WEBVTT

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We will call this hearing back to order

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and we now recognize the gentleman from

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Texas , Mr . Latrell . Thank you

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Mr . Chairman . Mr . Secretary General .

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Thank you for your service and your

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continued service to this great country .

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Mr . Secretary , a few weeks ago , um ,

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our commander in chief , the president

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signed an executive order . Over

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research on psychedelic medications

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hovering over the veteran space as well

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as active members , could you , uh ,

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and I know you're aware of this . And

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the health and well-being of my of the

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service members and the veterans is

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very near and dear to my heart . We

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lose over 6000 veterans a day , uh , we ,

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uh , a day , so a year . I would love

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to see that trajectory go to 0 . Can

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you ? At a high level

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Is the Department of War . Interested

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in kinda coming in with VA HHS

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NIH . And pushing this type of research .

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First of all , thank you , Congressman ,

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for all the work you've done on this .

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You are , there's no more passionate

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advocate for him , and it was great to

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see you in the Oval Office , uh , with

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your brother and with , uh , so many

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other SEALs who are saying , hey , this ,

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this . Option saved my life or or gave

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me a new lease on life and I've heard

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that time and time again based on that

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particular approach that the president

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has approved through the EO and I think

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our department has shown a willingness

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to be flexible and look at new options

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and new alternatives and I think if you

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talk to Secretary Collins at the VA .

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Uh , the partnership we've had is as

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deep as any partnership between the

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Department of War and , uh , the VA has

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ever existed . So we've got regular

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meetings between us as secretaries ,

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but also our chiefs , and then down

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into the committees to ensure the flow

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is consistent . But if . Something that

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the VA is doing that we should be

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looking at that enables our service

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members to be better at their job ,

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we're gonna entertain it . So I , I , I

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well , thank you for your advocacy on

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it , and we'll take a look at it .

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Thank you very much , and I , um , it

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excites me that , that , that , the ,

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the two entities , one couldn't exist

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without the other , our veteran . I've

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had the opportunity to not not only

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travel the country but travel the world

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and visit the troop visit our troops ,

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uh , either Oconis or CIS , and I have

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to say , sir , the , the morale , the

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well-being , just the sheer excitement

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our service members see or and how

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they're acting today , uh , it , it

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kind of takes me back to our , to our

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generation , if you will , uh , just to

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see that kind of that forward momentum ,

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that intestinal fortitude kind of glows

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on them . Uh , and I think that's a

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direct correlation to your leadership ,

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sir , as well as the president . Can

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you , from your perspective , I , I'm

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assuming you're seeing the same thing ,

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um , and I , I think that .

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That that blue line that needed to be

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popped got popped and our service

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members are are absolutely

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leading from the front and there's .

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And the world has noticed . Tell me I'm

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not seeing that just from my own eyes .

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Um , no , you're not , Congressman ,

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and I , I meant this when I said it . I

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would encourage every single member of

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this committee to talk to lieutenants

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and captors and majors and colonels and

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sergeants and staff sergeants and

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sergeants major and specialists who are

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doing the job right now on the front

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lines or across the country , and they

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have seen a sea change . In the

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environment and the morale and the

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spirit in their formations , and it

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isn't some secret sauce . It's don't

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treat us as a petri dish in your social

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justice exercise or your or uh your

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social engineering , uh , approach .

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Just let us do our job . Let us get

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back to basics . Let us train , let us ,

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uh , choose people and elevate people

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simply on merit and merit . That's

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motivating for people . That's why they

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join . That's why they do really

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difficult things like you did , uh ,

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and are away from their families for a

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very long time . They want to defend

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their kids and grandkids , but they

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don't wanna have distractions and

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debris on the inside . So when we talk

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to them , they , they are so grateful

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for the fact that we're just getting

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back to the basics of readiness ,

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training , accountability , discipline ,

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war fighting . Uh , commanders , squad

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leaders , you name it . And , and to

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those watching across the country , ask

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folks who have served , who've been in

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it , how they view it , uh , and they

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see it under President Trump's

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leadership , fundamentally different .

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And we don't , we haven't even talked

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about the border , which is now secure .

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Uh , I mean , there's the recruiting

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successes , the fitness and combat

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standards that have been restored .

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We're treating everybody at the same

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level . Sounds like basics , but it all

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translates into morale . And then

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morale translates into , Readiness and

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that translates into capabilities and

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then when you have a commander in chief

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that unleashes them , it turns into

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mission success and then the world pays

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attention to what the American military

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is capable of doing and it's on the

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shoulders of of leaders like you who've

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did it in previous generations and

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we're simply doing it again . So thank

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you for your leadership . Thank you ,

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Mr . Secretary , and , and for everyone

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in the room that's in uniform . God

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bless each and every everyone for your

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service as well as your families , Mr .

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Speaker , I'm Mr . Speaker , Mr .

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Speaker , sorry about that . I thought

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you liked me . I did . I'm sorry . That

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slipped . You almost time we not go to

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the gentle lady from California , Miss

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Jacobs . Thank you Mr . Chairman . Mr .

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Secretary , as you know , I represent

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San Diego , the largest military

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community in the country right now as

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we are speaking , 2500 San Diego

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Marines are off the coast of Iran .

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Many , many other San Diegans in

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uniform have gotten 48 hour deployment

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notices , so this war in Iran is not

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theoretical for me or for my

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constituents . It's , it's deeply

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personal . Uh , as you also know , on

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Easter Sunday , President Trump

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threatened to destroy Iran's bridges

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and power plants , writing , quote ,

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Open the fucking straight , you crazy

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bastards , or you'll be living in hell .

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Just watch . And two days later ,

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President Trump wrote , quote , A whole

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civilization will die tonight , never

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to be brought back again . I don't want

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that to happen , but it probably will .

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My office's phones have been ringing

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off the hook . I've heard from so many

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military families concerned about the

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president's mental fitness and whether

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he's fit to serve as our commander in

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chief , given that he's sending their

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loved ones into harm's way . Our troops

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who have shown incredible bravery and

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tactical proficiency , deserve to know

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that their leaders are focused and

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stable . So , Mr . Secretary , you are

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with the president a lot . And it pains

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me to even have to ask this about our

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president , but my constituents' lives

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are at stake . Do you believe that the

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president is mentally stable enough to

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be the commander in chief ? Um , did

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you ask the same question of Joe Biden

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for 4 years , Mr . Secretary , Joe

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Biden is not the president . Mr . Trump

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has been president for 1.5 years , and

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I'm asking you right now , and I won't

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even engage with the level of

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disparagement that you're putting on

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the commander in chief who indeed , uh ,

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is , I , I mean , every , I mean , Mr .

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Secretary every single day , Mr .

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Secretary Biden is not the presidentest ,

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most insightful commander in chief

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we've had in generations , and you

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wanna compare , I mean , you wanna ask

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that question after you and your fellow

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Democrats defended . Biden , who could

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barely speak and didn't know what day

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of the week it was , you know , he

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governed to an autopen . He had a

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Secretary of Defense who went AWOL for

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a week . I can't be gone for 10 days ,

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for 10 minutes . I will reclaim my time

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ladies , ladies' time . She reclaimed

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it . So astonishing as Mr . Jimenez

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said , we should be taking leaders at

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their word . So is there a reason that

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we should not be taking our leader at

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his word ? Iran should not

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underestimate the will of President

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Trump and the United States military to ,

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uh , achieve our mission . OK , well ,

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I want you to know this is not a

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partisan thing . In fact , many , many

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Democrats have had many , many

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Republicans have had the same questions .

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Marjorie Taylor Greene said he's out of

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control and he's gone insane . Candace

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Owens said the 25th Amendment needs to

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be invoked . Megyn Kelly , Tucker

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Carlson , who you used to work with ,

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Alex Jones , Stephanie Grisham , the

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list could go on . So how do I explain

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to my constituents that while they are

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in harm's way , their commander in

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chief is posting these unhinged posts ?

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How did you explain to your

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constituents what happened on October ?

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Or what happened in Afghanistan or what

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happened with the debacle and the

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withdrawal in Afghanistan where the

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troops were left . But how did you

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explain that with Joe Biden's

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leadership ? How did you explain that

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to the Marines that didn't get medals ,

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that we restored their medals because

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of that disastrous withdrawal in

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Afghanistan ? Did you explain that to

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your constituents when Joe Biden was

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asleep at the wheel and he had an AWOL

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Secretary of Defense ? I don't think

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you did . next post . How can I explain

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this next post to my constituents ?

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I'm Jewish , so , um , this doesn't

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really bother me , but my understanding

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is that this is quite offensive to many

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Christians . So how , how do you

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explain this post ? I'm not here to

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explain posts . We have an incredible

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commander in chief who puts our troops

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first . I'm here for a budget hearing

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about our troops . This is . Historic

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budget that's giving it a chance to ,

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Mr . Secretary , our adversaries , and

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President Trump is doing that in

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world-class fashion . This is a lady

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has reclaimed her time , Mr . Secretary .

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This is about our troops . This is

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about who is commanding our troops and

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if our troops can trust that they are

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being sent into harm's way under good

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strategy . The mental stability of our

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commander in chief is deeply important

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to our troops . It's deeply important

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to this country . It is , it wasn't our

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to you during Joe Biden . I'll remind

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you that when there were concerns ,

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Democrats came together and he was not

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our nominee for president . So I

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encourage you to do have the same

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courage that Democrats had , Mr .

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Secretary . You keep saying that he Is

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the best commander in chief we've ever

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had , the best the troops . 13 American

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troops have died . More than 380 have

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been wounded . The Strait of Hormuz ,

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which was wide open , is now closed .

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Less than 90% of traffic through the

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strait is still not going despite the

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ceasefire . The Iranian regime is still

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in power . It still has new . Clear

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material . The war is costing Americans

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billions of dollars . And Mr .

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Secretary , if you think that this is

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what winning looks like , then maybe we

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should be questioning your mental

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stability . Maybe you are the one

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responsible for this failure , and the

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president should think about replacing

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you , Mr . Chairman . I yield back .

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lady that's not the lady from Virginia ,

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Miss Kiggins . Thank you , Mr . Chair

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and thank you to our witnesses for

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being with us . I have the privilege of

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representing Virginia's 2nd

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congressional district , so Hampton

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Roads , home to a lot of our East Coast

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Navy , and I had the privilege of

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attending the BFA 106 Change of command

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on Friday , which is our fleet

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replacement squadron for the F-8 for

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the aging F-18s . Uh , but what an

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awesome event and to talk to some of

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the Navy leadership that was there and

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to listen to them say firsthand , uh ,

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just about the , the morale of the

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squadrons that are currently deployed

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on the USS Ford , specifically talking

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to leadership , a lot of our children

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serve . It's a family business for

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those of us in naval aviation and .

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They're like , don't believe the media .

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The morale is amazing . Those guys are

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doing tip of the spear mission work . I

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live with a retired F-18 pilot husband

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who also is begging to find a way to

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get back in the cockpit because he's

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jealous of what he sees . So , so just

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that type of mentality . Thank you for

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that . I know that they're , they're

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doing a mission and keeping them

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engaged is an important part of the

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fight . Along those same lines about

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naval aviation , I would love to hear ,

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Mr . Secretary , your thoughts about

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the future of naval aviation . I know

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that , uh , this is a budget hearing ,

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so last year's budget , we had $900

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million that we were looking forward to ,

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uh , using the FAXX program , and then

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the fiscal year 27 request was reduced

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to $140 million . And I , of course ,

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keeping tabs on the Air Force , uh ,

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you know , $5 billion for their F-47

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program . So , we love aircraft

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carriers . We love that mobile air

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superiority piece . What are your plans

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for the future of naval aviation ? I

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kick and scream every day of the week

11:49.539 --> 11:51.706
here in this committee about the F-35s

11:51.706 --> 11:53.650
and getting them at our East Coast

11:53.650 --> 11:55.706
master jet base . I know the FAXX is

11:55.706 --> 11:57.761
our next-generation strike fighter ,

11:57.761 --> 11:57.580
but just would love to hear your plans

11:57.580 --> 11:59.691
and timelines for the future of naval

11:59.691 --> 12:01.802
aviation . Well , I appreciate your ,

12:01.802 --> 12:03.969
your comments , and then I would defer

12:03.969 --> 12:06.191
to the chairman too on it , uh , on the

12:06.191 --> 12:08.358
utility remaining utility of the F-18s

12:08.358 --> 12:10.469
which are , are still flying critical

12:10.469 --> 12:12.691
missions right now off our carriers and

12:12.691 --> 12:15.024
do a fantastic job , uh , 30+ years old ,

12:15.024 --> 12:17.250
but yes , yes , correct , uh , which is

12:17.250 --> 12:18.972
why the issue of the FAXX is .

12:18.972 --> 12:20.972
Important . It's not a matter of if

12:20.972 --> 12:23.083
it's a matter of when . It's a matter

12:23.083 --> 12:25.139
of trade-offs in industry and design

12:25.139 --> 12:27.250
and capabilities , ensuring we're not

12:27.250 --> 12:27.219
slowing other things down at the behest

12:27.219 --> 12:30.020
of others . So I think in August , the

12:30.020 --> 12:32.076
August time frame is , I , I'm , I'm

12:32.076 --> 12:34.242
sure you're familiar with that is what

12:34.242 --> 12:36.187
we're looking at . It's a critical

12:36.187 --> 12:35.979
capability that we , we need to fund

12:35.979 --> 12:38.140
for the future of naval aviation . I

12:38.140 --> 12:40.473
would defer if anything you want to add ,

12:40.473 --> 12:42.751
sir , I , I think you covered it . The ,

12:42.751 --> 12:44.696
you know , we don't need an access

12:44.696 --> 12:46.862
basing and overflight off of a CSG and

12:46.862 --> 12:49.099
a CBN , and so it gives , uh , the

12:49.099 --> 12:51.155
secretary and the president a lot of

12:51.155 --> 12:53.419
options . So , um , and I , I just want

12:53.419 --> 12:56.099
to echo the thanks for the Joint Force

12:56.099 --> 12:58.809
on behalf of the Joint Force for all

12:58.809 --> 13:00.920
three CSGs that are out there getting

13:00.920 --> 13:03.142
after it right now . I , I share , uh ,

13:03.142 --> 13:06.380
your husband's jealousy . Um , uh , but ,

13:06.419 --> 13:08.586
uh , I just want the force to know how

13:08.586 --> 13:10.697
much we appreciate , man , especially

13:10.697 --> 13:13.030
the Ford . Thank you . Thanks very much ,

13:13.030 --> 13:12.070
General . And then , uh , Mr .

13:12.210 --> 13:13.766
Secretary , uh , just again

13:13.766 --> 13:15.932
representing a big Navy district and ,

13:15.932 --> 13:18.154
and , uh , having just a , uh , concern

13:18.154 --> 13:20.321
for the Navy . Uh , could you shed any

13:20.321 --> 13:22.489
light on why the Secretary of the Navy

13:22.489 --> 13:24.656
was relieved and what that timeline to

13:24.656 --> 13:26.919
replace , replace him looks like for

13:26.919 --> 13:29.030
permanent leadership ? I think that's

13:29.030 --> 13:31.363
one of the reasons why we struggle with ,

13:31.363 --> 13:33.586
uh , with even I think about the basing

13:33.586 --> 13:35.641
decisions and again naval aviation ,

13:35.641 --> 13:37.808
and that's , I wish we would talk more

13:37.808 --> 13:39.475
about , about , uh , just the

13:39.475 --> 13:41.475
contributions of our aviators , but

13:41.475 --> 13:43.752
could you shed any light on that issue ?

13:43.752 --> 13:45.752
Well , as the president stated , we

13:45.752 --> 13:47.808
thank the previous secretary for his

13:47.808 --> 13:47.489
service . I appreciate a lot of the

13:47.489 --> 13:49.267
initiatives that he undertook .

13:49.267 --> 13:51.322
Ultimately , it was time for a new ,

13:51.322 --> 13:53.433
new leadership and a new direction as

13:53.433 --> 13:55.267
far as running fast toward those

13:55.267 --> 13:57.211
objectives , and so we , we made a

13:57.211 --> 13:59.322
change . We think . Uh , it's hard to

13:59.322 --> 14:01.378
personnel is policy , and the sooner

14:01.378 --> 14:03.378
you identify , especially we talked

14:03.378 --> 14:05.656
about general officers , uh , you know ,

14:05.656 --> 14:05.130
as you're evaluating whether they're

14:05.369 --> 14:07.591
running with , uh , the mission they've

14:07.591 --> 14:09.813
been given , you gotta make a change if

14:09.813 --> 14:12.036
they're not . The same with civilians ,

14:12.036 --> 14:11.469
and in this case , we made that change .

14:11.729 --> 14:14.250
And any timeline to replace or have a

14:14.250 --> 14:16.250
new Secretary of the Navy , right ,

14:16.250 --> 14:18.361
right now we have an acting , uh , in

14:18.361 --> 14:20.528
Hong Kou who's , uh , was , uh , did a

14:20.528 --> 14:22.528
fantastic job as the number 2 , and

14:22.528 --> 14:22.409
he'll be acting for now . And , um , I

14:22.409 --> 14:24.520
would imagine we'll , uh , we'll know

14:24.520 --> 14:26.465
in due time . Thank you . And then

14:26.465 --> 14:28.409
General Kane , I know you're a VMI

14:28.409 --> 14:30.576
graduate , and , uh , I know there's ,

14:30.576 --> 14:32.631
you're watching some of the partisan

14:32.631 --> 14:34.687
attacks that have been going on with

14:34.687 --> 14:34.489
some of our senior military academies ,

14:34.650 --> 14:36.706
specifically in Virginia , and I was

14:36.706 --> 14:38.761
wondering if you had any thoughts or

14:38.761 --> 14:40.872
have had any discussions about how we

14:40.872 --> 14:43.039
can remove some of our senior military

14:43.039 --> 14:45.039
academies from these partisan state

14:45.039 --> 14:47.206
politics . I , I , I think it requires

14:47.206 --> 14:49.317
a further discussion . We had 1 . The

14:49.317 --> 14:49.159
Army ROTC officers that we commissioned

14:49.159 --> 14:51.270
out of that school specifically , but

14:51.270 --> 14:53.603
we've seen pushes to shut down , defund ,

14:53.760 --> 14:55.871
replace their board of visitors . Any

14:55.871 --> 14:57.593
thoughts on how we can be more

14:57.593 --> 14:59.482
protective of those , those great

14:59.482 --> 15:01.704
schools ? Well , ma'am , you , you sort

15:01.704 --> 15:03.816
of started where I'm going to land on

15:03.816 --> 15:05.927
the importance of staying politics as

15:05.927 --> 15:08.149
the chairman and not unintentionally or

15:08.149 --> 15:09.927
inadvertently . Stepping into a

15:09.927 --> 15:12.038
political matter where I should not ,

15:12.038 --> 15:13.982
as the secretary said , people are

15:13.982 --> 15:16.229
policy and policies are things that we

15:16.229 --> 15:18.507
don't , we don't do in the joint force .

15:18.507 --> 15:20.618
I appreciate all of the commissioning

15:20.618 --> 15:22.618
sources that are out there . Gentle

15:22.618 --> 15:24.729
ladies , time's expired . Chair and I

15:24.729 --> 15:24.630
recognize the gentle lady from

15:24.630 --> 15:26.686
Washington , Ms . Strickland . Thank

15:26.686 --> 15:28.963
you , Chairman Rogers and Member Smith ,

15:28.963 --> 15:30.908
and thank you to the witnesses for

15:30.908 --> 15:32.963
being here today . This committee is

15:32.963 --> 15:35.186
being asked to consider a $1.5 trillion

15:35.186 --> 15:37.352
DOD budget request that funds not only

15:37.352 --> 15:39.352
weapons and system programs but the

15:39.352 --> 15:41.463
people , leadership , readiness , and

15:41.463 --> 15:43.686
trust required to make them effective .

15:43.686 --> 15:45.463
When senior leaders are removed

15:45.463 --> 15:47.630
abruptly or merit-based promotions are

15:47.630 --> 15:49.741
disrupted without clear explanation ,

15:49.741 --> 15:51.852
Congress does have the responsibility

15:51.852 --> 15:53.630
to understand the rationale and

15:53.630 --> 15:55.852
operational consequences . So I'm gonna

15:55.852 --> 15:58.186
focus on Secretary Hegseth and to start ,

15:58.186 --> 15:59.963
no one is disputing that senior

15:59.963 --> 16:01.852
officers serve at the pleasure of

16:01.852 --> 16:03.797
civilian leadership . The issue in

16:03.797 --> 16:05.908
front of this is whether the decision

16:05.908 --> 16:07.630
to remove General Randy George

16:07.630 --> 16:09.630
strengthened the army or created an

16:09.630 --> 16:11.741
avoidable disruption during an active

16:11.741 --> 16:13.852
operational period . General George ,

16:13.852 --> 16:15.963
who also served as commanding general

16:15.963 --> 16:18.186
at 1st Corps at JBLM , has been serving

16:18.186 --> 16:20.130
for 4 decades , including multiple

16:20.130 --> 16:22.074
command and operational leadership

16:22.074 --> 16:24.186
roles , culminating as Chief of Staff

16:24.186 --> 16:26.519
of the Army , responsible for readiness ,

16:26.519 --> 16:28.630
force modernization , and the welfare

16:28.630 --> 16:30.352
of over a million soldiers and

16:30.352 --> 16:32.241
civilians . He was removed in the

16:32.241 --> 16:34.408
middle of an active conflict involving

16:34.408 --> 16:36.440
US operations against Iran when

16:36.440 --> 16:38.718
leadership continuity is most critical .

16:39.119 --> 16:41.341
Public reporting indicates that General

16:41.341 --> 16:43.286
George's removal may have followed

16:43.286 --> 16:45.175
disagreements over army personnel

16:45.175 --> 16:47.230
matters including concerns regarding

16:47.230 --> 16:49.286
withheld promotions so my question ,

16:49.286 --> 16:51.359
Secretary , is this what specific

16:51.359 --> 16:54.020
national security risk , mission risk ,

16:54.070 --> 16:56.200
or leadership concern did General

16:56.200 --> 16:58.479
George present that justified removing

16:58.479 --> 17:00.820
him in the middle of a conflict , or

17:00.960 --> 17:03.016
was he removed because he challenged

17:03.016 --> 17:05.989
some decisions being made ? Um , as I

17:05.989 --> 17:07.933
stated earlier , out of respect to

17:07.933 --> 17:09.989
these officers , I don't discuss the

17:09.989 --> 17:12.211
nature of the removal , but I would , I

17:12.211 --> 17:14.378
would ask an earnest question of you .

17:14.378 --> 17:16.489
Where does General George fall in the

17:16.489 --> 17:18.600
operational chain of command ? So I'm

17:18.600 --> 17:20.600
asking you , why did you fire him ?

17:20.600 --> 17:20.300
Don't change . You talked about , you

17:20.300 --> 17:22.356
talked about an operational moment .

17:22.356 --> 17:24.578
Where does General George fall in the ?

17:24.578 --> 17:26.800
No , it's a simple question . You're on

17:26.800 --> 17:26.640
the House Armed Services Committee .

17:26.780 --> 17:28.739
Leadership concern . What did he

17:28.739 --> 17:30.906
present that justified removing him in

17:30.906 --> 17:33.072
the middle of a conflict ? Do you know

17:33.072 --> 17:35.017
where General George serves in the

17:35.017 --> 17:37.128
operational chain ? Command . So my ,

17:37.128 --> 17:36.765
I'm , I'm asking you my question one

17:36.765 --> 17:38.932
more time , sir . Don't try to flip it

17:38.932 --> 17:41.043
on me . Why was he removed ? Was he a

17:41.043 --> 17:43.265
national security risk , mission risk ,

17:43.265 --> 17:45.487
or leadership concern ? We don't yes or

17:45.487 --> 17:47.654
no . We don't talk about the nature of

17:47.654 --> 17:49.709
removals , but you also won't answer

17:49.709 --> 17:51.932
where he is in the operational chain of

17:51.932 --> 17:53.932
command because he isn't in it . He

17:53.932 --> 17:55.932
isn't in the operational chain lady

17:55.932 --> 17:58.098
reclaimed your time . You wanna tie it

17:58.098 --> 17:57.805
to the war , but you don't even know

17:57.805 --> 17:59.916
where he is in the chain of command .

17:59.916 --> 18:02.083
It's the gentle lady from Washington's

18:02.083 --> 18:05.510
time . Under Doughty 1320.04 , the

18:05.510 --> 18:07.566
Secretary of Defense may withhold or

18:07.566 --> 18:09.621
disprove forwarding nomination after

18:09.621 --> 18:11.566
service recommendations in limited

18:11.566 --> 18:13.599
circumstances , including newly

18:13.599 --> 18:15.439
identified adverse information ,

18:15.699 --> 18:18.079
pending investigations , reportable

18:18.079 --> 18:20.190
information , and questions regarding

18:20.190 --> 18:21.912
mental , physical , moral , or

18:21.912 --> 18:24.135
professional qualification , incomplete

18:24.135 --> 18:26.246
or noncompliant nomination packages ,

18:26.246 --> 18:28.301
missing certifications , or the need

18:28.301 --> 18:30.412
for additional clarification from the

18:30.412 --> 18:32.579
military department . Several colonels

18:32.579 --> 18:34.468
reportedly selected for brigadier

18:34.468 --> 18:36.635
general were removed or withheld after

18:36.635 --> 18:38.857
board selection service certification .

18:38.857 --> 18:41.079
Which of these specific grounds applied

18:41.079 --> 18:42.968
to each withheld officer and what

18:42.968 --> 18:44.912
objective evidence supported these

18:44.912 --> 18:47.550
decisions ? Congressman , that was just

18:47.550 --> 18:49.717
one of many boards across the services

18:49.717 --> 18:51.939
where we will perform similar reviews ,

18:51.939 --> 18:54.161
and I anticipate other officers will be

18:54.161 --> 18:56.272
removed also . OK , but what were the

18:56.272 --> 18:58.272
grounds for those ? Uh , again , we

18:58.272 --> 18:58.030
don't talk about out of respect for

18:58.030 --> 19:00.086
those officers . We don't talk about

19:00.086 --> 19:02.197
the nature of that , and we all serve

19:02.197 --> 19:01.790
at the pleasure of the president .

19:02.109 --> 19:04.310
We're solving for an institution that

19:04.310 --> 19:06.032
needs to be based on merit and

19:06.032 --> 19:08.032
professional , uh , execution , and

19:08.032 --> 19:10.339
there's been a lot of gender and

19:10.339 --> 19:12.339
demographic engineering that's been

19:12.339 --> 19:14.561
going on . Reasons other than the focus

19:14.561 --> 19:16.672
of exactly what we should be doing on

19:16.672 --> 19:18.839
the battlefield . So whether it's that

19:18.839 --> 19:20.783
or execution gender , you , that's

19:20.783 --> 19:22.561
implied in every statement that

19:22.561 --> 19:24.728
everybody makes . And so ultimately as

19:24.728 --> 19:24.290
we review all these boards , it has

19:24.290 --> 19:26.457
nothing to do with anything other than

19:26.457 --> 19:28.679
their performance on the battlefield or

19:28.679 --> 19:30.901
their performance in their career , and

19:30.901 --> 19:32.957
these people are thoroughly vetted .

19:32.957 --> 19:35.012
Thoroughly researched and I guess my

19:35.012 --> 19:37.179
question is , is this about loyalty to

19:37.179 --> 19:39.234
Trump or is it about what's good for

19:39.234 --> 19:41.750
the mission ? Um , I understand what

19:41.750 --> 19:43.806
you're implying , but it's about the

19:43.806 --> 19:45.917
Constitution and our military and its

19:45.917 --> 19:48.139
ability to execute , and I'm gonna make

19:48.139 --> 19:47.630
sure the president has the finest

19:47.630 --> 19:50.589
officers across the force prepared to

19:50.589 --> 19:52.709
deliver . So this committee funds

19:52.709 --> 19:54.619
weapons readiness , recruiting ,

19:54.869 --> 19:56.591
professional development , and

19:56.591 --> 19:58.813
leadership pipelines , but no amount of

19:58.813 --> 20:00.925
money can compensate for a force that

20:00.925 --> 20:02.813
may lose trust in the fairness of

20:02.813 --> 20:05.036
advancement , and this is fairness . We

20:05.036 --> 20:07.258
believe in merit . We have always had a

20:07.258 --> 20:09.258
merit-based system . That's not the

20:09.258 --> 20:08.949
argument . No , we have not , not under

20:08.949 --> 20:11.171
the Biden administration . We did not .

20:11.171 --> 20:13.116
It became social engineering , not

20:13.116 --> 20:15.282
merit , and we're fixing it quick . We

20:15.282 --> 20:17.227
did not . It did not . And when we

20:17.227 --> 20:19.393
consider this budget request , we must

20:19.393 --> 20:21.227
ensure that taxpayer dollars are

20:21.227 --> 20:23.282
matched by sound judgment , credible

20:23.282 --> 20:25.282
leadership , and a personnel system

20:25.282 --> 20:27.282
worthy of those who serve . I yield

20:27.282 --> 20:27.150
back , Mr . Chair . Gentle lady yields

20:27.150 --> 20:29.094
back . Chair , and I recognize the

20:29.094 --> 20:31.206
gentleman from Georgia , Mr . Scott .

20:31.206 --> 20:33.428
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Gentlemen ,

20:33.428 --> 20:35.483
thank you for being here today . I'm

20:35.483 --> 20:37.594
sorry I was late . I was on the floor

20:37.594 --> 20:39.761
of the House of Representatives with a

20:39.761 --> 20:43.410
FISA rule vote . Um And I Did not hear

20:43.410 --> 20:46.170
the majority of the testimony , but uh .

20:47.380 --> 20:49.602
Secretary Hagseth , I , I respect you .

20:49.602 --> 20:51.491
I , I do want you to know , I , I

20:51.491 --> 20:53.491
disagree with the firing of General

20:53.491 --> 20:55.658
George . Um , I've sent you a letter .

20:55.658 --> 20:57.824
I hope you'll . Uh , I look forward to

20:57.824 --> 21:01.130
seeing the responses on that , um . And

21:01.130 --> 21:04.719
I , I just I mean , it , it takes

21:04.719 --> 21:06.830
218 votes to get something across the

21:06.830 --> 21:08.941
floor of the House of Representatives

21:08.941 --> 21:10.941
and , and with NDAA and with budget

21:10.941 --> 21:12.941
plus ups and everything else , um ,

21:13.280 --> 21:15.280
we're gonna lose some Dem votes . I

21:15.280 --> 21:17.280
mean , we're gonna have to have , I

21:17.280 --> 21:19.502
mean , we're gonna lose some Republican

21:19.502 --> 21:21.558
votes . I mean , we're gonna have to

21:21.558 --> 21:21.380
have some Dem votes to do the things

21:21.839 --> 21:23.561
that we have to do to fund the

21:23.561 --> 21:27.339
Department of Defense , uh . And I just ,

21:27.469 --> 21:31.020
uh . I , I would , I would

21:31.020 --> 21:33.131
encourage everybody to keep that in ,

21:33.131 --> 21:35.131
in mind because we're gonna , we're

21:35.131 --> 21:37.409
going to lose some Republican votes on ,

21:37.409 --> 21:40.459
on the , on the plus up . Uh , General

21:40.459 --> 21:43.229
Kaine , um , the joint staff .

21:44.489 --> 21:48.170
Uh , Plays a unique role in

21:48.390 --> 21:50.660
our strategic direction , uh , the

21:50.660 --> 21:52.770
integration of services , uh .

21:54.949 --> 21:57.010
Is what is what gives us a coherent

21:57.310 --> 21:59.430
joint force . I have , I have seen

21:59.430 --> 22:01.660
where disputes in the Air Force and the

22:01.660 --> 22:04.300
Army led to the elimination of systems

22:04.300 --> 22:06.750
that we needed . Uh , his department

22:06.750 --> 22:09.180
has made attempts to right size various

22:09.180 --> 22:11.849
components . Could you talk about the

22:11.849 --> 22:14.469
importance of the , of the joint staff

22:14.469 --> 22:16.525
and the , and the value to the joint

22:16.525 --> 22:20.479
force ? Uh , you , you

22:20.479 --> 22:22.535
bet , sir , and , and I'm , uh , I'm

22:22.535 --> 22:25.040
incredibly proud of the joint staff ,

22:25.160 --> 22:28.160
you know , our , our job , um , is to

22:28.160 --> 22:30.959
integrate options , to deliver those

22:30.959 --> 22:32.737
options to our national command

22:32.737 --> 22:35.015
authority , work with all the services ,

22:35.015 --> 22:37.390
and the one area of exclusivity we have ,

22:37.719 --> 22:41.160
uh , pursuant to the 2017 NDAA is as a

22:41.160 --> 22:44.015
global . Integrator and our J2 , J3 ,

22:44.165 --> 22:47.255
J5 , J7 team , J8 all do a

22:47.594 --> 22:50.275
fantastic job along with the 1 and the

22:50.275 --> 22:53.875
6 every day , and the 4 to , to really

22:53.875 --> 22:56.314
bring the totality of American combat

22:56.314 --> 22:58.915
capability together into a range of

22:58.915 --> 23:00.859
options and risks that we can then

23:00.859 --> 23:02.582
bring to the secretary and the

23:02.582 --> 23:04.304
president . So they are , uh ,

23:04.354 --> 23:06.465
extraordinary in everything they do ,

23:06.465 --> 23:08.687
and I , I appreciate the chance to brag

23:08.687 --> 23:10.687
on them a little bit . Well , I , I

23:10.687 --> 23:12.869
have watched as the Air Force was

23:12.869 --> 23:14.480
paying for a system that was

23:14.480 --> 23:16.739
predominantly used by the Army , uh ,

23:16.780 --> 23:18.891
in the past . I'm talking about JSTAR

23:18.891 --> 23:21.002
specifically . It was a ground moving

23:21.002 --> 23:23.113
target indicator that the Army used ,

23:23.113 --> 23:22.270
but it was coming out of the Air Force

23:22.270 --> 23:25.089
budget . And then , um , I think that

23:25.089 --> 23:27.449
dispute led to the stand down of a

23:27.449 --> 23:29.616
system before another system was ready

23:29.616 --> 23:32.170
to go . Um , and that's , and that's a

23:32.170 --> 23:35.689
dangerous , it's a dangerous thing . Um ,

23:36.089 --> 23:38.422
I spent a fair amount of time in Africa ,

23:38.719 --> 23:41.530
um , from this committee's work and

23:41.530 --> 23:44.969
from , uh , Hipsey's work . Uh , we

23:44.969 --> 23:48.010
lost Air Base 101 and 201 . Uh , all of

23:48.010 --> 23:50.066
you at that table know what happened

23:50.066 --> 23:52.689
there . Uh , I blame that on the State

23:52.689 --> 23:54.522
Department and the way the State

23:54.522 --> 23:56.930
Department handled that . Um , how do

23:56.930 --> 23:59.489
you intend to handle , one is , are we

23:59.489 --> 24:02.839
looking at and the potential to get 101

24:02.839 --> 24:06.760
and 201 back ? And , um , I do

24:06.760 --> 24:08.982
believe that , that an apology would go

24:08.982 --> 24:11.204
a long way with that country as someone

24:11.204 --> 24:13.538
who's met with the ministers over there ,

24:13.538 --> 24:15.316
uh , and interestingly enough ,

24:15.316 --> 24:17.427
Minister Tomba wanted tractors , uh ,

24:17.427 --> 24:19.538
he wanted John Deere tractors is what

24:19.538 --> 24:21.649
he asked for , um . But where , where

24:21.649 --> 24:24.260
will we base out , out of if we can't

24:24.260 --> 24:27.640
get back , and are we looking at

24:27.640 --> 24:29.807
getting 101 and 201 back ? Yes , sir .

24:29.900 --> 24:32.122
Uh , well , we , we all want tractors .

24:32.122 --> 24:34.459
Um , so , uh , I , I echo his thoughts

24:34.459 --> 24:36.348
there . You know , I know General

24:36.348 --> 24:38.459
Anderson is doing a lot of work right

24:38.459 --> 24:40.237
now , leaning forward , doing a

24:40.237 --> 24:42.479
fantastic job along with , uh , his

24:42.479 --> 24:44.859
deputy commander , General Brennan on

24:44.859 --> 24:47.459
looking at the , the total requirements

24:47.459 --> 24:50.069
across the western flank . Uh , for

24:50.069 --> 24:52.125
access basing and overflight 101 and

24:52.125 --> 24:54.479
201 are one of many things that they're

24:54.479 --> 24:57.439
considering . I think the key is , uh ,

24:57.680 --> 25:00.099
what are they going to be able to do

25:00.160 --> 25:02.160
with the resources that they have ?

25:02.160 --> 25:04.327
We're always in a resource constrained

25:04.327 --> 25:06.549
environment , Congressman . Uh , to put

25:06.549 --> 25:08.216
sufficient pressure on the CT

25:08.216 --> 25:10.438
adversaries there in order to hold them

25:10.438 --> 25:12.271
at bay . Well , the mill to mill

25:12.271 --> 25:14.271
relationships are still good . Um ,

25:14.271 --> 25:16.216
I've been out with some of the ODA

25:16.216 --> 25:18.438
teams over there , uh , as a civilian ,

25:18.438 --> 25:20.549
as a , as a member of Congress . It ,

25:20.549 --> 25:22.716
it does . Bother me that our footprint

25:22.716 --> 25:24.938
has gotten so much smaller over there ,

25:24.938 --> 25:24.574
but I do know with drones and other

25:24.574 --> 25:26.741
things it makes it much more difficult

25:26.741 --> 25:28.463
to have those outposts . But I

25:28.463 --> 25:28.375
appreciate all of you being here .

25:28.614 --> 25:30.781
Sorry that I have not been here . No ,

25:30.781 --> 25:32.781
sir . I appreciate the other work ,

25:32.781 --> 25:34.781
gentleman . Ys back , chair , and I

25:34.781 --> 25:37.058
recognize gentleman from New York , Mr .

25:37.058 --> 25:39.281
Ryan . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Head

25:39.281 --> 25:42.130
wounds , heavy bleeding . And then just

25:42.130 --> 25:44.760
shrapnel all over . So folks are

25:44.760 --> 25:46.927
bleeding from their abdomen , bleeding

25:46.927 --> 25:49.229
from arms , bleeding from legs .

25:50.209 --> 25:52.209
Secretary Hagseth , do you know who

25:52.209 --> 25:55.579
said that ? Um , I'm not sure I do . It

25:55.579 --> 25:58.300
is one of our soldiers describing the

25:58.300 --> 26:00.300
devastating Iranian drone strike at

26:00.300 --> 26:02.900
Port Shuba March 1st in Kuwait . As you

26:02.900 --> 26:05.699
know , 6 of our soldiers killed , over

26:05.699 --> 26:09.439
30 wounded . Secretary , do you know

26:09.439 --> 26:12.239
the range of the Shahad 136 one-way

26:12.239 --> 26:14.520
attack drone approximately ? It depends

26:14.520 --> 26:16.576
on the variant , but it's , it's got

26:16.576 --> 26:18.742
serious distance , several 100 miles .

26:18.742 --> 26:20.909
Do you know how far Port Shuba is from

26:20.909 --> 26:23.500
Iran ? Um , there's a reason why we

26:23.500 --> 26:26.459
took , it's , it's extreme measures for

26:26.459 --> 26:28.515
protection because we understood the

26:28.515 --> 26:30.737
proximity challenges , Mr . Chair , I'm

26:30.737 --> 26:32.959
gonna reclaim my time . It's well under

26:32.959 --> 26:34.903
100 miles before the war started .

26:34.903 --> 26:36.792
There was clear intelligence that

26:36.792 --> 26:39.070
Shweiba was high on Iran's target list .

26:39.070 --> 26:41.126
Internal analysis that said the site

26:41.126 --> 26:43.348
was indefensible from aerial attack and

26:43.348 --> 26:46.229
should not be used , yet you . Sent our

26:46.229 --> 26:48.229
soldiers from the 103rd Sustainment

26:48.229 --> 26:50.770
Command there anyway . Is that true or

26:50.770 --> 26:53.650
false ? True or false ? Straightforward

26:53.650 --> 26:55.594
question . Are you gonna give me a

26:55.594 --> 26:57.761
chance to answer or just play gotcha ?

26:57.761 --> 26:59.910
Did you send them there or not ? I

26:59.910 --> 27:01.966
always , we have , we took proactive

27:01.966 --> 27:04.077
measures from the beginning to ensure

27:04.077 --> 27:06.243
force protection and defensive posture

27:06.243 --> 27:08.243
were maximized across the theater .

