About this transcript: This is a full AI-generated transcript of US Senate LIVE: Hegseth Snaps, Turns Off Mic During Heated Testimony Clash — Senate Hearing LIVE from Times Now, published May 4, 2026. The transcript contains 16,577 words with timestamps and was generated using Whisper AI.
"and input to a process where a quarter of the budget is essentially a slush fund? Well, Senator, I appreciate the question. I wouldn't characterize a quarter of it as a slush fund, but I recognize that we see it in totality as a $1.5 trillion budget. But why the separation? Why the two pieces? Why..."
[0:00] and input to a process where a quarter of the budget is essentially a slush fund?
[0:07] Well, Senator, I appreciate the question.
[0:09] I wouldn't characterize a quarter of it as a slush fund,
[0:12] but I recognize that we see it in totality as a $1.5 trillion budget.
[0:17] But why the separation? Why the two pieces?
[0:20] Why not just a regular budget?
[0:21] As you know, there are multiple dynamics that play into why there are multiple vehicles,
[0:25] but we are fully committed with working to the committee
[0:27] to ensure that the right vehicles are utilized to get precisely this amount, $1.5 trillion.
[0:32] Why should we – you didn't answer my question.
[0:34] Why are there two pieces?
[0:36] Why not – for time immemorial, we've done budgets here.
[0:40] We've never – to my knowledge, we've never used this reconciliation process
[0:43] for a defense budget before.
[0:45] What's going on?
[0:47] My understanding of the reason for the vehicles is to ensure we actually get to $1.5 trillion,
[0:53] which is the most important bottom line.
[0:55] The most important bottom line is that top line of $1.5 trillion to fund what we need,
[0:59] and we think this process is the most effective way to get there, Senator.
[1:03] Well, what you're really saying is we don't want to deal with that pesky Congress
[1:07] and their appropriation process.
[1:09] I think this is significant, Mr. Chairman,
[1:12] that we're basically abdicating a quarter of our responsibility in terms of this budget.
[1:18] Let me move on.
[1:19] One of the factors of this budget that hasn't gotten any publicity is that there's zero funding
[1:26] for Ukraine.
[1:27] That's correct, isn't it, Mr. Hurst?
[1:29] That's correct.
[1:30] There's no USAI funding in this budget.
[1:32] And there was $400 million that was appropriated last year by a bipartisan,
[1:39] bicameral act of Congress.
[1:41] What's become of that money?
[1:42] My understanding is not a dollar of it has been dispersed.
[1:49] It was released very recently, and again, we got these funds, I believe, in March,
[1:53] and it takes time for funds to flow through the department,
[1:56] but it's going to get put to work very shortly.
[1:58] We're going to work with the UConn commander to make sure we use these funds
[2:00] in the most appropriate way possible.
[2:02] I didn't want Senator Sullivan to be the only one with an exhibit.
[2:05] This indicates what's happened to our support for Ukraine over a period of years.
[2:10] The orange bars are U.S. support.
[2:14] The blue bars are Europe.
[2:15] As you see, Europe is 99% in the year 2026.
[2:21] Same thing with humanitarian and other aid to Ukraine.
[2:25] And yet this is, I believe, an existential struggle for the future of democracy
[2:30] where we had an aggressive country invade a neighboring country
[2:34] without any justification whatsoever.
[2:36] And by the way, that invading country is the major winner so far of the war in Iran.
[2:42] They've gotten, the estimates are, $40 to $80 billion of additional revenues
[2:47] from oil and the relief of sanctions as a result of the war in Iran.
[2:53] Secretary Hegseth, why are we abandoning Ukraine?
[2:56] Senator, if you would hold that chart back up, I think that's a beautiful chart.
[3:02] I think that's exactly what we want.
[3:04] We want Europe stepping up and funding and shouldering the burden.
[3:07] They are rich countries worth $20 trillion versus economy of $2 trillion.
[3:12] Europe can step up.
[3:13] Europe can fund it.
[3:14] And they have through our Pearl Initiative and through our European command.
[3:17] That's exactly what the American people want to see,
[3:20] is other countries stepping up and funding that.
[3:22] If it's that important to Europe, which I understand why it is,
[3:25] and the incursion of Russia and the bravery of the Ukrainians,
[3:28] then European countries should pay for it.
[3:30] And that's exactly what that chart says.
[3:31] And that's the administration policy.
[3:33] So we don't have any interest in what happens in Ukraine.
[3:36] Is that what you're saying?
[3:37] It's only the Europeans?
[3:39] I'm saying the threat is far closer to rich and capable countries in Europe,
[3:43] and they should step up to lead the charge.
[3:45] And that's why that chart is a good thing to see.
[3:47] They have stepped up.
[3:48] But I think the American people should understand that we've stepped back.
[3:52] In fact, stepped back to the point of abandoning.
[3:55] This is a war that never would have happened under President Trump,
[3:57] and he supports ending it through a deal, and he's pursued that.
[4:00] So far, it hasn't happened.
[4:03] I'm out of time.
[4:04] I want to talk about DTOs, who designates, but we'll take that up later.
[4:08] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[4:08] Thank you, Senator King.
[4:11] Senator Schmidt.
[4:12] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[4:13] And it's a proposal that I'm following my friend from Maine.
[4:16] Missouri and Maine came into the Union at the same time,
[4:19] but we couldn't disagree more on this particular point.
[4:22] We may have to separate here.
[4:23] I actually think it's interesting that Ukraine just came up
[4:26] because we've heard from my colleagues on the other side
[4:30] discussion about the cost of what the ongoing American effort.
[4:35] There was never a discussion about the $200 billion
[4:39] we were sending to a foreign country that's not even in NATO.
[4:42] Never.
[4:43] In fact, when amendments were offered for independent audits
[4:47] of how that money was spent,
[4:49] there was bipartisan opposition to that kind of oversight.
[4:53] So I find it really rich now that there's a complaint
[4:56] that we're not spending money on Ukraine.
[5:00] And by the way, $30 billion for salaries for bureaucrats,
[5:05] pensions and social safety net programs
[5:07] and government operations to keep the state functioning during wartime.
[5:12] That's where American tax dollars were going,
[5:13] $30 billion for bureaucrats in Ukraine.
[5:17] And we just heard a speech for more money for Ukraine,
[5:20] yet the $1.5 trillion for this country is being balked at.
[5:27] I mean, I've seen Ukraine flags all over this capital for three years.
[5:32] At the same time, the same people call the president of the United States
[5:36] of this country a Nazi.
[5:39] So forgive me if I feel like we've lost our bearings a little bit.
[5:44] So I'm all for the America First agenda.
[5:49] I'm all for us realigning our priorities.
[5:51] I'm all for the national defense strategies that says
[5:54] our core strategic interests are the homeland,
[5:58] the western hemisphere, and the rising threat in China.
[6:01] And that means our European allies should step up.
[6:05] If Vladimir Putin is truly some existential threat
[6:09] and the next Hitler that's going to roll through Europe,
[6:11] you would think, by the way, he can't take Kiev,
[6:13] so you can't have it both ways.
[6:15] He hasn't made it to Kiev.
[6:16] But they would step up.
[6:19] And we better start demanding that
[6:20] because if we want to meet the challenges of the 21st century in China,
[6:25] our priorities, our focus has to be somewhere else.
[6:28] It doesn't mean abandonment.
[6:30] It just means a true partnership with our European allies
[6:32] who for a very, very long time have not stepped up.
[6:36] I want to ask you, Mr. Secretary, in your first year,
[6:39] one of the things I think that's really gone towards this morale
[6:41] and recruitment boom that we've seen through your leadership
[6:45] and President Trump was finally taking on the sort of cultural Marxism
[6:49] that had taken hold from the highest levels of leadership
[6:53] from the President of the United States to your predecessor,
[6:55] this obsession with DEI.
[6:57] Could you just walk through maybe the worst example that you saw
[7:01] and a way that you addressed that and how it was affecting morale?
[7:05] Well, thank you, Senator.
[7:06] First of all, I want to fully associate myself
[7:10] with the first two and a half minutes of your comments,
[7:12] and I appreciate that perspective very much so.
[7:14] I would note $30 billion for bureaucrats in Ukraine
[7:17] is more than the bill that we've talked about today
[7:19] for an existential and critically important war
[7:23] to ensure that Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon.
[7:25] That's worth noting.
[7:27] I haven't talked about it as much in these hearings
[7:29] because this is a budget hearing about $1.5 trillion
[7:33] that's historic and significant,
[7:34] but underwriting the change that we've seen in our department
[7:38] was a laser focus on getting back to basics,
[7:41] and the key word to that is merit.
[7:44] We had a department that was obsessed with gender,
[7:47] ideology, and race, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
[7:51] In fact, the mantra you would hear dripping
[7:54] from the lips of generals with a serious look on their face
[7:57] was our diversity is our strength,
[8:00] which is the single dumbest phrase in military history.
[8:03] Of course, our diversity is not our strength.
[8:06] Our unity is our strength, our shared purpose,
[8:09] the flag we wear and the constitution we serve to defend.
[8:13] And when you clear that debris away,
[8:15] whether it's Marxist ideologies or social engineering
[8:18] or political correctness or quotas based on gender and diversity,
[8:23] you get the best of the best rising up,
[8:25] regardless of gender, regardless of race,
[8:28] motivated by that environment where merit reigns,
[8:31] its accountability, standards,
[8:33] lethality, readiness, training,
[8:36] all the debris wiped away.
[8:38] That is the secret sauce of the revival of the War Department
[8:42] and why Americans are attracted to serving in it
[8:45] and why morale is sky high.
[8:48] And any insinuation that it is not
[8:50] are coming from folks who haven't been in our units recently.
[8:53] Go visit the troops at every level
[8:55] and their morale is at record levels.
[8:56] And I want to talk about morale
[8:57] with the 15 seconds that I have left.
[8:59] I want to thank you for coming to St. Louis
[9:01] for your Arsenal Freedom Tour,
[9:02] where the next generation aircraft,
[9:04] the F-47, is being built
[9:06] by the hardworking men and women in Missouri
[9:07] who take a tremendous amount of pride
[9:09] for that aircraft that's going to go further,
[9:12] see further, go faster, have a bigger payload.
[9:15] And I know there's another decision coming with the F-A-X-X,
[9:18] but really appreciate your leadership
[9:19] and thanks for coming.
[9:20] Thank you, Senator.
[9:20] Thank you, Senator Schmitt.
[9:23] Senator King, do you wish to ask unanimous consent
[9:26] to include your exhibit in the record?
[9:30] Yes, please.
[9:31] Without objection, that will be done.
[9:32] Senator Warren.
[9:33] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[9:35] So Americans are paying a high price
[9:38] for Donald Trump's war with Iran.
[9:39] We've got 14 service members who are dead,
[9:42] over 400 more who are wounded.
[9:45] Prices are rising for nearly every American family.
[9:49] But someone is profiting off Trump's war.
[9:54] Insiders who know what's going on
[9:55] and who place bets on that inside information.
[10:00] On March 23rd, just 14 minutes before Trump
[10:04] unexpectedly posted about, quote,
[10:07] very good conversations on ending the war,
[10:11] traders suddenly bet $500 million on the price of oil,
[10:16] which, once Trump made his announcement,
[10:20] immediately dropped.
[10:21] It happened again on April 7th
[10:24] and then again on April 21st.
[10:26] A surge in oil bets, then a Trump post,
[10:30] and then a huge shift in oil prices
[10:33] in just the space of minutes.
[10:36] It looks like insiders have been making out like bandits,
[10:40] using secret information about the war.
[10:43] Now, one U.S. soldier has been charged,
[10:46] but that was for betting on capturing Maduro months ago.
[10:51] Not a single person has been charged
[10:53] in the many, many, many trades over the Middle East war.
[10:58] So Secretary Hegseth,
[11:00] do you have any explanation
[11:02] for these perfectly timed spikes in trading activity
[11:08] other than insider trading?
[11:10] Senator, all I can tell you is that
[11:14] everything we've done in our department,
[11:16] everything we've done with information
[11:18] in working with the White House
[11:19] and across the interagency
[11:20] has been completely above board.
[11:22] Well, so what does it mean?
[11:24] Do you have any other explanation
[11:26] other than insider trading?
[11:29] Do you have a story for why
[11:31] just minutes before there's an announcement,
[11:34] there's a surge in trading activity?
[11:38] Senator, I'm more than focused on doing my job
[11:40] in ensuring we execute properly,
[11:42] which thankfully, under this administration,
[11:44] our troops have done incredible things
[11:46] in all these missions.
[11:48] My job in all of those moments
[11:49] is to make sure we're prepared.
[11:51] And that's part of the reason
[11:52] why we've been so successful in these raids,
[11:54] in these efforts,
[11:55] is that this joint force is prepared.
[11:56] So you're saying you're not paying any attention
[11:58] to this insider trading.
[11:59] Is that what you're telling me?
[12:00] That you've paid no attention to this?
[12:02] You haven't noticed it?
[12:03] You haven't done anything about it?
[12:05] What I'm saying is we're focused on our mission
[12:07] of executing for the American people
[12:09] and what happens in betting markets
[12:12] is not something we're involved in.
[12:14] What happens in betting markets
[12:15] doesn't matter to you,
[12:17] even if the information may be coming
[12:19] from insiders in your office?
[12:22] Senator, it's not something
[12:23] we're involved in at all.
[12:25] And of course, we take operational security
[12:26] at every level very seriously.
[12:28] In fact, no one's taken operational security
[12:30] more seriously than us.
[12:33] If you look at what it required
[12:34] to keep secret Midnight Hammer
[12:36] and Operation Maduro,
[12:38] the absolute resolve with Maduro
[12:41] and the steps we've taken,
[12:43] no one's been tighter about ensuring
[12:45] that operational security is insured.
[12:47] Have you taken any steps to deal
[12:47] with insider trading out of your office?
[12:52] We would ensure at every level
[12:55] that inside information is properly safeguarded.
[12:58] All right.
[12:58] Well, obviously you're not.
[13:00] I'm also concerned about recent reporting
[13:03] on your own financial dealings
[13:05] with regard to profiting from the war in Iran.
[13:08] The Financial Times reported
[13:10] that your broker tried to buy hundreds of shares
[13:12] in a BlackRock fund invested in defense companies
[13:16] just before the war began.
[13:18] The law clearly prohibits the secretary-
[13:20] That entire story is false,
[13:21] has been from the beginning
[13:22] and was made up out of whole cloth.
[13:24] And anybody that looks at it
[13:26] sees how it was worded from the beginning
[13:28] to make it look like I was involved in something
[13:29] I had nothing to do and never have.
[13:32] So any insinuation that I've ever profited
[13:34] other than serving this nation,
[13:36] what I give, what you give, what others give,
[13:39] I'm not looking for money.
[13:40] I don't do it for money.
[13:41] I don't do it for profit.
[13:42] I don't do it for stocks.
[13:43] And that's part of the reason
[13:44] why I'm able to be effective in this job
[13:45] because no one owns me.
[13:47] No one owns this department.
[13:48] No one owns this president.
[13:50] And we can execute for the American people
[13:51] and we do.
[13:52] The law clearly prohibits
[13:54] the secretary of defense
[13:56] from owning stock
[13:57] in the 10 biggest defense contractors.
[14:01] Other senators and I sent you a letter
[14:03] with detailed questions about this
[14:05] and you have not given us a response.
[14:08] So I'd like to hear you say,
[14:10] did you, through your broker
[14:11] at Morgan Stanley or otherwise,
[14:13] seek to invest
[14:14] in any defense-related funds
[14:17] right before Trump started the Iran war?
[14:20] I'll give it to you as a big, fat, negative.
[14:26] Then let me ask you a second question.
[14:28] Is your broker getting your personal sign-off
[14:31] on any investment in individual stocks?
[14:34] Bigger, fatter, negative.
[14:36] He's not getting your sign-off
[14:38] before he makes investments in defense stocks?
[14:41] Can I refer you to your ethics agreement?
[14:42] I'm not making investments, Senator.
[14:44] I am asking, does he know
[14:46] that he has to get your sign-off
[14:48] before he does that?
[14:49] Of course.
[14:50] I don't know what you're looking for,
[14:51] but you ain't going to find it.
[14:53] Thank you.
[14:54] Thank you, Senator.
[14:55] I would like to enter into the record
[14:57] the ethics agreement
[14:58] that the Secretary of Defense has signed,
[15:01] that he will sign off personally
[15:04] before his broker
[15:06] makes any attempt to buy defense stocks.
[15:09] Is there objection?
[15:10] Thank you.
[15:11] Without objection,
[15:12] it will be admitted.
[15:14] Senator Banks.
[15:16] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[15:17] Secretary Hegseth,
[15:18] you're doing a great job.
[15:20] I've been in Washington for 10 years,
[15:23] several secretaries of defense,
[15:26] now Secretary of War.
[15:27] You're the best that we've had
[15:29] since I've been in Washington.
[15:30] What you've done to restore readiness,
[15:32] restore military recruitment,
[15:34] get the Pentagon focused on war fighting
[15:36] is second to none.
[15:38] And I appreciate what you and President Trump
[15:40] and General Cain are doing very much.
[15:42] In fact, General Cain,
[15:44] according to the Department's 2025
[15:45] China Military Power Report.
[15:49] Quote,
[15:50] China believes the next revolution
[15:52] in military affairs
[15:53] will occur when militaries transition
[15:55] to intelligentized warfare
[15:57] and fully integrate
[15:59] artificial intelligence,
[16:01] big data,
[16:02] advanced computing,
[16:03] and other technologies
[16:05] into the joint force.
[16:06] End quote.
[16:07] Can you describe, General,
[16:09] in greater detail,
[16:10] how the PLA is using AI
[16:13] to enhance its military capabilities?
[16:17] You bet, Senator.
[16:19] You know,
[16:19] they are attempting
[16:20] to integrate AI
[16:22] across the range
[16:23] of their war fighting functions,
[16:25] which extends to
[16:27] command and control,
[16:29] information advantage,
[16:30] intelligence,
[16:31] certainly kinetic
[16:34] and non-kinetic
[16:35] capabilities,
[16:37] and to a certain extent
[16:38] sustainment.
[16:39] I'll note that
[16:40] so are we,
[16:41] and in many cases
[16:43] we are out in front of them.
[16:45] I want to commend
[16:45] our chief digital
[16:46] and artificial intelligence officers
[16:49] inside the joint force
[16:51] at the COCOMs
[16:52] with the services
[16:53] who are also
[16:55] leaning very far in
[16:56] as we march
[16:58] towards a digitized
[16:59] joint force
[17:00] that allows us
[17:01] to see
[17:02] and command
[17:04] and control
[17:04] a force better.
