WEBVTT

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To hear the testimony of the

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president's concerning the president's

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fiscal year 2026 budget

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request . I welcome Secretary Hexi ,

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Chairman Kaine . And acting Controller

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McDonald . As we review the

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past 5 months . The president and the

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Department of Defense have much to be

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proud of . The administration has

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largely succeeded in refocusing the

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Pentagon on war fighting . Our

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recruitment numbers have dra

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dramatically improved . That is a very

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important achievement and when we will

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continue to celebrate . The US

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military has played a significant

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supporting role in the president's

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wholesale success in our southern

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border . He has achieved operational

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control over the situation , a position

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the vast majority of Americans support .

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In Operation Rough Rider , the

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president imposed costs on the Houthis .

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The operation was well executed by our

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service members , and it appears to

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have achieved its stated objectives for

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now . Similarly , the president has

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relentless relentlessly struck al Qaeda

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and ISIS terrorists . Those strikes

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have helped to open up space for

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diplomatic breakthroughs in Syria , and

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they have prevented significant

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external attacks that could have

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emanated from Somalia .

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Unfortunately , the axis of aggressors

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is resilient . It is hellbent on

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challenging American global leadership .

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It is clearer than ever that Vladimir

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Putin is uninterested in President

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Trump's and President Zelinsky's offers

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for real peace negotiations . The

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Europeans are heeding the president's

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call to rearm , but we are in a tenuous

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period . A precipitate withdrawal of US

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forces from Europe could undo all that

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progress . In Asia , the Chinese

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Communist Party continues its campaign

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of aggression against its neighbors and

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still displays open ambitions to retake

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Taiwan . Secretary Hegi recently made

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this crucial point in an important

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speech in Shangri-La . He said , and I

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quote , China seeks to become a

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hegemonic power in Asia , unquote . He

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is right . China intends to use

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military force to achieve Xi Jinping's

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goals . Meanwhile , in the Middle East ,

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the Ayatollah is hiding as his

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regime crumbles . He is still refusing

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to negotiate . In short , this

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is the most dangerous national security

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moment since World War II .

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Unconstrained . Aggressive dictators

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are on the move . And importantly ,

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the character of warfare is rapidly

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changing . That is a dangerous

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combination . We cannot have an

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American-led golden age of peace and

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prosperity if we fail to navigate these

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historic security challenges .

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President Trump is actively working to

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protect American interests against four

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main adversaries Xi Jinping and his

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Chinese Communist Party , Vladimir

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Putin's militarized Russia , Kim Jong

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Un's North Korea , and the Ayatollah's

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religious fanatics , including his web

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of terrorists . Our commander in chief

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deserves a military capable of

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maintaining deterrence . And applying

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force when necessary to protect US

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interests as he has done in Yemen . I

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regret to say . That this fiscal

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year 2026 budget request will not

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Deliver that . Military .

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When Secretary Hexith testified before

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this committee in his confirmation

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hearing , he made the correct point

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that spending less than 3% of GDP on

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defense would be , and I quote , very

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dangerous . Unquote . What we have in

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front of us is an inadequate budget

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request with precious little detail and

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no follow on data about fiscal years

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2027 , 2028 , or 2029 .

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We must assume , and in fact , we have

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heard that OMB intends to maintain

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defense spending at $893 billion across

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the four years of this administration .

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So even with a one time $150

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billion reconciliation infusion , this

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would leave us at 2.65%

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of GDP by 2029 .

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Below 3% of GDP and Well below the

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5% of GDP that we really , really need .

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Clearly such a budget plan would allow

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the military balance to continue . As

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it has been to tilt away from the

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United States and toward communist

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China . Communist China has increased

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its budget by over 7% each year for the

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past decade . I know the secretary

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fought for a stronger fiscal year 2026

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excretionary request , but we need to

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acknowledge that a flat fiscal year

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2026 budget is what OMB delivered . I

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expect we will spend today reviewing

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the numerous significant holes in this

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request , gaps that will make it much

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more difficult for President Trump to

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equip our service members and for his

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advisers to develop credible military

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options . Across the budget , we see we

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see significant holes . Shipbuilding

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Tactical fighters , basic maintenance

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money , and more all insufficient . The

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budget seems to be written as if there

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are many items in the reconciliation

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package that simply are not in that

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bill . This is confusing because the

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text of the reconciliation bill has

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been public for quite some time .

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Chairman Rogers of the house and I

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worked closely with the executive

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branch . And members of this committee

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on the contents of the package , this

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budget threatens to undermine the good

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work we have done together on that bill

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and leads me to question whether some

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officials in the administration planned

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to ignore congressional intent .

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I believe ignoring congressional intent

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would be a wrongheaded decision for the

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United States of America . We all work

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for the American people and we share

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largely identical goals when it comes

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to deterring Xi Jinping , Vladimir

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Putin , and other threats . We need to

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work much , much more closely together

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on investment strategies and actions

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necessary . To rebuild our industrial

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base . The president and the Congress

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want action on re-industrialization .

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We want to rebuild the arsenal of

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democracy . We need action on

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industrial base integration ,

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streamlined weapon sales , and

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cooperation with our allies and

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partners . We agree on fundamentally

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changing the way the DOD budgets and

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handles acquisition . Now we need to

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agree on providing the men and women of

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the Department of Defense with the

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resources they need to do their jobs .

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We have no time to waste . We must

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commit to continued collaboration

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now . With that , I turn to my friend

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and colleague , Senator Reid for his

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remarks . Well , thank you very much ,

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Mr . Chairman . uh , Mr . Secretary

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General Kaine , uh , Ms . McDougall ,

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welcome . Mr . Secretary , as the

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chairman has said , this is a dangerous

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moment . As we speak , missiles are

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striking cities across Israel and Iran ,

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threatening to ignite a regional war .

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There should be no doubt that for the

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safety of the United States and the

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rest of the world , Iran cannot acquire

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a nuclear weapon . However , Prime

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Minister Netanyahu's decision to

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preemptively launch a war with Iran

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against the urging of the president

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threatens the stability of the entire

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region and the safety of Americans

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stationed there . The Trump

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administration must take urgent steps

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to prevent a wider war . Mr . Secretary ,

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I would ask you to be crystal clear

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this morning about the administration's

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posture toward Iran . More broadly ,

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Russia continues its bloody assault on

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Ukraine , unmoved by President Trump's

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negotiating tactics , and China is

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threatening our allies in the

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Indo-Pacific as America once again

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redirects its attention to the Middle

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East . This is a moment that requires

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leadership , expertise , and confidence

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from the Department of Defense , and

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Mister Secretary , I am concerned ,

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frankly , that these qualities have

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been eroded under your leadership . In

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your opening statement , you write ,

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quote , At the Department of Defense ,

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we are sweeping away distractions to

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focus on our core mission of war

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fighting , close quote . I'm a bit

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skeptical . Since you were sworn in ,

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much of the Pentagon has been in

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disarray . You have purged thousands of

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defense experts , gutted oversight

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officers , and surrounded yourself with

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handpicked loyalists . You have fired a

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number of our most accomplished

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generals and admirals with no

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explanation , no replacement . Your

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chief of staff , several top policy

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advisors , and chief spokesmen have all

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either resigned or been fired . This is

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a legitimate problem for our national

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defense . Much of the Pentagon seems to

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have been paralyzed by infighting and

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stripped of expert staff at a time when

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we need stability and professionalism .

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Mr . Secretary , you must address this

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so the rest of the department can be

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laser focused on their missions . I'm

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also concerned about your forays into

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diplomacy . The secretary must be a

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capable statesman , especially in this

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dangerous global environment . During

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your first official trip to Europe ,

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you made unfortunate mistakes ,

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including by Accidentally conceding

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America's negotiating leverage to

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Russia when he announced , quote , we

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must start by recognizing that

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returning to Ukraine's 20,0014 borders

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is an unrealistic objective , and quote ,

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The United States does not believe that

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NATO membership for Ukraine is a

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realistic outcome of a negotiated

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settlement . The State Department

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walked back your comments . But I worry

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that they cost us lasting credibility

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during peace negotiations and with our

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European allies . And Mr . Secretary ,

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I hope you've learned uh from these

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episodes . The key to our long run

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success against China , Russia , and

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Iran , and others depend on our ability

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to equip our forces with the ships ,

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aircraft , and weapons needed to

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effectively deter them , or , if

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necessary , defeat them . Mr .

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Secretary , you have said that

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readiness is your top priority . But

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I'm concerned by a number of actions

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you have taken that seem to distract

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from readiness . For example , you're

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in the process of firing 8% of the

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defense workforce or 75,000 employees ,

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and you recently gutted the office of

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the Director of Operational Tests and

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evaluation , which is responsible for

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testing new weapons and platforms for

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war fighters . You have argued that

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these cuts were needed to eliminate

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wasteful spending . But you have

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simultaneously pledged hundreds of

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millions of dollars to convert a

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secondhand Qatari jet to be Air Force

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One . These decisions do not seem to

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align with readiness . Similarly , over

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the past two weeks , you have ordered

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4700 National Guard troops and Marines

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into Los Angeles against the will of

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the governor and mayor . These forces

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are in addition to the 13,000 troops

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you have deployed to the southern

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border and separate from the 20,000

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National Guard troops requested by DHS

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to help ICE conduct interior

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immigration efforts . As a consequence ,

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military units have to cancel their

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national training center rotations and

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waste invariable hours and resources

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performing DHS activities unrelated to

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the war fighting missions . I cannot

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imagine a faster way to erode military

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readiness and distract from our ability

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to deter China , Russia , and Iran .

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You also claim that merit is the only

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measure of performance under your

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leadership . That is a worthy principle .

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However , you refuse to explain , you

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fire at many of our most senior

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military officers , including the Chief

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of naval operations and the commander

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of cyber command . All these positions

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remain unfilled , which weakens our

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military , as importantly , these

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officers were fired without any

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justification , indeed , without

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considering merit . Which creates the

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worst possible outcome for a military

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force . Fear throughout the ranks that

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one should not speak up , should not

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refuse and illegal order , and should

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not call out abuse nor question

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decisions . I fear that last week's

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disturbing display of partisanship at

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President Trump's event at Fort Bragg

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is an example of this , Mister

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Secretary . I hope you understand the

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grave risk of politicizing the military

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and that you will commit to preventing

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it . Finally , you have pledged to be

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transparent as Secretary of Defense .

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Yet to date you have not held a single

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press conference at the Pentagon .

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Instead , you have evicted news outlets

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from the building , overwhelmingly

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restricted press access , and searched

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for leaks with within your own staff ,

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even threatening general officers with

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polygraph tests . This is not

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transparency , and it is a disservice

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to the American people who deserve to

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know what their military is doing .

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Ultimately , Mr . Secretary , this is a

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dangerous moment , and you must better

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demonstrate leadership , expertise ,

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and competence atop the Pentagon . You

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are the 9th Secretary of Defense I have

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overseen as a member of this committee .

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In fact , this is the 26th time I have

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questioned the Secretary of Defense

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during their annual posture hearing . I

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have disagreed with each and every one

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of them on issues of policy and

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strategy , some more frequently than

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others . But I've always been able to

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work with them openly and earnestly

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because we shared a common agreement

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that our national defense supersedes

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partisanship . It's disappointing so

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far that we have not been able to

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establish such a relationship with this

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committee and with your department . Uh ,

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your candid and honest testimony today

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can go a long way toward making that

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possible , and I hope we can make that

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progress . Thank you , Mr . Chairman .

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Thank you , Senator Reid . At this

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point , we'll , uh , ask our witnesses

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to summarize their testimony , um , in ,

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um , in 5 minutes or shorter . We begin

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with Secretary Higgs . Sir , welcome to

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the committee . Well , thank you , Mr .

15:20.289 --> 15:22.400
Chairman , uh , ranking member Reid ,

15:22.570 --> 15:24.848
distinguished members of the committee ,

15:24.848 --> 15:26.681
we appreciate the opportunity to

15:26.681 --> 15:28.737
testify in full support of President

15:28.737 --> 15:30.903
Trump's proposed fiscal year 26 budget

15:30.903 --> 15:32.903
for the Department of Defense . I'm

15:32.903 --> 15:34.959
honored to testify alongside General

15:34.959 --> 15:37.292
Dan Kane , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs ,

15:37.292 --> 15:37.239
and Bryn McDonald , who's performing

15:37.239 --> 15:39.280
the duties of DOD's Comptroller and

15:39.280 --> 15:41.391
chief financial officer . We are also

15:41.391 --> 15:43.447
very proud to represent our warriors

15:43.447 --> 15:45.447
and their families , and today , as

15:45.447 --> 15:47.669
they do every day , they're keeping our

15:47.669 --> 15:49.724
country safe . They're defending our

15:49.724 --> 15:49.549
homeland , they're standing up to

15:49.549 --> 15:51.716
communist China . They're working hand

15:51.716 --> 15:53.938
in glove with our allies and partners .

15:53.938 --> 15:55.771
They are achieving peace through

15:55.771 --> 15:57.549
strength . I'd like to start by

15:57.549 --> 15:59.605
thanking this committee and Congress

15:59.605 --> 16:01.771
for your bipartisan leadership to give

16:01.771 --> 16:03.827
our troops a big pay raise in 2025 .

16:04.049 --> 16:06.530
That includes an additional 10% raise

16:06.530 --> 16:08.752
for our junior enlisted service members

16:08.752 --> 16:12.450
E1 to E4 . Thank you for supporting our

16:12.450 --> 16:14.450
initiatives that improve quality of

16:14.450 --> 16:16.228
life for our warriors and their

16:16.228 --> 16:18.339
families , things that include making

16:18.339 --> 16:20.283
historic investments . This budget

16:20.283 --> 16:22.809
makes historic investments in living

16:22.809 --> 16:24.809
conditions , in barracks , and base

16:24.809 --> 16:27.599
housing . This budget reforms the PCS

16:27.599 --> 16:29.830
process to reduce the cost and stress

16:29.830 --> 16:31.941
of moves for families . We've already

16:31.941 --> 16:34.163
seen changes there . And we improve the

16:34.163 --> 16:36.386
quality of care provided by our defense

16:36.386 --> 16:38.497
health care system . The best part of

16:38.497 --> 16:40.663
my job is meeting and interacting with

16:40.663 --> 16:42.663
troops and their families . We hear

16:42.663 --> 16:44.886
their concerns . We know what it's like

16:44.886 --> 16:46.941
to face these challenges . I've been

16:46.941 --> 16:48.663
there recently . Each of these

16:48.663 --> 16:50.774
initiatives responds to feedback that

16:50.774 --> 16:52.830
we've gotten from the force . We are

16:52.830 --> 16:55.052
listening and we are always looking for

16:55.052 --> 16:57.052
ways to improve quality of life for

16:57.052 --> 16:58.941
those who serve . Under President

16:58.941 --> 17:01.052
Trump's leadership , this budget puts

17:01.052 --> 17:03.108
America first and gives our warriors

17:03.108 --> 17:07.099
what they need . The $961.6

17:07.099 --> 17:09.829
billion budget request , more than $1

17:09.829 --> 17:12.060
trillion for national security , will

17:12.060 --> 17:13.859
end four years of chronic

17:13.859 --> 17:16.848
underinvestment in our military . Now ,

17:16.879 --> 17:18.490
as is custom with first year

17:18.490 --> 17:20.749
administrative administration budget

17:20.749 --> 17:22.948
releases , additional time was

17:22.948 --> 17:24.948
necessary to implement presidential

17:24.948 --> 17:27.059
initiatives . So in the last 4 months

17:27.059 --> 17:29.170
we've moved quickly to reverse course

17:29.170 --> 17:31.468
after 4 years of weakness and

17:31.468 --> 17:34.579
mismanagement . We found nearly

17:34.579 --> 17:37.750
$30 billion in savings across the

17:37.750 --> 17:41.089
department . And this savings , if you

17:41.089 --> 17:43.569
add this savings to our overall budget ,

17:43.930 --> 17:47.209
we're increasing the DOD budget in 2026

17:47.209 --> 17:50.319
by $143 billion .