27:08.243 --> 27:10.466
Let's talk about what defenses they had

27:10.469 --> 27:12.580
prior to the attack . Officers on the

27:12.580 --> 27:14.858
ground knew our troops were vulnerable .

27:14.858 --> 27:16.858
In fact , they requested additional

27:16.858 --> 27:19.136
force protection . Did they receive it ?

27:19.839 --> 27:21.728
Wherever humanly possible , force

27:21.728 --> 27:23.839
protection and counter UAS was always

27:23.839 --> 27:26.280
made available . They did not . In fact ,

27:26.359 --> 27:28.248
when asked to describe the base's

27:28.248 --> 27:30.959
defense , one survivor who's come

27:30.959 --> 27:33.699
forward from the unit said , quote . I

27:33.699 --> 27:36.520
mean I would put it in the none

27:36.520 --> 27:38.469
category , from a drone defense

27:38.469 --> 27:42.390
capability , none . So let's

27:42.390 --> 27:43.946
be clear , no counter drone

27:43.946 --> 27:45.779
capabilities , no counter rocket

27:45.779 --> 27:47.946
systems , no counter mortar or counter

27:47.946 --> 27:50.168
artillery . Not even the basic overhead

27:50.168 --> 27:52.479
protection that you and I had 20 years

27:52.479 --> 27:56.140
ago in Iraq , and now 6 of our

27:56.140 --> 28:00.040
soldiers . are dead . The next

28:00.040 --> 28:03.869
day , You downplayed the attack .

28:03.949 --> 28:05.869
You said it was a squirter that

28:05.869 --> 28:08.189
squeaked through fortified defenses .

28:09.709 --> 28:12.229
But since then , thankfully , brave

28:12.229 --> 28:14.459
survivors have come forward to set the

28:14.459 --> 28:17.300
record straight . One of our surviving

28:17.300 --> 28:19.520
soldiers told CBS , quote ,

28:20.969 --> 28:23.719
Painting a picture that one squeak

28:23.719 --> 28:26.609
through is a falsehood .

28:28.849 --> 28:30.738
Another said the unit was quote ,

28:30.738 --> 28:33.599
unprepared to provide any defense for

28:33.599 --> 28:36.510
itself . It was not a fortified

28:36.680 --> 28:39.170
position . Another survivor said the

28:39.170 --> 28:41.890
building's protection was about as weak

28:41.890 --> 28:45.109
as one gets . Secretary Hegseth , that

28:45.109 --> 28:48.109
is obviously in direct contradiction to

28:48.109 --> 28:50.276
what you said from the Pentagon podium

28:50.276 --> 28:52.739
the next day . So are you saying that

28:53.150 --> 28:55.219
these soldiers , our soldiers who

28:55.219 --> 28:57.552
survived this horrific attack are lying ?

29:00.010 --> 29:01.677
What I'm saying is before the

29:01.677 --> 29:03.843
commencement of of the conflict we put

29:03.843 --> 29:06.339
in maximum defensive posture we could .

29:06.969 --> 29:09.430
We moved 70 in this in this directing .

29:09.489 --> 29:11.489
I can I speak or are you just gonna

29:11.489 --> 29:13.600
monologue falsehoods all all over the

29:13.600 --> 29:15.822
place ? It's not a falsehood . We moved

29:15.822 --> 29:17.933
7500 troops off of the X based on the

29:17.933 --> 29:20.189
intel , based on the intel reclaiming

29:20.189 --> 29:22.300
my time because you yell doesn't make

29:22.300 --> 29:24.411
you right . Just because you yelled ,

29:24.411 --> 29:26.411
I'm reclaiming my time on behalf of

29:26.411 --> 29:28.467
these survivors . You just said what

29:28.467 --> 29:30.780
they said is a falsehood . There's a

29:30.780 --> 29:32.836
much larger picture . There's a much

29:32.836 --> 29:34.669
larger picture at play here that

29:34.669 --> 29:36.613
included integrated air defenses ,

29:36.613 --> 29:38.790
bunkers , moving people off the to

29:38.790 --> 29:40.901
ensure that they were not part of the

29:40.901 --> 29:43.068
target . We moved those troops and all

29:43.068 --> 29:44.957
across the theater , thousands of

29:44.957 --> 29:47.179
troops off the X , off of their bases ,

29:47.179 --> 29:47.069
because we knew what Iran was going to

29:47.069 --> 29:49.180
try to strike . Right , we knew there

29:49.180 --> 29:51.347
was a tragic moment . There could be a

29:51.347 --> 29:53.569
tragic moment where something could get

29:53.569 --> 29:53.104
through . Of course , that's the

29:53.104 --> 29:55.064
consequence of conflict , and we

29:55.064 --> 29:57.175
remember those six every single day .

29:57.175 --> 29:59.175
But don't play games with , I'm not

29:59.175 --> 30:01.397
playing games . I wanna finish with one

30:01.397 --> 30:03.286
more quote from a survivor of the

30:03.286 --> 30:05.175
attack , and this on the record .

30:05.265 --> 30:08.025
Telling the truth is important , and

30:08.025 --> 30:09.858
we're not gonna learn from these

30:09.858 --> 30:11.969
mistakes if we pretend these mistakes

30:11.969 --> 30:14.170
didn't happen . Secretary Hag said ,

30:14.390 --> 30:18.079
those soldiers told the truth . Those

30:18.079 --> 30:20.319
soldiers are braver than you are . I

30:20.319 --> 30:22.000
commend . They are asking for

30:22.000 --> 30:23.667
accountability . They deserve

30:23.750 --> 30:25.972
accountability , and I'm asking for the

30:25.972 --> 30:27.972
same , starting with you . And as I

30:27.972 --> 30:30.028
said a year ago , you need to resign

30:30.028 --> 30:32.250
immediately . I commend those . I yield

30:32.250 --> 30:34.417
back , gentlemen , yields back . Cheer

30:34.417 --> 30:36.583
I recognize the gentleman from Texas ,

30:36.583 --> 30:38.583
Mr . Fallon . Uh , thank you , Mr .

30:38.583 --> 30:40.694
Chairman . Secretary Hageth , I wanna

30:40.694 --> 30:40.209
tell you something right now . You

30:40.209 --> 30:42.329
focused our military once again and

30:42.329 --> 30:44.551
finally , and you've shaped it into the

30:44.551 --> 30:46.551
meritocracy and you've dramatically

30:46.551 --> 30:48.773
increased the United States' ability to

30:48.773 --> 30:50.996
project power and when needed lethality

30:50.996 --> 30:53.229
and I mean , and as a result , our

30:53.229 --> 30:55.630
deterrence have never been more evident

30:55.729 --> 30:59.150
the world over . So thank you . General

30:59.150 --> 31:01.206
Kane , you mentioned in your opening

31:01.206 --> 31:02.761
remarks . George Marshall .

31:04.040 --> 31:06.119
Unfortunately some of your immediate

31:06.119 --> 31:09.640
predecessors , uh , were clearly ,

31:09.660 --> 31:11.827
uh , one type of a general . They were

31:11.827 --> 31:13.993
Democratic generals . One of them even

31:13.993 --> 31:15.660
in this committee , uh , used

31:15.660 --> 31:17.660
politically charged rhetoric of the

31:17.660 --> 31:19.604
left , and I don't want Democratic

31:19.604 --> 31:21.771
generals and for that matter , I don't

31:21.771 --> 31:23.771
want Republican generals either . I

31:23.771 --> 31:25.827
want American generals . You , sir ,

31:25.827 --> 31:27.771
are an American general . You know

31:27.771 --> 31:29.993
exactly what we're we need generals , a

31:29.993 --> 31:31.882
Joint Chief of Staff that knows ,

31:31.882 --> 31:34.104
understands , respects , and embodies .

31:34.104 --> 31:36.319
Your role to serve this republic , the

31:36.319 --> 31:38.486
troops , and the mission , and that is

31:38.486 --> 31:40.486
precisely what you're doing , and I

31:40.486 --> 31:42.708
want to thank you because you do remind

31:42.708 --> 31:44.763
me of George C . Marshall . He was a

31:44.763 --> 31:46.541
great American and so are you .

31:46.541 --> 31:48.597
Secretary Hagith What do you know of

31:48.597 --> 31:50.597
any nation state that ever enriched

31:50.597 --> 31:52.763
uranium to 60% that then didn't make a

31:52.763 --> 31:54.930
nuclear weapon ? Well , first of all ,

31:54.930 --> 31:56.986
I want to second your comments about

31:56.986 --> 31:58.708
the chairman , and I agree . I

31:58.708 --> 32:00.819
appreciate how he does his job . Uh ,

32:00.819 --> 32:02.989
usually when a country , uh , pursues

32:02.989 --> 32:05.211
at that level , it's pursuing a nuclear

32:05.211 --> 32:07.211
weapon . 100% of the countries that

32:07.211 --> 32:09.410
have reached 60% enrichment have then

32:09.770 --> 32:12.109
produced a nuclear weapon . Uh , and is

32:12.109 --> 32:14.430
it true that , that Iran was in the

32:14.430 --> 32:16.829
process of building such a swarm of

32:16.829 --> 32:18.859
UAVs and ballistic missile shield

32:18.859 --> 32:20.915
conventionally , once they wanted to

32:20.915 --> 32:23.081
bake the cake because they had all the

32:23.081 --> 32:25.359
ingredients to make the nuclear weapon ,

32:25.359 --> 32:24.859
it would have been near impossible for

32:24.859 --> 32:27.170
us or anyone else to prevent them . As

32:27.170 --> 32:29.281
I pointed to , the president was wise

32:29.281 --> 32:31.503
enough to understand that at a , at its

32:31.503 --> 32:33.726
weakest moment following the twelve-day

32:33.726 --> 32:35.726
War in Midnight Hammer , now is the

32:35.726 --> 32:37.670
time to degrade their conventional

32:37.670 --> 32:37.369
capabilities , the umbrella they were

32:37.369 --> 32:39.369
building of missiles , long range ,

32:39.369 --> 32:41.609
short range cruise missiles , one-way

32:41.609 --> 32:43.720
attack drones that they were going to

32:43.720 --> 32:45.831
use to blackmail the countries around

32:45.831 --> 32:47.831
them to not do anything about their

32:47.831 --> 32:49.831
nuclear . Nuclear program when they

32:49.831 --> 32:52.053
broke out from 60% . We know that to be

32:52.053 --> 32:51.635
a , they knew that to be their

32:51.635 --> 32:53.802
intention and something had to be done

32:53.802 --> 32:55.968
about it , and President Trump had the

32:55.968 --> 32:55.875
courage to do it . Well , President

32:55.875 --> 32:58.042
Trump , there's been a lot of quotes ,

32:58.042 --> 33:00.153
uh , that people have been mentioning

33:00.153 --> 33:00.114
in his words , and I wanted to mention

33:00.114 --> 33:02.281
some that I thought were interesting .

33:02.281 --> 33:04.503
Here's a quote , I will take no options

33:04.503 --> 33:06.447
off the table to prevent Iran from

33:06.447 --> 33:08.447
obtaining a nuclear weapon . Barack

33:08.447 --> 33:10.558
Obama . Iran will never get a nuclear

33:10.558 --> 33:12.447
weapon , Joe Biden . I will never

33:12.447 --> 33:14.281
hesitate to take whatever action

33:14.281 --> 33:16.503
necessary , and I will never allow Iran

33:16.503 --> 33:16.219
to acquire nuclear weapons . All

33:16.219 --> 33:18.108
options are on the table , Kamala

33:18.108 --> 33:20.260
Harris , and this one . We would

33:20.260 --> 33:22.204
totally obliterate Iran . That's a

33:22.204 --> 33:24.093
terrible thing to say , but those

33:24.093 --> 33:26.260
people who run Iran need to understand

33:26.260 --> 33:28.371
that . Hillary Clinton , 2008 . So it

33:28.371 --> 33:30.593
seems to me that Barack Obama , Hillary

33:30.593 --> 33:32.704
Clinton , Joe Biden , Kamala Harris ,

33:32.704 --> 33:34.593
and Donald Trump had something in

33:34.593 --> 33:34.420
common . They weren't going to allow

33:34.420 --> 33:36.642
Iran to get a nuclear weapon , and some

33:36.642 --> 33:38.698
of them , 4 of them were all words ,

33:38.698 --> 33:40.809
and one of them took action . There's

33:40.809 --> 33:42.920
93 million , we're involved in a land

33:42.920 --> 33:42.589
war in Asia . I get it , it's

33:42.589 --> 33:46.109
complicated . 93 million people , much

33:46.109 --> 33:48.510
larger than Iraq , but 80% of their

33:48.510 --> 33:50.566
country hates their guts . This is a

33:50.566 --> 33:52.677
regime that murdered 40,000 of them ,

33:52.677 --> 33:54.566
gunned them down in the streets .

33:54.566 --> 33:56.399
They're responsible for over 600

33:56.399 --> 33:59.540
American deaths . Uh How long was World

33:59.540 --> 34:01.651
War Two ? Do you have any idea ? Uh ,

34:01.651 --> 34:03.873
in days ? I , I have it right here . In

34:03.873 --> 34:05.984
days exactly . I got it multiplied by

34:05.984 --> 34:08.096
365 , but it's 1,347 days . Korea was

34:08.096 --> 34:11.199
1,1,129 , and our involvement in World

34:11.199 --> 34:13.310
War One , which is rather quick , was

34:13.310 --> 34:15.620
585 . How long we've been involved in

34:15.620 --> 34:19.608
Iran ? I'm just shy of 660

34:19.608 --> 34:22.289
days , 60 days , 2 months . And what is

34:22.289 --> 34:24.622
the degradation of their navy right now ,

34:24.622 --> 34:26.733
Secretary ? Uh , their conventional ,

34:26.733 --> 34:28.845
conventional navy is destroyed . They

34:28.845 --> 34:31.011
had , uh , 3 drone aircraft carriers .

34:31.011 --> 34:33.345
They have none . They had 11 submarines ,

34:33.345 --> 34:35.122
they had none . They had , uh ,

34:35.122 --> 34:37.233
different frigate classes , they have

34:37.233 --> 34:39.345
none . They may have small speedboats

34:39.345 --> 34:38.949
at this point , Coast Guard type

34:38.949 --> 34:41.060
vessels , but their conventional navy

34:41.060 --> 34:43.171
is gone . Air Force . Likewise , uh ,

34:43.171 --> 34:45.227
functionally destroyed . Command and

34:45.227 --> 34:47.227
control , uh , they , it's hard for

34:47.227 --> 34:49.171
them . It's , there's a reason why

34:49.171 --> 34:50.727
there's a challenge in , in

34:50.727 --> 34:52.893
communicating around a deal is because

34:52.893 --> 34:52.409
their command and control is

34:52.409 --> 34:54.631
fundamentally broken as far as who's in

34:54.631 --> 34:56.780
control and how they communicate . We

34:56.780 --> 35:00.129
could make very good arguments that the

35:00.129 --> 35:02.100
serious nature of any action in a

35:02.100 --> 35:04.100
country like Iran , there's , there

35:04.100 --> 35:06.100
were good things to consider before

35:06.100 --> 35:08.156
doing it . There were also very good

35:08.156 --> 35:10.500
reasons to do it . The fact of the

35:10.500 --> 35:12.444
matter is , ladies and gentlemen ,

35:12.444 --> 35:14.611
Republicans and Democrats , we're here

35:14.611 --> 35:16.830
now . This is an evil regime . We can

35:16.830 --> 35:19.110
fundamentally reshape not only that the

35:19.110 --> 35:21.277
region , but the world . They were the

35:21.277 --> 35:22.999
largest exporter of terror and

35:22.999 --> 35:24.999
ballistic missile technologies . We

35:24.999 --> 35:28.280
need gentlemen to win . Secretary

35:28.280 --> 35:31.100
General Kaine , when I yield back .

35:31.399 --> 35:33.621
Gentlemen , yields back . Chair , and I

35:33.621 --> 35:33.459
recognize the gentleman from

35:33.459 --> 35:35.792
Pennsylvania , Mr . Deluzio . Thank you ,

35:35.792 --> 35:37.959
Mr . Chairman . Uh , we all just heard

35:37.989 --> 35:40.030
pretty powerful reporting , uh ,

35:40.120 --> 35:42.287
courtesy of Mr . Ryan , uh , from many

35:42.287 --> 35:44.520
of our wounded troops who were injured

35:44.520 --> 35:47.050
in the attack in Kuwait . Uh , Mr .

35:47.070 --> 35:49.070
Secretary , you heard direct quotes

35:49.070 --> 35:51.014
from some of them , uh , via CBS's

35:51.014 --> 35:53.126
reporting . They were willing to talk

35:53.126 --> 35:55.181
to the press , things like they were

35:55.181 --> 35:57.292
unprepared to provide any defense for

35:57.292 --> 35:59.860
themselves in the unit . Things like We

35:59.860 --> 36:01.971
were moved closer to Iran to a deeply

36:01.971 --> 36:04.082
unsafe area that was a known target .

36:05.010 --> 36:07.689
Your spokesperson , Sean Parnell , in

36:07.689 --> 36:09.856
response to that reporting said it was

36:10.050 --> 36:12.719
not true . Do you agree with that ? He

36:12.719 --> 36:15.409
was calling these guys liars ? Um , I'm

36:15.409 --> 36:17.600
not calling our troops liars , and I

36:17.600 --> 36:19.767
don't know if what you're representing

36:19.767 --> 36:21.933
is , is correct or not . I'll take you

36:21.933 --> 36:24.044
at your word on that , but all I know

36:24.044 --> 36:26.156
is that we took every effort possible

36:26.156 --> 36:28.378
at the commencement of this campaign to

36:28.378 --> 36:27.770
ensure the defense of our troops , to

36:27.770 --> 36:30.870
include moving them off of known bases

36:30.969 --> 36:33.136
to places that were not known , and we

36:33.136 --> 36:35.247
had intelligence understood that that

36:35.247 --> 36:37.302
were not known , and then those were

36:37.302 --> 36:37.090
fortified with bunkers and other

36:37.090 --> 36:38.868
fortifications with theater air

36:38.868 --> 36:41.090
defenses was our concern that something

36:41.090 --> 36:43.257
could . I'm gonna , I'm gonna give you

36:43.257 --> 36:44.923
a chance , I'm gonna , you're

36:44.923 --> 36:47.090
disparaging me that I don't care . I'm

36:47.090 --> 36:46.685
asking you whether you think they're

36:46.685 --> 36:48.741
liars or not . That's what I asked .

36:48.741 --> 36:50.741
You are disparaging me that I don't

36:50.741 --> 36:50.475
care about the passing of our troops .

36:50.544 --> 36:52.655
Nope , I asked if you thought they're

36:52.655 --> 36:54.822
liars . Terry . That's disparaging and

36:54.822 --> 36:56.877
smearing in every way . Nobody cares

36:56.877 --> 36:58.877
more about the fate of our troops .

36:58.877 --> 37:00.933
Nobody cares about the health of our

37:00.933 --> 37:00.715
troops . Nobody wants to bring them all

37:00.715 --> 37:03.314
hope more than I . I understand , but

37:03.314 --> 37:05.554
he controls the time . He controls the

37:05.554 --> 37:07.915
time . You get to control your answer .

37:08.370 --> 37:10.592
And the gentleman's if we're allowed to

37:10.592 --> 37:12.648
answer , Mr . Chairman , thank you ,

37:12.648 --> 37:14.537
Secretary . My question was clear

37:14.537 --> 37:16.703
whether you thought they were liars or

37:16.703 --> 37:16.010
not . You don't seem to want to answer

37:16.010 --> 37:18.250
it . We can move on . The other part of

37:18.250 --> 37:20.472
what your spokesman said , and you just

37:20.472 --> 37:22.417
reiterated here was that , and I'm

37:22.417 --> 37:24.639
quoting your spokesman , every possible

37:24.639 --> 37:26.861
measure has been taken to safeguard our

37:26.861 --> 37:28.972
troops , end quote . You mean to tell

37:28.972 --> 37:31.139
us , let's , I'll give you a chance to

37:31.139 --> 37:32.917
clarify , there is not a single

37:32.917 --> 37:32.649
additional thing you could have done to

37:32.649 --> 37:34.482
protect those troops who are now

37:34.482 --> 37:36.429
wounded , 6 of whom are dead . I'm

37:36.429 --> 37:38.870
telling you that as a department , we

37:38.870 --> 37:41.270
did every conceivable thing at my level

37:41.270 --> 37:44.389
and every echelon down . To ensure the

37:44.389 --> 37:46.722
maximum force protection for our troops ,

37:46.722 --> 37:48.833
we live in a , in a dangerous world ,

37:48.833 --> 37:50.556
in a dangerous place against a

37:50.556 --> 37:52.500
determined enemy that can't have a

37:52.500 --> 37:52.340
nuclear weapon , and that requires

37:52.340 --> 37:54.540
sacrifice and risk . And it , it

37:54.540 --> 37:56.760
tragically in this case , it meant 6

37:56.760 --> 37:58.871
Americans lost their lives and others

37:58.871 --> 38:01.038
were wounded , and I , and we all know

38:01.038 --> 38:03.038
that , and we all . That's , that's

38:03.038 --> 38:03.030
part of the cost , but it does not mean

38:03.030 --> 38:04.919
we didn't care , and it doesn't ,

38:04.919 --> 38:07.086
doesn't mean we didn't commit you . It

38:07.086 --> 38:09.197
doesn't mean we didn'tt do everything

38:09.197 --> 38:08.610
possible , which we did . But what I ,

38:08.679 --> 38:10.735
let's be clear about what was done .

38:10.735 --> 38:12.790
There were T-was there essentially .

38:12.790 --> 38:14.957
There was no overhead protection . The

38:14.957 --> 38:14.949
known threat in that environment , and

38:14.949 --> 38:17.116
I think we all here understand it , is

38:17.116 --> 38:19.171
overhead drone strike . There was no

38:19.171 --> 38:21.393
protection for overhead drone strikes .

38:21.393 --> 38:23.393
So I'm struggling to understand how

38:23.393 --> 38:25.393
your and your spokesman's answer is

38:25.393 --> 38:27.616
that every possible measure was taken .

38:27.616 --> 38:29.727
We can move on , um , Mr . Chairman .

38:29.727 --> 38:29.699
Uh , Chairman Kane , I wanna ask you

38:29.699 --> 38:31.977
something about a different topic . Um ,

38:31.977 --> 38:34.032
folks at home know you're the senior

38:34.032 --> 38:36.310
military officer in our armed services .

38:36.310 --> 38:37.921
They may not have as much of

38:37.921 --> 38:40.143
understanding of your role in the chain

38:40.143 --> 38:39.489
of command . You're outside the

38:39.489 --> 38:41.656
operational chain of command , but you

38:41.656 --> 38:43.878
are the president's and the secretary's

38:43.878 --> 38:45.933
senior military advisor . So I wanna

38:45.933 --> 38:48.156
ask a very basic thing , what you would

38:48.156 --> 38:50.267
expect our commanders in the , in the

38:50.267 --> 38:52.550
field , uh , our troops to do should

38:52.770 --> 38:54.826
the enemy lay down their weapons and

38:54.826 --> 38:56.714
try to surrender ? What would you

38:56.714 --> 38:58.881
expect commanders in the field to do ?

38:59.620 --> 39:01.739
Well , sir , I think , um , I'll go

39:01.739 --> 39:03.850
back to something I said earlier with

39:03.850 --> 39:06.820
deep respect for your question , but I

39:06.820 --> 39:08.931
think you're trying to , uh , take me

39:08.931 --> 39:11.300
to a partisan place here , and I can't

39:11.300 --> 39:13.244
let you do that , General . I , as

39:13.244 --> 39:15.467
always , I respect your desire to avoid

39:15.467 --> 39:17.467
it . I'm not trying to put you in a

39:17.467 --> 39:19.689
partisan , no , no , and I , and I know

39:19.689 --> 39:19.090
that , but I , you know , our , our ,

39:19.139 --> 39:21.540
uh , our officers and , and enlisted

39:21.540 --> 39:23.596
service members always follow lawful

39:23.596 --> 39:25.707
orders . There's a checklist for them

39:25.707 --> 39:28.389
to do that , and And , uh , I , I just ,

39:28.419 --> 39:30.752
uh , I , I'll , I'll stay in the middle .

39:30.879 --> 39:33.101
understood , General Secretary , let me

39:33.101 --> 39:35.101
give you a chance , and you've been

39:35.101 --> 39:35.040
asked about this earlier and you said

39:35.040 --> 39:37.096
in , I think your press conference ,

39:37.096 --> 39:39.318
essentially , and I'll quote you here ,

39:39.318 --> 39:41.540
no quarter , no mercy for our enemies .

39:41.929 --> 39:44.040
That's the end of the quote . Is your

39:44.040 --> 39:46.889
guidance that you expect our troops in

39:46.889 --> 39:49.229
harm's way if there's a foreign enemy

39:49.449 --> 39:51.671
surrendering , laying down their arms ,

39:51.671 --> 39:53.838
they're supposed to provide no quarter

39:53.838 --> 39:56.050
and kill them ? Um , you denied it ,

39:56.209 --> 39:58.376
but you were indeed trying to take the

39:58.376 --> 40:00.598
chairman to a partisan place . That was

40:00.598 --> 40:02.765
General Milley . That was the previous

40:02.765 --> 40:04.931
administration which played politics .

40:04.931 --> 40:04.439
We don't play that . It's a simple

40:04.439 --> 40:06.606
question . I , I'm asking you what you

40:06.606 --> 40:08.828
meant to win and we ensure the rules of

40:08.828 --> 40:08.530
engagements are such that our , that

40:08.530 --> 40:10.308
our troops have every authority

40:10.308 --> 40:12.308
possible to . I'll give you another

40:12.308 --> 40:14.474
chance . Do you , in saying that , are

40:14.474 --> 40:16.419
you trying to tell commanders that

40:16.419 --> 40:16.260
that's what you expect ? You're in the

40:16.260 --> 40:18.979
chain of command . It's a simple

40:18.979 --> 40:20.757
question . I understand that my

40:20.757 --> 40:22.590
commanders know exactly what the

40:22.590 --> 40:24.923
guidance is with each and every mission ,

40:24.923 --> 40:23.739
and they know every tool tool in

40:23.739 --> 40:26.020
refusing to be affected it . I think

40:26.020 --> 40:28.076
you speak volumes . I think that's a

40:28.076 --> 40:29.964
dangerous thing . We all know the

40:29.964 --> 40:32.187
expectations . We know the law of war .

40:32.187 --> 40:34.409
We know what is lawful . I'd expect our

40:34.409 --> 40:36.631
commanders to understand that as well .

40:36.631 --> 40:35.669
I yield back , Mr . Chairman .

40:35.739 --> 40:37.961
Gentleman , yields back . Chair , and I

40:37.961 --> 40:40.128
recognize a gentleman from Guam , Mr .

40:40.128 --> 40:44.080
Moylan . Thank you , thank

40:44.080 --> 40:46.302
you , Mr . Chairman , Secretary Head of

40:46.302 --> 40:48.469
Staff , thank you for your continued ,

40:48.469 --> 40:50.247
uh , attention to Guam . Really

40:50.247 --> 40:52.469
appreciate it and while leading the War

40:52.469 --> 40:54.636
Department here and I'd like to remind

40:54.636 --> 40:56.747
my colleagues , uh , that one of your

40:56.747 --> 40:58.858
first official trips as secretary was

40:58.858 --> 41:01.000
to visit Guam and during your

41:01.000 --> 41:03.222
confirmation hearing you identified the

41:03.222 --> 41:05.320
island as America's most strategic .

41:06.149 --> 41:08.889
Location globally and this commitment

41:09.149 --> 41:11.205
does not go unnoticed sir so I thank

41:11.205 --> 41:14.179
you , Mr . Secretary for that . And as

41:14.179 --> 41:16.401
we continue our build up , uh , for the

41:16.401 --> 41:18.580
defense of our nation in Guam and the

41:18.580 --> 41:21.800
people of Guam , uh , as we have many ,

41:21.979 --> 41:24.090
uh , active duties personnel , but we

41:24.090 --> 41:26.146
also have a lot of Department of War

41:26.146 --> 41:28.201
civilian personnel too and right now

41:28.201 --> 41:30.257
one of our most consistent , my most

41:30.257 --> 41:31.812
consistent question from my

41:31.812 --> 41:34.459
constituents have been asking is when

41:34.459 --> 41:36.515
would the Living Quarridor Allowance

41:36.515 --> 41:38.348
authorization for War Department

41:38.348 --> 41:40.739
civilians in Guam . When will it be

41:40.739 --> 41:42.906
implemented ? And recently your office

41:42.906 --> 41:45.017
confirmed that the guidance should be

41:45.017 --> 41:47.370
published early May . Will you work to

41:47.370 --> 41:49.592
keep that timeline and will you work to

41:49.592 --> 41:51.648
ensure living quarter allowance will

41:51.648 --> 41:54.419
properly incentivize local hires to

41:54.419 --> 41:57.449
stay on Guam ? Well , if that's what we

41:57.449 --> 41:59.449
stated , we need to stick with it .

41:59.449 --> 42:01.505
That's been our pledge . And , and I

42:01.505 --> 42:03.671
think , uh , it reiterates that , uh ,

42:03.671 --> 42:05.782
the , the amount we're paying on , on

42:05.782 --> 42:07.893
to pay for housing and for quality of

42:07.893 --> 42:07.600
life and living at certain special

42:07.600 --> 42:09.790
unique locations is usually mismatched

42:09.790 --> 42:12.169
and it causes staffing and workforce

42:12.169 --> 42:14.391
problems that we need to address . In a

42:14.391 --> 42:16.613
tailored nature to some of those unique

42:16.613 --> 42:18.836
locations like Guam , like Hawaii , and

42:18.836 --> 42:21.113
others in , in Europe . So yes , we're ,

42:21.113 --> 42:23.225
we're committed to that , and I would

42:23.225 --> 42:23.169
just note that in our budget we've got

42:23.169 --> 42:25.280
almost a billion for the Guam defense

42:25.280 --> 42:27.613
system . Also , we're investing in , uh ,

42:27.613 --> 42:29.669
ensuring that that critical location

42:29.669 --> 42:31.558
you described is , is part of our

42:31.558 --> 42:33.613
theater umbrella . Excellent , sir .

42:33.613 --> 42:35.780
Thank you for that . Uh , another long

42:35.780 --> 42:38.250
standing request I have from the War

42:38.250 --> 42:40.139
Department has been the increased

42:40.139 --> 42:42.610
support for Guam's power grid . As you

42:42.610 --> 42:45.090
know , we all , uh , the one island

42:45.090 --> 42:47.201
approach there and working together ,

42:47.201 --> 42:50.250
our water , our power , our port , our

42:50.250 --> 42:52.929
airports , our hospital , it's all in

42:52.929 --> 42:55.250
support , uh , working together with

42:55.250 --> 42:57.083
the military . Well , one of the

42:57.083 --> 42:59.610
important ones , uh , for us is , uh ,

42:59.729 --> 43:03.060
Guam's . Um , power grid , and most of

43:03.060 --> 43:05.227
Guam's grid is owned by the department

43:05.340 --> 43:07.118
and is leased to the Guam Power

43:07.118 --> 43:09.379
Authority and as it , as the military

43:09.379 --> 43:12.050
demands , uh , upon the power grid

43:12.050 --> 43:15.149
increases , do you see either

43:15.149 --> 43:18.540
ONM funds or military construction

43:18.540 --> 43:21.139
funds being the best path for the

43:21.139 --> 43:24.100
department to support Guam's power grid

43:24.100 --> 43:25.830
needs ? I

43:29.060 --> 43:31.004
I'd welcome your input , first and

43:31.004 --> 43:33.116
foremost as we have throughout . Um ,

43:33.116 --> 43:35.100
but as was noted , we've got 450

43:35.100 --> 43:37.156
million for small modular reactors ,

43:37.156 --> 43:39.156
which is a , a , a , a new approach

43:39.156 --> 43:41.378
we're taking , which we think makes our

43:41.378 --> 43:43.489
bases more resilient . If there's one

43:43.489 --> 43:45.822
place the American people count on , uh ,

43:45.822 --> 43:47.711
being able to be prepared in that

43:47.711 --> 43:49.822
moment , it's our bases wherever they

43:49.822 --> 43:51.989
are , whether Kus or Oconis , uh , and

43:51.989 --> 43:54.100
these , these reactors are a key part

43:54.100 --> 43:56.100
of getting at it . So that would be

43:56.100 --> 43:55.090
part of how I would answer your

43:55.090 --> 43:57.090
question . I appreciate that , Mr .

43:57.090 --> 43:58.979
Secretary . Also , the Guam Power

43:58.979 --> 44:01.146
Authority is the only one in charge of

44:01.146 --> 44:03.257
all the transmission lines , so we're

44:03.257 --> 44:05.312
that power source , and I know there

44:05.312 --> 44:07.312
was some consideration of the small

44:07.312 --> 44:09.257
nuclear reactors as well , but the

44:09.257 --> 44:11.034
power authority will be the one

44:11.034 --> 44:12.590
transmitting , uh , for the

44:12.590 --> 44:14.812
transmission lines for all the power on

44:14.812 --> 44:16.757
the island . So looking forward to

44:16.757 --> 44:18.923
working with your office . Thank you ,

44:18.923 --> 44:20.889
Mr . Secretary . Um , another deep

44:20.889 --> 44:23.111
concern for the people of Guam has been

44:23.111 --> 44:25.167
the cost of housing , which is often

44:25.167 --> 44:26.833
driven up by large numbers of

44:26.833 --> 44:29.840
servicemen living on base in Guam , off

44:29.840 --> 44:32.007
base on Guam , and I've been impressed

44:32.007 --> 44:34.229
by the recent efforts by Joint Regional

44:34.229 --> 44:36.689
Maryana to reduce the reliance on

44:36.689 --> 44:39.370
existing housing stock in both north

44:39.370 --> 44:42.250
and , uh , south of Guam . Can you tell

44:42.250 --> 44:44.729
us how department housing . Uh ,

44:44.780 --> 44:47.580
strategy in Guam will work to keep

44:47.580 --> 44:51.290
homes affordable to locals and if , uh ,

44:51.379 --> 44:53.219
and if increased private sector

44:53.219 --> 44:55.729
involvement would help address my

44:55.729 --> 44:58.379
constituents' concerns . Well , we've

44:58.379 --> 45:00.810
got about 4.5 billion for family

45:00.810 --> 45:02.939
housing in the FY 27 budget . It's

45:02.939 --> 45:05.050
something we recognize as a challenge

45:05.050 --> 45:06.995
and in places like that , a unique

45:06.995 --> 45:09.161
challenge . Uh , there's also been a .

45:09.161 --> 45:10.883
Uh , construction bureaucratic

45:10.883 --> 45:12.995
construction process which has been a

45:12.995 --> 45:12.669
huge impediment and you can imagine

45:12.669 --> 45:14.891
President Trump has demanded that we do

45:14.891 --> 45:16.947
something different and accelerate a

45:16.947 --> 45:18.891
different process to deliver those

45:18.891 --> 45:21.058
things in a more of a private sector ,

45:21.058 --> 45:20.750
less bureaucratic fashion , and we look

45:20.750 --> 45:23.028
forward to employing those . Excellent ,

45:23.028 --> 45:25.250
sir . And , and finally we did have one

45:25.250 --> 45:27.417
discussion when we first met in Guam ,

45:27.417 --> 45:29.694
uh , regarding the Medal of Honor , um ,

45:29.694 --> 45:31.861
possible recipients that are deserving

45:31.861 --> 45:34.030
of this . Now Guam has never had any

45:34.030 --> 45:37.129
Medal of Honor . Uh , recipients , and

45:37.129 --> 45:39.370
there's 33 names that we gentleman's

45:39.370 --> 45:41.689
time's expired . Thank you . Uh , I

45:41.689 --> 45:43.745
would like to point out , you know ,

45:43.745 --> 45:45.856
once I recognize a member , they have

45:45.856 --> 45:47.856
control of that 5 minutes . If they

45:47.856 --> 45:49.967
wanna give a speech , they can give a

45:49.967 --> 45:52.133
speech . If they wanna ask questions ,

45:52.133 --> 45:54.356
they can ask questions . But if you ask

45:54.356 --> 45:56.522
a question , I would hope you give the

45:56.522 --> 45:58.522
witness a chance to answer . But if

45:58.522 --> 46:00.633
they choose not to , then the witness

46:00.633 --> 46:00.620
has to recognize it's their time and

46:00.959 --> 46:03.126
cut it off and go back to them . But I

46:03.126 --> 46:05.237
want to stick , sorry . I , I want us

46:05.237 --> 46:07.403
to be able to respectful of each other

46:07.403 --> 46:09.237
and be able to , to make sure we

46:09.237 --> 46:11.237
maximize the use of this time . But

46:11.237 --> 46:13.292
everybody has to understand it's the

46:13.292 --> 46:15.515
member's 5 minutes . Uh , once , once I

46:15.515 --> 46:14.469
recognize the ranking member want to

46:14.469 --> 46:16.580
offer something ? Yeah , I just wanna

46:16.580 --> 46:18.580
second that . Yeah , it is members'

46:18.580 --> 46:18.080
time . I do hope members , you know ,

46:18.370 --> 46:20.520
you do ask a question . Got to allow

46:20.520 --> 46:22.742
for more than two words , uh , yes , if

46:22.742 --> 46:24.687
the filibuster or don't answer the

46:24.687 --> 46:26.909
question . Feel free to interrupt , but

46:26.909 --> 46:29.076
I hope we can keep this respectful and

46:29.076 --> 46:28.719
it's more productive for us and , and

46:28.719 --> 46:30.497
for the witnesses and for those

46:30.497 --> 46:32.663
watching . So thank you , Mr . Chair .

46:32.663 --> 46:34.552
And with that we will recognize a

46:34.552 --> 46:36.663
gentle lady from Hawaii , Mr . Kuda .

46:36.663 --> 46:38.719
Thank you , Mr . Chair . On February

46:38.719 --> 46:40.775
2nd , President Trump said we should

46:40.775 --> 46:42.775
take over the voting in at least 15

46:42.775 --> 46:44.663
places . The Republicans ought to

46:44.663 --> 46:46.608
nationalize the voting despite the

46:46.608 --> 46:48.330
Constitution assigning primary

46:48.330 --> 46:48.254
responsibility for election . To the

46:48.254 --> 46:50.774
states , federal law also draws very

46:50.774 --> 46:53.094
clear limits under 18 US Code Section

46:53.094 --> 46:56.195
592 . Military officers are prohibited

46:56.415 --> 46:58.137
from deploying troops or armed

46:58.137 --> 47:00.175
personnel to polling places unless

47:00.175 --> 47:02.655
necessary to repel armed enemies of the

47:02.655 --> 47:04.955
United States . That is this exception ,

47:05.094 --> 47:07.534
not politics , not suspicion , not

47:07.534 --> 47:10.185
conspiracy theories , armed enemies .

47:10.574 --> 47:12.463
Secretary Heg said , do you think

47:12.463 --> 47:14.407
American voters are enemies of the

47:14.407 --> 47:16.574
United States ? Simple yes or no would

47:16.574 --> 47:19.649
suffice . Um , I think , uh , legal

47:19.649 --> 47:21.816
voters , I think everybody who's legal

47:21.816 --> 47:23.982
should vote . Yes , so American voters

47:23.982 --> 47:26.149
are not enemies of the United States .

47:26.149 --> 47:28.371
Yes , you're agreeing with me . I think

47:28.371 --> 47:30.538
America's legal citizens should vote .

47:30.538 --> 47:32.538
Yes . How many armed enemies of the

47:32.538 --> 47:32.120
United States have attempted to

47:32.120 --> 47:33.953
interfere in the last election ?

47:36.760 --> 47:39.219
Um , can you recall any time when armed

47:39.219 --> 47:41.386
enemies of the United States attempted

47:41.386 --> 47:43.386
to fear in the last election or the

47:43.386 --> 47:45.969
2020 election ? We just had the King of

47:45.969 --> 47:48.770
England here that a while ago , but 250

47:48.770 --> 47:51.649
years ago . OK , very good . All right ,

47:51.770 --> 47:53.992
well , Secretary Heck said if President

47:53.992 --> 47:56.103
Trump ordered you to deploy troops to

47:56.103 --> 47:57.992
polling places during the midterm

47:57.992 --> 47:59.881
elections this fall , which would

47:59.881 --> 48:01.937
violate the law I just cited , would

48:01.937 --> 48:04.048
you implement his order ? Yes or no ?

