Uh , who also need to be 389 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:40,911 prepared to step up . President Trump 390 00:17:40,911 --> 00:17:42,856 led on that with NATO in his first 391 00:17:42,856 --> 00:17:44,800 administration . We're gonna do it 392 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,022 again . We're going over to Europe next 393 00:17:47,022 --> 00:17:49,244 week for the NATO ministerial , uh , to 394 00:17:49,244 --> 00:17:51,244 talk to our friends who , uh , have 395 00:17:51,244 --> 00:17:53,578 been and will continue to be our allies , 396 00:17:53,578 --> 00:17:55,689 but we also need to encourage them to 397 00:17:55,689 --> 00:17:57,744 continue to step up in their defense 398 00:17:57,744 --> 00:17:59,967 industrial base in spending the kind of 399 00:17:59,967 --> 00:18:02,244 things we need to do here at home , uh , 400 00:18:02,244 --> 00:18:04,467 also . So sort of to wrap up , and I've 401 00:18:04,467 --> 00:18:06,744 already gone longer than I should have , 402 00:18:06,744 --> 00:18:08,522 uh , it , it really is from our 403 00:18:08,522 --> 00:18:10,522 perspective a back to basics moment 404 00:18:10,530 --> 00:18:12,586 when President Trump chose me and he 405 00:18:12,586 --> 00:18:14,586 said , Pete , I want you to run the 406 00:18:14,586 --> 00:18:16,697 Defense Department , his charge to me 407 00:18:16,697 --> 00:18:18,808 was return that department to its war 408 00:18:18,808 --> 00:18:20,641 fighting mission at its core war 409 00:18:20,641 --> 00:18:22,697 fighting , lethality , meritocracy , 410 00:18:22,890 --> 00:18:25,770 accountability , and readiness . The 411 00:18:25,770 --> 00:18:28,239 things we the the bedrock of what we 412 00:18:28,239 --> 00:18:31,959 all understand our basic mission to be , 413 00:18:32,369 --> 00:18:34,591 you know , I was at the Sergeant Majors 414 00:18:34,591 --> 00:18:36,480 Academy down at Fort Bliss just a 415 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,591 couple days ago talking to 500 future 416 00:18:38,591 --> 00:18:40,536 sergeants major . Um , they're the 417 00:18:40,536 --> 00:18:42,313 standard bearers . What are the 418 00:18:42,313 --> 00:18:44,536 standards ? I mean , and it starts with 419 00:18:44,536 --> 00:18:46,758 the basic stuff , right ? It's grooming 420 00:18:46,758 --> 00:18:48,758 standards and uniform standards and 421 00:18:48,758 --> 00:18:51,036 training standards , fitness standards , 422 00:18:51,036 --> 00:18:53,202 all of that matters . It's almost like 423 00:18:53,202 --> 00:18:55,425 the broken windows theory of policing . 424 00:18:55,425 --> 00:18:57,480 When you ignore the small stuff from 425 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,369 criminals , and I'm not , I'm not 426 00:18:59,369 --> 00:19:01,091 saying if you violate grooming 427 00:19:01,091 --> 00:19:03,147 standards , you're a criminal , uh . 428 00:19:03,147 --> 00:19:05,313 The analogy is incomplete , but if you 429 00:19:05,313 --> 00:19:04,979 violate the small stuff and you allow 430 00:19:04,979 --> 00:19:06,868 it to happen , the big stuff , it 431 00:19:06,868 --> 00:19:08,757 creates a culture where big stuff 432 00:19:08,757 --> 00:19:10,757 you're not held accountable for . I 433 00:19:10,757 --> 00:19:12,923 think the same thing exists inside our 434 00:19:12,923 --> 00:19:15,146 services and making sure at every level 435 00:19:15,146 --> 00:19:17,368 there is standards and accountability , 436 00:19:17,619 --> 00:19:19,675 uh , and that that we live it at the 437 00:19:19,675 --> 00:19:21,786 highest levels as well , which is why 438 00:19:21,786 --> 00:19:23,952 we are gonna , you know , look back at 439 00:19:23,952 --> 00:19:26,063 what happened in Afghanistan and hold 440 00:19:26,063 --> 00:19:25,349 people accountable , not to be 441 00:19:25,349 --> 00:19:27,460 retrospective , not for retribution , 442 00:19:27,460 --> 00:19:29,571 but to understand what went wrong and 443 00:19:29,571 --> 00:19:31,849 why there was no accountability for it . 444 00:19:31,849 --> 00:19:34,182 Those types of things are examples , uh , 445 00:19:34,182 --> 00:19:36,238 but I just appreciate the service so 446 00:19:36,238 --> 00:19:38,405 many of you give I know so many people 447 00:19:38,405 --> 00:19:40,516 watching it's the honor of a lifetime 448 00:19:40,516 --> 00:19:42,516 to come alongside you . No one will 449 00:19:42,516 --> 00:19:44,571 work harder . No one's gonna be more 450 00:19:44,571 --> 00:19:46,793 attempt to be more transparent with the 451 00:19:46,793 --> 00:19:48,849 American people and with you . We do 452 00:19:48,849 --> 00:19:50,960 want to hear your feedback , um , and 453 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,127 we're gonna hit the ground running and 454 00:19:53,127 --> 00:19:52,560 I'm , I'm grateful to President Trump 455 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,393 for his leadership . We're gonna 456 00:19:54,393 --> 00:19:56,504 rebuild the military and and focus on 457 00:19:56,504 --> 00:19:58,616 the troops , so I'm happy to take any 458 00:19:58,616 --> 00:20:00,782 questions anybody might have . And you 459 00:20:00,782 --> 00:20:03,079 can't ask questions . It's OK . I think 460 00:20:03,079 --> 00:20:05,190 there's a microphone here and here if 461 00:20:05,190 --> 00:20:05,040 you want to come up , sir , to the 462 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,207 microphone so I can hear you . There's 