17:51.099 --> 17:53.432
We do that by killing wasteful programs ,

17:53.432 --> 17:55.432
targeting bureaucratic excess , and

17:55.432 --> 17:57.377
redirecting funding from Biden era

17:57.377 --> 17:59.599
priorities to Trump , President Trump's

17:59.599 --> 18:01.599
priorities . We're working with the

18:01.599 --> 18:03.543
Department of Homeland Security to

18:03.543 --> 18:05.599
increase border security , to reduce

18:05.599 --> 18:07.821
China's malign influence in the Western

18:07.821 --> 18:09.710
Hemisphere , to defend freedom of

18:09.710 --> 18:11.821
navigation in the Red Sea . However ,

18:11.821 --> 18:13.932
as we would all acknowledge , there's

18:13.932 --> 18:15.821
more work to do . I've got 3 core

18:15.821 --> 18:17.877
priorities in the department restore

18:17.877 --> 18:19.655
the warrior ethos , rebuild our

18:19.655 --> 18:21.877
military , and reestablish deterrence .

18:21.877 --> 18:23.877
First , we're restoring the warrior

18:23.877 --> 18:26.043
ethos . President Trump has charged me

18:26.043 --> 18:28.266
to focus relentlessly on war fighting ,

18:28.266 --> 18:30.488
lethality , meritocracy standards , and

18:30.488 --> 18:32.543
readiness , and that is exactly what

18:32.543 --> 18:34.655
we're doing . We're setting standards

18:34.655 --> 18:36.932
that are high , equal , and unwavering .

18:36.932 --> 18:39.829
DEI is dead . We replaced it with a

18:39.829 --> 18:43.329
color blind gender neutral merit based

18:43.329 --> 18:45.589
approach , and the force is responding

18:45.589 --> 18:47.790
incredibly because of President Trump

18:47.790 --> 18:49.734
and his America first priorities ,

18:49.734 --> 18:52.449
recruitment and retention are higher

18:52.449 --> 18:54.671
than they've been in decades . Historic

18:54.671 --> 18:56.727
surge of young Americans who want to

18:56.727 --> 18:59.430
join our military . Second , we're

18:59.430 --> 19:01.708
rebuilding our military . 25 years ago ,

19:01.708 --> 19:03.874
our military was unchallenged , yet we

19:03.874 --> 19:05.819
squandered that advantage as China

19:05.819 --> 19:07.930
carried out an unprecedented military

19:07.930 --> 19:10.152
buildup . President Trump is correcting

19:10.152 --> 19:12.041
that . We're reviving our defense

19:12.041 --> 19:13.819
industrial base , reforming our

19:13.819 --> 19:16.041
acquisitions process , rapidly fielding

19:16.041 --> 19:18.152
emerging technologies and new weapons

19:18.152 --> 19:20.319
to meet the challenges of the future .

19:20.319 --> 19:22.263
This budget invests $25 billion in

19:22.263 --> 19:24.097
Golden Dome for America , a down

19:24.097 --> 19:26.208
payment on President Trump's priority

19:26.208 --> 19:28.041
to defend our homeland . It also

19:28.041 --> 19:30.329
commits more than $62 billion to

19:30.329 --> 19:32.329
modernize and sustain our nuclear

19:32.329 --> 19:34.609
forces as we face rising nuclear

19:34.609 --> 19:37.489
dangers . The budget allocates $3.5

19:37.489 --> 19:40.010
billion for the F-47 , the world's 1st

19:40.010 --> 19:42.290
6th generation air superiority fighter .

19:43.119 --> 19:44.949
The budget will revitalize our

19:44.949 --> 19:47.530
shipbuilding industrial base with $6

19:47.530 --> 19:49.859
billion in funding in FY 26 , and

19:49.859 --> 19:53.329
that's on top of $47 billion overall

19:53.329 --> 19:55.920
for shipbuilding . The budget

19:55.920 --> 19:58.050
significantly increases funds to buy

19:58.050 --> 20:00.106
next generation technology including

20:00.106 --> 20:02.383
autonomous systems , long range drones ,

20:02.449 --> 20:05.599
long range fires , and hypersonics . We

20:05.599 --> 20:07.543
will put these capabilities in the

20:07.543 --> 20:09.599
hands of our war fires , ensuring we

20:09.599 --> 20:11.599
remain the most lethal force in the

20:11.599 --> 20:13.599
world for generations to come . And

20:13.599 --> 20:15.266
third , we're re-establishing

20:15.266 --> 20:17.432
deterrence . When an opponent sees our

20:17.432 --> 20:19.321
well equipped and tough as nail's

20:19.321 --> 20:21.488
warriors , they will decide that today

20:21.488 --> 20:23.488
is not the day to test US resolve .

20:23.800 --> 20:26.022
Credible deterrence , it starts at home

20:26.022 --> 20:28.356
and it starts with securing our borders ,

20:28.356 --> 20:30.300
as was mentioned by the chairman ,

20:30.300 --> 20:32.244
we've achieved , we are working to

20:32.244 --> 20:34.467
achieve 100% operational control of the

20:34.467 --> 20:36.244
border . Illegal crossings have

20:36.244 --> 20:38.640
decreased 99.9% , and it was just

20:38.640 --> 20:42.349
reported today . That CBP released

20:42.640 --> 20:46.640
0 . Illegals into the US last

20:46.640 --> 20:50.319
month , down from 62,000 released into

20:50.319 --> 20:53.140
the interior last May . The

20:53.140 --> 20:55.196
Indo-Pacific is our priority theater

20:55.196 --> 20:57.418
and China is our pacing threat . That's

20:57.418 --> 20:59.584
why I've traveled twice to that region

20:59.584 --> 21:01.696
to visit our forces and meet with our

21:01.696 --> 21:03.584
allies and partners . As we shift

21:03.584 --> 21:05.696
toward the Indo-Pacific , we're we're

21:05.696 --> 21:07.918
looking more to our allies and partners

21:07.918 --> 21:10.029
to be force multipliers alongside the

21:10.029 --> 21:09.689
United States , and we're making

21:09.689 --> 21:12.189
progress in that . We applaud those

21:12.189 --> 21:14.411
allies who are stepping up , but others

21:14.411 --> 21:16.609
need to do more and quickly . At the

21:16.609 --> 21:18.831
NATO heads of state meeting next week ,

21:18.831 --> 21:20.776
we expect NATO allies to commit to

21:20.776 --> 21:23.449
spending 5% of GDP on defense and

21:23.449 --> 21:25.920
defense-related investment in almost

21:25.920 --> 21:27.809
inconceivable accomplishment when

21:27.809 --> 21:30.031
President Trump started that project in

21:30.031 --> 21:32.253
his first term . And with NATO stepping

21:32.253 --> 21:34.253
up , we now have a new standard for

21:34.253 --> 21:36.476
allied defense spending that all of our

21:36.476 --> 21:38.642
allies around the world , including in

21:38.642 --> 21:40.364
Asia , should move to . As the

21:40.364 --> 21:42.364
president has rightly pointed out ,

21:42.364 --> 21:44.309
it's only fair that our allies and

21:44.309 --> 21:46.531
partners do their part . We cannot want

21:46.531 --> 21:49.699
their security more than they do . The

21:49.699 --> 21:51.755
Department of Defense is executing a

21:51.755 --> 21:53.810
common sense agenda to achieve peace

21:53.810 --> 21:55.977
through strength . We know the threats

21:55.977 --> 21:58.209
we face are serious and so our

21:58.209 --> 22:00.265
investments are as well , and that's

22:00.265 --> 22:02.209
what this budget does . It matches

22:02.209 --> 22:05.050
capabilities to threats . We long for

22:05.050 --> 22:07.859
peace , so we prepare for war . We must

22:07.859 --> 22:10.192
overcome decades of neglect and decline .

22:10.192 --> 22:12.192
We must fortify our position as the

22:12.192 --> 22:14.248
world's most lethal fighting force ,

22:14.248 --> 22:16.248
and we have to act fast because our

22:16.248 --> 22:18.359
opponents are . This committee is our

22:18.359 --> 22:20.689
critical partner . We appreciate your ,

22:20.819 --> 22:22.986
your , uh , leadership and oversight ,

22:22.986 --> 22:25.208
which is essential . And I look forward

22:25.208 --> 22:27.430
to accomplishing these goals to achieve

22:27.430 --> 22:29.486
peace through strength , support our

22:29.486 --> 22:31.708
warriors , protect our citizens and our

22:31.708 --> 22:34.449
taxpayers together with you . May God

22:34.449 --> 22:36.393
grant us the wisdom to see what is

22:36.393 --> 22:38.760
right and the courage to do it . Thank

22:38.760 --> 22:40.890
you . Uh , thank you , Mr . Secretary

22:41.229 --> 22:42.951
General Kaine , do you wish to

22:42.951 --> 22:45.510
summarize your testimony ? Yes , sir .

22:46.069 --> 22:48.180
Uh good morning for 5 minutes , sir .

22:48.180 --> 22:50.347
Thank you , sir . I'll , I'll , I'll ,

22:50.347 --> 22:52.513
uh , try to hit that target . Chairman

22:52.513 --> 22:52.229
Wicker , ranking member , Reid ,

22:52.349 --> 22:54.571
members of , uh , the committee , thank

22:54.571 --> 22:56.571
you for being here . I'm honored to

22:56.571 --> 22:58.682
join Secretary Hegseth and Ms . Brynn

22:58.682 --> 23:00.849
McDonald to appear before you today to

23:00.849 --> 23:02.738
testify in the president's , uh ,

23:02.738 --> 23:05.170
fiscal year 26 budget . Today's hearing

23:05.170 --> 23:07.059
reflects our shared commitment to

23:07.059 --> 23:09.281
maximize efficiency , accountability of

23:09.281 --> 23:11.640
our taxpayers' dollars , and ensuring

23:11.640 --> 23:13.739
every expenditure increases the

23:13.739 --> 23:16.459
lethality and survivability of your

23:16.459 --> 23:18.660
joint force , providing our war

23:18.660 --> 23:20.271
fighters with the . Advanced

23:20.271 --> 23:22.204
capabilities and cutting edge

23:22.204 --> 23:24.204
technology required to dominate our

23:24.204 --> 23:27.064
adversaries . I have deep gratitude for

23:27.064 --> 23:29.120
everyone in this room and our shared

23:29.120 --> 23:30.842
commitment to help deliver the

23:30.842 --> 23:33.395
capability and capacity that the joint

23:33.395 --> 23:36.064
force needs , uh , that goes to our

23:36.064 --> 23:38.545
civilians and their families as we work

23:38.545 --> 23:40.656
to deliver peace through overwhelming

23:40.656 --> 23:42.545
strength , and I want to echo the

23:42.545 --> 23:44.489
secretary's comments regarding our

23:44.489 --> 23:46.594
brave men and women serving abroad

23:46.594 --> 23:49.250
today . It's my responsibility as

23:49.250 --> 23:52.089
chairman to understand , advise , and

23:52.089 --> 23:54.689
integrate our joint force to confront

23:54.689 --> 23:57.589
and manage the risks worldwide . This

23:57.589 --> 24:00.140
demands a comprehensive understanding

24:00.140 --> 24:03.439
of every domain across every service

24:03.439 --> 24:06.489
and across every region across all time

24:06.489 --> 24:10.219
horizons . It also requires making and

24:10.219 --> 24:13.060
advocating for difficult decisions that

24:13.060 --> 24:15.569
prioritize the finite taxpayer

24:15.569 --> 24:18.219
resources that we have in order to

24:18.219 --> 24:19.941
ensure the greatest impact and

24:19.941 --> 24:22.250
capability for our warfighters . The

24:22.250 --> 24:24.306
president's budget enables the joint

24:24.306 --> 24:26.417
force to defend our great nation from

24:26.417 --> 24:28.930
adversaries seeking to do us harm , and

24:28.930 --> 24:31.010
we're relentless in the pursuit of

24:31.010 --> 24:33.650
innovation and technologies that allows

24:33.650 --> 24:36.410
us to hopefully deter but if need be

24:36.410 --> 24:38.719
win on battlefields of the future .

24:39.550 --> 24:41.772
This budget empowers the joint force to

24:41.772 --> 24:44.106
get after the Secretary's three pillars ,

24:44.106 --> 24:45.772
restoring the warrior ethos ,

24:45.772 --> 24:47.328
rebuilding our military and

24:47.328 --> 24:49.161
re-establishing deterrence , and

24:49.161 --> 24:50.939
ensures that the joint force is

24:50.939 --> 24:53.106
properly armed , globally integrated ,

24:53.106 --> 24:55.689
and ready to go . The president's

24:55.689 --> 24:57.989
budget invests in our war fighting

24:57.989 --> 25:00.045
capabilities to win , as I said , on

25:00.045 --> 25:02.045
the battlefields of the future . We

25:02.045 --> 25:04.390
must be properly armed with the right

25:04.390 --> 25:07.260
capabilities , lethal , modern ,

25:07.380 --> 25:10.869
reliable , survivable , and at scale in

25:10.869 --> 25:13.660
order to win . Victory requires people

25:13.660 --> 25:16.369
and platforms that overmatch the

25:16.369 --> 25:18.910
enemy's systems and work under the

25:18.910 --> 25:21.050
harshest conditions to ensure our

25:21.050 --> 25:23.959
decisive edge . This budget gives the

25:23.959 --> 25:25.959
necessary tools to reinvigorate our

25:25.959 --> 25:29.229
national and defense industrial base .

25:29.560 --> 25:31.829
Our nation is full of incredible talent

25:31.829 --> 25:34.359
and we need to unlock every bit of it .

25:34.829 --> 25:37.300
This budget also helps us become more

25:37.300 --> 25:39.411
globally integrated , which is one of

25:39.411 --> 25:41.660
my main jobs . We are in the joint

25:41.660 --> 25:43.989
force relationship entrepreneurs

25:44.300 --> 25:46.467
working together with the military but

25:46.467 --> 25:48.689
also with our allies and partners , the

25:48.689 --> 25:51.339
interagency and industry to make sure

25:51.339 --> 25:54.060
that we're connected before crisis or

25:54.060 --> 25:56.670
conflict . And this budget helps us to

25:56.670 --> 25:59.420
integrate that combat capability as our

25:59.420 --> 26:02.189
commanders and leaders consider actions

26:02.189 --> 26:04.356
and activities , not at the point that

26:04.356 --> 26:06.910
we're in a crisis somewhere . Finally ,

26:06.989 --> 26:09.150
the president's budget reflects our

26:09.150 --> 26:11.829
mandate to stay ready , always on the

26:11.829 --> 26:14.739
account , anticipating . The next fight

26:14.979 --> 26:17.146
and making sure that everyone is ready

26:17.146 --> 26:18.939
to go , but the most important

26:18.939 --> 26:21.300
component is our people . The budget

26:21.300 --> 26:23.300
makes meaningful investments in our

26:23.300 --> 26:25.356
service members and their families ,

26:25.356 --> 26:27.578
improving quality of life for housing ,

26:27.619 --> 26:29.819
medical care , and the ever important

26:29.819 --> 26:32.689
moving process . As our most precious

26:32.689 --> 26:35.729
asset we have to deliver for our people .