48:04.129 --> 48:06.351
What you're trying to insinuate is that

48:06.351 --> 48:08.240
the president would give unlawful

48:08.240 --> 48:10.185
orders and we would somehow deploy

48:10.185 --> 48:12.296
troops as a result , and the evidence

48:12.296 --> 48:11.919
of our department is that we've worked

48:11.919 --> 48:13.641
alongside law enforcement very

48:13.641 --> 48:15.697
effectively for 15 months . Uh , Los

48:15.697 --> 48:17.919
Angeles would have been on fire for the

48:17.919 --> 48:20.030
summer had we not come across . I , I

48:20.030 --> 48:22.197
disagree with that , but this is not a

48:22.197 --> 48:21.639
hypothetical situation that I'm

48:21.639 --> 48:23.806
inferring on your president in January

48:23.806 --> 48:25.861
of this year told the New York Times

48:25.861 --> 48:27.806
that he regretted not ordering the

48:27.806 --> 48:30.028
National Guard to seize voting machines

48:30.028 --> 48:32.250
in key states after the 2020 election .

48:32.250 --> 48:34.417
Last I heard . Heard from you the last

48:34.417 --> 48:36.528
time we had any kind of armed enemies

48:36.528 --> 48:38.583
at any type of voting places was 250

48:38.583 --> 48:40.750
years ago . We're talking 2020 . So if

48:40.750 --> 48:42.695
the president again I'm asking you

48:42.695 --> 48:44.528
orders you to break election law

48:44.528 --> 48:46.695
violate the constitution and the law ,

48:46.695 --> 48:48.639
would you follow the orders of the

48:48.639 --> 48:50.861
president ? Yes or no ? The president ,

48:50.861 --> 48:52.917
uh , uh , you like to insinuate that

48:52.917 --> 48:55.083
the president issued orders hasn't and

48:55.083 --> 48:55.020
does not . Who would you follow , the

48:55.020 --> 48:57.187
president or the constitution ? I will

48:57.187 --> 48:59.610
note that in 2024 troops were Joe Biden ,

48:59.659 --> 49:01.881
by the way , Joe Biden were deployed to

49:01.881 --> 49:04.103
polling locations in 15 states . 2024 ,

49:04.149 --> 49:06.280
Joe Biden troops deployed . Polling

49:06.280 --> 49:08.391
locations in 15 states . Explain that

49:08.391 --> 49:10.639
one to me . I am asking you a question

49:10.639 --> 49:12.972
now . You seem to really like Joe Biden .

49:13.000 --> 49:15.056
You've brought his name up more than

49:15.056 --> 49:18.000
many other topics today . Answer the

49:18.000 --> 49:20.333
question . Who are you beholden to , Mr .

49:20.333 --> 49:22.167
Secretary , the president of the

49:22.167 --> 49:24.820
Constitution ? Well , I can't answer

49:24.820 --> 49:26.987
that question , very proudly served as

49:26.987 --> 49:28.987
president , I very proudly swear an

49:28.987 --> 49:30.820
oath . Billy's in the leg in Los

49:30.820 --> 49:30.770
Angeles , he couldn't answer that

49:30.770 --> 49:32.937
either . So I think our answer is very

49:32.937 --> 49:34.881
clear . Obviously you have taken a

49:34.881 --> 49:37.048
loath of loyalty only to the president

49:37.048 --> 49:39.103
and not the people of this country .

49:39.103 --> 49:41.270
Let's move on now and let's talk about

49:41.270 --> 49:43.326
AI , the Marvin Smart System , which

49:43.326 --> 49:45.326
appears to be the program on record

49:45.326 --> 49:47.548
being . Used in Iran does the targeting

49:47.548 --> 49:49.770
work we know of about 2,000s called the

49:49.770 --> 49:51.937
Maven system , not the Marvin system .

49:51.937 --> 49:53.714
me . Thank you so much for that

49:53.714 --> 49:55.826
correction . It does it in a fraction

49:55.826 --> 49:55.235
of the time . The intention was to

49:55.235 --> 49:57.124
compress the kill chain , and the

49:57.124 --> 49:59.346
result was an attack that killed almost

49:59.346 --> 50:01.346
200 children . Would you agree that

50:01.346 --> 50:03.995
tragic actions like this prove that

50:03.995 --> 50:07.800
when we trade time . And humans

50:07.800 --> 50:09.719
for safety , people die .

50:12.320 --> 50:15.080
Uh , the Maven system is a very

50:15.080 --> 50:17.770
effective tool , uh , and inside that

50:17.770 --> 50:21.530
we use , we have very , Prescriptive

50:21.530 --> 50:24.540
processes by which we ensure , uh , as

50:24.540 --> 50:26.651
much precision as humanly possible in

50:26.651 --> 50:28.873
very complex battlefield . So you think

50:28.873 --> 50:30.984
we took every absolute effort to make

50:30.984 --> 50:33.040
sure that innocent civilians did not

50:33.040 --> 50:35.207
die in this attack . I know that there

50:35.207 --> 50:37.151
is no country on planet Earth that

50:37.151 --> 50:39.096
takes more measures to ensure that

50:39.096 --> 50:41.151
civilian harm or civilian casualties

50:41.151 --> 50:43.373
are minimized than the United States of

50:43.373 --> 50:43.219
America and this War Department , and

50:43.219 --> 50:45.552
that is a fact . OK . And yet , uh , Mr .

50:45.659 --> 50:47.381
Secretary , you eliminated the

50:47.381 --> 50:49.437
Department's civilian harm reduction

50:49.437 --> 50:51.603
staff . You eliminate it for a country

50:51.603 --> 50:53.939
that does takes great efforts , makes

50:53.939 --> 50:55.772
great efforts to make sure human

50:55.772 --> 50:58.909
casualties are reduced or eliminated ,

50:59.540 --> 51:01.762
don't you think that that goes actually

51:01.762 --> 51:03.873
counter to what you just said ? Would

51:03.873 --> 51:05.929
these children not still be alive if

51:05.929 --> 51:07.929
you had not eliminated all of these

51:07.929 --> 51:10.110
staff working within CENTCOM ? Um , we

51:10.110 --> 51:12.166
didn't eliminate them . We made sure

51:12.166 --> 51:14.110
that they , those things that they

51:14.110 --> 51:16.166
normally accomplish are at the field

51:16.166 --> 51:18.166
level , which they are , and all of

51:18.166 --> 51:20.277
these processes are in place at every

51:20.277 --> 51:20.070
level . Something clearly has failed ,

51:20.149 --> 51:22.629
whether it's our implementation of AI ,

51:22.750 --> 51:25.790
whether it's understanding our human

51:25.790 --> 51:27.957
dependence on AI . Would you not agree

51:27.957 --> 51:29.957
something failed because almost 200

51:29.957 --> 51:32.012
children died in Iran as a result of

51:32.012 --> 51:33.957
our bombing . Uh , you're , you're

51:33.957 --> 51:35.679
insinuating something where an

51:35.679 --> 51:37.901
investigation is not complete . General

51:37.901 --> 51:39.623
Lee's time's expired . She now

51:39.623 --> 51:39.370
recognizes the gentleman from Georgia ,

51:39.489 --> 51:42.189
Doctor McCormick . Thank you , Mr .

51:42.270 --> 51:46.239
Chair . Gentlemen , I'm uh Happy to

51:46.239 --> 51:48.406
have you here today and really excited

51:48.406 --> 51:50.461
about the things you've been able to

51:50.461 --> 51:52.572
accomplish , uh , just to , I'm gonna

51:52.572 --> 51:54.739
summarize this just sitting here for a

51:54.739 --> 51:56.795
few minutes listening to everybody .

51:56.795 --> 51:58.906
politicize what we've done . I'm just

51:58.906 --> 52:01.072
gonna break it down as best as I can ,

52:01.072 --> 52:03.072
and then I'm gonna let you answer a

52:03.072 --> 52:02.620
couple of questions . First of all ,

52:02.750 --> 52:04.750
just since the short period of time

52:05.149 --> 52:07.371
that the Trump administration has taken

52:07.371 --> 52:10.709
over , we've handed over . Control of

52:10.709 --> 52:12.876
Ukraine's destiny to Europe , where it

52:12.876 --> 52:16.350
belongs , uh , a conglomerate that has

52:16.350 --> 52:18.830
a $20 trillion economy versus a $2

52:18.830 --> 52:20.949
trillion Russian economy to actually

52:20.949 --> 52:22.949
take care of their own country in a

52:22.949 --> 52:25.149
very good way , their own continent .

52:25.810 --> 52:28.379
We've kept Iran , who has literally

52:28.379 --> 52:30.379
talked about raining down fire from

52:30.379 --> 52:32.435
heaven and talked about us being the

52:32.435 --> 52:34.546
great Satan , from becoming a nuclear

52:34.546 --> 52:36.768
power . We've reshaped the geopolitical

52:36.768 --> 52:38.657
space in the Persian Gulf . We've

52:38.657 --> 52:40.712
reestablished the Monroe Doctrine in

52:40.712 --> 52:42.435
the Western Hemisphere . We've

52:43.179 --> 52:46.610
basically . Executed two of the most

52:46.610 --> 52:50.250
amazing raids in history , uh , almost

52:50.250 --> 52:52.417
flawlessly , uh , that will be studied

52:52.417 --> 52:54.889
for a generation at least . Uh , we

52:54.889 --> 52:57.111
reduced senior administrative billets .

52:57.111 --> 53:00.050
Thank you . We've defeated Iran with

53:00.050 --> 53:03.989
under $30 billion spent . With minimal

53:04.270 --> 53:06.270
civilian casualties compared to any

53:06.270 --> 53:08.492
other war , people forget that in World

53:08.492 --> 53:10.603
War II , in one night we lost 100,000

53:10.603 --> 53:12.826
civilians , totally innocent , and fire

53:12.826 --> 53:15.048
bombings . That's before we dropped the

53:15.048 --> 53:17.381
nuclear bombs . War is a horrible thing ,

53:17.381 --> 53:19.492
but I think we've executed as best as

53:19.492 --> 53:21.770
possible in a in a very hard and

53:21.770 --> 53:23.992
consequential environment . That's just

53:23.992 --> 53:26.214
to sum up a few things , not to mention

53:26.214 --> 53:28.270
the recruiting that went from dismal

53:28.270 --> 53:30.326
and really something that could have

53:30.326 --> 53:32.492
crippled our military to now a surplus

53:32.492 --> 53:34.548
just by a change in administration .

53:34.548 --> 53:36.603
That's pretty impressive for a short

53:36.603 --> 53:38.548
period of time . Thank you , and I

53:38.548 --> 53:40.714
commend you for your , your hardship ,

53:40.714 --> 53:42.881
uh , overcoming those hardships . Um ,

53:42.881 --> 53:42.709
a couple of things that I wanted to get

53:42.709 --> 53:44.820
through . 11 thing is we talked about

53:44.820 --> 53:46.987
the incentivized saving Act , which is

53:46.987 --> 53:46.540
something I wanted to apply to all

53:46.540 --> 53:48.651
bureaucracies , but when I was in the

53:48.651 --> 53:50.873
military as both an operational officer

53:50.873 --> 53:52.596
and a logistics officer for my

53:52.596 --> 53:54.830
squadrons and my jump places , um , we

53:54.830 --> 53:56.941
got to the end of fiscal year . If we

53:56.941 --> 53:58.941
didn't spend it , what happens ? We

53:58.941 --> 54:00.997
lose it , we get our budget shrink .

54:00.997 --> 54:00.830
Everybody knows that in the military ,

54:01.040 --> 54:02.707
everybody knows that in every

54:02.707 --> 54:04.707
bureaucracy in America . One of the

54:04.707 --> 54:06.873
things I came up with is at the end of

54:06.873 --> 54:06.350
the fiscal year , if you don't spend it ,

54:06.510 --> 54:08.732
you don't have anything , you know , we

54:08.732 --> 54:10.954
saved 10% of our budget for emergencies

54:10.954 --> 54:13.010
like we're facing right now . If you

54:13.010 --> 54:12.949
don't spend it , instead of spending it .

54:13.820 --> 54:15.987
You actually can save half of it . 49%

54:15.987 --> 54:18.219
rolls over to the next year . 49% goes

54:18.219 --> 54:20.441
back to debt and deficit , 2% to reward

54:20.441 --> 54:21.886
the people for being good

54:21.886 --> 54:25.229
administrators of the money . I don't

54:25.229 --> 54:27.451
see any downside . This is the way that

54:27.451 --> 54:29.451
we reinvent government , the way we

54:29.451 --> 54:31.507
spend money , and I just thought , I

54:31.507 --> 54:33.618
wanted your opinion on something like

54:33.618 --> 54:32.629
that . I thought I was thinking outside

54:32.629 --> 54:34.796
the box because I've seen wage , fraud

54:34.796 --> 54:36.796
and abuse . We're trying to address

54:36.796 --> 54:38.740
that . This should be a bipartisan

54:38.740 --> 54:40.796
bicameral approach to actually doing

54:40.796 --> 54:43.129
something right as we expand the budget ,

54:43.129 --> 54:45.240
but also give us some wiggle room for

54:45.240 --> 54:44.939
putting money back and being good

54:44.939 --> 54:46.995
stewards of people's money . What do

54:46.995 --> 54:49.272
you think about an idea like that ? Um ,

54:49.272 --> 54:51.439
I like , I very much like an idea like

54:51.439 --> 54:53.383
that , which creates all the right

54:53.383 --> 54:55.550
kinds of incentives . And I would just

54:55.550 --> 54:54.949
add , in addition to that , which is

54:54.949 --> 54:57.060
the type of thing that our department

54:57.060 --> 54:59.116
would support , the , the deals that

54:59.116 --> 55:01.338
we're cutting with these private sector

55:01.338 --> 55:03.429
companies on munitions ensures they

55:03.429 --> 55:05.318
build the plants , they build the

55:05.318 --> 55:07.429
assembly lines , which is exactly the

55:07.429 --> 55:09.596
right kind of incentive . If you spend

55:09.596 --> 55:11.780
on cap on , uh , on , on facilities ,

55:11.949 --> 55:14.060
you're gonna make sure you make money

55:14.060 --> 55:16.171
on those facilities and the munitions

55:16.171 --> 55:18.227
that you produce . There's , there's

55:18.227 --> 55:18.100
ownership in that stake . There's the

55:18.100 --> 55:20.469
right incentive . The overturning the

55:20.469 --> 55:22.500
entire way the , the , the . The

55:22.500 --> 55:24.667
department does , uh , does business .

55:24.667 --> 55:26.778
So I agree with that . We're pointing

55:26.778 --> 55:28.778
at the defense contractors that the

55:28.778 --> 55:30.944
president has and saying , you need to

55:30.944 --> 55:30.770
do your , your business differently .

55:30.889 --> 55:32.722
This is not a gravy train of the

55:32.722 --> 55:34.778
government . You need to be , you're

55:34.850 --> 55:36.906
beholden to us actually . So I think

55:36.906 --> 55:39.017
we're , we're , the spirit of that is

55:39.017 --> 55:41.183
infused into everything we're doing at

55:41.183 --> 55:40.560
the department . And I think it's right

55:40.560 --> 55:42.727
in line with what you're talking about

55:42.727 --> 55:44.838
running it more like a business where

55:44.838 --> 55:46.671
we have accountability and we're

55:46.671 --> 55:45.810
pointed in the right direction . We do

55:45.810 --> 55:48.032
have a lot of old programs that we need

55:48.032 --> 55:50.199
to update . Um , one of the things you

55:50.199 --> 55:52.421
talked about is a 5 to 7-year period of

55:52.421 --> 55:54.588
time of updating . I think almost year

55:54.588 --> 55:53.919
by year now it's gonna be how we're

55:53.919 --> 55:55.919
gonna have to look at how we budget

55:55.919 --> 55:57.641
things in contract because the

55:57.641 --> 55:59.697
technologies are so dramatic as , as

55:59.697 --> 56:01.863
General Kane pointed out . Um , I know

56:01.863 --> 56:04.030
I'm running out of time real quickly ,

56:04.030 --> 56:06.308
but I wanna also revisit the fact that ,

56:06.308 --> 56:08.252
uh , you are still invited down to

56:08.252 --> 56:10.419
University of North Georgia . Uh , one

56:10.419 --> 56:10.229
of the Elite 8 schools , uh , we're

56:10.229 --> 56:12.118
looking forward to PTM with you .

56:12.118 --> 56:14.285
Appreciate you guys being here today .

56:14.285 --> 56:16.173
God bless you , and God bless our

56:16.173 --> 56:18.229
military service members with that ,

56:18.229 --> 56:20.451
sir . I gotta say this guy over my left

56:20.451 --> 56:19.899
shoulder is a University of North

56:19.899 --> 56:22.010
Georgia graduate . He doesn't want me

56:22.010 --> 56:24.590
to tell you that , but he is . The

56:24.590 --> 56:26.757
president would be very , uh , happy .

56:26.757 --> 56:28.923
The president of the university , he's

56:28.923 --> 56:31.146
great . President Shannon would be very

56:31.146 --> 56:30.290
happy to hear that . Miss time's

56:30.290 --> 56:32.179
expired . Chair , and I recognize

56:32.179 --> 56:34.234
gentleman from North Carolina , Mr .

56:34.234 --> 56:36.346
Davis . Uh , thank you , Mr . Chair .

56:36.346 --> 56:38.623
Uh , also , thank you , Mr . Secretary .

56:38.919 --> 56:41.199
Chairman McCain and Mr . Hurst , shout

56:41.199 --> 56:44.409
out to Winterville . 13 US service

56:44.409 --> 56:47.949
members killed , 13 families . Forever

56:47.949 --> 56:50.540
changed . 13 heroes who put the uniform

56:50.540 --> 56:53.419
on paid the ultimate sacrifice . We owe

56:53.620 --> 56:57.000
remembrance , those families . I just

56:57.000 --> 56:59.280
want you to know we see you , we stand

56:59.280 --> 57:01.879
with you , we'll never forget . They're

57:01.879 --> 57:03.990
Gold Star families who are here today

57:03.990 --> 57:06.212
sitting in the room , carrying to honor

57:06.212 --> 57:09.320
and remember flags . Remember the

57:09.320 --> 57:12.699
sacrifice . And when we do so , words

57:12.699 --> 57:15.699
can't fully capture it . April 3rd ,

57:15.820 --> 57:18.379
F-15E Strike Eagle pilots were rescued

57:18.379 --> 57:20.689
because we live by a simple promise .

57:20.979 --> 57:23.780
We do not leave anyone behind . The

57:23.780 --> 57:25.891
same spirit must be extended to those

57:25.891 --> 57:28.629
who are killed in action . That's why I

57:28.629 --> 57:31.149
raise , I rise again today and raise

57:31.149 --> 57:33.149
this question of the importance of

57:33.149 --> 57:36.250
passing HR 1363 , honor and remember

57:36.419 --> 57:39.139
flag recognition . Mr . Secretary , I

57:39.139 --> 57:41.310
raised this with you before and

57:41.310 --> 57:43.709
actually I come today to thank you for

57:43.709 --> 57:45.909
the response from your office and

57:45.909 --> 57:48.590
actually engaging with us in this . I

57:48.590 --> 57:50.534
rise again today and bring this up

57:50.534 --> 57:52.757
because we must never lose sight of the

57:52.757 --> 57:55.129
true cost of war . As we commemorate

57:55.129 --> 57:57.260
250 years in this country , the first

57:57.260 --> 58:00.560
call for independence , Halifax County

58:00.979 --> 58:03.379
delegates move forth with the first

58:03.379 --> 58:05.780
official action in my district . Our

58:05.780 --> 58:07.939
service members are the reason we are

58:07.939 --> 58:11.739
here today . They've delivered freedom .

58:12.820 --> 58:16.389
And I believe It would be amazing if we

58:16.389 --> 58:18.790
could deliver for their families ,

58:18.909 --> 58:20.909
those who've sacrificed this flag ,

58:21.149 --> 58:23.870
something to help them , ideally by

58:23.870 --> 58:26.310
Memorial Day , or at least commemorate

58:26.310 --> 58:30.270
their families . I was simply

58:30.270 --> 58:32.320
asked , do you have any thoughts

58:32.320 --> 58:35.739
whatsoever how we Continue to lift and

58:35.739 --> 58:38.379
honor those who have been killed

58:38.379 --> 58:41.540
serving our country . Well , thank you

58:41.540 --> 58:43.790
for what you do on that topic . Uh , I

58:43.790 --> 58:45.846
think first and foremost we do it by

58:45.846 --> 58:48.068
doing right by the legacy of those that

58:48.068 --> 58:50.123
we lose , whether it's those 13 from

58:50.123 --> 58:52.234
this conflict or any other conflict ,

58:52.234 --> 58:54.290
um . I've been at Dover every single

58:54.290 --> 58:56.457
time , as has the chairman , as is the

58:56.457 --> 58:56.219
president , the vice president , when

58:56.219 --> 58:58.386
they can to greet that and respect and

58:58.386 --> 59:00.497
honor that . Uh , in our department ,

59:00.497 --> 59:02.719
we established the first ever Gold Star

59:02.719 --> 59:04.719
task force , um , where we've got a

59:04.719 --> 59:06.830
Gold Star advocate right in our front

59:06.830 --> 59:08.997
office working these issues on a daily

59:08.997 --> 59:10.775
basis , which is why it doesn't

59:10.775 --> 59:10.639
surprise me that we so quickly got back

59:10.639 --> 59:12.750
to you . These are passionate . These

59:12.750 --> 59:14.806
are deep in our DNA , things that we

59:14.806 --> 59:16.806
care about , how you treat a family

59:16.959 --> 59:19.181
who's given everything in that moment ,

59:19.181 --> 59:21.292
not just at Dover , but in every step

59:21.292 --> 59:23.237
of that process is a reflection of

59:23.237 --> 59:25.459
Secretary , thank you truly , um , just

59:25.459 --> 59:27.681
for time here and . I'd served mortuary

59:27.681 --> 59:29.848
and I've been to Dover . I deployed to

59:29.848 --> 59:32.219
Dover , so thank you there . I want to

59:32.219 --> 59:36.120
shift to Army . Cadet

59:36.679 --> 59:39.280
command , the senior ROTC programs

59:39.280 --> 59:41.280
rebalance optimization plan , North

59:41.280 --> 59:43.002
Carolina Central University in

59:43.002 --> 59:45.639
particular , their real access and

59:45.639 --> 59:48.080
logistical challenges that are before

59:48.080 --> 59:50.136
the cadets , and when we think about

59:50.136 --> 59:52.469
building the next generation of leaders ,

59:52.469 --> 59:54.636
I would just ask us to think about how

59:54.636 --> 59:56.969
we're putting barriers in front of some ,

59:56.969 --> 59:59.191
and I would just ask you quickly if you

59:59.191 --> 01:00:01.439
could please take a closer look at the

01:00:01.439 --> 01:00:05.300
impact on the cadets . I want to shift

01:00:05.300 --> 01:00:07.639
to another topic and , um , really

01:00:07.639 --> 01:00:10.270
spend the last moment here as I'm

01:00:10.270 --> 01:00:12.760
running short , uh , uh , your memo ,

01:00:12.909 --> 01:00:15.530
April memo , the non-official Personal

01:00:15.530 --> 01:00:17.586
Protection Army in the Department of

01:00:17.586 --> 01:00:20.760
War , um , property . Um , my son is at

01:00:20.760 --> 01:00:22.760
Fort Benning right now , infantry .

01:00:22.760 --> 01:00:24.871
He's training , ideally . He wants to

01:00:24.871 --> 01:00:27.159
be 11 Bravo , and I shared the memo

01:00:27.159 --> 01:00:29.215
with him , and he shared it with his

01:00:29.215 --> 01:00:31.381
battle buddies to see the response and

01:00:31.381 --> 01:00:33.659
He's definitely 2nd Amendment enthused ,

01:00:33.810 --> 01:00:37.330
um , an advocate . And they're really

01:00:37.330 --> 01:00:39.530
interested , you know , in this . Um ,

01:00:39.649 --> 01:00:42.360
my question is simple , um , how do you

01:00:42.360 --> 01:00:45.370
plan to provide any guidance on the

01:00:45.370 --> 01:00:48.250
denials and how do you plan to track it ?

01:00:49.199 --> 01:00:51.199
Um , that was the intent is to make

01:00:51.199 --> 01:00:53.421
sure those men and women out there feel

01:00:53.421 --> 01:00:55.532
like they have their Second Amendment

01:00:55.532 --> 01:00:57.699
rights even when they're on post . And

01:00:57.699 --> 01:00:57.530
the burden of proof is on the command

01:00:57.530 --> 01:00:59.919
to , uh , as to why they would deny as

01:00:59.919 --> 01:01:02.030
opposed to the burden of proof on why

01:01:02.030 --> 01:01:04.197
they should allow . So the presumption

01:01:04.197 --> 01:01:06.141
is the same rights they would have

01:01:06.141 --> 01:01:08.308
outside the gate of a base , they have

01:01:08.308 --> 01:01:10.419
inside , uh , for personal protection

01:01:10.419 --> 01:01:12.308
purposes . Our bases shouldn't be

01:01:12.308 --> 01:01:14.475
gun-free zones except for the armory .

01:01:14.475 --> 01:01:16.641
Uh , and the MPs , so , uh , the , the

01:01:16.641 --> 01:01:16.520
burden of proof is something I'm gonna

01:01:16.520 --> 01:01:19.139
pay my , my last 15 seconds , uh ,

01:01:19.399 --> 01:01:23.139
Chairman Kane , um , thank you again

01:01:23.399 --> 01:01:25.566
for the conversation , breakfast . Any

01:01:25.566 --> 01:01:27.560
final thoughts in terms of any

01:01:27.560 --> 01:01:30.000
reservations of how , uh , we're

01:01:30.000 --> 01:01:32.167
dealing with munitions , um , in terms

01:01:32.167 --> 01:01:34.167
of a supplement on the depletion of

01:01:34.167 --> 01:01:36.444
munitions , Gentlemen's time's expired .

01:01:36.444 --> 01:01:38.444
Chair and I recognize the gentleman

01:01:38.444 --> 01:01:40.556
from Louisiana , Mr . Higgins . Thank

01:01:40.556 --> 01:01:42.889
you , Mr . Chairman . General Kane , Mr .

01:01:42.889 --> 01:01:42.479
Secretary , thank you for being here

01:01:42.479 --> 01:01:44.860
today . Mr . Secretary , you stated in

01:01:44.860 --> 01:01:46.979
your opening statement . That

01:01:49.469 --> 01:01:51.409
One of the foundational .

01:01:52.750 --> 01:01:56.229
Endeavors that you embrace is to in

01:01:56.229 --> 01:01:59.949
your words forge a lethal arsenal of

01:01:59.949 --> 01:02:03.649
freedom . I don't think it could be

01:02:03.659 --> 01:02:05.719
more . More

01:02:07.830 --> 01:02:11.590
Accurately described . The spirit that

01:02:11.590 --> 01:02:14.340
you gentlemen are delivering . Within

01:02:14.340 --> 01:02:17.080
the Department of War , the men and

01:02:17.080 --> 01:02:20.500
women that you serve . It's ,

01:02:20.919 --> 01:02:24.310
it's , it's notable . Or an American

01:02:24.310 --> 01:02:27.889
like me , army veteran , 65 years old ,

01:02:28.550 --> 01:02:30.590
I don't believe in my lifetime I've

01:02:30.590 --> 01:02:33.719
witnessed this level of rebirth .

01:02:34.979 --> 01:02:38.760
And And focus .

01:02:39.540 --> 01:02:41.780
That I'm witnessing out of the Pentagon

01:02:41.780 --> 01:02:45.580
right now . And I just commend

01:02:45.580 --> 01:02:49.510
you for driving that . And please note

01:02:49.510 --> 01:02:51.621
that you have a great deal of support

01:02:51.879 --> 01:02:54.120
not just in this body and on this

01:02:54.120 --> 01:02:56.064
committee but across the country .

01:02:57.550 --> 01:02:59.949
Regular Americans that have served or

01:02:59.949 --> 01:03:01.949
have families that have served have

01:03:01.949 --> 01:03:05.459
taken note . General , you said your

01:03:05.800 --> 01:03:08.133
opening statement that have called upon .

01:03:09.550 --> 01:03:11.649
We win our wars around the world .

01:03:14.520 --> 01:03:17.709
Those are your words . And

01:03:18.469 --> 01:03:20.510
We're going to make certain through

01:03:20.510 --> 01:03:23.760
this committee . That you have the

01:03:23.760 --> 01:03:25.649
support , the equipment , and the

01:03:25.649 --> 01:03:28.520
funding that you need . To if called

01:03:28.520 --> 01:03:31.239
upon win wars across the world , but we

01:03:31.239 --> 01:03:34.419
expect a lot out of you gentlemen . We ,

01:03:35.320 --> 01:03:38.800
we expect you . To liberate and secure

01:03:38.800 --> 01:03:40.967
the entire Western Hemisphere , one of

01:03:40.967 --> 01:03:43.879
my colleagues across the aisle . Stated

01:03:43.879 --> 01:03:46.101
that in a negative way . Let me flip it

01:03:46.101 --> 01:03:48.479
to positive . We absolutely do expect

01:03:48.479 --> 01:03:50.590
you to liberate and secure the entire

01:03:50.590 --> 01:03:53.610
Western Hemisphere . We expect you to

01:03:53.610 --> 01:03:56.219
drive Iran to its knees and free the

01:03:56.219 --> 01:03:58.441
world of the Iranian terrorist threat .

01:03:59.810 --> 01:04:02.250
We expect you to leverage NATO into an

01:04:02.250 --> 01:04:06.060
indomitable force . We

01:04:06.060 --> 01:04:08.060
expect you to set China back on its

01:04:08.060 --> 01:04:11.540
heels worldwide . We expect you to to

01:04:11.540 --> 01:04:14.340
drive peace and stability through the

01:04:14.340 --> 01:04:16.620
projection of military power . We

01:04:16.620 --> 01:04:19.179
expect you to secure the transit of

01:04:19.179 --> 01:04:21.899
affordable , transportable American

01:04:21.899 --> 01:04:24.260
energy product as the indisputable

01:04:24.260 --> 01:04:27.699
cornerstone of economic prosperity for

01:04:27.699 --> 01:04:30.179
every allied nation . That's a lot of

01:04:30.179 --> 01:04:32.979
expectations . And what you gentlemen

01:04:32.979 --> 01:04:35.899
have laid out today . As , as you've

01:04:35.899 --> 01:04:39.780
answered questions solid . You've made

01:04:39.780 --> 01:04:42.360
it clear that that's the path we're on .

01:04:43.750 --> 01:04:45.528
And I support you . My Democrat

01:04:45.528 --> 01:04:47.830
colleagues have have made it clear

01:04:47.830 --> 01:04:49.774
today that after careful study and

01:04:49.774 --> 01:04:51.830
thorough research of world history ,

01:04:51.909 --> 01:04:53.909
they've come to the conclusion that

01:04:53.909 --> 01:04:55.798
soldiers , sailors , airmen , and

01:04:55.798 --> 01:04:57.965
marines are far safer if they're never

01:04:57.965 --> 01:05:01.929
deployed in conflict . You've made it

01:05:01.929 --> 01:05:04.570
very clear that you take your business

01:05:04.570 --> 01:05:08.409
seriously and we support you . I

01:05:08.409 --> 01:05:10.959
certainly do . Mr . Secretary , in

01:05:10.959 --> 01:05:13.399
consultation with your staff reflective

01:05:13.399 --> 01:05:15.732
of your goals and your mission and your ,

01:05:15.732 --> 01:05:19.290
your , your stated intentions . In

01:05:19.290 --> 01:05:21.123
consultation with your staff and

01:05:21.123 --> 01:05:23.639
personnel and readiness , I proposed

01:05:23.639 --> 01:05:25.870
legislation to codify your guidance

01:05:26.010 --> 01:05:28.479
that combat fitness standards must be

01:05:28.479 --> 01:05:30.649
rigorous with no separate scoring

01:05:30.649 --> 01:05:33.070
scales , adjusted standards , or

01:05:33.070 --> 01:05:35.409
accommodations . There'd be only a

01:05:35.409 --> 01:05:38.360
single uncompromising standard , not to

01:05:38.360 --> 01:05:41.479
exclude any American . From any

01:05:41.479 --> 01:05:43.610
opportunity but to ensure we have the

01:05:43.610 --> 01:05:46.330
best , most capable Americans in the

01:05:46.330 --> 01:05:48.530
most critical positions , would you

01:05:48.530 --> 01:05:50.697
welcome this body making your guidance

01:05:50.697 --> 01:05:53.989
into law in the NDAA ? I would welcome

01:05:53.989 --> 01:05:55.711
Congressman . Thank you , Mr .

01:05:55.711 --> 01:05:58.000
Secretary , for clarifying that , um .

01:05:58.750 --> 01:06:00.972
A question about Iran and I'll give you

01:06:00.972 --> 01:06:03.189
the the final 30 seconds to answer .

01:06:03.629 --> 01:06:06.610
Was Iran moving precipitously towards

01:06:08.290 --> 01:06:10.189
nuclear weapons capability , Mr .

01:06:10.350 --> 01:06:13.780
Secretary ? Even after the obliteration

01:06:13.780 --> 01:06:15.947
of Midnight Hammer , what was clear is

01:06:15.947 --> 01:06:18.330
that the intention of Iran remained in

01:06:18.330 --> 01:06:20.386
the pursuit of nuclear weapons , and

01:06:20.386 --> 01:06:22.497
after , as , as hard as they were hit

01:06:22.497 --> 01:06:24.608
by Israel , it created an opportunity

01:06:24.608 --> 01:06:26.830
to get rid of the conventional shield .

01:06:26.830 --> 01:06:26.500
That's why we talked about missile

01:06:26.500 --> 01:06:28.722
production and the navy and the defense

01:06:28.722 --> 01:06:30.944
industrial base , to set them back from

01:06:30.944 --> 01:06:33.056
blackmailing the region and the world

01:06:33.056 --> 01:06:35.167
in pursuit of nuclear weapons because

01:06:35.167 --> 01:06:37.056
we understood how much they could

01:06:37.056 --> 01:06:39.222
continue to pursue them . Roger that .

01:06:39.222 --> 01:06:41.444
Thank you , gentlemen . Mr . Chairman ,

01:06:41.444 --> 01:06:41.310
how are you , gentlemen , this time's

01:06:41.310 --> 01:06:43.254
expired here , and I recognize the

01:06:43.254 --> 01:06:45.088
gentleman from California , Mr .

01:06:45.088 --> 01:06:47.254
Cisneros . Thank you , Mr . Chairman .

01:06:47.254 --> 01:06:49.366
Uh , thank you and the ranking member

01:06:49.366 --> 01:06:48.969
for bringing us here today for this

01:06:48.969 --> 01:06:51.250
hearing , very important to the nation .

01:06:51.689 --> 01:06:53.856
I wanna thank our witnesses , uh , for

01:06:53.856 --> 01:06:56.340
all being here today , um . Mr .

01:06:56.379 --> 01:06:58.601
Secretary , the president recently made

01:06:58.601 --> 01:07:00.323
an announcement that the state

01:07:00.323 --> 01:07:02.379
activated National Guard would start

01:07:02.379 --> 01:07:04.490
receiving active duty pay for federal

01:07:04.490 --> 01:07:04.459
missions , and I believe you kind of

01:07:04.459 --> 01:07:06.780
made similar remarks as well . I'm

01:07:06.780 --> 01:07:08.947
happy to see that announcement because

01:07:08.947 --> 01:07:11.169
it brought the much needed attention to

01:07:11.169 --> 01:07:13.391
this disparity . Um , whether you agree

01:07:13.391 --> 01:07:15.336
with missions or not , when , when

01:07:15.336 --> 01:07:17.558
guard men are called up for active duty

01:07:17.558 --> 01:07:19.669
and they really have no choice in the

01:07:19.669 --> 01:07:21.724
matter for homeland missions . Often

01:07:21.724 --> 01:07:23.891
they're receiving inconsistent pay and

01:07:23.891 --> 01:07:25.947
benefits depending on their status .

01:07:25.947 --> 01:07:28.113
This issue has persisted for decades .

01:07:28.113 --> 01:07:30.113
This is why earlier this year Brett

01:07:30.113 --> 01:07:32.169
Bergman and I introduced duty status

01:07:32.169 --> 01:07:34.113
Reform Act which would address the

01:07:34.113 --> 01:07:36.224
issue head on . I believe this is the

01:07:36.224 --> 01:07:38.336
right time to push us over the finish

01:07:38.336 --> 01:07:40.280
line . It's something the National

01:07:40.280 --> 01:07:42.447
Guard Bureau supports , the Council of

01:07:42.447 --> 01:07:44.669
Governors support . Uh , just the other

01:07:44.669 --> 01:07:46.502
week , service , the , the , the

01:07:46.502 --> 01:07:48.724
service personnel chiefs are all here .

01:07:48.724 --> 01:07:51.370
They support it . Tags support it . So

01:07:51.370 --> 01:07:53.610
Mr . Secretary , as a former member of

01:07:53.610 --> 01:07:55.666
the National Guard , I am asking you

01:07:55.666 --> 01:07:57.790
here today , would you consider

01:07:58.370 --> 01:08:00.729
supporting consolidating the 29 duty

01:08:00.729 --> 01:08:03.209
statuses for the military reserve

01:08:03.209 --> 01:08:05.139
component . Into a balanced and

01:08:05.139 --> 01:08:08.219
equitable system . That would also help

01:08:08.439 --> 01:08:10.840
the National Guard receive retirement

01:08:10.840 --> 01:08:13.062
points when they're called up for these

01:08:13.062 --> 01:08:15.118
federal missions . Would you support

01:08:15.118 --> 01:08:17.340
that ? Congressman , thank you for your

01:08:17.340 --> 01:08:19.340
efforts on this . It makes a ton of

01:08:19.340 --> 01:08:21.396
sense , and we support these efforts

01:08:21.396 --> 01:08:23.451
for duty status reform in pursuit of

01:08:23.451 --> 01:08:25.673
things that work for the department and

01:08:25.673 --> 01:08:27.896
for the troops because they deserve the

01:08:27.896 --> 01:08:29.951
kind of , uh , pay and benefits that

01:08:29.951 --> 01:08:31.840
are commensurate with active duty

01:08:31.840 --> 01:08:33.896
troops . So we would look forward to

01:08:33.896 --> 01:08:36.118
working with your office , uh , to , to

01:08:36.118 --> 01:08:35.930
get at duty status reform . I think now

01:08:35.930 --> 01:08:38.208
is the right time . Thank you for that .

01:08:38.208 --> 01:08:40.097
General Kane , I ask you the same

01:08:40.097 --> 01:08:42.509
question as , uh , an individual who's

01:08:42.509 --> 01:08:44.453
served in the Air National Guard ,

01:08:44.830 --> 01:08:46.774
would you consider supporting duty

01:08:46.774 --> 01:08:48.774
status reform that's gonna simplify

01:08:48.774 --> 01:08:51.052
this and help our National Guard troop ?

01:08:51.052 --> 01:08:53.274
Sir , I'll , I'll be careful to stay in

01:08:53.274 --> 01:08:55.052
my lane . My personal , not the

01:08:55.052 --> 01:08:57.219
chairman's opinion , as somebody who's

01:08:57.219 --> 01:08:59.441
lived the house of pain of 30 different

01:08:59.441 --> 01:09:01.552
duty statuses would support it as the

01:09:01.552 --> 01:09:03.774
chairman . Leave personnel and you know

01:09:03.774 --> 01:09:05.608
this from your prior life to our

01:09:05.608 --> 01:09:07.830
civilian leaders who do that , but I do

01:09:07.830 --> 01:09:09.886
think we owe a better set of options

01:09:09.886 --> 01:09:11.941
for our guardsmen and our reservists

01:09:11.941 --> 01:09:13.941
across the force . Well , thank you

01:09:13.941 --> 01:09:16.108
both for that . This is something that

01:09:16.108 --> 01:09:15.679
I think needs to get done and something

01:09:15.679 --> 01:09:18.079
I've been working on for years now . Uh ,

01:09:18.119 --> 01:09:20.230
the National Guard Bureau supports it

01:09:20.230 --> 01:09:22.508
and so I hope you will , like you said ,

01:09:22.508 --> 01:09:24.508
work with us to get that done . OMB

01:09:24.599 --> 01:09:26.543
seems to be our roadblock , so I'm

01:09:26.543 --> 01:09:28.377
hoping you can kind of push that

01:09:28.377 --> 01:09:30.488
roadblock down so that we can finally

01:09:30.488 --> 01:09:32.821
get this done . Um , next question , Mr .