463 00:20:07,207 --> 00:20:09,373 one right here . Yes , sir . I'm gonna 464 00:20:09,373 --> 00:20:11,484 grab a water . Thank you , sir . Uh , 465 00:20:11,484 --> 00:20:14,010 Rich Lower Air Force A-10 . You talked 466 00:20:14,010 --> 00:20:16,530 about deterrence . Uh , do you see the 467 00:20:16,530 --> 00:20:18,650 department becoming more aggressive , 468 00:20:18,770 --> 00:20:21,349 more assertive in the gray zone to 469 00:20:21,349 --> 00:20:24,349 further deter China and Russia ? Uh , 470 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,560 it's a good question . I , I , I hope 471 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,338 that it's been noticed and it's 472 00:20:28,338 --> 00:20:30,616 intentional that a lot of our outreach , 473 00:20:30,616 --> 00:20:32,393 my outreach early on to defense 474 00:20:32,393 --> 00:20:34,671 ministers has been in the Indo Pacific , 475 00:20:34,671 --> 00:20:36,893 uh , strengthening those alliances even 476 00:20:36,893 --> 00:20:40,430 more , um . There's , there's gray zone 477 00:20:40,430 --> 00:20:42,541 activities that exist , some of which 478 00:20:42,541 --> 00:20:44,652 you can acknowledge some of which you 479 00:20:44,652 --> 00:20:46,819 cannot , um , but certainly we want to 480 00:20:46,819 --> 00:20:48,819 send the signals to China that that 481 00:20:48,819 --> 00:20:50,652 area will be and continues to be 482 00:20:50,652 --> 00:20:52,819 contested our allies and partners , we 483 00:20:52,819 --> 00:20:55,390 will stand with them robustly in real 484 00:20:55,390 --> 00:20:57,800 time with defense capabilities , uh , 485 00:20:57,859 --> 00:21:00,099 and . We're not just gonna allow them 486 00:21:00,099 --> 00:21:03,140 to perpetually sort of de facto gobble 487 00:21:03,140 --> 00:21:06,219 up more of that contested space by the 488 00:21:06,219 --> 00:21:08,540 routines that they conduct to sort of 489 00:21:08,540 --> 00:21:11,020 demonstrate that all is normal in an 490 00:21:11,020 --> 00:21:13,660 increasingly escalating way maybe even 491 00:21:13,660 --> 00:21:15,327 to mask efforts they might be 492 00:21:15,327 --> 00:21:17,549 undertaking so we're definitely keeping 493 00:21:17,549 --> 00:21:19,660 an eye on that we're clear eyed about 494 00:21:19,660 --> 00:21:22,650 um . The communist Chinese , the , the 495 00:21:22,650 --> 00:21:25,280 PRC , but we're also not attempting to , 496 00:21:25,650 --> 00:21:27,817 uh , you know , initiate conflict or , 497 00:21:27,817 --> 00:21:30,969 or create , uh . Conflict where it 498 00:21:30,969 --> 00:21:33,191 otherwise doesn't need to exist , we're 499 00:21:33,191 --> 00:21:35,247 gonna stand strong with our partners 500 00:21:35,247 --> 00:21:37,247 and and then President Trump at his 501 00:21:37,247 --> 00:21:39,469 strategic level is the one who's having 502 00:21:39,469 --> 00:21:41,469 the conversations to sort of ensure 503 00:21:41,469 --> 00:21:43,691 that we don't ever have a conflict . We 504 00:21:43,691 --> 00:21:43,300 don't want that . They don't want that 505 00:21:43,530 --> 00:21:45,530 uh we just have to remain strong in 506 00:21:45,530 --> 00:21:47,363 order to be in the best possible 507 00:21:47,363 --> 00:21:48,641 position . Thank you . 508 00:21:51,709 --> 00:21:54,560 Uh , Sir Kevin Daniels , uh , Army IG , 509 00:21:54,619 --> 00:21:56,680 so I'm really happy to hear you say 510 00:21:57,130 --> 00:21:59,130 standards going back to standards . 511 00:21:59,130 --> 00:22:01,609 That's critically important . I'm 512 00:22:01,609 --> 00:22:03,410 involved in senior official 513 00:22:03,410 --> 00:22:06,449 investigations for headquarters DA and 514 00:22:06,449 --> 00:22:08,849 uh by and large our military leadership 515 00:22:08,849 --> 00:22:11,089 is doing the right thing . I'm , I'm 516 00:22:11,089 --> 00:22:14,359 proud to say that as an Army IG . What 517 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,560 can we do with the service across the 518 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:21,079 board to better the standards 519 00:22:21,719 --> 00:22:24,560 across the whole formation right so we 520 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,119 have some uh examples of 521 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:31,239 improprieties and things that have uh 522 00:22:31,239 --> 00:22:34,599 metastasized over the last decade . How 523 00:22:34,599 --> 00:22:36,655 do we get at those kinds of things ? 524 00:22:36,655 --> 00:22:38,877 What is the department doing to look at 525 00:22:38,877 --> 00:22:41,043 those kinds of cancers that are within 526 00:22:41,043 --> 00:22:44,579 our ranks ? It's a good question . Um , 527 00:22:44,969 --> 00:22:47,080 first of all , first of all , I think 528 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,691 in some cases there's , um , 529 00:22:48,691 --> 00:22:50,979 simplification that needs to be had at 530 00:22:50,979 --> 00:22:53,780 least from , from my perspective and , 531 00:22:53,819 --> 00:22:55,930 and by that I mean and that goes back 532 00:22:55,930 --> 00:22:59,199 to kind of our initial . Charge , which 533 00:22:59,199 --> 00:23:02,729 is culture . The intentional 534 00:23:02,729 --> 00:23:05,400 crafting of culture , uh , that there 535 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,567 are a lot of reasons why we could look 536 00:23:07,567 --> 00:23:09,789 at each other and create differences or 537 00:23:09,789 --> 00:23:12,560 caveats or special categories , uh , 538 00:23:12,569 --> 00:23:15,530 that I think create unnecessary uh 539 00:23:15,530 --> 00:23:17,697 differences and ripples that lead to . 