[17:06] The China Military Power Report
[17:08] also goes on
[17:09] to note that
[17:10] the Chinese AI sector
[17:12] remains, quote,
[17:14] constrained by its
[17:15] limited access
[17:16] to high-performance
[17:18] AI chips.
[17:21] General Kane,
[17:21] how big of an advantage
[17:23] is it for the
[17:24] American warfighter
[17:25] that America's arsenal
[17:27] of compute
[17:28] is bigger than China's?
[17:32] Sure,
[17:32] it's critical to us
[17:34] and, you know,
[17:35] while I acknowledge
[17:36] there's all kinds
[17:38] of chip issues
[17:39] in this,
[17:40] it is important
[17:40] to us
[17:41] to continue
[17:42] to scale at that
[17:43] and I'll highlight
[17:44] a lot of the work
[17:45] going on up at Fort Meade
[17:46] that the committee's
[17:47] helped to advance
[17:48] in the cyber capabilities
[17:49] so we appreciate
[17:50] the help of that.
[17:51] If that advantage
[17:52] were eroded
[17:53] and China were able
[17:54] to develop
[17:54] more advanced
[17:55] AI capabilities
[17:56] as a result,
[17:58] what are some
[17:58] of the potential
[17:59] consequences
[17:59] for American
[18:00] warfighters?
[18:02] Well, sir,
[18:02] it could certainly
[18:03] put us at risk
[18:05] and that's why
[18:05] we're leaning in
[18:06] so hard.
[18:08] There's always
[18:09] a balance
[18:09] between commerce
[18:10] and protection.
[18:14] I acknowledge
[18:14] those are policy matters,
[18:16] I think,
[18:16] is what you're
[18:17] starting to get towards.
[18:19] But on a pure
[18:20] military-only standpoint,
[18:23] we would see
[18:24] some defense
[18:25] in depth eroded
[18:26] from that.
[18:26] Secretary Hegseth,
[18:27] do you agree
[18:28] that enhanced
[18:29] Chinese AI capabilities
[18:30] could put
[18:32] American service
[18:33] members at risk?
[18:35] Senator,
[18:36] we absolutely
[18:37] have to stay ahead.
[18:39] The advantage
[18:39] that AI provides
[18:40] applied to any
[18:41] number of capabilities,
[18:43] whether it's
[18:43] domain awareness,
[18:45] targeting cycles,
[18:46] you name it,
[18:47] AI and leveraging it,
[18:48] and that's why
[18:48] we've made it
[18:49] at the forefront.
[18:50] I mean,
[18:50] it's AI first
[18:50] with everything
[18:51] that we do,
[18:52] integrating it
[18:53] at every potential
[18:53] echelon
[18:54] to ensure
[18:55] we can respond
[18:56] faster.
[18:56] If we're better
[18:58] at that
[18:58] than any adversary
[18:59] is,
[19:00] it's going to
[19:00] give us an advantage
[19:01] and we have
[19:01] to maintain that.
[19:02] I agree.
[19:02] Do you agree
[19:03] that we should
[19:03] do everything
[19:04] in our power
[19:05] to ensure
[19:05] that American
[19:06] service members
[19:07] go into battle
[19:08] with an overwhelming
[19:09] and fear-inducing
[19:12] technological advantage,
[19:13] particularly with AI?
[19:16] Always.
[19:17] Overwhelming
[19:17] is the goal
[19:18] in every scenario.
[19:20] Earlier this year,
[19:21] the Pentagon issued
[19:22] updated guidelines
[19:23] that prohibit
[19:24] department funds
[19:24] from supporting
[19:25] grants and contracts
[19:26] involving
[19:27] fundamental research
[19:29] collaboration
[19:30] with blacklisted
[19:31] Chinese entities.
[19:33] How important
[19:34] are those restrictions
[19:35] to safeguarding
[19:35] our technological
[19:36] leadership?
[19:39] Have to have them,
[19:40] especially when you
[19:41] look at the power
[19:42] of models
[19:42] and all of those
[19:43] things.
[19:43] You have connections
[19:44] to entities
[19:45] that could have
[19:45] connections to your
[19:46] adversary
[19:46] and you can have
[19:48] degradation
[19:49] of your advantage.
[19:50] Again,
[19:50] this is where
[19:51] I appreciate
[19:51] your leadership,
[19:52] Mr. Secretary,
[19:53] which has been
[19:54] second to none.
[19:55] I know that
[19:55] you will work
[19:57] with Congress
[19:57] to help codify
[19:58] those restrictions
[19:59] and encourage
[20:00] whether this
[20:01] will be
[20:01] an American-led
[20:02] century
[20:03] or a century
[20:04] defined by
[20:05] authoritarian,
[20:07] autocratic regimes
[20:08] that care little
[20:09] for the needs
[20:10] of their citizens
[20:12] or those
[20:12] in neighboring countries.
[20:14] The Chinese
[20:14] Communist Party
[20:15] has accelerated
[20:16] its historic
[20:17] military buildup
[20:18] and its predatory
[20:19] economic practices
[20:21] against Americans
[20:22] and countries
[20:23] the world over.
[20:24] Xi Jinping leads
[20:25] not only China
[20:26] but also
[20:27] an axis
[20:28] of aggressors.
[20:30] This growing
[20:30] alliance
[20:31] cannot be denied.
[20:33] It includes
[20:34] China,
[20:35] Russia,
[20:35] Iran,
[20:36] and North Korea.
[20:37] They're united
[20:38] around this goal
[20:39] to oppose
[20:40] America's interests
[20:42] and the interest
[20:43] of other like-minded
[20:44] democratic countries
[20:46] across the globe.
[20:47] Vladimir Putin's
[20:48] war of choice
[20:49] in Ukraine
[20:50] has now entered
[20:50] its fifth year.
[20:52] In Putin's objectives,
[20:54] we hear echoes
[20:55] of the imperialistic
[20:56] ambitions
[20:57] of World War II's
[20:59] aggressors,
[21:00] including Adolf Hitler.
[21:03] Vladimir Putin
[21:04] has suffered
[21:04] 1.2 million casualties
[21:08] and failed miserably
[21:10] in his military objectives.
[21:11] Along the way,
[21:12] he has transformed
[21:13] Russia's economy
[21:14] into one fueled
[21:16] by war,
[21:18] raising the prospect
[21:18] of an even more
[21:20] aggressive Moscow
[21:21] for the foreseeable future.
[21:24] Most of Iran's leaders
[21:25] are now deceased,
[21:27] but they and those
[21:28] who survived them
[21:29] have consistently
[21:30] sought violence
[21:32] against America,
[21:33] Israel,
[21:34] our Gulf allies,
[21:36] and the Iranian people.
[21:38] We saw this
[21:39] during the October 7th massacre,
[21:42] during their continued
[21:43] support for Hezbollah
[21:44] and Hamas,
[21:46] and in their desire
[21:47] to engage
[21:48] in nuclear blackmail.
[21:49] Iran's ayatollahs
[21:50] have consistently
[21:51] represented a threat
[21:52] to American interest.
[21:55] Kim Jong-un
[21:56] has joined
[21:57] Mr. Putin's
[21:58] war of aggression.
[21:59] He continues
[22:01] a military
[22:02] and nuclear buildup
[22:03] that threatens
[22:04] South Korea,
[22:04] Japan,
[22:05] and the United States.
[22:06] Ties have never
[22:07] been closer
[22:08] among these four dictators,
[22:11] among these four
[22:12] dictatorships.
[22:13] They support each other's
[22:14] aggressive endeavors,
[22:16] they prop each other
[22:18] up financially,
[22:20] and they scheme
[22:21] to undermine
[22:21] America's objectives.
[22:23] We should expect them
[22:23] to continue
[22:24] this behavior.
[22:26] This context
[22:26] plays out
[22:27] across every dimension
[22:29] of national power,
[22:31] the economy,
[22:32] technology,
[22:33] diplomacy,
[22:33] and more.
[22:34] But today,
[22:35] we're here to talk
[22:35] about the military
[22:36] dimension of this competition.
[22:39] These regimes
[22:40] have regularly
[22:41] tried to take force,
[22:43] take by force,
[22:44] what they cannot secure
[22:45] through the political process.
[22:48] For that reason,
[22:49] we must be ready
[22:49] to deter conflicts,
[22:53] and if necessary,
[22:54] to win them.
[22:56] President Trump
[22:56] has used the U.S. military
[22:58] appropriately and effectively
[23:00] for American interests.
[23:04] He has viewed
[23:04] our adversaries
[23:06] as a united bloc
[23:07] and has taken action
[23:08] in light of that reality.
[23:11] In Operation Absolute Resolve
[23:13] and Associated Statecraft,
[23:15] the president removed
[23:16] an aspiring dictator
[23:17] off the board
[23:19] and set up Venezuela
[23:21] for a future
[23:22] aligned with
[23:23] democratic interests.
[23:25] In Operation Midnight Hammer,
[23:27] he sought to eliminate
[23:28] the Ayatollah's nuclear program.
[23:30] When the Ayatollah
[23:31] chose to double down,
[23:32] the president
[23:33] launched Operation Epic Fury.
[23:36] In that mission,
[23:37] he has worked to remove
[23:38] the regime's
[23:39] conventional military capabilities
[23:41] and force it back
[23:42] to the table
[23:43] for a permanent solution.
[23:47] While we all mourn
[23:48] the tragic loss
[23:50] of the 14 service members
[23:51] who've lost their lives
[23:52] in this conflict,
[23:54] we do so knowing
[23:55] the world is safer
[23:56] without a nuclear Iran.
[23:58] All of these actions
[24:00] are part of a peace
[24:01] through strength strategy.
[24:03] In this approach,
[24:04] we seek first
[24:05] to avoid war,
[24:06] but we take military action
[24:07] when necessary
[24:08] to achieve U.S. interest.
[24:10] And so, Mr. Secretary,
[24:12] I'm pleased that you are here
[24:13] testifying today
[24:14] in support of
[24:15] President Trump's
[24:16] historic $1.5 trillion
[24:19] defense budget request.
[24:22] That sum will go a long way
[24:24] toward rebuilding
[24:25] our military capabilities
[24:26] for a generation.
[24:27] I should say up front
[24:28] that this may be
[24:30] a long hearing.
[24:31] There's much to discuss.
[24:32] This $1.5 trillion request
[24:34] is chock full
[24:36] of important programs
[24:38] and initiatives
[24:39] that are absolutely necessary
[24:41] to secure American interest
[24:43] in the 21st century.
[24:45] I think this funding
[24:46] underpins and accentuates
[24:48] three comparative advantages
[24:49] the United States possesses
[24:51] over the axis of aggressors.
[24:53] The first comparative advantage
[24:55] America enjoys
[24:56] over our adversaries
[24:57] is that we have
[24:58] the best innovation
[24:59] and industry in the world.
[25:03] So I hope our witnesses today
[25:04] will cover the progress
[25:05] we've made
[25:06] in just the past year
[25:08] rebuilding the American arsenal.
[25:11] Last year,
[25:12] our reconciliation bill
[25:14] combined with
[25:15] bipartisan appropriation bills
[25:17] achieved about
[25:19] a trillion dollar defense budget.
[25:21] This year's request
[25:22] would represent
[25:23] a near 50% increase.
[25:26] Every penny of it
[25:29] should be money well spent
[25:30] making down payments
[25:32] on crucial
[25:33] transformational capabilities
[25:35] such as drone warfare,
[25:38] low-cost munitions,
[25:40] and missile defense.
[25:43] Also, last year,
[25:44] Congress and the executive branch
[25:45] achieved historic acquisition reforms.
[25:48] Consequently,
[25:49] we are well positioned
[25:50] to make huge gains
[25:51] on efficiency
[25:52] this year
[25:54] and in the years to come,
[25:55] making it much more flexible
[25:58] and a more timely process.
[26:02] I look forward to discussing
[26:03] how we might accelerate
[26:05] implementation of these actions.
[26:08] In particular,
[26:08] I'd like to see
[26:09] the Pentagon
[26:10] do more this year
[26:11] to drive competition
[26:14] in the defense industrial base.
[26:17] Competition
[26:17] absolutely drives
[26:19] better outcomes
[26:20] for our service members
[26:22] and taxpayers.
[26:23] Of course,
[26:24] our people
[26:24] are the final comparative advantage
[26:27] we have
[26:28] over our adversaries.
[26:30] We've enjoyed
[26:30] significant improvements
[26:31] in recruitment and retention,
[26:32] but we need to solidify
[26:34] a merit-based environment
[26:35] that fully cares
[26:37] for our personnel.
[26:39] I commend you,
[26:39] Mr. Secretary,
[26:41] for your efforts
[26:41] over the past year
[26:42] to do just that.
[26:43] That task
[26:44] will never be finished,
[26:45] of course,
[26:46] but we embrace it gladly
[26:48] and we salute the progress.
[26:49] We will always be striving
[26:51] to care for
[26:51] and equip
[26:52] American service members
[26:54] as much as possible.
[26:56] I look forward
[26:56] to more work
[26:58] between this committee
[26:59] and the department
[27:00] this coming year.
[27:02] With that,
[27:02] I turn to my friend
[27:03] and colleague,
[27:04] Ranking Member Jack Reed.
[27:06] Well, thank you very much,
[27:07] Mr. Chairman,
[27:08] and Secretary Hegseth,
[27:10] General Kane,
[27:11] Mr. Hurst, welcome.
[27:13] And please convey
[27:14] my appreciation,
[27:15] all of our appreciation,
[27:17] to our military service members
[27:19] and defense civilians.
[27:20] We owe them
[27:22] our deepest sense of gratitude.
[27:24] Mr. Secretary,
[27:25] this is your first
[27:26] public appearance
[27:27] before this committee
[27:28] in nearly a year.
[27:30] Since your last
[27:30] public testimony,
[27:32] you and President Trump
[27:33] have unwisely taken
[27:35] the United States
[27:36] to war with Iran.
[27:38] You ordered attack
[27:39] on Venezuela
[27:39] and have directed
[27:41] ongoing illegal
[27:43] boat strike campaign
[27:44] in the Caribbean
[27:45] and Pacific.
[27:47] At your direction,
[27:48] our forces have bombed
[27:49] Yemen,
[27:51] Somalia,
[27:51] Iraq,
[27:53] Syria,
[27:54] Nigeria,
[27:55] and Ecuador.
[27:56] In the United States,
[27:58] you have deployed
[27:59] thousands of troops
[27:59] to cities like
[28:00] Washington,
[28:01] Los Angeles,
[28:02] Chicago,
[28:03] and Portland
[28:03] to police American citizens.
[28:06] And you have personally
[28:07] intervened to end
[28:08] the careers of
[28:09] dozens of military leaders
[28:11] without explanation.
[28:13] These actions
[28:14] will have significant
[28:15] and long-term
[28:16] consequences.
[28:17] Now you appear
[28:21] before us
[28:22] to ask
[28:23] for a $1.5 trillion
[28:24] budget,
[28:25] a 45% increase
[28:27] above last year.
[28:29] I must say
[28:30] I'm skeptical
[28:31] and such a request
[28:33] demands
[28:33] intense scrutiny.
[28:36] 61 days ago,
[28:38] President Trump
[28:38] unilaterally began
[28:39] the war in Iran.
[28:41] He had no
[28:42] coherent strategy.
[28:43] He refused
[28:44] to make a case
[28:45] to the American people
[28:46] or consult Congress.
[28:48] He failed
[28:49] to present
[28:49] any evidence
[28:50] of an immediate threat
[28:52] and he ignored
[28:53] the advice
[28:54] of military
[28:54] and intelligence experts
[28:56] who warned him
[28:57] of the consequences.
[28:59] Today,
[28:59] our nation
[29:00] is in a worse
[29:01] strategic position.
[29:03] The Strait of the Moves
[29:04] was open,
[29:05] now it is closed.
[29:07] 13 service members
[29:08] have tragically
[29:09] lost their lives
[29:10] and more than 400
[29:11] have been wounded.
[29:13] We have lost
[29:14] dozens of aircraft,
[29:15] sustained significant damage
[29:16] to our bases
[29:17] in the area,
[29:18] and expended
[29:19] an alarming amount
[29:21] of our missile inventory.
[29:23] Morale
[29:23] and readiness
[29:24] across the force,
[29:25] especially among
[29:26] over-deployed units
[29:28] and vessels
[29:28] like the USS
[29:30] Gerald R. Ford
[29:31] aircraft carrier
[29:31] have suffered.
[29:33] Gasoline
[29:34] and fertilizer prices
[29:35] throughout the world
[29:36] have surged.
[29:38] American families
[29:39] are bearing
[29:39] the cost
[29:40] of a war
[29:41] they wanted
[29:41] nothing to do with
[29:42] and have gained
[29:44] nothing from.
[29:45] And yet,
[29:46] Secretary Hedges,
[29:46] says,
[29:47] you declared victory
[29:47] a month ago.
[29:49] On April 8th,
[29:49] you said,
[29:50] in your words,
[29:51] Operation Epic Fury
[29:53] was a historic
[29:54] and overwhelming victory.
[29:56] By any measure,
[29:57] Epic Fury
[29:57] decimated
[29:58] Iran's military
[29:59] and rendered
[30:00] its combat forces
[30:03] ineffective
[30:04] for years to come.
[30:06] Let me be clear.
[30:07] Tactically,
[30:08] the United States
[30:09] military performance
[30:10] against Iran
[30:11] has been remarkable.
[30:12] And I salute
[30:14] the service members
[30:15] who have executed
[30:16] this mission
[30:16] with skill
[30:17] and bravery.
[30:18] The problem
[30:19] with your statements,
[30:19] Mr. Secretary,
[30:20] is they are
[30:21] dangerously exaggerated.
[30:24] Iran's hardline
[30:25] regime
[30:25] remains in place.
[30:27] It still
[30:27] retains stockpiles
[30:29] of enriched uranium
[30:30] and its nuclear program
[30:32] remains viable.
[30:34] Iran's military
[30:35] retains
[30:35] enough combat
[30:36] effectiveness
[30:37] to keep the conflict
[30:39] at an impasse.
[30:40] Its missiles
[30:41] and drones
[30:41] remain a far
[30:42] greater threat
[30:43] than you have acknowledged
[30:44] and the regime
[30:46] has demonstrated
[30:47] it can effectively
[30:48] control the
[30:49] threat of Hormuz
[30:49] when it chooses.
[30:51] Mr. Secretary,
[30:52] I am concerned
[30:52] that you have been
[30:53] telling the President
[30:54] what he wants to hear
[30:55] instead of what
[30:56] he needs to hear.