01:09:32.821 --> 01:09:35.019
Secretary , um , I take what we do for

01:09:35.019 --> 01:09:37.241
our personnel very seriously , and that

01:09:37.241 --> 01:09:39.186
sometimes I , I know you've stated

01:09:39.186 --> 01:09:41.408
right here today our troops are ready ,

01:09:41.408 --> 01:09:43.408
they will do anything if asked upon

01:09:43.408 --> 01:09:45.630
them , but I think as leaders sometimes

01:09:45.630 --> 01:09:47.963
we need to kind of protect them as well ,

01:09:47.963 --> 01:09:49.963
um , and I worry about the USS Ford

01:09:49.963 --> 01:09:51.963
which is now kind of been out there

01:09:51.963 --> 01:09:53.963
over 10 months . It's probably well

01:09:53.963 --> 01:09:56.130
over 300 days by the time it gets back

01:09:56.130 --> 01:09:58.130
to the United States . I just saw a

01:09:58.130 --> 01:10:00.352
thing today it's . Gonna be headed back

01:10:00.352 --> 01:10:03.229
here in a few days , um , you know ,

01:10:03.430 --> 01:10:05.597
these people have gone pretty much all

01:10:05.597 --> 01:10:04.839
over the world . They crossed the

01:10:04.839 --> 01:10:08.439
equator multiple times , um , but I am

01:10:08.439 --> 01:10:10.550
interested , you know , I'm sure that

01:10:10.550 --> 01:10:12.550
was not in the gift map when it was

01:10:12.550 --> 01:10:14.717
first assigned when they were deployed

01:10:14.717 --> 01:10:16.939
and so what were some of the concerns ,

01:10:16.939 --> 01:10:19.279
you know , that the Navy had when you

01:10:19.279 --> 01:10:21.223
made this modification when it was

01:10:21.223 --> 01:10:23.390
brought forward to you that hey . This

01:10:23.390 --> 01:10:25.501
is what extending them out to past 10

01:10:25.501 --> 01:10:27.612
months is going to do . This is , you

01:10:27.612 --> 01:10:29.668
know , both on the troops and on the

01:10:29.668 --> 01:10:31.890
ship . What concerns did the Navy bring

01:10:31.890 --> 01:10:33.890
up for this ? Um , it's a very fair

01:10:33.890 --> 01:10:35.890
question , and I can tell you every

01:10:35.890 --> 01:10:38.001
week I stare at an orders book , uh ,

01:10:38.001 --> 01:10:40.223
where I'm looking at troop movements or

01:10:40.223 --> 01:10:42.279
asset movements , and , and multiple

01:10:42.279 --> 01:10:42.229
times that included the Ford , and

01:10:42.229 --> 01:10:43.951
multiple times the operational

01:10:43.951 --> 01:10:46.062
requirements , whether it was down in

01:10:46.062 --> 01:10:48.118
the , in , uh , in SouthCom or up to

01:10:48.118 --> 01:10:50.340
Centcom , demanded additional assets in

01:10:50.340 --> 01:10:52.340
real time , which , which through a

01:10:52.340 --> 01:10:54.562
tough decision making process led to an

01:10:54.562 --> 01:10:56.618
extension . In consultation with the

01:10:56.618 --> 01:10:58.729
Navy , Admiral Caudle and his staff ,

01:10:58.729 --> 01:11:00.896
uh , they fairly represented readiness

01:11:00.896 --> 01:11:03.007
trade-offs , maintenance trade-offs ,

01:11:03.007 --> 01:11:02.890
which are real things are the concerns ?

01:11:02.910 --> 01:11:04.966
What , what trade-offs are we making

01:11:04.966 --> 01:11:07.132
right here ? I mean , really , we have

01:11:07.132 --> 01:11:09.299
3 carriers in the area right now . How

01:11:09.299 --> 01:11:08.810
many do we really need ? It's rather ,

01:11:08.970 --> 01:11:11.303
I mean , it's a , a great show of force ,

01:11:11.303 --> 01:11:13.581
but do we really need 3 carriers there ?

01:11:13.581 --> 01:11:15.803
And you got 1 arc there and another one

01:11:15.803 --> 01:11:18.026
on the way . You know this is gonna set

01:11:18.026 --> 01:11:20.081
back possibly deployments later on .

01:11:20.081 --> 01:11:22.248
It's gonna have ramifications down the

01:11:22.248 --> 01:11:24.303
road extending for this much and not

01:11:24.303 --> 01:11:26.470
only talking about , you know , we had

01:11:26.470 --> 01:11:28.470
service members that were kept away

01:11:28.470 --> 01:11:30.581
from their family for almost 1 year .

01:11:30.581 --> 01:11:32.748
How many missed the birth of a child ,

01:11:32.748 --> 01:11:32.600
you know , before , you know ,

01:11:32.930 --> 01:11:35.330
extending them in , in another 4 months .

01:11:35.819 --> 01:11:38.041
We need to keep this in consideration .

01:11:38.041 --> 01:11:40.152
We kind of make these modifications ,

01:11:40.152 --> 01:11:40.100
and I hope these issues are being

01:11:40.100 --> 01:11:42.330
raised when you do these SO books ,

01:11:42.379 --> 01:11:44.839
right ? And people are actually making

01:11:44.839 --> 01:11:46.783
these gentlemen , time's expired .

01:11:46.783 --> 01:11:48.783
Chair and I recognize the gentleman

01:11:48.783 --> 01:11:50.839
from Virginia , Mr . McGuire . Thank

01:11:50.839 --> 01:11:53.117
you , Mr . Chairman . Thank you to our ,

01:11:53.117 --> 01:11:55.228
um , witnesses today . Um , Secretary

01:11:55.228 --> 01:11:57.172
Hegseth , I really appreciate your

01:11:57.172 --> 01:11:58.950
return to warrior ethos and the

01:11:58.950 --> 01:12:01.172
priorities of our military , merit over

01:12:01.172 --> 01:12:03.560
performance . Is how you win and it's

01:12:03.560 --> 01:12:05.919
how you save lives and your love of our

01:12:05.919 --> 01:12:07.975
military comes out in everything you

01:12:07.975 --> 01:12:10.197
say . So we really support you and your

01:12:10.197 --> 01:12:12.252
team and what you're doing . General

01:12:12.252 --> 01:12:14.419
Kane , uh , your , um , comments about

01:12:14.419 --> 01:12:16.086
being in the middle and being

01:12:16.086 --> 01:12:18.279
apolitical also saves lives . I think

01:12:18.279 --> 01:12:20.335
all of the , uh , fellow veterans in

01:12:20.335 --> 01:12:22.557
this room , military guys would agree .

01:12:22.557 --> 01:12:24.779
That if somebody saved your life on the

01:12:24.779 --> 01:12:26.723
battlefield , you wouldn't care if

01:12:26.723 --> 01:12:28.723
they're a male or female , black or

01:12:28.723 --> 01:12:30.501
white , Democrat , Republican ,

01:12:30.501 --> 01:12:32.446
Independent , whatever , we're all

01:12:32.446 --> 01:12:34.557
Americans , and we're all on the same

01:12:34.557 --> 01:12:36.890
team , and we put our differences aside .

01:12:36.890 --> 01:12:38.835
And work as a team we can turn the

01:12:38.835 --> 01:12:40.779
impossible to a possible we can be

01:12:40.779 --> 01:12:43.001
outnumbered and still win . So I wanted

01:12:43.001 --> 01:12:45.168
to commend you guys for supporting our

01:12:45.168 --> 01:12:47.335
troops so they can best survive . Uh ,

01:12:47.335 --> 01:12:49.446
let's see , the border . Nobody talks

01:12:49.446 --> 01:12:51.612
about the border , Mr . Secretary , as

01:12:51.612 --> 01:12:53.779
you say , but it's incredible what you

01:12:53.779 --> 01:12:55.835
guys did in just a matter of weeks .

01:12:55.835 --> 01:12:58.001
The missions in Ukraine , Honduras . I

01:12:58.001 --> 01:12:59.835
don't know any other military in

01:12:59.835 --> 01:13:01.529
history who has been able to

01:13:01.899 --> 01:13:03.510
successfully do something so

01:13:03.510 --> 01:13:05.732
complicated , but it talks to the unity

01:13:05.732 --> 01:13:08.459
and the teamwork of all the , uh , the

01:13:08.459 --> 01:13:10.403
joint force and how well they work

01:13:10.403 --> 01:13:12.515
together . I got a lot of questions .

01:13:12.515 --> 01:13:14.870
I'll try to go fast . $1.5 trillion

01:13:14.870 --> 01:13:17.160
budget . Um , in that budget , um , I

01:13:17.160 --> 01:13:19.720
want to echo what Rep Jackson said

01:13:19.720 --> 01:13:22.490
about US SOCOM . We are often , uh ,

01:13:22.560 --> 01:13:24.782
deploy , deploy , deploy , deploy , and

01:13:24.782 --> 01:13:26.838
we seem to be doing more with less ,

01:13:26.838 --> 01:13:29.004
and we don't complain , and they won't

01:13:29.004 --> 01:13:31.227
be that voice . So for us in Congress ,

01:13:31.227 --> 01:13:33.282
we want to be that voice . It's just

01:13:33.282 --> 01:13:35.504
take a look at the budget and see if we

01:13:35.504 --> 01:13:37.671
can . Can help them with that . Also ,

01:13:37.671 --> 01:13:39.671
um , I wanna talk to you guys about

01:13:39.671 --> 01:13:41.782
solid Rocket Motors . I know that the

01:13:41.782 --> 01:13:43.949
Secretary of War , I know that in this

01:13:43.949 --> 01:13:46.004
budget we've , uh , we've picked one

01:13:46.004 --> 01:13:45.509
particular company that we put a lot of

01:13:45.509 --> 01:13:47.509
money in , and I think it's a great

01:13:47.509 --> 01:13:49.620
company and they do a great job , but

01:13:49.620 --> 01:13:51.676
what is your plan to also have other

01:13:51.676 --> 01:13:53.842
companies come to the table to help us

01:13:53.842 --> 01:13:55.787
with a shortfall with solid Rocket

01:13:55.787 --> 01:13:58.810
Motors ? Mhm You're right on , on SOCOM

01:13:58.810 --> 01:14:00.810
and we're , we will absolutely work

01:14:00.810 --> 01:14:02.866
with you and look at that . On solid

01:14:02.866 --> 01:14:04.921
rocket motors , it's such a critical

01:14:04.921 --> 01:14:04.450
component . You gotta go with your

01:14:04.450 --> 01:14:06.617
fastest runner , uh , to get caught up

01:14:06.617 --> 01:14:08.728
as , as quickly as you can and giving

01:14:08.728 --> 01:14:10.894
them incentives , but you , we've also

01:14:10.894 --> 01:14:13.006
learned on multiple domains that just

01:14:13.006 --> 01:14:15.061
one option means zero options , uh ,

01:14:15.061 --> 01:14:17.228
when you're stuck , you know , 1 is 02

01:14:17.228 --> 01:14:19.009
is 11 is none . Uh , so we need

01:14:19.009 --> 01:14:21.231
multiple avenues on that approach . And

01:14:21.231 --> 01:14:23.065
we look forward to finding other

01:14:23.065 --> 01:14:22.740
companies that can do it as well .

01:14:23.040 --> 01:14:24.818
Thank you , General Kane , uh ,

01:14:24.818 --> 01:14:26.818
National Guard . I'm thinking about

01:14:26.818 --> 01:14:28.818
counter drone with FIFA coming up ,

01:14:28.818 --> 01:14:30.762
Super Bowls , and all these things

01:14:30.762 --> 01:14:32.984
going on . Have you considered , and if

01:14:32.984 --> 01:14:35.151
you haven't , will you consider , uh ,

01:14:35.151 --> 01:14:37.373
training National Guardsmen ? Send them

01:14:37.373 --> 01:14:36.879
to counter drone school so they can

01:14:36.879 --> 01:14:39.046
come back and train law enforcement so

01:14:39.046 --> 01:14:41.660
we can increase our ability to protect ,

01:14:42.000 --> 01:14:44.509
uh , critical infrastructure . Sir , uh ,

01:14:44.649 --> 01:14:46.649
for sure they , they may already be

01:14:46.649 --> 01:14:48.705
doing that . Please let me take that

01:14:48.705 --> 01:14:50.816
one and come back to you . I know the

01:14:50.816 --> 01:14:52.871
Title 32 force in advance of all the

01:14:52.871 --> 01:14:55.093
domestic things are on the horizon here

01:14:55.093 --> 01:14:57.093
with America's 250 are looking at a

01:14:57.093 --> 01:14:59.260
range of capabilities . So if you'd be

01:14:59.260 --> 01:15:01.482
OK , we'll , we'll get back to that one

01:15:01.482 --> 01:15:03.649
on Ukraine . Whoever could answer this

01:15:03.649 --> 01:15:05.816
is . You know , they have 60% enriched

01:15:05.816 --> 01:15:07.982
uranium . They say they have enough to

01:15:07.982 --> 01:15:10.509
build 11 bombs , and even at 60% , is

01:15:10.509 --> 01:15:12.676
that enough to make a bomb ? Is that a

01:15:12.676 --> 01:15:14.898
yes or no ? Does anybody have an answer

01:15:14.898 --> 01:15:17.065
for that ? I mean , I wouldn't want to

01:15:17.065 --> 01:15:19.398
state anything that might be classified ,

01:15:19.398 --> 01:15:21.509
so I wouldn't talk about that in this

01:15:21.509 --> 01:15:21.040
setting . And by the way , in World War

01:15:21.040 --> 01:15:22.984
II , a congressman was in a closed

01:15:22.984 --> 01:15:25.399
briefing and learned that the reason

01:15:25.399 --> 01:15:27.439
the Japanese hadn't sunk any US

01:15:27.439 --> 01:15:29.383
submarines is they didn't know our

01:15:29.383 --> 01:15:31.640
submarines could go below 250 ft . So

01:15:31.640 --> 01:15:33.807
we went out to the media and told them

01:15:33.807 --> 01:15:36.029
that , and we started losing submarines

01:15:36.029 --> 01:15:37.973
and losing American sailors . So a

01:15:37.973 --> 01:15:40.084
lesson for all of us in Congress , be

01:15:40.084 --> 01:15:42.251
careful how we , uh , so thank you for

01:15:42.251 --> 01:15:44.362
considering that . I would say this ,

01:15:44.362 --> 01:15:46.584
if they had a nuclear bomb , would that

01:15:46.584 --> 01:15:48.696
kill hundreds of people potentially ,

01:15:48.696 --> 01:15:50.751
thousands of people potentially , or

01:15:50.751 --> 01:15:54.589
millions of people potentially ? The

01:15:54.589 --> 01:15:56.470
history shows us what the lethal

01:15:56.470 --> 01:15:58.637
potential is of a nuclear weapon , and

01:15:58.637 --> 01:16:00.803
so you'd have to assume the higher end

01:16:00.803 --> 01:16:02.748
of that raid range . And given the

01:16:02.748 --> 01:16:04.859
radical nature of this regime and the

01:16:04.859 --> 01:16:07.081
likelihood of them to use it , it gives

01:16:07.081 --> 01:16:09.137
you a sense of the threat . Well , I

01:16:09.137 --> 01:16:08.790
think the threat is too great to wait ,

01:16:08.830 --> 01:16:10.997
and I have to commend this president ,

01:16:10.997 --> 01:16:12.830
President Trump , for having the

01:16:12.830 --> 01:16:14.997
fortitude and the Secretary of War and

01:16:14.997 --> 01:16:17.549
the joint force for making sure we stop

01:16:17.549 --> 01:16:19.716
this threat for the world . Also , I'm

01:16:19.716 --> 01:16:22.790
a big supporter of the AH 64 Apache . I

01:16:22.790 --> 01:16:26.020
understand . And operations , um , uh ,

01:16:26.359 --> 01:16:28.526
absolute resolve and everything else .

01:16:28.526 --> 01:16:30.692
It's been very effective in countering

01:16:30.692 --> 01:16:32.637
drones . I'm glad that in the NDAA

01:16:32.637 --> 01:16:34.803
we're keeping that program going . And

01:16:34.803 --> 01:16:34.439
I just saw that you're going to keep

01:16:34.439 --> 01:16:36.959
the A-10 program going . And a good

01:16:36.959 --> 01:16:38.959
friend of mine said , long live the

01:16:38.959 --> 01:16:41.070
warthog . But if there's ways that we

01:16:41.070 --> 01:16:43.292
can bring some of the warthogs back and

01:16:43.292 --> 01:16:45.810
or , um , Are there any other

01:16:45.810 --> 01:16:47.699
capabilities that can replace the

01:16:47.699 --> 01:16:49.810
warthog ? I don't think so . Is there

01:16:49.810 --> 01:16:49.569
anything that can do what the warthog

01:16:49.569 --> 01:16:51.569
does ? Gentlemen's time's expired .

01:16:51.569 --> 01:16:53.569
Chair , and I recognize a gentleman

01:16:53.569 --> 01:16:55.680
from Illinois , Mr . Sorenson . Thank

01:16:55.680 --> 01:16:57.791
you , Mr . Chairman . Uh , to General

01:16:57.791 --> 01:16:57.560
Kane , on behalf of myself and my

01:16:57.560 --> 01:16:59.649
constituents , we thank you for your

01:16:59.649 --> 01:17:01.760
service and your leadership , uh , to

01:17:01.760 --> 01:17:03.816
our military men and women , um , to

01:17:03.816 --> 01:17:05.705
our service members and , and the

01:17:05.705 --> 01:17:07.593
veterans that I see , um , in our

01:17:07.593 --> 01:17:09.649
committee today , um , thank you for

01:17:09.649 --> 01:17:11.927
your support of our great country , um .

01:17:11.927 --> 01:17:14.359
Mr . Hegseth , I hear from your

01:17:14.359 --> 01:17:16.526
officials in our briefings here on the

01:17:16.526 --> 01:17:18.581
Hill , and because I live in an army

01:17:18.581 --> 01:17:20.803
town , I now hear from neighbors at the

01:17:20.803 --> 01:17:23.026
grocery store who are worried about our

01:17:23.026 --> 01:17:25.149
munition stockpiles that are now down

01:17:25.149 --> 01:17:27.390
to critical levels and , um , and they

01:17:27.390 --> 01:17:29.501
sure don't want another forever war .

01:17:29.501 --> 01:17:31.723
So Mr . Secretary , first of all , talk

01:17:31.723 --> 01:17:34.310
to us about the need to renew munition

01:17:34.310 --> 01:17:36.350
stockpiles and tell us what happens

01:17:36.350 --> 01:17:38.430
when munitions stockpiles become

01:17:38.430 --> 01:17:41.410
depleted . Well , first of all , I

01:17:41.410 --> 01:17:43.632
would , I would note that as you know ,

01:17:43.632 --> 01:17:45.743
we give weekly briefings on munitions

01:17:45.743 --> 01:17:47.521
to this committee , so it's not

01:17:47.521 --> 01:17:47.120
something that's withheld from any of

01:17:47.120 --> 01:17:50.350
the members here and but it's also a ,

01:17:50.470 --> 01:17:52.660
uh , a topic that . Um , isn't

01:17:52.660 --> 01:17:54.549
something that should be publicly

01:17:54.549 --> 01:17:56.271
discussed , uh , as far as any

01:17:56.271 --> 01:17:58.493
shortfalls that may exist , but I would

01:17:58.493 --> 01:18:00.160
assure you that there are not

01:18:00.160 --> 01:18:02.382
shortfalls that exist in our ability to

01:18:02.382 --> 01:18:04.604
execute the missions around the world .

01:18:04.604 --> 01:18:04.450
And the reason we're investing in the

01:18:04.450 --> 01:18:06.500
defense industrial base with $1.5

01:18:06.500 --> 01:18:08.611
trillion is to make sure the greatest

01:18:08.611 --> 01:18:10.833
companies in the world , which has been

01:18:10.833 --> 01:18:12.667
falling behind for decades , are

01:18:12.667 --> 01:18:14.889
running faster than ever before to give

01:18:14.889 --> 01:18:17.111
us 2 . X 3X4X of the critical munitions

01:18:17.111 --> 01:18:19.389
your Patriots , your TAAs , your SM-3s ,

01:18:19.389 --> 01:18:21.611
uh , every other standard missile and ,

01:18:21.611 --> 01:18:23.778
and my , my neighbors work really hard

01:18:23.778 --> 01:18:25.611
to make sure that we can jobs in

01:18:25.611 --> 01:18:27.611
America . It's what our warfighters

01:18:27.611 --> 01:18:29.722
need . So could you tell me why we're

01:18:29.722 --> 01:18:31.778
firing the people at Joint Munitions

01:18:31.778 --> 01:18:33.833
Command for no cause other than just

01:18:33.833 --> 01:18:35.722
telling them they're overhired or

01:18:35.722 --> 01:18:37.556
they're surplus employee . Joint

01:18:37.556 --> 01:18:39.556
munitions command . I would have to

01:18:39.556 --> 01:18:41.722
look into the particular circumstances

01:18:41.722 --> 01:18:43.778
of that , but there have been places

01:18:43.778 --> 01:18:43.459
where we haven't been moving fast

01:18:43.459 --> 01:18:45.681
enough with munitions , and when people

01:18:45.681 --> 01:18:47.348
don't move fast enough in the

01:18:47.348 --> 01:18:47.140
Department of War , we find someone

01:18:47.140 --> 01:18:49.362
else that will run fast . This is Joint

01:18:49.362 --> 01:18:51.251
Munitions command . I mean , your

01:18:51.251 --> 01:18:50.979
department says that you're

01:18:50.979 --> 01:18:53.390
prioritizing munitions . Yet you cut

01:18:53.390 --> 01:18:55.640
58% of joint munitions command at Rock

01:18:55.640 --> 01:18:57.473
Island . But let me move on . My

01:18:57.473 --> 01:18:59.418
district is also munitions are not

01:18:59.418 --> 01:19:01.640
built by commands . Munitions are built

01:19:01.640 --> 01:19:03.696
by , they're the ones that are , and

01:19:03.696 --> 01:19:03.450
we're very good at building commands

01:19:03.450 --> 01:19:05.506
and bureaucracies and slapping three

01:19:05.506 --> 01:19:07.506
and four-star generals in charge of

01:19:07.506 --> 01:19:09.394
things that don't move things any

01:19:09.394 --> 01:19:11.506
faster . So our job is to unleash the

01:19:11.506 --> 01:19:13.617
private sector to get it divide if we

01:19:13.617 --> 01:19:15.672
don't have joint munitions command .

01:19:15.672 --> 01:19:15.129
But let me move on . Uh , we also have

01:19:15.129 --> 01:19:17.129
Army Sustainment Command . In my

01:19:17.129 --> 01:19:19.296
district . Could you tell me why we're

01:19:19.296 --> 01:19:21.129
firing folks at Army sustainment

01:19:21.129 --> 01:19:23.296
Command , when now is the time that we

01:19:23.296 --> 01:19:25.296
should be giving our soldiers every

01:19:25.296 --> 01:19:27.407
piece of sustainment that we can give

01:19:27.407 --> 01:19:29.407
them . Because as I've stated , the

01:19:29.407 --> 01:19:31.462
status quo at this department before

01:19:31.462 --> 01:19:31.350
the Trump administration was

01:19:31.350 --> 01:19:33.406
unacceptable , and changes had to be

01:19:33.406 --> 01:19:35.572
made . Do you think it's acceptable to

01:19:35.572 --> 01:19:37.683
fire veterans from jobs where they've

01:19:37.683 --> 01:19:39.739
been , you know , I , I talked to my

01:19:39.739 --> 01:19:41.961
neighbors and at , at the arsenal , and

01:19:41.961 --> 01:19:44.128
they've worked there 2030 years on top

01:19:44.128 --> 01:19:46.294
of their service to this country , and

01:19:46.294 --> 01:19:48.239
they're doing it exemplary . Great

01:19:48.239 --> 01:19:50.294
performers will always have a job at

01:19:50.294 --> 01:19:50.140
the Department of War , and when you

01:19:50.140 --> 01:19:52.196
reestablish merit , sometimes things

01:19:52.196 --> 01:19:54.418
happen , but we're grateful for all the

01:19:54.418 --> 01:19:56.529
vets that serve . And in fact , we've

01:19:56.529 --> 01:19:58.696
created a Patriot pipeline for service

01:19:58.696 --> 01:19:58.660
members to get into the defense

01:19:58.660 --> 01:20:00.882
industrial-based manufacturing business

01:20:00.882 --> 01:20:02.993
to consider that as a second career .

01:20:02.993 --> 01:20:05.160
So we're leaning into vets and service

01:20:05.160 --> 01:20:07.327
members as the workforce of the future

01:20:07.327 --> 01:20:09.549
in our department . And this isn't me .

01:20:09.549 --> 01:20:09.419
I mean , they tell me that , you know ,

01:20:09.529 --> 01:20:11.751
they feel you're taking a wrecking ball

01:20:11.751 --> 01:20:13.751
to the civilian workforce , but you

01:20:13.751 --> 01:20:16.029
know , I , I wanna go and follow up on .

01:20:16.029 --> 01:20:18.140
Um , Congressman Norcross's questions

01:20:18.140 --> 01:20:20.140
about why you terminated collective

01:20:20.140 --> 01:20:22.196
bargaining earlier this month , this

01:20:22.196 --> 01:20:24.029
affects hundreds of thousands of

01:20:24.029 --> 01:20:26.196
hardworking DOD employees . So many of

01:20:26.196 --> 01:20:28.140
them are veterans who've honorably

01:20:28.140 --> 01:20:30.362
served our country . Um , you testified

01:20:30.362 --> 01:20:32.696
that if you work hard , you do the work ,

01:20:32.696 --> 01:20:34.640
you keep your job , but that's not

01:20:34.640 --> 01:20:36.973
what's happening , and you allege it is ,

01:20:36.973 --> 01:20:39.140
is being done to maximize efficiency .

01:20:39.140 --> 01:20:38.899
Explain that . I should , yeah , I

01:20:38.899 --> 01:20:41.010
thank you . Ask that question , I'd ,

01:20:41.010 --> 01:20:42.859
I'd love to clarify , uh , I

01:20:42.859 --> 01:20:45.081
fundamentally believe the Department of

01:20:45.081 --> 01:20:47.303
War should not be subject to collective

01:20:47.303 --> 01:20:49.248
bargaining , full stop . So people

01:20:49.248 --> 01:20:51.248
shouldn't be able to fight for good

01:20:51.248 --> 01:20:53.669
wages and being treated well . I think

01:20:53.669 --> 01:20:55.447
our department does a great job

01:20:55.447 --> 01:20:57.669
evaluating and providing , uh , pay and

01:20:57.669 --> 01:20:59.780
benefits for folks across the love to

01:20:59.780 --> 01:21:01.891
invite you to the Rock Island Arsenal

01:21:01.891 --> 01:21:04.002
so you can look these patriots in the

01:21:04.002 --> 01:21:06.225
eyes and tell them that , um , how does

01:21:06.225 --> 01:21:08.336
creating chaos for long term civilian

01:21:08.336 --> 01:21:10.502
workers actually maximize efficiency ,

01:21:10.502 --> 01:21:12.669
um . Do you have any comment on that ?

01:21:12.669 --> 01:21:14.447
There are plenty of examples of

01:21:14.447 --> 01:21:16.336
shipyards and other manufacturing

01:21:16.336 --> 01:21:18.502
plants where there are restraints that

01:21:18.502 --> 01:21:20.780
limit the hours , limit the ability of ,

01:21:20.780 --> 01:21:22.947
of leaders to ensure we're providing ,

01:21:22.947 --> 01:21:22.939
meeting the goals we're supposed to ,

01:21:23.040 --> 01:21:25.040
and I don't think we should live to

01:21:25.040 --> 01:21:27.207
those constrictions . OK , OK . Well ,

01:21:27.207 --> 01:21:29.429
you know what , I wanna use the rest of

01:21:29.429 --> 01:21:31.540
my time . To the men and women of our

01:21:31.540 --> 01:21:31.470
armed forces , please go forth with the

01:21:31.470 --> 01:21:33.637
integrity and the morality that you've

01:21:33.637 --> 01:21:35.859
carried before this administration took

01:21:35.859 --> 01:21:38.069
us down a path that has allies turning

01:21:38.069 --> 01:21:40.339
away and American citizens objecting .

01:21:40.589 --> 01:21:42.756
Do what's right , even if you're asked

01:21:42.756 --> 01:21:44.756
to do otherwise , Mr . Chairman , I

01:21:44.756 --> 01:21:46.922
yield back . Gentlemen , yields back .

01:21:46.922 --> 01:21:49.033
Chair , and I recognize the gentleman

01:21:49.033 --> 01:21:48.899
from Florida , Mr . Mills . Thank you

01:21:48.899 --> 01:21:50.899
so much , Mr . Chairman , uh , Mr .

01:21:50.899 --> 01:21:53.089
Secretary , General Kane , and the

01:21:53.089 --> 01:21:55.450
Honorable , we'd love to just thank you

01:21:55.450 --> 01:21:57.506
for this opportunity for coming here

01:21:57.569 --> 01:21:59.736
and for continuing to push forward the

01:21:59.736 --> 01:22:01.958
warfighter ethos , for making sure that

01:22:01.958 --> 01:22:04.013
the realities , regardless of what's

01:22:04.013 --> 01:22:06.236
said in here , are the realities on the

01:22:06.236 --> 01:22:05.970
battlefield that we're getting day in

01:22:05.970 --> 01:22:08.250
and day out . I asked the chairman for

01:22:08.250 --> 01:22:10.417
unanimous consent to enter a couple of

01:22:10.417 --> 01:22:12.528
documents into record without without

01:22:12.528 --> 01:22:14.417
objection . I'll be entering into

01:22:14.417 --> 01:22:16.810
record my DD 214 published in 2003

01:22:16.810 --> 01:22:18.810
indicating my Bronze Star and other

01:22:18.810 --> 01:22:21.410
wartime medals and decorations . I'd

01:22:21.410 --> 01:22:23.299
also like to present the document

01:22:23.299 --> 01:22:25.466
provided by the Department of the Army

01:22:25.466 --> 01:22:28.689
in 2024 that also authorizes vets and

01:22:28.689 --> 01:22:31.810
verifies all medals and or awards , as

01:22:31.810 --> 01:22:34.450
well as a document by Paul Savitzky ,

01:22:34.609 --> 01:22:36.609
former Special Forces member , that

01:22:36.609 --> 01:22:38.831
annotates the two explosions that I was

01:22:38.831 --> 01:22:40.498
involved in in Baghdad . With

01:22:40.498 --> 01:22:42.831
objections are ordered . Mr . Secretary ,

01:22:42.850 --> 01:22:45.629
as you know . You're pretty familiar

01:22:45.629 --> 01:22:47.907
with the ideas of slander , defamation ,

01:22:47.907 --> 01:22:49.629
and attack on character . So I

01:22:49.629 --> 01:22:51.518
apologize for having to take that

01:22:51.518 --> 01:22:53.407
moment to be able to go ahead and

01:22:53.407 --> 01:22:55.185
correct the record , but it was

01:22:55.185 --> 01:22:55.069
necessary . I would also note that my

01:22:55.069 --> 01:22:58.350
OMPF file that was FOIA by the

01:22:58.350 --> 01:23:00.406
Department of the Army , or that was

01:23:00.406 --> 01:23:02.406
FOIA , was actually released by the

01:23:02.406 --> 01:23:04.572
Department of the Army the same day as

01:23:04.572 --> 01:23:06.794
yours was . So everything is sitting on

01:23:06.794 --> 01:23:08.794
the actual website itself if people

01:23:08.794 --> 01:23:08.069
aren't too lazy to look at it .

01:23:09.120 --> 01:23:11.287
Secretary Hegseth , thank you for your

01:23:11.287 --> 01:23:13.287
testimony and for the time that you

01:23:13.287 --> 01:23:15.620
have here today . As the chairman noted ,

01:23:15.620 --> 01:23:17.509
President Trump's incredible $1.5

01:23:17.509 --> 01:23:19.620
trillion investment into our national

01:23:19.620 --> 01:23:21.787
defense is set to reverse the years of

01:23:21.787 --> 01:23:23.959
atrophy that our defense industrial

01:23:23.959 --> 01:23:26.070
base has faced over time , especially

01:23:26.640 --> 01:23:28.959
small innovative businesses , uh , and

01:23:28.959 --> 01:23:31.000
needs of a solid demand that signal

01:23:31.000 --> 01:23:33.240
that our War Department is ready to buy

01:23:33.240 --> 01:23:35.407
American . I witnessed myself as I was

01:23:35.407 --> 01:23:37.573
with you in Merritt Island , Florida ,

01:23:37.573 --> 01:23:39.629
as we went on the Arsenal tour , and

01:23:39.629 --> 01:23:41.796
unfortunately , I didn't get to do the

01:23:41.796 --> 01:23:43.851
cool things like fly in a jet really

01:23:43.851 --> 01:23:45.962
quick and buzz around while we're all

01:23:45.962 --> 01:23:48.073
actually doing hard work here . But I

01:23:48.073 --> 01:23:47.799
wanted to just say , Mr . Secretary ,

01:23:47.919 --> 01:23:50.200
that can you detail for us how the

01:23:50.200 --> 01:23:52.256
Department of War has eased the path

01:23:52.256 --> 01:23:54.089
for American small businesses to

01:23:54.089 --> 01:23:56.689
contract with the department ? Well ,

01:23:56.890 --> 01:23:58.668
Congressman , thank you for the

01:23:58.668 --> 01:24:00.890
question . That , that has been core to

01:24:00.890 --> 01:24:03.001
our mission is the recognition , uh ,

01:24:03.001 --> 01:24:04.668
that we have a problem at the

01:24:04.668 --> 01:24:06.779
Department , previously Department of

01:24:06.779 --> 01:24:09.001
Defense and now the Department of War ,

01:24:09.001 --> 01:24:11.112
and that problem is us . That problem

01:24:11.112 --> 01:24:13.223
is our bureaucracy , our process that

01:24:13.223 --> 01:24:15.334
is meant to block out new competitors

01:24:15.334 --> 01:24:17.557
and protect existing primes . And , and

01:24:17.557 --> 01:24:19.557
there are great primes that provide

01:24:19.557 --> 01:24:19.410
great products and we continue to

01:24:19.410 --> 01:24:21.577
support them . But to build an arsenal

01:24:21.577 --> 01:24:23.743
of freedom , you need more than just 5

01:24:23.743 --> 01:24:25.632
or more than just 6 . You need an

01:24:25.632 --> 01:24:27.799
entire network of small , medium , and

01:24:27.799 --> 01:24:29.966
large companies contributing to the US

01:24:29.966 --> 01:24:31.743
manufacturing and supply base ,

01:24:31.743 --> 01:24:33.799
delivering weapons ahead of schedule

01:24:33.799 --> 01:24:36.069
and under budget that don't only have

01:24:36.069 --> 01:24:38.236
defense business , but also commercial

01:24:38.236 --> 01:24:40.720
business . Uh , and , and when we see

01:24:40.765 --> 01:24:42.987
We need something that can move quickly

01:24:42.987 --> 01:24:45.209
and adapt accordingly because there are

01:24:45.209 --> 01:24:46.987
multiple options . So our , our

01:24:46.987 --> 01:24:49.321
acquisitions , transformation , uh , uh ,

01:24:49.321 --> 01:24:51.487
speech and , and memo and directive we

01:24:51.487 --> 01:24:51.404
rolled out on that , the Arsenal of

01:24:51.404 --> 01:24:53.515
Freedom tour going out there with the

01:24:53.515 --> 01:24:55.571
hard hats and saying you are part of

01:24:55.571 --> 01:24:57.682
the workforce , you have the backs of

01:24:57.682 --> 01:24:59.904
our warriors , just changing the entire

01:24:59.904 --> 01:25:01.960
dynamic to say you shouldn't have to

01:25:01.960 --> 01:25:04.126
sue the department . In order to get a

01:25:04.126 --> 01:25:04.060
contract with the department . We're

01:25:04.060 --> 01:25:06.060
opening the doors with , with small

01:25:06.060 --> 01:25:08.282
business loans , whether it's SIRSitter

01:25:08.282 --> 01:25:10.504
or DIU or OSC . The Office of Strategic

01:25:10.504 --> 01:25:12.449
Capital hasn't even been discussed

01:25:12.449 --> 01:25:14.560
today . $20 billion that gets levered

01:25:14.560 --> 01:25:16.939
into $200 billion so that companies can

01:25:16.939 --> 01:25:19.106
invest in ways they otherwise wouldn't

01:25:19.106 --> 01:25:21.272
have the capital to do and it's not on

01:25:21.272 --> 01:25:23.106
our balance sheet . So we've got

01:25:23.106 --> 01:25:25.217
businessmen , the Deputy Secretary of

01:25:25.217 --> 01:25:27.217
War who should be deemed a national

01:25:27.217 --> 01:25:29.272
asset . Uh , for what he understands

01:25:29.272 --> 01:25:31.328
and how he works , we're opening the

01:25:31.328 --> 01:25:33.495
aperture of our department in historic

01:25:33.495 --> 01:25:35.550
ways , uh , and I think our , I know

01:25:35.550 --> 01:25:37.772
our manufacturing base is gonna see the

01:25:37.772 --> 01:25:37.370
benefit from it . Thank you so much . I

01:25:37.370 --> 01:25:39.370
also want to thank you for your due

01:25:39.370 --> 01:25:41.370
diligence and making sure that task

01:25:41.370 --> 01:25:43.537
force audit will come forward , and we

01:25:43.537 --> 01:25:43.379
will see the Department of War for the

01:25:43.379 --> 01:25:45.879
first time in 2028 with a clean audit ,

01:25:45.979 --> 01:25:47.535
something that the previous

01:25:47.535 --> 01:25:49.646
administration was never able to do ,

01:25:49.646 --> 01:25:51.868
and many before that . I believe it was

01:25:51.868 --> 01:25:51.779
28 years if I'm not mistaken , Mr .

01:25:51.790 --> 01:25:53.790
Secretary , since we've had a clean

01:25:53.790 --> 01:25:56.012
audit . That is right , and this is not

01:25:56.012 --> 01:25:58.179
a thing . We just announced we've been

01:25:58.179 --> 01:26:00.179
doing it for 15 months . Jay's been

01:26:00.179 --> 01:26:00.069
integrally involved . We just launched

01:26:00.069 --> 01:26:02.291
a joint task force audit . We are going

01:26:02.291 --> 01:26:04.291
to pass an audit as a department by

01:26:04.299 --> 01:26:06.521
2028 because the taxpayer , and this is

01:26:06.521 --> 01:26:08.743
why we're so honored to have you as our

01:26:08.743 --> 01:26:10.743
Secretary of War and General Kane .

01:26:10.743 --> 01:26:12.632
We're honored to have you as well

01:26:12.632 --> 01:26:14.743
leading our forces , Mr . Secretary .

01:26:14.743 --> 01:26:14.470
With the last few seconds I have , from

01:26:14.470 --> 01:26:16.248
ships to bombs to bullets , our

01:26:16.248 --> 01:26:18.581
industrial base in dire need of support ,

01:26:18.581 --> 01:26:20.470
even as these defense markers are

01:26:20.470 --> 01:26:22.303
strengthened , as a former small

01:26:22.303 --> 01:26:24.192
business owner , I understand how

01:26:24.192 --> 01:26:26.470
bottlenecks can hold up good contracts .

01:26:26.470 --> 01:26:26.330
And move from the speed at which we

01:26:26.330 --> 01:26:28.200
need for our warfighters . Mr .

01:26:28.209 --> 01:26:30.153
Secretary , can you detail how the

01:26:30.153 --> 01:26:32.320
department has moved , uh , to promote

01:26:32.320 --> 01:26:34.320
diversity in our defense industrial

01:26:34.320 --> 01:26:38.220
base ? in 12 seconds . Well ,

01:26:38.290 --> 01:26:40.568
if you will , can we submit for record ?

01:26:44.120 --> 01:26:46.231
Sorry , every aspect is opening it up

01:26:46.231 --> 01:26:48.287
to , to provide as much running room

01:26:48.287 --> 01:26:50.342
for new entrants as possible . Thank

01:26:50.342 --> 01:26:52.120
you so much , Mr . Chairman . I

01:26:52.120 --> 01:26:52.040
appreciate it that I yield back . Chair

01:26:52.040 --> 01:26:54.096
and I recognize a gentleman from New

01:26:54.096 --> 01:26:56.373
Mexico , Mr . Vasquez . Thank you , Mr .