26:35.859 --> 26:37.970
I want to highlight one of them today

26:37.970 --> 26:39.859
sitting behind me is Colonel Matt

26:39.859 --> 26:42.081
Jamont . Many folks know Matt up on the

26:42.081 --> 26:44.081
hill today . It's probably his last

26:44.081 --> 26:46.260
hearing in uniform , which after 31

26:46.260 --> 26:49.030
years . Graduates from service later

26:49.030 --> 26:50.780
this year . He's been like a P

26:50.780 --> 26:52.900
pterodactyl for the joint force ,

26:53.609 --> 26:56.750
always delivering and advocating for .

26:56.859 --> 26:59.189
Pterodactyls are very , very old . Yes

26:59.189 --> 27:01.949
sir , I know . You don't know you raise

27:01.949 --> 27:04.219
your hand . Yes sir . Thank you . Thank

27:04.219 --> 27:06.275
you for your service . It's an honor

27:06.275 --> 27:08.330
every day to serve alongside some of

27:08.330 --> 27:10.552
the extraordinary warriors and civilian

27:10.552 --> 27:12.830
teammates that our nation has to offer .

27:12.830 --> 27:14.997
I assure this committee that the joint

27:14.997 --> 27:17.108
force remains committed and capable ,

27:17.339 --> 27:19.890
and we're grateful for your continued

27:19.890 --> 27:22.300
support . I want to also highlight the

27:22.300 --> 27:24.244
leaders that will come before this

27:24.244 --> 27:26.300
committee in the coming days , which

27:26.300 --> 27:28.522
will be carefully considered by each of

27:28.522 --> 27:30.578
you for the general and flag officer

27:30.578 --> 27:32.078
assignments . They are all

27:32.078 --> 27:34.569
extraordinary . I am mindful and

27:34.569 --> 27:37.650
mindful and grateful for those that are

27:37.650 --> 27:39.930
currently deployed right now . They are

27:39.930 --> 27:42.152
on my mind and in my heart , and I know

27:42.152 --> 27:44.170
the secretaries as well , and I

27:44.170 --> 27:46.337
continue to hold a special remembrance

27:46.337 --> 27:48.503
for our fallen and the families of our

27:48.503 --> 27:50.503
fallen who show us what right looks

27:50.503 --> 27:52.559
like . Thank you for your time , and

27:52.559 --> 27:54.503
with that , I look forward to your

27:54.503 --> 27:56.726
questions . Very skillful use of time ,

27:56.726 --> 27:58.837
General , and Ms . McDonald , we will

27:58.837 --> 28:00.948
not require an opening statement from

28:00.948 --> 28:02.979
you . Thank you for your . Um , for

28:02.979 --> 28:05.090
being available for questions today ,

28:05.099 --> 28:08.140
and now we move to rounds of 5 minute

28:08.140 --> 28:10.180
questions . And let me say what we

28:10.180 --> 28:12.459
expect full attendance today and I

28:12.459 --> 28:14.500
expect all members will want to ask

28:14.500 --> 28:16.619
questions . I've been , I've tried to

28:16.619 --> 28:18.859
be very skillful sometimes in my

28:18.859 --> 28:21.630
membership on this committee to , uh ,

28:21.930 --> 28:24.420
ask a very involved question with about

28:24.420 --> 28:26.569
20 seconds to go in my 5 minutes .

28:26.739 --> 28:28.628
We'll , we will not be using that

28:28.628 --> 28:31.430
practice today . Um , uh , or , or

28:31.430 --> 28:33.709
we'll be here in , in the wee hours of ,

28:33.829 --> 28:36.500
uh , of the early evening . So , uh ,

28:36.750 --> 28:39.859
at , at this point , uh , let me begin

28:39.859 --> 28:42.670
by asking Secretary Heith .

28:43.540 --> 28:47.500
Um , about congressional intent , um .

28:49.060 --> 28:52.420
We worry about um the explicit

28:52.420 --> 28:55.689
choices that the Congress has made

28:56.020 --> 28:58.729
and uh that have been enacted into law

28:59.180 --> 29:02.300
by the president , um , in fiscal year

29:02.300 --> 29:05.459
in the fiscal year 2026 budget the

29:05.459 --> 29:09.359
decision um um . Came to us

29:09.359 --> 29:12.199
surprisingly to zero out destroyers

29:12.609 --> 29:15.449
even though Congress intended for

29:15.449 --> 29:17.560
reconciliation to give the industrial

29:17.560 --> 29:21.040
base stability with a third DDG in

29:21.040 --> 29:24.869
fiscal years 2027 and in

29:24.869 --> 29:28.569
2029 . Um , I've asked

29:28.569 --> 29:31.569
this of , um , every nominee from the

29:31.569 --> 29:34.989
department who has come before us about

29:34.989 --> 29:38.089
honoring congressional intent . Um ,

29:39.780 --> 29:43.660
We will , we will put funds in the

29:43.660 --> 29:47.020
reconciliation bill working with the

29:47.020 --> 29:50.380
house and um and working with the

29:50.380 --> 29:52.547
administration to get the signature on

29:52.547 --> 29:54.760
the bill and , and we will make clear

29:54.760 --> 29:56.699
alongside that the specific

29:56.699 --> 29:58.866
congressional intent . I've asked this

29:58.866 --> 30:01.020
very official and I will ask you as

30:01.020 --> 30:03.260
well , Mr . Secretary , do you commit

30:03.260 --> 30:05.149
to following congressional intent

30:05.300 --> 30:07.699
unequivocally on reconciliation ?

30:11.300 --> 30:13.356
Well thank you for the question Mr .

30:13.356 --> 30:15.411
Chairman . Uh , yes , our team looks

30:15.411 --> 30:17.578
forward to working with this committee

30:17.578 --> 30:19.744
both uh through the budget process and

30:19.744 --> 30:21.800
reconciliation and would acknowledge

30:21.800 --> 30:23.578
this as a starting point of the

30:23.578 --> 30:25.800
conversation , uh , that we are looking

30:25.800 --> 30:27.967
at 2 bills and 1 budget at the Defense

30:27.967 --> 30:30.022
Department so as we have discussions

30:30.022 --> 30:31.744
about allocation . Uh , we may

30:31.744 --> 30:33.800
sometimes be talking about different

30:33.800 --> 30:35.967
numbers because of that , but from our

30:35.967 --> 30:38.189
perspective , we built a budget tied to

30:38.189 --> 30:40.411
$960 billion . Are , are you qualifying

30:40.411 --> 30:42.522
your explicit yes , because we , uh ,

30:42.522 --> 30:44.578
we have not had that from any of the

30:44.578 --> 30:46.689
other witnesses that have come before

30:46.689 --> 30:49.869
us . If our congressional intent , uh ,

30:49.949 --> 30:52.739
alongside the numbers in reconciliation

30:53.109 --> 30:56.810
is explicitly , uh , expressed . Do you

30:56.810 --> 30:58.699
commit to following congressional

30:58.699 --> 31:01.380
intent unequivocally in reconciliation ?

31:02.189 --> 31:04.329
Yes , we just wanted to clarify the ,

31:04.339 --> 31:06.339
the entirety of the budget from our

31:06.339 --> 31:08.450
perspective . Uh , well , thank you ,

31:08.450 --> 31:10.506
thank you very much . Now , uh , you

31:10.506 --> 31:13.699
said once before , um , that , and I

31:13.699 --> 31:15.810
quoted in my opening statement , Mr .

31:15.810 --> 31:19.729
Secretary , that going below 3%

31:20.140 --> 31:23.699
of GDP would be very dangerous . That

31:23.699 --> 31:26.849
was your testimony . In January , of

31:26.849 --> 31:28.905
course you , uh , you know well that

31:28.905 --> 31:31.016
we're asking our allies in Europe and

31:31.016 --> 31:34.920
NATO to go to 5% , and it has been

31:34.920 --> 31:36.864
the intention of most of us on the

31:36.864 --> 31:39.199
committee that the United States lead

31:39.199 --> 31:42.790
by example and in fact follow uh

31:43.280 --> 31:45.479
the peace through strength uh example

31:45.479 --> 31:47.160
of President Reagan and his

31:47.160 --> 31:49.890
administration getting to 5% . Um ,

31:52.410 --> 31:56.329
I will I understand that if you put

31:56.329 --> 31:59.310
reconciliation and and the budget

31:59.310 --> 32:01.319
request together for this year it

32:01.319 --> 32:04.739
exceeds 3% but if we go back to that

32:04.739 --> 32:08.619
same baseline for the next 3 years

32:08.619 --> 32:12.550
after that , we'll be under 3% , um ,

32:12.739 --> 32:15.579
do you , we intend to fix that , but do

32:15.579 --> 32:18.260
you agree that do you still agree that

32:18.260 --> 32:22.140
going below 3% would be a very

32:22.140 --> 32:23.849
dangerous unquote choice .

32:26.390 --> 32:28.501
Yes , sir , and so does the President

32:28.501 --> 32:30.501
of the United States , which is why

32:30.501 --> 32:34.020
this budget increases from FY 25 13% ,

32:34.109 --> 32:37.930
puts us at 3.5%. Uh , in of GDP

32:37.930 --> 32:40.660
on defense , uh , and we feel like is a

32:40.660 --> 32:42.819
generational increase in defense

32:42.819 --> 32:44.930
capabilities , and you , when you add

32:44.930 --> 32:46.986
that alongside the $30 billion we've

32:46.986 --> 32:49.319
already found in savings and repurposed ,

32:49.319 --> 32:51.486
that's where I get to the $143 billion

32:51.486 --> 32:53.486
in additional spending in defense ,

32:53.699 --> 32:56.050
which and you agree , Mr . Secretary ,

32:56.300 --> 32:59.099
that , uh , in , in future years it

32:59.099 --> 33:01.530
would be very dangerous to go below

33:01.530 --> 33:04.599
that 3% . As I said in my remarks ,

33:04.689 --> 33:06.856
we're gonna match , um , our budget to

33:06.856 --> 33:08.911
keep it to threats . And so yes , in

33:08.911 --> 33:11.022
the future we anticipate threats like

33:11.022 --> 33:13.245
we have today and so I would anticipate

33:13.245 --> 33:15.356
a robust budget in the future . Yes .

33:15.356 --> 33:17.411
Would you , would you please be kind

33:17.411 --> 33:19.467
enough to answer my question ? Going

33:19.467 --> 33:22.609
would going below 3% in future fiscal

33:22.609 --> 33:26.030
years be very dangerous ,

33:26.280 --> 33:28.502
unquote , as you said in your statement

33:28.502 --> 33:30.502
in January . Uh , yes , sir , and I

33:30.502 --> 33:32.502
believe the President of the United

33:32.502 --> 33:34.669
States definitely feels the same way .

33:34.669 --> 33:36.780
Thank you , sir . Um , Senator Reed ,

33:36.780 --> 33:38.947
thank you very much , and I yield back

33:38.947 --> 33:41.810
5 seconds . I'll take those 5 seconds .

33:42.369 --> 33:44.591
Uh , no , that's not the way it works .

33:46.060 --> 33:49.390
First , uh , let me apologize to Ms .

33:49.420 --> 33:52.660
McDonald , who I said was Miss McDoll .

33:53.140 --> 33:56.760
You're Irish , right ? My husband is ,

33:56.839 --> 33:59.061
yes , sir . Well , that's good enough .

33:59.061 --> 34:01.117
Thank you . I , uh , you were scotch

34:01.117 --> 34:03.040
for a few minutes , uh , but I

34:03.040 --> 34:06.010
apologize , ma'am , uh . And Mr .

34:06.180 --> 34:08.520
Secretary , uh , you have filed and

34:08.520 --> 34:10.464
fired a number of general and flag

34:10.464 --> 34:12.464
officers , and you clearly have the

34:12.464 --> 34:14.687
authority to do that , but there was no

34:14.687 --> 34:18.250
cause given , um , and it's also

34:18.250 --> 34:20.361
deeply concerning . It's taken a long

34:20.361 --> 34:23.459
time to appoint successors . I

34:23.459 --> 34:25.459
understand that today you announced

34:25.459 --> 34:28.189
that the , uh , nominee for CNO will be

34:28.189 --> 34:30.356
Admiral Darryl Corle , is that right ?

34:31.770 --> 34:34.760
Uh , yes , sir . Well , we still have

34:34.760 --> 34:37.110
many of these uh positions open

34:37.110 --> 34:39.277
including the US Cyber Command , which

34:39.277 --> 34:42.120
is actually critical . Uh , do , do ,

34:42.389 --> 34:44.500
do you believe that there's lack of ,

34:44.500 --> 34:47.879
uh , nominated uh leaders are affecting

34:47.879 --> 34:49.490
our war fighting abilities ?

34:52.360 --> 34:54.360
Sir , I believe we all serve at the

34:54.360 --> 34:56.527
pleasure of the president and in every

34:56.527 --> 34:58.638
single position we're looking for the

34:58.638 --> 35:00.860
right man or woman to fill that role to

35:00.860 --> 35:02.916
execute on behalf of the missions of

35:02.916 --> 35:04.860
this department and we're doing it

35:04.860 --> 35:07.649
expeditiously in every case . Uh ,

35:08.909 --> 35:11.131
again , do you have any anticipation of

35:11.131 --> 35:13.242
when we receive the nominee for cyber

35:13.242 --> 35:16.530
command ? Uh , sir , as I mentioned

35:16.530 --> 35:19.340
before , we have a first , a very

35:19.340 --> 35:21.618
capable deputy , uh , at Cyber command ,

35:21.618 --> 35:23.451
uh , who has taken the helm . So

35:23.451 --> 35:25.173
there's not as if it's without

35:25.173 --> 35:27.340
leadership , very much so , but we are

35:27.340 --> 35:29.340
as recently as yesterday had a high

35:29.340 --> 35:31.451
level discussion of exactly what that

35:31.451 --> 35:33.673
will be . Uh , Mr . Secretary , in your

35:33.673 --> 35:35.784
opening statement , you stated at the

35:35.784 --> 35:37.896
Department of Defense we are sweeping

35:37.896 --> 35:40.062
away distractions to focus on our core

35:40.062 --> 35:42.062
mission of war fighting . However ,

35:42.062 --> 35:44.173
since your confirmation , your office

35:44.173 --> 35:46.340
has been consumed by high turnover and

35:46.340 --> 35:48.969
disarray . At least 3 senior aides were

35:48.969 --> 35:51.290
fired and subsequently investigated for

35:51.290 --> 35:53.889
leaks , alleged leaks to the press .

35:54.010 --> 35:56.370
Your first chief of staff has since

35:56.370 --> 35:58.949
left his position . And to the best of

35:58.949 --> 36:01.227
my knowledge , that position is vacant .