[30:58] Bold assurances
[30:59] of success
[31:00] are a disservice
[31:01] to both the
[31:01] Commander-in-Chief
[31:02] and the troops
[31:03] who risk their lives
[31:04] based on them.
[31:06] Our military
[31:07] has performed
[31:08] heroically,
[31:09] but military force
[31:10] without Assad's
[31:11] strategy
[31:12] is a path
[31:13] to long-term defeat.
[31:15] I'd like to know
[31:15] what options
[31:16] you are considering
[31:17] now,
[31:18] given the course
[31:19] from this war
[31:19] and the stalemate
[31:20] President Trump
[31:21] has put us in.
[31:23] More broadly,
[31:24] Mr. Secretary,
[31:25] too often you have
[31:26] made dangerous
[31:27] statements
[31:28] that are
[31:29] counterproductive
[31:30] to the mission.
[31:31] You boasted about
[31:32] quote,
[31:33] no stupid rules
[31:34] of engagement
[31:35] just days after
[31:36] hundreds of Iranian
[31:37] schoolers
[31:38] were tragically killed
[31:39] in a missile strike.
[31:41] You have made
[31:42] troubling statements
[31:43] about showing
[31:43] no mercy
[31:44] and no quarter
[31:46] to the Iranians,
[31:47] orders that would
[31:48] constitute war crimes.
[31:50] As importantly,
[31:51] while our men and women
[31:52] are fighting and dying
[31:53] overseas,
[31:54] you have focused
[31:55] unduly on your own
[31:57] personal agenda.
[31:58] In the past two months
[31:59] alone,
[32:00] you have taken upon
[32:01] yourself to overhaul
[32:02] the Chaplain Corps,
[32:04] cancel flu vaccine
[32:05] requirements,
[32:06] repeal firearm
[32:07] restrictions on
[32:08] military posts,
[32:10] and bar service members
[32:11] from attending
[32:12] certain universities.
[32:13] Just this week,
[32:15] you brought performer
[32:16] Kid Rock
[32:17] to an army base
[32:18] to go for a joyride
[32:19] in an Apache helicopter
[32:21] after dismissing
[32:22] an earlier investigation
[32:24] into the pilots
[32:25] who recklessly chose
[32:27] to hover
[32:28] above his home.
[32:29] That runs directly
[32:31] counter to the
[32:31] chain of command
[32:32] and maintaining
[32:33] good order
[32:34] and discipline.
[32:36] Most disturbingly,
[32:37] during your tenure,
[32:38] you have fired
[32:38] dozens of our
[32:39] most senior military leaders
[32:41] and personally intervened
[32:43] to block the promotions
[32:44] of many others.
[32:45] That is a betrayal
[32:47] of the merit-based system
[32:48] that forms the foundation
[32:49] of our military.
[32:51] You are hollering out
[32:53] the military's bench
[32:54] of experience
[32:55] and highest-performing
[32:57] senior officers
[32:57] while making young officers
[32:59] wonder if they should
[33:01] continue to serve.
[33:03] My colleagues and I
[33:04] have heard from
[33:04] countless service members
[33:06] throughout the ranks,
[33:07] many of whom
[33:08] will be watching right now,
[33:10] who are confused
[33:11] and disturbed
[33:11] by your actions.
[33:13] Hopefully,
[33:14] you can explain them today.
[33:16] Additionally,
[33:16] this committee expects
[33:17] a fulsome update
[33:19] on Operation Southern Sphere.
[33:21] This ongoing campaign
[33:23] against suspected
[33:24] drug trafficking votes
[33:25] has resulted
[33:26] in nearly 200 fatalities.
[33:28] The administration
[33:29] has failed
[33:30] to explain
[33:31] the long-term objectives
[33:32] of this mission
[33:33] or provide any evidence
[33:35] of reduced drug flows
[33:37] into the United States.
[33:39] I would ask
[33:39] for a credible answer
[33:40] to this most fundamental question,
[33:43] what is the operation
[33:44] actually meant
[33:45] to accomplish?
[33:46] Mrs. X-ray,
[33:47] you are here
[33:48] to promote
[33:49] the President's
[33:51] $1.5 trillion
[33:52] defense budget.
[33:54] While this budget
[33:55] provides funding
[33:56] for necessary programs,
[33:57] including shipbuilding
[33:58] and drone manufacturing,
[34:00] many other critical programs
[34:02] like barracks repair
[34:03] and aircraft procurement
[34:04] would rely
[34:05] on the passage
[34:06] of a party-line
[34:07] reconciliation bill.
[34:10] Further,
[34:10] this budget slashes
[34:11] research and development,
[34:13] provides no funding
[34:14] for Ukraine,
[34:16] and includes
[34:16] no funding
[34:17] for losses
[34:18] incurred
[34:18] from the Iran war.
[34:20] Yesterday,
[34:21] Mr. Hurst testified
[34:22] that Operation Epic Fury
[34:24] has cost $25 billion.
[34:27] If nothing else,
[34:29] that help clarifies
[34:30] that we certainly
[34:31] do not need
[34:32] a supplemental
[34:33] anywhere near
[34:34] $100 billion,
[34:35] much less $200 billion.
[34:38] And in this
[34:39] record-breaking budget,
[34:41] there is no pay
[34:42] adjustments
[34:42] for the civilian
[34:43] workforce,
[34:44] and with inflation,
[34:45] that is a pay cut.
[34:47] After a year
[34:47] of doge layoffs
[34:49] and a hiring freeze
[34:49] across the Department,
[34:51] this is an insult
[34:52] to the 800,000
[34:54] men and women
[34:54] who support
[34:55] our warfighters
[34:56] every day.
[34:57] I cannot imagine
[34:59] a faster way
[35:00] to erode readiness
[35:01] and distract
[35:01] from our abilities
[35:02] to deter
[35:03] our adversaries.
[35:06] Ultimately,
[35:07] Mr. Secretary,
[35:07] I believe you
[35:08] are causing
[35:09] lasting harm
[35:10] to the military.
[35:12] Like many members
[35:13] of this committee,
[35:14] I had the opportunity
[35:15] and the privilege
[35:16] to serve in the military.
[35:18] And every officer
[35:19] knows they are
[35:20] duty-bound
[35:21] to give their best
[35:22] professional advice,
[35:23] even if it is not
[35:24] what their superiors
[35:26] want to hear.
[35:27] Because when leaders
[35:29] fear to speak honestly,
[35:30] people die,
[35:31] missions fail,
[35:32] wars are lost.
[35:33] The American people's
[35:35] trust in our military
[35:36] took 250 years to build.
[35:39] You are dismantling it
[35:41] in a fraction
[35:41] of that time.
[35:43] And trust,
[35:43] once long,
[35:45] can take generations
[35:46] to rebuild.
[35:47] Mr. Secretary,
[35:48] today I hope
[35:49] you'll take a step
[35:49] forward toward rebuilding
[35:52] the trust
[35:52] that has been lost.
[35:55] Thank you,
[35:55] Mr. Chairman.
[35:57] Mr. Secretary,
[35:58] you are now
[35:58] recognized
[35:59] for your opening
[36:01] statement, sir.
[36:02] Well, Mr. Chairman,
[36:06] Ranking Member Reed,
[36:07] Senators,
[36:08] thank you for the
[36:08] opportunity to testify
[36:09] in support of
[36:10] President Trump's
[36:11] historic,
[36:12] as you said,
[36:12] Mr. Chairman,
[36:13] $1.5 trillion
[36:15] fiscal year
[36:16] 2027 budget
[36:17] for the Department of War.
[36:19] The President's budget
[36:20] request reflects
[36:21] the urgency
[36:22] of the moment,
[36:23] addressing both
[36:24] the deferment
[36:25] of longstanding
[36:26] problems as well
[36:27] as positioning
[36:28] our forces
[36:28] for the current
[36:29] and future fights.
[36:31] I'm honored to appear
[36:32] alongside General Dan Cain,
[36:33] Chairman of the Joint
[36:34] Chiefs of Staff,
[36:35] and Jay Hurst,
[36:36] our Chief Financial Officer
[36:38] and Comptroller.
[36:39] I'd like to start
[36:40] by thanking
[36:40] this committee
[36:41] and Congress
[36:42] for your partnership
[36:43] in securing
[36:43] the investments
[36:44] needed for a stronger,
[36:46] prouder,
[36:46] and more secure
[36:47] military.
[36:48] Your focus
[36:49] on acquisitions,
[36:50] your focus
[36:50] on efficiency
[36:51] are the reflection
[36:52] in our department
[36:53] as well
[36:53] and in this budget.
[36:57] A nation's ability
[36:58] to build,
[36:59] to innovate,
[36:59] and to support
[37:00] the critical needs
[37:01] of its war fighters
[37:02] at speed
[37:03] and at scale
[37:04] is the foundation
[37:05] upon which
[37:06] its deterrence
[37:06] and survival rests.
[37:09] However,
[37:09] upon taking office
[37:10] on January 20th,
[37:12] 2025,
[37:13] President Trump
[37:14] inherited a defense
[37:15] industrial base
[37:16] that had been hollowed out
[37:17] by years of America
[37:18] last policies,
[37:20] resulting in a diminished
[37:21] capacity
[37:22] to project strength.
[37:24] Under the previous
[37:25] administration,
[37:25] we were offshoring,
[37:27] outsourcing,
[37:29] beset by cost overruns
[37:30] and degraded capabilities.
[37:33] But under the leadership
[37:34] of President Trump,
[37:34] our builder-in-chief,
[37:37] we are reversing
[37:37] this systemic decay
[37:38] and putting our defense
[37:39] industrial base
[37:40] back on a wartime footing.
[37:43] Urgency informs
[37:44] everything we do.
[37:46] We're rebuilding
[37:46] a military
[37:47] that the American people
[37:48] can be proud of,
[37:49] one that instills
[37:50] nothing less
[37:51] than unrelenting fear
[37:52] in our adversaries
[37:53] and inspires historic morale
[37:55] and recruiting
[37:56] in its ranks.
[37:59] We fight to win
[38:00] in every scenario.
[38:02] The $1.5 trillion budget
[38:04] put forward
[38:04] by the president
[38:05] will build upon
[38:06] a previous $1 trillion
[38:07] FY26 top line
[38:09] and will continue
[38:10] to reverse
[38:11] the four years
[38:12] of underinvestment
[38:13] and mismanagement
[38:14] of the Biden administration.
[38:16] The $1.5 trillion budget
[38:18] will ensure
[38:19] that the United States
[38:20] continues to maintain
[38:21] the world's most powerful
[38:22] and capable military
[38:24] as we grapple
[38:25] with a complex threat environment
[38:27] across multiple theaters.
[38:29] Not to mention,
[38:30] the budget also includes
[38:31] a historic troop pay increase,
[38:34] 7% for junior enlisted,
[38:36] and the budget eliminates
[38:38] all poor
[38:39] or failing barracks.
[38:41] Quality of life
[38:41] for our troops
[38:42] is front and center
[38:44] in this budget.
[38:46] By supercharging
[38:47] our defense industrial capacity
[38:48] and transforming
[38:49] how the department
[38:50] does business,
[38:51] we are restoring
[38:52] American commercial dominance
[38:54] at a pace unseen
[38:55] in generations,
[38:56] transforming the defense
[38:57] industrial base
[38:58] from the broken,
[39:00] slow-moving systems
[39:01] of the past.
[39:02] We have flipped
[39:04] the Pentagon acquisition process
[39:06] from a bureaucratic model
[39:07] to a business model,
[39:10] decisively moving
[39:10] from an acquisitions environment
[39:12] paralyzed by bureaucratic red tape
[39:15] into an outcomes-driven organization
[39:17] focused on delivering
[39:19] the most for taxpayer dollars.
[39:22] Over the past year,
[39:23] through historic multi-year
[39:24] procurement agreements
[39:25] that this committee supported,
[39:28] we've cut smart business deals
[39:30] that have sent unambiguous
[39:32] demand signals to industry
[39:34] to build more
[39:35] and build faster.
[39:37] The result has been a surge,
[39:39] a revitalization
[39:40] of our great American factories
[39:42] and a massive reinvestment
[39:44] in the skilled American workers
[39:46] who serve as the industrial muscle
[39:48] behind our warriors.
[39:50] Further interruptions
[40:07] of our hearing
[40:08] will be treated in like manner.
[40:11] We appreciate
[40:11] the First Amendment rights
[40:13] of Americans
[40:14] to express themselves,
[40:16] but disruption of this hearing
[40:20] will not be tolerated.
[40:22] So, Mr. Secretary,
[40:23] you may continue.
[40:24] I'll briefly provide
[40:26] some concrete high-level metrics
[40:27] of what we've accomplished
[40:28] over just the past few months.
[40:31] These are announced
[40:31] new facilities and investments
[40:33] to support American warfighters.
[40:35] The department has helped stimulate
[40:36] more than 250 private investment deals
[40:39] in 39 states, 180 cities,
[40:42] in 150 companies
[40:44] worth more than $50 billion.
[40:46] It's resulted in 280 new
[40:50] or expanded facilities,
[40:51] more than 18 million new square feet
[40:53] of American manufacturing,
[40:55] and more than 70,000 new jobs.
[40:58] These $50 billion in investments
[41:00] in new plants,
[41:02] new assembly lines,
[41:03] and new factories
[41:04] are private investments,
[41:06] not taxpayer dollars.
[41:08] By completely transforming
[41:10] our department's business model,
[41:11] American companies
[41:12] are investing in America
[41:14] with their own dollars,
[41:16] a historic demonstration
[41:18] of American manufacturing
[41:19] and defense revitalization,
[41:21] all with their money,
[41:22] not Uncle Sam's.
[41:24] This has never been done before
[41:26] and is long overdue
[41:28] from a bureaucratic model
[41:29] to a business model.
[41:32] These investments
[41:33] equal great things for America,
[41:35] for American families,
[41:36] and American workers
[41:37] to ensure that our warfighters
[41:39] have everything they need,
[41:40] all American-made.
[41:41] Together with the help
[41:43] of the policy updates
[41:45] and appropriations
[41:46] passed by Congress,
[41:47] President Trump's war department
[41:48] has begun to turn the lights back on
[41:51] in our manufacturing towns
[41:52] across this country,
[41:53] forging a lethal arsenal of freedom.
[41:57] Every policy we pursue,
[41:59] every budgetary item we request
[42:00] serves to ensure
[42:01] that this department
[42:02] remains laser-focused
[42:03] on increasing lethality
[42:05] and survivability
[42:06] from the front lines
[42:07] to the factory floor.
[42:09] This is a historic budget,
[42:11] as you said, Mr. Chairman.
[42:12] This is a fiscally responsible budget,
[42:15] and this is a warfighting budget.
[42:19] Speaking of warfighting,
[42:20] the topic of Iran,
[42:21] I'm sure, will come up often today,
[42:24] which I welcome.
[42:25] I look forward to sharing
[42:26] the incredible success
[42:27] of our military effort
[42:29] achieved in a matter of weeks.
[42:32] President Trump has the courage,
[42:34] has had, unlike other presidents,
[42:36] to ensure that Iran
[42:37] never gets a nuclear weapon
[42:39] and that their nuclear blackmail
[42:41] never succeeds.
[42:43] We have the best negotiator
[42:45] in the world
[42:46] driving a great deal.
[42:48] Unfortunately,
[42:49] as I said yesterday,
[42:51] and I'll say it again today,
[42:52] the biggest adversary
[42:54] we face at this point
[42:56] are the reckless naysayers
[42:58] and defeatist words
[42:59] of congressional Democrats
[43:00] and some Republicans.
[43:03] Defeatists from the cheap seats
[43:05] who two months in
[43:06] seek to undermine
[43:08] the incredible efforts
[43:09] that have been undertaken
[43:10] and the historic nature
[43:12] of taking on a 47-year threat
[43:14] with the courage
[43:15] no other president has had
[43:17] to great success
[43:18] and great opportunity
[43:19] for preventing Iran
[43:21] from having a nuclear weapon.
[43:24] Despite this,
[43:25] under President Trump,
[43:25] we are restoring
[43:26] the unbreakable might
[43:27] of American manufacturing.
[43:29] We're providing
[43:30] for our warfighters,
[43:31] and we are putting
[43:32] the people and interests
[43:33] of this country first.
[43:35] May Almighty God
[43:37] continue to watch
[43:38] over our troops
[43:39] wherever they are,
[43:40] and may we honor
[43:41] the legacy
[43:42] of those brave Americans
[43:43] that we have lost.
[43:45] This is our sacred mission,
[43:47] and this is what
[43:48] we will continue
[43:49] to execute on.
[43:51] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[43:51] Thank you for that statement,
[43:52] Mr. Secretary.
[43:53] General King,
[43:54] you're recognized.
[43:55] Thank you, Chairman Wicker,
[43:57] Ranking Member Reed,
[43:58] members of the committee,
[43:59] and your staff
[44:00] who we never get
[44:01] to say thanks to.
[44:02] Thanks for having me today.
[44:03] I'm honored to be here
[44:04] alongside the Honorable
[44:06] Pete Hegseth
[44:07] and the Honorable Jay Hurst
[44:08] to testify
[44:09] on the President's fiscal
[44:10] 2027 budget.
[44:13] I'm grateful
[44:13] for the opportunity
[44:14] to testify today,
[44:16] and I'm thankful
[44:17] for your continued
[44:18] partnership
[44:18] and support
[44:19] of our warfighters
[44:20] defending the homeland
[44:21] and our interests
[44:23] around the world.
[44:24] It's a privilege
[44:25] to speak with you today
[44:26] about the foundation
[44:28] of America's strength,
[44:30] the 2.8 million members
[44:31] of our joint force,
[44:32] and I am continually
[44:34] inspired by the soldiers,
[44:36] sailors, airmen,
[44:38] Marines,
[44:39] Guardians,
[44:39] Coast Guardsmen,
[44:40] and civilians
[44:41] standing the watch
[44:43] for the nation,
[44:44] supported always
[44:45] by their families.
[44:46] They could have chosen
[44:47] a much easier path,
[44:49] any other path,
[44:50] but they volunteered
[44:51] for a life of purpose
[44:53] and passion and service,
[44:55] and every single day
[44:56] they rise to meet
[44:57] the nation's challenges,
[44:58] from combat operations
[45:00] to critical support roles
[45:03] with the courage,
[45:04] tenacity,
[45:05] and grit
[45:05] that keeps our nation
[45:07] strong and secure.
[45:08] I would also like
[45:10] to express
[45:11] my deep gratitude
[45:13] for the 39 members
[45:15] of the joint force
[45:16] who've passed
[45:18] in operations,
[45:19] combat,
[45:20] and training
[45:21] during my time
[45:22] as the chairman,
[45:23] and specifically highlight
[45:25] the 14 who've passed
[45:27] in Operation Epic Fury.