01:26:56.373 --> 01:26:58.151
Chairman , and thank you to our

01:26:58.151 --> 01:27:00.262
witnesses for being here today . Uh ,

01:27:00.262 --> 01:27:02.373
you're here before us requesting $1.5

01:27:02.373 --> 01:27:04.484
trillion for the Defense Department ,

01:27:04.484 --> 01:27:06.707
the the largest one-year increase since

01:27:06.707 --> 01:27:08.873
World War Two . While I will recognize

01:27:08.873 --> 01:27:11.096
that your budget does include increases

01:27:11.096 --> 01:27:13.096
for pay and quality of life , these

01:27:13.096 --> 01:27:15.262
increases are outweighed by the rising

01:27:15.262 --> 01:27:17.262
cost of living and the department's

01:27:17.262 --> 01:27:19.040
ongoing failures on childcare ,

01:27:19.040 --> 01:27:21.096
education , medical care , and other

01:27:21.096 --> 01:27:23.096
quality of life factors . Just like

01:27:23.096 --> 01:27:25.151
other families , the soaring cost of

01:27:25.151 --> 01:27:27.262
gas , groceries , housing , and child

01:27:27.262 --> 01:27:29.096
care have left military families

01:27:29.096 --> 01:27:30.873
underwater . Yet the department

01:27:30.873 --> 01:27:33.040
continues to put other priorities like

01:27:33.040 --> 01:27:35.151
a $25 billion war of choice in Iran .

01:27:35.151 --> 01:27:37.207
And slightly photo ops with Kid Rock

01:27:37.207 --> 01:27:39.207
ahead of improving the lives of our

01:27:39.207 --> 01:27:41.429
troops and their families . It's deeply

01:27:41.429 --> 01:27:43.429
troubling to me that the department

01:27:43.429 --> 01:27:45.484
received a historic $1 trillion last

01:27:45.484 --> 01:27:47.651
year , including $9 billion under HR 1

01:27:47.651 --> 01:27:49.873
for improving troops' quality of life .

01:27:49.873 --> 01:27:51.873
But the new Mexican service members

01:27:51.873 --> 01:27:53.818
that I have and I've talked to are

01:27:53.818 --> 01:27:55.873
still living in barracks that are at

01:27:55.873 --> 01:27:58.040
capacity , setting their . Kids to run

01:27:58.040 --> 01:28:00.262
down schools and lack access to on base

01:28:00.262 --> 01:28:02.484
child care . Here's an example . During

01:28:02.484 --> 01:28:04.484
my most recent visit to White Sands

01:28:04.484 --> 01:28:06.707
Missile Range , I saw severely aging on

01:28:06.707 --> 01:28:08.818
base infrastructure , specifically an

01:28:08.818 --> 01:28:10.984
elementary school that is in need of a

01:28:10.984 --> 01:28:13.151
complete rebuild . Secretary Hegseth ,

01:28:13.151 --> 01:28:15.207
last fall you said . That quality of

01:28:15.207 --> 01:28:17.207
life for our warriors is a critical

01:28:17.207 --> 01:28:19.540
component of reviving the warrior ethos .

01:28:19.540 --> 01:28:21.651
In a video you posted to social media

01:28:21.651 --> 01:28:23.540
last November , you said that the

01:28:23.540 --> 01:28:25.596
places where our war fighters reside

01:28:25.596 --> 01:28:27.596
need to be safe , comfortable , and

01:28:27.596 --> 01:28:29.707
clean . And in your opening statement

01:28:29.707 --> 01:28:31.707
today , you said quality of life is

01:28:31.707 --> 01:28:33.818
front and center in this budget . But

01:28:33.818 --> 01:28:36.040
when it comes to our troops' quality of

01:28:36.040 --> 01:28:38.207
life , I fear that this is more of all

01:28:38.207 --> 01:28:37.959
talk because I can tell you the

01:28:37.959 --> 01:28:40.070
outdated barracks that I saw at White

01:28:40.070 --> 01:28:42.181
Sands Missile Range were anything but

01:28:42.181 --> 01:28:44.126
safe , comfortable , clean , and I

01:28:44.126 --> 01:28:46.070
haven't heard from service members

01:28:46.070 --> 01:28:48.070
about any improvements since you've

01:28:48.070 --> 01:28:49.959
assumed this role as Secretary of

01:28:49.959 --> 01:28:51.403
Defense , do you take any

01:28:51.403 --> 01:28:53.237
accountability for the continued

01:28:53.237 --> 01:28:55.126
quality of life concerns that New

01:28:55.126 --> 01:28:57.237
Mexico's military service members and

01:28:57.237 --> 01:28:59.570
family face today under your leadership ?

01:28:59.570 --> 01:29:01.570
Well , I , I appreciate your , uh ,

01:29:01.570 --> 01:29:03.681
attention to the matter of quality of

01:29:03.681 --> 01:29:05.903
life , which is incredibly important to

01:29:05.903 --> 01:29:08.070
us and it's reflected in this budget .

01:29:08.070 --> 01:29:10.292
I mean , historic amounts in barracks ,

01:29:10.292 --> 01:29:12.348
in family housing , in , uh , family

01:29:12.348 --> 01:29:14.515
support like child development , youth

01:29:14.515 --> 01:29:16.570
program . I mean , this budget . The

01:29:16.570 --> 01:29:18.570
surpasses anything you've seen from

01:29:18.570 --> 01:29:20.626
this department , uh , in quite some

01:29:20.626 --> 01:29:22.237
time to include replacing or

01:29:22.237 --> 01:29:24.070
eliminating all poor and failing

01:29:24.070 --> 01:29:26.292
barracks . So we've seen those photos .

01:29:26.292 --> 01:29:25.720
We responded to them with a barracks

01:29:25.720 --> 01:29:27.609
task force with a billion dollars

01:29:27.609 --> 01:29:29.831
initially , and now we have billions of

01:29:29.831 --> 01:29:31.998
dollars behind it to make sure they're

01:29:31.998 --> 01:29:34.220
safe and clean . Uh , and quality , but

01:29:34.220 --> 01:29:34.149
also that where they need to be

01:29:34.149 --> 01:29:36.482
replaced , they're rebuilt and replaced ,

01:29:36.482 --> 01:29:38.593
and the president has charged me with

01:29:38.593 --> 01:29:38.350
doing that , and we're focused on doing

01:29:38.350 --> 01:29:40.406
that . Thank you , Secretary , and I

01:29:40.406 --> 01:29:42.350
hope that the next photos that you

01:29:42.350 --> 01:29:42.270
receive and the next photos that I

01:29:42.270 --> 01:29:44.437
receive and reports that I receive are

01:29:44.437 --> 01:29:46.326
of improved conditions and of new

01:29:46.326 --> 01:29:48.103
barracks and of quality of life

01:29:48.103 --> 01:29:50.214
improvements because this has gone on

01:29:50.214 --> 01:29:50.189
for far too long . Uh , let me give you

01:29:50.189 --> 01:29:52.411
another example . At Haldeman Air Force

01:29:52.411 --> 01:29:54.633
Base , the child development centers on

01:29:54.633 --> 01:29:56.856
base faced critical staffing issues for

01:29:56.856 --> 01:29:58.856
many years and . Uh , just recently

01:29:58.856 --> 01:30:01.078
gave military families , our airmen and

01:30:01.078 --> 01:30:02.856
women , just 9 days to find new

01:30:02.856 --> 01:30:04.967
childcare providers . One parent said

01:30:04.967 --> 01:30:06.856
she felt she had no choice but to

01:30:06.856 --> 01:30:08.800
resign from her job as a physician

01:30:08.800 --> 01:30:11.022
assistant when her son lost his spot in

01:30:11.022 --> 01:30:12.779
on-base care . And one patient

01:30:12.779 --> 01:30:14.668
describing his experience seeking

01:30:14.668 --> 01:30:16.668
healthcare at Cannon Air Force Base

01:30:16.668 --> 01:30:18.279
said , Good luck if you need

01:30:18.279 --> 01:30:20.279
specialized care . Referrals take 6

01:30:20.279 --> 01:30:21.890
months or more , and regular

01:30:21.890 --> 01:30:24.057
appointments are booking a month out .

01:30:24.057 --> 01:30:26.279
And so spending a billion dollars a day

01:30:26.279 --> 01:30:28.279
on a war overseas while leaving our

01:30:28.279 --> 01:30:30.168
service members out to dry is not

01:30:30.168 --> 01:30:32.057
America first , it's a betrayal .

01:30:32.057 --> 01:30:34.001
Secretary Hegseth , I voted for $1

01:30:34.001 --> 01:30:35.946
trillion for the defense budget in

01:30:35.946 --> 01:30:38.057
committee last year , and I've yet to

01:30:38.057 --> 01:30:40.057
see the results come home . Service

01:30:40.057 --> 01:30:42.057
members back home have said nothing

01:30:42.057 --> 01:30:44.390
about progress or improvements underway .

01:30:44.390 --> 01:30:46.557
Within 30 days . Secretary , would you

01:30:46.557 --> 01:30:48.779
commit to sending me a detailed list of

01:30:48.779 --> 01:30:48.479
every dollar that is going to improve

01:30:48.479 --> 01:30:50.439
the quality of life at bases in my

01:30:50.439 --> 01:30:53.620
district ? We will get you whatever we

01:30:53.620 --> 01:30:55.731
can , but that doesn't meet with what

01:30:55.731 --> 01:30:57.842
we've seen , which is running as fast

01:30:57.842 --> 01:31:00.009
as this department ever has on quality

01:31:00.009 --> 01:30:59.939
of life issues because I've been in

01:30:59.939 --> 01:31:02.106
their shoes . I've seen those barracks

01:31:02.106 --> 01:31:04.383
and I've seen them recently . And , uh ,

01:31:04.383 --> 01:31:06.383
it may not have happened under this

01:31:06.383 --> 01:31:05.850
administration , but this

01:31:05.850 --> 01:31:07.906
administration's gonna fix it , uh ,

01:31:07.906 --> 01:31:09.906
and ultimately this budget reflects

01:31:09.906 --> 01:31:12.017
that kind of priority across . Well ,

01:31:12.017 --> 01:31:14.239
thank you , Secretary , and I will just

01:31:14.239 --> 01:31:13.700
suggest that it needs to run faster .

01:31:13.740 --> 01:31:15.962
It needs to run at the speed of light .

01:31:15.962 --> 01:31:18.184
It needs to cross time travel . I don't

01:31:18.184 --> 01:31:20.296
care what it takes , but it's gone on

01:31:20.296 --> 01:31:22.462
for far too long . And so I appreciate

01:31:22.462 --> 01:31:22.259
your attention to this issue , but we

01:31:22.259 --> 01:31:24.481
have got to get it done , and we cannot

01:31:24.481 --> 01:31:26.648
be here again next year discussing the

01:31:26.648 --> 01:31:28.648
improvements that haven't been done

01:31:28.648 --> 01:31:30.703
despite what's in the budget today .

01:31:30.703 --> 01:31:30.379
And so let me be clear that these

01:31:30.379 --> 01:31:32.490
issues have . Existed for years under

01:31:32.490 --> 01:31:34.601
both administrations on both sides of

01:31:34.601 --> 01:31:36.823
the aisle , the department has received

01:31:36.823 --> 01:31:38.879
billions of taxpayer dollars as this

01:31:38.879 --> 01:31:40.935
committee has continued to work in a

01:31:40.935 --> 01:31:42.823
bipartisan fashion to support our

01:31:42.823 --> 01:31:42.629
troops and their families . And at a

01:31:42.629 --> 01:31:44.629
time when cost of living is the top

01:31:44.629 --> 01:31:46.685
issue for families , including those

01:31:46.685 --> 01:31:48.907
who serve , the department is in the in

01:31:48.907 --> 01:31:51.073
the position to address these costs of

01:31:51.073 --> 01:31:53.240
housing , child care , groceries , and

01:31:53.240 --> 01:31:55.240
other needs . I hope the department

01:31:55.240 --> 01:31:54.700
chooses to do that . Thank you ,

01:31:54.750 --> 01:31:56.861
Chairman . I yield back . Gentlemen ,

01:31:56.861 --> 01:31:59.028
yields back here , and I recognize the

01:31:59.028 --> 01:31:58.910
gentleman from Texas , Mr . Gooden .

01:31:59.680 --> 01:32:01.791
Thank you Mr . Chairman and thank you

01:32:01.791 --> 01:32:03.902
Secretary for being here and the work

01:32:03.902 --> 01:32:06.013
you're doing . Over the past decade ,

01:32:06.013 --> 01:32:08.236
Bitcoin has evolved from a fringe asset

01:32:08.236 --> 01:32:10.291
into a matter of national security .

01:32:10.291 --> 01:32:12.513
Iran has demanded Bitcoin as a toll for

01:32:12.513 --> 01:32:14.680
transit through the Strait of Hormuz .

01:32:14.680 --> 01:32:16.402
North Korean cyber actors have

01:32:16.402 --> 01:32:18.569
leveraged it in ransomware campaigns ,

01:32:18.569 --> 01:32:20.791
and China is believed to be stockpiling

01:32:20.791 --> 01:32:22.680
substantial holdings as part of a

01:32:22.680 --> 01:32:24.736
strategic reserve . Just last week ,

01:32:24.736 --> 01:32:26.736
Ndo Paycom commander Admiral Paparo

01:32:26.736 --> 01:32:28.458
stated that Bitcoin has direct

01:32:28.458 --> 01:32:30.680
implications for power projection . And

01:32:30.680 --> 01:32:32.847
he noted that Endo Paycom is operating

01:32:32.847 --> 01:32:34.680
a node on the Bitcoin network in

01:32:34.680 --> 01:32:37.013
furtherance of that mission . Secretary ,

01:32:37.013 --> 01:32:39.124
do you share the opinion that Bitcoin

01:32:39.124 --> 01:32:41.069
is a tool to project power and are

01:32:41.069 --> 01:32:43.180
there any department-wide initiatives

01:32:43.180 --> 01:32:45.236
to ensure the US secures a strategic

01:32:45.236 --> 01:32:47.069
advantage in Bitcoin and combats

01:32:47.069 --> 01:32:49.350
China's digital authoritarianism ? Um ,

01:32:49.430 --> 01:32:51.486
I guess my short answer would be yes

01:32:51.486 --> 01:32:53.649
and yes . Long and enthusiast of , of

01:32:53.709 --> 01:32:55.876
Bitcoin and crypto potential and a lot

01:32:55.876 --> 01:32:57.987
of the things we're doing enabling it

01:32:57.987 --> 01:32:59.987
or defeating it , uh , is our , our

01:32:59.987 --> 01:33:01.987
classified efforts that are ongoing

01:33:01.987 --> 01:33:03.931
inside our department , which I do

01:33:03.931 --> 01:33:05.765
provide , do provide us a lot of

01:33:05.765 --> 01:33:05.645
leverage . a lot of different scenarios .

01:33:05.745 --> 01:33:07.912
I appreciate that and I , I share your

01:33:07.912 --> 01:33:10.023
views . I thank you for that . Uh , I

01:33:10.023 --> 01:33:12.134
also wanted an update , uh , with our

01:33:12.134 --> 01:33:14.134
operations in Qatar . How are those

01:33:14.134 --> 01:33:16.356
going , uh , since the Iran war and how

01:33:16.356 --> 01:33:18.467
has , uh , Qatar been as a partner to

01:33:18.467 --> 01:33:20.634
work with over these last few months ?

01:33:20.634 --> 01:33:22.801
Uh , I think it's fair to say that the

01:33:22.801 --> 01:33:25.023
Gulf states , to include , uh , Qatar ,

01:33:25.023 --> 01:33:27.245
have , uh , done a nice job integrating

01:33:27.245 --> 01:33:29.467
on air defenses specifically and then ,

01:33:29.467 --> 01:33:31.689
uh , providing access base , basing and

01:33:31.689 --> 01:33:33.745
overflight . Um , Qatar being one of

01:33:33.745 --> 01:33:35.967
them , UAE , uh , Saudi , Kuwait , uh ,

01:33:35.967 --> 01:33:38.134
Bahrain , um , they've , they've lived

01:33:38.134 --> 01:33:40.301
the threat of Iran . Um , there's some

01:33:40.301 --> 01:33:42.412
complicated aspects with Qatar , uh ,

01:33:42.412 --> 01:33:44.245
but ultimately they've , they've

01:33:44.245 --> 01:33:46.467
provided support to what we need in the

01:33:46.467 --> 01:33:46.419
theater . I appreciate that . I , uh ,

01:33:46.430 --> 01:33:48.541
I also appreciate the job that , that

01:33:48.541 --> 01:33:50.597
our men and women are doing there at

01:33:50.597 --> 01:33:52.430
that base . I , I realize , uh ,

01:33:52.430 --> 01:33:54.652
they're going through a lot . We really

01:33:54.652 --> 01:33:56.763
appreciate the work you do , and I'll

01:33:56.763 --> 01:33:59.041
yield back to you , Mr . Chairman . Uh ,

01:33:59.041 --> 01:33:58.470
chair and I , we're gonna recognize a

01:33:58.470 --> 01:34:00.581
gentle lady from New Hampshire , Ms .

01:34:00.581 --> 01:34:02.450
Goodlander . I want to thank our

01:34:02.450 --> 01:34:05.209
witnesses for being here today , and I

01:34:05.209 --> 01:34:08.540
want to begin , uh . By getting right

01:34:08.540 --> 01:34:11.220
to it since my time is limited on this

01:34:11.220 --> 01:34:13.890
$1.5 trillion dollar budget request ,

01:34:14.209 --> 01:34:16.419
Mr . Hegseth , you testified last year

01:34:16.419 --> 01:34:18.689
and you testified again today , uh ,

01:34:18.709 --> 01:34:21.660
that you will be accountable for every

01:34:21.660 --> 01:34:23.979
American taxpayer dollar that comes to

01:34:23.979 --> 01:34:26.819
the department , where it goes and why .

01:34:27.220 --> 01:34:29.331
Uh , that's really important since as

01:34:29.331 --> 01:34:31.060
it has been pointed out , the

01:34:31.060 --> 01:34:34.680
department has failed 8 audits , uh .

01:34:35.229 --> 01:34:38.149
The department remains on GAO's high

01:34:38.149 --> 01:34:40.830
risk list . The Inspector general just

01:34:40.830 --> 01:34:43.069
last year alone identified billions of

01:34:43.069 --> 01:34:45.069
dollars that could have been put to

01:34:45.069 --> 01:34:48.180
better use and in questioned costs ,

01:34:48.270 --> 01:34:50.939
that is spending that raised red flags .

01:34:51.229 --> 01:34:53.470
Uh , so this is , this is a crisis

01:34:53.470 --> 01:34:55.609
right now in accountability of where

01:34:56.069 --> 01:34:58.229
the dollars of the American taxpayers

01:34:58.229 --> 01:35:00.507
who are in the middle of a cost crisis ,

01:35:00.507 --> 01:35:02.840
where this money is going . I , I wanna ,

01:35:02.959 --> 01:35:06.830
I wanna ask about your war in Iran and

01:35:06.839 --> 01:35:08.839
Mr . Hurst , you testified earlier

01:35:08.839 --> 01:35:12.319
today that $25 billion has been spent

01:35:12.319 --> 01:35:14.375
to date , and I just want to clarify

01:35:14.375 --> 01:35:16.208
that that is money that taxpayer

01:35:16.208 --> 01:35:18.430
dollars that have been spent already in

01:35:18.430 --> 01:35:22.140
this war . $25

01:35:22.140 --> 01:35:24.307
reflects the cost of the war , right ?

01:35:24.307 --> 01:35:26.418
So we've already spent the dollars on

01:35:26.418 --> 01:35:28.418
munitions and things like that . So

01:35:28.418 --> 01:35:27.939
we're factoring in cost of munitions

01:35:27.939 --> 01:35:30.500
expended in that total . So how much of

01:35:30.500 --> 01:35:32.740
that has gone towards munitions ? Does

01:35:32.740 --> 01:35:34.796
that include the munitions that have

01:35:34.796 --> 01:35:37.359
been spent to date ? Yeah , that

01:35:37.359 --> 01:35:39.470
reflects the munitions that have been

01:35:39.470 --> 01:35:41.803
spent today and other operational costs .

01:35:41.803 --> 01:35:44.089
Um , can you give us a breakdown of

01:35:44.089 --> 01:35:46.470
what those costs are ? Uh , we'll work

01:35:46.470 --> 01:35:48.526
to get you guys a product that has a

01:35:48.526 --> 01:35:50.526
detailed breakdown of those costs .

01:35:50.526 --> 01:35:52.359
Yeah , my concern here is , Mr .

01:35:52.359 --> 01:35:54.470
Hegseth , you've testified repeatedly

01:35:54.470 --> 01:35:56.526
that you're gonna be accountable for

01:35:56.526 --> 01:35:58.748
each and every American taxpayer dollar

01:35:58.748 --> 01:36:00.581
that you spend , you're gonna be

01:36:00.581 --> 01:36:02.803
accountable for the rationale . Here we

01:36:02.803 --> 01:36:04.859
are 60 days in your war of choice in

01:36:04.859 --> 01:36:07.026
Iran , and you can't give us an answer

01:36:07.026 --> 01:36:09.137
on a breakdown of the basic breakdown

01:36:09.137 --> 01:36:11.303
of American taxpayer dollars that have

01:36:11.303 --> 01:36:13.248
been spent in your war of choice .

01:36:13.540 --> 01:36:15.707
That's a question for Mr . Hurst . You

01:36:15.707 --> 01:36:17.596
right now , as you sit here now ,

01:36:17.596 --> 01:36:17.490
you're happy to give you a breakdown .

01:36:17.500 --> 01:36:19.667
We'll provide you a product after this

01:36:19.667 --> 01:36:21.778
hearing . Well , I would love for you

01:36:21.778 --> 01:36:23.667
to give us this breakdown now and

01:36:23.667 --> 01:36:25.667
explain to us , was this unbudgeted

01:36:25.667 --> 01:36:27.556
costs , or was this something the

01:36:27.556 --> 01:36:29.778
department planned for in advance since

01:36:29.778 --> 01:36:31.944
you were appropriated $1 trillion last

01:36:31.944 --> 01:36:33.778
year . The department deals with

01:36:33.778 --> 01:36:35.778
contingency operations all the time

01:36:35.778 --> 01:36:37.944
within its normal budget , so this was

01:36:37.944 --> 01:36:40.990
not budgeted for . My , my point here

01:36:40.990 --> 01:36:43.268
is , you know , and , and General Kane ,

01:36:43.268 --> 01:36:45.229
you've testified to this . We all

01:36:45.229 --> 01:36:47.700
understand for you to do your jobs you

01:36:47.700 --> 01:36:49.867
need Congress to pass budgets . For us

01:36:49.867 --> 01:36:53.520
to do our jobs , we need you to give us

01:36:53.700 --> 01:36:55.867
the details and to , to be accountable

01:36:55.867 --> 01:36:58.033
to American taxpayers . And so I gotta

01:36:58.033 --> 01:37:00.367
say it's , it's , it's an extraordinary .

01:37:00.367 --> 01:37:02.422
Dereliction that as you sit here you

01:37:02.422 --> 01:37:04.589
cannot account for billions of dollars

01:37:04.589 --> 01:37:06.700
that have already been spent . You're

01:37:06.700 --> 01:37:08.811
briefed on munitions every week . You

01:37:08.811 --> 01:37:10.922
and your entire staff have every just

01:37:10.922 --> 01:37:13.144
so the American public know it's not as

01:37:13.144 --> 01:37:12.703
if you don't have munitions levels .

01:37:12.712 --> 01:37:14.823
You do from us every single week , so

01:37:14.823 --> 01:37:16.823
you know exactly the numbers you're

01:37:16.823 --> 01:37:16.513
talking about . Seth . You have

01:37:16.513 --> 01:37:19.152
testified that American taxpayers need

01:37:19.152 --> 01:37:21.374
to know where their dollars are going .

01:37:21.374 --> 01:37:23.485
And as you sit here today , you can't

01:37:23.485 --> 01:37:25.596
provide us with a basic answer to the

01:37:25.596 --> 01:37:27.819
most simple question that you should be

01:37:27.819 --> 01:37:29.652
able to answer to each and every

01:37:29.652 --> 01:37:31.819
American . You're asking a question to

01:37:31.819 --> 01:37:31.655
an answer with an answer you already

01:37:31.655 --> 01:37:33.488
have . No , I'm asking you for a

01:37:33.488 --> 01:37:35.675
breakdown where you said you will be

01:37:35.675 --> 01:37:37.897
accountable for every taxpayer dollar .

01:37:37.897 --> 01:37:40.565
You cannot tell us where any of the $5

01:37:40.565 --> 01:37:42.609
billion . Dollars in taxpayer funds

01:37:42.609 --> 01:37:44.553
that have gone to fund your war of

01:37:44.553 --> 01:37:46.720
choice in Iran , and I look forward to

01:37:46.720 --> 01:37:48.665
getting details from our witnesses

01:37:48.665 --> 01:37:50.887
after this hearing because the American

01:37:50.887 --> 01:37:53.109
taxpayers need to know . Mr . Hegseth ,

01:37:53.109 --> 01:37:55.331
can I ask you , do you know what , what

01:37:55.331 --> 01:37:57.553
the average cost of a gallon of gas was

01:37:57.553 --> 01:37:59.776
in this country on , on February 28th ?

01:38:00.649 --> 01:38:02.760
Well , it depends on where you live .

01:38:02.760 --> 01:38:04.927
If you live in California , it's $8.02

01:38:04.927 --> 01:38:07.149
dollars 83 cents . Do you know what the

01:38:07.149 --> 01:38:09.093
average cost of a gallon of gas is

01:38:09.093 --> 01:38:11.093
today ? Much higher in California .

01:38:11.093 --> 01:38:13.279
$4.23 . I gotta say , Mr . Hegseth ,

01:38:13.540 --> 01:38:15.810
you said you've got a crack economic

01:38:15.810 --> 01:38:17.921
team that's looking at the impacts of

01:38:17.921 --> 01:38:20.143
this war on the American taxpayer , and

01:38:20.143 --> 01:38:22.477
you can answer this basic question , uh ,

01:38:22.477 --> 01:38:24.588
that should shock the conscience of .

01:38:24.588 --> 01:38:26.643
American Miss General Kane , I wanna

01:38:26.643 --> 01:38:28.532
come back to something , a really

01:38:28.532 --> 01:38:30.588
important principle , and my time is

01:38:30.588 --> 01:38:32.810
limited . You testified to an important

01:38:32.810 --> 01:38:34.921
and bedrock principle of American law

01:38:34.921 --> 01:38:37.174
that our service members follow lawful

01:38:37.174 --> 01:38:39.396
orders and lawful orders only . Is that

01:38:39.396 --> 01:38:41.730
right ? Do you agree with the statement ,

01:38:41.730 --> 01:38:43.618
quote , the military won't follow

01:38:43.618 --> 01:38:47.200
unlawful orders ? I do . Mr .

01:38:47.279 --> 01:38:49.112
Hegseth , do you agree with that

01:38:49.112 --> 01:38:51.740
statement ? I do , but I understand

01:38:51.740 --> 01:38:53.851
what you're insinuating at a partisan

01:38:53.851 --> 01:38:55.796
point . I , I'm not . I'm actually

01:38:55.796 --> 01:38:57.907
quoting you directly , Mr . Hegseth ,

01:38:57.907 --> 01:39:00.129
from April 12 , 2016 , and I appreciate

01:39:00.129 --> 01:39:02.129
that on the record you've clarified

01:39:02.129 --> 01:39:02.080
this important principle of American

01:39:02.080 --> 01:39:04.080
ladies' time's expired here , and I

01:39:04.080 --> 01:39:05.913
recognize a gentleman from North

01:39:05.913 --> 01:39:08.136
Carolina , Mr . Harrigan . Well , thank

01:39:08.136 --> 01:39:07.790
you , Mr . Chairman , and , uh , thank

01:39:07.790 --> 01:39:10.068
you , Mr . Secretary and Chairman Kane .

01:39:10.068 --> 01:39:12.401
It's always a pleasure to have you here .

01:39:12.401 --> 01:39:14.779
Uh , I'm gonna fall in line with the

01:39:14.779 --> 01:39:17.001
chairman's earlier statements so we can

01:39:17.001 --> 01:39:19.279
do whatever we want with our 5 minutes ,

01:39:19.279 --> 01:39:21.557
and I'm gonna give you all a brief , a ,

01:39:21.557 --> 01:39:23.779
a break from , uh , the conflict here ,

01:39:23.779 --> 01:39:25.835
and I'm gonna tell you a story , and

01:39:25.835 --> 01:39:27.946
it's a story that's important to me .

01:39:27.946 --> 01:39:27.729
And I'm gonna start with a proposed

01:39:27.729 --> 01:39:30.640
citation . And it's a rare point of

01:39:30.740 --> 01:39:32.907
personal privilege for me to do this ,

01:39:32.907 --> 01:39:35.200
but I haven't asked of you , but I'm

01:39:35.200 --> 01:39:37.256
gonna start with a proposed citation

01:39:37.256 --> 01:39:39.660
for a Medal of Honor award upgrade from

01:39:39.660 --> 01:39:42.450
a Silver Star . Sergeant First Class

01:39:42.450 --> 01:39:44.672
Thomas J . Grasso distinguished himself

01:39:44.672 --> 01:39:46.839
by acts of gallantry and intrepidity .

01:39:46.850 --> 01:39:48.739
Above and beyond the call of duty

01:39:48.739 --> 01:39:50.961
between September 29 , 2015 and October

01:39:50.961 --> 01:39:53.128
4th , 2015 , while serving as a senior

01:39:53.128 --> 01:39:55.529
communications sergeant . Operational

01:39:55.529 --> 01:39:58.620
detachment Alpha 3133 . Advanced

01:39:58.620 --> 01:40:00.398
Operations Base North , Special

01:40:00.398 --> 01:40:03.209
Operations Task Force Afghanistan . In

01:40:03.209 --> 01:40:05.529
support of Operation Resolute Support ,

01:40:05.930 --> 01:40:08.152
Sergeant First Class Grasso was part of

01:40:08.152 --> 01:40:10.152
a small Special Forces element that

01:40:10.152 --> 01:40:12.374
seized Kunduz , a provincial capital of

01:40:12.374 --> 01:40:15.069
over 300,000 civilians from the Taliban .

01:40:15.410 --> 01:40:18.160
Outnumbered 60 to 1 , the US Special

01:40:18.160 --> 01:40:20.216
Forces element faced an overwhelming

01:40:20.216 --> 01:40:22.529
enemy force of 2000 confirmed Taliban

01:40:22.529 --> 01:40:25.330
fighters . On September 29th , facing a

01:40:25.330 --> 01:40:27.386
Taliban advance on Kunduz airfield ,

01:40:27.529 --> 01:40:29.751
Sergeant First Class Grasso established

01:40:29.751 --> 01:40:31.918
a sniper overwatch position in the air

01:40:31.918 --> 01:40:34.140
traffic control tower . With enemy fire

01:40:34.140 --> 01:40:36.362
converging from 3 directions , Sergeant

01:40:36.362 --> 01:40:38.473
First Class Grosso risked his life to

01:40:38.473 --> 01:40:40.585
engage a hostile anti-aircraft team .

01:40:40.585 --> 01:40:42.696
Successfully clearing the way for air

01:40:42.696 --> 01:40:44.862
support . On September 30th , fighting

01:40:44.862 --> 01:40:46.918
through relentless ambushes on their

01:40:46.918 --> 01:40:48.918
subsequent movement into the city ,

01:40:48.918 --> 01:40:51.085
Sergeant First Class Grasso repeatedly

01:40:51.085 --> 01:40:53.307
dismounted his vehicle while exposed to

01:40:53.307 --> 01:40:55.529
intense enemy fire to engage insurgents

01:40:55.529 --> 01:40:57.473
and shield the convoy . During one

01:40:57.473 --> 01:40:59.585
encounter while under withering enemy

01:40:59.585 --> 01:41:01.751
fire , he disregarded his own safety ,

01:41:01.751 --> 01:41:03.696
maneuvered into the kill zone of a

01:41:03.696 --> 01:41:05.973
complex near ambush , saving the lives .

01:41:05.973 --> 01:41:05.842
Lives of 5 trapped special forces

01:41:05.842 --> 01:41:07.922
teammates , 1 Romanian partner and

01:41:07.922 --> 01:41:09.866
their interpreter . Sergeant First

01:41:09.866 --> 01:41:11.866
Class Grasso again came under heavy

01:41:11.866 --> 01:41:14.033
machine gun fire when he dismounted to

01:41:14.033 --> 01:41:16.366
direct the element to the city compound .

01:41:16.366 --> 01:41:18.311
To enable the remaining element to

01:41:18.311 --> 01:41:20.033
safely enter the compound , he

01:41:20.033 --> 01:41:19.842
effectively returned fire and

01:41:19.842 --> 01:41:21.953
suppressed the enemy positions . From

01:41:21.953 --> 01:41:23.962
October 1st through 4th , Sergeant

01:41:23.962 --> 01:41:26.184
First Class Grasso anchored the defense

01:41:26.184 --> 01:41:27.962
of the compound , absorbing the

01:41:27.962 --> 01:41:30.240
heaviest . Concentration of enemy fire .

01:41:30.240 --> 01:41:32.184
He repeatedly subjected himself to

01:41:32.184 --> 01:41:34.351
heavy machine gun and rocket propelled

01:41:34.351 --> 01:41:36.573
grenade fire from distances as close as

01:41:36.573 --> 01:41:38.755
15 m , repelling dozens of enemy

01:41:38.755 --> 01:41:40.916
attacks . On October 1st , a rocket

01:41:40.916 --> 01:41:42.860
propelled grenade directly hit his

01:41:42.860 --> 01:41:45.083
position , inflicting a traumatic brain

01:41:45.083 --> 01:41:47.194
injury . Bleeding , disoriented , and

01:41:47.194 --> 01:41:49.083
going 60 hours without sleep , he

01:41:49.083 --> 01:41:50.860
checked on his teammates before

01:41:50.860 --> 01:41:52.916
returning to his exposed post . From

01:41:52.916 --> 01:41:55.083
there , he single-handedly neutralized

01:41:55.083 --> 01:41:56.860
continuous waves of attackers ,

01:41:56.860 --> 01:41:58.916
attempting to detonate vehicle-borne

01:41:58.916 --> 01:42:01.027
IEDs , forcing the enemy to request a

01:42:01.027 --> 01:42:02.749
temporary ceasefire . During a

01:42:02.749 --> 01:42:04.749
subsequent rocket propelled grenade

01:42:04.749 --> 01:42:06.509
attack near his position , he

01:42:06.509 --> 01:42:08.731
eliminated a follow-on explosive filled

01:42:08.731 --> 01:42:10.620
rickshaw , preventing a perimeter

01:42:10.620 --> 01:42:12.620
breach . As the fight wore on , the

01:42:12.620 --> 01:42:14.842
enemy began throwing hand grenades into

01:42:14.842 --> 01:42:17.120
the compound from an adjacent building .

01:42:17.120 --> 01:42:17.049
Sergeant First Class Grasso ran through

01:42:17.049 --> 01:42:19.290
the blast to hurl grenades back , then

01:42:19.290 --> 01:42:21.457
established a clear line of sight from

01:42:21.457 --> 01:42:23.401
an exposed staircase to enable his

01:42:23.401 --> 01:42:25.568
command to call in a danger close F-16

01:42:25.568 --> 01:42:28.009
strafing run , bullets hitting 15 m

01:42:28.009 --> 01:42:30.370
from his position . When partner forces

01:42:30.370 --> 01:42:32.370
were decisively engaged , without

01:42:32.370 --> 01:42:34.259
sufficient ammunition outside the

01:42:34.259 --> 01:42:36.148
perimeter , he maneuvered without

01:42:36.148 --> 01:42:37.926
regard for his own safety under

01:42:37.926 --> 01:42:39.870
devastating fire to resupply their

01:42:39.870 --> 01:42:42.092
position . And employed accurate sniper

01:42:42.092 --> 01:42:44.259
fire , destroying another advance . On

01:42:44.259 --> 01:42:46.481
October 4th , he unhesitatingly stepped

01:42:46.481 --> 01:42:48.370
into the enemy's line of sight to

01:42:48.370 --> 01:42:50.592
destroy the fighter preparing to fire a

01:42:50.592 --> 01:42:50.390
rocket propelled grenade at two trapped

01:42:50.390 --> 01:42:53.080
teammates . Throughout 130 hours of

01:42:53.080 --> 01:42:55.240
grueling sleepless combat , Sergeant

01:42:55.240 --> 01:42:57.184
First Class Grasso's extraordinary

01:42:57.184 --> 01:42:59.351
heroism , unwavering dedication to his

01:42:59.351 --> 01:43:01.518
teammates , and complete disregard for

01:43:01.518 --> 01:43:03.740
his own life , ensured the recapture of

01:43:03.740 --> 01:43:05.839
Kunduz with zero friendly personnel

01:43:05.839 --> 01:43:08.439
killed in action . As these severe

01:43:08.439 --> 01:43:10.661
conditions took a toll on the element ,

01:43:10.661 --> 01:43:10.620
his ability to fight through a

01:43:10.620 --> 01:43:13.060
traumatic brain injury with indomitable

01:43:13.060 --> 01:43:15.339
will and lethal precision inspired

01:43:15.339 --> 01:43:17.561
those around him . Sergeant First Class

01:43:17.561 --> 01:43:19.729
Thomas J . Grasso's heroism and

01:43:19.729 --> 01:43:21.785
selflessness are in keeping with the

01:43:21.785 --> 01:43:23.951
highest traditions of military service

01:43:23.951 --> 01:43:26.173
and reflect great credit upon himself ,

01:43:26.173 --> 01:43:28.229
his unit in the United States Army .

01:43:28.729 --> 01:43:31.169
I'm asking you to direct .

01:43:35.330 --> 01:43:38.209
The board chair of HRC . Awards and

01:43:38.209 --> 01:43:41.259
decorations branch to board Sergeant

01:43:41.259 --> 01:43:43.660
First Class Thomas J . Grasso's packet .

01:43:44.479 --> 01:43:46.590
I know these things to be true inside

01:43:46.590 --> 01:43:48.919
of this packet because I was there .

01:43:50.160 --> 01:43:53.080
And I'm here today only because I was

01:43:53.080 --> 01:43:55.560
one of those 5 that he rescued out of

01:43:55.560 --> 01:43:58.180
that near complex ambush .

01:44:00.220 --> 01:44:02.276
And I'm grateful for your service to

01:44:02.276 --> 01:44:04.689
our nation . Thank you . Um , we'll do

01:44:04.689 --> 01:44:06.856
it , and I'd love to meet the Sergeant

01:44:06.856 --> 01:44:08.967
First Class . Thank you . I think the

01:44:08.967 --> 01:44:10.911
gentleman yields , um , the , uh ,

01:44:10.911 --> 01:44:13.022
chair , and I recognize a gentle lady

01:44:13.022 --> 01:44:15.078
from Maryland , Miss Elfrith . Thank

01:44:15.078 --> 01:44:14.609
you , Mr . Chair . I wanna start by

01:44:14.609 --> 01:44:17.120
thanking CA Isom and General Keene for

01:44:17.120 --> 01:44:19.453
inviting a number of us to the Pentagon .

01:44:19.453 --> 01:44:21.509
Uh , last week to talk about the 1.8

01:44:21.509 --> 01:44:23.509
million enlisted service members we

01:44:23.509 --> 01:44:25.731
have , the challenges and opportunities

01:44:25.731 --> 01:44:27.898
that we can work together . Every base

01:44:27.898 --> 01:44:30.064
that I go to internationally and every

01:44:30.064 --> 01:44:29.979
single major military base in Maryland

01:44:29.979 --> 01:44:31.812
over the last year , I insist on

01:44:31.812 --> 01:44:33.757
meeting . With service members and

01:44:33.757 --> 01:44:35.923
hearing , um , hearing what we can all

01:44:35.923 --> 01:44:37.979
do better , Mr . Secretary , I wanna

01:44:37.979 --> 01:44:40.201
assure you I insist on those meetings .

01:44:40.201 --> 01:44:42.423
There's a whole lot we could talk about

01:44:42.423 --> 01:44:41.959
today , war in Iran , and I , I too

01:44:41.959 --> 01:44:44.279
want to thank the families of the 14

01:44:44.279 --> 01:44:46.446
service members we have lost , uh , in

01:44:46.446 --> 01:44:48.557
this war so far . Boat strikes in the

01:44:48.557 --> 01:44:50.779
Caribbean and the East Pacific , firing

01:44:50.779 --> 01:44:53.001
of a number of people we all respect on

01:44:53.001 --> 01:44:55.057
this diocese on both sides , 61 days

01:44:55.057 --> 01:44:57.168
into . This war , but I want to start

01:44:57.168 --> 01:44:59.335
with the quality of life issues , Mr .