36:01.227 --> 36:03.449
The inspector General is reviewing your

36:03.449 --> 36:05.459
use of signal app to send sensitive

36:05.459 --> 36:07.919
information pertaining to military

36:07.919 --> 36:10.189
operations in Yemen , not only to

36:10.189 --> 36:12.245
senior government officials , but to

36:12.245 --> 36:14.245
your wife , your brother , and your

36:14.245 --> 36:16.356
personal lawyer . Finally , according

36:16.356 --> 36:18.189
to press reports , uh , you have

36:18.189 --> 36:20.300
threatened a polygraph test against ,

36:20.300 --> 36:22.820
uh , senior members of the military .

36:23.270 --> 36:25.270
As I said in my opening statement ,

36:25.270 --> 36:27.326
this is a dangerous world , you know

36:27.326 --> 36:30.040
that . Uh , and this turmoil in your

36:30.040 --> 36:32.207
office is not contributing , I think ,

36:32.219 --> 36:35.459
to the clarity and thoughtfulness and

36:35.459 --> 36:37.050
decisiveness necessary .

36:42.250 --> 36:44.417
Sir , I would just say the media loves

36:44.417 --> 36:46.361
sensational headlines that are not

36:46.361 --> 36:48.472
connected at all to reality . Uh , if

36:48.472 --> 36:50.694
you look at the execution of our office

36:50.694 --> 36:52.861
and what we've done on the president's

36:52.861 --> 36:52.689
priorities , I'm very proud of what

36:52.689 --> 36:54.911
we've been able to do in 140 days . And

36:54.911 --> 36:57.250
when you move fast to reestablish

36:57.250 --> 36:59.417
deterrence and restore a warrior ethos

36:59.417 --> 37:01.528
and rebuild the military , it's gonna

37:01.528 --> 37:03.639
come with some changes . But when you

37:03.639 --> 37:05.750
look at the leadership structure both

37:05.750 --> 37:07.917
in uniform and on the civilian side of

37:07.917 --> 37:10.139
the defense department , it's as strong

37:10.139 --> 37:12.361
and capable as it's ever been and . And

37:12.361 --> 37:14.472
I would contrast it with the chaos of

37:14.472 --> 37:16.083
the world under the previous

37:16.083 --> 37:15.689
administration , the debacle in

37:15.689 --> 37:17.967
Afghanistan , war unleashed in Ukraine ,

37:17.967 --> 37:20.189
what happened on October 7th , that was

37:20.189 --> 37:23.149
a view of weakness and chaos unleashed

37:23.149 --> 37:25.260
by the Biden administration under the

37:25.260 --> 37:27.316
previous Defense Secretary . So if a

37:27.316 --> 37:29.260
few changes have to be made in the

37:29.260 --> 37:31.316
first portion of my term in order to

37:31.316 --> 37:33.371
get it right , I think that's pretty

37:33.371 --> 37:35.538
acceptable to establish deterrence and

37:35.538 --> 37:37.593
rebuild our military and restore the

37:37.593 --> 37:39.816
warrior ethos . Well , Mr . Secretary ,

37:39.816 --> 37:43.429
Uh , you can cite those examples , uh ,

37:44.010 --> 37:46.060
history , I might have a different

37:46.060 --> 37:49.370
perspective , uh , as I understand it ,

37:49.379 --> 37:53.090
the Yeah the

37:53.090 --> 37:56.479
direction to leave Afghanistan was an

37:56.479 --> 37:59.239
agreement with President Trump in Doha ,

37:59.750 --> 38:02.550
which left our forces in a very

38:02.550 --> 38:04.870
precarious position since they were

38:04.870 --> 38:06.981
there for a year and they had to come

38:06.981 --> 38:10.669
out and , uh , Taliban knew that and

38:10.669 --> 38:13.500
they were going after them . But let me

38:13.500 --> 38:16.870
move on to another issue which is uh

38:16.870 --> 38:20.770
35 , um . We have

38:20.770 --> 38:23.969
had , uh , detainees in

38:23.969 --> 38:27.850
Guantanamo , uh , and we have used

38:27.850 --> 38:31.199
military flights to get them there . Uh .

38:32.290 --> 38:34.409
The problem I think is that um .

38:36.070 --> 38:38.237
Some of these military flights did not

38:38.237 --> 38:41.590
contained DHS agents on it . And so in

38:41.590 --> 38:44.879
fact the military becomes not just the

38:45.139 --> 38:47.540
the custodial agents they're also the ,

38:47.949 --> 38:50.229
the control agents , uh , and that

38:50.229 --> 38:52.179
would seem to be a violation of

38:52.750 --> 38:55.790
military procedures . Uh , is that

38:55.790 --> 38:58.580
practice continuous ? Senator , every

38:58.580 --> 39:00.191
aspect of that mission is in

39:00.191 --> 39:02.739
coordination with DHS and with DHS

39:02.739 --> 39:05.020
officials . So there are no flights

39:05.020 --> 39:09.010
with with airmen only on board , not

39:09.010 --> 39:11.121
that I'm aware of , sir . Thank you .

39:11.121 --> 39:13.066
Thank you , Senator Reid . Senator

39:13.066 --> 39:15.399
Fisher , thank you , Mr . Chairman . Mr .

39:15.399 --> 39:17.399
Secretary General , Ms . McDonald ,

39:17.399 --> 39:20.179
welcome . I serve on both the Armed

39:20.179 --> 39:22.459
Services and the appropriations

39:22.459 --> 39:24.181
committees , and every year we

39:24.181 --> 39:27.030
legislate annual authorization and

39:27.030 --> 39:29.086
appropriation bills that provide the

39:29.086 --> 39:30.919
policies and the funding for the

39:30.919 --> 39:33.189
department . While I'm confident we

39:33.189 --> 39:36.250
will do so again this year , the

39:36.250 --> 39:38.629
administration has made this process

39:38.629 --> 39:41.419
more difficult by delaying the delivery

39:41.419 --> 39:44.750
of budget materials to Congress . Mr .

39:44.760 --> 39:46.704
Secretary and General Kaine , I've

39:46.704 --> 39:49.199
appreciated our previous discussions

39:49.199 --> 39:51.421
about the need to modernize our nuclear

39:51.421 --> 39:54.439
triad and to provide the President with

39:54.439 --> 39:57.239
additional options for regional nuclear

39:57.239 --> 39:59.800
deterrence and to achieve this , we

39:59.800 --> 40:02.919
must have sustained and predictable

40:02.919 --> 40:05.840
funding within the department's base

40:05.840 --> 40:07.949
budget . I'm concerned that the

40:07.949 --> 40:10.639
department's fiscal year 26 request

40:10.949 --> 40:14.469
relies too heavily on reconciliation

40:14.469 --> 40:17.350
for some of our nuclear programs . For

40:17.350 --> 40:19.699
example , the reconciliation text

40:20.189 --> 40:23.050
includes funding for Sentinel . That is

40:23.050 --> 40:26.629
meant to accelerate and reduce risk in

40:26.629 --> 40:29.320
the program over the next several years .

40:29.689 --> 40:33.250
It is not meant to fill a self-imposed

40:33.250 --> 40:36.959
gap in funding in a single fiscal year

40:37.360 --> 40:41.010
created by short-changing ICBMs in the

40:41.010 --> 40:43.830
base budget . I understand using

40:43.830 --> 40:46.429
reconciliation funding is relatively

40:46.429 --> 40:49.149
new to the department , but I expect us

40:49.149 --> 40:51.719
to work together throughout this cycle

40:51.719 --> 40:54.350
so that we can assure that funds are

40:54.350 --> 40:57.550
used as intended and that the programs

40:57.550 --> 41:00.189
are adequately funded within that base

41:00.189 --> 41:03.139
budget . General Kane , do you agree

41:03.139 --> 41:05.620
that nuclear modernization programs

41:05.620 --> 41:08.129
should be prioritized both to keep pace

41:08.379 --> 41:11.260
with the threats and to ensure that the

41:11.260 --> 41:14.939
president has a full array of options

41:14.939 --> 41:18.629
for nuclear deterrence ? I , I do ,

41:18.709 --> 41:20.790
Senator , and , and , uh , and

41:20.790 --> 41:22.734
appreciate your leadership on , on

41:22.734 --> 41:24.901
ensuring that , that , uh , that we've

41:24.901 --> 41:27.300
got the tools that we need to deliver

41:27.300 --> 41:31.010
for the triad of the future . Secretary

41:31.010 --> 41:34.090
Hague said , although progress has been

41:34.090 --> 41:36.739
made the last several years , I

41:36.739 --> 41:38.683
continue to be concerned about the

41:38.683 --> 41:41.139
ability of our defense industrial base

41:41.489 --> 41:44.600
to produce munitions , uh , at an

41:44.600 --> 41:47.250
adequate scale to support our war

41:47.250 --> 41:49.570
fighters in these modern conflicts that

41:49.570 --> 41:52.260
we have . And now that you have been

41:52.260 --> 41:54.699
sworn in and had time to review the

41:54.699 --> 41:56.969
current state of our industrial base ,

41:57.219 --> 41:59.163
what more should the department be

41:59.163 --> 42:01.840
doing to increase munitions production

42:02.139 --> 42:04.550
and how does this budget request

42:04.550 --> 42:08.030
support these objectives ? Senator ,

42:08.040 --> 42:10.096
it's a great question . We should be

42:10.096 --> 42:12.040
doing everything we can , which is

42:12.040 --> 42:14.419
precisely what we are doing at the very

42:14.419 --> 42:16.308
highest levels from myself to the

42:16.308 --> 42:18.989
deputy secretary of defense , uh , with

42:18.989 --> 42:21.469
industry , this budget is a 45%

42:21.469 --> 42:23.802
increase in the defense industrial base .

42:23.802 --> 42:26.389
Uh , it invests in critical munitions

42:26.389 --> 42:28.969
procurement . Uh , it invests in

42:28.969 --> 42:31.209
defense supply chains , in resilience

42:31.209 --> 42:33.610
and supply chains , uh , in increased

42:33.610 --> 42:35.832
competition and capabilities of outside

42:35.832 --> 42:38.129
companies to get into the business of

42:38.129 --> 42:40.296
providing critical munitions . Uh , so

42:40.296 --> 42:42.185
across the board we , we're we're

42:42.185 --> 42:44.530
finding and hiring innovators to be to

42:44.530 --> 42:46.641
move as quickly as possible , cutting

42:46.641 --> 42:48.808
through the bureaucracy , the red tape

42:48.808 --> 42:50.808
to deliver those systems in a world

42:50.808 --> 42:52.863
that needs them now more than ever .

42:52.863 --> 42:54.808
Could you , uh , get back to me on

42:54.808 --> 42:57.260
timelines that you have set , uh , for

42:57.260 --> 42:59.899
each of those areas that that you

42:59.899 --> 43:03.699
mentioned and uh obviously the funding

43:03.699 --> 43:05.866
that's going towards them , but I'd be

43:05.866 --> 43:07.699
interested in what , uh , you're

43:07.699 --> 43:10.729
setting for yourself for goals for the

43:10.729 --> 43:13.939
timelines in getting that achieved . Uh ,

43:13.959 --> 43:16.070
yes ma'am , we have those and we will

43:16.070 --> 43:18.015
get those to you . Thank you . And

43:18.015 --> 43:20.129
General Kane , do you assess that the

43:20.129 --> 43:22.010
total munitions requirement is

43:22.010 --> 43:24.232
currently aligned with the magnitude of

43:24.232 --> 43:26.600
the threats that this country faces ,

43:26.969 --> 43:29.250
or should the department review its

43:29.250 --> 43:31.919
stockpile requirements to ensure that

43:31.919 --> 43:34.120
we are fully prepared for these modern

43:34.120 --> 43:36.770
conflicts ? Senator , we're , we're

43:36.770 --> 43:39.320
always looking at the lessons learned

43:39.320 --> 43:41.929
of past conflicts to include the most

43:41.929 --> 43:44.169
recent ones around the world and taking

43:44.169 --> 43:46.225
those and applying those to what the

43:46.225 --> 43:48.169
future of war might look like . So

43:48.169 --> 43:50.280
we're always evolving and considering

43:50.409 --> 43:52.600
what the mix of munitions that we need

43:52.600 --> 43:54.822
for the joint force in order to deliver

43:54.822 --> 43:57.899
overwhelming strength . And I would be

43:57.899 --> 44:00.066
remiss if I didn't bring up Spectrum .

44:00.300 --> 44:03.209
So as we look towards the Golden Dome

44:03.209 --> 44:07.100
and the importance of that , uh , over

44:07.100 --> 44:09.679
the next several weeks , I hope we can

44:09.679 --> 44:12.139
see some more details on that . Uh ,

44:12.270 --> 44:14.326
because we can't shoot what we don't

44:14.326 --> 44:17.290
see , and I think it's important that

44:17.290 --> 44:19.560
all of us here as well as the public

44:20.090 --> 44:22.257
understand the important importance of

44:22.479 --> 44:24.810
the spectrum that the department has in

44:24.810 --> 44:27.032
order to reach that . Thank you . Thank

44:27.032 --> 44:29.254
you , Senator Fisher for that important

44:29.254 --> 44:31.840
and correct observation . Senator

44:31.840 --> 44:34.530
Shaheen , thank you all very much for

44:34.530 --> 44:37.129
being here . Um , news reports this

44:37.129 --> 44:39.649
morning suggest that the president is

44:39.649 --> 44:42.050
actively considering intervening in the

44:42.050 --> 44:44.159
situation in the Middle East . I

44:44.159 --> 44:46.270
understand that we have 40,000 troops

44:46.270 --> 44:48.381
deployed in the region , many of whom

44:48.381 --> 44:50.760
are in range of Iranian missiles , um ,

44:50.850 --> 44:52.770
and it's being reported that the

44:52.770 --> 44:54.937
president is being asked to consider .

44:55.620 --> 44:59.169
Providing the bunker buster bomb that

44:59.500 --> 45:02.419
is um required to be carried only by

45:02.419 --> 45:04.820
the B-2 bomber and would require a US

45:04.820 --> 45:08.719
pilot . That raises real concerns

45:08.719 --> 45:12.040
about what retaliation might mean for

45:12.040 --> 45:14.239
the safety and stability of the entire

45:14.239 --> 45:17.399
region and our troops and Americans who

45:17.399 --> 45:19.790
are in the region . So can you tell us ,

45:19.879 --> 45:21.935
Mr . Secretary , are you considering

45:21.935 --> 45:23.935
military action that would bring us

45:23.935 --> 45:27.239
into active hostilities and . Whether

45:27.239 --> 45:29.689
you expect a decision to be made on

45:29.689 --> 45:32.639
that anytime in the next few days .

45:33.050 --> 45:35.272
Just bearing in mind , and you can stop

45:35.272 --> 45:38.169
the clock , we will be going into a

45:38.169 --> 45:41.330
classified portion of the hearing later

45:41.330 --> 45:43.663
on . But , but proceed , Mr . Secretary .

45:43.669 --> 45:45.891
I understand that , Mr . Chairman , but

45:45.891 --> 45:48.058
I think this is a question that's very

45:48.058 --> 45:50.113
important for the American public to

45:50.113 --> 45:52.336
hear . I , I just wanted to make , make

45:52.336 --> 45:51.929
it clear that there would be an

45:51.929 --> 45:54.207
opportunity to get very deep into that .

45:54.250 --> 45:58.070
Go ahead . Uh , Senator ,

45:58.110 --> 46:00.221
I agree , I agree with the chairman .