540 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,353 Conflation points that lead to . 541 00:23:21,489 --> 00:23:23,280 Accusations or disagreements or 542 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,447 inability to enforce standards but I , 543 00:23:25,447 --> 00:23:27,558 I just wrote a book called The War on 544 00:23:27,558 --> 00:23:29,669 Warriors which um was used for me and 545 00:23:29,669 --> 00:23:32,510 against me in my hearing . But in 546 00:23:32,510 --> 00:23:34,732 writing that book for 6 months I was on 547 00:23:34,732 --> 00:23:36,788 the phone off the record with active 548 00:23:36,788 --> 00:23:39,430 duty service members uh with with at 549 00:23:39,430 --> 00:23:41,880 all ranks right junior enlisted senior 550 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,339 officers , NCOs , warrant officers , 551 00:23:44,630 --> 00:23:46,574 all services , all ranks because I 552 00:23:46,574 --> 00:23:48,574 wanted to get a sense of what their 553 00:23:48,574 --> 00:23:50,797 feeling was , and I wrote this down and 554 00:23:50,797 --> 00:23:52,741 it's true a lot of commanders were 555 00:23:52,741 --> 00:23:54,630 expressing they felt like they're 556 00:23:54,630 --> 00:23:56,630 they're walking on eggshells inside 557 00:23:56,630 --> 00:23:58,852 their own formations . Uh , and this is 558 00:23:58,852 --> 00:24:00,574 company commanders , battalion 559 00:24:00,574 --> 00:24:02,908 commanders , brigade commanders , sorry , 560 00:24:02,908 --> 00:24:02,800 sometimes I only use Army speak for 561 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,133 formations . I'm learning the rest , uh , 562 00:24:05,133 --> 00:24:07,356 in real time , but you know what I mean 563 00:24:07,356 --> 00:24:10,130 as far as formations because , uh , the 564 00:24:10,130 --> 00:24:13,689 standards have become . Opaque and 565 00:24:13,689 --> 00:24:16,369 loose or there's such an emphasis on 566 00:24:16,369 --> 00:24:19,250 differences that treating someone one 567 00:24:19,250 --> 00:24:21,306 way is offensive to somebody else as 568 00:24:21,306 --> 00:24:23,417 opposed to treating somebody this way 569 00:24:23,417 --> 00:24:25,583 and is offensive to somebody else . By 570 00:24:25,583 --> 00:24:27,859 simplifying that and saying you're an 571 00:24:27,859 --> 00:24:30,026 individual who's put on the uniform of 572 00:24:30,026 --> 00:24:32,109 our nation who's sworn an oath to 573 00:24:32,109 --> 00:24:34,331 defend the Constitution and you will be 574 00:24:34,331 --> 00:24:36,331 treated by your capabilities , your 575 00:24:36,331 --> 00:24:38,387 commitment to the mission , how your 576 00:24:38,387 --> 00:24:40,989 work ethic , and what you deliver , you , 577 00:24:41,069 --> 00:24:43,589 that's it . It has nothing to do with 578 00:24:43,589 --> 00:24:47,260 your race or your ethnicity 579 00:24:47,260 --> 00:24:49,670 or your gender or your sexual 580 00:24:49,670 --> 00:24:52,589 orientation that that that's not how 581 00:24:52,589 --> 00:24:55,150 we're reviewing uh the environment for 582 00:24:55,150 --> 00:24:57,250 your consideration . When you're 583 00:24:57,250 --> 00:24:59,361 looking at all these other categories 584 00:24:59,361 --> 00:25:01,770 is sort of a a tapestry , it creates a 585 00:25:01,770 --> 00:25:04,089 serious amount of complications . I 586 00:25:04,089 --> 00:25:06,329 think by simplifying and focusing on . 587 00:25:07,579 --> 00:25:11,579 Standards . I think a lot of 588 00:25:11,579 --> 00:25:14,030 that . I don't wanna say washes away 589 00:25:14,030 --> 00:25:15,863 because you still have plenty of 590 00:25:15,863 --> 00:25:17,697 complications and you still have 591 00:25:17,697 --> 00:25:17,670 problems . Everyone needs to be treated 592 00:25:17,670 --> 00:25:19,781 equally those things to be recognized 593 00:25:19,781 --> 00:25:21,892 sexual harassment not tolerated . All 594 00:25:21,892 --> 00:25:24,270 of those things remain true , which 595 00:25:24,270 --> 00:25:26,437 have been true and need to be enforced 596 00:25:26,437 --> 00:25:28,548 at the highest levels , but hopefully 597 00:25:28,869 --> 00:25:30,790 by some level of uniform and 598 00:25:30,790 --> 00:25:32,957 simplification that can be addressed . 599 00:25:35,329 --> 00:25:37,329 Yes . Great . Thanks for taking the 600 00:25:37,329 --> 00:25:39,489 time to come and speak with us . um , 601 00:25:39,550 --> 00:25:42,400 recognizing the president's intent to 602 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:44,456 streamline the federal workforce , I 603 00:25:44,456 --> 00:25:46,567 was hoping you could provide a little 604 00:25:46,567 --> 00:25:48,678 bit of your process and your thinking 605 00:25:48,678 --> 00:25:50,789 of what that means for the department 606 00:25:50,789 --> 00:25:52,733 where they'll be , um , identified 607 00:25:52,733 --> 00:25:54,844 areas to be cut or streamlined and if 608 00:25:54,844 --> 00:25:57,067 you have a sense of also the timeline . 609 00:25:57,067 --> 00:25:59,344 Sure , thank you for the question , um . 610 00:25:59,344 --> 00:26:01,567 It is the way I look at it or I thought 611 00:26:01,567 --> 00:26:03,622 about it is from the flagpole to the 612 00:26:03,622 --> 00:26:06,770 front lines . Um , there are . 