WEBVTT

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Hearing will come to order . Welcome to

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our distinguished witnesses this

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afternoon and thank you for appearing

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before us today and for your testimony .

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For the first time in our history , the

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United States faces the challenge of

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simultaneously deterring two nuclear

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peer adversaries . Russia and China

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continue to modernize and diversify

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their nuclear forces , with China

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modernizing at a breathtaking pace .

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That has consistently exceeded our

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estimates for years this committee has

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heard from the Department of Energy and

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Defense that our own nuclear

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modernization efforts are the number

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one priority . However , that rhetoric

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has too often failed to be backed up by

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action . This was the primary reason

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that this subcommittee pressed for the

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creation of a new Assistant Secretary

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of Defense for nuclear matters . Who

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would be responsible for both nuclear

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policy and nuclear programs , and I am

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pleased to have Doctor Cadle with us

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today to discuss this new role .

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Thankfully , the Departments of Energy

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and Defense are starting to turn the

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corner and are making substantive

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progress with nuclear modernization .

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Today we welcome two panels of

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witnesses . Our first panel , we have

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Doctor David Beck from the National

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Nuclear Security Administration , Mr .

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Tim Timothy Walsh from the Department

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of Energy , and Admiral William Houston

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from the Naval Nuclear Propulsion

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Program . I am pleased to see that the

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president's FY 27 budget request

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includes a significant increase in

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funding for NNSA , in particular , the

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weapons activities account . These

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additional resources will be critical

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to supporting weapons modernization

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programs , planning for future systems ,

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and recapitalizing our nuclear

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enterprise . On our second panel , we

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have General Dale White , the Air Force

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Direct Reporting Program manager for

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Critical Major Weapons Systems ,

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General Steven Davis from Air Force

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Global Strike Command , Vice Admiral

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Johnny Wolffe from Naval Strategic

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Systems Program , and as I mentioned

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earlier , the Honorable Robert Cadlick ,

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Assistant Secretary for Nuclear

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Deterrence , Chemical and Biological

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Defense Policy and Programs . I look

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forward to hearing the testimony from

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our witnesses today , and I appreciate

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your efforts to move nuclear

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modernization forward . With that ,

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Senator King , you're recognized for

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any remarks . Thank you . Uh , first ,

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I wanna thank our witnesses today for

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joining us . This is an annual

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strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing

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in preparation for our national defense

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authorization bill later this spring .

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There's so much to be discussed . I'm

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gonna keep my comments , uh , pretty

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short . First , I want to acknowledge

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that this is Vice Admiral , uh ,

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Wolff's last formal appearance before

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this subcommittee . I'm sure he's

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terribly sad about that , uh ,

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milestone , uh , but he's been the

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director of the Navy Strategic Systems

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Program since 2018 , 8 years . Uh ,

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you've been responsible , Admiral Wolf ,

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for the cradle to grave development of

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the Navy's fleet ballistic missile

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program . You've been a friend and

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truly a trusted advisor to this

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subcommittee , and I want to thank you

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and acknowledge 38 years of service . I

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look forward to hopefully promptly

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working with your replacement , uh ,

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given the tremendous responsibility

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that this program entails . This is

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unique hearing in that it combines the

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defense nuclear programs at the

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Department of Energy with those of the

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Department of Defense . The NNSA is the

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busiest since it's been in the 1980s

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and meeting Department of Defense

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requirements while at the same time

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modernizing Manhattan era production

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facilities , and I've been to some of

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those facilities and I can honestly say

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there's some of the fewer there are a

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few facilities in our government that

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are older than I am and those meet that

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criteria . Likewise , the Department of

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Defense is conducting a once-in

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a-generation modernization of our triad .

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Once in , once in several generations ,

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I would say . At the same time ensuring

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the existing triad of ICBM submarines

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and bombers can remain safe , secure ,

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and effective as the bedrock of our

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national defense deterrence policy ,

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with two . Near peer adversaries ,

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Russia and China . I want to know what

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issues you face in maintaining the

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existing delivery systems , many dating

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to the 60s , while like the NSA

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conducting a multi-decade long

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modernization of our ICBMs , bombers ,

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and ballistic missile submarines . I

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just came from an intelligence briefing

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and without revealing a thing that's

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classified , I can say that the Chinese

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concentration and acceleration of their

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nuclear armament effort is Something to

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be taken extremely seriously and only

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reminds us of the importance of

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deterrence , which , as I said , is the

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mainstay , the cornerstone of our

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defense strategy . It's worked for 75 ,

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80 years and it's something that must

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be maintained . It is our best way to

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keep the peace . Mr . Walsh , I haven't

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forgotten you . Uh , you've one of the

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most complicated programs of all in

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cleaning up , uh , former nuclear

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weapon production sites at Hanford

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alone . There are 55 million gallons of

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nuclear waste , 177 storage tanks near

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the Columbia River . I want to know how

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you are proceeding on this effort .