46:00.221 --> 46:02.221
Most of what I can or should say it

46:02.221 --> 46:04.166
would be reserved for a classified

46:04.166 --> 46:05.888
setting . Uh , I would say the

46:05.888 --> 46:07.610
president , uh , obviously any

46:07.610 --> 46:09.790
decisions on this matter , uh , are at

46:09.790 --> 46:11.860
the presidential level . He has

46:11.860 --> 46:13.860
communicated very clearly for quite

46:13.860 --> 46:16.027
some time . I , I do understand that ,

46:16.027 --> 46:18.082
Mr . Secretary , but my question for

46:18.082 --> 46:20.027
you is whether you have been asked

46:20.027 --> 46:22.027
actively to provide options for the

46:22.027 --> 46:24.027
president regarding a strike in the

46:24.027 --> 46:27.080
Middle East . If I had or I had not , I

46:27.080 --> 46:29.247
wouldn't disclose that in this forum ,

46:29.247 --> 46:31.136
Senator . Uh , my job , our job ,

46:31.399 --> 46:33.679
chairman and I at all times is to make

46:33.679 --> 46:35.901
sure we , the president has options and

46:35.901 --> 46:38.123
is informed of what those options might

46:38.123 --> 46:40.290
be and what the ramifications of those

46:40.290 --> 46:42.068
options . I appreciate that you

46:42.068 --> 46:44.290
mentioned the troops in the region with

46:44.290 --> 46:46.401
maximum force protection at all times

46:46.401 --> 46:48.623
is being maintained . I would hope that

46:48.623 --> 46:51.040
um as soon as . Consideration about

46:51.399 --> 46:54.639
action is determined that the public

46:54.639 --> 46:58.199
will be informed about that . Um , 6 of

46:58.199 --> 47:00.739
us on this committee just returned from

47:00.919 --> 47:03.629
the largest air show in the world , um ,

47:03.919 --> 47:07.280
at that . It was very impressive to see

47:07.280 --> 47:10.750
the innovation and technology from our

47:11.050 --> 47:15.050
um industry on aerospace and

47:15.050 --> 47:18.120
one of the concerns that I heard from

47:18.449 --> 47:20.616
um many of the companies that I talked

47:20.616 --> 47:22.729
to was about the potential to partner

47:22.729 --> 47:25.850
with our allies and partners um for

47:25.850 --> 47:29.520
innovation for um co-production

47:30.090 --> 47:33.800
and . One concern I heard was about the

47:33.800 --> 47:36.639
proposed review of the Aus agreement .

47:37.080 --> 47:39.110
Um , that's after the Australian

47:39.110 --> 47:41.332
government has already contributed half

47:41.332 --> 47:43.277
a billion dollars to our submarine

47:43.277 --> 47:46.040
industrial base , and American and UK

47:46.040 --> 47:47.870
shipbuilders have made capital

47:47.870 --> 47:49.979
investments to support the increased

47:49.979 --> 47:53.969
demand , so . Do you disagree with the

47:53.969 --> 47:56.191
position that President Trump has taken

47:56.191 --> 47:58.330
about caucus that we should move

47:58.330 --> 48:01.530
forward ? And what is the review

48:01.530 --> 48:05.310
expected to produce ? Well ,

48:05.350 --> 48:07.406
Senator , I think reviews are always

48:07.406 --> 48:09.239
prudent , uh , but those reviews

48:09.239 --> 48:11.406
actually come after conversations I've

48:11.406 --> 48:13.628
had with the Ministry of Defense , uh ,

48:13.628 --> 48:15.879
Healy in the UK and Mars in Australia .

48:16.149 --> 48:18.270
Long personal conversations about the

48:18.270 --> 48:21.340
status of this arrangement , both , uh ,

48:21.510 --> 48:24.429
both aspects of it . uh , so we are

48:24.429 --> 48:26.485
reviewing it because that's what the

48:26.485 --> 48:28.651
Defense Department ought to do to make

48:28.651 --> 48:28.350
sure it fits the priorities of the

48:28.350 --> 48:30.294
president and that our defense and

48:30.294 --> 48:32.128
shipbuilding industrial base can

48:32.128 --> 48:34.320
support . Ensure that we're clear on

48:34.320 --> 48:37.040
all sides of that on either pillar and

48:37.040 --> 48:38.762
then on pillar two identifying

48:39.159 --> 48:41.048
specifically the ways we can work

48:41.048 --> 48:42.715
together most meaningfully to

48:42.715 --> 48:44.826
co-produce with our industrial base ,

48:44.826 --> 48:46.881
um , munitions or other capabilities

48:46.881 --> 48:48.937
that would be most applicable to the

48:48.937 --> 48:50.992
threats we face , but . Do you agree

48:50.992 --> 48:53.520
that um it's important to increase the

48:53.520 --> 48:55.687
capability of our nuclear deterrent in

48:55.687 --> 48:57.853
the Indo-Pacific and the AI is one way

48:57.853 --> 49:01.600
to do that ? Um , I

49:01.600 --> 49:05.179
do , and working through August as a

49:05.179 --> 49:07.479
possible avenue for that , um , is , is

49:07.479 --> 49:10.310
a good thing . Um , last week , Mr .

49:10.320 --> 49:14.080
Secretary , um , during the SACD

49:14.080 --> 49:16.800
appropriations hearing , um , you

49:16.800 --> 49:20.199
reaffirmed the need for an exemption

49:20.199 --> 49:22.255
for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to

49:22.255 --> 49:24.439
your hiring freeze . Um , Senator

49:24.689 --> 49:27.070
Collins asked you , um , a very

49:27.070 --> 49:30.449
relevant question on that and since

49:30.449 --> 49:33.159
Senator King and I . Um , share that

49:33.159 --> 49:35.399
shipyard . I'd , I'd like to ask you

49:35.399 --> 49:37.399
again because we have not yet heard

49:37.399 --> 49:40.199
anything from you or from the Office of

49:40.199 --> 49:43.239
Personnel Management about how they're

49:43.239 --> 49:46.199
responding to this . Um , DOD has told

49:46.199 --> 49:47.977
us that the Office of Personnel

49:47.977 --> 49:50.199
Management needs to review every single

49:50.199 --> 49:53.399
new hire one by one at a time when we

49:53.399 --> 49:55.989
need 550 people every year just to keep

49:55.989 --> 49:57.656
up with the Navy's demand for

49:57.656 --> 49:59.520
maintenance and on its nuclear

49:59.520 --> 50:03.199
submarines . So , Will you commit to

50:03.199 --> 50:06.879
talking to OPM on this issue ? Yes .

50:08.439 --> 50:10.560
Thank you , Senator Shaheen , Senator

50:10.560 --> 50:13.149
Cotton . Welcome everyone . Thank you

50:13.149 --> 50:15.482
for your testimony and more importantly ,

50:15.482 --> 50:18.139
your service , um , Secretary Hegseth ,

50:18.469 --> 50:21.229
the president , um , at a press gaggle

50:21.229 --> 50:23.229
just now at the White House said of

50:23.229 --> 50:24.951
strikes against Iran . Senator

50:24.951 --> 50:27.007
Shaheen's question , I may do it . I

50:27.007 --> 50:29.118
may not do it . I mean , nobody knows

50:29.118 --> 50:32.080
what I'm going to do . Um , You had

50:32.080 --> 50:33.802
referred to these questions as

50:33.802 --> 50:35.913
presidential level decision , is that

50:35.913 --> 50:38.136
right ? Um , and I , I , I think that's

50:38.136 --> 50:40.024
always true . Advisors advise and

50:40.024 --> 50:42.780
presidents decide , um , but it's your

50:42.780 --> 50:45.020
job to have contingency plans for

50:45.020 --> 50:47.076
everything that the president may or

50:47.076 --> 50:49.520
may not decide . Is that correct ? Uh ,

50:49.560 --> 50:51.727
that is correct . And no one should be

50:51.727 --> 50:53.616
surprised or scandalized that the

50:53.616 --> 50:55.282
Pentagon has lots and lots of

50:55.282 --> 50:57.739
contingency plans . Uh , Senator , our

50:57.739 --> 51:00.060
job is to have contingency plans . It's

51:00.060 --> 51:01.782
like in Armageddon , Billy Bob

51:01.782 --> 51:03.949
Thornton's character Truman , speaking

51:03.949 --> 51:06.171
of NASA could have been speaking of the

51:06.171 --> 51:08.116
Pentagon . You , you're geniuses ,

51:08.116 --> 51:07.379
you're just thinking stuff up and you

51:07.379 --> 51:09.601
got people in another room backing them

51:09.601 --> 51:13.389
up , is that right ? We plan . Thank

51:13.389 --> 51:14.830
you . Um

51:16.570 --> 51:19.020
And although it's true in every part of

51:19.020 --> 51:21.187
the government , it's probably no more

51:21.187 --> 51:23.187
true in your department that it's a

51:23.187 --> 51:25.298
presidential level decision . This is

51:25.298 --> 51:27.298
the president's core constitutional

51:27.298 --> 51:29.353
responsibilities is the commander in

51:29.353 --> 51:28.979
chief . I mean , it's important what he

51:28.979 --> 51:32.129
does with labor and HUD and the rest ,

51:32.540 --> 51:34.596
but as the commander in chief , it's

51:34.596 --> 51:36.540
the most important role he has and

51:36.540 --> 51:38.707
therefore you the department where you

51:38.707 --> 51:40.873
take the most direct guidance from the

51:40.873 --> 51:43.040
president , everyone in the department

51:43.040 --> 51:42.699
has to support the president's

51:42.699 --> 51:45.032
decisions once those decisions are made ,

51:45.032 --> 51:48.459
correct ? Correct , Senator , as I've

51:48.459 --> 51:51.399
said , uh . There's only one person

51:51.399 --> 51:53.288
that was elected President of the

51:53.288 --> 51:55.399
United States and the American people

51:55.399 --> 51:57.566
elected him to make these decisions on

51:57.566 --> 51:59.510
their behalf and if and when those

51:59.510 --> 52:01.677
decisions are made , the department is

52:01.677 --> 52:01.620
prepared to execute and I , I know that

52:01.620 --> 52:04.729
you you welcome and have robust policy

52:04.729 --> 52:07.479
debates in the department and no doubt

52:07.479 --> 52:09.590
you have very differing views on many

52:09.590 --> 52:11.757
questions whether it's what to do with

52:11.757 --> 52:14.719
Iran or what kind of aircraft or ships

52:14.719 --> 52:18.149
we need to build or what the quality of

52:19.030 --> 52:22.260
commissaries are . On our basis and ,

52:22.340 --> 52:24.780
and that's welcome you need that kind

52:24.780 --> 52:26.724
of robust debate to make the right

52:26.724 --> 52:29.429
recommendations um but once the

52:29.429 --> 52:31.540
president's decision has been made on

52:31.540 --> 52:33.540
any question that's final , right ?

52:33.540 --> 52:35.760
That's your standard . The president

52:35.760 --> 52:38.159
welcomes , I've watched it in real time ,

52:38.179 --> 52:41.080
views on all issues from all aspects ,

52:41.159 --> 52:43.159
uh , but yes , once those have been

52:43.159 --> 52:44.826
represented , intelligence is

52:44.826 --> 52:47.103
represented , options represented , uh ,

52:47.103 --> 52:49.048
upsides , downsides , threats , of

52:49.048 --> 52:51.215
course when the president makes a call

52:51.215 --> 52:53.215
as the commander in chief . We will

52:53.215 --> 52:55.381
execute . Well , thank you , because I

52:55.381 --> 52:55.219
know there was some controversy earlier

52:55.219 --> 52:57.441
this year inside the department and not

52:57.441 --> 52:59.608
everyone seemed to be on the same page

52:59.608 --> 53:02.000
that you and the president are after

53:02.000 --> 53:04.056
presidential decisions had been made

53:04.056 --> 53:05.778
and you had to make some tough

53:05.778 --> 53:08.000
decisions there , and I commend you for

53:08.000 --> 53:07.540
those decisions . I think you did the

53:07.540 --> 53:09.540
right thing . You have to make sure

53:09.540 --> 53:11.596
that everyone stays on the same page

53:11.596 --> 53:13.540
and everyone supports presidential

53:13.540 --> 53:15.596
decisions . Um , one decision also I

53:15.596 --> 53:17.484
want to call out since we haven't

53:17.484 --> 53:19.596
spoken about it here and I'm not sure

53:19.596 --> 53:19.139
we will , I want to commend you for as

53:19.139 --> 53:21.600
well and commend your team . Is the

53:21.600 --> 53:24.199
redesignation of base names for Army

53:24.199 --> 53:26.719
bases in the summer of 2020 as a

53:26.719 --> 53:29.959
Jacobin fever swept the country during

53:29.959 --> 53:32.510
the BLM riots . It was decided to

53:32.800 --> 53:36.000
rename , uh , several army bases , to

53:36.000 --> 53:38.111
be honest with you , I , I think most

53:38.111 --> 53:40.111
soldiers serving those bases didn't

53:40.111 --> 53:39.949
even know who they were named after .

53:40.320 --> 53:42.439
They just had fond recollections for

53:42.439 --> 53:44.750
decades of their time at Fort Benning

53:44.750 --> 53:47.979
or Fort Bragg . Or other places , uh ,

53:47.989 --> 53:50.045
and I think now you've completed the

53:50.045 --> 53:52.045
effort to redesignate those names ,

53:52.045 --> 53:54.610
those bases to the names that so many

53:54.610 --> 53:57.100
generations of soldiers served served

53:57.100 --> 54:00.169
at . Uh , for new American heroes , is

54:00.169 --> 54:04.030
that right ? Yes , all of the previous

54:04.030 --> 54:06.030
names for the US Army installations

54:06.030 --> 54:08.252
have been returned . Well , thank you .

54:08.252 --> 54:10.474
I think that was an inspired approach .

54:10.474 --> 54:12.520
It complies with the law . Um , it

54:12.520 --> 54:14.576
teaches a new generation of soldiers

54:14.576 --> 54:16.742
about those who went before them , and

54:16.742 --> 54:18.576
I hope the matter is settled . I

54:18.576 --> 54:20.798
especially want to commend you for Fort

54:20.798 --> 54:22.964
Gordon , named after Gary Gordon , one

54:22.964 --> 54:22.760
of two Delta operators along with Randy

54:22.760 --> 54:24.982
Shugart , who willingly laid down their

54:24.982 --> 54:26.927
life in the Battle of Mogadishu to

54:26.927 --> 54:29.149
protect their buddies , not even in the

54:29.149 --> 54:30.982
battle at the time . And against

54:30.982 --> 54:33.149
commander's repeated wishes until they

54:33.149 --> 54:35.316
pestered the commanders finally to let

54:35.316 --> 54:37.260
them get on the ground and protect

54:37.260 --> 54:39.316
those soldiers on the ground and lay

54:39.316 --> 54:38.659
down their life . I think that was an

54:38.659 --> 54:41.320
inspired choice . Um , one final

54:41.530 --> 54:43.530
question you'd said that everything

54:43.530 --> 54:45.752
needs to be on the table to address our

54:45.752 --> 54:47.974
munitions crisis . We all agree on this

54:47.974 --> 54:47.770
committee . We've all been working hard

54:47.770 --> 54:50.850
for many years on that . Um , private

54:50.850 --> 54:52.906
industry is very important , but you

54:52.906 --> 54:55.128
have your own organic industrial base ,

54:55.128 --> 54:57.489
ammunition plants , arsenals , depots ,

54:57.500 --> 54:59.722
that's included in everything , right ,

54:59.722 --> 55:01.889
that we need to look at every possible

55:01.889 --> 55:04.111
source to address every potential choke

55:04.111 --> 55:06.167
point in our munition supply chain .