613 00:26:08,229 --> 00:26:10,310 Thousands of and I'm not , I'm not 614 00:26:10,310 --> 00:26:12,477 saying that just because we're here in 615 00:26:12,477 --> 00:26:14,643 the Pentagon , but there are thousands 616 00:26:14,643 --> 00:26:16,588 of additional Pentagon positions , 617 00:26:16,588 --> 00:26:18,366 headquarters positions , others 618 00:26:18,366 --> 00:26:18,109 positions that have been created over 619 00:26:18,109 --> 00:26:20,550 the last 20 years that don't 620 00:26:20,550 --> 00:26:22,680 necessarily translate to battlefield 621 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,130 success . Um , additional staff , 622 00:26:25,489 --> 00:26:27,433 additional layers of bureaucracy , 623 00:26:27,433 --> 00:26:30,000 additional flag officer positions , uh , 624 00:26:30,209 --> 00:26:33,410 that we are , we would be remiss if we 625 00:26:33,410 --> 00:26:35,354 did not review . We also live in a 626 00:26:35,354 --> 00:26:37,299 budget constrained environment and 627 00:26:37,299 --> 00:26:39,521 that's politics that I thankfully don't 628 00:26:39,521 --> 00:26:41,577 have to worry about anymore . Um , I 629 00:26:41,577 --> 00:26:43,632 have my opinions , but that's not my 630 00:26:43,632 --> 00:26:45,854 job . My job is a ready force . uh , we 631 00:26:45,854 --> 00:26:47,466 will have to live inside the 632 00:26:47,466 --> 00:26:49,521 constraints of the past . I mean , I 633 00:26:49,521 --> 00:26:51,743 just , we were down at , at , uh , Fort 634 00:26:51,743 --> 00:26:54,010 Bliss recently and . The unit there , 635 00:26:54,130 --> 00:26:56,040 the armored , uh , cab unit there 636 00:26:56,040 --> 00:26:59,079 relayed that they've had to cut an FTX , 637 00:26:59,369 --> 00:27:01,119 uh , uh , a series of training 638 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,230 exercises coming up because of budget 639 00:27:03,230 --> 00:27:05,452 constraints . Well , when you're living 640 00:27:05,452 --> 00:27:07,508 off of continuing resolutions , uh , 641 00:27:07,508 --> 00:27:09,119 and caps , and then you have 642 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:11,286 contingency operations and things that 643 00:27:11,286 --> 00:27:13,397 change , suddenly you have shortfalls 644 00:27:13,397 --> 00:27:13,329 and now unit training falls by the 645 00:27:13,329 --> 00:27:15,496 wayside . From my perspective , that's 646 00:27:15,496 --> 00:27:17,718 I mean that's completely unacceptable . 647 00:27:17,839 --> 00:27:19,839 Uh , what are we spending elsewhere 648 00:27:19,839 --> 00:27:22,829 that can be targeted efficiently . Um , 649 00:27:22,959 --> 00:27:25,070 and it's not just the fraud waste and 650 00:27:25,070 --> 00:27:27,070 abuse stuff , it's , it's systems , 651 00:27:27,070 --> 00:27:29,181 it's hierarchies , it's layers , uh , 652 00:27:29,181 --> 00:27:31,403 that we can review , reduce , recommend 653 00:27:31,403 --> 00:27:33,479 those reductions , uh , that then 654 00:27:33,479 --> 00:27:35,590 allows us to ensure that training and 655 00:27:35,590 --> 00:27:37,812 readiness in the frontline units in the 656 00:27:37,812 --> 00:27:39,923 cocoms is even increased . I want , I 657 00:27:39,923 --> 00:27:42,040 want more of that . So it is , it's 658 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:44,040 interesting , uh , former Secretary 659 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:47,319 Rumsfeld gave a speech on September 10 , 660 00:27:47,810 --> 00:27:50,750 2001 . That was about 661 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,400 acquisitions and reform and Pentagon 662 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,719 bureaucracy , uh , that . 663 00:27:57,089 --> 00:27:59,033 Overtaken by events the next day , 664 00:27:59,310 --> 00:28:01,250 September 11 , 2001 was quickly 665 00:28:01,250 --> 00:28:03,417 forgotten and really never addressed . 666 00:28:03,939 --> 00:28:06,050 I feel like I could give about 85% of 667 00:28:06,050 --> 00:28:08,329 the same speech today that Secretary 668 00:28:08,329 --> 00:28:10,551 Rumsfeld gave on September 10th because 669 00:28:10,551 --> 00:28:12,969 a lot of those , those processes have 670 00:28:12,969 --> 00:28:15,180 become even more systemic in taking 671 00:28:15,180 --> 00:28:17,589 root here that cause delays , 672 00:28:17,599 --> 00:28:19,599 redundancies , and bureaucratic red 673 00:28:19,599 --> 00:28:21,543 tape . That's we're looking at the 674 00:28:21,543 --> 00:28:23,655 headquarters level . We're looking at 675 00:28:23,655 --> 00:28:25,766 the highest levels . Um , I said this 676 00:28:25,766 --> 00:28:27,710 in my hearing as well . Now we won 677 00:28:27,710 --> 00:28:29,932 World War II with 7 4-star generals and 678 00:28:29,932 --> 00:28:33,359 today we have 44 . Uh , do , do all of 679 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:35,839 those directly contribute to war 680 00:28:35,839 --> 00:28:38,119 fighting success ? Maybe they do . I 681 00:28:38,119 --> 00:28:40,452 don't know , um , it's worth , but it's , 682 00:28:40,452 --> 00:28:42,619 it's worth reviewing to make sure they 683 00:28:42,619 --> 00:28:44,508 do , uh , so we're looking at all 684 00:28:44,508 --> 00:28:46,675 options . Uh , what we're not gonna be 685 00:28:46,675 --> 00:28:48,897 is , is hasty about it because we're in 686 00:28:48,897 --> 00:28:51,175 the business of national security , uh , 687 00:28:51,175 --> 00:28:53,397 and , and . Something that may not look 688 00:28:53,397 --> 00:28:55,063 like it's contributing may be 689 00:28:55,063 --> 00:28:57,230 incredibly important to the effort and 690 00:28:57,230 --> 00:28:59,175 so whatever we do is gonna be done 691 00:28:59,175 --> 00:29:02,540 carefully . Thank you . Yes sir . 