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Again , I appreciate our witnesses

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joining us and look forward to the

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testimony . Thank you . Thank you ,

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Senator King . Uh , but at this time ,

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I'd like to recognize the members of

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the panel for their opening statements .

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Mr . Beck , you are recognized .

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Thank you , uh , Chairwoman Fisher ,

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Ranking Member King . Thank you for the

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opportunity to testify before you today

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with my esteemed colleagues . America's

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nuclear turn is the ultimate guarantor

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of our freedom and the final backstop

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against aggression . Today , the

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stability that deterrent provides is

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under direct and accelerating threat .

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Russia and China are engaged in an

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unprecedented nuclear buildup that is

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rapidly eroding America's strategic

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advantage . But under President Trump ,

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President Trump's leadership , NSA is

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responding with urgency , agility , and

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determination to strengthen deterrence .

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Our top priority is clear modernization

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of the nuclear stockpile to meet the US

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nuclear deterrence objectives . We are

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executing the full program of record

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ahead of current schedules . We are

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exercising the capability to rapidly

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prototype new weapons . We are surging

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production of plutonium pits , uranium

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components , high explosives , and

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other critical materials , and we are

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enhancing our critical skills workforce

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while rebuilding the aging

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infrastructure that underpins our

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entire enterprise faster , smarter ,

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and at lower cost . To drive these

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results , the Office of Defense Defense

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Programs has issued sweeping

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transformation objectives to our

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laboratories , plants , and sites in

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addition to our extensive baseline

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program . These are not incremental

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tweaks . There are fundamental shifts

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in culture , technical execution ,

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management processes , and

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accountability . We are demanding

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results from ourselves and our partners

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across the enterprise . Over the next 3

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years , these changes will deliver some

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of the NSA's most significant

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achievements in decades . Warheads for

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new delivery systems delivered ahead of

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schedule , demonstration of next

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generation hard and deeply buried

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target defeat capabilities .

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Unprecedented confidence in the

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reliability of our aging stockpile ,

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discipline , timely production restored

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across the complex , infrastructure

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projects completed faster and cheaper .

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100 plutonium pits manufactured for the

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future stockpile . We are overhauling

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the way NNSA executes capital

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construction . We are placing the right

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leaders in charge , aligning authority

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with accountability , transparently

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measuring progress , adopting

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commercial best practices ,

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streamlining acquisition , accepting

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prudent risk , and cutting through

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overly burdensome regulations . The

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goal is simple deliver critical

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projects on time and on budget to

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support the deterrence mission . We are

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already seeing major progress . Weapons

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programs are ahead of schedule and the

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NSA continues to deliver on time to the

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Department of War . Pit production at

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Los Alamos has surged significantly in

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FY 2026 . The LAP 4

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project at Los Alamos realized 300%

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efficiency over prior 3-year average

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performance . The uranium processing

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facility is nearly complete with first

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castings now planned for 2028 and

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overall commission accelerated . Rapid

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capability prototypes are being

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executed . Tritium production continues

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to ramp up and enabling more agile

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stockpile options . The lithium

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production facility acquisition

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strategy has been overhauled for

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modular commercial speed construction .

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Maintaining a safe , secure and

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effective nuclear deterrent is not just

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important , it's the United States'

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most urgent national security

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imperative . Working closely with the

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Department of War and NSA will deliver .

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The significant budget increases the

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NSA has received highlights the growing

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requirements of deterrence . With this

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FY 2027 budget request , we are asking

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the Congress to make further

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investments needed to deliver peace

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through strength , atomic strength

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against determined adversaries who

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respect only capability and resolve .

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Thank you for the opportunity to appear

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before you today . I look forward to

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your questions . Thank you , Mr . Beck .