55:06.167 --> 55:08.167
Every possible source . Thank you ,

55:08.167 --> 55:10.333
General Kane . You agree with that , I

55:10.333 --> 55:12.333
presume that our organic industrial

55:12.333 --> 55:11.909
base , especially the arsenals and

55:11.909 --> 55:13.989
ammunition plants and depots , are a

55:13.989 --> 55:16.100
solution to this problem , not a part

55:16.100 --> 55:18.322
of the problem or a relic of the past .

55:18.322 --> 55:20.267
I do , sir , and I'm aware of your

55:20.267 --> 55:22.267
letter to the Army on that matter ,

55:22.267 --> 55:24.433
which I know they're looking at . OK ,

55:24.433 --> 55:26.600
thank you . Thank you . Thank you very

55:26.600 --> 55:28.378
much , Senator Cotton , Senator

55:28.378 --> 55:30.489
Gillibrand . Secretary Hegseth , um ,

55:30.489 --> 55:32.545
this committee has had many hearings

55:32.545 --> 55:34.711
about the future of warfare and making

55:34.711 --> 55:36.711
sure that we have the complement of

55:36.711 --> 55:38.840
warfighters that we need to win any

55:38.840 --> 55:41.320
future wars and not focus on how we

55:41.320 --> 55:43.487
could have done better in the previous

55:43.487 --> 55:45.487
war . One of the areas where I have

55:45.487 --> 55:47.919
deep concern is cyber defense in this

55:47.919 --> 55:49.863
country . Um , I'm concerned about

55:49.863 --> 55:52.270
cyber warfare . I'm concerned about

55:52.270 --> 55:55.500
cyberterrorism . I'm also concerned

55:55.500 --> 55:58.639
about the deployment of UAS as we've

55:58.639 --> 56:01.179
seen being extremely powerful in the

56:01.179 --> 56:04.530
war in Ukraine . We've seen what Iran

56:04.530 --> 56:07.899
has done , so I'm concerned about our

56:07.899 --> 56:10.580
posture with regard to UAS and a

56:10.580 --> 56:12.780
defensive posture with regard to UAS

56:12.780 --> 56:16.699
attacks . Um , I'm very concerned about

56:16.699 --> 56:20.239
uh what happened um over many of our

56:20.239 --> 56:22.840
military sites , um , drone

56:22.840 --> 56:25.310
configurations hovering for weeks

56:25.919 --> 56:29.199
without response , no authorities to be

56:29.199 --> 56:31.310
able to track where those drones came

56:31.310 --> 56:33.649
from by the DOD to assess are the

56:33.649 --> 56:35.879
Iranian , are they Chinese ? Are they

56:35.879 --> 56:37.935
Russian ? Are they on spy missions ?

56:37.935 --> 56:41.030
What is their purpose ? Um , inadequate

56:41.030 --> 56:43.830
authorities , uh , inadequate defenses ,

56:43.949 --> 56:46.790
inadequate technology , um , the

56:46.790 --> 56:48.379
Langley incursion is ,

56:49.350 --> 56:53.350
Incomprehensible , um . On top of

56:53.350 --> 56:56.389
that , uh , I'm very concerned that we

56:56.389 --> 56:59.139
are not investing in our cyber

56:59.139 --> 57:01.083
professionals , that we don't have

57:01.083 --> 57:03.250
enough , enough cyber offense , enough

57:03.250 --> 57:05.439
cyber defense . Uh , we have currently

57:05.439 --> 57:08.550
30,000 open cyber positions within the

57:08.550 --> 57:11.110
DOD , so I'd like to hear from you

57:11.110 --> 57:14.780
what's your plan to have cyber defense

57:14.780 --> 57:17.020
and cyber warriors at the appropriate

57:17.020 --> 57:19.810
compliment . And number 2 , what is

57:19.810 --> 57:22.850
your plan to create the authorities

57:22.850 --> 57:25.600
that you need for UAS defense , uh ,

57:25.649 --> 57:27.969
and to have the

57:28.860 --> 57:31.370
Inadequate response of this is someone

57:31.370 --> 57:33.649
else's job no longer come out of our

57:33.649 --> 57:37.649
leaders . Well Senator , thank you

57:37.649 --> 57:39.705
for the question . You're right over

57:39.705 --> 57:41.816
the target . um , cyber needs to be a

57:41.816 --> 57:43.927
part of every single way that we plan

57:43.927 --> 57:46.093
and look at the world , um , that gray

57:46.093 --> 57:48.260
zone part of conflict and we can't see

57:48.260 --> 57:50.371
that terrain in any way , uh , to our

57:50.371 --> 57:53.000
adversaries and so it is . You'll see

57:53.000 --> 57:54.889
the resources in this budget that

57:54.889 --> 57:56.889
invest in that . Uh , you'll see it

57:56.889 --> 57:58.833
fully integrated into planning and

57:58.833 --> 58:01.056
capabilities and what we're looking for

58:01.056 --> 58:03.056
in the next cybercom and what we're

58:03.056 --> 58:04.959
looking for there , our Deputy

58:04.959 --> 58:06.848
Secretary of Defense is leading a

58:06.848 --> 58:08.959
charge to make sure it fits precisely

58:08.959 --> 58:11.181
what the world needs today . So we have

58:11.181 --> 58:13.403
a program that this committee supported

58:13.403 --> 58:15.348
in the last two NDAAs , which is a

58:15.348 --> 58:18.000
cyber academy to create a pipeline of

58:18.000 --> 58:21.285
young people who do cyber for . So they

58:21.285 --> 58:23.726
get a state of the art cyber education

58:23.726 --> 58:26.004
at over 600 schools around the country ,

58:26.004 --> 58:28.059
and then they dedicate the number of

58:28.059 --> 58:30.006
years they had education to the

58:30.006 --> 58:31.617
Department of Defense or the

58:31.617 --> 58:33.784
intelligence community . And right now

58:33.784 --> 58:35.839
it is not being funded and right now

58:35.839 --> 58:38.045
because of the hiring freeze , these

58:38.045 --> 58:39.989
kids who've completed their degree

58:39.989 --> 58:41.767
under the Cyber Service Academy

58:41.767 --> 58:43.934
actually can't get a job at the DOD or

58:43.934 --> 58:45.767
the intelligence community , and

58:45.767 --> 58:47.934
they're either gonna have to no longer

58:47.934 --> 58:50.045
serve , which was part The program or

58:50.045 --> 58:52.267
get employed somewhere else but we lose

58:52.267 --> 58:54.434
them . So what are you doing to unplug

58:54.771 --> 58:58.562
this problem of not hiring these cyber

58:58.562 --> 59:00.729
professionals immediately because they

59:00.729 --> 59:02.840
are part of the cyber service program

59:02.840 --> 59:05.006
and your budget does not show that you

59:05.006 --> 59:08.041
are planning to fill 100 cyber , um ,

59:08.332 --> 59:11.112
positions for these uh young people who

59:11.112 --> 59:13.052
want to serve , um , in the IC

59:13.052 --> 59:15.172
community or in the IC or in the

59:15.172 --> 59:17.949
Department of Defense . We'll review

59:17.949 --> 59:20.171
that aspect of the hiring freeze in the

59:20.171 --> 59:22.116
cyber academy . Um , we want those

59:22.116 --> 59:23.838
positions filled . We're fully

59:23.838 --> 59:25.949
committed to it . And then on counter

59:25.949 --> 59:28.030
UAS which you mentioned , it is , I

59:28.030 --> 59:30.429
mean . It is a reality of the modern

59:30.429 --> 59:32.596
battlefield whether it's in Ukraine or

59:32.596 --> 59:34.818
elsewhere that we have to fully account

59:34.818 --> 59:36.762
for and address as aggressively as

59:36.762 --> 59:38.707
possible , and I can , you have my

59:38.707 --> 59:40.929
assurances at the highest levels we are

59:40.929 --> 59:42.985
putting our best people in charge of

59:42.985 --> 59:45.040
ensuring we have counter UAS systems

59:45.040 --> 59:46.929
that can match the threats of the

59:46.929 --> 59:48.985
future . I would like you to prepare

59:48.985 --> 59:50.873
for this committee two letters in

59:50.873 --> 59:52.873
response to these questions . One ,

59:52.873 --> 59:55.096
what are you gonna do to fill the 100 ,

59:55.096 --> 59:57.040
excuse me , the 1000 slots for the

59:57.040 --> 59:59.262
cyber academy . Um , and , uh , how are

59:59.262 --> 01:00:01.429
you gonna get this hiring freeze taken

01:00:01.429 --> 01:00:03.651
care of ? And 2 , what is your plan for

01:00:03.651 --> 01:00:05.929
increased authorities , uh , increased ,

01:00:05.929 --> 01:00:09.040
uh , investment , um , Appropriate

01:00:09.040 --> 01:00:11.689
review of UAS that hover over our

01:00:11.689 --> 01:00:14.250
military and nuclear sites . Um , so

01:00:14.250 --> 01:00:16.409
this committee has a fulsome response

01:00:16.409 --> 01:00:18.631
from your whole team about how you will

01:00:18.631 --> 01:00:20.687
address these two problems . We will

01:00:20.687 --> 01:00:22.465
get that to you , Senator , and

01:00:22.465 --> 01:00:24.687
authorities . You are right , is a huge

01:00:24.687 --> 01:00:26.631
issue on counter something Senator

01:00:26.631 --> 01:00:28.853
Cotton and I are committed to passing .

01:00:28.853 --> 01:00:31.076
We both serve on intelligence and armed

01:00:31.076 --> 01:00:31.010
services , and so we share the urgency

01:00:31.010 --> 01:00:33.560
on this issue . And so , uh , Mr .

01:00:33.570 --> 01:00:35.792
Secretary , you'll submit those letters

01:00:35.792 --> 01:00:37.737
for the record . Thank you , sir .

01:00:37.737 --> 01:00:39.570
Thank you , Senator Gillibrand ,

01:00:39.570 --> 01:00:41.459
Senator Rounds . Thank you , Mr .

01:00:41.459 --> 01:00:43.626
Chairman , uh , to all of you first of

01:00:43.626 --> 01:00:45.848
all , thank you for your service to our

01:00:45.848 --> 01:00:48.969
country . Um , I have heard now from 25

01:00:48.969 --> 01:00:51.191
senior department officials , including

01:00:51.191 --> 01:00:53.610
every service chief and eight combatant

01:00:53.610 --> 01:00:56.879
commanders , that vacating the 3.1 to

01:00:56.879 --> 01:00:59.070
3.4 5 gigahertz and the 7 to 8

01:00:59.070 --> 01:01:01.479
gigahertz bands of the spectrum . Would

01:01:01.479 --> 01:01:03.270
have significantly negative

01:01:03.270 --> 01:01:05.159
consequences for our war fighting

01:01:05.159 --> 01:01:07.739
capabilities . Being forced to share

01:01:07.739 --> 01:01:10.020
these bands with commercial interests

01:01:10.020 --> 01:01:12.620
in a non-optimal way would have the

01:01:12.620 --> 01:01:15.139
same impact . General Kane .

01:01:17.199 --> 01:01:19.469
Does the joint force have capabilities

01:01:19.469 --> 01:01:22.919
operating on the 3.1 to 3.45 band and

01:01:22.919 --> 01:01:25.959
the 7 to 8 bands uh of the spectrum

01:01:25.959 --> 01:01:28.479
which would be used in a conflict with

01:01:28.479 --> 01:01:32.340
China ? We , uh , we , we do , Senator ,

01:01:32.469 --> 01:01:35.590
yes . And would those capabilities be

01:01:35.590 --> 01:01:37.899
negatively impacted if the Department

01:01:37.899 --> 01:01:40.459
of Defense were forced to share those

01:01:40.459 --> 01:01:42.979
bands with commercial users in a

01:01:42.979 --> 01:01:46.189
non-optimal manner ? Sure , Senator , I

01:01:46.189 --> 01:01:48.310
think that the key is non-optimal . I

01:01:48.310 --> 01:01:50.477
know there's some work going on around

01:01:50.477 --> 01:01:52.870
dynamic sharing that would minimize to

01:01:52.870 --> 01:01:54.830
an acceptable level the ability to

01:01:54.830 --> 01:01:56.830
frequency hop in and out of those

01:01:56.830 --> 01:01:59.229
particular bands , uh , that would not

01:01:59.229 --> 01:02:02.169
adversely impact the joint force . So ,

01:02:02.550 --> 01:02:05.229
um , but as of today there is no way to

01:02:05.229 --> 01:02:07.629
make it happen . Not today , as you

01:02:07.629 --> 01:02:09.796
know , Senator , and I appreciate your

01:02:09.796 --> 01:02:12.018
leadership on this , um , but there's a

01:02:12.018 --> 01:02:14.073
lot of work going on in that space ,

01:02:14.073 --> 01:02:15.851
sir . I think we agree that the

01:02:15.851 --> 01:02:18.018
economic security is national security

01:02:18.018 --> 01:02:20.185
and that we need to move forward in uh

01:02:20.185 --> 01:02:22.129
in the next gen with regard to our

01:02:22.129 --> 01:02:24.889
communications capabilities but uh as

01:02:24.889 --> 01:02:27.300
it pertains to spectrum auction

01:02:27.300 --> 01:02:29.489
Authority , how do you view a spectrum

01:02:29.489 --> 01:02:31.610
auction process that bases decisions

01:02:31.610 --> 01:02:34.330
solely on economic considerations ?

01:02:35.989 --> 01:02:38.330
Well , as you said , Senator , economic

01:02:38.330 --> 01:02:40.530
security is is national security , you

01:02:40.530 --> 01:02:42.729
know , those are policy decisions . My

01:02:42.729 --> 01:02:45.199
job as the chairman is to provide the ,

01:02:45.479 --> 01:02:47.969
the military advice to our policymakers

01:02:47.969 --> 01:02:50.239
and , and let them make that decision ,

01:02:50.250 --> 01:02:52.929
and this firmly sits in that policy

01:02:52.929 --> 01:02:55.820
space and so rather than put myself

01:02:55.820 --> 01:02:58.090
sideways out of my swim lane , I'll

01:02:58.090 --> 01:03:00.090
leave it to them to decide . But in

01:03:00.090 --> 01:03:01.800
your professional , in your

01:03:01.800 --> 01:03:04.590
professional military opinion . The

01:03:04.590 --> 01:03:08.090
area is between 3.1 to 3.45 and the 7

01:03:08.090 --> 01:03:11.090
to 8 band are critical to our national

01:03:11.090 --> 01:03:14.520
defense . 31 to 345 , no doubt ,

01:03:15.129 --> 01:03:17.351
lower end of the seven , there's some ,

01:03:17.351 --> 01:03:20.699
I think some discussion . 74 to 84 is ,

01:03:20.760 --> 01:03:22.871
is an area that I'd prefer us to hang

01:03:22.871 --> 01:03:26.649
on to , Mr . and , um , Secretary Hag ,

01:03:26.770 --> 01:03:28.937
Seth , I know that you've told me that

01:03:28.937 --> 01:03:31.048
you would be willing to go to the mat

01:03:31.048 --> 01:03:33.479
to protect these critical capabilities .