[45:29] The Secretary and I
[45:30] are deeply grateful
[45:31] for each of them
[45:32] and their families,
[45:33] and their names
[45:34] will never be forgotten.
[45:35] As the chairman,
[45:38] my duty is to ensure
[45:39] our civilian leadership
[45:40] has a comprehensive range
[45:43] of military options
[45:44] and the associated risks
[45:46] required to make
[45:48] the nation's hardest
[45:49] and most complex decisions.
[45:51] I owe the President,
[45:53] the Secretary,
[45:54] and the Congress
[45:55] the truth at every turn,
[45:56] and my blueprint
[45:57] for this role
[45:59] has always been
[46:00] that of General George C. Marshall.
[46:02] His firm commitment
[46:04] to civilian control
[46:05] and a nonpartisan military
[46:09] remains my constant standard,
[46:11] and I strive
[46:12] to emulate his candor,
[46:14] delivering the facts
[46:15] leaders need to hear,
[46:17] not always what
[46:18] they want to hear,
[46:19] and once a decision
[46:20] is made,
[46:21] executing it
[46:22] with the absolute dedication
[46:24] while keeping
[46:25] the joint force
[46:26] precisely where
[46:27] it should be.
[46:28] That's the demand
[46:29] of our profession.
[46:30] As I sit before you today
[46:32] representing our incredible
[46:33] joint force,
[46:35] I want to emphasize
[46:35] my commitment
[46:36] to this committee
[46:37] and to the Congress.
[46:38] I will always follow
[46:40] General Marshall's
[46:41] steadfast example
[46:42] by providing clear
[46:44] and candid
[46:45] nonpartisan military advice,
[46:47] working together
[46:48] to ensure the military
[46:49] remains squarely focused
[46:51] on one thing,
[46:52] being prepared to deter
[46:54] and if called upon,
[46:55] fight and win
[46:56] our nation's war,
[46:58] and that is our mission.
[46:59] America's joint force
[47:00] is operational at its core,
[47:03] purpose-built
[47:04] for the realities
[47:05] in a complex world.
[47:07] We're organized,
[47:08] trained,
[47:09] and equipped
[47:09] to execute
[47:10] the most demanding missions
[47:12] across the globe
[47:13] with unrivaled precision.
[47:15] And over the past year,
[47:17] our war fighters
[47:18] have consistently demonstrated
[47:20] exactly what it means
[47:22] to be the most capable
[47:23] and most professional
[47:25] force on Earth.
[47:27] Our shared goal
[47:28] is to ensure
[47:30] the joint force
[47:31] remains the strategic,
[47:34] sustains the strategic initiative
[47:36] and advantage
[47:37] and ability
[47:38] to project power
[47:39] to respond
[47:40] to the global challenges
[47:41] on our nation's terms.
[47:44] During Operation Rough Rider,
[47:46] Midnight Hammer,
[47:47] Southern Spear,
[47:49] Absolute Resolve,
[47:50] and Epic Fury,
[47:51] the joint force
[47:52] executed globally integrated
[47:53] missions alongside
[47:55] our interagency
[47:57] and international partners.
[47:59] And once our leaders
[48:00] made a decision,
[48:01] our forces demonstrated
[48:02] the unmatched ability
[48:04] to seamlessly synchronize
[48:06] actions and activities
[48:07] from the seabed
[48:09] to cislunar space.
[48:11] We're able to accomplish
[48:12] these complex things
[48:14] that we are asked to do
[48:15] because we draw
[48:16] from a deep reservoir
[48:18] of training,
[48:20] professionalism,
[48:20] and commitment.
[48:22] Our operational tempo
[48:23] is high,
[48:24] but we're designed
[48:25] to sustain it,
[48:26] rebuilding readiness
[48:27] every day,
[48:29] training professionals
[48:30] every day,
[48:31] and sharpening our edge
[48:32] every day.
[48:33] And I am incredibly proud
[48:35] of this joint force team
[48:37] and the leaders
[48:38] at every echelon
[48:39] who command it.
[48:41] As the chairman said,
[48:42] we are living
[48:43] in a complex environment.
[48:45] Today,
[48:46] I look forward
[48:46] to discussing
[48:47] how we can sustain
[48:48] America's military advantage.
[48:50] And I know
[48:51] this committee recognizes
[48:52] the challenges
[48:53] and the urgency
[48:54] in the environment
[48:55] that we face.
[48:56] We're operating
[48:57] in delicate
[48:58] and dangerous times
[49:00] where risk is scaling.
[49:02] And the complexity
[49:03] of the modern battlefield
[49:05] demands America's
[49:06] constant adaptation,
[49:09] innovation,
[49:09] and partnership
[49:10] with Congress.
[49:12] As a joint force,
[49:13] we're up to the challenge.
[49:14] We're built
[49:15] for this environment.
[49:16] However,
[49:16] our continued success
[49:18] success is not guaranteed
[49:20] by our past achievements.
[49:22] We must continue
[49:23] to be forward-looking
[49:24] and innovate together
[49:26] with the Congress.
[49:27] To drive the pace of change
[49:29] and maintain our superiority
[49:31] requires timely,
[49:33] predictable,
[49:34] and sustained investment.
[49:35] And the resources
[49:36] we're going to discuss today
[49:38] are critical
[49:39] to modernizing
[49:40] the joint force
[49:41] and ensuring
[49:42] whatever threats
[49:43] might emerge,
[49:44] we are prepared
[49:45] to defeat them,
[49:47] to protect our interests
[49:48] and defend the nation
[49:49] and win.
[49:50] This president's budget
[49:52] for 2027
[49:53] supports the secretary
[49:55] and the department's goal
[49:56] of reinvigorating,
[49:58] recharging
[49:58] the defense industrial base
[50:00] and the national industrial base,
[50:02] enhancing our readiness
[50:03] and securing
[50:04] our military advantage
[50:06] to ensure
[50:07] that our war fighters
[50:08] are properly armed,
[50:10] globally integrated,
[50:11] and ready
[50:12] while always taking care
[50:14] of our people.
[50:15] And that is what truly
[50:16] sets America's joint force
[50:18] apart from each other,
[50:20] especially
[50:20] the 1.8 million members,
[50:23] enlisted members
[50:24] of our joint force.
[50:26] It is them,
[50:27] the character,
[50:28] the competence
[50:28] of that force
[50:30] that transforms
[50:30] our capabilities
[50:32] into a decisive advantage.
[50:35] And our enlisted force
[50:36] is represented today
[50:38] by the senior enlisted
[50:39] advisor to the chairman,
[50:42] United States Navy
[50:43] Fleet Master Chief
[50:44] Dave Isom,
[50:45] sitting behind me,
[50:46] a teammate
[50:46] who I greatly appreciate
[50:48] and many of you
[50:49] on this committee
[50:50] know from his time
[50:51] in the Indo-Pacific.
[50:52] While we face
[50:54] dynamic and dangerous times,
[50:57] I have absolute trust
[50:59] and confidence
[50:59] in the extraordinary
[51:00] men and women
[51:02] within our joint force
[51:03] who every day
[51:05] execute the missions
[51:06] we ask them to,
[51:07] quietly and with precision.
[51:09] And coupled with
[51:10] the American spirit
[51:11] to outthink,
[51:13] outcompete,
[51:14] and relentlessly innovate,
[51:16] we will maintain
[51:17] our decisive edge,
[51:18] but doing so requires
[51:20] your continued partnership.
[51:22] We stand ready today
[51:23] to answer the nation's call.
[51:25] I humbly ask that
[51:26] as we're here today
[51:27] in this hearing,
[51:28] we remember those
[51:29] deployed service members
[51:31] who are out there right now
[51:33] doing our nation's work.
[51:34] And may we always forget
[51:36] or remember our fallen
[51:38] and never forget them
[51:39] or their families
[51:40] who continue to show us
[51:42] what courage looks like.
[51:44] Thank you for your
[51:44] enduring support
[51:45] and I look forward
[51:46] to your questions.
[51:47] Thank you very much, General.
[51:48] We appreciate your service.
[51:50] Let's jump right in.
[51:51] Secretary Hegseth,
[51:52] let's talk about
[51:53] the money from
[51:55] Reconciliation 1.0
[51:57] last year.
[51:59] There have been some
[51:59] complaints about the speed,
[52:02] but not everything
[52:04] we hear is actually accurate.
[52:06] How much of the $154 billion
[52:08] from Reconciliation
[52:10] has the Pentagon
[52:11] put on contract?
[52:14] My understanding,
[52:16] Mr. Chairman,
[52:16] first I'd like to say
[52:18] what an important vehicle
[52:19] Reconciliation was for us
[52:20] and how it gave us a chance
[52:22] coming out of FY25
[52:24] to advance the President's priorities,
[52:25] whether it's drone dominance,
[52:27] Golden Dome for America,
[52:28] shipbuilding,
[52:29] the defense industrial base.
[52:30] It was a critical vehicle for us.
[52:32] The number you're looking for
[52:33] is about what I'm looking at,
[52:35] about $26 billion right now,
[52:37] but we've got the floodgates
[52:38] about to open
[52:39] and apply to those priorities.
[52:41] Okay.
[52:41] So, unfortunately,
[52:44] you're starting a bit late
[52:45] through no fault of your own
[52:47] because the money
[52:48] was not sent timely
[52:50] by the Office of Management
[52:51] and Budget
[52:52] to the Department
[52:52] until last month.
[52:54] That's over and done with,
[52:56] but it should be mentioned.
[52:57] Mr. Secretary,
[52:58] where are we
[52:59] on the obligation rates
[53:02] as far as
[53:04] a normal appropriation bill?
[53:07] Are we a little behind,
[53:08] a little ahead,
[53:09] or what?
[53:10] I would say
[53:10] probably a little bit behind
[53:12] as it pertains
[53:13] to reconciliation,
[53:14] but part of that is,
[53:15] as you know,
[53:16] this is a new funding vehicle
[53:17] for the Department,
[53:19] and twofold.
[53:20] One,
[53:20] you've got to make sure
[53:21] you do it right
[53:21] and do it in a fiscally
[53:22] responsible way
[53:23] in conjunction
[53:24] with the Congress
[53:24] to ensure
[53:25] that we meet
[53:25] congressional intent,
[53:27] but also that
[53:28] we've been using it
[53:29] to energize our ability
[53:30] to exercise new pathways
[53:32] to get at problems
[53:33] in different
[53:34] and more dynamic ways
[53:35] that don't get stovepiped
[53:36] or stuck in the bureaucracy.
[53:38] So, yes,
[53:38] there's been some delays,
[53:41] but ultimately,
[53:41] I think it's all goodness
[53:43] on the other side
[53:44] given the new nature
[53:46] of this funding vehicle.
[53:47] Right.
[53:47] Yes.
[53:48] And things have been
[53:50] done differently,
[53:51] and we appreciate that.
[53:52] But, Mr. Secretary,
[53:53] will you commit to us
[53:54] that you'll keep
[53:56] the committee informed
[53:57] frequently of your efforts
[53:58] to get all this money
[53:59] out the door
[54:00] so our industrial base
[54:02] can start building
[54:03] as you have described
[54:05] in this new flexibility
[54:06] that we've provided them?
[54:08] Absolutely.
[54:10] And you mentioned
[54:11] a few things
[54:12] in reconciliation
[54:14] that you think
[54:16] have been game changers.
[54:20] We've,
[54:21] I do,
[54:23] I don't think
[54:24] we've talked enough
[54:24] about some of the game changers.
[54:26] For years,
[54:27] we failed to take action
[54:28] on rebuilding
[54:30] America's drone industrial base
[54:32] and critical mineral supply chains.
[54:36] After the last reconciliation bill
[54:38] and the National Defense Authorization Act,
[54:41] we're in a very different position
[54:42] on drones
[54:43] and critical mineral supply chains,
[54:47] are we not?
[54:47] Very much so.
[54:50] Mineral supply chains,
[54:51] drones,
[54:52] we went from
[54:52] Jaietta 401
[54:53] to an autonomous warfare group.
[54:55] We're looking at the concept
[54:56] of a subunified command
[54:57] and you're looking at
[54:58] $54 billion
[55:00] in the FY27 budget
[55:02] dedicated to drone dominance.
[55:04] UAS,
[55:05] counter UAS,
[55:06] ensuring we can scale
[55:07] not just exquisite drones,
[55:09] but also the attributable ones
[55:10] that are proliferating
[55:11] on the battlefield today.
[55:12] We need to be ahead.
[55:13] Are there any other initiatives
[55:15] from last year's bill
[55:16] that you want to point out?
[55:19] And you only have
[55:20] a minute and a half.
[55:21] No,
[55:21] the investment in Golden Dome
[55:22] for America,
[55:23] the ability to get running on that
[55:24] and we are on schedule
[55:25] to deliver capabilities
[55:27] inside this administration.
[55:29] Minerals,
[55:29] ensuring up supply chains
[55:31] on minerals.
[55:31] The Office of Strategic Capital,
[55:33] which its ability to loan
[55:35] gives 10x
[55:36] to new entrants
[55:37] into the department.
[55:39] The opportunity to fund things
[55:41] that wouldn't normally
[55:41] meet the threshold
[55:42] for the department,
[55:43] but give them the running room
[55:44] to invest in those capabilities
[55:46] and we've already seen fruit
[55:47] from that as well.
[55:48] And briefly,
[55:49] General Kaine,
[55:49] there's no question
[55:50] that Vladimir Putin's Russia
[55:53] is taking serious action
[55:56] to undermine our efforts
[55:58] for success in Iran.
[55:59] Is there any question about that?
[56:03] Senator,
[56:04] I think there's actions
[56:06] and activities
[56:07] that are mindful
[56:07] of the hearing room we're in,
[56:09] but there's definitely
[56:10] some action there.
[56:11] Thank you very much.
[56:13] Senator Reid,
[56:15] you're recognized.
[56:17] Thank you very much,
[56:19] Mr. Chairman.
[56:21] Mr. Secretary,
[56:23] you recently fired
[56:24] the Army Chief of Staff,
[56:25] General Randy George,
[56:26] who's one of the most distinguished
[56:28] and decorated officers
[56:29] of this generation.
[56:31] General George's nomination
[56:34] came before us.
[56:36] We reviewed it thoroughly
[56:37] and we concurred.
[56:39] Why did you fire General George?
[56:43] Well,
[56:44] as I did then
[56:45] and I'll say now,
[56:45] we thank General George
[56:47] for his service.
[56:48] And out of respect
[56:49] to him and other officers,
[56:51] we never talk about
[56:52] the nature
[56:52] of why certain officers
[56:55] are asked to step down.
[56:57] But we all serve
[56:58] at the pleasure
[56:58] of the president.
[56:59] And ultimately,
[57:00] my view
[57:00] in coming into this department,
[57:03] as I stated
[57:03] in my confirmation hearing,
[57:05] was to change
[57:06] the culture of the department.
[57:08] And it's ultimately challenging
[57:09] to change the culture
[57:10] of a department
[57:12] with the same people
[57:13] who are a part of
[57:14] or in that department.
[57:15] So I have made many changes
[57:16] with general officers.
[57:18] We will continue
[57:19] to make changes
[57:20] as necessary
[57:20] with general officers.
[57:22] And they will be
[57:22] in keeping with the trajectory
[57:23] of where we would like
[57:24] to take the department.
[57:26] But it doesn't take away
[57:26] from the service of those.
[57:28] And I think you will note
[57:30] that every officer
[57:31] that's been asked to leave
[57:33] has been treated with respect.
[57:36] Interesting.
[57:37] Of the two dozen officers
[57:39] that you have fired
[57:41] for reasons
[57:42] unrelated to performance,
[57:44] since you have not indicated
[57:45] any course,
[57:47] 60 percent are black or females.
[57:50] Now, did the president
[57:51] direct you
[57:52] to single out female
[57:54] and black officers
[57:55] to be dismissed?
[57:58] Senator, of course not.
[58:01] And as we've emphasized
[58:02] at this department
[58:03] from the beginning,
[58:04] the only metric is merit.
[58:07] Members on this committee
[58:09] and the previous leadership
[58:10] of this department
[58:11] were focused on
[58:13] social engineering,
[58:14] race and gender,
[58:15] in ways that we think
[58:16] were unhealthy
[58:17] for the department.
[58:18] Focusing on those things,
[58:19] making decisions
[58:20] based on those things.
[58:21] In President Trump's
[58:22] War Department,
[58:23] we make decisions
[58:24] based on only one thing,
[58:26] merit.
[58:26] And that's how we've
[58:27] made decisions going forward.
[58:28] That's how we've made them
[58:29] and that's how we'll
[58:30] make them going forward.
[58:30] Well, let me go back
[58:31] to General George.
[58:32] What did he fail
[58:34] in terms of
[58:35] his lack of merit
[58:36] to continue serving?
[58:39] As I've said,
[58:41] I don't talk about
[58:41] the nature of dismissal
[58:43] out of respect
[58:43] for these officers.
[58:45] But ultimately,
[58:46] we want to take
[58:47] the department
[58:47] in a particular direction,
[58:49] certain services
[58:49] in a particular direction,
[58:50] and we want leadership
[58:52] that's running as fast
[58:53] in that direction
[58:53] as possible.
[58:54] And in some cases,
[58:54] we make changes accordingly,
[58:56] but do so out of respect
[58:58] to those officers.
[58:59] Well, I think that direction
[59:00] from your behavior
[59:01] is an intense interest
[59:04] in Christianity,
[59:06] in nationalism,
[59:08] and in not recognizing
[59:14] the talents of women
[59:15] and non-white gentlemen.
[59:19] And that's the wrong direction.
[59:21] I don't know
[59:22] what you're insinuating,
[59:23] Senator,
[59:23] but I am not ashamed
[59:24] of my faith in Jesus Christ.
[59:25] Well, you shouldn't be ashamed.
[59:27] And if you want to shame me for it,
[59:28] go ahead.
[59:29] I'm not shaming you,
[59:30] but are you critical
[59:32] of other faiths?
[59:35] I am a believer.
[59:36] I'm quite open in that.
[59:38] And our department allows
[59:38] for a multitude of faiths.
[59:40] So I don't know
[59:40] what you're suggesting.
[59:41] I've heard the likes of things
[59:43] that people like you suggest
[59:44] to try to smear my character,
[59:46] and I won't give into it.
[59:48] No.