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Welcome , Senator Secretary Walsh . Uh ,

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you are recognized for your opening

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statement . Chairwoman Fisher , Ranking

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Member King , thank you for the

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opportunity to speak to you today as

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the head of Department of Energy's

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Office of Environmental Management . As

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an Army veteran , I'm grateful for your

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dedication to our nation's security and

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the vital work you do . With President

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Trump's fiscal year 2027 budget , our

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mission is clear . We are putting

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Americans first by cleaning up

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environmental legacy sites and

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protecting our communities . Our focus

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is on transforming former nuclear sites

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into centers for advanced energy and

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innovation , helping drive down

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electricity costs and create new

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opportunities . Environmental

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management supports the Department of

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Energy's 3 core pillars . First , we

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work with the NNSA and naval reactors

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to clean up legacy nuclear waste sites

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and make room for new national security

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missions . Second , we clear space for

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cutting edge research . At our national

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labs . Third , we champion energy

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dominance and reindustrialization ,

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leading to job creation and

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strengthening our national security .

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We are delivering results rapidly by

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accelerating cleanup , restoring sites ,

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and revitalizing local economies . Our

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2040 vision is to turn major legacy

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sites into hubs for nuclear energy ,

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advanced manufacturing , and AI

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infrastructure , saving time and

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billions of dollars on our cleanup

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mission . By leveraging risk-based

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approach and AI , we are finding the

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best technical solutions to speed up

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cleanup and reduce risks . Affordable ,

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reliable energy is essential for our

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prosperity . At Oak Ridge , Tennessee ,

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clean , clean land now supports uranium

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enrichment , fuel fabrication , and

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development of small modular reactors ,

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creating jobs and solutions for

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America's energy needs . In South

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Carolina , the Savannah River site is

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restarting H Canyon to reprocess used

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nuclear fuel and plutonium for advanced

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nuclear reactors , saving the taxpayers

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$350 million . In Nevada and Idaho ,

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our cleanup and facility upgrades

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support nuclear development and

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national security priorities . Our core

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commitment remains to protect people

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and the environment . With cleanup

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completed at 92 sites , we are focused

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on the remaining 14 sites . The

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2027 budget shows our strong commitment

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to safely advancing our mission ,

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turning liabilities into opportunities

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for security , energy , and jobs .

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Thanks to congressional support and

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industry partnerships , we are

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addressing the impacts of past nuclear

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programs and evolving to be a

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results-driven organization that

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prioritizes environmental protection

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and public health . Our work lays the

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foundation for safer , cleaner , and

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more prosperous communities nationwide .

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We look forward to working with

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Congress to advance our progress ,

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strengthen national security , and

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support affordable American energy .

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Thank you for your service to our

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nation . God bless our military and God

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bless America . Thank you , Mr .

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Secretary . Admiral Houston , welcome .

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Good to see you . Uh , you were

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recognized for your opening comments .

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Chairwoman Fisher , Ranking Member King ,

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distinguished members of the

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subcommittee , thank you for the

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opportunity to testify today . Your

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continued support for the Naval Nuclear

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Propulsion Program is essential to the

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maritime dominance delivered by the

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United States Navy , nuclear powered

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submarines , and aircraft carriers .

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Everyday , nuclear power warships are

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conducting operations in a demanding

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environment . They operate with a

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forceful backup naval reactors ,

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technical experience , robust

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infrastructure , and an unrelenting

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pursuit of improving our edge .

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Maritime operations with today's

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nuclear fleets are the results of

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decades of investment in research and

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development of materials , refined

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procedures , and adherence to the

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highest standards . As I have in past

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testimony , I want to assure you that

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the funding request before you is a

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result of a rigorous and demanding look

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at our current and future operations

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that provide the nation with its

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unmatched capability . This year ,

14:53.019 --> 14:55.186
naval reactors will prioritize 3 car .

14:55.186 --> 14:57.679
3 key areas and 2 priority projects .

14:58.080 --> 15:00.247
First , our people , the people within

15:00.247 --> 15:01.969
the Naval Nuclear propulsion .