01:03:33.840 --> 01:03:35.896
I think that is critical . In fact ,

01:03:35.896 --> 01:03:38.007
these bands are essential to building

01:03:38.007 --> 01:03:40.330
Golden Dome which will require even

01:03:40.330 --> 01:03:42.780
more radars and military communications

01:03:42.780 --> 01:03:45.002
infrastructure than we currently have ,

01:03:45.179 --> 01:03:47.346
particularly around population centers

01:03:47.346 --> 01:03:49.457
and defense sites as we see in Israel

01:03:49.457 --> 01:03:51.790
today . Would you agree with that today ,

01:03:51.790 --> 01:03:54.159
sir ? Uh , yes , Senator , I concur

01:03:54.159 --> 01:03:56.326
with the chairman's characterization ,

01:03:56.326 --> 01:03:58.270
and I would just say at no time in

01:03:58.270 --> 01:04:00.326
conversations around , uh , spectrum

01:04:00.326 --> 01:04:02.270
has DOD's equity never been , it's

01:04:02.270 --> 01:04:04.437
always been fully represented in those

01:04:04.437 --> 01:04:06.326
conversations , uh , to ensure we

01:04:06.326 --> 01:04:06.199
protect what we need to protect . Thank

01:04:06.199 --> 01:04:09.000
you . uh , General Kane , what is your

01:04:09.000 --> 01:04:10.889
assessment of the operational and

01:04:10.889 --> 01:04:13.000
strategic benefits of maintaining the

01:04:13.000 --> 01:04:15.222
dual hat leadership arrangement between

01:04:15.222 --> 01:04:17.389
US Cyber Command and National Security

01:04:17.389 --> 01:04:19.333
Agency , the NSA , particularly in

01:04:19.333 --> 01:04:21.333
terms of intelligence integration ,

01:04:21.333 --> 01:04:23.444
speed of action . And mission success

01:04:23.444 --> 01:04:26.500
in contested environments . Sir , I can ,

01:04:26.550 --> 01:04:29.209
uh , I can argue both sides of that one ,

01:04:29.459 --> 01:04:31.860
and , uh , you know , mindful that ,

01:04:31.929 --> 01:04:33.929
that that's a policy discussion , I

01:04:33.929 --> 01:04:36.379
think that either will go on soon or

01:04:36.379 --> 01:04:39.340
has been going on and I'd prefer to To ,

01:04:39.419 --> 01:04:42.379
uh , to leave that to the policymakers ,

01:04:42.500 --> 01:04:44.860
I think the key is both organizations

01:04:44.860 --> 01:04:46.916
are critically important and whether

01:04:46.916 --> 01:04:49.379
it's a single commander or two leaders

01:04:49.379 --> 01:04:51.419
that collaborate with no distance

01:04:51.419 --> 01:04:53.586
between them , we achieve the same end

01:04:53.586 --> 01:04:55.641
state . Would it be fair to say that

01:04:55.641 --> 01:04:57.863
the dual hat prevents stovepipes in the

01:04:57.863 --> 01:05:00.590
cyber domain today ? Senator , there's

01:05:00.590 --> 01:05:03.110
stovepipes in all kinds of domains

01:05:03.110 --> 01:05:05.510
today , so I , I can assure you that it

01:05:05.510 --> 01:05:07.677
would prevent them . What I do hope is

01:05:07.677 --> 01:05:10.020
that whatever path we take , we select

01:05:10.020 --> 01:05:11.631
leaders who are committed to

01:05:11.631 --> 01:05:13.631
integrating and knocking down those

01:05:13.631 --> 01:05:15.576
stovepipes , whether it's a single

01:05:15.576 --> 01:05:17.742
leader or 2 L . That's what the nation

01:05:17.742 --> 01:05:19.687
needs . We have been successful in

01:05:19.687 --> 01:05:22.030
making significant exchanges and

01:05:22.030 --> 01:05:24.989
utilizing assets for both the NSA and

01:05:24.989 --> 01:05:27.489
for cyber command so far . Secretary

01:05:27.489 --> 01:05:29.211
Hegseth , are you committed to

01:05:29.211 --> 01:05:31.322
maintaining the dual hat relationship

01:05:31.322 --> 01:05:33.378
that has significantly benefited our

01:05:33.378 --> 01:05:35.489
national security to date ? Senator ,

01:05:35.489 --> 01:05:37.989
as of right now we're maintaining the

01:05:37.989 --> 01:05:39.933
status quo , but it's something we

01:05:39.933 --> 01:05:42.267
reserve the right to review . Thank you .

01:05:42.267 --> 01:05:44.489
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Thank you ,

01:05:44.489 --> 01:05:46.600
Senator Rounds . Senator Blumenthal .

01:05:46.620 --> 01:05:48.842
Thanks , Mr . Chairman . Uh , Secretary

01:05:48.842 --> 01:05:51.050
Hegseth , uh , you've been asked about

01:05:51.050 --> 01:05:53.272
options for the use of force abroad . I

01:05:53.272 --> 01:05:55.106
want to ask about the use of our

01:05:55.106 --> 01:05:59.010
military at home . I have been deeply

01:05:59.010 --> 01:06:02.409
disturbed and alarmed . By the use of

01:06:02.659 --> 01:06:05.459
active duty troops , Marines in Los

01:06:05.459 --> 01:06:07.626
Angeles , and President Trump has made

01:06:07.626 --> 01:06:10.330
clear his intention to continue to use

01:06:10.699 --> 01:06:13.179
the military to suppress dissent and .

01:06:14.570 --> 01:06:17.219
Likely inflame tensions there and

01:06:17.620 --> 01:06:21.610
elsewhere all under the guise of

01:06:21.610 --> 01:06:24.879
enforcing the law . What he's doing may

01:06:24.879 --> 01:06:28.260
well be illegal , uh . I want to ask

01:06:28.260 --> 01:06:31.889
you about contingency plans for the use

01:06:31.889 --> 01:06:35.750
of active duty military in other cities .

01:06:35.860 --> 01:06:37.916
Do you have such contingency plans ?

01:06:41.739 --> 01:06:43.961
Senator , I would just say we share the

01:06:43.961 --> 01:06:45.572
president's view that as you

01:06:45.572 --> 01:06:47.350
characterize it , we are deeply

01:06:47.350 --> 01:06:49.572
disturbed and alarmed that ICE officers

01:06:49.572 --> 01:06:51.628
are being attacked while doing their

01:06:51.628 --> 01:06:53.517
job in any city in America and so

01:06:53.620 --> 01:06:55.509
allowing National Guard we can be

01:06:55.509 --> 01:06:57.629
alarmed by authorities to define the

01:06:57.629 --> 01:07:00.540
attacks on ICE officers , yes , but .

01:07:00.909 --> 01:07:03.020
We ought to be equally alarmed by the

01:07:03.020 --> 01:07:06.419
illegal use of active duty Marines or

01:07:06.419 --> 01:07:08.739
other military . I take it from your

01:07:08.739 --> 01:07:10.939
answer that you do have contingency

01:07:10.939 --> 01:07:13.300
plans for the use of military in other

01:07:13.300 --> 01:07:15.620
cities . We have never and will not

01:07:15.620 --> 01:07:17.842
illegally deploy troops . All have been

01:07:17.842 --> 01:07:20.064
under existing , but you will establish

01:07:20.064 --> 01:07:22.179
authorities to use troops to support

01:07:22.179 --> 01:07:24.419
federal law enforcement officers . So

01:07:24.419 --> 01:07:26.752
far there's been no legal justification .

01:07:26.752 --> 01:07:28.863
It's been challenged successfully . I

01:07:28.863 --> 01:07:31.610
think that it will . Prevail those

01:07:31.610 --> 01:07:33.832
challenges will prevail in the courts ,

01:07:34.010 --> 01:07:37.530
and I wanna ask you right now to submit

01:07:37.530 --> 01:07:40.530
to this panel those contingency plans

01:07:40.530 --> 01:07:43.570
for the use of active duty military in

01:07:43.570 --> 01:07:45.459
other cities . I wanna move on to

01:07:45.459 --> 01:07:47.348
another area of questioning . The

01:07:47.348 --> 01:07:49.649
chairman has said that . You've

01:07:49.649 --> 01:07:53.000
submitted precious little detail . To

01:07:53.000 --> 01:07:56.929
quote him Precious little detail about

01:07:57.100 --> 01:08:00.199
the budget . I think there is no detail .

01:08:00.739 --> 01:08:04.379
This budget is literally a

01:08:04.379 --> 01:08:08.219
rough outline . With short sighted

01:08:08.219 --> 01:08:10.629
shortfalls , for example .

01:08:11.580 --> 01:08:14.530
The shortfall on the Columbia class ,

01:08:14.860 --> 01:08:18.378
$2 billion . Only about $1

01:08:18.378 --> 01:08:21.909
billion for Virginia class . There

01:08:21.909 --> 01:08:25.548
is virtually no outline or specificity

01:08:25.548 --> 01:08:29.429
as to how you are going to provide

01:08:29.429 --> 01:08:33.119
drones to defend and also engage in .

01:08:33.930 --> 01:08:37.909
Offensive Outline and

01:08:38.008 --> 01:08:40.488
maneuvers , uh , the nature of warfare

01:08:40.488 --> 01:08:42.544
is changing right before our eyes in

01:08:42.544 --> 01:08:45.740
real time . Unmanned aerial and

01:08:45.740 --> 01:08:49.459
undersea warfare is happening in

01:08:49.459 --> 01:08:53.049
Ukraine and elsewhere and uh I

01:08:53.259 --> 01:08:56.220
think that you owe this committee and

01:08:56.220 --> 01:08:59.540
the American public more specificity in

01:08:59.540 --> 01:09:02.750
that budget because we will be at risk

01:09:02.750 --> 01:09:05.798
we are at risk right now . In the

01:09:05.798 --> 01:09:08.159
Middle East and I want to know whether

01:09:08.159 --> 01:09:10.639
we have contingency plans to protect

01:09:10.639 --> 01:09:13.048
our US personnel in the region from the

01:09:13.048 --> 01:09:15.278
kind of swarm of drones that have

01:09:15.278 --> 01:09:17.449
proved devastating already to three of

01:09:17.449 --> 01:09:19.560
our service people in the Middle East

01:09:19.560 --> 01:09:21.727
on a base in Jordan . Do you have such

01:09:22.039 --> 01:09:24.599
plans to protect against drones there ?

01:09:26.278 --> 01:09:28.418
Um , Senator , we work hand in glove

01:09:28.418 --> 01:09:30.878
with the joint staff , uh , and CEO and

01:09:30.878 --> 01:09:34.008
every , uh , COO , especially , uh ,

01:09:34.019 --> 01:09:36.378
right now to ensure everything at our

01:09:36.378 --> 01:09:38.659
disposal is available to ensure maximum

01:09:38.659 --> 01:09:40.270
force protection against any

01:09:40.270 --> 01:09:42.270
contingency , including the one you

01:09:42.270 --> 01:09:44.215
described , sir . Well , I have no

01:09:44.215 --> 01:09:47.878
assurance that we have the capacity to

01:09:48.219 --> 01:09:51.079
safeguard against the swarm of small

01:09:51.079 --> 01:09:54.099
lightweight slow moving drones . That

01:09:54.099 --> 01:09:56.949
are in my view are major vulnerability

01:09:57.179 --> 01:10:01.019
and right now if we engage in the

01:10:01.019 --> 01:10:03.738
Iran conflict would put us and US

01:10:03.738 --> 01:10:06.258
personnel at risk there . Let me ask

01:10:06.258 --> 01:10:09.298
you about Ukraine . Uh , I've just

01:10:09.298 --> 01:10:11.465
returned from my 7th trip to Ukraine .

01:10:11.465 --> 01:10:15.129
I am the . Advocate , chief sponsor

01:10:15.129 --> 01:10:18.979
with . Senator Graham ,

01:10:19.310 --> 01:10:23.020
in the Russia sanctions bill , you said

01:10:23.750 --> 01:10:27.740
that the United States in

01:10:28.069 --> 01:10:30.899
uh the and the ranking member cited it

01:10:31.149 --> 01:10:33.950
that uh we must start by recognizing

01:10:33.950 --> 01:10:37.189
that returning to Ukraine's pre 2014

01:10:37.189 --> 01:10:39.411
borders is an unrealistic objective and

01:10:39.411 --> 01:10:42.189
will only prolong the war . My question

01:10:42.189 --> 01:10:45.689
to you is when will you release . The

01:10:45.859 --> 01:10:48.259
PDA $4 billion in equipment that

01:10:48.259 --> 01:10:50.580
Ukraine desperately needs , it's

01:10:50.580 --> 01:10:53.330
sitting there . Ukraine deserves it .

01:10:53.620 --> 01:10:57.319
When will it be released ? Uh , we're

01:10:57.319 --> 01:11:00.000
aware of PDA 75 , and , um , and that

01:11:00.359 --> 01:11:02.692
is a decision we can make in the future .

01:11:04.060 --> 01:11:06.129
My time has expired , but I don't

01:11:06.129 --> 01:11:08.073
consider that question that answer

01:11:08.073 --> 01:11:09.796
adequate . Thank you , Senator

01:11:09.796 --> 01:11:12.319
Blumenthal . Senator Ernst . Thank you ,

01:11:12.359 --> 01:11:14.192
Mr . Chair , and , and thank you

01:11:14.192 --> 01:11:16.259
Secretary and thank you , Chairman ,

01:11:16.339 --> 01:11:18.339
for being here Ms . McDonnell . I'm

01:11:18.339 --> 01:11:20.617
actually gonna have a question for you .

01:11:20.617 --> 01:11:22.850
So thank you uh very much for being

01:11:22.850 --> 01:11:26.339
here and I know that Iran is on our

01:11:26.339 --> 01:11:29.930
minds , um , right now , and , uh ,

01:11:29.979 --> 01:11:32.035
secret , I'll just pose a very quick

01:11:32.035 --> 01:11:34.669
question to you . October 7 ,

01:11:34.790 --> 01:11:38.580
2023 , Hamas attacked Israel .

01:11:39.529 --> 01:11:42.250
Who is the primary funder of Hamas ?

01:11:44.419 --> 01:11:48.189
Uh , senator , it is Iran . And who

01:11:48.189 --> 01:11:51.020
is the primary sponsor then that

01:11:51.020 --> 01:11:53.020
provides them with the weapons that

01:11:53.020 --> 01:11:56.680
they use to attack Israel ? Uh , same

01:11:56.680 --> 01:11:58.959
answer , ma'am . And maybe our public

01:11:58.959 --> 01:12:02.959
is not aware , but 43 Americans lost

01:12:02.959 --> 01:12:05.959
their lives on October 7th .

01:12:07.149 --> 01:12:09.990
At the hands of Hamas , which is an

01:12:09.990 --> 01:12:13.540
Iran-backed terrorist organization ,

01:12:13.830 --> 01:12:17.569
43 Americans . We never

01:12:17.569 --> 01:12:20.049
talk about it , folks . I heard nothing

01:12:20.049 --> 01:12:22.327
about this in the Biden administration .

01:12:23.149 --> 01:12:25.390
So , when there is question about

01:12:25.390 --> 01:12:28.549
whether it's appropriate for America to

01:12:28.549 --> 01:12:30.790
be engaged in the Middle East in

01:12:30.790 --> 01:12:33.819
defending Americans that live and work

01:12:33.819 --> 01:12:37.669
abroad , I think there's our answer .