[59:51] I'm sorry, Mr. Secretary,
[59:53] but broadcasting
[59:54] before the national
[59:56] religious broadcasters,
[59:59] stressing the need
[59:59] for more Christianity
[1:00:01] in the military forces,
[1:00:02] doesn't seem like
[1:00:04] a neutral position
[1:00:05] in which you tolerate
[1:00:06] and accept all religions.
[1:00:08] Let me move on.
[1:00:09] So the strategic aspects
[1:00:13] of this operation in Iran,
[1:00:16] the president declared
[1:00:17] that we're going to destroy
[1:00:20] their missiles
[1:00:20] and raise their missile industry
[1:00:22] to the ground.
[1:00:24] And after more than 13,000 strikes,
[1:00:26] unclassified assessments
[1:00:28] conclude that Iran retains
[1:00:29] more than 40% of its drone arsenal
[1:00:32] and 60% of its ballistic missile launches
[1:00:35] compared with pre-war levels.
[1:00:38] That's one of his objectives.
[1:00:40] The second objective
[1:00:43] was regime change.
[1:00:47] To the great, proud people of Iran,
[1:00:48] I say tonight
[1:00:49] that the hour of your freedom
[1:00:50] is at hand,
[1:00:51] and we will finish,
[1:00:53] take over your government.
[1:00:54] Well, when we finish,
[1:00:55] we'll take over your government.
[1:00:56] That has not succeeded.
[1:00:58] And then,
[1:00:59] one of his other things
[1:01:01] is the onset of the war,
[1:01:02] the president said,
[1:01:03] we will ensure that Iran
[1:01:04] does not obtain
[1:01:05] a nuclear weapon.
[1:01:07] Military operations
[1:01:08] since Iran
[1:01:08] have not achieved
[1:01:09] that goal yet.
[1:01:11] And it also seems
[1:01:12] to indicate
[1:01:15] that his pronouncements
[1:01:16] about Operation Midnight Hammer
[1:01:18] obliterating
[1:01:19] the nuclear policy
[1:01:22] and structure
[1:01:23] of the Iranians
[1:01:23] was false.
[1:01:25] So you have not achieved
[1:01:26] any of the objectives yet
[1:01:27] that the president mentioned.
[1:01:29] Well, in this setting,
[1:01:32] I won't talk about
[1:01:33] the nature of metrics
[1:01:34] which are classified,
[1:01:35] as you know, Senator,
[1:01:36] but I can say that
[1:01:38] looking at the objectives
[1:01:38] we set out to achieve
[1:01:40] from the beginning,
[1:01:41] some of which you laid out,
[1:01:43] our military objectives
[1:01:45] have been stunningly effective.
[1:01:48] Take, for example,
[1:01:49] their defense industrial base.
[1:01:51] They're completely incapable
[1:01:52] at scale at any level
[1:01:54] of reconstituting
[1:01:55] the capabilities
[1:01:55] you referred to,
[1:01:56] which is a devastating result
[1:01:58] for any country,
[1:01:59] especially one
[1:02:00] whose ambitions
[1:02:01] are as wide as Iran's.
[1:02:03] So we've put the president
[1:02:04] in a very strong position
[1:02:06] to ensure
[1:02:06] Iran never gets
[1:02:08] a nuclear weapon.
[1:02:09] That's the takeaway
[1:02:10] that's been underneath
[1:02:11] every single aspect of this.
[1:02:12] For 47 years,
[1:02:14] Iran's trying to blackmail
[1:02:15] its way to a nuclear weapon.
[1:02:17] They were closer
[1:02:17] than ever before
[1:02:18] because of bad deals
[1:02:19] under previous administration.
[1:02:20] President Trump was willing
[1:02:21] to do something about it
[1:02:22] and not allow
[1:02:23] their conventional missile shield.
[1:02:25] That's the North Korea strategy.
[1:02:27] That's, to be clear,
[1:02:28] what Iran was pursuing.
[1:02:29] Hiding their nuclear ambitions,
[1:02:32] revealing them over time,
[1:02:34] and then building
[1:02:34] a conventional shield of missiles
[1:02:36] so powerful
[1:02:37] that no country
[1:02:38] would challenge them
[1:02:39] for fear of what would happen
[1:02:41] if they unleashed that arsenal.
[1:02:42] Weekend after the 12-day war
[1:02:44] and Midnight Hammer,
[1:02:45] which did obliterate
[1:02:46] their sights,
[1:02:47] President Trump saw
[1:02:48] an opportunity
[1:02:49] because their ambitions
[1:02:50] continued to ensure
[1:02:51] that umbrella
[1:02:53] of nuclear blackmail
[1:02:54] did not allow them
[1:02:55] to get to a nuclear weapon.
[1:02:57] And the world is safer
[1:02:58] because of his bold
[1:02:59] and historic choice.
[1:03:02] Mr. Secretary,
[1:03:03] I think that's rhetorical
[1:03:05] but not factual.
[1:03:07] Thank you.
[1:03:07] Thank you, Senator Reid.
[1:03:11] Mr. Secretary,
[1:03:12] Mr. Hurst,
[1:03:14] General Cain,
[1:03:14] welcome.
[1:03:16] Over the last several months,
[1:03:17] I've worked closely
[1:03:18] with some of the new
[1:03:20] direct reporting program managers,
[1:03:22] and I've been encouraged
[1:03:24] by how they're approaching
[1:03:26] the department's
[1:03:27] most complex acquisition systems.
[1:03:30] General White's pulled forward
[1:03:32] the next milestone
[1:03:33] for the Sentinel program
[1:03:35] by at least six months.
[1:03:37] General Gutlein
[1:03:38] has completed
[1:03:39] the initial blueprint
[1:03:40] for the Golden Dome architecture
[1:03:42] and is beginning
[1:03:43] to build it out.
[1:03:45] For years,
[1:03:46] this committee has known
[1:03:47] that we must improve
[1:03:48] our ability
[1:03:49] to defend our homeland
[1:03:50] against a wider variety
[1:03:53] of threats.
[1:03:54] And we finally have a partner
[1:03:56] with the full backing
[1:03:57] of the department
[1:03:58] to lead the charge.
[1:04:01] Mr. Secretary,
[1:04:02] what's the advantage
[1:04:03] of this new type
[1:04:04] of program management structure?
[1:04:08] Well, thank you
[1:04:09] for the question, Senator.
[1:04:10] It's acquisition authority,
[1:04:12] technical authority,
[1:04:13] contracting authority.
[1:04:14] It's consolidating
[1:04:15] decision-making
[1:04:16] in one place
[1:04:18] under a highly screened,
[1:04:19] highly capable general,
[1:04:20] General White
[1:04:21] and General Gutlein
[1:04:22] who know that terrain
[1:04:23] extremely well
[1:04:24] and understand
[1:04:26] what mistakes
[1:04:27] have been made
[1:04:27] in the past
[1:04:28] in programs
[1:04:28] of that magnitude
[1:04:29] and then are given
[1:04:30] the authority
[1:04:31] to cut through
[1:04:32] the red tape.
[1:04:33] That's the key.
[1:04:36] Success or failure
[1:04:36] lands with them
[1:04:37] and they know it
[1:04:38] and as a result
[1:04:39] they're incentivized
[1:04:40] to ensure that program
[1:04:41] and then given
[1:04:42] every dollar
[1:04:42] and authority
[1:04:43] needed to move it
[1:04:44] as quickly as possible.
[1:04:45] So whether it's Sentinel,
[1:04:46] whether it's F-47,
[1:04:47] whether it's Golden Dome
[1:04:48] for America,
[1:04:49] these critical strategic assets,
[1:04:51] the direct report
[1:04:52] constructs,
[1:04:54] along with Deputy Secretary Feinberg
[1:04:56] who is a national treasure
[1:04:58] and is changing
[1:04:59] the way we do business
[1:05:00] at this department
[1:05:01] is giving us a chance
[1:05:02] to ensure
[1:05:02] these critical systems
[1:05:03] are delivered.
[1:05:04] Thank you.
[1:05:05] And General McCain,
[1:05:06] can you give us
[1:05:08] your thoughts
[1:05:09] on why the Golden Dome
[1:05:11] received the,
[1:05:12] why they must receive
[1:05:13] that requested
[1:05:14] $17 billion
[1:05:15] in funding
[1:05:17] for the fiscal year 27?
[1:05:20] Well, Senator,
[1:05:20] it's, as you know,
[1:05:22] it's an essential part
[1:05:23] of our Homeland Security
[1:05:24] layered defense
[1:05:25] and as General Gutlein
[1:05:27] begins to do the work
[1:05:29] that you're asking about
[1:05:30] and frankly helping
[1:05:31] to advance,
[1:05:32] you know,
[1:05:33] the insurance
[1:05:34] around that down payment,
[1:05:37] charging the defense
[1:05:39] industrial base
[1:05:40] with those capital allocations
[1:05:41] will allow them
[1:05:42] to get after it
[1:05:43] much, much quicker.
[1:05:44] We appreciate the help.
[1:05:46] And if there's a delay
[1:05:47] in that funding?
[1:05:49] Well, I,
[1:05:50] hopefully there won't be,
[1:05:51] Senator,
[1:05:51] because we've got
[1:05:52] a leader on that account
[1:05:54] 24-7, 365.
[1:05:56] But if we do,
[1:05:56] we'll always,
[1:05:58] of course,
[1:05:58] come back
[1:05:59] and talk to the Congress,
[1:06:01] but also figure out
[1:06:02] what has to be true
[1:06:03] to help that constraint
[1:06:06] get removed
[1:06:06] in that production system.
[1:06:08] And that's really
[1:06:09] what we're asking
[1:06:10] these leaders to do
[1:06:11] is to be able
[1:06:12] to get past
[1:06:12] the theory of constraints.
[1:06:14] Okay.
[1:06:14] Thank you.
[1:06:15] Secretary Hagseth,
[1:06:17] I agree with your statement
[1:06:18] on nuclear deterrence
[1:06:20] when you said
[1:06:21] nothing else matters
[1:06:22] if we don't get this right,
[1:06:24] so we will.
[1:06:26] We need a modernized
[1:06:28] nuclear triad
[1:06:29] and NC3 architecture
[1:06:31] that can credibly deter
[1:06:33] multiple adversaries
[1:06:35] instead of an insufficient
[1:06:37] nuclear force structure
[1:06:39] based on fundamentally
[1:06:41] flawed assumptions
[1:06:42] made 16 years ago.
[1:06:44] Our presidents must also
[1:06:46] have a more diverse
[1:06:48] set of options
[1:06:49] so that they can
[1:06:50] effectively manage
[1:06:52] more complex
[1:06:53] nuclear escalation dynamics.
[1:06:56] So, Mr. Secretary,
[1:06:57] how does this budget request
[1:06:59] achieve those objectives?
[1:07:03] Well, thank you
[1:07:03] for your leadership
[1:07:04] on this issue
[1:07:05] for a very long time.
[1:07:06] First and foremost,
[1:07:08] it invests in it.
[1:07:09] $71 billion
[1:07:10] in our nuclear triad
[1:07:12] and NC3,
[1:07:13] understanding that
[1:07:14] if you get that wrong,
[1:07:15] you get everything else wrong.
[1:07:17] Frankly,
[1:07:17] it's why the Iran effort
[1:07:18] is so important.
[1:07:20] Imagine what the situation
[1:07:21] in the region
[1:07:22] would look like
[1:07:22] if Iran also wielded
[1:07:24] a nuclear weapon
[1:07:25] and the limits
[1:07:26] it would put
[1:07:27] on our capabilities
[1:07:28] in those situations.
[1:07:29] Our adversaries
[1:07:30] have to deal
[1:07:31] with that dilemma
[1:07:31] because of the strength
[1:07:32] of our nuclear triad.
[1:07:34] So that $71 billion investment,
[1:07:36] the derpums
[1:07:36] that have been put
[1:07:37] over top of it
[1:07:38] to move those systems left,
[1:07:40] as you acknowledged,
[1:07:40] it's just been
[1:07:43] a priority
[1:07:43] since we came
[1:07:44] into the building
[1:07:46] and we're funding
[1:07:46] it accordingly.
[1:07:49] And Chairman Cain,
[1:07:52] Secretary Hagseth,
[1:07:53] whoever would like
[1:07:54] to answer this,
[1:07:55] should our nuclear
[1:07:56] command control
[1:07:58] and communications
[1:07:59] systems like
[1:08:00] the SAOC
[1:08:01] be given
[1:08:02] the same level
[1:08:03] of priority
[1:08:04] as Congress
[1:08:05] considers
[1:08:06] the department's
[1:08:07] budget request
[1:08:08] as our triad?
[1:08:10] I think so,
[1:08:14] but I'd defer
[1:08:14] to the chairman.
[1:08:16] Yes, ma'am.
[1:08:17] We've got to be able
[1:08:17] to see to anything.
[1:08:19] So, yes, ma'am.
[1:08:20] Thank you.
[1:08:22] Senator Shaheen,
[1:08:23] you are recognized.
[1:08:24] Thank you, Madam Chair.
[1:08:27] Secretary Hagseth,
[1:08:29] Congress enacted
[1:08:30] $400 million
[1:08:31] to provide
[1:08:32] security assistance
[1:08:33] to Ukraine
[1:08:34] in January.
[1:08:35] Now, the committee
[1:08:36] received a notification
[1:08:37] just yesterday
[1:08:38] confirming
[1:08:40] only that the funding
[1:08:41] would go toward Ukraine.
[1:08:43] It contained
[1:08:44] no details
[1:08:44] about the type
[1:08:45] of equipment,
[1:08:46] no delivery timelines,
[1:08:48] nothing that is
[1:08:48] typically included
[1:08:49] in these notifications.
[1:08:51] And when asked
[1:08:52] about the delay
[1:08:53] in funding,
[1:08:54] the committee
[1:08:54] was told
[1:08:55] that Bridge Colby
[1:08:56] was developing
[1:08:57] a spend plan,
[1:08:58] but we've received
[1:08:59] nothing.
[1:09:00] So, when can we
[1:09:02] expect the full
[1:09:03] spend plan
[1:09:04] for this appropriation?
[1:09:05] And, Madam Chair,
[1:09:06] can I,
[1:09:07] if this is not
[1:09:08] already part
[1:09:09] of the record
[1:09:10] for the committee,
[1:09:10] can I enter
[1:09:12] it into the record?
[1:09:13] We acknowledge
[1:09:17] and are executing
[1:09:18] on the European
[1:09:19] capacity building
[1:09:20] amount of $400 million
[1:09:21] that you referred to.
[1:09:23] Undersecretary Colby
[1:09:24] has done a great job
[1:09:25] looking at options
[1:09:27] and worked very closely
[1:09:28] with our European
[1:09:30] commander,
[1:09:31] General Grinkowitz.
[1:09:32] So, his requests
[1:09:33] of what makes
[1:09:33] the most sense
[1:09:34] will inform
[1:09:35] what ultimately
[1:09:36] is invested in.
[1:09:38] Well,
[1:09:38] this notification
[1:09:39] says that
[1:09:40] EUCOM coordinated
[1:09:42] on the spend plan
[1:09:43] in March,
[1:09:44] but General Grinkowitz
[1:09:45] told this committee
[1:09:47] on April 16th
[1:09:48] that he had not
[1:09:49] yet been asked
[1:09:50] to review
[1:09:51] any spend plan
[1:09:52] for this appropriation.
[1:09:54] So, General Cain,
[1:09:56] have you received
[1:09:57] the spend plan
[1:09:57] for funds in Ukraine
[1:09:58] and have you asked
[1:09:59] the EUCOM commander
[1:10:00] for his concurrence?
[1:10:04] I do not believe so,
[1:10:06] but I will find out,
[1:10:08] Senator,
[1:10:08] and get back to you
[1:10:09] by the end of the day.
[1:10:10] Thank you.
[1:10:11] And yesterday,
[1:10:13] Mr. Hurst,
[1:10:13] you told the House
[1:10:16] that you needed
[1:10:17] to seek legal review
[1:10:18] to appropriate the funds
[1:10:19] as Congress intended.
[1:10:21] So, can you share with us
[1:10:23] what the nature
[1:10:24] of that legal review is?
[1:10:26] And it seems to me
[1:10:27] the law was pretty clear.
[1:10:29] I saw it.
[1:10:29] It was part of
[1:10:30] the defense appropriations bill
[1:10:32] that we passed in January.
[1:10:35] And as you know,
[1:10:36] violating congressional intent
[1:10:37] on appropriating funds
[1:10:38] is a violation
[1:10:39] of the Impoundment Control Act.
[1:10:41] So, what's the nature
[1:10:42] of the legal review
[1:10:43] that you have to get?
[1:10:45] Thanks for the question,
[1:10:46] Senator.
[1:10:46] What we're looking at
[1:10:47] is if we could use the funds
[1:10:48] in the same manner as USAI.
[1:10:50] And we had our council
[1:10:51] look at that.
[1:10:52] And so, they provide us
[1:10:53] a legal opinion
[1:10:54] on how the funds
[1:10:55] could be used
[1:10:55] to support European
[1:10:56] capacity building.
[1:10:58] And can you share
[1:10:59] with this committee
[1:10:59] what that legal opinion is?
[1:11:03] Ma'am, I don't have
[1:11:03] a copy of that,
[1:11:04] but we can ask the OGC office
[1:11:05] if they can supply it to you.
[1:11:07] Madam Chair,
[1:11:08] can we ask that
[1:11:09] that legal opinion
[1:11:10] is shared with the committee
[1:11:11] officially?
[1:11:13] Thank you.
[1:11:14] Also, I don't know
[1:11:18] who can answer this,
[1:11:19] but it says that
[1:11:23] consistent with the
[1:11:26] president's priority
[1:11:27] to shift the financial burden
[1:11:28] of Ukraine support
[1:11:29] to European partners,
[1:11:31] the United States
[1:11:32] will seek commensurate
[1:11:33] financial contributions
[1:11:35] via the prioritized
[1:11:38] Ukraine requirements list
[1:11:39] or PERL
[1:11:40] from the European partners
[1:11:42] for this program.
[1:11:43] So, what's the justification
[1:11:46] for using PERL
[1:11:48] when there's $400 million
[1:11:49] in appropriated funds?
[1:11:52] Can somebody answer?
[1:11:53] PERL is a reflection
[1:11:54] of the president's priority
[1:11:55] and the belief
[1:11:55] that any weapons
[1:11:57] that are supplied
[1:11:57] are paid for
[1:11:58] by European partners
[1:11:59] and used as they see fit,
[1:12:01] whether it's Ukraine
[1:12:02] or somewhere else.
[1:12:02] But that was not
[1:12:03] the intent of Congress
[1:12:04] in providing that $400 million.