15:02.210 --> 15:03.988
Enterprise are essential to the

15:03.988 --> 15:06.099
management and oversight of important

15:06.099 --> 15:08.432
work we perform for our nation . Second ,

15:08.432 --> 15:10.266
we continue our intense focus on

15:10.266 --> 15:11.821
research and development of

15:11.821 --> 15:13.932
technologies that reduce overall cost

15:13.932 --> 15:15.654
savings , shorten construction

15:15.654 --> 15:17.766
timelines , and consistently enhanced

15:17.766 --> 15:20.130
fleet capabilities . Finally , we'll

15:20.130 --> 15:22.074
modernize and sustain the critical

15:22.074 --> 15:24.297
infrastructure throughout our dedicated

15:24.297 --> 15:27.179
DOE laboratories . I'm also seeking

15:27.179 --> 15:29.401
your continued support for two national

15:29.401 --> 15:31.235
priority projects . The first is

15:31.235 --> 15:33.346
finalizing development in fiscal year

15:33.346 --> 15:35.580
27 of the Columbia class ballistic

15:35.580 --> 15:37.780
missile submarine reactor plant . The

15:37.780 --> 15:39.780
life of the ship corps now entering

15:39.780 --> 15:41.447
serial production is directly

15:41.447 --> 15:43.280
supporting the Navy's number one

15:43.280 --> 15:45.002
acquisition priority and a key

15:45.002 --> 15:46.836
strategic asset . And the second

15:46.836 --> 15:48.780
project is the construction of the

15:48.780 --> 15:50.891
naval spent fuel handling facility in

15:50.891 --> 15:52.836
Idaho , which will bring long-term

15:52.836 --> 15:55.002
reliable processing of spent fuel from

15:55.002 --> 15:57.169
the Navy's nuclear fleet well into the

15:57.169 --> 15:59.280
2nd half of the century . We continue

15:59.280 --> 16:01.224
to experience challenges with this

16:01.224 --> 16:03.224
project , but I've been to the site

16:03.224 --> 16:05.336
multiple times in the past year , and

16:05.336 --> 16:07.558
progress is visible . In closing , your

16:07.558 --> 16:09.558
strong and enduring support enables

16:09.558 --> 16:11.724
naval reactors to succeed and continue

16:11.724 --> 16:13.391
to excel in every pursuit . I

16:13.391 --> 16:15.224
respectfully urge your continued

16:15.224 --> 16:17.391
support across our efforts this year .

16:17.391 --> 16:19.502
Thank you . Thank you , Admiral , for

16:19.502 --> 16:21.724
your comments . Mr . Beck , I'd like to

16:21.724 --> 16:23.836
begin , uh , with a few questions for

16:23.836 --> 16:27.369
you . The FY 27 budget request for

16:27.369 --> 16:31.169
weapons activities includes roughly 13%

16:31.169 --> 16:34.130
increase compared to last year when we

16:34.130 --> 16:36.609
factor in the reconciliation funding .

16:36.729 --> 16:38.840
Can you explain to this committee and

16:38.840 --> 16:41.919
to the public why such an increase is

16:41.919 --> 16:45.890
necessary ? Senator , thank

16:45.890 --> 16:49.539
you for the question . We have a

16:49.760 --> 16:52.760
unique situation worldwide with , with

16:52.760 --> 16:54.979
our adversaries . We currently have .

16:56.190 --> 16:59.070
7 stockpile monetization efforts

16:59.070 --> 17:02.599
underway . We just completed 2 , and

17:02.599 --> 17:04.710
I'll refer to my notes to make sure I

17:04.710 --> 17:07.359
get this exactly right . The , the , um ,

17:09.188 --> 17:13.009
WA 88 , all 370 was finished . The 6112

17:13.009 --> 17:16.938
was completed . The 6113 FP was

17:17.499 --> 17:19.555
was completed , the first production

17:19.555 --> 17:23.529
unit . 80-4 , 80-5 , 87-1 , and 93

17:23.529 --> 17:25.751
plus two phase ones that are underway .