692 00:29:02,849 --> 00:29:04,849 Morning sir . Based on what he said 693 00:29:04,849 --> 00:29:07,071 about maintaining American dominance in 694 00:29:07,071 --> 00:29:08,738 the world , our adversaries , 695 00:29:08,738 --> 00:29:10,905 especially Chinese and Russians , they 696 00:29:10,905 --> 00:29:10,750 have a 20 year strategy , a 30 year 697 00:29:10,750 --> 00:29:13,083 strategy , and they look that far ahead . 698 00:29:13,083 --> 00:29:15,390 How do we change our approach to 699 00:29:15,390 --> 00:29:17,569 maintain US dominance abroad ? That 700 00:29:17,569 --> 00:29:19,625 strategy is more than 5 years , more 701 00:29:19,625 --> 00:29:21,791 than 10 years , and also ensuring that 702 00:29:21,791 --> 00:29:23,680 our resources are prioritized and 703 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,469 allocated to maintaining our US 704 00:29:25,469 --> 00:29:27,691 dominance in decades and not in years . 705 00:29:28,790 --> 00:29:29,349 Tell me . 706 00:29:32,469 --> 00:29:34,580 Sounds like you need to come work for 707 00:29:34,580 --> 00:29:36,869 me . Or maybe you already do , and 708 00:29:36,869 --> 00:29:40,560 thank you . I'm 709 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:42,782 figuring it out . I , I found out where 710 00:29:42,782 --> 00:29:45,400 the bathroom was . Uh , that , that , 711 00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:48,770 sir , indeed is the key question . Uh , 712 00:29:48,890 --> 00:29:50,890 we , you know , autocracies have an 713 00:29:50,890 --> 00:29:53,170 advantage , not just because of the top 714 00:29:53,170 --> 00:29:55,337 down nature in which they organize . I 715 00:29:55,337 --> 00:29:57,170 mean they have disadvantages for 716 00:29:57,170 --> 00:29:59,281 obvious reasons because . But because 717 00:29:59,281 --> 00:30:01,392 they have the convenience of planning 718 00:30:01,392 --> 00:30:01,380 without political , you know , the 719 00:30:01,380 --> 00:30:03,699 pesky people problem of voting and 720 00:30:03,699 --> 00:30:06,739 ballots , uh , they can plan 1520 years 721 00:30:06,739 --> 00:30:08,572 and then drive that plan without 722 00:30:08,572 --> 00:30:10,683 consequence to their own population , 723 00:30:10,683 --> 00:30:12,850 which does have strategic advantages , 724 00:30:12,850 --> 00:30:15,072 no doubt . I actually think that system 725 00:30:15,072 --> 00:30:14,619 loses in the long haul because of its 726 00:30:14,619 --> 00:30:16,341 inherent weaknesses , but that 727 00:30:16,341 --> 00:30:18,579 militarily has advantages . I think 728 00:30:18,579 --> 00:30:20,579 you're gonna see a defense strategy 729 00:30:20,579 --> 00:30:23,060 coming out of our office that tries to 730 00:30:23,060 --> 00:30:25,227 look that far down the line , tries to 731 00:30:25,227 --> 00:30:27,116 make disruptive changes to how we 732 00:30:27,116 --> 00:30:29,979 acquire and rapidly field and look at 733 00:30:29,979 --> 00:30:31,619 systems that are not about 734 00:30:31,619 --> 00:30:33,786 congressional districts or budget line 735 00:30:33,786 --> 00:30:37,180 items for FY 26 or FY27 , but try to 736 00:30:37,180 --> 00:30:39,300 look toward what strategically we're 737 00:30:39,300 --> 00:30:41,849 gonna need 5 , 10 years down the line 738 00:30:42,099 --> 00:30:44,043 looking ahead at what the emerging 739 00:30:44,043 --> 00:30:46,210 threats are and what a shifting in the 740 00:30:46,210 --> 00:30:48,266 balance of power would mean . I mean 741 00:30:48,266 --> 00:30:50,488 when we're in a different world than we 742 00:30:50,488 --> 00:30:52,599 were uh at the end of the Cold War uh 743 00:30:52,599 --> 00:30:54,859 we're now at a near peer or peer 744 00:30:54,859 --> 00:30:57,026 environment which changes a lot of the 745 00:30:57,026 --> 00:30:59,192 dynamics of how we need to plan , uh , 746 00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:01,739 specifically to maintain American 747 00:31:01,739 --> 00:31:04,300 strength around the world because it is 748 00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:07,750 not hyperbole to say . Without America 749 00:31:08,930 --> 00:31:10,874 The rest of the world acknowledges 750 00:31:10,874 --> 00:31:13,041 there's nowhere else to look as far as 751 00:31:13,041 --> 00:31:15,630 actual leadership and capabilities in 752 00:31:15,630 --> 00:31:19,589 the defense space . It's us or us ? 