[1:12:06] As I understand,
[1:12:07] the PERL program,
[1:12:08] the Europeans purchase
[1:12:11] those weapons
[1:12:12] from the United States
[1:12:14] and they pay for them.
[1:12:15] But this appropriation
[1:12:17] was $400 million
[1:12:18] that Congress expected
[1:12:20] to be provided to Ukraine,
[1:12:22] not paid for
[1:12:24] by the Europeans,
[1:12:26] but provided
[1:12:26] from the United States
[1:12:28] to support Ukraine.
[1:12:30] So, again,
[1:12:32] I don't understand
[1:12:33] what the justification is
[1:12:34] for using PERL
[1:12:35] when that's not the intent
[1:12:37] that Congress provided.
[1:12:39] We're following the intent
[1:12:41] of European capacity building
[1:12:42] but at the same time
[1:12:44] recognizing that
[1:12:45] wherever PERL
[1:12:46] can be utilized
[1:12:46] so that the Europeans
[1:12:48] contribute to that fight
[1:12:49] per the burden-sharing approach
[1:12:51] that this president takes
[1:12:52] is important.
[1:12:53] But that was not
[1:12:53] congressional intent.
[1:12:54] And that's what I'm asking you.
[1:12:56] Why are you using PERL
[1:12:58] to do something
[1:13:00] that Congress intended
[1:13:01] to go directly to Ukraine?
[1:13:03] Well, we look forward
[1:13:04] to working with you on that.
[1:13:06] What was the legal opinion
[1:13:07] on this?
[1:13:08] Did you ask the attorneys
[1:13:09] if the $400 million
[1:13:12] could be used
[1:13:13] for the PERL program?
[1:13:15] Let's get back to you.
[1:13:16] We'll take it
[1:13:16] for the record, ma'am.
[1:13:17] Thank you.
[1:13:18] And what portion
[1:13:19] of the funding
[1:13:20] that's committed
[1:13:21] from the Europeans
[1:13:22] under PERL
[1:13:23] is being used
[1:13:24] to assist Ukraine
[1:13:25] rather than restocking
[1:13:27] our own shelves?
[1:13:28] Can you answer that?
[1:13:30] That's up to Europe.
[1:13:32] Ultimately,
[1:13:33] Europe pays for
[1:13:34] any weapons
[1:13:35] that we provide
[1:13:36] and they can utilize them
[1:13:37] as they see fit,
[1:13:38] whether it's Ukraine
[1:13:38] or otherwise.
[1:13:39] Thank you,
[1:13:41] Senator Shaheen.
[1:13:43] There have been
[1:13:43] a number of times
[1:13:44] when our witnesses
[1:13:45] have stated
[1:13:47] both in the closed hearing
[1:13:49] and up here
[1:13:49] that they will get back
[1:13:50] to us.
[1:13:51] And we certainly hope
[1:13:52] that will happen
[1:13:53] very expeditiously.
[1:13:56] So thank you very much
[1:13:57] and thank you,
[1:13:58] Senator Shaheen.
[1:13:59] Senator Cotton.
[1:14:00] Thank you, gentlemen,
[1:14:01] for your appearance today.
[1:14:03] Mr. Secretary,
[1:14:04] you provided us
[1:14:04] with a chart here
[1:14:05] entitled
[1:14:06] The Arsenal of Freedom,
[1:14:08] which includes
[1:14:09] a lot of sites
[1:14:09] that you've visited.
[1:14:10] My favorite one
[1:14:11] is down here
[1:14:12] in South Arkansas,
[1:14:14] Camden,
[1:14:14] where you and I
[1:14:15] had a chance to visit
[1:14:16] just a couple months ago,
[1:14:18] highlighting the great work
[1:14:20] that the people
[1:14:21] there are doing
[1:14:22] to help rebuild
[1:14:23] our arsenal of freedom.
[1:14:27] Thank you,
[1:14:28] first off,
[1:14:29] for being there
[1:14:29] and for your kind words
[1:14:31] for the workforce
[1:14:32] of the people
[1:14:32] of South Arkansas.
[1:14:34] Isn't it fair
[1:14:35] to say that
[1:14:36] the war in Iran,
[1:14:38] just like the Ukraine war
[1:14:39] before it
[1:14:41] and still today,
[1:14:43] hasn't caused
[1:14:44] any challenges
[1:14:45] with our munitions
[1:14:46] the way some
[1:14:47] of our Democratic
[1:14:48] colleagues would say,
[1:14:49] but it's exposed
[1:14:50] to a decades-old
[1:14:51] problem of brittleness
[1:14:53] and fragility
[1:14:53] in our defense
[1:14:54] industrial base
[1:14:55] before you
[1:14:56] and General Cain
[1:14:57] took over
[1:14:57] and that we're trying
[1:14:58] to address right now?
[1:15:00] In many ways,
[1:15:01] that's precisely
[1:15:01] what we're trying
[1:15:02] to address.
[1:15:03] We also have a situation
[1:15:04] where President Trump
[1:15:06] rebuilds our military
[1:15:07] in the first term
[1:15:08] and a lot of those munitions
[1:15:09] and a lot of those capabilities
[1:15:10] were sent to Ukraine
[1:15:12] under the previous administration
[1:15:13] to the point
[1:15:14] where when we ask
[1:15:15] our commanders
[1:15:15] or when we look
[1:15:16] at O-plans,
[1:15:17] the answer often is
[1:15:18] that was sent to Ukraine.
[1:15:20] So the recognition
[1:15:21] of those two things
[1:15:22] has,
[1:15:23] as the President
[1:15:24] gave us a charge
[1:15:24] from day one
[1:15:26] to rebuild
[1:15:26] the arsenal of freedom
[1:15:27] to fast forward,
[1:15:28] not to provide
[1:15:29] a little bit more
[1:15:30] of each thing,
[1:15:31] but 2x, 3x, 4x,
[1:15:33] the number of exquisite munitions
[1:15:34] that we need.
[1:15:35] The expenditures
[1:15:36] that we've seen
[1:15:37] under this administration,
[1:15:37] we can account for them
[1:15:39] and we ensure
[1:15:40] that other O-plans
[1:15:41] and elsewhere
[1:15:41] are well taken care of.
[1:15:43] So on the munitions front,
[1:15:44] we're in really good shape,
[1:15:45] but we need to accelerate
[1:15:46] and that's exactly
[1:15:47] what we're doing.
[1:15:47] And I think that's
[1:15:48] an important point you make
[1:15:49] is that we're not just
[1:15:51] trying to fill a hole
[1:15:52] that was created
[1:15:52] by Epic Fury
[1:15:54] or by support for Ukraine.
[1:15:56] We're going to fill that
[1:15:57] and then go much beyond that
[1:15:59] for our needs in the future.
[1:16:00] So we're never caught
[1:16:01] where we were
[1:16:02] over the last several years
[1:16:04] with these worries
[1:16:06] about munitions running short.
[1:16:07] Is that right, Mr. Secretary?
[1:16:09] That's exactly right.
[1:16:09] The president has charged up
[1:16:11] with not just replacing anything
[1:16:12] but filling it up,
[1:16:14] as he might say,
[1:16:14] to the tippy top
[1:16:15] and make sure that
[1:16:16] the remainder of this term
[1:16:18] and future presidents
[1:16:19] have all the munitions
[1:16:20] they need
[1:16:21] for any level of contingencies,
[1:16:22] especially considering
[1:16:23] the dangerous world
[1:16:24] we live in.
[1:16:25] I want to turn now
[1:16:26] to Operation Epic Fury.
[1:16:27] It's been a smashing
[1:16:27] military success.
[1:16:30] Unfortunately,
[1:16:30] we have suffered casualties
[1:16:32] to include soldiers
[1:16:34] killed in the line of action.
[1:16:36] Obviously,
[1:16:37] our military takes
[1:16:37] the greatest steps possible
[1:16:40] to protect our troops,
[1:16:41] whether they are in action
[1:16:42] or whether they are
[1:16:44] on bases in the region.
[1:16:46] No war that was antiseptic.
[1:16:48] Mr. Secretary,
[1:16:49] can you explain
[1:16:49] some of the steps
[1:16:50] we've taken
[1:16:50] to try to minimize
[1:16:51] to the greatest extent
[1:16:52] we can
[1:16:52] the number of casualties
[1:16:54] we've taken
[1:16:55] in the Middle East?
[1:16:56] First of all,
[1:16:57] every day,
[1:16:59] we live to ensure
[1:17:00] that we follow through
[1:17:00] on the legacy
[1:17:01] of those who gave everything.
[1:17:02] So that's front and center
[1:17:03] for us.
[1:17:04] But I can also say,
[1:17:05] and the chairman
[1:17:05] may want to weigh in,
[1:17:06] from the beginning
[1:17:07] of looking at the possibility
[1:17:09] of this contingency,
[1:17:10] setting the defense
[1:17:11] and ensuring
[1:17:12] that Admiral Cooper
[1:17:13] and everyone
[1:17:14] throughout CENTCOM
[1:17:15] had every possible measure
[1:17:16] they could
[1:17:17] to ensure
[1:17:18] that our troops
[1:17:18] are protected
[1:17:19] and force protection
[1:17:20] was maximized
[1:17:20] was the top priority.
[1:17:22] Moving assets
[1:17:23] to the region,
[1:17:24] we integrated
[1:17:24] our air defenses
[1:17:25] with local Gulf countries
[1:17:27] to ensure
[1:17:28] our shot doctrine
[1:17:29] was maximized,
[1:17:30] whether it's ballistic missiles
[1:17:31] or on drones,
[1:17:33] flowing in
[1:17:34] the most recent capabilities
[1:17:36] to ensure
[1:17:37] we can intercept drones,
[1:17:39] moving troops
[1:17:39] off the X.
[1:17:40] I think what people
[1:17:41] mostly don't know
[1:17:43] is that a massive effort
[1:17:44] was undertaken
[1:17:45] before this conflict
[1:17:46] to move as many humans
[1:17:48] off of targets
[1:17:49] to other places
[1:17:50] and maintain
[1:17:51] operational security
[1:17:52] about where they might be
[1:17:53] to minimize the space
[1:17:55] with which Iran could hit.
[1:17:56] We always knew
[1:17:57] something getting through
[1:17:58] was a possibility
[1:17:59] was a tragic possibility.
[1:18:01] But I can assure you
[1:18:02] from our perspective
[1:18:03] that was priority number one
[1:18:04] as it was Admiral Cooper's
[1:18:06] to ensure that fortification
[1:18:07] and missile defenses
[1:18:08] were right there
[1:18:10] when we went on offense
[1:18:11] if we had to.
[1:18:12] General Cain,
[1:18:13] do you have anything to add?
[1:18:14] Well, in addition to
[1:18:15] just again mourning
[1:18:17] our fallen from the 103rd,
[1:18:19] what I'll add
[1:18:19] to the Secretary's comments
[1:18:21] is after every tragic loss,
[1:18:23] commanders at every echelon
[1:18:25] within our joint force
[1:18:26] are going to go back
[1:18:27] and look at
[1:18:28] what was our plan
[1:18:29] and what lessons
[1:18:30] we can learn from this
[1:18:32] so that we protect
[1:18:33] and defend
[1:18:33] our soldiers, sailors,
[1:18:36] and other members
[1:18:36] of the joint force
[1:18:37] the next time.
[1:18:38] Thank you.
[1:18:39] And I know you do
[1:18:39] and I just wanted
[1:18:40] to give you the opportunity
[1:18:40] to speak to what you've done
[1:18:42] to try to prevent
[1:18:43] casualties
[1:18:44] and minimize them.
[1:18:46] Obviously, again,
[1:18:46] no war is antiseptic.
[1:18:47] One final question.
[1:18:48] I understand you've been accused
[1:18:49] of lying to the president.
[1:18:50] Mr. Hexeth,
[1:18:51] have you lied to the president
[1:18:52] at all about
[1:18:53] what's happening in Iran
[1:18:54] or Epic Fury?
[1:18:56] Only tell the truth
[1:18:57] to the president.
[1:18:57] General Cain,
[1:18:58] have you lied to the president
[1:18:59] about what's happening
[1:19:00] in Iran or Operation Epic Fury?
[1:19:01] Never.
[1:19:02] I suspected that would be
[1:19:03] your answer,
[1:19:03] but since you were accused
[1:19:04] of it and deep staters
[1:19:05] are leaking to the media
[1:19:06] about it as well,
[1:19:07] I just wanted to give you
[1:19:08] a chance to answer
[1:19:08] on the record
[1:19:09] that, of course,
[1:19:10] you've always given
[1:19:10] the president
[1:19:11] a completely accurate picture
[1:19:12] of what's happening.
[1:19:12] Thank you, gentlemen.
[1:19:13] Thank you very much,
[1:19:14] Senator Cotton.
[1:19:15] Senator Gillibrand
[1:19:15] and then Senator Rounds.
[1:19:17] Thank you, gentlemen,
[1:19:18] for appearing before
[1:19:19] this committee
[1:19:19] and thank you for
[1:19:20] the closed session
[1:19:21] prior to this.
[1:19:23] I don't know
[1:19:23] if you fully appreciate
[1:19:24] how much the American people
[1:19:26] do not support this war.
[1:19:28] It is an unauthorized war.
[1:19:31] Normally,
[1:19:31] when you come to Congress,
[1:19:32] it's a way
[1:19:33] for the American people
[1:19:34] to be part
[1:19:34] of that discussion.
[1:19:37] The American people,
[1:19:38] particularly in my state
[1:19:40] of New York,
[1:19:41] are upset
[1:19:41] for a lot of reasons.
[1:19:43] First of all,
[1:19:43] this war is costing
[1:19:44] so much money,
[1:19:46] over $25 billion already,
[1:19:49] estimates $1 billion a day,
[1:19:50] and they're feeling it
[1:19:52] every single day
[1:19:52] at the gas pump
[1:19:53] with higher prices
[1:19:55] for both fuel,
[1:19:56] for diesel,
[1:19:57] for gasoline,
[1:19:58] for their cars.
[1:19:59] They're also feeling it
[1:20:01] with higher grocery costs
[1:20:02] and they're exhausted.
[1:20:04] They are truly exhausted.
[1:20:05] On top of that,
[1:20:07] on top of that,
[1:20:09] they have so many
[1:20:10] grave concerns
[1:20:11] about how this war
[1:20:12] is being prosecuted.
[1:20:15] They read in the paper
[1:20:17] that 22 schools
[1:20:18] have been hit.
[1:20:20] They read in the paper
[1:20:21] about a girl's school,
[1:20:22] hundreds getting killed.
[1:20:26] We have a debate
[1:20:27] going on in this country
[1:20:28] about AI,
[1:20:30] a serious debate
[1:20:31] about AI.
[1:20:33] And I haven't heard yet
[1:20:34] from you
[1:20:35] that you will not allow AI
[1:20:36] to make final
[1:20:37] targeting determinations
[1:20:38] even when nuclear weapons
[1:20:40] are being used.
[1:20:42] That's a huge issue
[1:20:43] that we need to discuss.
[1:20:44] So I want to start
[1:20:46] from the top,
[1:20:46] Secretary Hegseth.
[1:20:48] Why do you continue
[1:20:49] to prosecute a war
[1:20:50] that the American people
[1:20:51] aren't behind?
[1:20:55] First of all,
[1:20:56] I appreciate the opportunity
[1:20:57] for that closed session
[1:20:58] where we had a unsurprisingly
[1:21:00] very different discussion
[1:21:01] than we have here
[1:21:02] with the cameras on.
[1:21:03] We support this.
[1:21:04] Because my job
[1:21:05] is to represent New Yorkers.
[1:21:07] And I can tell you
[1:21:07] when I talk to them
[1:21:09] all across my state,
[1:21:11] they are furious.
[1:21:13] And they expect me
[1:21:14] to explain to them
[1:21:16] why they are furious.
[1:21:17] And Senator,
[1:21:18] when I talk to Americans
[1:21:19] and especially
[1:21:20] when I talk to the troops,
[1:21:21] they are grateful
[1:21:22] for a president
[1:21:23] who has the courage
[1:21:23] to take on this threat
[1:21:25] after 47 years
[1:21:26] of what Iran has done
[1:21:27] targeting and killing Americans
[1:21:28] and what it would mean
[1:21:29] to the world
[1:21:30] if Iran's nuclear ambitions
[1:21:31] were actually achieved.
[1:21:33] So the question
[1:21:34] I would ask to you
[1:21:35] and to others is
[1:21:35] what is the cost
[1:21:36] of a nuclear-armed Iran?
[1:21:38] What is the cost
[1:21:39] to the American people
[1:21:39] if the world's most dangerous regime
[1:21:42] has a nuclear weapon?
[1:21:43] But the truth is
[1:21:44] they don't want war
[1:21:45] coming to this shore.
[1:21:46] And when you do
[1:21:46] a decapitation operation,
[1:21:48] the likelihood is going
[1:21:49] to be exchanged
[1:21:50] in the United States.
[1:21:51] There's no evidence
[1:21:52] that we are safer
[1:21:53] because of this war.
[1:21:54] We did not have any evidence
[1:21:56] that Iran intended
[1:21:57] to imminently attack
[1:21:59] this country
[1:21:59] in any way, shape, or form.
[1:22:01] So I disagree
[1:22:02] with your assessment
[1:22:03] that we are under threat.
[1:22:05] Do you not believe them
[1:22:05] when they say
[1:22:06] death to America?
[1:22:08] Listen,
[1:22:08] our adversaries
[1:22:09] use rhetoric all the time.
[1:22:12] What I'm concerned about
[1:22:13] is we are not safer
[1:22:14] and I would just like to know
[1:22:16] why you have not sought
[1:22:18] the support
[1:22:18] of the American people
[1:22:19] and three out of five Americans
[1:22:21] are against this war today.
[1:22:23] I believe we do have
[1:22:26] the support
[1:22:27] of the American people
[1:22:27] and we have briefed regularly
[1:22:29] what this mission looks like
[1:22:31] and why it's critically important
[1:22:32] that we undertake it.
[1:22:33] And I would remind you
[1:22:34] and this group
[1:22:35] that we're two months in
[1:22:36] to an effort.
[1:22:38] And many congressional Democrats,
[1:22:40] as I pointed out,
[1:22:41] want to declare defeat
[1:22:42] two months in.
[1:22:44] Iraq took how many years?
[1:22:45] Afghanistan took how many years?
[1:22:46] And they were nebulous missions
[1:22:48] that people went along with.
[1:22:49] This is different.
[1:22:50] This is a defined mission set
[1:22:52] that we have had great success
[1:22:54] in pursuing.
[1:22:55] Against a determined enemy
[1:22:56] who seeks nuclear weapons.