17:25.751 --> 17:28.009
We also have a number of significant

17:28.009 --> 17:30.120
construction projects that are , that

17:30.120 --> 17:32.529
are moving into construction . Some are

17:32.529 --> 17:34.640
nearly complete , but others are just

17:34.640 --> 17:36.862
beginning . That is a , is a very heavy

17:36.862 --> 17:38.807
lift because we did not , have not

17:38.807 --> 17:41.029
modernized our stockpile infrastructure

17:41.029 --> 17:43.529
for quite some time , uh , particularly

17:43.529 --> 17:45.362
focused on plutonium , uranium ,

17:45.362 --> 17:48.959
lithium . Thank you and as you know ,

17:48.989 --> 17:52.609
um , in the FY 26 NDAA

17:52.869 --> 17:55.589
that formally established a rapid

17:55.589 --> 17:58.770
capabilities program within the NNSA ,

17:59.150 --> 18:02.390
many of us are concerned about the time

18:02.790 --> 18:05.510
that , uh , all of this is taking . So

18:05.510 --> 18:08.250
can you tell me . Uh , how are these

18:08.250 --> 18:11.910
rapid capability teams enhancing

18:11.910 --> 18:15.709
NSANSA's ability to quickly address

18:15.709 --> 18:18.829
emerging mission needs and do so

18:18.829 --> 18:21.030
without disrupting some of the current

18:21.030 --> 18:23.252
modernization programs that are already

18:23.252 --> 18:26.930
underway ? Senator ,

18:27.689 --> 18:29.911
thank you for that question . The , the

18:29.911 --> 18:32.078
rapid capabilities effort is , is well

18:32.078 --> 18:34.189
underway . We're working very closely

18:34.189 --> 18:36.411
with the Department of War . Uh , we've

18:36.411 --> 18:38.356
recently had a , uh , a meeting at

18:38.356 --> 18:40.522
StratCom to prioritize what was needed

18:40.522 --> 18:42.633
for the warfighter . We're working on

18:42.633 --> 18:46.089
prototypes to support that and , and ,

18:46.099 --> 18:48.359
um , conceptual designs at this point ,

18:48.439 --> 18:50.383
and it is actually helping us move

18:50.383 --> 18:52.661
forward with greater speed and urgency .

18:52.969 --> 18:54.969
We're using some of the skills that

18:54.969 --> 18:57.080
we've developed over the last several

18:57.080 --> 18:58.802
years to do so . And we have a

18:58.802 --> 19:01.150
dedicated small team working on , on ,

19:01.189 --> 19:03.369
uh , providing the , the , um ,

19:04.000 --> 19:06.400
Infrastructure and the preliminary

19:06.400 --> 19:08.233
hardware that's needed for these

19:08.233 --> 19:09.920
efforts , so it's , it's very

19:09.920 --> 19:11.864
encouraging and going quite well .

19:12.810 --> 19:16.069
You're with NNSA . With the Department

19:16.069 --> 19:19.030
of Energy , uh , you just mentioned ,

19:19.109 --> 19:21.750
uh , working with the Department of War ,

19:21.910 --> 19:25.109
working with Stratcom , uh , how are

19:25.109 --> 19:28.829
those relationships ? Uh , is there ,

19:29.270 --> 19:31.709
is there open dialogue , good

19:31.709 --> 19:35.609
cooperation , uh , a seamless , um ,

19:35.859 --> 19:39.829
a seamless transfer of information

19:39.829 --> 19:43.709
so that we can see things move faster .

19:45.569 --> 19:47.847
Senator , yes , exactly , exactly that .

19:47.930 --> 19:49.986
I've worked very closely with Doctor

19:49.986 --> 19:52.010
Caddick . Um , I , I worked very

19:52.010 --> 19:54.410
closely with Admiral Correll at

19:54.410 --> 19:57.329
StratCom and , and , uh , we have , we

19:57.329 --> 20:00.199
have a , An agreement where there are

20:00.199 --> 20:02.199
no surprises that we're going to be

20:02.199 --> 20:04.366
open and transparent with each other ,

20:04.366 --> 20:06.366
and that's been executed quite well

20:06.366 --> 20:08.310
with them and their staffs and the

20:08.310 --> 20:10.366
relationship is quite , quite good .

20:10.366 --> 20:12.477
I've been , uh , Been very happy with

20:12.477 --> 20:14.643
how that has worked out , so thank you

20:14.643 --> 20:16.977
for that question and um pit production .