753 00:31:20,290 --> 00:31:22,512 And then our robust allies and partners 754 00:31:22,512 --> 00:31:24,623 who we incentivized to come alongside 755 00:31:24,623 --> 00:31:26,512 us and that's how you create uh a 756 00:31:26,512 --> 00:31:29,469 Western force capable of ensuring not 757 00:31:29,469 --> 00:31:32,229 just our country and our hemisphere but 758 00:31:32,229 --> 00:31:35,939 the world remains free uh to trade , uh , 759 00:31:35,949 --> 00:31:38,150 travel , uh all the things that we 760 00:31:38,150 --> 00:31:41,119 share . So I think we have to be 761 00:31:41,119 --> 00:31:43,390 willing to look further than any time 762 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,807 this president would be in office or I 763 00:31:45,807 --> 00:31:47,529 would be in office and set the 764 00:31:47,529 --> 00:31:49,640 department up to do that knowing that 765 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:51,862 at any time 2 years from now or 4 years 766 00:31:51,862 --> 00:31:54,084 from now , the American people can make 767 00:31:54,084 --> 00:31:56,307 a different choice and that can lead to 768 00:31:56,307 --> 00:31:58,529 different , different views of that but 769 00:31:58,529 --> 00:32:00,584 we're trying to take a America first 770 00:32:00,584 --> 00:32:02,640 strategic perspective and how we 771 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,807 maintain our dominance and I think you 772 00:32:04,807 --> 00:32:06,807 see some things already changing in 773 00:32:06,807 --> 00:32:08,807 that our southern border , uh , the 774 00:32:08,807 --> 00:32:10,862 focus on . You know , making sure we 775 00:32:10,862 --> 00:32:12,918 have control over the Panama Canal , 776 00:32:13,140 --> 00:32:15,362 making sure that there's not a scenario 777 00:32:15,362 --> 00:32:17,140 in an emergency where our ships 778 00:32:17,140 --> 00:32:19,029 couldn't transit because you have 779 00:32:19,029 --> 00:32:20,973 foreign ownership on either side . 780 00:32:20,973 --> 00:32:23,140 Those are sort of America first views 781 00:32:23,140 --> 00:32:25,196 that we're willing to look into that 782 00:32:25,196 --> 00:32:27,362 look further into the future than just 783 00:32:27,362 --> 00:32:29,307 that should there be a contingency 784 00:32:29,307 --> 00:32:31,418 while looking to the Indo-Pacific and 785 00:32:31,418 --> 00:32:34,180 realizing the aspirations of uh the CCP . 786 00:32:34,579 --> 00:32:36,829 Uh , which are real and could drive a 787 00:32:36,829 --> 00:32:39,051 decision point vis a vis something like 788 00:32:39,051 --> 00:32:41,051 Taiwan . So I , you're right , we , 789 00:32:41,051 --> 00:32:43,430 we're , we're trying to think that way 790 00:32:43,430 --> 00:32:45,652 with how we because dollars drive a lot 791 00:32:45,652 --> 00:32:47,708 of those decisions , uh , and so the 792 00:32:47,708 --> 00:32:49,930 but as much as I thought this was a job 793 00:32:49,930 --> 00:32:52,208 about , you know , strategy and people , 794 00:32:52,208 --> 00:32:54,319 it's a job about budgets and what you 795 00:32:54,319 --> 00:32:56,319 fund is what you is a reflection of 796 00:32:56,319 --> 00:32:58,374 what your priority is and so we're , 797 00:32:58,374 --> 00:32:58,310 we're spending a lot of time looking at 798 00:32:58,310 --> 00:33:00,310 that but thank you , that's the key 799 00:33:00,310 --> 00:33:02,560 question , sir . Sir , one more . All 800 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:04,727 right . Yes , sir . Hi sir , thank you 801 00:33:04,727 --> 00:33:06,782 for your time today . My question is 802 00:33:06,782 --> 00:33:08,893 more about the families , uh , of the 803 00:33:08,893 --> 00:33:11,116 military and the civilians that support 804 00:33:11,116 --> 00:33:13,227 the , the family of the Department of 805 00:33:13,227 --> 00:33:15,449 Defense . So often frequency of moves , 806 00:33:15,449 --> 00:33:17,671 the , uh , the unsettled nature of what 807 00:33:17,671 --> 00:33:20,349 we do impacts the families and looking 808 00:33:20,349 --> 00:33:22,349 for your comments on how we plan to 809 00:33:22,349 --> 00:33:24,516 continue to take care of those . Oh my 810 00:33:24,516 --> 00:33:26,949 goodness , um , you're 100% right . By 811 00:33:26,949 --> 00:33:28,838 the way , we're having we're in a 812 00:33:28,838 --> 00:33:31,060 reconciliation process right now , um , 813 00:33:31,060 --> 00:33:33,282 which is a unique funding situation and 814 00:33:33,282 --> 00:33:35,505 not just looking at budget cycles and . 815 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:38,209 As a former , you know , 04 who spent 816 00:33:38,209 --> 00:33:40,890 most of his time as an 02 and 003 , um , 817 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:42,976 I spent most of my time with E4s and 818 00:33:42,976 --> 00:33:45,869 E5s and 6s , uh , and have heard 819 00:33:45,869 --> 00:33:48,319 robustly the frustrations they and 820 00:33:48,319 --> 00:33:50,280 their families have , which is a 821 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,030 massive readiness and retention issue , 822 00:33:53,439 --> 00:33:56,270 uh , and , and a morale issue . So as 823 00:33:56,270 --> 00:33:58,381 we've driven budgets , I have said to 824 00:33:58,381 --> 00:34:01,319 the team that needs to be I don't , you 825 00:34:01,319 --> 00:34:03,430 know , funding one more multi-billion 826 00:34:03,430 --> 00:34:05,819 dollar system is not as important as 827 00:34:05,819 --> 00:34:07,430 funding the families and the 828 00:34:07,430 --> 00:34:09,430 capabilities are human systems that 829 00:34:09,430 --> 00:34:11,763 make it all happen so I want that to be , 830 00:34:11,763 --> 00:34:13,263 and I applaud the previous 831 00:34:13,263 --> 00:34:15,375 administration's increase in E1 to E4 832 00:34:15,375 --> 00:34:17,708 pay like that stuff is really important . 833 00:34:17,708 --> 00:34:19,486 We need to do more of that that 834 00:34:19,486 --> 00:34:21,652 trickles to the family and how they're 835 00:34:21,652 --> 00:34:23,708 cared for and then yeah , we have to 836 00:34:23,708 --> 00:34:25,986 look at all aspects of how we interact . 