01:12:38.229 --> 01:12:41.549
So , um , thank you , Secretary . I'm

01:12:41.549 --> 01:12:43.271
going to , I'll start with the

01:12:43.271 --> 01:12:45.549
secretary , then I'll come to you , Ms .

01:12:45.549 --> 01:12:48.109
McDonnell . um , Secretary Hegseth , I

01:12:48.109 --> 01:12:50.276
do want to thank you because we've had

01:12:50.276 --> 01:12:52.442
many discussions about this . You have

01:12:52.442 --> 01:12:54.220
appointed Steve Erickson as the

01:12:54.220 --> 01:12:56.939
executive director of Force resiliency ,

01:12:57.270 --> 01:12:59.830
and he will oversee , uh , the

01:12:59.830 --> 01:13:01.997
department's sexual assault prevention

01:13:01.997 --> 01:13:04.108
and response office , what we know as

01:13:04.108 --> 01:13:06.750
SARO , and he will directly report to

01:13:06.750 --> 01:13:08.870
you on the issue of sexual assault

01:13:08.870 --> 01:13:11.589
within our military . And you've been

01:13:11.589 --> 01:13:14.000
very responsive on this issue , and I

01:13:14.000 --> 01:13:16.330
commend you for that , and I have

01:13:16.330 --> 01:13:18.990
already received my first briefing , uh ,

01:13:19.000 --> 01:13:21.359
by Mr . Erickson . So to continue

01:13:21.359 --> 01:13:23.560
building on this pro uh progress , I'm

01:13:23.560 --> 01:13:25.671
going to hold quarterly meetings with

01:13:25.671 --> 01:13:28.279
the SAPPRO , and we want to make sure

01:13:28.279 --> 01:13:30.390
that we continue the momentum that we

01:13:30.390 --> 01:13:32.390
are seeing within the department on

01:13:32.390 --> 01:13:34.720
that . And , uh , Secretary Hag Seth ,

01:13:34.759 --> 01:13:37.120
from your vantage point , what positive

01:13:37.120 --> 01:13:40.040
trends are you seeing out of SAPO ?

01:13:42.410 --> 01:13:44.577
Well , first of all , Senator , I want

01:13:44.577 --> 01:13:46.743
to thank you and other members of this

01:13:46.743 --> 01:13:46.359
committee for the work you've done on

01:13:46.359 --> 01:13:49.009
that issue and I think in large part ,

01:13:49.069 --> 01:13:51.291
and you'll see this in this budget , we

01:13:51.291 --> 01:13:53.347
continue to fund the programs , uh ,

01:13:53.347 --> 01:13:55.569
which have seen efficacy and so I think

01:13:55.569 --> 01:13:57.625
a lot of these were newer programs ,

01:13:57.625 --> 01:13:59.736
new initiatives , new emphasis put in

01:13:59.736 --> 01:14:01.847
place . That we have simply sought to

01:14:01.847 --> 01:14:03.847
maintain and accelerate and you see

01:14:03.847 --> 01:14:05.625
that in that in this budget and

01:14:05.625 --> 01:14:07.569
thankfully we've seen uh this year

01:14:07.680 --> 01:14:10.680
sexual assault numbers decrease uh one

01:14:10.680 --> 01:14:12.847
is too many as we've said before , but

01:14:12.847 --> 01:14:15.124
a decrease is a good trend to see . We ,

01:14:15.124 --> 01:14:17.450
we want to continue that . And we'll

01:14:17.450 --> 01:14:19.672
continue working with the department on

01:14:19.672 --> 01:14:21.783
that and , and an amendment that I am

01:14:21.783 --> 01:14:23.894
going to propose for this year's NDAA

01:14:23.894 --> 01:14:26.399
would require quarterly briefings from

01:14:26.399 --> 01:14:29.600
the SAPRO for members of Congress , uh ,

01:14:29.609 --> 01:14:32.330
just as they do with , uh , suicide

01:14:32.330 --> 01:14:34.810
prevention . So we'll continue working

01:14:34.810 --> 01:14:36.970
on that . Um , I also would love to

01:14:36.970 --> 01:14:39.629
touch upon . Uh , a number of other

01:14:39.629 --> 01:14:41.851
issues I've worked as far when it comes

01:14:41.851 --> 01:14:44.350
to fiscal sanity within the department ,

01:14:44.560 --> 01:14:46.449
I can submit those for the record

01:14:46.449 --> 01:14:48.393
because I , I do want to give Ms .

01:14:48.393 --> 01:14:50.504
McDonnell an opportunity . Let's talk

01:14:50.504 --> 01:14:53.399
about an audit . I love , uh , so I

01:14:53.399 --> 01:14:55.566
love working with the comptrollers out

01:14:55.566 --> 01:14:58.080
there , but , uh , GAO released a

01:14:58.080 --> 01:15:00.136
report warning that the department .

01:15:00.136 --> 01:15:02.191
Department of Defense is unlikely to

01:15:02.191 --> 01:15:05.589
achieve a clean audit by 2028 , citing

01:15:05.589 --> 01:15:07.549
long standing financial management

01:15:07.549 --> 01:15:10.709
weaknesses , and it's my understanding

01:15:10.709 --> 01:15:12.870
that a key issue in the department's

01:15:12.870 --> 01:15:15.879
continued reliance on outdated business

01:15:15.879 --> 01:15:18.470
and feeder systems that lack internal

01:15:18.470 --> 01:15:20.470
controls continues to contribute to

01:15:20.470 --> 01:15:23.189
that . Um , so to help address that in

01:15:23.189 --> 01:15:26.759
the reconciliation package we have $350

01:15:26.759 --> 01:15:29.350
million that will be dedicated and

01:15:29.350 --> 01:15:31.128
directed toward improving audit

01:15:31.128 --> 01:15:33.830
outcomes across the department . So Ms .

01:15:33.870 --> 01:15:37.069
McDonnell , uh , all to you , can you

01:15:37.069 --> 01:15:39.013
walk us through how the department

01:15:39.013 --> 01:15:40.899
intends to meet its statutory

01:15:40.899 --> 01:15:43.149
requirement of achieving that clean

01:15:43.149 --> 01:15:46.660
audit by 2028 ? Thank you for the

01:15:46.660 --> 01:15:48.827
question , Senator , and abs and thank

01:15:48.827 --> 01:15:50.993
you for your support in reconciliation

01:15:50.993 --> 01:15:53.216
for automation , AI and business system

01:15:53.216 --> 01:15:55.438
replacement to achieve the audit . Uh ,

01:15:55.438 --> 01:15:57.549
the first day we came in that was one

01:15:57.549 --> 01:15:59.771
of the first topics the Secretary and I

01:15:59.771 --> 01:15:58.979
discussed , and he actually just put

01:15:58.979 --> 01:16:01.129
out a memo with guidance for , uh ,

01:16:01.140 --> 01:16:03.196
milestones each fiscal year that the

01:16:03.196 --> 01:16:05.307
department is going to , uh , achieve

01:16:05.307 --> 01:16:07.540
to achieve the financial audit by 2028

01:16:07.540 --> 01:16:09.873
or sooner as he has challenged us to do .

01:16:09.899 --> 01:16:12.121
Um , the Marine Corps just passed their

01:16:12.121 --> 01:16:13.955
second clean audit opinion . Two

01:16:13.955 --> 01:16:15.955
additional components have done the

01:16:15.955 --> 01:16:18.066
same recently , and , uh , within the

01:16:18.066 --> 01:16:19.732
next 3 years , uh , under the

01:16:19.732 --> 01:16:21.955
Secretary's guidance , the remainder of

01:16:21.955 --> 01:16:21.850
the department will achieve the clean

01:16:21.850 --> 01:16:24.072
audit opinion . Well , outstanding . We

01:16:24.072 --> 01:16:26.017
really appreciate that . Thank you

01:16:26.017 --> 01:16:28.183
everyone for your service to our great

01:16:28.183 --> 01:16:30.350
nation . Thank you very much , Senator

01:16:30.350 --> 01:16:32.683
Ernst . Senator Hirono . Thank you , Mr .

01:16:32.683 --> 01:16:35.629
Chairman . Senator Heck You've had a

01:16:35.629 --> 01:16:38.279
tough start . At your confirmation

01:16:38.279 --> 01:16:41.000
hearing my Democratic colleagues and I

01:16:41.000 --> 01:16:43.167
rightly questioned whether you had the

01:16:43.167 --> 01:16:46.350
requisite qualifications and experience

01:16:46.350 --> 01:16:48.461
to lead the DOD , the largest federal

01:16:48.461 --> 01:16:50.560
agency . Especially given your

01:16:50.560 --> 01:16:53.680
checkered past , which included paying

01:16:53.680 --> 01:16:56.120
$50,000 in hush money to settle a

01:16:56.120 --> 01:16:59.029
sexual assault allegation against you

01:16:59.399 --> 01:17:01.700
and driving two veterans organizations

01:17:01.700 --> 01:17:04.200
into the ground after only months on

01:17:04.200 --> 01:17:06.399
the job , our concerns about you have

01:17:06.399 --> 01:17:08.510
proven true as far as I'm concerned .

01:17:08.510 --> 01:17:10.399
Instead of strengthening national

01:17:10.399 --> 01:17:12.510
security , you've turned the Pentagon

01:17:12.510 --> 01:17:15.600
into a dysfunctional mess . You are

01:17:15.600 --> 01:17:17.720
jeopardizing military operations and

01:17:17.720 --> 01:17:19.560
service members' lives with your

01:17:19.560 --> 01:17:22.919
unprecedented action of texting

01:17:22.919 --> 01:17:25.279
classified military plans to anyone who

01:17:25.279 --> 01:17:29.149
might uh stroke your ego . Leading the

01:17:29.149 --> 01:17:32.069
Department of Defense is more than just

01:17:32.069 --> 01:17:35.669
a PR campaign filled with photo ops

01:17:35.669 --> 01:17:37.780
while you pose for cameras , Russia's

01:17:37.780 --> 01:17:41.000
war of aggression against Ukraine

01:17:41.000 --> 01:17:44.339
continues unabated . Israel and Iran

01:17:44.339 --> 01:17:47.149
are also at war in large part because

01:17:47.149 --> 01:17:50.270
your boss tore up a multilateral

01:17:50.270 --> 01:17:52.700
agreement former President Obama

01:17:53.069 --> 01:17:55.870
brokered with the UK , France , Germany ,

01:17:56.069 --> 01:17:59.350
China , and Russia . That curbed

01:17:59.350 --> 01:18:02.709
Iran's nuclear . Program and

01:18:02.709 --> 01:18:05.790
ambitious . Meanwhile , China advances

01:18:05.790 --> 01:18:09.040
in the Pacific . As this regime

01:18:09.040 --> 01:18:12.319
undermines and attacks our allies at a

01:18:12.319 --> 01:18:14.790
time when steady leadership is critical ,

01:18:14.839 --> 01:18:17.680
we are confronted with crisis and

01:18:17.680 --> 01:18:21.049
instability . Mr . Secretary , close to

01:18:21.049 --> 01:18:24.330
5000 Marines and National Guards have

01:18:24.330 --> 01:18:28.009
been deployed to LA without the request

01:18:28.009 --> 01:18:30.759
or consent of the California governor

01:18:31.370 --> 01:18:34.279
or the Los Angeles Mayor Bass rather

01:18:34.279 --> 01:18:37.569
than calming the situation . This troop

01:18:37.569 --> 01:18:40.569
deployment is purposefully inflaming

01:18:40.569 --> 01:18:44.160
and escalates tensions . You

01:18:44.160 --> 01:18:47.299
claim lethality is your top priority .

01:18:47.879 --> 01:18:51.160
Do you plan to unleash this lethal

01:18:51.160 --> 01:18:54.520
force against US citizens and civilians

01:18:54.520 --> 01:18:57.029
in LA and other cities ?

01:19:01.000 --> 01:19:03.222
Well , Senator , I would reject most of

01:19:03.222 --> 01:19:05.500
the characterization of that statement ,

01:19:05.500 --> 01:19:07.611
including lethality against US cities

01:19:07.611 --> 01:19:09.667
when all of those National Guardsmen

01:19:09.667 --> 01:19:12.149
and Marines have had conducted

01:19:12.149 --> 01:19:13.830
themselves with the utmost of

01:19:13.830 --> 01:19:16.052
professionalism , defending our federal

01:19:16.052 --> 01:19:18.274
agents , Americans . Deserve to be able

01:19:18.274 --> 01:19:20.163
to do their job to deport illegal

01:19:20.163 --> 01:19:21.830
immigrants after the previous

01:19:21.830 --> 01:19:24.399
administration allowed 21 million not

01:19:24.399 --> 01:19:26.339
here to listen to your rhetorical

01:19:26.339 --> 01:19:28.283
responses . I would like to have a

01:19:28.283 --> 01:19:30.228
professional response that I would

01:19:30.228 --> 01:19:32.006
expect from somebody who is the

01:19:32.006 --> 01:19:34.640
Secretary of Defense . Millions of

01:19:34.640 --> 01:19:38.509
people peacefully demonstrated , uh ,

01:19:38.520 --> 01:19:40.464
this weekend against the president

01:19:41.040 --> 01:19:43.580
acting like a king . Given this

01:19:43.580 --> 01:19:46.339
regime's dangerous policy of mobilizing

01:19:46.339 --> 01:19:49.759
troops inside the US , the politicizing

01:19:49.759 --> 01:19:52.250
of the military is a legitimate concern .

01:19:52.740 --> 01:19:55.660
So , uh , given the dangerous policy of

01:19:55.660 --> 01:19:57.716
mobilizing troops inside the US , if

01:19:57.716 --> 01:19:59.771
ordered by the president , I'm gonna

01:19:59.771 --> 01:20:01.827
ask you once again to shoot peaceful

01:20:01.827 --> 01:20:03.771
protesters in the legs , would you

01:20:03.771 --> 01:20:06.140
carry out such an order from the

01:20:06.140 --> 01:20:09.660
president ? Senator , as I've said

01:20:09.660 --> 01:20:12.129
before , of course , I reject the

01:20:12.129 --> 01:20:14.073
premise of your question , and the

01:20:14.073 --> 01:20:16.240
characterization that I would be given

01:20:16.240 --> 01:20:18.569
or are given unlawful orders , it's all

01:20:18.569 --> 01:20:20.791
meant to attempt to smear the commander

01:20:20.791 --> 01:20:22.569
in chief , considering that the

01:20:22.569 --> 01:20:25.250
president . In his first term actually

01:20:25.250 --> 01:20:28.379
ordered such a thing , it is not a

01:20:28.379 --> 01:20:30.529
premise that you can reject . He can

01:20:30.529 --> 01:20:32.589
order do the same thing . So you're

01:20:32.589 --> 01:20:34.589
again , uh , I think you would just

01:20:34.589 --> 01:20:36.756
follow what the president wants you to

01:20:36.756 --> 01:20:38.867
do . Let's face it , it is not normal

01:20:38.867 --> 01:20:41.330
to call up our troops in this way , and

01:20:41.330 --> 01:20:44.479
uh there is active litigation against

01:20:44.479 --> 01:20:46.850
this deployment . Will you follow a

01:20:46.850 --> 01:20:49.330
court's order regarding uh whether or

01:20:49.330 --> 01:20:53.169
not this is deployment is legal ? But

01:20:53.169 --> 01:20:55.450
if the court says this deployment of

01:20:55.450 --> 01:20:58.009
troops into our cities is not legal ,

01:20:58.080 --> 01:20:59.600
would you follow that court's order ?