01:44:59.335 --> 01:45:01.557
Secretary . Um , a number of members of

01:45:01.557 --> 01:45:03.279
this committee met with , uh ,

01:45:03.279 --> 01:45:03.174
survivors of sexual assault at Fort

01:45:03.174 --> 01:45:05.118
Hood , enlisted members and family

01:45:05.118 --> 01:45:07.404
members . Um , you sat here last year

01:45:07.404 --> 01:45:09.237
and you said , quote , I applaud

01:45:09.237 --> 01:45:11.460
Congress for the efforts that have been

01:45:11.460 --> 01:45:13.515
ongoing to address sexual assaults ,

01:45:13.515 --> 01:45:15.515
which we have , we do need to drive

01:45:15.515 --> 01:45:15.265
down to zero . That funding has not

01:45:15.265 --> 01:45:17.689
been reduced . I appreciate that . But

01:45:17.689 --> 01:45:19.800
the budget we have before us is level

01:45:19.800 --> 01:45:22.022
funded from last year , which you would

01:45:22.022 --> 01:45:24.300
agree is a realized cut year over year .

01:45:24.300 --> 01:45:26.411
So I want to give you the opportunity

01:45:26.411 --> 01:45:28.633
to talk about how you're still going to

01:45:28.633 --> 01:45:28.490
drive those sexual assault numbers down

01:45:28.490 --> 01:45:30.729
to 0 via flat funding .

01:45:32.359 --> 01:45:34.640
I'm told we've , we've added 5% , so

01:45:34.640 --> 01:45:36.899
it's actually not flat , but we remain

01:45:36.899 --> 01:45:39.066
committed to that , and I think you've

01:45:39.066 --> 01:45:41.232
seen throughout the force reductions ,

01:45:41.232 --> 01:45:43.399
not enough . We want more . We want to

01:45:43.399 --> 01:45:45.621
go to zero , but we remain committed to

01:45:45.621 --> 01:45:44.270
that . We're going to hold you

01:45:44.270 --> 01:45:46.214
accountable accountable for that .

01:45:46.214 --> 01:45:48.048
Thank you . I want to move on to

01:45:48.048 --> 01:45:50.159
Ukraine . Um , I don't normally agree

01:45:50.159 --> 01:45:49.640
with Mitch McConnell , but , uh , as

01:45:49.640 --> 01:45:51.251
you know , the department is

01:45:51.251 --> 01:45:53.362
withholding approximately 400 million

01:45:53.362 --> 01:45:55.529
in appropriated security assistance to

01:45:55.529 --> 01:45:57.807
Ukraine despite some public belittling .

01:45:57.807 --> 01:45:59.807
Ukraine has stepped up perhaps more

01:45:59.807 --> 01:46:01.862
than any other ally . Uh , for us in

01:46:01.862 --> 01:46:03.918
the Middle East , they're harnessing

01:46:03.918 --> 01:46:05.640
the superiority that they have

01:46:06.100 --> 01:46:08.211
generated from a hard fought war with

01:46:08.211 --> 01:46:10.378
Russia . They are intercepting Iranian

01:46:10.378 --> 01:46:12.378
drones that threaten US and partner

01:46:12.378 --> 01:46:14.711
forces in the Middle East . Uh , but Mr .

01:46:14.711 --> 01:46:16.767
Secretary , I'm , I'm very concerned

01:46:16.767 --> 01:46:18.656
about that $400 million . Can you

01:46:18.656 --> 01:46:20.822
please let this committee know , folks

01:46:20.822 --> 01:46:23.156
watching at home , the Ukrainian people ,

01:46:23.156 --> 01:46:25.433
when they can expect that $400 million .

01:46:25.433 --> 01:46:27.544
In Ukraine support passed by Congress

01:46:27.544 --> 01:46:29.656
bipartisanly last year to be released

01:46:29.656 --> 01:46:31.211
and put on contract for its

01:46:31.211 --> 01:46:33.378
congressionally intended purpose , the

01:46:33.378 --> 01:46:35.544
defense of Ukraine . So the department

01:46:35.544 --> 01:46:37.830
recognizes that 400 million was uh was

01:46:37.830 --> 01:46:39.720
allocated for European capacity

01:46:39.720 --> 01:46:41.720
building and as of yesterday it has

01:46:41.720 --> 01:46:44.160
been released as it released and under

01:46:44.160 --> 01:46:46.382
contract released as of yesterday . How

01:46:46.382 --> 01:46:49.319
would you describe it , Jay ? Not under

01:46:49.319 --> 01:46:51.541
contract , but released to be put under

01:46:51.541 --> 01:46:53.597
contract . Let me , let me ask you a

01:46:53.597 --> 01:46:55.763
different way , Mr . Hurst . When will

01:46:55.763 --> 01:46:58.310
it actually be on the ground in Ukraine ?

01:46:58.439 --> 01:47:00.606
That depends on what they buy with the

01:47:00.606 --> 01:47:02.828
money , and we're gonna take the advice

01:47:02.828 --> 01:47:04.995
of the UCO commanders who employ those

01:47:04.995 --> 01:47:07.217
funds for best use . OK , we're gonna ,

01:47:07.217 --> 01:47:07.160
we're gonna keep on that because it's ,

01:47:07.200 --> 01:47:09.422
it's incredibly important , as we heard

01:47:09.422 --> 01:47:11.533
from , from everybody , including the

01:47:11.533 --> 01:47:13.589
King of England yesterday . Um , I'm

01:47:13.589 --> 01:47:15.644
gonna stay on our allies here . It's

01:47:15.644 --> 01:47:15.529
clear that the president didn't account

01:47:15.529 --> 01:47:17.751
for the Strait of Hormuz being closed ,

01:47:17.770 --> 01:47:19.992
global market , oil market disruption ,

01:47:20.290 --> 01:47:22.680
gas prices skyrocketing . Mr .

01:47:22.689 --> 01:47:24.522
Secretary , gas in my district ,

01:47:24.522 --> 01:47:27.600
Maryland , not California , $4.11 . The

01:47:27.600 --> 01:47:31.100
president did not notify allies abroad

01:47:31.120 --> 01:47:33.759
or Congress before he went to war . He

01:47:33.759 --> 01:47:36.279
has repeatedly berated and belittled

01:47:36.279 --> 01:47:38.879
our NATO allies , and I am not

01:47:38.879 --> 01:47:40.990
interested in Twitter diplomacy . I'm

01:47:40.990 --> 01:47:43.157
interested in our actual exit strategy

01:47:43.157 --> 01:47:45.268
from this war . So I'm actually going

01:47:45.268 --> 01:47:45.069
to pose it to General Kaine if I could .

01:47:45.180 --> 01:47:47.402
Well , the president did understand the

01:47:47.402 --> 01:47:49.569
risks and had the courage to undertake

01:47:49.569 --> 01:47:49.520
the endeavor nonetheless , which the

01:47:49.520 --> 01:47:51.687
American people voted for that kind of

01:47:51.687 --> 01:47:53.631
courage and taking on that Iranian

01:47:53.631 --> 01:47:57.000
nuclear threat . General Kane , uh ,

01:47:57.160 --> 01:47:59.327
have you or what have you formally and

01:47:59.327 --> 01:48:01.271
specifically requested of our NATO

01:48:01.271 --> 01:48:03.104
allies and European partners for

01:48:03.104 --> 01:48:05.327
operations in the strait ? Can you tell

01:48:05.327 --> 01:48:07.104
me duties , air defense , peace

01:48:07.104 --> 01:48:09.271
enforcement , specific requests of our

01:48:09.271 --> 01:48:12.080
NATO allies ? Both us and state have

01:48:12.770 --> 01:48:15.310
reached out through a variety of

01:48:15.310 --> 01:48:19.000
mechanisms to pulse our international

01:48:19.000 --> 01:48:21.569
partners , not just in Europe but in

01:48:21.569 --> 01:48:24.490
the Pacific as well to see what

01:48:24.490 --> 01:48:26.660
capabilities could be brought to bear

01:48:26.930 --> 01:48:29.209
down there as this is largely , um ,

01:48:29.810 --> 01:48:32.600
you know , this is largely a , uh , uh ,

01:48:32.729 --> 01:48:35.007
we don't move much trade through there .

01:48:35.007 --> 01:48:37.118
I'll defer to energy , commerce , and

01:48:37.118 --> 01:48:39.340
treasury , but we've been specific with

01:48:39.340 --> 01:48:41.673
our allies about what we need . We have ,

01:48:41.673 --> 01:48:43.785
OK , can I ask you for specificity on

01:48:43.785 --> 01:48:45.840
another issue that's been brought up

01:48:45.840 --> 01:48:48.062
today from a military perspective , not

01:48:48.062 --> 01:48:50.062
a policy perspective ? What will it

01:48:50.062 --> 01:48:49.669
require of our service members to

01:48:49.669 --> 01:48:51.919
actually eradicate any Iranian nuclear

01:48:51.919 --> 01:48:53.919
threat ? Can you help us understand

01:48:53.919 --> 01:48:56.141
that ? Uh , there , there's such a wide

01:48:56.141 --> 01:48:58.569
range , ma'am , of options in there ,

01:48:59.290 --> 01:49:01.529
all of which are classified . It would

01:49:01.529 --> 01:49:03.790
be out of my swim lane , but we always

01:49:03.790 --> 01:49:06.209
deliver the full range of options , the

01:49:06.209 --> 01:49:08.810
associated risks and the advice to go

01:49:08.810 --> 01:49:11.032
do the things that we would be asked to

01:49:11.032 --> 01:49:13.930
do . There , there's a , Uh , many , I

01:49:13.930 --> 01:49:15.819
can't speak for everybody on this

01:49:15.819 --> 01:49:15.359
committee , but I know we would like

01:49:15.359 --> 01:49:17.415
the gentlewoman's time has expired .

01:49:17.415 --> 01:49:19.415
The , the chair now recognizes Mr .

01:49:19.415 --> 01:49:21.526
Messimer from Indiana for 5 minutes .

01:49:21.526 --> 01:49:23.637
Uh , thank you , Chairman , and thank

01:49:23.637 --> 01:49:25.915
you , Secretary Hegseth , General Kane ,

01:49:25.915 --> 01:49:25.330
and Comptroller Hurst for being here

01:49:25.330 --> 01:49:27.441
today . Congratulations to all of you

01:49:27.441 --> 01:49:29.330
for rolling out the $1.5 trillion

01:49:29.330 --> 01:49:31.274
defense budget . I'd like to offer

01:49:31.274 --> 01:49:33.330
special thanks to Mr . Hurst and his

01:49:33.330 --> 01:49:35.441
Comptroller team for the work that it

01:49:35.441 --> 01:49:37.774
takes to put , put this budget together .

01:49:37.774 --> 01:49:39.830
It's a monumental task for and , and

01:49:39.830 --> 01:49:38.890
important for our nation and our

01:49:38.890 --> 01:49:41.450
well-being . Secretary Hegseth , as you

01:49:41.450 --> 01:49:43.672
know , the theme of this year's NDAA is

01:49:43.672 --> 01:49:45.894
expanding the defense industrial base ,

01:49:45.930 --> 01:49:48.097
and one of the key bottlenecks to that

01:49:48.097 --> 01:49:50.152
expansion is our workforce size . We

01:49:50.152 --> 01:49:52.319
are not producing enough skilled young

01:49:52.319 --> 01:49:54.541
workers and , and too many regions with

01:49:54.541 --> 01:49:56.652
strong manufacturing potential remain

01:49:56.652 --> 01:49:58.649
underutilized . Would you support

01:49:58.649 --> 01:50:00.871
Congress working across committees on a

01:50:00.871 --> 01:50:03.093
national defense strategy workforce , a

01:50:03.093 --> 01:50:04.927
workforce strategy that promotes

01:50:04.927 --> 01:50:07.093
technical training , apprenticeships ,

01:50:07.093 --> 01:50:09.427
and proven school to industry pipelines ?

01:50:10.419 --> 01:50:12.475
Absolutely , I think you'll find our

01:50:12.475 --> 01:50:14.641
budget fully aligned with the theme of

01:50:14.641 --> 01:50:16.863
the NDAA . And when it comes to skilled

01:50:16.863 --> 01:50:16.669
workers , whether it's DoDa schools ,

01:50:16.790 --> 01:50:18.679
do wea schools , whether it's the

01:50:18.679 --> 01:50:20.957
Patriot pipeline or any form of trades ,

01:50:20.990 --> 01:50:23.212
we're investing in that because we need

01:50:23.212 --> 01:50:25.379
those folks invested in our industrial

01:50:25.379 --> 01:50:27.546
base . Excellent . I'd look forward to

01:50:27.546 --> 01:50:29.768
working , uh , you working with my team

01:50:29.768 --> 01:50:29.350
to ensure those efforts align with the

01:50:29.350 --> 01:50:31.239
Department of Defense , the indus

01:50:31.239 --> 01:50:33.790
industrial workforce workforce

01:50:33.790 --> 01:50:36.339
priorities . So my , my office will be

01:50:36.339 --> 01:50:38.395
reaching out . Also , Secretary Heck

01:50:38.395 --> 01:50:40.617
Seth , we are in a shipment in crisis .

01:50:40.617 --> 01:50:42.783
As the department implements President

01:50:42.783 --> 01:50:44.783
Trump's vision for a larger fleet ,

01:50:44.783 --> 01:50:46.783
should the Navy leverage a model of

01:50:46.783 --> 01:50:48.895
distributed modular shipbuilding that

01:50:48.895 --> 01:50:50.839
taps industrial strength in , uh ,

01:50:50.839 --> 01:50:53.061
outside of traditional shipyards , such

01:50:53.061 --> 01:50:55.283
as , uh , in the Midwest , in the Great

01:50:55.283 --> 01:50:57.339
Lakes in Ohio and Mississippi Valley

01:50:57.339 --> 01:50:59.395
regions to help expand capacity , to

01:50:59.395 --> 01:51:01.728
ease pressure on overburdened shipyards ,

01:51:01.728 --> 01:51:01.660
and cut down on maintenance backlogs .

01:51:03.450 --> 01:51:05.339
Um , in , in short , yes , and

01:51:05.339 --> 01:51:07.450
including international options where

01:51:07.450 --> 01:51:09.395
we can work with partners who have

01:51:09.395 --> 01:51:11.561
specific capabilities that would speed

01:51:11.561 --> 01:51:13.783
up the timeline on shipyards that are ,

01:51:13.783 --> 01:51:13.740
that are behind , uh , in our own

01:51:13.740 --> 01:51:16.120
country , but you'll find $65 billion

01:51:16.120 --> 01:51:18.379
in this budget on shipbuilding , a lot

01:51:18.379 --> 01:51:20.268
of which builds on those types of

01:51:20.268 --> 01:51:22.379
capabilities . Excellent . Uh , would

01:51:22.379 --> 01:51:24.323
you also agree that platforms like

01:51:24.323 --> 01:51:26.379
unmanned surface vessels , tenders ,

01:51:26.379 --> 01:51:28.379
and other , uh , support ships seem

01:51:28.379 --> 01:51:30.323
well suited for production outside

01:51:30.323 --> 01:51:32.379
traditional shipyards ? Absolutely .

01:51:32.379 --> 01:51:34.546
And in fact , some of those facilities

01:51:34.546 --> 01:51:36.657
were precisely the ones we visited on

01:51:36.657 --> 01:51:38.712
the Arsenal of Freedom tour , USVs ,

01:51:38.712 --> 01:51:40.768
UUVs , where you don't need the same

01:51:40.768 --> 01:51:42.990
capabilities you would in a traditional

01:51:42.990 --> 01:51:45.101
shipyard , or you can invest in a new

01:51:45.101 --> 01:51:47.268
type of shipyard specifically tailored

01:51:47.268 --> 01:51:49.490
to those more bespoke capabilities that

01:51:49.490 --> 01:51:51.435
can be scaled for the fight of the

01:51:51.435 --> 01:51:51.180
future for sure . Perfect . Thank you ,

01:51:51.750 --> 01:51:53.806
Secretary Hegseth and General Kane .

01:51:54.169 --> 01:51:55.836
Many from the department have

01:51:55.836 --> 01:51:58.002
reiterated support for the nuclear sea

01:51:58.002 --> 01:52:00.225
launched cruise missile , and I believe

01:52:00.225 --> 01:52:02.169
President Trump needs more support

01:52:02.169 --> 01:52:04.391
options in the form of expanded theater

01:52:04.391 --> 01:52:06.391
nuclear capability . Uh , from your

01:52:06.391 --> 01:52:08.558
perspective , what specific deterrence

01:52:08.558 --> 01:52:10.391
problem does Slickamin solve the

01:52:10.391 --> 01:52:12.558
current capabilities do not , and what

01:52:12.558 --> 01:52:14.780
risk do we assume if if that capability

01:52:14.780 --> 01:52:17.770
is not fielded ? Take it first . Uh ,

01:52:17.790 --> 01:52:20.169
Slickamend provides , it's part of the

01:52:20.870 --> 01:52:22.926
multiple layers of nuclear deterrent

01:52:22.926 --> 01:52:24.926
that we , that any president has to

01:52:24.926 --> 01:52:26.926
have at their disposal that creates

01:52:26.926 --> 01:52:28.926
dilemmas for enemies who are either

01:52:28.926 --> 01:52:31.092
nuclear capable or not and ensures the

01:52:31.092 --> 01:52:33.314
kind of leverage required and defense ,

01:52:33.314 --> 01:52:35.314
uh , required , deterrence required

01:52:35.390 --> 01:52:37.501
that the nation , that , that sort of

01:52:37.501 --> 01:52:39.668
underwrites everything we do . So more

01:52:39.668 --> 01:52:41.612
options on that that the adversary

01:52:41.612 --> 01:52:43.834
can't account for is only good for us .

01:52:44.299 --> 01:52:46.620
One thing I'll add is , uh , as we

01:52:46.620 --> 01:52:48.787
mentioned a little bit earlier , sir ,

01:52:48.787 --> 01:52:51.009
we continue to modernize the , the full

01:52:51.009 --> 01:52:53.064
range of the triad . This is another

01:52:53.064 --> 01:52:55.700
tool in that regional normally , so

01:52:55.700 --> 01:52:58.339
it's , it's something I support . Thank

01:52:58.339 --> 01:53:00.339
you . As we look beyond the current

01:53:00.339 --> 01:53:02.283
program , should the department be

01:53:02.283 --> 01:53:04.228
thinking about a future sea launch

01:53:04.228 --> 01:53:05.783
nuclear system with greater

01:53:05.783 --> 01:53:07.895
survivability , maneuverability , and

01:53:07.895 --> 01:53:11.029
potential hypersonic capability ? Uh ,

01:53:11.160 --> 01:53:13.589
yes , and , and I know we are . OK .

01:53:14.509 --> 01:53:18.350
Thank you . Secretary Hegseth

01:53:18.350 --> 01:53:20.350
and General Kane , one of the major

01:53:20.350 --> 01:53:22.406
bottlenecks in expanding the defense

01:53:22.406 --> 01:53:24.461
industrial base is , uh , test range

01:53:24.461 --> 01:53:26.683
access . Companies are waiting too long

01:53:26.683 --> 01:53:28.461
for range time , and that slows

01:53:28.461 --> 01:53:30.350
fielding at speed modern conflict

01:53:30.350 --> 01:53:32.517
demands . What is the department doing

01:53:32.517 --> 01:53:34.517
to expand and modernize the testing

01:53:34.517 --> 01:53:38.390
architecture ? Um , $5.2 billion worth

01:53:38.390 --> 01:53:40.390
of investment , but I'll tell you ,

01:53:40.390 --> 01:53:42.612
when we sit with industry , and I , I ,

01:53:42.612 --> 01:53:44.834
I simply ask the question , what can we

01:53:44.834 --> 01:53:44.779
do for you ? How do we empower you ?

01:53:45.109 --> 01:53:47.331
Test ranges come up almost every single

01:53:47.331 --> 01:53:49.387
time and the limits and the timeline

01:53:49.387 --> 01:53:51.609
limits they create . So we're trying to

01:53:51.609 --> 01:53:53.665
blow that open and create a lot more

01:53:53.665 --> 01:53:55.665
options for them . Thank you , uh ,

01:53:55.665 --> 01:53:57.776
Secretary Heckseth and General Kane ,

01:53:57.776 --> 01:53:59.831
I'd like to extend an invitation for

01:53:59.831 --> 01:54:01.831
both of you to come and visit Naval

01:54:01.831 --> 01:54:04.053
Surface Warship Center Crane , uh , and

01:54:04.053 --> 01:54:06.220
see what a great , great work is being

01:54:06.220 --> 01:54:05.819
done in Southwest Indiana to support

01:54:05.819 --> 01:54:07.986
the warfighter and ensure our military

01:54:07.986 --> 01:54:10.208
edge . And with that , I'll close and ,

01:54:10.208 --> 01:54:12.208
and , uh , surrender the rest of my

01:54:12.208 --> 01:54:14.263
time . The chair now recognizes Mr .

01:54:14.263 --> 01:54:16.097
Whitesides from California for 5

01:54:16.097 --> 01:54:17.930
minutes . Thank you , Chairman .

01:54:17.930 --> 01:54:20.041
Chairwoman , um , Secretary Hegseth ,

01:54:20.041 --> 01:54:22.152
General Kane , Mr . Hurst , thank you

01:54:22.152 --> 01:54:24.152
for testifying today , uh , and for

01:54:24.152 --> 01:54:26.263
your service to the nation . Over the

01:54:26.263 --> 01:54:28.430
past few weeks , military and civilian

01:54:28.430 --> 01:54:28.009
leaders of many of the DOD components

01:54:28.009 --> 01:54:30.089
have testified about their FY 27

01:54:30.089 --> 01:54:32.160
posture . We appreciate their

01:54:32.160 --> 01:54:34.216
professionalism and their service to

01:54:34.216 --> 01:54:36.327
the country and the time that they've

01:54:36.327 --> 01:54:38.438
spent to , uh , testify before us . I

01:54:38.438 --> 01:54:40.493
want to start with Mr . Hurst . Mr .

01:54:40.493 --> 01:54:40.069
Hurst , you testified at the beginning

01:54:40.069 --> 01:54:42.209
of this , that you said that the

01:54:42.310 --> 01:54:44.477
estimated cost of the war is about $25

01:54:44.477 --> 01:54:46.532
billion . In March , you stated that

01:54:46.532 --> 01:54:48.990
the first week of the war cost $11

01:54:48.990 --> 01:54:51.589
billion . Uh , so , is it right to say

01:54:51.589 --> 01:54:53.589
that the following seven weeks have

01:54:53.589 --> 01:54:56.250
cost about $14 billion total or $2

01:54:56.250 --> 01:54:58.319
billion per week ? Yeah , the most

01:54:58.319 --> 01:55:00.208
intense phase of the conflict was

01:55:00.208 --> 01:55:02.208
obviously at the beginning . That's

01:55:02.208 --> 01:55:04.208
when most munitions were used , and

01:55:04.208 --> 01:55:04.109
that's the basic expense from the war ,

01:55:04.689 --> 01:55:06.911
right ? So , so that you , and you also

01:55:06.911 --> 01:55:08.979
said just now that the $25 billion

01:55:08.979 --> 01:55:10.923
includes the cost of the munitions

01:55:10.923 --> 01:55:12.979
deployed . Is that right ? Um , this

01:55:12.979 --> 01:55:15.146
question is for the CFO , sir . Yeah ,

01:55:15.146 --> 01:55:17.201
that's correct . OK , so I , I guess

01:55:17.201 --> 01:55:19.423
I'm confused then . It makes sense that

01:55:19.423 --> 01:55:21.535
if that's the cost , then the cost to

01:55:21.535 --> 01:55:23.590
refill those stocks would be no more

01:55:23.590 --> 01:55:25.590
than $25 billion . Am I right about

01:55:25.590 --> 01:55:27.646
that ? When we estimate costs of the

01:55:27.646 --> 01:55:29.368
conflict , we're using current

01:55:29.368 --> 01:55:31.312
replacement costs for these weapon

01:55:31.312 --> 01:55:31.049
systems , right ? You're using current

01:55:31.049 --> 01:55:33.049
replacement costs . So it's frankly

01:55:33.049 --> 01:55:35.271
pretty surprising that the estimate for

01:55:35.271 --> 01:55:37.950
the supplemental would be $200 billion .

01:55:38.250 --> 01:55:40.306
You don't , if you'd like to explain

01:55:40.306 --> 01:55:42.417
that , you can , but but that's not ,

01:55:42.417 --> 01:55:44.583
that's not accurate . We don't have an

01:55:44.583 --> 01:55:44.370
estimate for the cost . OK , that's

01:55:44.370 --> 01:55:46.592
what's publicly reported . So it's good

01:55:46.592 --> 01:55:48.759
to hear that it's gonna be less . Um ,

01:55:48.759 --> 01:55:50.981
Mr . Hurst , do you have signal on your

01:55:50.981 --> 01:55:53.720
phone ? I'm sorry , why is this

01:55:53.720 --> 01:55:55.831
relevant ? Do you have signal on your

01:55:55.831 --> 01:55:57.998
phone ? What does this have to do with

01:55:57.998 --> 01:56:00.109
the budget ? I'm gonna take that as a

01:56:00.109 --> 01:56:02.276
yes . Um , Mr . Kane , sorry , General

01:56:02.276 --> 01:56:04.609
Kane , do you have signal on your phone ?

01:56:05.319 --> 01:56:07.839
I do , sir . Yes . OK , so I want to

01:56:07.839 --> 01:56:09.839
talk about Signal . Last year , the

01:56:09.839 --> 01:56:11.783
secretary and other administration

01:56:11.783 --> 01:56:13.672
officials discussed sensitive and

01:56:13.672 --> 01:56:15.895
almost certainly classified information

01:56:15.895 --> 01:56:15.359
about a strike in Yemen using the

01:56:15.359 --> 01:56:18.370
unclassified Signal app . Mr . Hurst ,

01:56:18.479 --> 01:56:21.200
what's the current policy for Signal on

01:56:21.200 --> 01:56:23.580
official DOD devices ? I'm the

01:56:23.580 --> 01:56:26.339
comptroller . I don't do CIO work . So

01:56:26.339 --> 01:56:29.939
therefore it is , uh , allowed . Is

01:56:29.939 --> 01:56:31.883
that your statement that it is now

01:56:31.883 --> 01:56:34.106
allowed to have signal on your device ,

01:56:34.106 --> 01:56:36.328
Mr . White said , my statement is I run

01:56:36.328 --> 01:56:38.550
the budget for DOD . Yeah , OK . Well ,

01:56:38.550 --> 01:56:40.772
he's got it on his phone , so therefore

01:56:40.772 --> 01:56:42.717
it must be permitted . Toronto . I

01:56:42.717 --> 01:56:44.772
gotta go back and look if it's on my

01:56:44.772 --> 01:56:44.180
official phone . I was talking about my

01:56:44.180 --> 01:56:46.402
personal phone . I'm not exactly sure .

01:56:46.402 --> 01:56:48.680
I'll go back and look though , OK . Um ,

01:56:48.870 --> 01:56:51.299
last month , FBI Director Kash Patel

01:56:51.709 --> 01:56:53.931
made a public announcement that Russian

01:56:53.931 --> 01:56:56.098
hackers are targeting signal app users

01:56:56.098 --> 01:56:58.320
in the government , specifically stated

01:56:58.320 --> 01:56:58.069
they were targeting individuals of high

01:56:58.069 --> 01:57:00.279
intelligence value , including current

01:57:00.279 --> 01:57:02.759
and former US government officials . Um ,

01:57:03.029 --> 01:57:06.410
I hope that it is not official policy

01:57:06.410 --> 01:57:08.243
that you can have signal on your

01:57:08.243 --> 01:57:10.354
official phones , and I would love to

01:57:10.354 --> 01:57:12.077
get a response from , uh , the

01:57:12.077 --> 01:57:14.243
department on that . We have now asked

01:57:14.243 --> 01:57:16.299
this question about 5 separate times

01:57:16.299 --> 01:57:18.632
and have never gotten a straight answer .

01:57:18.632 --> 01:57:20.743
Um , I wanna close by talking about ,

01:57:20.743 --> 01:57:23.021
uh , helicopters . Mr . Secretary , um ,

01:57:23.021 --> 01:57:24.910
I wanna ask about the Army Apache

01:57:24.910 --> 01:57:26.966
helicopter that flew over Kid Rock's

01:57:26.966 --> 01:57:29.439
property on March 28th . Uh , an

01:57:29.529 --> 01:57:31.751
investigation was launched by the 101st

01:57:31.751 --> 01:57:33.529
Combat Aviation Brigade Command

01:57:33.529 --> 01:57:35.696
Leadership , but before that review is

01:57:35.696 --> 01:57:37.362
completed on March 31st , you

01:57:37.362 --> 01:57:39.473
terminated it via social media post .

01:57:39.473 --> 01:57:41.585
Did you personally direct termination

01:57:41.585 --> 01:57:44.359
of that review ? Uh , I did . OK . Now ,

01:57:44.399 --> 01:57:46.839
the , the president said they probably

01:57:46.839 --> 01:57:48.950
shouldn't have been doing it and that

01:57:48.950 --> 01:57:51.172
I'd take a look at it . So did you talk

01:57:51.172 --> 01:57:53.172
to the president before terminating

01:57:53.172 --> 01:57:55.395
that review ? Well , I , I don't , uh ,

01:57:55.395 --> 01:57:57.561
relay what I talk about . OK , I think

01:57:57.561 --> 01:57:59.672
unfortunately that means that you did

01:57:59.672 --> 01:57:59.529
talk to him , which in turn means that

01:57:59.529 --> 01:58:01.529
you've just confirmed the president

01:58:01.529 --> 01:58:03.751
himself overruled the leadership of the

01:58:03.751 --> 01:58:05.862
101st Airborne . Mr . Secretary , you

01:58:05.862 --> 01:58:07.973
yourself have affirmed repeatedly the

01:58:07.973 --> 01:58:10.029
need for higher standards and higher

01:58:10.029 --> 01:58:12.140
accountability at every level of your

01:58:12.140 --> 01:58:14.362
agency . Commanders rely on established

01:58:14.362 --> 01:58:16.473
processes to uphold these standards .

01:58:16.473 --> 01:58:18.640
How does canceling a command-initiated

01:58:18.640 --> 01:58:20.862
review by the 101st Airborne Leadership

01:58:20.862 --> 01:58:20.660
support a culture of accountability ?

01:58:20.740 --> 01:58:22.962
Actually , I think I'll ask that of the

01:58:22.962 --> 01:58:26.319
chairman . Sir , um , back to my

01:58:26.319 --> 01:58:28.430
earlier comments about the importance

01:58:28.430 --> 01:58:30.541
in my role of staying in the middle ,

01:58:30.541 --> 01:58:33.879
um , what you're alluding to is in my

01:58:33.879 --> 01:58:35.990
assessment with deep respect for your

01:58:35.990 --> 01:58:37.935
ask is a partisan question , and I

01:58:37.935 --> 01:58:40.101
think it would be inappropriate for me

01:58:40.101 --> 01:58:42.323
to answer that , Mr. , sir . I actually

01:58:42.323 --> 01:58:44.212
don't think it is . I think it is

01:58:44.212 --> 01:58:46.323
actually a very fundamental principle

01:58:46.323 --> 01:58:48.435
of accountability in our . Department

01:58:48.435 --> 01:58:48.084
and , and I think it was the wrong

01:58:48.084 --> 01:58:50.028
decision . I'm gonna close by just

01:58:50.028 --> 01:58:52.251
saying one thing , Mr . Secretary , you

01:58:52.251 --> 01:58:52.205
started this hearing by politicizing it ,

01:58:52.274 --> 01:58:54.274
and I want to make one point . Poll

01:58:54.274 --> 01:58:56.218
after poll shows that the American

01:58:56.218 --> 01:58:58.274
public does not support this war and

01:58:58.274 --> 01:59:00.441
support is dropping every day . We are

01:59:00.441 --> 01:59:02.663
all representing our constituents , our

01:59:02.663 --> 01:59:04.218
constituents , which is our

01:59:04.218 --> 01:59:06.441
constitutional duty . And to state that

01:59:06.441 --> 01:59:09.154
we are politicizing it is an affront to

01:59:09.154 --> 01:59:11.805
Congress and every member in this house ,

01:59:11.884 --> 01:59:14.825
and I yield back . You are politicizing

01:59:14.825 --> 01:59:17.410
it , Congressman . The gentleman's time

01:59:17.410 --> 01:59:19.577
has expired . The chair now recognizes

01:59:19.577 --> 01:59:21.854
Mr . Schmidt from Kansas for 5 minutes .

01:59:21.854 --> 01:59:24.077
Thank you , Madam Chair , and I want to

01:59:24.077 --> 01:59:26.132
thank all three of our witnesses for

01:59:26.132 --> 01:59:25.689
being here today and , uh , answering

01:59:25.689 --> 01:59:27.800
our questions . Uh , Mr . Secretary ,

01:59:27.800 --> 01:59:29.911
let me start with you . Uh , a little

01:59:29.911 --> 01:59:32.189
bit off topic for today , but relevant .

01:59:32.189 --> 01:59:34.411
Uh , we are now more than 2 months into

01:59:34.411 --> 01:59:36.633
the funding shutdown for the Department

01:59:36.633 --> 01:59:38.770
of Homeland Security because folks at

01:59:38.770 --> 01:59:40.770
this end of the avenue have not yet

01:59:40.770 --> 01:59:42.937
been able to get to yes . I hope we're

01:59:42.937 --> 01:59:45.159
gonna get to yes here shortly . I think

01:59:45.159 --> 01:59:44.850
we made some progress , uh , here today

01:59:44.850 --> 01:59:47.183
while we've been in this gathering . Uh ,

01:59:47.183 --> 01:59:49.294
it's been necessary , as I understand

01:59:49.294 --> 01:59:51.700
it , for the administration to scrape

01:59:51.700 --> 01:59:53.478
out the pennies under the couch

01:59:53.478 --> 01:59:55.589
cushions in order to keep DHS running

01:59:55.589 --> 01:59:57.756
and , and honestly running , uh , uh ,

01:59:57.756 --> 01:59:59.978
not at full speed . Has your department

01:59:59.978 --> 02:00:02.144
had any , uh , role in contributing to

02:00:02.144 --> 02:00:04.256
the ongoing operations of DHS while ,

02:00:04.256 --> 02:00:07.430
um , things have not been funded ? Well ,

02:00:07.490 --> 02:00:09.601
I wouldn't comment on the status of ,

02:00:09.601 --> 02:00:11.823
of DHS . I'll just say the ways that we

02:00:11.823 --> 02:00:13.990
cooperate with them have continued . I

02:00:13.990 --> 02:00:13.850
mean , look at the southern , uh , look

02:00:13.850 --> 02:00:15.961
at the southern border and the 11,000

02:00:15.961 --> 02:00:17.850
troops we have there , task force

02:00:17.850 --> 02:00:19.850
southern border , ensuring that our

02:00:19.850 --> 02:00:21.794
border is locked down . Uh , we've

02:00:21.794 --> 02:00:21.649
worked with law enforcement from day

02:00:21.649 --> 02:00:23.871
one on DHS to do that just like we have

02:00:23.871 --> 02:00:25.982
with local law enforcement across the

02:00:25.982 --> 02:00:27.816
country . So , uh , obviously we

02:00:27.816 --> 02:00:29.649
welcome DHS funding , but in the

02:00:29.649 --> 02:00:31.482
meantime we're gonna protect the

02:00:31.482 --> 02:00:33.593
country , protect the homeland , uh ,

02:00:33.593 --> 02:00:32.919
and that's what we're doing with them .

02:00:33.089 --> 02:00:35.799
Do what is necessary . Very good . Uh ,

02:00:35.930 --> 02:00:38.490
General , let me ask you , uh , if it's

02:00:38.490 --> 02:00:40.546
more appropriate for the secretary ,

02:00:40.546 --> 02:00:43.069
we'll defer , but , um . We , we , you

02:00:43.069 --> 02:00:45.180
know , we've obviously been following

02:00:45.180 --> 02:00:45.149
with interest , uh , all of the

02:00:45.149 --> 02:00:47.260
developments in the publicly reported

02:00:47.260 --> 02:00:49.371
developments in Operation Epic Fury .

02:00:49.371 --> 02:00:51.205
There was some public reported ,

02:00:51.205 --> 02:00:53.205
publicly reported activity , um , a

02:00:53.205 --> 02:00:55.316
while back that I had reason to think

02:00:55.316 --> 02:00:57.205
might involve some Kansas service

02:00:57.205 --> 02:00:57.180
personnel . We didn't know from the

02:00:57.180 --> 02:01:00.029
public reporting . Uh , we have simply

02:01:00.029 --> 02:01:02.196
been trying to find out , uh , whether

02:01:02.196 --> 02:01:04.196
our folks were involved or not . We

02:01:04.196 --> 02:01:06.196
finally did get an answer . It took

02:01:06.196 --> 02:01:08.418
about 4 weeks and when we got it , uh ,

02:01:08.418 --> 02:01:10.585
it was for the most part everything we

02:01:10.585 --> 02:01:10.310
read in the press with one exception ,

02:01:10.470 --> 02:01:13.629
one exception . I , I , it's a bit

02:01:13.629 --> 02:01:15.899
unsatisfactory , uh , when we're just

02:01:15.910 --> 02:01:18.021
trying to do our job and figure out ,

02:01:18.021 --> 02:01:20.132
uh , whether our folks are implicated

02:01:20.132 --> 02:01:21.910
and whether we need to be doing

02:01:21.910 --> 02:01:21.270
something to help them , their families ,

02:01:21.310 --> 02:01:23.629
or their folks back home . Uh , I know

02:01:23.629 --> 02:01:25.685
you take seriously the importance of

02:01:25.685 --> 02:01:27.740
providing that information , but can

02:01:27.740 --> 02:01:27.709
you just offer some reassurance that

02:01:27.709 --> 02:01:29.820
you do take those inquiries seriously

02:01:29.820 --> 02:01:31.987
and that , that that was perhaps not ,

02:01:31.987 --> 02:01:34.153
we do , sir . I'm not exactly sure the

02:01:34.153 --> 02:01:34.069
situation you're talking about , but

02:01:34.069 --> 02:01:36.259
I'll get the teams together and , and

02:01:36.259 --> 02:01:38.481
figure out , uh , what broke down there

02:01:38.481 --> 02:01:40.648
and fix it . Appreciate it very , very

02:01:40.648 --> 02:01:42.648
much . Mr . Secretary , let me come

02:01:42.648 --> 02:01:45.390
back to you , um , in talking with , uh ,

02:01:45.799 --> 02:01:47.910
Kansans who either have been deployed

02:01:47.910 --> 02:01:49.966
or in support of folks who have been

02:01:49.966 --> 02:01:51.688
deployed , uh , I am under the

02:01:51.688 --> 02:01:53.521
impression that there has been a

02:01:53.521 --> 02:01:55.743
particularly high , especially early in

02:01:55.743 --> 02:01:57.910
the operation prior to the ceasefire ,

02:01:57.910 --> 02:02:00.132
particularly high , uh , amount of , of

02:02:00.132 --> 02:02:02.466
concussive activity , and that we might ,

02:02:02.466 --> 02:02:04.466
uh , be well advised to be prepared

02:02:04.466 --> 02:02:06.243
when folks come home for . Uh ,

02:02:06.243 --> 02:02:08.355
concussive injuries , uh , for , uh ,

02:02:08.355 --> 02:02:10.577
combat-related PTSD , perhaps at levels

02:02:10.577 --> 02:02:12.577
we , we aren't expecting , at least

02:02:12.577 --> 02:02:12.100
those of us watching from the outside

02:02:12.100 --> 02:02:14.540
of the operation . Uh , can you say

02:02:14.540 --> 02:02:16.207
anything either about that in

02:02:16.207 --> 02:02:18.429
particular or more generally about what

02:02:18.429 --> 02:02:20.596
types of , uh , health and post-combat

02:02:20.596 --> 02:02:22.707
related , uh , health issues we ought

02:02:22.707 --> 02:02:24.707
to be preparing for when folks come

02:02:24.707 --> 02:02:26.984
home from this operation in particular ?

02:02:26.984 --> 02:02:29.207
Well , I know Congressman , all of that

02:02:29.207 --> 02:02:31.262
is tracked very closely , uh , as it

02:02:31.262 --> 02:02:33.373
pertains to this budget , there's $70

02:02:33.373 --> 02:02:35.651
million for more research on that , uh ,

02:02:35.651 --> 02:02:37.762
but I would note that as it's tracked

02:02:37.762 --> 02:02:39.984
and identified , also 90% of those with

02:02:39.984 --> 02:02:42.207
injuries in this conflict have returned

02:02:42.207 --> 02:02:44.262
to duty . Uh , so , but that doesn't

02:02:44.262 --> 02:02:44.209
mean there couldn't still be , uh , a

02:02:44.209 --> 02:02:46.487
lingering effect , which is , is noted ,

02:02:46.529 --> 02:02:48.585
uh , and will continue to be tracked

02:02:48.585 --> 02:02:50.807
throughout . And can I follow on that ?