837 00:34:25,986 --> 00:34:27,708 Uh , with , with families from 838 00:34:27,708 --> 00:34:30,360 childcare to DOD schools and , uh , the 839 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:32,527 president signed an EO , uh , uh , you 840 00:34:32,527 --> 00:34:34,804 know , talking about choice in schools , 841 00:34:34,804 --> 00:34:36,749 uh , military families should have 842 00:34:36,749 --> 00:34:38,916 choice if it's great on , on , on post 843 00:34:38,916 --> 00:34:41,027 or on base , great , if not , do they 844 00:34:41,027 --> 00:34:42,916 have a robust opportunity to seek 845 00:34:42,916 --> 00:34:45,082 education or child care for their kids 846 00:34:45,082 --> 00:34:47,193 elsewhere ? That matters a lot . Uh , 847 00:34:47,193 --> 00:34:49,249 making sure , you know , BAH matches 848 00:34:49,249 --> 00:34:51,471 all of these things are , are important 849 00:34:51,471 --> 00:34:51,159 and my , you know , my wife's gonna be 850 00:34:51,159 --> 00:34:53,381 traveling with me to , uh , we're going 851 00:34:53,381 --> 00:34:55,959 to . Uh , the NATO ministerial to , 852 00:34:56,449 --> 00:34:58,616 we're not going to the Munich Security 853 00:34:58,616 --> 00:35:00,838 Conference , but we're instead going to 854 00:35:00,838 --> 00:35:03,171 Poland to see the troops out there , uh , 855 00:35:03,171 --> 00:35:02,330 and we're going to Germany to see , uh , 856 00:35:02,340 --> 00:35:04,610 UCOM and AFRO . I would much rather . 857 00:35:05,580 --> 00:35:07,524 Talk to troops then go to cocktail 858 00:35:07,524 --> 00:35:10,379 parties . That's my job , uh , and 859 00:35:10,379 --> 00:35:12,712 we're gonna meet with military families . 860 00:35:12,712 --> 00:35:14,935 She's gonna meet with , uh , husbands , 861 00:35:14,935 --> 00:35:17,157 wives and spouses on that trip , go see 862 00:35:17,157 --> 00:35:19,268 schools , go see faith groups , child 863 00:35:19,268 --> 00:35:21,639 care centers , uh , to get a real pulse 864 00:35:21,639 --> 00:35:23,583 of what that is and then make sure 865 00:35:23,583 --> 00:35:25,806 we're funding it . So I , I want you to 866 00:35:25,806 --> 00:35:25,780 know that's something that matters a 867 00:35:25,780 --> 00:35:28,002 lot to us . I appreciate the question . 868 00:35:28,469 --> 00:35:31,649 So We have one more . Oh , go ahead , 869 00:35:31,689 --> 00:35:34,260 let's do one more . Ricky told me I 870 00:35:34,260 --> 00:35:37,129 couldn't , but why not ? Good morning , 871 00:35:37,209 --> 00:35:39,487 sir . I appreciate you taking the time . 872 00:35:39,487 --> 00:35:41,653 My name's Ellen Harnish . I'm from OSD 873 00:35:41,653 --> 00:35:43,820 Cape , uh , and my question follows up 874 00:35:43,820 --> 00:35:45,820 on your point about the acquisition 875 00:35:45,820 --> 00:35:48,153 process . Um , you know , we're in . Uh , 876 00:35:48,153 --> 00:35:50,265 a day right now that we have a lot of 877 00:35:50,265 --> 00:35:52,487 dangerous powers that are , uh , rising 878 00:35:52,487 --> 00:35:54,653 and we're trying to figure out what to 879 00:35:54,653 --> 00:35:56,876 focus on in the acquisition process and 880 00:35:56,876 --> 00:35:58,987 us as civilians , we want to be there 881 00:35:58,987 --> 00:36:01,209 to support the war fighter and get them 882 00:36:01,209 --> 00:36:03,431 the capabilities that they need fielded 883 00:36:03,431 --> 00:36:05,542 in , uh , the fastest time possible , 884 00:36:05,542 --> 00:36:05,199 but with the appropriate amount of 885 00:36:05,449 --> 00:36:07,393 testing and making sure everything 886 00:36:07,393 --> 00:36:09,616 works when it gets to the battlefield . 887 00:36:09,616 --> 00:36:11,782 So I guess my real question for you is 888 00:36:11,782 --> 00:36:14,005 kind of what's your focus when it comes 889 00:36:14,005 --> 00:36:16,282 to the acquisition process and reforms . 890 00:36:16,282 --> 00:36:18,116 And the trade-off between faster 891 00:36:18,116 --> 00:36:20,282 capabilities that are probably smaller 892 00:36:20,282 --> 00:36:22,449 and could be , uh , you know , fielded 893 00:36:22,449 --> 00:36:22,070 quicker versus these larger scale 894 00:36:22,070 --> 00:36:24,126 capabilities that we really need for 895 00:36:24,126 --> 00:36:26,348 that deterrent effect . In in a perfect 896 00:36:26,348 --> 00:36:28,459 world I would say both , right ? Um , 897 00:36:28,459 --> 00:36:30,681 you , I mean , first of all , listening 898 00:36:30,681 --> 00:36:32,570 to the co-coms , listening to the 899 00:36:32,570 --> 00:36:32,370 people on the , on the pointy end of 900 00:36:32,370 --> 00:36:34,639 the spear , um , watching what's 901 00:36:34,639 --> 00:36:36,306 happening in real time on the 902 00:36:36,306 --> 00:36:38,139 battlefield . Take Ukraine as an 903 00:36:38,139 --> 00:36:40,306 example . A lot of people , we , we're 904 00:36:40,306 --> 00:36:42,250 learning a lot about what low cost 905 00:36:42,250 --> 00:36:44,083 systems UAVs can do to high cost 906 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:46,391 systems that we have invested a great 907 00:36:46,391 --> 00:36:48,558 deal in , and the question is , do you 908 00:36:48,558 --> 00:36:50,669 keep investing in those or not , uh , 909 00:36:50,669 --> 00:36:52,502 going forward , listening to the 910 00:36:52,502 --> 00:36:54,613 services , also making balances and . 