20:17.780 --> 20:20.640
As , uh , as we're looking at , uh ,

20:20.819 --> 20:24.800
Los Alamos . How are you going to ramp

20:24.800 --> 20:28.609
up pit production there until

20:28.609 --> 20:31.180
Savannah River is ready ? Tell , tell

20:31.180 --> 20:34.030
us a little bit about that . Within a

20:34.030 --> 20:36.141
week of having been sworn in , I went

20:36.141 --> 20:38.363
to Los Alamos and we brainstormed ideas

20:38.363 --> 20:40.530
with , with experts across the complex

20:40.530 --> 20:42.641
and , and particularly the Los Alamos

20:42.641 --> 20:44.474
leadership , and we came up with

20:44.474 --> 20:46.869
hundreds of ideas . A couple of dozen

20:46.869 --> 20:49.036
of them really moved the needle on how

20:49.036 --> 20:50.930
to expedite pits . Uh , we are

20:50.930 --> 20:53.152
positioned now to where what we thought

20:53.152 --> 20:55.152
we were going to build in , in this

20:55.152 --> 20:58.550
fiscal year will , will significantly

20:58.550 --> 21:00.661
increase that number . We built those

21:00.661 --> 21:02.883
in the first half of the year . We have

21:02.883 --> 21:04.994
found some , some small , uh , well ,

21:05.339 --> 21:07.339
significant things that we could do

21:07.339 --> 21:09.540
that to expedite production . We're ,

21:09.579 --> 21:12.729
uh , reducing retention or improving

21:12.729 --> 21:15.819
retention at , at , uh , an attrition

21:15.819 --> 21:18.097
of the , of the workforce through , uh ,

21:18.180 --> 21:19.958
some actions that we've made on

21:19.958 --> 21:22.660
compensation . And , and we've also

21:22.660 --> 21:24.438
made some changes in regulatory

21:24.780 --> 21:27.060
environment there . So we're seeing

21:27.060 --> 21:28.770
dramatic increases in the pit

21:28.770 --> 21:30.826
production rates and , and we expect

21:30.826 --> 21:32.992
that to continue for the years ahead .

21:33.719 --> 21:36.160
In this setting , can you tell us , um ,

21:36.520 --> 21:39.959
um . Just exactly where you are with

21:39.959 --> 21:43.400
pit production and what was um the

21:43.400 --> 21:45.640
requirement that I always call it the

21:45.640 --> 21:49.439
hopeful requirement and uh where we are

21:49.439 --> 21:53.040
now . Our requirement by law is to make

21:53.040 --> 21:55.979
80 pits a year by 2030 .

21:56.839 --> 22:00.800
And we , we have set a goal to make 100

22:00.800 --> 22:02.959
collectively through December 28th ,

22:03.400 --> 22:05.567
which means that in order to get there

22:05.567 --> 22:08.750
from here , we will have made . Between

22:08.750 --> 22:10.917
30 and 50 pits per year . We're moving

22:10.917 --> 22:13.083
closer to the objective . While it's a

22:13.083 --> 22:15.250
very big stretch to get to 80 a year ,

22:15.250 --> 22:17.270
we have a chance to do so now , and

22:17.709 --> 22:19.949
we're demonstrating that the capability

22:19.949 --> 22:22.060
and the yield and , and the process ,

22:22.150 --> 22:24.189
which I monitor monthly with , with

22:24.189 --> 22:26.819
metrics is moving forward quite nicely .

22:26.829 --> 22:29.150
And , and we have , uh , the whole

22:29.150 --> 22:31.206
complex of attention . We've , we've

22:31.206 --> 22:33.150
worked with Savannah River and Los

22:33.150 --> 22:35.400
Alamos and a number of other . Members

22:35.400 --> 22:38.439
of the of the enterprise to expedite

22:38.439 --> 22:40.717
pit production . It's going quite well .

22:40.760 --> 22:42.800
I'm happy to report . Thank you ,

22:43.150 --> 22:46.670
Senator King . Thank you , Mr . Beck .

22:46.750 --> 22:49.300
The NNSA and the National Labs are the

22:49.670 --> 22:51.892
national repository for knowledge about

22:51.892 --> 22:54.329
nuclear weapons and , and , uh ,

22:54.489 --> 22:57.869
nuclear all matters nuclear . I was

22:57.869 --> 23:00.540
wondering if there are NNSA personnel

23:00.540 --> 23:02.651
or personnel from any of the national

23:02.651 --> 23:05.109
labs in Islamabad this week to advise

23:05.109 --> 23:08.750
our negotiators on the issue

23:08.750 --> 23:11.050
of Iran's nuclear capability .

23:13.119 --> 23:15.286
Senator , thank you for the question .

23:15.286 --> 23:18.140
I , uh , I , I do not know . I don't ,

23:18.319 --> 23:20.541
I , I , I don't know the answer to that

23:20.541 --> 23:22.652
question . I'll get back to you . I ,

23:22.652 --> 23:24.819
I'd appreciate it . I , I think that's

23:24.819 --> 23:26.819
something that . Well , frankly , I

23:26.819 --> 23:28.986
think it's something you should know .