[1:22:58] And I'm proud of the opportunity
[1:23:00] to remind the American people
[1:23:01] because they believe in it as well
[1:23:03] that they can't have it.
[1:23:04] You don't care
[1:23:05] whether the American people
[1:23:06] support this war.
[1:23:07] The American people
[1:23:08] are quite smart.
[1:23:09] They understand
[1:23:10] and see through spin.
[1:23:11] They know that a regime
[1:23:12] that says death to America
[1:23:14] that seeks nuclear weapons
[1:23:15] and the ability to deliver.
[1:23:17] Did they lie about
[1:23:17] the range of their missiles?
[1:23:18] Because I saw
[1:23:19] a 4,000 kilometer missile
[1:23:22] asking American people
[1:23:23] to pay for this war.
[1:23:24] Diego Garcia.
[1:23:25] Do you want it
[1:23:26] a billion dollars a day?
[1:23:27] Do you want it
[1:23:27] two billion dollars a day?
[1:23:28] You're asking for
[1:23:29] 200 billion dollars more
[1:23:30] to fund this war
[1:23:31] and to make sure
[1:23:32] we have what we...
[1:23:33] We didn't ask for
[1:23:33] 200 billion dollars.
[1:23:34] I don't know where you got
[1:23:34] that number from, Senator.
[1:23:36] I think you got it
[1:23:36] from the news,
[1:23:37] which you should be careful
[1:23:37] what you read in the news.
[1:23:39] Okay, Mr. Hegseth.
[1:23:40] Here, Secretary Hegseth.
[1:23:41] Here's a few more.
[1:23:42] Let's talk about
[1:23:43] how you're prosecuting the war.
[1:23:45] What is your response
[1:23:47] to targeting
[1:23:48] that has resulted
[1:23:49] in the destruction
[1:23:50] of schools,
[1:23:52] hospitals,
[1:23:53] civilian places?
[1:23:54] Why did you cut
[1:23:55] by 90%
[1:23:56] the division
[1:23:57] that's supposed
[1:23:58] to help you
[1:23:59] not target civilians?
[1:24:00] And do you know
[1:24:01] the impact
[1:24:02] of a strategic failure
[1:24:03] at a war
[1:24:04] when you have
[1:24:05] so many civilian casualties?
[1:24:07] You may have tactically
[1:24:08] completed a mission well,
[1:24:10] but strategically
[1:24:11] is not meeting your goals
[1:24:12] because of the harms
[1:24:13] to civilians.
[1:24:14] What is the cost of that?
[1:24:15] Let's leave time
[1:24:15] for an answer.
[1:24:18] No military,
[1:24:19] no country
[1:24:19] works harder
[1:24:20] at every echelon
[1:24:21] to ensure
[1:24:22] they protect civilian lives
[1:24:23] than the United States military.
[1:24:25] And that is
[1:24:25] an ironclad commitment
[1:24:27] that we make
[1:24:27] no matter how,
[1:24:28] no matter what systems we use.
[1:24:30] Then why did you cut
[1:24:30] the department by 90%?
[1:24:32] Thank you,
[1:24:33] Senator Gillibrand.
[1:24:34] There'll be other rounds
[1:24:34] of questions.
[1:24:36] Senator Rounds,
[1:24:37] you are now recognized.
[1:24:38] Thank you,
[1:24:38] thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[1:24:41] First of all,
[1:24:41] thank you to all of you
[1:24:42] for your service
[1:24:43] to our country.
[1:24:43] Let me just allow you
[1:24:47] to finish the answer
[1:24:48] a little bit
[1:24:48] with regard
[1:24:49] to the senator
[1:24:51] from New York.
[1:24:52] Does the United States military
[1:24:54] ever target
[1:24:55] a civilian center?
[1:24:58] Well, thank you,
[1:24:59] Senator.
[1:24:59] Unlike our adversaries,
[1:25:02] unlike radical Islamists,
[1:25:04] unlike those that target civilians
[1:25:06] or use civilians
[1:25:07] as shields,
[1:25:09] the United States military
[1:25:10] never targets civilians
[1:25:12] and puts constructs
[1:25:14] in place
[1:25:14] to ensure
[1:25:15] that the maximum extent possible
[1:25:17] we do not harm
[1:25:18] or hit civilians.
[1:25:20] Is war a difficult place
[1:25:22] with a lot of complexities?
[1:25:23] Absolutely right.
[1:25:24] But no country does more
[1:25:26] and no department
[1:25:26] does more
[1:25:27] than our department.
[1:25:28] Do you still have
[1:25:29] all of the resources
[1:25:30] necessary
[1:25:31] to assure
[1:25:31] that every opportunity
[1:25:34] to eliminate
[1:25:35] that as a threat
[1:25:36] in terms of that happening,
[1:25:38] do we still have
[1:25:39] the resources available
[1:25:40] in the department
[1:25:40] to make sure
[1:25:42] that we do the best we can
[1:25:43] never to hit a civilian target?
[1:25:45] Every resource necessary
[1:25:46] at every echelon
[1:25:48] is available,
[1:25:49] legal, intel,
[1:25:50] and otherwise,
[1:25:51] to ensure
[1:25:52] that we minimize
[1:25:53] at every extent possible
[1:25:54] civilian casualties.
[1:25:55] And the suggestion was made
[1:25:56] that somehow AI
[1:25:58] might be used
[1:25:58] without a human in the loop,
[1:26:00] which is a classic
[1:26:01] anthropic talking point,
[1:26:03] which is half of what
[1:26:04] we talked about previously.
[1:26:05] There is a human in the loop
[1:26:07] on decisions that are made,
[1:26:09] and the suggestion otherwise
[1:26:10] is to suggest
[1:26:11] that somehow AI
[1:26:12] is running targeting.
[1:26:13] Thank you.
[1:26:17] Right now,
[1:26:18] part of what we're
[1:26:19] also talking about
[1:26:20] is not just
[1:26:21] are we engaged right now
[1:26:22] in terms of trying
[1:26:23] to eliminate the threat
[1:26:24] from Iran
[1:26:25] in terms of being
[1:26:25] a nuclear-armed country,
[1:26:27] but we've also got,
[1:26:28] staring with us as well,
[1:26:30] the fact that we have
[1:26:30] an ongoing
[1:26:31] principal threat
[1:26:32] with regard to
[1:26:33] a pacing threat
[1:26:34] with China.
[1:26:35] The dual-capable
[1:26:37] B-21 raider
[1:26:38] will be a critical part
[1:26:39] of both our conventional
[1:26:41] and our nuclear deterrence
[1:26:43] against China and Russia.
[1:26:44] As you know,
[1:26:45] the Air Force's program
[1:26:46] of record includes
[1:26:47] plans to procure
[1:26:48] 100 B-21s,
[1:26:50] but many national security
[1:26:52] experts and leaders,
[1:26:53] including STRATCOM commander
[1:26:54] Admiral Corral
[1:26:55] and Indo-PACOM commander
[1:26:57] Admiral Paparo
[1:26:58] are calling for a greater
[1:27:00] number of B-21s.
[1:27:02] Admiral Paparo testified
[1:27:03] here last week
[1:27:04] that he would favor
[1:27:05] buying 200 B-21s.
[1:27:08] Secretary Hegseth
[1:27:09] and Chairman Cain,
[1:27:11] could you speak
[1:27:12] to the progress
[1:27:13] and the importance
[1:27:14] of the B-21 program,
[1:27:15] and if you agree
[1:27:16] with the growing sentiment
[1:27:17] that the U.S. needs
[1:27:19] to revisit the B-21 program
[1:27:20] of record
[1:27:21] and assess the requirement
[1:27:22] for at least 200 B-21s
[1:27:25] to match the global threat,
[1:27:27] would you speak
[1:27:28] just to exactly
[1:27:29] what that would mean
[1:27:29] and what the probability
[1:27:30] of that is?
[1:27:32] Thank you for the question,
[1:27:34] and I appreciate the fact
[1:27:35] that you're listening to
[1:27:36] and hearing from
[1:27:37] combatant commanders
[1:27:38] because that's who
[1:27:39] we listen to as well,
[1:27:40] who are looking
[1:27:40] at the operational plans
[1:27:41] and what would be required
[1:27:42] to ensure we deter
[1:27:43] and, if necessary,
[1:27:44] defeat.
[1:27:45] Assets like the B-21
[1:27:46] or the F-47
[1:27:47] are critical to that.
[1:27:49] That's why we're funding them
[1:27:50] and increasing the funding,
[1:27:52] and where necessary
[1:27:52] would increase the allocation,
[1:27:54] and I think you see
[1:27:55] a budget that reflects
[1:27:57] the reality
[1:27:59] that we have to invest
[1:28:00] in more capabilities
[1:28:01] to include the B-21,
[1:28:03] which is ahead of schedule,
[1:28:05] and we will be funding
[1:28:07] to the tune of $6 billion,
[1:28:08] and we believe
[1:28:09] we'll require a lot more
[1:28:11] over $100 in the future,
[1:28:12] but I'll defer to the chairman.
[1:28:14] Hey, sir,
[1:28:14] thank you for the question.
[1:28:15] Working through the JROC
[1:28:18] and the vice chiefs,
[1:28:19] I'll absolutely stack hands
[1:28:21] around assessing
[1:28:22] the requirement,
[1:28:24] and we're glad to see B-21
[1:28:25] on the flight path,
[1:28:27] no pun intended,
[1:28:29] that it's on
[1:28:30] through operational testing.
[1:28:32] On the specific numbers,
[1:28:34] the one sort of
[1:28:35] big-picture strategic thing
[1:28:37] I want to say
[1:28:38] is we want to make sure
[1:28:40] as we think through
[1:28:41] what does air power
[1:28:42] of the future look like
[1:28:43] based on the evolving threat
[1:28:44] that we're staying
[1:28:46] well in front of it,
[1:28:47] and so that's the only thing
[1:28:48] we'll look at
[1:28:49] in the assessment,
[1:28:50] but I'm on board
[1:28:51] with assessing the numbers.
[1:28:53] I want to make sure
[1:28:54] we're buying ahead
[1:28:55] of the technology
[1:28:56] development curve
[1:28:57] so that we give
[1:28:57] all those young warfighters
[1:28:59] out there
[1:28:59] the capabilities
[1:29:00] that we need
[1:29:01] well into the future.
[1:29:03] Is there any question
[1:29:03] at all that we're going
[1:29:04] to need more than
[1:29:05] 100 B-21s?
[1:29:08] I want to go back.
[1:29:09] Here's how I'll look
[1:29:10] at it, Senator.
[1:29:11] I want to go back
[1:29:12] and look at the O plans
[1:29:13] right now that we have
[1:29:14] to make sure
[1:29:15] that we allocate
[1:29:16] those numbers,
[1:29:17] so I don't believe so,
[1:29:19] but I do want to take
[1:29:20] the due diligence time
[1:29:22] if you'll allow me
[1:29:23] to look at that, Senator.
[1:29:23] I appreciate the opportunity
[1:29:25] to visit with you
[1:29:26] and to clarify
[1:29:27] what that number
[1:29:29] should look like
[1:29:29] in the near future.
[1:29:30] Yes, sir.
[1:29:31] Thank you.
[1:29:31] Thank you very much,
[1:29:32] Senator Brown.
[1:29:32] Senator Blumenthal.
[1:29:34] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[1:29:35] Thank you for being here today.
[1:29:39] I want to talk
[1:29:39] about the costs of war.
[1:29:42] The costs of war
[1:29:43] include caring
[1:29:45] for our veterans.
[1:29:48] We've had an estimate
[1:29:49] from Mr. Hurst yesterday
[1:29:50] that the cost to date
[1:29:53] in dollars for this war
[1:29:55] has been $25 billion,
[1:29:57] which I believe
[1:29:59] is well below
[1:30:00] the actual cost
[1:30:01] based on everything
[1:30:02] that I've heard,
[1:30:04] everything available to us,
[1:30:06] in various kinds
[1:30:07] of settings,
[1:30:08] and I'm going to ask
[1:30:10] for a more accurate assessment.
[1:30:12] But we also know
[1:30:14] that about 400 service members
[1:30:15] have been wounded
[1:30:16] as a result of this war.
[1:30:20] When they retire,
[1:30:22] when they come home,
[1:30:24] their retirement pay
[1:30:25] will be docked
[1:30:26] dollar for dollar
[1:30:28] for every disability benefit dollar
[1:30:34] they receive.
[1:30:35] Secretary Hegseth,
[1:30:36] I'd like your commitment
[1:30:39] that you will support
[1:30:40] the Major Richard Starr Act
[1:30:43] that will eliminate
[1:30:44] this wounded warrior tax.
[1:30:47] I'm sure you're familiar with it.
[1:30:49] Tens of thousands
[1:30:49] of servicemen and women
[1:30:51] now are reduced
[1:30:54] in their retirement pay
[1:30:56] literally for every dollar
[1:30:58] of disability benefits
[1:31:00] they receive.
[1:31:01] Well, I appreciate
[1:31:03] your focus on this issue,
[1:31:04] and I will tell you
[1:31:05] of the,
[1:31:05] you mentioned roughly 400
[1:31:06] that have been injured,
[1:31:08] thankfully over 90%
[1:31:09] are returned to duty,
[1:31:10] but that doesn't mean
[1:31:11] they wouldn't have
[1:31:12] a residual challenge,
[1:31:13] and we're tracking that
[1:31:15] at point of injury
[1:31:16] to ensure that that is noted
[1:31:17] even though they're
[1:31:18] returned to duty.
[1:31:19] But what I'd like
[1:31:20] is your commitment
[1:31:21] that you will support
[1:31:22] the Major Richard Starr Act.
[1:31:23] As I have said in the past
[1:31:24] to other organizations,
[1:31:26] we support the Richard Starr Act.
[1:31:28] Thank you.
[1:31:29] On the issue of cost,
[1:31:34] Mr. Hurst,
[1:31:35] does that $25 billion estimate
[1:31:38] include all of the costs
[1:31:40] in terms of damage
[1:31:42] to our bases,
[1:31:45] the need to replace
[1:31:48] planes and munitions,
[1:31:52] and the costs of injuries
[1:31:55] to our servicemen and women?
[1:31:58] Senator, so for the
[1:32:00] Milcon facilities
[1:32:01] replacement cost,
[1:32:02] that's probably the hardest
[1:32:03] thing to estimate right now
[1:32:04] because we don't know
[1:32:05] what our future posture
[1:32:06] is going to be
[1:32:06] or the future construction
[1:32:07] of those bases.
[1:32:08] Well, you owe it to us.
[1:32:09] You're here to ask
[1:32:11] for appropriations.
[1:32:13] Of course.
[1:32:14] And I would like
[1:32:16] a more accurate estimate
[1:32:18] of what has been done
[1:32:21] that will require replacement
[1:32:23] and renovation
[1:32:24] as well as the other costs.
[1:32:27] And I think $25 billion
[1:32:29] is probably less than half,
[1:32:32] maybe less than a quarter
[1:32:33] of the total cost of war,
[1:32:35] which is the reason
[1:32:35] why the supplemental request
[1:32:38] is much higher.
[1:32:39] So I think you owe it
[1:32:41] to the American people
[1:32:42] to give us the straight talk
[1:32:44] about what the costs have been.
[1:32:47] Mr. Secretary,
[1:32:48] I know you have characterized
[1:32:51] this war as a astonishing
[1:32:56] military success,
[1:32:58] to use your words yesterday,
[1:33:00] but the American people
[1:33:02] aren't buying it.
[1:33:04] And I know you feel
[1:33:07] the American people
[1:33:08] are seeing through
[1:33:09] the abstruse stuff
[1:33:13] that is thrown at them,
[1:33:14] but one point is irrefutable,
[1:33:17] which is America
[1:33:18] never succeeds in war
[1:33:21] unless the American people
[1:33:22] are behind it.
[1:33:23] And if what you're seeing
[1:33:27] as success now is winning,
[1:33:30] I would hate to see
[1:33:31] what losing looks like
[1:33:32] because none of the shifting
[1:33:35] and contradictory objectives
[1:33:37] of the war so far
[1:33:38] have been achieved.
[1:33:39] Likewise, let me ask you,
[1:33:41] yesterday the President said
[1:33:43] that Ukraine has been,
[1:33:45] quote, militarily defeated.
[1:33:49] I assume you don't agree
[1:33:50] with that assessment.
[1:33:54] The negative nature
[1:33:56] in which you characterize
[1:33:57] the incredible
[1:33:58] and historic effort in Iran
[1:33:59] is part of the reason,
[1:34:01] Senator,
[1:34:02] why the American people
[1:34:03] view it the way they do.
[1:34:04] It's why I looked out
[1:34:04] at our press corps
[1:34:05] or the Pentagon
[1:34:05] and called them
[1:34:06] the Pharisees in the press.
[1:34:08] It's because they look
[1:34:08] for every problem.
[1:34:09] I'm asking you about Ukraine.
[1:34:10] You look for every problem
[1:34:11] that exists and you miss...
[1:34:12] Ukraine has been
[1:34:12] militarily defeated.
[1:34:15] You missed the plank.
[1:34:16] I admit, based on my nine trips
[1:34:18] to Ukraine,
[1:34:21] that is a false narrative
[1:34:23] that the President's...
[1:34:23] We are two months
[1:34:24] into a historic military success
[1:34:26] in Iran
[1:34:27] and you want to call it a defeat
[1:34:28] and it's defeatist Democrats
[1:34:30] like you
[1:34:30] that cloud the mind
[1:34:31] of the American people
[1:34:32] and would otherwise
[1:34:33] fully support
[1:34:34] preventing Iran
[1:34:35] from having a nuclear weapon.
[1:34:36] ...administration
[1:34:37] and they are bravely
[1:34:39] fighting our fight
[1:34:41] and that is the reason
[1:34:43] that I'm pursuing
[1:34:44] the Russian sanctions bill
[1:34:45] which is bipartisan
[1:34:46] along with Senator Graham
[1:34:47] and why I hope
[1:34:48] we will recognize
[1:34:49] our obligation
[1:34:50] to release that $400 million
[1:34:52] which we've appropriated.
[1:34:53] Thank you, Senator Blumenthal.
[1:34:55] Senator Ernst.
[1:34:57] Thank you, Mr. Chair
[1:34:58] and thank you, gentlemen,
[1:34:59] for being here today.
[1:35:01] I really do appreciate
[1:35:02] your time to be with us.