911 00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:56,760 It's not , not necessarily choosing 912 00:36:56,760 --> 00:36:58,593 between services but recognizing 913 00:36:58,593 --> 00:37:00,538 capabilities of services vis a vis 914 00:37:00,538 --> 00:37:02,949 perspective , uh , upcoming fights and 915 00:37:02,949 --> 00:37:04,893 then I think I , I think we have a 916 00:37:04,893 --> 00:37:07,300 unique opportunity to tap into industry , 917 00:37:07,870 --> 00:37:10,629 uh , Silicon Valley . Other , I mean , 918 00:37:10,709 --> 00:37:12,750 obviously we've got massive , uh , 919 00:37:13,350 --> 00:37:15,461 organizations that have helped create 920 00:37:15,461 --> 00:37:17,350 big platforms that are incredibly 921 00:37:17,350 --> 00:37:19,572 important for deterrence . We also have 922 00:37:19,572 --> 00:37:22,469 some really fast moving uh . Newer 923 00:37:22,469 --> 00:37:24,525 contractors that are willing to work 924 00:37:24,525 --> 00:37:26,580 that have already put a lot of money 925 00:37:26,580 --> 00:37:28,691 into R&D that want to help us rapidly 926 00:37:28,691 --> 00:37:28,590 field these new systems that we're 927 00:37:28,590 --> 00:37:30,701 gonna need for fights in the future , 928 00:37:30,870 --> 00:37:33,510 uh , so funding even more robustly , I 929 00:37:33,510 --> 00:37:35,732 don't wanna name check anything and say 930 00:37:35,732 --> 00:37:37,954 that's the only route , but things like 931 00:37:37,954 --> 00:37:39,566 DIU and others where you can 932 00:37:39,566 --> 00:37:41,750 experimentally rapidly field new 933 00:37:41,750 --> 00:37:43,750 technologies and then find a way to 934 00:37:43,750 --> 00:37:45,639 make sure they're they're they're 935 00:37:45,639 --> 00:37:47,750 funded . So that they can be scaled , 936 00:37:47,750 --> 00:37:49,972 uh , and , and tested even in real time 937 00:37:49,972 --> 00:37:52,510 out with cocoms as opposed to a 18 938 00:37:52,510 --> 00:37:54,760 month testing process , uh , kind of 939 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:56,816 move things merge things together so 940 00:37:56,816 --> 00:37:58,760 they're happening more quickly and 941 00:37:58,760 --> 00:37:58,469 we're hearing a lot of that from 942 00:37:58,469 --> 00:38:00,802 commanders in the field who were saying , 943 00:38:00,802 --> 00:38:02,969 hey , skip this , this , this and that 944 00:38:02,969 --> 00:38:05,136 process let us figure out how it works 945 00:38:05,136 --> 00:38:04,629 and then we can scale it once we know 946 00:38:04,629 --> 00:38:07,350 it does or does not , um , but I also 947 00:38:07,350 --> 00:38:09,517 want , I want to underscore that a lot 948 00:38:09,517 --> 00:38:11,739 of these major platforms , and that was 949 00:38:11,739 --> 00:38:13,794 a wonderful part of doing the advise 950 00:38:13,794 --> 00:38:13,550 and consent process in the US Senate . 951 00:38:13,899 --> 00:38:16,066 Um , yes , there are senators that are 952 00:38:16,066 --> 00:38:17,899 invested in certain platforms or 953 00:38:17,899 --> 00:38:20,066 systems from their home state or their 954 00:38:20,066 --> 00:38:22,121 district , but when you actually dig 955 00:38:22,121 --> 00:38:24,121 underneath it , they understand the 956 00:38:24,121 --> 00:38:26,177 strategic deterrence effect of these 957 00:38:26,177 --> 00:38:28,455 big systems we spend a lot of money on , 958 00:38:28,455 --> 00:38:30,790 oftentimes too much money over budget 959 00:38:30,790 --> 00:38:32,957 and too long , and that's something we 960 00:38:32,957 --> 00:38:34,957 are definitely going to address for 961 00:38:34,957 --> 00:38:37,068 reasons of urgency and for reasons of 962 00:38:37,068 --> 00:38:39,360 taxpayer uh respect for taxpayers , but 963 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,360 we need we need and . those systems 964 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:43,527 because without them we don't have the 965 00:38:43,527 --> 00:38:45,638 umbrella that allows us to do so many 966 00:38:45,638 --> 00:38:47,709 other things uh so we're looking at 967 00:38:47,709 --> 00:38:49,765 both but we're trying to get outside 968 00:38:49,765 --> 00:38:52,042 the box and be disruptive on both , um , 969 00:38:52,042 --> 00:38:53,987 recognizing we won't be able to do 970 00:38:53,987 --> 00:38:56,098 everything in every way but thank you 971 00:38:56,098 --> 00:38:58,320 for the question . I just want to thank 972 00:38:58,320 --> 00:38:57,949 everybody for your time . I appreciate 973 00:38:57,949 --> 00:39:00,260 what you do . Let's get back to work . 974 00:39:00,469 --> 00:39:03,979 uh , I , I know . I mean , again , I 975 00:39:03,979 --> 00:39:06,201 can't even fathom the size and scope of 976 00:39:06,201 --> 00:39:08,423 this building and what everybody does . 977 00:39:08,423 --> 00:39:10,701 I know that . I know what I don't know , 978 00:39:10,701 --> 00:39:12,701 but , um , we're trying to hire the 979 00:39:12,701 --> 00:39:14,757 best and brightest to come alongside 980 00:39:14,757 --> 00:39:14,350 all of you in the work that you're 981 00:39:14,350 --> 00:39:16,461 already doing and I'm just honored to 982 00:39:16,461 --> 00:39:18,517 be a small part of it . So thank you 983 00:39:18,517 --> 00:39:17,489 very much . 984 00:39:28,020 --> 00:39:30,131 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 985 00:39:30,131 --> 00:39:32,020 today's town hall . Thank you for 986 00:39:32,020 --> 00:39:34,242 joining us . Please remain in place for 987 00:39:34,242 --> 00:39:36,353 the departure of the official party . 988 00:39:48,540 --> 00:39:50,373 fans , so I gotta go with that . 989 00:39:52,580 --> 00:39:53,739 Philly fans , come on .