02:02:50.807 --> 02:02:53.029
I appreciate that answer very much with

02:02:53.029 --> 02:02:55.251
respect particularly to guard personnel

02:02:55.251 --> 02:02:54.810
who have been deployed and may when

02:02:54.810 --> 02:02:56.921
they come . Back they return to their

02:02:56.921 --> 02:02:58.699
civilian roles . They may be in

02:02:58.699 --> 02:03:00.866
communities far from a military post .

02:03:00.866 --> 02:03:02.921
Uh , they may be in communities that

02:03:02.921 --> 02:03:04.754
don't have dedicated health care

02:03:04.754 --> 02:03:06.643
services that may be particularly

02:03:06.643 --> 02:03:08.921
focused on , uh , concussive damage or ,

02:03:08.921 --> 02:03:10.866
um , uh , uh , uh , post traumatic

02:03:10.866 --> 02:03:12.532
stress damage . Uh , is there

02:03:12.532 --> 02:03:12.475
particular thought on things we ought

02:03:12.475 --> 02:03:14.785
to be doing to prepare to serve that

02:03:14.785 --> 02:03:16.785
population when those men and women

02:03:16.785 --> 02:03:18.896
come home ? I think the , the biggest

02:03:18.896 --> 02:03:21.007
one is identifying it upfront , doing

02:03:21.007 --> 02:03:23.118
that testing upfront to identify what

02:03:23.118 --> 02:03:25.174
has occurred and then the ability to

02:03:25.174 --> 02:03:24.779
track those service members . I know as

02:03:24.779 --> 02:03:26.946
a frontline leader that became part of

02:03:26.946 --> 02:03:29.001
my responsibility as well , tracking

02:03:29.001 --> 02:03:31.335
those who may be more susceptible to it ,

02:03:31.335 --> 02:03:33.446
whether they have a formal network to

02:03:33.446 --> 02:03:35.112
address it or not . So , uh ,

02:03:35.112 --> 02:03:37.168
definitely something we care about .

02:03:37.168 --> 02:03:37.020
TriCare , ensuring they have increased

02:03:37.020 --> 02:03:39.020
access in places where there aren't

02:03:39.020 --> 02:03:41.020
military facilities is an important

02:03:41.020 --> 02:03:41.009
part of it . Thank you , Mr . Secretary .

02:03:41.060 --> 02:03:43.171
we care as well . We wanna be helpful

02:03:43.171 --> 02:03:45.171
in that front , uh , when our folks

02:03:45.171 --> 02:03:47.004
come home . Last question , uh ,

02:03:47.004 --> 02:03:49.227
particular to , to , uh , some folks in

02:03:49.227 --> 02:03:48.810
Kansas , when you were here last year ,

02:03:48.890 --> 02:03:51.057
Mr . Secretary , I talked about , uh ,

02:03:51.057 --> 02:03:53.240
cooperation between , uh , the , the ,

02:03:53.250 --> 02:03:55.470
uh , Veterans Health Agency and . Uh ,

02:03:55.600 --> 02:03:57.767
DHA and some work we've been trying to

02:03:57.767 --> 02:03:59.933
do at Irwin Army Community Hospital at

02:03:59.933 --> 02:04:01.933
Fort Riley . This committee and the

02:04:01.933 --> 02:04:03.822
Congress and the president , uh ,

02:04:03.822 --> 02:04:05.711
enacted into law a provision that

02:04:05.711 --> 02:04:07.933
causes some cooperation between the two

02:04:07.933 --> 02:04:10.100
to happen , and we are very excited to

02:04:10.100 --> 02:04:09.709
report they're looking very good , uh ,

02:04:09.720 --> 02:04:12.120
out at Irwin . Um , the reason I raised

02:04:12.120 --> 02:04:14.342
this with you today , some of the folks

02:04:14.342 --> 02:04:16.009
who made that happen were the

02:04:16.009 --> 02:04:18.287
commanding general at the 1st Infantry ,

02:04:18.287 --> 02:04:20.564
General Ran , who's about to deploy to ,

02:04:20.564 --> 02:04:20.359
uh , Europe , uh , I believe in early

02:04:20.359 --> 02:04:22.526
June . His chief medical officer who's

02:04:22.526 --> 02:04:24.248
about to leave for a different

02:04:24.248 --> 02:04:26.359
assignment . The gentleman's time has

02:04:26.359 --> 02:04:28.248
expired . Can we get those things

02:04:28.248 --> 02:04:30.303
signed before they leave ? The chair

02:04:30.303 --> 02:04:31.970
now recognizes Mr . Tran from

02:04:31.970 --> 02:04:34.390
California for 5 minutes . Thank you so

02:04:34.390 --> 02:04:36.446
much , Chairwoman . Thank you , uh ,

02:04:36.446 --> 02:04:38.668
Secretary Hegseth , General Kane , Mr .

02:04:38.668 --> 02:04:40.890
Hurst for being here today . You know ,

02:04:40.890 --> 02:04:43.112
after I was , uh , honorably discharged

02:04:43.112 --> 02:04:45.112
from the Army Reserve , the GI Bill

02:04:45.112 --> 02:04:47.223
helped me go to school and ultimately

02:04:47.223 --> 02:04:48.946
become a lawyer . My focus was

02:04:48.946 --> 02:04:50.612
representing clients who were

02:04:50.612 --> 02:04:52.334
wrongfully terminated or faced

02:04:52.334 --> 02:04:54.390
discrimination and harassment at the

02:04:54.390 --> 02:04:56.446
work . Mr . Secretary , if I were in

02:04:56.446 --> 02:04:58.612
the courtroom trying to prove that you

02:04:58.612 --> 02:05:00.501
discriminate against our military

02:05:00.501 --> 02:05:02.612
heroes , I wouldn't have to look very

02:05:02.612 --> 02:05:04.819
far or very hard . In just 16 months ,

02:05:04.910 --> 02:05:07.132
you have fired more than a dozen senior

02:05:07.132 --> 02:05:09.188
military leaders . You've delayed or

02:05:09.188 --> 02:05:11.299
canceled the promotion of even more .

02:05:11.549 --> 02:05:13.716
Your chief of staff told the Secretary

02:05:13.716 --> 02:05:16.270
of the Army that President Trump would

02:05:16.270 --> 02:05:18.381
not want to stand . That's not true .

02:05:18.390 --> 02:05:20.580
That was totally false reporting . Get

02:05:20.580 --> 02:05:24.399
no question yet , Mr . Secretary . Yeah ,

02:05:24.819 --> 02:05:27.220
you , you told the president , uh sorry ,

02:05:27.299 --> 02:05:29.259
the secretary of the Army that the

02:05:29.259 --> 02:05:31.426
president would not want to stand next

02:05:31.426 --> 02:05:33.259
to a black female officer at the

02:05:33.259 --> 02:05:36.000
military events . But you know ,

02:05:36.169 --> 02:05:38.169
despite all of this , I remain very

02:05:38.169 --> 02:05:41.649
hopeful that you can and will do better

02:05:41.649 --> 02:05:43.371
for the men and women who have

02:05:43.371 --> 02:05:45.427
dedicated their lives to protect our

02:05:45.427 --> 02:05:47.839
great country . You're here to ask for

02:05:47.839 --> 02:05:51.600
$1.5 trillion . That's a huge budget ,

02:05:51.799 --> 02:05:53.910
and I want to make sure that you have

02:05:53.910 --> 02:05:56.339
the ability to manage it . Sar Hegseth

02:05:57.049 --> 02:05:59.729
You would agree with me when I say that

02:05:59.729 --> 02:06:01.785
we want the most qualified people in

02:06:01.785 --> 02:06:03.618
every position of our military ,

02:06:03.618 --> 02:06:06.649
correct ? That's a question . Yes ,

02:06:06.930 --> 02:06:09.041
thank you , General Kaine . You would

02:06:09.041 --> 02:06:12.700
want the same . Yes ,

02:06:13.259 --> 02:06:15.203
thank you . You know , I share the

02:06:15.203 --> 02:06:18.040
bipartisan concern uh about firing ,

02:06:18.279 --> 02:06:20.799
the firing of General George , and what

02:06:20.799 --> 02:06:22.855
I and what the American people wanna

02:06:22.855 --> 02:06:24.879
know from you is , did you ask the

02:06:24.879 --> 02:06:27.101
president for his permission before you

02:06:27.101 --> 02:06:28.935
fired General George , Secretary

02:06:28.935 --> 02:06:31.700
Hegseth ? Um , it is my responsibility

02:06:31.700 --> 02:06:33.811
to confer with the commander in chief

02:06:33.811 --> 02:06:35.756
on especially high level personnel

02:06:35.756 --> 02:06:37.922
matters , and ultimately I won't relay

02:06:37.922 --> 02:06:40.089
what was discussed , but , uh , he was

02:06:40.089 --> 02:06:39.479
aware of the action that would be taken .

02:06:39.660 --> 02:06:41.879
OK , great . Thank you for that . And

02:06:41.990 --> 02:06:43.939
when you made the decision to fire

02:06:43.939 --> 02:06:46.020
General George did you consult

02:06:46.020 --> 02:06:49.390
Secretary Driscoll ? Um , there had

02:06:49.390 --> 02:06:51.729
been multiple , uh , consultations over ,

02:06:51.819 --> 02:06:54.750
over a year , yes . Do you and uh uh do

02:06:54.750 --> 02:06:56.917
you and Secretary Driscoll have a good

02:06:56.917 --> 02:06:59.140
working relationship ? Yes , I

02:06:59.140 --> 02:07:01.307
appreciate the work he's doing for the

02:07:01.307 --> 02:07:03.418
army . And for the record , would you

02:07:03.418 --> 02:07:05.584
agree that Secretary Driscoll is doing

02:07:05.584 --> 02:07:04.879
a great job as the Secretary of the

02:07:04.879 --> 02:07:07.910
Army ? I appreciate the work that the

02:07:07.910 --> 02:07:09.854
secretary is doing and uh made the

02:07:09.854 --> 02:07:11.910
personnel change change based on the

02:07:11.910 --> 02:07:14.132
chief of the army . In fact , he was so

02:07:14.132 --> 02:07:16.354
good that at his job that the president

02:07:16.354 --> 02:07:18.299
sent him to Ukraine to negotiate a

02:07:18.299 --> 02:07:20.410
peace deal . Uh , do you know why the

02:07:20.410 --> 02:07:22.577
president chose to send him over you ?

02:07:23.080 --> 02:07:24.913
Um , I'm , I'm grateful that the

02:07:24.913 --> 02:07:27.080
president puts in players at the key

02:07:27.080 --> 02:07:29.136
moments to advance policy priorities

02:07:29.136 --> 02:07:31.191
and , and that's what occurred there

02:07:31.191 --> 02:07:33.358
and I was very supportive of it at the

02:07:33.358 --> 02:07:35.413
time . Recently , Secretary Driscoll

02:07:35.413 --> 02:07:34.790
testified in front of the

02:07:34.790 --> 02:07:36.623
Appropriations Committee that he

02:07:36.623 --> 02:07:38.568
refused to strike the names of two

02:07:38.568 --> 02:07:40.623
female and two black officers from a

02:07:40.623 --> 02:07:42.734
promotion list due to their exemplary

02:07:42.734 --> 02:07:44.846
service , names which were ultimately

02:07:44.846 --> 02:07:46.957
removed . Did you order him to strike

02:07:46.957 --> 02:07:49.399
those names ? I know , uh , we removed

02:07:49.399 --> 02:07:52.799
those names . I did . Why ?

02:07:54.459 --> 02:07:56.515
Uh , because we review every general

02:07:56.515 --> 02:07:58.459
officer , you mentioned 12 general

02:07:58.459 --> 02:08:00.348
officers have been reviewed . The

02:08:00.348 --> 02:08:00.180
numbers much higher than that . I would

02:08:00.180 --> 02:08:03.339
also note that under Barack Obama , 197

02:08:03.339 --> 02:08:05.561
general officers were removed . So this

02:08:05.561 --> 02:08:07.660
is not something , uh , specific to

02:08:07.660 --> 02:08:10.540
this administration . every officer

02:08:10.540 --> 02:08:12.873
serves at the pleasure of the president .

02:08:12.873 --> 02:08:14.873
And when they need to be removed in

02:08:14.873 --> 02:08:16.762
order to ensure we have the right

02:08:16.762 --> 02:08:18.873
leadership in those services , I will

02:08:18.873 --> 02:08:21.096
make those calls regardless of what you

02:08:21.096 --> 02:08:20.649
might say from the dais . You know ,

02:08:20.770 --> 02:08:22.992
about a year ago , the army began their

02:08:22.992 --> 02:08:24.770
transform , uh , transformation

02:08:24.770 --> 02:08:26.437
initiative . Uh , I'm all for

02:08:26.437 --> 02:08:28.603
modernization , but this process seems

02:08:28.603 --> 02:08:30.826
to have been completely rushed in a way

02:08:30.826 --> 02:08:32.659
that compromises our readiness ,

02:08:32.659 --> 02:08:34.492
including deactivating a medical

02:08:34.492 --> 02:08:36.492
evacuation Black Hawk unit at Joint

02:08:36.492 --> 02:08:38.603
Training Forces Base , Los Alamitos .

02:08:38.729 --> 02:08:40.785
I've heard recently from senior army

02:08:40.785 --> 02:08:42.951
officials who support slowing down the

02:08:42.951 --> 02:08:44.785
Army transformation initiative ,

02:08:45.000 --> 02:08:47.278
specifically as it relates to aviation .

02:08:47.290 --> 02:08:49.401
Secretary Hegseth , can you commit to

02:08:49.401 --> 02:08:51.319
slowing down ATI as it relates to

02:08:51.319 --> 02:08:55.069
aviation ? There are multiple

02:08:55.069 --> 02:08:57.589
places inside ATI that we are reviewing

02:08:57.589 --> 02:08:59.367
to ensure that we do not create

02:08:59.367 --> 02:09:01.367
capability gaps inside today's army

02:09:01.367 --> 02:09:03.478
based on the fights we have today and

02:09:03.478 --> 02:09:05.478
the fights of the future , and this

02:09:05.478 --> 02:09:07.645
budget reflects ensuring that we don't

02:09:07.645 --> 02:09:09.867
have any operational gaps , uh , in the

02:09:09.867 --> 02:09:11.811
army or any of the services . Mr .

02:09:11.811 --> 02:09:13.811
Secretary , during your opening you

02:09:13.811 --> 02:09:13.709
brought up this beautiful slide , and

02:09:13.709 --> 02:09:16.042
you talked about the arsenal of freedom .

02:09:16.042 --> 02:09:17.876
It's an arsenal of freedom slide

02:09:17.876 --> 02:09:20.042
talking about private investment , you

02:09:20.042 --> 02:09:22.649
know , from the $1.5 billion . Uh , RTX

02:09:22.649 --> 02:09:24.927
was on there , Boeing , GE , L3 Harris ,

02:09:24.927 --> 02:09:27.500
Lockheed . My question to you is , do

02:09:27.500 --> 02:09:29.444
you or your wife have any personal

02:09:29.444 --> 02:09:32.950
investment in those companies ? No ,

02:09:33.330 --> 02:09:35.386
thank you . The gentleman's time has

02:09:35.386 --> 02:09:37.608
expired . The chair now recognizes Mr .

02:09:37.608 --> 02:09:39.608
Crank from Colorado for 5 minutes .

02:09:39.608 --> 02:09:41.608
Thank you , uh , Madam Chair . Mr .

02:09:41.608 --> 02:09:43.552
Secretary , the department's FY 27

02:09:43.552 --> 02:09:45.859
military construction request includes

02:09:45.859 --> 02:09:48.419
plans for a new $250 million Space

02:09:48.419 --> 02:09:50.770
Force operations facility at Shchriever

02:09:50.770 --> 02:09:52.881
Space Force Base . When constructed ,

02:09:52.881 --> 02:09:54.937
this facility will support essential

02:09:54.937 --> 02:09:57.103
national security missions like Golden

02:09:57.103 --> 02:09:59.048
Dome , the National Reconnaissance

02:09:59.048 --> 02:10:01.214
Office , intelligence surveillance and

02:10:01.214 --> 02:10:03.214
reconnaissance missions , and other

02:10:03.214 --> 02:10:05.103
Space Command requirements with a

02:10:05.103 --> 02:10:07.270
projected workforce that includes over

02:10:07.270 --> 02:10:09.680
2600 . High paying civilian jobs . How

02:10:09.680 --> 02:10:11.736
will the department compete with the

02:10:11.736 --> 02:10:13.902
private sector to recruit and hire the

02:10:13.902 --> 02:10:16.240
highly skilled talent needed for those

02:10:16.240 --> 02:10:18.462
positions ? And how will the department

02:10:18.462 --> 02:10:20.629
work with uh El Paso County , which is

02:10:20.629 --> 02:10:22.407
my county and , and the city of

02:10:22.407 --> 02:10:24.184
Colorado Springs , who strongly

02:10:24.184 --> 02:10:26.351
supported this administration , by the

02:10:26.351 --> 02:10:28.518
way , to meet the growing needs of the

02:10:28.518 --> 02:10:30.851
Space Force . Well , first and foremost ,

02:10:30.851 --> 02:10:33.018
and I mean this , I would welcome your

02:10:33.018 --> 02:10:35.184
input . That's usually what I say when

02:10:35.184 --> 02:10:35.020
I'm on the , on the road and in the

02:10:35.020 --> 02:10:37.242
field with commanders is , OK , you ask

02:10:37.242 --> 02:10:39.353
me , uh , we , we meet with battalion

02:10:39.353 --> 02:10:41.464
and brigade commanders all the time .

02:10:41.464 --> 02:10:41.459
They ask me a really detailed question

02:10:41.459 --> 02:10:43.626
and the first thing I say is , what do

02:10:43.626 --> 02:10:45.737
you think ? And usually they know the

02:10:45.737 --> 02:10:45.729
problem set much better than us , and

02:10:45.729 --> 02:10:47.951
we take that feedback back to HQ and we

02:10:47.951 --> 02:10:50.062
action it . So I would welcome how we

02:10:50.062 --> 02:10:51.951
can ensure that that workforce is

02:10:51.951 --> 02:10:54.062
properly cared , cared for , uh , and

02:10:54.062 --> 02:10:56.173
competitive considering how important

02:10:56.173 --> 02:10:58.285
the Space Force is , which is doubled

02:10:58.285 --> 02:11:00.507
in this budget in size , that domain of

02:11:00.507 --> 02:11:02.840
warfare we have to get right . Yes , OK ,

02:11:02.840 --> 02:11:05.720
uh , Mr . Secretary , sometimes , uh ,

02:11:05.850 --> 02:11:07.517
here in Congress and on these

02:11:07.517 --> 02:11:09.794
committees , sometimes we do oversight ,

02:11:09.794 --> 02:11:12.109
but sometimes we just overact . And

02:11:12.109 --> 02:11:14.442
there's been a little bit of that today .

02:11:14.442 --> 02:11:16.390
It's been some overacting . Um , I

02:11:16.390 --> 02:11:18.557
would hope that when I look back on my

02:11:18.557 --> 02:11:20.668
congressional career , I've only been

02:11:20.668 --> 02:11:22.723
here a little while . I do know that

02:11:22.723 --> 02:11:24.779
when President Biden , uh , did some

02:11:24.779 --> 02:11:27.001
military operations , I supported him .

02:11:27.001 --> 02:11:29.112
I wasn't here , but I supported those

02:11:29.112 --> 02:11:31.168
operations because it's important to

02:11:31.168 --> 02:11:31.040
support the men and women of the

02:11:31.040 --> 02:11:33.399
military , and it's important to

02:11:33.399 --> 02:11:36.109
support our commander in chief when he

02:11:36.109 --> 02:11:38.053
makes the decision to deploy those

02:11:38.053 --> 02:11:40.439
troops . Um , uh , and I'd hope that

02:11:40.439 --> 02:11:42.439
when I look back on my career years

02:11:42.439 --> 02:11:44.606
from now , I will say the same thing .

02:11:44.606 --> 02:11:46.661
That I didn't choose what to support

02:11:46.661 --> 02:11:48.883
based on who the party was in the White

02:11:48.883 --> 02:11:51.106
House , but based on whether it was the

02:11:51.106 --> 02:11:53.272
best thing for our national security .

02:11:53.272 --> 02:11:55.383
And I hope that some of my colleagues

02:11:55.383 --> 02:11:57.550
who , who don't seem to hold that same

02:11:57.550 --> 02:12:00.330
standard would introspectively look ,

02:12:00.410 --> 02:12:02.410
look at what , what they do . But I

02:12:02.410 --> 02:12:04.577
wanna give you a minute . There's been

02:12:04.577 --> 02:12:06.577
a lot said about Iran and about the

02:12:06.577 --> 02:12:08.688
mission in Iran , and I think there's

02:12:08.688 --> 02:12:10.910
been a lot of misinformation here , and

02:12:10.910 --> 02:12:13.021
I want to give you the opportunity to

02:12:13.021 --> 02:12:14.688
correct the record . Well , I

02:12:14.688 --> 02:12:16.910
appreciate that , um . We are fortunate

02:12:16.910 --> 02:12:19.290
to have a president who understands the

02:12:19.290 --> 02:12:21.290
nature of the threat we face from a

02:12:21.290 --> 02:12:23.401
nuclear-armed Iran . Full stop . Uh ,

02:12:23.401 --> 02:12:25.512
we know what they say they would do .

02:12:25.512 --> 02:12:27.623
We know that they were pursuing , and

02:12:27.623 --> 02:12:29.846
we know that at their weakest moment we

02:12:29.846 --> 02:12:29.709
had an opportunity to do something

02:12:29.709 --> 02:12:31.931
about it before they had a conventional

02:12:31.931 --> 02:12:34.098
shield of missiles and drones so large

02:12:34.098 --> 02:12:36.153
that they could never be contested .

02:12:36.153 --> 02:12:38.376
And then without inspections and from a

02:12:38.376 --> 02:12:40.487
bad deal they would race , they could

02:12:40.487 --> 02:12:42.709
possibly race to a bomb . So the threat

02:12:42.709 --> 02:12:44.931
was right there in front of us . All it

02:12:44.931 --> 02:12:47.098
took was the courage to act , which no

02:12:47.098 --> 02:12:46.709
other president had done , and he gave

02:12:46.709 --> 02:12:48.820
us a clear set of objectives that the

02:12:48.820 --> 02:12:50.876
chairman and I talked about from day

02:12:50.876 --> 02:12:52.931
one in pursuit of ensuring that Iran

02:12:52.931 --> 02:12:55.000
gets a nuclear weapon . You degrade

02:12:55.000 --> 02:12:57.056
their missile program , defeat their

02:12:57.056 --> 02:12:58.778
missile program , get at their

02:12:58.778 --> 02:13:00.778
conventional navy , and ensure they

02:13:00.778 --> 02:13:03.000
don't have a defense industrial base so

02:13:03.000 --> 02:13:05.111
they can rebuild those capabilities .

02:13:05.111 --> 02:13:07.389
That's what we briefed from the podium ,

02:13:07.389 --> 02:13:06.439
that's what we talked about , that's

02:13:06.439 --> 02:13:08.272
what we were focused on . And in

02:13:08.272 --> 02:13:10.200
service of that had overwhelming

02:13:10.479 --> 02:13:12.590
military victories in pursuit of it .

02:13:12.590 --> 02:13:14.646
And we've never seen an air campaign

02:13:14.646 --> 02:13:16.812
like what we did alongside the Israeli

02:13:16.812 --> 02:13:19.035
Air Force , not to mention . The rescue

02:13:19.035 --> 02:13:18.959
of those two pilots and the

02:13:18.959 --> 02:13:20.959
professionalism of that joint force

02:13:20.959 --> 02:13:23.160
that went downtown twice , once in the

02:13:23.160 --> 02:13:25.319
day and once in the night to leave no

02:13:25.319 --> 02:13:27.399
man behind , that is a call the

02:13:27.399 --> 02:13:29.510
commander in chief makes , and he had

02:13:29.510 --> 02:13:31.732
the guts to make it . And as a result ,

02:13:31.732 --> 02:13:33.843
we're in a ceasefire in the middle of

02:13:33.843 --> 02:13:35.843
negotiations in a very strong place

02:13:35.843 --> 02:13:38.066
with a blockade . That will ensure that

02:13:38.066 --> 02:13:40.399
when this is done , when a deal is said ,

02:13:40.399 --> 02:13:42.621
it's a deal on the president's terms to

02:13:42.621 --> 02:13:44.955
ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon .

02:13:44.955 --> 02:13:47.010
That's a fight worth having . And if

02:13:47.010 --> 02:13:49.232
the American people remember 47 years ,

02:13:49.232 --> 02:13:51.455
Americans remember 47 years of what the

02:13:51.455 --> 02:13:50.850
Iranians have done to us , targeting

02:13:50.850 --> 02:13:52.961
and killing Americans . If they had a

02:13:52.961 --> 02:13:55.017
nuclear weapon , they would use it .

02:13:55.017 --> 02:13:56.850
This president has unleashed his

02:13:56.850 --> 02:13:58.961
military to do something . About it .

02:13:58.961 --> 02:14:01.072
We've had historic successes , and if

02:14:01.072 --> 02:14:03.072
we need to go at it again to ensure

02:14:03.072 --> 02:14:05.294
that success , we are prepared to , but

02:14:05.294 --> 02:14:07.294
we're hopeful over time that a deal

02:14:07.294 --> 02:14:09.628
will be compelled and compelled quickly .

02:14:09.628 --> 02:14:11.572
So this talk about endless wars or

02:14:11.572 --> 02:14:13.794
forever wars , the president points out

02:14:13.794 --> 02:14:15.961
rightfully what this town tolerated in

02:14:15.961 --> 02:14:18.183
Iraq and Afghanistan and Vietnam , that

02:14:18.183 --> 02:14:20.017
is not this . This is a discreet

02:14:20.017 --> 02:14:22.128
mission . To pursue US objectives and

02:14:22.128 --> 02:14:24.294
we're doing it in a historic fashion .

02:14:24.294 --> 02:14:26.350
I support this president's operation

02:14:26.350 --> 02:14:28.128
right now in Iran . I supported

02:14:28.128 --> 02:14:30.350
President Obama when he said he opposed

02:14:30.350 --> 02:14:32.452
a nuclear Iran and would do what was

02:14:32.452 --> 02:14:34.861
necessary to to not to do that , and I ,

02:14:34.932 --> 02:14:37.043
I supported President Clinton when he

02:14:37.043 --> 02:14:39.154
did the same . It's time to act , and

02:14:39.154 --> 02:14:41.099
I'm glad that this president did .

02:14:41.099 --> 02:14:43.432
Thank you . The chair now recognizes Mr .

02:14:43.432 --> 02:14:45.488
Vinman from Virginia for 5 minutes .

02:14:45.488 --> 02:14:47.600
Thank you . Um , earlier Secretary

02:14:47.600 --> 02:14:49.600
Hegseth , you talked about flexible

02:14:49.600 --> 02:14:51.822
realism . So let's , uh , see if we can

02:14:51.822 --> 02:14:53.989
figure out how much of it is realistic

02:14:53.989 --> 02:14:56.100
and how much of it is just flexible .

02:14:56.100 --> 02:14:58.211
Secretary Hegseth , last year I asked

02:14:58.211 --> 02:15:00.267
you some questions about Indo-Paycom

02:15:00.267 --> 02:15:00.240
and threats in Europe , and you had a

02:15:00.240 --> 02:15:02.351
hard time answering those questions .

02:15:02.351 --> 02:15:04.407
I'm sure you prep better this year ,

02:15:04.407 --> 02:15:06.518
and I'm hoping you can answer some of

02:15:06.518 --> 02:15:08.684
these basic questions since now we are

02:15:08.684 --> 02:15:10.629
at war . Uh , do you know what the

02:15:10.629 --> 02:15:13.850
price of oil is today ? I don't know

02:15:13.850 --> 02:15:16.209
where it's gone as , as , uh , this

02:15:16.209 --> 02:15:18.376
time this hearing , but roughly $100 a

02:15:18.376 --> 02:15:20.487
barrel . It's actually closer to $120

02:15:20.487 --> 02:15:22.653
117 dollars . Well , it depends on the

02:15:22.653 --> 02:15:22.649
index you're looking at . I'm looking

02:15:22.649 --> 02:15:25.419
at , uh , Brent . Uh , do you know what

02:15:25.419 --> 02:15:28.180
the price , uh , was the day before of

02:15:28.180 --> 02:15:30.700
Brent , the day before he went to war ?

02:15:32.149 --> 02:15:34.038
Uh , it was certainly lower . You

02:15:34.038 --> 02:15:36.205
understand you're taking some economic

02:15:36.205 --> 02:15:38.427
risk , but I would note a lot lower the

02:15:38.427 --> 02:15:38.149
energy dominance this president has

02:15:38.149 --> 02:15:40.260
unleashed has put us in an incredible

02:15:40.260 --> 02:15:43.149
question . Thank you . So it's $72 and

02:15:43.149 --> 02:15:46.899
so now we have a 62% increase . Uh , by

02:15:46.899 --> 02:15:49.121
the way , the department obviously will

02:15:49.121 --> 02:15:51.343
be paying those extra fuel costs . It's

02:15:51.343 --> 02:15:53.343
gonna be not insignificant , but so

02:15:53.343 --> 02:15:55.566
will the American people . Now , at its

02:15:55.566 --> 02:15:57.732
narrowest point , uh , how wide is the

02:15:57.732 --> 02:16:01.200
Strait of Hormuz ? I think it's about

02:16:01.200 --> 02:16:03.422
12 miles , but I'd have to check . It's

02:16:03.422 --> 02:16:05.644
24 miles , but 12 miles is actually the

02:16:05.644 --> 02:16:07.589
relevant number because that's the

02:16:07.589 --> 02:16:09.311
navigable channel . That's the

02:16:09.311 --> 02:16:08.990
international water navigable channel

02:16:08.990 --> 02:16:11.310
point . And do you know how many

02:16:11.310 --> 02:16:13.477
barrels of oil transited the Strait of

02:16:13.477 --> 02:16:15.754
Hormuz each day before the war started ?

02:16:16.279 --> 02:16:18.279
I don't know the exact number , but

02:16:18.279 --> 02:16:20.390
you're looking at over 100 , uh , oil

02:16:20.390 --> 02:16:22.600
tankers usually transited a day or 120

02:16:22.600 --> 02:16:24.933
a day would transport the strait . Yeah ,

02:16:24.933 --> 02:16:27.600
and so 2020 million barrels a day , and

02:16:27.600 --> 02:16:30.319
right now they're at an 81% reduction .

02:16:31.080 --> 02:16:33.136
So , it sounds like you've done your

02:16:33.136 --> 02:16:35.136
homework , you're , you're , you're

02:16:35.136 --> 02:16:37.136
tracking pretty well with the , the

02:16:37.136 --> 02:16:40.940
strategic situation is . Um . So A

02:16:40.940 --> 02:16:43.269
couple of questions , um , were you

02:16:43.269 --> 02:16:45.669
aware that if we struck Iran that it

02:16:45.669 --> 02:16:47.725
would , they would most likely close

02:16:47.725 --> 02:16:51.500
the Strait of Hormuz ? Uh , of , of

02:16:51.500 --> 02:16:53.667
course our department was prepared and

02:16:53.667 --> 02:16:56.000
planning for every possible contingency ,

02:16:56.000 --> 02:16:58.167
being front and center as as something

02:16:58.167 --> 02:17:00.167
they may do in a desperate state to

02:17:00.167 --> 02:17:02.222
attempt to , which is what they take

02:17:02.222 --> 02:17:02.110
some kind of control , and I appreciate

02:17:02.110 --> 02:17:04.089
that . And earlier you told Mr .

02:17:04.150 --> 02:17:06.372
Moulton that this , this department has

02:17:06.372 --> 02:17:08.372
looked at all , uh , aspects of the

02:17:08.372 --> 02:17:10.483
risk and that the president got every

02:17:10.483 --> 02:17:12.261
possible perspective . And then

02:17:12.261 --> 02:17:14.039
recently you just said that the

02:17:14.039 --> 02:17:16.206
president did understand the risks and

02:17:16.206 --> 02:17:18.250
had the courage to undertake . The

02:17:18.250 --> 02:17:20.450
endeavor nonetheless , and that's

02:17:20.450 --> 02:17:22.617
leadership , or words to that effect ,

02:17:22.617 --> 02:17:24.672
pretty close . And so I just want to

02:17:24.672 --> 02:17:26.617
kind of give you the state of play

02:17:26.617 --> 02:17:28.950
right now . It's been two months of war .

02:17:28.950 --> 02:17:31.061
Uh , we have hopes for a resolution ,

02:17:31.061 --> 02:17:33.283
but the war continues really . Iran has

02:17:33.283 --> 02:17:35.450
closed the strait , and we've now gone

02:17:35.450 --> 02:17:38.990
in and blockaded their ports . 1/5 of

02:17:38.990 --> 02:17:41.410
the world's oil is unable to transit

02:17:41.410 --> 02:17:44.110
the strait , and the American people

02:17:44.360 --> 02:17:46.416
and the department are paying , um ,

02:17:46.610 --> 02:17:49.120
significantly more . And you also said

02:17:49.120 --> 02:17:51.519
that this is what the American people

02:17:51.519 --> 02:17:54.919
actually voted for , but actually , um .

02:17:55.750 --> 02:17:57.990
The American people voted for a promise

02:17:57.990 --> 02:18:00.360
not to get into Middle Eastern wars ,

02:18:00.830 --> 02:18:02.774
and they voted , voted for lower ,

02:18:02.774 --> 02:18:04.830
lower prices , and this is the exact

02:18:04.830 --> 02:18:07.169
opposite of what they got . So let me

02:18:07.169 --> 02:18:09.889
ask you this , um , the president

02:18:09.889 --> 02:18:12.056
ordered the strike , is that correct ?

02:18:13.468 --> 02:18:15.690
The president's been saying for over 30

02:18:15.690 --> 02:18:17.524
years that Iran can never have a

02:18:17.524 --> 02:18:19.468
nuclear weapon , so he's been very

02:18:19.468 --> 02:18:21.579
clear as a position when the American

02:18:21.579 --> 02:18:21.079
people voted for President Trump

02:18:21.079 --> 02:18:23.135
overwhelmingly , they voted for that

02:18:23.135 --> 02:18:25.190
position , but the president ordered

02:18:25.190 --> 02:18:27.246
the strike . Is that correct ? Which

02:18:27.246 --> 02:18:29.135
strike are you referring to ? The

02:18:29.135 --> 02:18:31.135
strike on Iran , the , the war that

02:18:31.135 --> 02:18:33.468
we're in , in . Oh , of course , I mean ,

02:18:33.468 --> 02:18:32.860
he's the commander in chief . He's made

02:18:32.860 --> 02:18:35.027
sounds made the calls . It sounds like

02:18:35.027 --> 02:18:37.249
you're blaming Daddy for the mess we're

02:18:37.249 --> 02:18:39.304
in , and I don't think he's gonna be

02:18:39.304 --> 02:18:41.304
particularly happy with you . I see

02:18:41.304 --> 02:18:43.416
what you're trying to do . There's no

02:18:43.416 --> 02:18:45.749
daylight in this administration on this ,

02:18:45.749 --> 02:18:45.250
on this campaign , and I'm happy you've

02:18:45.250 --> 02:18:47.139
been admonished stand shoulder to

02:18:47.139 --> 02:18:49.361
shoulder with this reclaiming my time .

02:18:49.361 --> 02:18:51.361
So let's shift gears . Last time we

02:18:51.361 --> 02:18:53.194
were here , I asked you if you'd

02:18:53.194 --> 02:18:55.139
apologize to the mother of an F-18

02:18:55.139 --> 02:18:57.083
pilot whose son you endangered for

02:18:57.083 --> 02:18:59.083
sharing classified information on a

02:18:59.083 --> 02:19:01.139
signal chat . You refused . On March

02:19:01.139 --> 02:19:03.139
1st , 6 army soldiers , including a

02:19:03.139 --> 02:19:05.361
constituent of mine , were killed by an

02:19:05.361 --> 02:19:05.259
Iranian drone strike . Do you take any

02:19:05.259 --> 02:19:07.148
responsibility for those deaths ?

02:19:09.769 --> 02:19:11.769
Um , I was there at Dover when they

02:19:11.769 --> 02:19:13.380
came back . Of course I take

02:19:13.380 --> 02:19:15.658
responsibility for every aspect . Well ,

02:19:15.658 --> 02:19:17.713
I appreciate that because , uh , you

02:19:17.713 --> 02:19:19.713
also complained about the fact that

02:19:19.713 --> 02:19:21.880
tragic things happen on the news makes

02:19:21.880 --> 02:19:23.880
it front page news . The press only

02:19:23.880 --> 02:19:26.047
wants to make the president look bad .

02:19:26.047 --> 02:19:28.269
Is it about the soldiers or is it about

02:19:28.269 --> 02:19:30.380
the president looking bad ? Uh , it's

02:19:30.380 --> 02:19:32.547
not just the president who wants the ,

02:19:32.547 --> 02:19:32.429
the media that wants to make him look

02:19:32.429 --> 02:19:34.639
bad , it's you . Um , it's actually

02:19:34.639 --> 02:19:36.750
about the soldiers , and it's frankly

02:19:36.750 --> 02:19:38.917
reprehensible that you would make that

02:19:38.917 --> 02:19:40.972
statement . And so , um , you know .

02:19:41.309 --> 02:19:43.531
Truman had a sign on his desk that said

02:19:43.531 --> 02:19:45.142
the buck stops here and this

02:19:45.142 --> 02:19:47.087
gentleman's time has expired . The

02:19:47.087 --> 02:19:49.142
chair now recognizes Mr . Van Norden

02:19:49.142 --> 02:19:51.198
from Wisconsin for 5 minutes . Thank

02:19:51.198 --> 02:19:53.531
you , Madam Chair . Uh , Mr . Secretary ,

02:19:53.531 --> 02:19:55.698
it's great to see you , General Kane .

02:19:55.698 --> 02:19:57.809
Honorable Mr . Hurst , of course , my

02:19:58.019 --> 02:20:00.959
dear friend of over 3 decades , Master

02:20:00.959 --> 02:20:03.169
Chief Isam , how are you doing ? Um ,

02:20:03.309 --> 02:20:07.240
hey , Uh , I , I have to

02:20:07.240 --> 02:20:10.830
be very clear here . Um , I spent my

02:20:10.830 --> 02:20:13.030
entire adult life training for war ,

02:20:13.190 --> 02:20:15.301
training others for war , or at war ,

02:20:15.301 --> 02:20:17.709
and you very astutely mentioned to some

02:20:17.709 --> 02:20:19.653
of my Democrat colleagues that our

02:20:19.653 --> 02:20:21.830
generation has been involved , was

02:20:21.830 --> 02:20:24.830
involved in an endless war , a , a

02:20:24.830 --> 02:20:27.969
morass , and it , I , I've had .

02:20:28.799 --> 02:20:31.599
With Matthew Burns I've had 22 of my

02:20:31.599 --> 02:20:33.919
friends commit suicide and I know that

02:20:33.919 --> 02:20:37.349
you have recently instituted a

02:20:37.349 --> 02:20:39.959
specific office to help lower active

02:20:39.959 --> 02:20:41.790
duty and veterans suicide in

02:20:41.790 --> 02:20:44.849
conjunction . With my great friend

02:20:44.849 --> 02:20:46.905
Secretary Collins , so I wanna thank

02:20:46.905 --> 02:20:50.740
you for that . Uh , 2 months does not a

02:20:50.740 --> 02:20:53.139
morass make . However , it could be the

02:20:53.139 --> 02:20:55.610
start of one . And the difference

02:20:55.610 --> 02:20:57.666
between this administration and many

02:20:57.666 --> 02:20:59.888
previous administrations , I think that

02:20:59.888 --> 02:21:01.999
you understand , particularly because

02:21:01.999 --> 02:21:04.166
of your background . And your SCA back

02:21:04.166 --> 02:21:06.429
there and General Kane . You understand

02:21:06.889 --> 02:21:10.290
what it means to fight to win . And ,

02:21:10.450 --> 02:21:12.450
and we didn't fight to win in

02:21:12.450 --> 02:21:14.672
Afghanistan . We didn't fight to win in

02:21:14.672 --> 02:21:18.299
Iraq . And it's palpable . I have

02:21:18.599 --> 02:21:20.766
more friends than I can count that are

02:21:20.766 --> 02:21:22.988
still on active duty in every branch of

02:21:22.988 --> 02:21:25.099
service , including the Coast Guard ,

02:21:25.099 --> 02:21:24.879
and for a Navy guy , that's a big

02:21:24.879 --> 02:21:28.540
stretch . The morale of the men and

02:21:28.540 --> 02:21:30.860
women in the Department of War , and in

02:21:30.860 --> 02:21:32.471
their case the Department of

02:21:32.471 --> 02:21:34.360
Transportation , is exponentially

02:21:34.360 --> 02:21:36.416
higher than I've ever seen it ever ,

02:21:36.416 --> 02:21:38.638
and that comes from leadership starting

02:21:38.638 --> 02:21:41.049
with President Trump going through you

02:21:41.049 --> 02:21:43.271
to General Kaine and through your SEA .