[1:35:05] Before I begin
[1:35:06] some of my questions,
[1:35:07] I do want to start
[1:35:08] with something personal
[1:35:09] and both to you,
[1:35:11] Secretary Hegseth
[1:35:12] and to the Chairman,
[1:35:14] I want to thank you both
[1:35:15] for the time that you take
[1:35:17] to recognize our fallen
[1:35:19] and those that have given,
[1:35:22] of course,
[1:35:23] during this administration,
[1:35:24] given their all.
[1:35:26] You have traveled to Dover
[1:35:27] and have been there
[1:35:28] to greet those families
[1:35:30] and to welcome home
[1:35:31] the fallen.
[1:35:32] I've been there with you
[1:35:33] and Iowa has been hit
[1:35:35] in particular very hard.
[1:35:38] We lost two of our
[1:35:39] Iowa National Guardsmen
[1:35:40] from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
[1:35:42] 34th Infantry Division,
[1:35:44] and Secretary Hegseth,
[1:35:45] you know full well,
[1:35:46] the 34th,
[1:35:47] but we also lost
[1:35:49] six members
[1:35:50] from the 103rd
[1:35:51] Sustainment Command
[1:35:53] Expeditionary
[1:35:54] based out of
[1:35:55] Des Moines, Iowa
[1:35:56] during this current conflict.
[1:35:58] And again,
[1:35:59] your presence there
[1:36:00] meant a lot
[1:36:01] to the families.
[1:36:02] It also meant
[1:36:04] a lot to me.
[1:36:05] So thank you very much
[1:36:06] for taking the time
[1:36:07] to do that.
[1:36:09] Secretary Hegseth,
[1:36:10] you and I have had
[1:36:11] many discussions
[1:36:12] over the course
[1:36:14] of many months now
[1:36:15] regarding general officer
[1:36:17] positions.
[1:36:18] And, you know,
[1:36:19] I believe that we were
[1:36:21] operating in good faith
[1:36:22] as we talked through
[1:36:23] a couple of those
[1:36:24] in particular,
[1:36:25] two Iowans,
[1:36:26] General Mingus
[1:36:27] and General Randy George.
[1:36:30] I was disappointed
[1:36:32] to see that their
[1:36:33] retirements were hastened
[1:36:34] over what I believed
[1:36:37] had been set out
[1:36:39] by you
[1:36:40] and the administration.
[1:36:42] So I just want
[1:36:42] to take the time
[1:36:43] to list out
[1:36:44] some of General Randy George's
[1:36:47] accomplishments
[1:36:47] as Army Chief of Staff.
[1:36:50] He pulled the Army
[1:36:51] out of its worst
[1:36:52] recruiting crisis
[1:36:53] since the Vietnam era,
[1:36:55] exceeding fiscal year 2024
[1:36:57] recruiting goals
[1:36:58] and welcoming
[1:36:59] more than 61,000
[1:37:00] new soldiers.
[1:37:02] Recruitment numbers
[1:37:03] that both you
[1:37:04] and the President
[1:37:05] talk a lot about
[1:37:06] and rightfully so.
[1:37:07] He cut 5%
[1:37:09] of general officer positions,
[1:37:11] 12 positions
[1:37:12] that were deemed
[1:37:13] as non-essential
[1:37:14] in the Army.
[1:37:15] And he reduced
[1:37:16] the Army headquarters
[1:37:17] by 1,000 personnel.
[1:37:20] He co-authored
[1:37:21] the Army Transformation Initiative,
[1:37:23] which is a comprehensive
[1:37:24] response aligned
[1:37:26] with your directives.
[1:37:27] And he testified
[1:37:28] here in front of Congress
[1:37:30] and took a lot of heat
[1:37:31] defending
[1:37:32] that Army transformation.
[1:37:35] He was suddenly let go
[1:37:37] at the beginning
[1:37:37] of April, 2026.
[1:37:40] General George's merits,
[1:37:42] which I firmly believe in,
[1:37:44] he enlisted
[1:37:45] at the age of 17.
[1:37:47] He is a West Point graduate.
[1:37:49] He had four combat deployments.
[1:37:52] He served in Desert Storm,
[1:37:53] Iraq, and Afghanistan.
[1:37:55] He had 38 years
[1:37:57] of honorable service.
[1:37:58] He achieved the greatest
[1:38:00] Army recruitment
[1:38:01] and modernization effort
[1:38:02] in a generation.
[1:38:05] So I want to thank him
[1:38:07] for his service.
[1:38:09] And I would like to enter
[1:38:10] into the record,
[1:38:11] Mr. Chair,
[1:38:13] the speeches that I did
[1:38:15] honoring General Randy A. George
[1:38:18] on his retirement
[1:38:19] and General James J. Mingus
[1:38:22] on his retirement as well.
[1:38:23] Without objection,
[1:38:24] they'll be admitted.
[1:38:25] Thank you very much.
[1:38:27] I'd like to talk a little bit
[1:38:29] about the audit,
[1:38:30] Mr. Secretary.
[1:38:32] I saw the video
[1:38:33] that you posted this week
[1:38:35] calling on the department
[1:38:36] to pass a clean audit.
[1:38:38] And thank you for doing that.
[1:38:40] It's something that we talked
[1:38:41] about during your confirmation hearing.
[1:38:44] Fiscal responsibility
[1:38:45] at the department
[1:38:46] has been a priority of mine
[1:38:47] for a very long time.
[1:38:49] And I think it's time
[1:38:50] that we build on that momentum.
[1:38:52] It's extremely important.
[1:38:54] And that's why I'm pushing
[1:38:56] for my Receipts Act
[1:38:58] in this year's NDAA.
[1:39:00] It's focused on improving
[1:39:01] financial traceability
[1:39:03] and accountability
[1:39:03] across the department.
[1:39:05] And if you could talk
[1:39:07] a little bit more
[1:39:08] about the efforts
[1:39:09] in making sure
[1:39:10] that we are being
[1:39:11] much more accountable
[1:39:12] to our taxpayers,
[1:39:13] what is that effort
[1:39:15] going to entail?
[1:39:16] When will we see
[1:39:17] a clean audit?
[1:39:19] As I said, Senator,
[1:39:20] thank you for your work
[1:39:21] on the audit.
[1:39:21] That has been a priority
[1:39:23] of our department
[1:39:24] from day one.
[1:39:25] And we put in place
[1:39:26] goals and benchmarks
[1:39:28] to get to FY28,
[1:39:29] get to 28 for a clean audit.
[1:39:31] The Joint Task Force audit,
[1:39:32] which we announced,
[1:39:33] was a reflection
[1:39:34] of even more capabilities
[1:39:36] we want to push forward
[1:39:37] and centralize authority
[1:39:38] to make sure it happens.
[1:39:40] Jay's been involved
[1:39:40] from the beginning.
[1:39:41] We also have a new IG
[1:39:42] who the new IG's focus,
[1:39:45] one of his focus points,
[1:39:46] is precisely this.
[1:39:47] and he's prepared
[1:39:48] to work with us
[1:39:49] to ensure we reach it.
[1:39:50] So I think at every level
[1:39:52] and through this budget,
[1:39:53] it's a focus.
[1:39:54] Okay.
[1:39:54] Thank you.
[1:39:55] We look forward
[1:39:55] to seeing a clean audit.
[1:39:56] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[1:39:57] Thank you, Senator Ernst.
[1:39:58] Senator Hirono.
[1:40:00] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[1:40:01] Before I begin my questions,
[1:40:04] I'd like to take a moment
[1:40:05] to highlight the true costs
[1:40:07] of this war,
[1:40:08] both for the military
[1:40:09] and everyday Americans,
[1:40:12] and the true costs
[1:40:14] of the president's illegal war
[1:40:15] with Iran.
[1:40:16] And since the start
[1:40:17] of the war, 13, 14 brave
[1:40:20] U.S. service members
[1:40:21] have been killed
[1:40:21] and more than 400 have been wounded.
[1:40:24] We've burned through
[1:40:25] over $25 billion in taxpayer money
[1:40:28] with no end in sight.
[1:40:30] And the fiscal year 27 budget request
[1:40:32] is a massive 42% increase
[1:40:35] from last year.
[1:40:37] Hundreds of critical munitions
[1:40:39] have been expended
[1:40:40] and deployments have been extended
[1:40:43] directly impacting service members'
[1:40:46] quality of life,
[1:40:47] military readiness,
[1:40:48] and our ability
[1:40:49] to deter our adversaries.
[1:40:54] The relationships
[1:40:55] with our allies,
[1:40:58] some of our closest allies
[1:40:59] and partners,
[1:41:00] have been fractured.
[1:41:01] And the closure
[1:41:01] of the Strait of Hormuz,
[1:41:04] which somehow caught
[1:41:05] the president by surprise,
[1:41:07] even though he had
[1:41:09] to have been warned,
[1:41:10] is directly contributing
[1:41:12] to the affordable crisis
[1:41:13] that Americans are facing.
[1:41:15] Energy costs are skyrocketing
[1:41:17] with the price of gas
[1:41:18] now at its highest level
[1:41:20] in almost four years.
[1:41:23] Instability has driven interest rates
[1:41:25] to its highest level
[1:41:27] since September of last year.
[1:41:29] The cost of fertilizer is spiking,
[1:41:32] which will have a direct impact
[1:41:34] on the cost of food.
[1:41:35] This illegal war
[1:41:36] is driving up costs,
[1:41:38] undermining readiness,
[1:41:39] and alienating our allies
[1:41:42] with neither a clear rationale
[1:41:44] for starting this war
[1:41:47] nor an exit strategy.
[1:41:49] And when the president was asked
[1:41:51] how long he'll let this war continue,
[1:41:54] he said,
[1:41:56] do not rush me.
[1:41:58] I have a question
[1:42:00] for our General Cain
[1:42:01] relating to women
[1:42:03] serving in combat.
[1:42:05] And I'd like to hear
[1:42:06] your best military advice.
[1:42:08] Does the mere fact
[1:42:10] of women being
[1:42:11] in combat armed units
[1:42:13] lower standards
[1:42:14] or readiness
[1:42:15] if they meet
[1:42:17] the physical standards?
[1:42:20] Well, ma'am,
[1:42:20] the standards
[1:42:21] are set by the civilians.
[1:42:23] We have examples
[1:42:25] of women leading well
[1:42:26] across the joint force.
[1:42:29] I'll highlight
[1:42:30] some of our current commanders
[1:42:32] engaged in the fight
[1:42:34] in Epic Fury,
[1:42:35] specifically one of our bomb squadrons
[1:42:37] are led by an extraordinary
[1:42:39] female leader
[1:42:40] who's doing great work.
[1:42:42] But those standards
[1:42:43] are set by...
[1:42:44] I'm sorry.
[1:42:44] I didn't mean to step on you.
[1:42:45] I think your answer is that
[1:42:47] in fact it does not lower
[1:42:48] standards of readiness.
[1:42:51] Second question,
[1:42:51] should every service member,
[1:42:52] regardless of gender,
[1:42:54] be permitted
[1:42:54] to serve in any role
[1:42:56] including the combat arms
[1:42:58] if they meet
[1:42:59] the standards established?
[1:43:02] Yes or no?
[1:43:03] Is that to me, ma'am?
[1:43:05] Over the last decade
[1:43:06] since combat arms
[1:43:07] have been open to women,
[1:43:09] have you personally
[1:43:10] seen any instance
[1:43:12] where the standard
[1:43:13] resulted in a degradation
[1:43:15] in combat effectiveness?
[1:43:18] Apologies,
[1:43:19] I didn't hear
[1:43:19] your first question.
[1:43:21] The, you know,
[1:43:22] people policies
[1:43:23] are all set by the civilian
[1:43:25] leaders in the government.
[1:43:26] No, I'm asking you personally.
[1:43:27] Could you repeat
[1:43:27] the question again?
[1:43:28] I'm sorry, ma'am.
[1:43:29] Over the last decade
[1:43:30] since combat arms
[1:43:31] have been open to women,
[1:43:32] have you personally
[1:43:34] seen any instance
[1:43:35] where the standard
[1:43:36] resulted in a degradation
[1:43:38] in combat effectiveness?
[1:43:41] Again, I'll highlight
[1:43:42] that the standards
[1:43:43] are set by our civilian leaders.
[1:43:44] Women continue
[1:43:45] to perform
[1:43:46] well across a range
[1:43:49] of MOS's
[1:43:51] and jobs
[1:43:51] and AFSC's
[1:43:52] that are out there.
[1:43:53] No, I do need
[1:43:54] to get to a question
[1:43:55] for Secretary Hickson.
[1:43:57] Prior to your nomination hearing,
[1:43:59] you said
[1:44:00] women shouldn't serve
[1:44:01] in combat arm units.
[1:44:03] At your confirmation hearing,
[1:44:05] you reverse course
[1:44:06] and, excuse me,
[1:44:09] and you basically said
[1:44:10] as long as the women
[1:44:11] meet the standards,
[1:44:13] they should be able to serve.
[1:44:14] but recently,
[1:44:16] you ordered a review
[1:44:17] of the effectiveness
[1:44:17] of women in combat roles
[1:44:19] and I am concerned
[1:44:20] you are laying the groundwork
[1:44:22] to reverse the policy
[1:44:24] allowing women
[1:44:25] to serve in these units
[1:44:26] because right now,
[1:44:28] current law,
[1:44:29] if you want to change
[1:44:30] this policy,
[1:44:31] current law requires you
[1:44:32] to submit a report
[1:44:33] to Congress
[1:44:34] justifying such a change.
[1:44:37] So did you order the review
[1:44:39] to support a potential decision
[1:44:41] to overturn the policy
[1:44:43] of having women
[1:44:44] in combat roles?
[1:44:46] We are laser focused
[1:44:47] on standards.
[1:44:48] The highest male standard
[1:44:49] for every combat arms position
[1:44:51] should be the standard
[1:44:52] and 10 years into this,
[1:44:54] we are reviewing it
[1:44:54] which is what the American people
[1:44:56] would expect.
[1:44:57] Also, there's nothing illegal
[1:44:58] about a war
[1:44:59] that defends the American people
[1:45:00] and prevents Iran
[1:45:01] from having a nuclear bomb.
[1:45:02] You know,
[1:45:03] you didn't answer the question
[1:45:04] because the reason
[1:45:05] that you're asking
[1:45:06] for this review
[1:45:07] I think has to do
[1:45:08] with your earlier position
[1:45:10] that you don't think
[1:45:11] women should serve
[1:45:12] in combat roles.
[1:45:13] So now we have the study
[1:45:15] and I'd like to ask you
[1:45:16] will you reveal the study
[1:45:19] to the public,
[1:45:20] to the American people,
[1:45:21] will you make the study public?
[1:45:24] Will you make that study?
[1:45:26] Yes or no?
[1:45:27] We're doing the study
[1:45:28] for that very reason
[1:45:29] to ensure that real science
[1:45:31] is applied to this question
[1:45:33] and not social engineering
[1:45:34] like the previous administration.
[1:45:35] We appreciate your assurance
[1:45:37] that that will be made public.
[1:45:39] Yeah, I think it's really
[1:45:40] critical that this study
[1:45:41] we made.
[1:45:43] Thank you, ma'am.
[1:45:44] Senator Scott.
[1:45:45] Thank you.
[1:45:45] Well, first,
[1:45:46] thank each of you
[1:45:47] for being here.
[1:45:48] Secretary Hitchfuss,
[1:45:49] can you talk about
[1:45:50] you've had the job
[1:45:51] for a little bit.
[1:45:51] What are you most proud of
[1:45:53] and what are your biggest challenges?
[1:45:56] Well, I appreciate the question
[1:45:57] and what I'm most proud of
[1:46:01] is the incredible men and women
[1:46:03] who serve in our nations
[1:46:05] in uniform
[1:46:05] and what they are capable of
[1:46:07] when they're given
[1:46:08] a clear mission
[1:46:08] and unleashed to do it.
[1:46:10] And I think the best reflection
[1:46:12] of the success
[1:46:14] of President Trump
[1:46:15] and this War Department
[1:46:16] is the historic recruiting success
[1:46:19] and the historic morale
[1:46:20] amongst our ranks.
[1:46:22] I would encourage
[1:46:23] every member of this committee,
[1:46:24] Democrat or Republican,
[1:46:26] go into the formations,
[1:46:28] go into the Air Force formations,
[1:46:30] the Army formations,
[1:46:30] the Marine Corps formations
[1:46:31] and talk to corporals,
[1:46:33] talk to sergeants,
[1:46:34] talk to lieutenants,
[1:46:35] talk to captains,
[1:46:36] talk to colonels.
[1:46:37] And what you will find
[1:46:38] are men and women
[1:46:40] more inspired to serve
[1:46:41] in the military
[1:46:42] than they have been
[1:46:42] in a generation.
[1:46:44] And you see that
[1:46:45] in the young Americans
[1:46:46] who are rushing
[1:46:46] to recruiting stations
[1:46:48] at historic numbers,
[1:46:50] 30-year highs
[1:46:51] across the force.
[1:46:52] We're hitting our recruiting numbers
[1:46:53] halfway through the year.
[1:46:55] Why is that?
[1:46:57] Because the American people
[1:46:58] look at what we're doing
[1:46:59] at the War Department
[1:47:00] by getting back to basics
[1:47:02] and they're attracted to that.
[1:47:04] Same with our retention rates,
[1:47:05] which are now merit-based.
[1:47:07] Our best sergeants,
[1:47:08] our best leaders
[1:47:09] are staying.
[1:47:10] That's exactly what we want.
[1:47:12] So we've made changes
[1:47:13] to change the environment.
[1:47:15] The renaming of the department
[1:47:17] to the War Department
[1:47:17] is not just a name.
[1:47:19] In fact, it's restoring it
[1:47:20] to the original name
[1:47:21] of the department
[1:47:22] set by George Washington.
[1:47:24] But it's an ethos as well.
[1:47:25] That warrior ethos
[1:47:27] lives inside the heart
[1:47:28] of each one of these men
[1:47:28] and women
[1:47:29] and we're unleashing it.
[1:47:30] I'm proud of the,
[1:47:31] I mean, you name it,
[1:47:32] the border, the missions.
[1:47:33] Yes, those are all
[1:47:34] incredible demonstrations of that.
[1:47:35] But it's the people
[1:47:36] and the urgency of Americans
[1:47:38] to want to be a part of it
[1:47:39] that is the best affirmation,
[1:47:40] Senator.
[1:47:41] Thank you.
[1:47:42] So we've talked about
[1:47:43] the importance of not relying
[1:47:45] on Chinese drugs
[1:47:46] for our military.
[1:47:47] Can you just talk about
[1:47:48] what the,
[1:47:50] what you're doing
[1:47:51] to make sure
[1:47:51] that we don't continue
[1:47:52] to rely on China
[1:47:53] for anything,
[1:47:54] including our...
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