02:21:44.009 --> 02:21:46.480
And what some of my colleagues refuse

02:21:47.019 --> 02:21:50.080
to admit is that that's how you win .

02:21:50.179 --> 02:21:52.401
It starts with the man . It's the first

02:21:52.401 --> 02:21:54.568
soft truth . Humans are more important

02:21:54.568 --> 02:21:56.679
than hardware , and I wanna thank you

02:21:56.679 --> 02:21:58.790
for setting that environment . Um , I

02:21:58.790 --> 02:22:00.623
don't wanna be at war . But Iran

02:22:00.623 --> 02:22:02.679
declared war on the United States of

02:22:02.679 --> 02:22:05.000
America 47 years ago , and those

02:22:05.000 --> 02:22:07.080
bastards are responsible for killing

02:22:07.080 --> 02:22:10.150
and maiming many of my friends . So

02:22:10.150 --> 02:22:12.150
this is not some esoteric political

02:22:12.150 --> 02:22:14.372
argument for me . This is the fact that

02:22:14.372 --> 02:22:17.450
President Trump . By using you as the

02:22:17.450 --> 02:22:19.690
Secretary of War and General Kaine as

02:22:19.690 --> 02:22:22.129
CJCS and Master Chief Iisson , what

02:22:22.129 --> 02:22:24.240
you're doing is you're going to end a

02:22:24.240 --> 02:22:27.490
war that was declared on us . And I of

02:22:27.490 --> 02:22:30.190
all times when we should unite as

02:22:30.190 --> 02:22:32.301
Americans , especially in this puzzle

02:22:32.301 --> 02:22:34.523
palace up here , is when we're at war .

02:22:35.429 --> 02:22:37.262
And it is a war of choice by the

02:22:37.262 --> 02:22:40.919
mullahs . That that is who chose to

02:22:40.919 --> 02:22:43.141
fight this war , and we're going to end

02:22:43.141 --> 02:22:46.230
it . I don't really have a question for

02:22:46.230 --> 02:22:49.490
you . I trust your judgment , General

02:22:49.490 --> 02:22:51.601
Kane . I trust your judgment . Master

02:22:51.601 --> 02:22:53.601
Chief , I trust your judgment . And

02:22:53.601 --> 02:22:55.712
when you're coming here with , with a

02:22:55.712 --> 02:22:57.657
request for a tremendous amount of

02:22:57.657 --> 02:22:59.823
money . Um , I understand that there's

02:22:59.823 --> 02:23:02.410
no fluff in there . That this is what's

02:23:02.410 --> 02:23:04.879
required to end this war that the

02:23:04.879 --> 02:23:08.870
mullahs chose to declare against us

02:23:09.450 --> 02:23:12.049
and I'm telling you right now we have

02:23:12.049 --> 02:23:14.049
your back and there are a lot of my

02:23:14.049 --> 02:23:15.882
Democrat colleagues that do also

02:23:15.882 --> 02:23:18.049
they're just afraid to say it out loud

02:23:18.049 --> 02:23:20.216
because they'll be crushed by the left

02:23:20.216 --> 02:23:21.769
of their party and that is

02:23:21.769 --> 02:23:25.650
reprehensible . Um , so with that ,

02:23:26.230 --> 02:23:28.119
whatever you guys need , you just

02:23:28.119 --> 02:23:30.519
holler . OK , Mr . Secretary , I

02:23:30.519 --> 02:23:32.686
couldn't say it any better . Thank you

02:23:32.686 --> 02:23:34.519
very much , Congressman . You're

02:23:34.519 --> 02:23:34.200
welcome , sir . With that , I yield

02:23:34.200 --> 02:23:36.478
back . Gentlemen , yields back , Chair ,

02:23:36.478 --> 02:23:38.422
and I recognize the gentleman from

02:23:38.422 --> 02:23:40.644
Missouri , Mr . Bale . Thank you , Mr .

02:23:40.644 --> 02:23:42.756
Chair . Uh , Mr . Secretary , I don't

02:23:42.756 --> 02:23:44.978
trust your judgment . Um , you made the

02:23:44.978 --> 02:23:47.200
comment to my colleague that there's no

02:23:47.200 --> 02:23:46.679
daylight between you and the president ,

02:23:46.759 --> 02:23:49.080
which calls into question your role and

02:23:49.080 --> 02:23:52.040
again , accountability . And so I gotta

02:23:52.040 --> 02:23:54.262
ask , has there ever been any time that

02:23:54.262 --> 02:23:56.484
you disagree with the president on this

02:23:56.484 --> 02:23:59.019
war or anything in general ? I would

02:23:59.019 --> 02:24:01.130
never betray conversations that we've

02:24:01.130 --> 02:24:03.130
had . He , the commander can't even

02:24:03.130 --> 02:24:05.019
acknowledge that you've ever even

02:24:05.019 --> 02:24:06.908
disagreed with the man , like his

02:24:06.908 --> 02:24:09.130
choice of tie , that dance , anything .

02:24:09.130 --> 02:24:11.130
You haven't disagreed on anything .

02:24:11.130 --> 02:24:13.186
I've never related the discussions I

02:24:13.186 --> 02:24:15.352
had with the commander in chief . OK ,

02:24:15.352 --> 02:24:17.575
because it seems to me that rather than

02:24:17.575 --> 02:24:19.630
being Trump's Secretary of Defense ,

02:24:19.630 --> 02:24:21.575
that sounds like you're just being

02:24:21.575 --> 02:24:23.797
Trump's secretary , and we need someone

02:24:23.797 --> 02:24:25.575
who's going to be there that is

02:24:25.575 --> 02:24:27.408
actually advising , that is also

02:24:27.408 --> 02:24:30.019
pushing back when necessary and serving

02:24:30.240 --> 02:24:32.559
the country as opposed to the , the uh

02:24:32.559 --> 02:24:34.615
president . So you said you've never

02:24:34.615 --> 02:24:36.670
called , you've never called him out

02:24:36.670 --> 02:24:38.919
pri privately or publicly because we

02:24:38.919 --> 02:24:41.160
know that hasn't done . But have you

02:24:41.160 --> 02:24:43.160
ever said the words , and you don't

02:24:43.160 --> 02:24:45.160
have to tell me what it was about .

02:24:45.160 --> 02:24:45.160
Have you ever said the words , Mr .

02:24:45.169 --> 02:24:49.099
President , I disagree with you . As I

02:24:49.099 --> 02:24:50.932
said , I don't relay the private

02:24:50.932 --> 02:24:53.155
conversations that a commander in chief

02:24:53.155 --> 02:24:55.266
deserves that . Like , if you've just

02:24:55.266 --> 02:24:57.210
said , Mr . President , I , you're

02:24:57.210 --> 02:24:59.377
wrong about this or you're wrong about

02:24:59.377 --> 02:24:59.339
that , you , you can't even acknowledge ,

02:24:59.459 --> 02:25:01.459
you can't even admit that if that's

02:25:01.459 --> 02:25:03.626
happened . You can ask it again if you

02:25:03.626 --> 02:25:05.681
want , but I don't relay the private

02:25:05.681 --> 02:25:07.903
conversations that a commander in chief

02:25:07.903 --> 02:25:09.903
deserve objectives of this war have

02:25:09.903 --> 02:25:11.959
constantly shifted and changed . You

02:25:11.959 --> 02:25:14.126
see that though , right ? Like you can

02:25:14.126 --> 02:25:16.292
acknowledge that because one minute it

02:25:16.292 --> 02:25:18.348
was to dismantle the Iranian nuclear

02:25:18.348 --> 02:25:20.403
program . But how , you know , but ,

02:25:20.403 --> 02:25:22.237
you know , I don't know how that

02:25:22.237 --> 02:25:26.200
objective , um , has not now been the

02:25:26.200 --> 02:25:27.919
listed objectives as far as I

02:25:27.919 --> 02:25:30.799
understand . Uh , then there was regime

02:25:30.799 --> 02:25:33.120
change . Um , Trump even said when

02:25:33.120 --> 02:25:35.231
announcing the start of the war , the

02:25:35.231 --> 02:25:37.398
hour of your freedom is at hand , it ,

02:25:37.398 --> 02:25:39.564
it's yours to take . He also posted on

02:25:39.564 --> 02:25:41.787
True Social in January , help is on the

02:25:41.787 --> 02:25:43.731
way to the Iranians posting in the

02:25:43.731 --> 02:25:46.709
street , um . Do you still believe in

02:25:46.709 --> 02:25:50.290
this particular objective ? Uh , the

02:25:50.290 --> 02:25:52.290
objectives have been clear from the

02:25:52.290 --> 02:25:54.123
beginning and I've supported the

02:25:54.123 --> 02:25:53.889
president throughout in having the

02:25:53.889 --> 02:25:56.000
courage to take on this threat . OK ,

02:25:56.000 --> 02:25:58.650
so , um , so then let's talk about what

02:25:58.650 --> 02:26:00.959
else , what else has he said ? Like ,

02:26:01.129 --> 02:26:03.407
so let's talk about the Trump doctrine .

02:26:03.407 --> 02:26:05.351
So on , on , on November 6th , the

02:26:05.351 --> 02:26:07.518
president said he was all about ending

02:26:07.518 --> 02:26:09.573
wars , not starting new . Yet in the

02:26:09.573 --> 02:26:11.685
so-called doctrine , the conflict has

02:26:11.685 --> 02:26:13.907
not answered why we're in the war , the

02:26:13.907 --> 02:26:15.907
objectives have changed , we're not

02:26:15.907 --> 02:26:17.907
sure about the exit exit strategy .

02:26:17.907 --> 02:26:19.685
This to me is the definition of

02:26:19.685 --> 02:26:21.685
open-ended or forever war , and you

02:26:21.685 --> 02:26:23.905
cannot claim to end forever wars while

02:26:23.905 --> 02:26:27.589
engaging in one , And then here's the

02:26:27.589 --> 02:26:30.349
one that really gets me . So , I'll

02:26:30.349 --> 02:26:32.460
know when it's over when I feel it in

02:26:32.460 --> 02:26:35.240
my bones . So , Mr . Secretary , war

02:26:35.240 --> 02:26:37.400
decisions should be based on defined

02:26:37.400 --> 02:26:39.456
military objectives . You agree with

02:26:39.456 --> 02:26:43.400
that statement , correct ? Um ,

02:26:43.519 --> 02:26:45.630
it's the commander in chief makes the

02:26:45.630 --> 02:26:47.741
call on behalf of the American people

02:26:47.741 --> 02:26:50.075
when our objectives are , are completed .

02:26:50.075 --> 02:26:52.297
There should be clear , clearly defined

02:26:52.297 --> 02:26:51.990
military objectives . That's safe to

02:26:51.990 --> 02:26:54.740
say . Ultimately the commander in chief

02:26:54.740 --> 02:26:56.629
makes the decision about when the

02:26:56.629 --> 02:26:58.962
objectives are , OK , because according ,

02:26:59.110 --> 02:27:01.379
because I'm just trying to figure out

02:27:01.379 --> 02:27:04.610
like what kind of analysis evaluation

02:27:04.610 --> 02:27:06.777
are we looking at with objectives when

02:27:06.777 --> 02:27:09.250
it's just what the what the president

02:27:09.250 --> 02:27:11.580
feels in his bones like . Are we

02:27:11.580 --> 02:27:13.413
talking about like some da Vinci

02:27:13.413 --> 02:27:15.580
Petruvian man or what like what are we

02:27:15.580 --> 02:27:17.691
talking about when we just talk about

02:27:17.691 --> 02:27:19.802
feeling it in your bones ? Because my

02:27:19.802 --> 02:27:22.024
thing is we're not set up here to trust

02:27:22.024 --> 02:27:23.913
anyone's judgment , we're here to

02:27:23.913 --> 02:27:25.969
represent our district and districts

02:27:25.969 --> 02:27:28.080
and the American people . And so my ,

02:27:28.080 --> 02:27:32.040
my next question is . The problem

02:27:32.040 --> 02:27:34.040
that I'm that I'm concerned with is

02:27:34.040 --> 02:27:36.151
that Iran continues to increase their

02:27:36.151 --> 02:27:38.500
negotiating leverage with us . And so

02:27:38.639 --> 02:27:41.120
we've been , we've been told that the ,

02:27:41.370 --> 02:27:43.959
um , we've won this war , it'll be over

02:27:43.959 --> 02:27:47.519
in a few days , um , but now they

02:27:47.530 --> 02:27:49.752
didn't control the Strait of Hormuz and

02:27:49.752 --> 02:27:52.080
now they do have leverage in the Strait

02:27:52.080 --> 02:27:54.024
of Hormuz . I remember even in the

02:27:54.024 --> 02:27:57.339
strikes in , in June . After the

02:27:57.339 --> 02:27:59.450
strikes in June , I should say , they

02:27:59.450 --> 02:28:02.870
struck Al-Aid . And we never responded

02:28:02.870 --> 02:28:05.190
to that . As a matter of fact , Trump

02:28:05.190 --> 02:28:07.150
even said he knew that strike was

02:28:07.150 --> 02:28:09.870
coming and he was , he allowed it . Do

02:28:09.870 --> 02:28:13.019
you agree with that ? Ultimately , the

02:28:13.019 --> 02:28:14.852
president's been clear about his

02:28:14.852 --> 02:28:16.741
objectives , and if you , if Iran

02:28:16.741 --> 02:28:18.908
thinks they're gonna out-deal the best

02:28:18.908 --> 02:28:20.852
dealmaker on the planet , they got

02:28:20.852 --> 02:28:20.169
another thing coming , but they struck

02:28:20.169 --> 02:28:22.113
us and we didn't strike back , and

02:28:22.113 --> 02:28:24.336
you're OK with that . He even like said

02:28:24.336 --> 02:28:26.447
he authorized like he allowed it . He

02:28:26.447 --> 02:28:28.558
said that , and you're OK with that .

02:28:28.690 --> 02:28:30.912
The president has done many bold things

02:28:30.912 --> 02:28:33.023
for this country to ensure Iran never

02:28:33.023 --> 02:28:34.968
has a nuclear weapon . OK , well ,

02:28:34.968 --> 02:28:37.079
allowing another country to attack us

02:28:37.079 --> 02:28:39.246
in that treason , allowing Iran to get

02:28:39.246 --> 02:28:41.468
a nuclear weapons expired . I recognize

02:28:41.468 --> 02:28:43.690
a gentleman from Arizona , Mr . Amade .

02:28:44.969 --> 02:28:48.209
I wanna thank your team behind you for

02:28:48.209 --> 02:28:50.320
having the discipline and stamina for

02:28:50.320 --> 02:28:52.320
being here . I know what work I was

02:28:52.320 --> 02:28:54.598
involved in doing this type of hearing ,

02:28:54.598 --> 02:28:56.950
so thank you all . Um , Mr . Secretary ,

02:28:57.209 --> 02:28:59.487
I wanna ask you about the A-10 Warthog .

02:28:59.487 --> 02:29:01.709
Uh , how effective has it been in the ,

02:29:01.709 --> 02:29:04.469
the war in Iran ? Uh , as I'm sure you

02:29:04.469 --> 02:29:06.469
know , it's , it's a very effective

02:29:06.469 --> 02:29:08.780
platform . Yes . And so why is the Air

02:29:08.780 --> 02:29:11.002
Force , I mean , they've been trying to

02:29:11.002 --> 02:29:13.224
retire this platform for 40 years since

02:29:13.224 --> 02:29:16.190
1984 . And it seems like it keeps

02:29:16.190 --> 02:29:17.801
proving itself no matter the

02:29:17.801 --> 02:29:19.968
technological advances that we have in

02:29:19.968 --> 02:29:22.079
the military . So why is there a need

02:29:22.079 --> 02:29:25.080
or push to retire this platform ? Well ,

02:29:25.120 --> 02:29:27.120
the push to retire the platform was

02:29:27.120 --> 02:29:29.231
previous administrations , uh , based

02:29:29.231 --> 02:29:31.453
on mostly requests from the Air Force .

02:29:31.453 --> 02:29:33.990
But given how , I mean , anybody of our

02:29:33.990 --> 02:29:36.480
generation knows , uh , how impactful ,

02:29:36.719 --> 02:29:38.775
important , and significant the A-10

02:29:38.775 --> 02:29:40.886
and the Warthog has been . And that's

02:29:40.886 --> 02:29:42.997
what you want when you need close air

02:29:42.997 --> 02:29:42.400
support . Full stop . Everybody knows

02:29:42.400 --> 02:29:44.567
it . To include when you've got downed

02:29:44.567 --> 02:29:46.900
pilots and you need to go downtown . Uh ,

02:29:46.900 --> 02:29:49.067
Iran , and it was incredibly effective

02:29:49.067 --> 02:29:51.289
in those missions . Now there are other

02:29:51.289 --> 02:29:53.511
places where it's less survivable , and

02:29:53.511 --> 02:29:53.269
I understand that , but there's still

02:29:53.450 --> 02:29:55.617
most of the world where it is the most

02:29:55.617 --> 02:29:57.783
effective close air support platform .

02:29:57.783 --> 02:29:59.783
That's why I got with the Air Force

02:29:59.783 --> 02:30:01.839
Secretary . We extended it to 2030 ,

02:30:01.839 --> 02:30:01.610
and we're , uh , per the president's

02:30:01.610 --> 02:30:03.943
guidance going to look at other options ,

02:30:03.943 --> 02:30:06.110
maybe other variants and ways in which

02:30:06.110 --> 02:30:08.277
we can keep the A-10 , uh , capability

02:30:08.277 --> 02:30:10.443
or platform on the battlefield for our

02:30:10.443 --> 02:30:12.666
warfighters who want that kind of close

02:30:12.666 --> 02:30:14.832
air support . Thank you , I appreciate

02:30:14.832 --> 02:30:16.999
that . Just , you know , as technology

02:30:16.999 --> 02:30:16.780
advances , sometimes we forget ,

02:30:17.059 --> 02:30:18.910
sometimes the old school , uh ,

02:30:19.139 --> 02:30:21.306
machinery we have works just as well .

02:30:21.306 --> 02:30:23.472
I know you just , you know , got the ,

02:30:23.472 --> 02:30:25.361
the Apache helicopters . I mean ,

02:30:25.361 --> 02:30:27.361
that's a 50 year old frame . If you

02:30:27.361 --> 02:30:29.528
look at the AK-47s , my God . It's one

02:30:29.528 --> 02:30:31.528
of the most effective rifles and uh

02:30:31.528 --> 02:30:33.750
from 1947 , so I don't wanna lose sight

02:30:33.750 --> 02:30:33.250
of that , you know , I think too much ,

02:30:33.459 --> 02:30:35.515
too much is spent on so many defense

02:30:35.515 --> 02:30:37.570
companies coming here selling us the

02:30:37.570 --> 02:30:39.792
newest , greatest product , but warfare

02:30:39.792 --> 02:30:42.015
warfare ultimately is about killing the

02:30:42.015 --> 02:30:44.070
enemy , and we know that Warhog does

02:30:44.070 --> 02:30:45.959
that . Um , I wanna shift focus a

02:30:45.959 --> 02:30:47.903
little bit to actually kind of old

02:30:47.903 --> 02:30:49.959
school as well . Um , I know the SOF

02:30:49.959 --> 02:30:52.126
and PsyO right now , there's been 3000

02:30:52.126 --> 02:30:54.237
positions cut , uh , mostly on psyops

02:30:54.237 --> 02:30:56.348
and civil affairs . Um , how is . You

02:30:56.348 --> 02:30:58.681
know , I've been wondering , there's no ,

02:30:58.681 --> 02:31:00.809
we have air superiority in Iran . And

02:31:00.809 --> 02:31:02.698
it seems like there's no internet

02:31:02.698 --> 02:31:04.920
connectivity in Iran . Are we doing any

02:31:04.920 --> 02:31:07.480
leaflet drops over there ? Um , we've

02:31:07.480 --> 02:31:09.647
explored a variety of different , uh ,

02:31:09.647 --> 02:31:11.924
actions , many of which are classified ,

02:31:11.924 --> 02:31:13.813
but that could restore additional

02:31:13.813 --> 02:31:15.647
communications capability to the

02:31:15.647 --> 02:31:17.536
Iranian people . I would love for

02:31:17.536 --> 02:31:19.702
President Trump's Truth social post to

02:31:19.702 --> 02:31:19.230
be leafletted all over Iran , to be

02:31:19.230 --> 02:31:21.397
honest with you . I think that would ,

02:31:21.397 --> 02:31:23.619
uh , encourage them to actually take to

02:31:23.619 --> 02:31:26.000
the streets . Uh , moving to Iraq , uh ,

02:31:26.320 --> 02:31:28.264
I think there's a budget right now

02:31:28.264 --> 02:31:30.487
about $118 million to the government of

02:31:30.487 --> 02:31:32.764
Iraq for the counter ISIS mission . Um ,

02:31:32.764 --> 02:31:34.709
we know the problems that the Iraq

02:31:34.709 --> 02:31:36.969
government are facing right now , and .

02:31:38.040 --> 02:31:40.096
You have personally said that you're

02:31:40.096 --> 02:31:42.318
gonna have , you're gonna certify . You

02:31:42.318 --> 02:31:44.429
know , the spending on , I mean , how

02:31:44.429 --> 02:31:46.596
do you think that this is an effective

02:31:46.596 --> 02:31:48.596
use of our money to give it to this

02:31:48.596 --> 02:31:50.818
government that we know is aligned with

02:31:50.818 --> 02:31:52.984
Iran and seems like it's becoming more

02:31:52.984 --> 02:31:55.207
difficult to deal with ? It's very much

02:31:55.207 --> 02:31:55.139
an open question . We're paying very

02:31:55.139 --> 02:31:57.459
close attention to the new government

02:31:57.459 --> 02:31:59.737
there and the counterterrorism efforts ,

02:32:00.059 --> 02:32:02.281
some of which have been successful over

02:32:02.281 --> 02:32:04.337
time and others of which have not in

02:32:04.337 --> 02:32:06.170
this conflict where Iraq has not

02:32:06.170 --> 02:32:08.392
stepped up in those efforts , and we're

02:32:08.392 --> 02:32:10.615
reviewing funding , basing every aspect

02:32:10.615 --> 02:32:12.948
accordingly , just like we did in Syria .

02:32:12.948 --> 02:32:15.003
The president directed that we leave

02:32:15.003 --> 02:32:14.500
Syria . We had 8 bases . We went down

02:32:14.500 --> 02:32:17.000
to 42 , and then 1 , and now , um ,

02:32:17.009 --> 02:32:19.540
ultimately are in northern Iraq , and

02:32:19.540 --> 02:32:21.762
we'll review our posture throughout the

02:32:21.762 --> 02:32:23.818
region . Great . With that , I yield

02:32:23.818 --> 02:32:25.984
back Mr . Chair . Chair I recognizes a

02:32:25.984 --> 02:32:27.929
gentleman from New Jersey , Doctor

02:32:27.929 --> 02:32:29.707
Conaway . Uh , thank you , Mr .

02:32:29.707 --> 02:32:31.651
Chairman and thank you and Ranking

02:32:31.651 --> 02:32:33.707
Member , uh , Smith for holding this

02:32:33.707 --> 02:32:35.929
hearing today . Thanks to the witnesses

02:32:35.929 --> 02:32:38.207
for presenting themselves , uh , to us ,

02:32:38.207 --> 02:32:40.373
uh , to answer questions . Uh , at the

02:32:40.373 --> 02:32:42.484
outset , let me say that I'm proud of

02:32:42.484 --> 02:32:42.469
the work that our service members do

02:32:42.469 --> 02:32:44.691
every day to keep our nation safe , and

02:32:44.691 --> 02:32:47.410
I have profound respect over those , uh ,

02:32:47.419 --> 02:32:49.752
who voluntarily put on the uniform , uh ,

02:32:49.830 --> 02:32:53.339
to serve and protect our country . The

02:32:53.339 --> 02:32:55.117
Trump administration's reckless

02:32:55.117 --> 02:32:57.228
military actions are driving up costs

02:32:57.228 --> 02:32:59.395
for everyday Americans . This war , as

02:32:59.395 --> 02:33:02.379
you know , is , is not supported by a

02:33:02.379 --> 02:33:04.490
significant majority of the people in

02:33:04.490 --> 02:33:07.099
this country . The administration has

02:33:07.099 --> 02:33:09.155
increased military operations around

02:33:09.155 --> 02:33:11.099
the globe , including strikes in 8

02:33:11.099 --> 02:33:13.620
countries , and the war in Iran is

02:33:13.620 --> 02:33:15.842
costing taxpayers billions of dollars .

02:33:15.940 --> 02:33:18.051
Estimates are by the time it's over ,

02:33:18.051 --> 02:33:19.940
it could cost $1 trillion to the

02:33:19.940 --> 02:33:21.940
American people , a lot of that off

02:33:21.940 --> 02:33:24.610
budget . It's estimated that the 1st 6

02:33:24.610 --> 02:33:26.832
days of the war cost around $12 billion

02:33:27.129 --> 02:33:29.296
alone , and we are now hitting 60 days

02:33:30.209 --> 02:33:33.639
of war fighting without a plan to

02:33:33.639 --> 02:33:37.049
exit this conflict . The administration

02:33:37.049 --> 02:33:39.650
has failed to transparently tell the

02:33:39.650 --> 02:33:41.706
Congress or the American people what

02:33:41.706 --> 02:33:43.928
the costs of the war are and and why we

02:33:43.928 --> 02:33:46.730
are at war , uh , and expects Americans

02:33:46.730 --> 02:33:49.290
to keep footing the bill . Uh , the

02:33:49.290 --> 02:33:51.290
comptroller has , uh thank you for

02:33:51.290 --> 02:33:53.068
coming , sir , uh , given us an

02:33:53.068 --> 02:33:55.123
incomplete number , and I understand

02:33:55.123 --> 02:33:57.234
we're in the midst of war and there's

02:33:57.234 --> 02:33:56.769
some , uh , you do have some challenges

02:33:56.769 --> 02:33:59.030
in that regard . Uh , but , uh ,

02:33:59.419 --> 02:34:01.586
Congress , I think my colleagues would

02:34:01.586 --> 02:34:03.879
have appreciated , um , a more

02:34:03.879 --> 02:34:06.299
thoroughgoing cost estimate , uh , so

02:34:06.299 --> 02:34:08.410
that we may properly , uh , conduct ,

02:34:08.410 --> 02:34:12.059
uh , oversight as is our duty . Um ,

02:34:12.309 --> 02:34:14.365
I would agree with my colleague Ms .

02:34:14.365 --> 02:34:16.587
Goodlander about the department sharing

02:34:16.587 --> 02:34:16.309
the full breakdown of the cost of this

02:34:16.309 --> 02:34:20.209
war , uh , and , um . Uh , uh ,

02:34:20.419 --> 02:34:22.641
understanding , uh , where every dollar

02:34:22.641 --> 02:34:24.586
is , uh , going , uh , that , uh ,

02:34:24.586 --> 02:34:26.808
number does not likely reflect the full

02:34:26.808 --> 02:34:30.019
costs of war , as you know , um , there

02:34:30.019 --> 02:34:32.130
are many estimates out there that say

02:34:32.130 --> 02:34:34.130
that this , uh , war will cost much

02:34:34.130 --> 02:34:36.352
more than , uh , the , uh , you and the

02:34:36.352 --> 02:34:38.241
administration are , uh , putting

02:34:38.241 --> 02:34:41.490
before the American people , um . If

02:34:41.490 --> 02:34:44.120
you look at our past conflicts , uh ,

02:34:44.209 --> 02:34:46.265
when we went to war in World War 1 ,

02:34:46.265 --> 02:34:48.209
and this has been mentioned , uh ,

02:34:48.209 --> 02:34:50.376
Wilson went to Congress and called for

02:34:50.376 --> 02:34:52.598
the American people to help pay for the

02:34:52.598 --> 02:34:54.820
war . Franklin Roosevelt , uh , went to

02:34:54.820 --> 02:34:56.931
Congress , asked for a declaration of

02:34:56.931 --> 02:34:59.042
war , and the Americans pitched in to

02:34:59.042 --> 02:35:01.376
pay for this war . Conflicts after that ,

02:35:01.376 --> 02:35:03.598
sadly , many , too many of them are off

02:35:03.598 --> 02:35:03.209
budget and are leaving Americans with

02:35:03.209 --> 02:35:06.370
trillions of dollars in debt . Average

02:35:06.370 --> 02:35:07.926
Americans are suffering the

02:35:07.926 --> 02:35:09.870
consequences of this war in Iran ,

02:35:09.870 --> 02:35:12.410
including increased fuel prices in my

02:35:12.410 --> 02:35:14.632
home state of New Jersey , where gas is

02:35:14.632 --> 02:35:17.769
now on average $4.20 a gallon . Diesel

02:35:17.769 --> 02:35:20.610
is almost $6 per gallon . In addition

02:35:20.610 --> 02:35:22.721
to increased fuel prices , everything

02:35:22.721 --> 02:35:25.009
costs more groceries , uh , housing

02:35:25.009 --> 02:35:27.320
costs , and people , uh , the people

02:35:27.320 --> 02:35:29.570
who have to pay for it , have not asked

02:35:29.570 --> 02:35:31.514
for this war , and I think we're a

02:35:31.514 --> 02:35:33.626
little bit bewildered as to why we're

02:35:33.626 --> 02:35:35.626
in this war . I'm not disputing the

02:35:35.626 --> 02:35:38.490
fact that the Iranian regime is a

02:35:38.490 --> 02:35:41.379
malignant , dangerous regime that has

02:35:41.379 --> 02:35:43.459
killed its own people and indeed has

02:35:43.459 --> 02:35:46.299
killed Americans over the decades . I

02:35:46.299 --> 02:35:48.410
think where we disagree is what's the

02:35:48.410 --> 02:35:50.188
best way to get at Iran . Do we

02:35:50.188 --> 02:35:51.966
negotiate with them and control

02:35:54.580 --> 02:35:57.660
their access to nuclear weapons in a

02:35:58.049 --> 02:36:01.379
multilateral way that includes included

02:36:01.379 --> 02:36:03.740
even Russia in the deal . Uh , and the

02:36:03.740 --> 02:36:05.907
agreement that President Obama brought

02:36:05.907 --> 02:36:07.962
forward , or do we go and try to and

02:36:07.962 --> 02:36:10.129
and engage in a costly war in order to

02:36:10.129 --> 02:36:12.296
get at those nuclear weapons ? I think

02:36:12.296 --> 02:36:14.296
that's where the principal conflict

02:36:14.296 --> 02:36:16.629
lies . How do we achieve the same goals ,

02:36:16.629 --> 02:36:18.796
costly war or through negotiation . Um

02:36:19.429 --> 02:36:22.929
And we've seen that apparently

02:36:23.799 --> 02:36:26.160
There wasn't a plan to deal with the .

02:36:27.059 --> 02:36:29.549
Action that Iran had to take , that is

02:36:29.549 --> 02:36:31.660
to close the Strait of Hormuz because

02:36:31.660 --> 02:36:33.882
it's the only thing you can do when you

02:36:33.882 --> 02:36:36.105
are the weaker country in an asymmetric

02:36:36.105 --> 02:36:35.780
conflict , of course they were going to

02:36:35.780 --> 02:36:37.891
do that , and I wonder whether or not

02:36:37.891 --> 02:36:40.224
the president was apprised of this , uh ,

02:36:40.224 --> 02:36:42.391
before he took the actions that he has

02:36:42.391 --> 02:36:44.900
taken , so let me just ask this

02:36:44.900 --> 02:36:48.799
question um . And before

02:36:48.799 --> 02:36:51.599
let's make this comment too , uh , this

02:36:51.599 --> 02:36:55.059
war is just , uh , uh , 60 days so far ,

02:36:55.400 --> 02:36:57.456
uh , and this thought that Americans

02:36:57.456 --> 02:36:59.289
wish to bear the consequences of

02:36:59.289 --> 02:37:01.400
increased fuel prices , I don't think

02:37:01.400 --> 02:37:03.456
is borne out of the fact that , um ,

02:37:03.456 --> 02:37:06.280
you know , those costs impact people on

02:37:06.280 --> 02:37:08.799
a weekly basis , biweekly basis , uh ,

02:37:08.879 --> 02:37:10.935
mortgages come and have to be paid ,

02:37:10.935 --> 02:37:13.157
groceries have to be bought on a weekly

02:37:13.157 --> 02:37:15.212
basis , and those gas prices squeeze

02:37:15.212 --> 02:37:17.490
are squeezing the American public . Uh ,

02:37:17.490 --> 02:37:19.940
so can you tell us , um , whether or

02:37:19.940 --> 02:37:22.580
not it was planning to deal with the in

02:37:22.580 --> 02:37:24.691
advance , to deal with the closing of

02:37:24.691 --> 02:37:27.669
the strait or hormones given . Uh , the

02:37:27.669 --> 02:37:29.891
likely impact on world fuel prices that

02:37:29.891 --> 02:37:32.058
will have to be for the record because

02:37:32.058 --> 02:37:34.225
men and gentlemen's time has expired .

02:37:34.225 --> 02:37:36.336
Uh , chair not recognizes the ranking

02:37:36.336 --> 02:37:35.950
member for any closing comments he may

02:37:35.950 --> 02:37:37.950
have . Uh , well , first of all , I

02:37:37.950 --> 02:37:39.672
want to thank the chairman for

02:37:39.672 --> 02:37:39.629
conducting this hearing . Obviously

02:37:39.629 --> 02:37:41.907
there's a lot of passion on both sides ,

02:37:41.950 --> 02:37:44.006
a lot of partisan stuff being thrown

02:37:44.006 --> 02:37:45.950
around . I think on this committee

02:37:45.950 --> 02:37:48.061
we're all trying to serve the men and

02:37:48.061 --> 02:37:47.870
women who serve us as well as we

02:37:47.870 --> 02:37:50.160
possibly can . He handled it very well

02:37:50.160 --> 02:37:52.327
and in a difficult time . I appreciate

02:37:52.327 --> 02:37:54.382
the fairness of that . Um , yes , we

02:37:54.382 --> 02:37:54.320
have a lot of issues , but at the end

02:37:54.320 --> 02:37:56.153
of the day , the Iran war is the

02:37:56.153 --> 02:37:58.376
biggest issue that we face , and I hope

02:37:58.376 --> 02:38:00.542
that you all , you gentlemen will take

02:38:00.542 --> 02:38:02.598
seriously the concerns we have about

02:38:02.598 --> 02:38:04.931
where it's going and how it's gonna end .

02:38:04.931 --> 02:38:07.098
Yes , it has not yet lasted as long as

02:38:07.098 --> 02:38:09.153
Vietnam or , uh , World War II , but

02:38:09.153 --> 02:38:11.320
we're also told it was going to last 4

02:38:11.320 --> 02:38:11.000
to 5 weeks when it started . We were

02:38:11.000 --> 02:38:13.111
given an idea of what the mission has

02:38:13.111 --> 02:38:15.278
been . It's clearly gone beyond that .

02:38:15.290 --> 02:38:17.346
We did not contemplate that we would

02:38:17.346 --> 02:38:19.512
have , you know , the Strait of Hormuz

02:38:19.512 --> 02:38:21.457
shut down or that we would have to

02:38:21.457 --> 02:38:23.679
implement a blockade . So how we get to

02:38:23.679 --> 02:38:25.790
the result is something we really are

02:38:25.790 --> 02:38:27.901
going to want to hear from all of you

02:38:27.901 --> 02:38:30.068
about on a regular basis and what role

02:38:30.068 --> 02:38:29.849
the service members who are over there ,

02:38:30.009 --> 02:38:32.759
some 50,000 , are going to play in that .

02:38:32.769 --> 02:38:34.769
And we all agree , Mr . Secretary ,

02:38:34.769 --> 02:38:36.769
that Iran should not have a nuclear

02:38:36.769 --> 02:38:38.713
weapon . Is this really getting us

02:38:38.713 --> 02:38:40.825
there ? That's the connection we want

02:38:40.825 --> 02:38:42.991
to see and you can say , well , we had

02:38:42.991 --> 02:38:42.809
to start , start a war to stop the

02:38:42.809 --> 02:38:45.009
nuclear weapon . That in of itself

02:38:45.009 --> 02:38:47.690
doesn't make it true . Um , how is the

02:38:47.690 --> 02:38:50.049
war and the military action actually

02:38:50.049 --> 02:38:52.271
stopping that nuclear weapon ? How does

02:38:52.271 --> 02:38:54.327
it put us into a better position ? I

02:38:54.327 --> 02:38:56.327
think that's what we really need to

02:38:56.327 --> 02:38:56.129
hear , um , and what we'll have to

02:38:56.129 --> 02:38:58.240
continue to work on , uh , long after

02:38:58.240 --> 02:38:59.962
this hearing , but I thank our

02:38:59.962 --> 02:39:02.185
witnesses , uh , for coming before us .

02:39:02.185 --> 02:39:04.407
It is the democratic process , um , you

02:39:04.407 --> 02:39:04.169
know , we're all part of representative

02:39:04.169 --> 02:39:06.280
democracy . I have never met too many

02:39:06.280 --> 02:39:08.502
people at the Pentagon who loved coming

02:39:08.502 --> 02:39:10.558
over and talking to Congress . I get

02:39:10.558 --> 02:39:12.613
that , but I hope you understand how

02:39:12.613 --> 02:39:14.780
important and how necessary it is that

02:39:14.780 --> 02:39:16.947
the people's voices are heard , and we

02:39:16.947 --> 02:39:19.280
do have an opportunity to , to question ,

02:39:19.280 --> 02:39:18.889
uh , and challenge the decisions that

02:39:18.889 --> 02:39:21.111
are made by our executive branches . We

02:39:21.111 --> 02:39:22.722
have a right to do under the

02:39:22.722 --> 02:39:24.833
Constitution , actually an obligation

02:39:24.833 --> 02:39:24.809
to do under the Constitution . So I

02:39:24.809 --> 02:39:26.531
look forward to continuing the

02:39:26.531 --> 02:39:28.531
conversation . I thank the chairman

02:39:28.531 --> 02:39:30.587
again and I yield back . I thank the

02:39:30.587 --> 02:39:32.309
ranking member and I thank the

02:39:32.309 --> 02:39:34.309
witnesses . Uh , thank you for your

02:39:34.309 --> 02:39:36.476
service to our country . Thank you for

02:39:36.476 --> 02:39:38.420
6 hours of tough duty , and , uh ,

02:39:38.420 --> 02:39:40.642
you've done a great job . I want to end

02:39:40.642 --> 02:39:42.642
this hearing the way I started it .

02:39:42.642 --> 02:39:45.009
This is a historic budget request by

02:39:45.009 --> 02:39:48.019
this administration . We are in , uh ,

02:39:48.089 --> 02:39:50.959
unacceptably low levels of spending

02:39:50.959 --> 02:39:53.570
historically . And this president is

02:39:53.570 --> 02:39:55.403
meeting the moment with a budget

02:39:55.403 --> 02:39:57.969
request that meets the requirements

02:39:57.969 --> 02:40:00.330
that we have to meet if we want to

02:40:00.330 --> 02:40:02.809
remain at peace . This is about peace

02:40:02.809 --> 02:40:04.809
through strength . This budget will

02:40:04.809 --> 02:40:06.929
help us have peace through strength ,

02:40:06.990 --> 02:40:09.330
and I urge , uh , my colleagues who are

02:40:09.330 --> 02:40:11.552
not in this chamber to pay attention to

02:40:11.552 --> 02:40:13.719
what we talked about today . Uh , this

02:40:13.719 --> 02:40:15.774
department , I think , is , is , has

02:40:15.774 --> 02:40:17.941
done an admirable job of defending the

02:40:17.941 --> 02:40:20.108
budget . And with that , thank you for

02:40:20.108 --> 02:40:21.049
being here . This hearing is adjourned .