23:28.986 --> 23:31.208
It's hard for me to imagine that people

23:31.208 --> 23:33.319
from your department were detailed to

23:33.319 --> 23:35.319
these negotiations and you wouldn't

23:35.319 --> 23:37.541
know about it , but I will look forward

23:37.541 --> 23:39.097
to your response . Um , the

23:39.097 --> 23:41.150
reconciliation plan last summer

23:41.569 --> 23:43.849
appropriated $3.1 billion to NNSA .

23:43.969 --> 23:46.136
We're still waiting for a spend plan .

23:46.500 --> 23:50.500
Could we have that , please ? Can

23:50.500 --> 23:53.170
I ask 3.1 billion for which that was

23:53.170 --> 23:55.337
under the one Big Beautiful Bill Act ,

23:55.337 --> 23:58.920
uh 3.1 billion to NNSA , and I just ,

23:58.979 --> 24:01.035
uh , we would like to see what the ,

24:01.035 --> 24:03.146
what the plan is for allocating those

24:03.146 --> 24:06.089
funds . Uh , Senator , we have , we

24:06.089 --> 24:08.729
have a plan for that . Um , I , uh , we

24:08.729 --> 24:10.729
have delivered it in part . I don't

24:10.729 --> 24:13.062
know that we've given the complete , uh ,

24:13.062 --> 24:15.173
plan to you because there's been some

24:15.250 --> 24:17.689
questions about , um , allocation with

24:17.689 --> 24:19.467
respect to the letter of intent

24:19.467 --> 24:21.578
involved with that . Uh , we are , we

24:21.578 --> 24:23.689
are working with your staff to , to ,

24:23.689 --> 24:25.745
uh , finalize that and as soon as we

24:25.745 --> 24:27.967
have that , we'll provide that to you .

24:27.967 --> 24:30.078
I suspect within the next 30 days . I

24:30.078 --> 24:32.300
appreciate that . Thank you . Uh , Mr .

24:32.300 --> 24:34.133
Walsh , uh . I understand you've

24:34.133 --> 24:36.300
finally been able to operate the plant

24:36.300 --> 24:38.411
that takes low level waste , turns it

24:38.411 --> 24:40.689
into glass . Is that , is that in , in ,

24:40.689 --> 24:42.800
in actual operation ? Is it working ?

24:43.689 --> 24:46.969
It is , but a plant that was 25 years

24:46.969 --> 24:49.660
in the making and cost almost $18

24:49.660 --> 24:52.569
billion to date , which is a remarkable

24:52.569 --> 24:55.810
amount of money , uh , is starting up

24:55.810 --> 24:59.270
finally and working through the kinks

24:59.489 --> 25:02.760
to get to a full operational . Uh ,

25:02.839 --> 25:05.199
capacity which we think may take up to

25:05.199 --> 25:07.439
another year . So we're currently

25:07.439 --> 25:10.640
pursuing a glass plus grout approach

25:10.640 --> 25:12.807
very similar . That's what I was gonna

25:12.807 --> 25:15.029
ask . That's a sort of follow up that's

25:15.029 --> 25:17.196
less expensive . Is that proving out ?

25:17.196 --> 25:19.418
It is , and we did last year a test bed

25:19.418 --> 25:21.640
initiative to prove it , and it's not a

25:21.640 --> 25:23.918
novel technology . We've been doing it ,

25:23.918 --> 25:25.473
uh , across the complex and

25:25.473 --> 25:27.529
specifically at Savannah River . For

25:27.529 --> 25:30.449
the last 10 years and ramped up that

25:30.449 --> 25:32.849
production now we're treating about 9

25:32.849 --> 25:35.089
million gallons of tank waste a year at

25:35.089 --> 25:38.250
Savannah River . We're hoping that , uh ,

25:38.280 --> 25:40.890
in this next year we'll get through the

25:40.890 --> 25:42.834
Department of Ecology . We've been

25:42.834 --> 25:44.946
having good meetings with . Uh , that

25:44.946 --> 25:46.723
there was a lot of relationship

25:46.723 --> 25:48.890
building that we had to do there and ,

25:48.890 --> 25:50.779
and more importantly , it's about

25:50.779 --> 25:52.557
leadership . It's about setting

25:52.557 --> 25:54.739
expectation and outcomes and starting

25:54.739 --> 25:56.961
to move with a real sense of urgency at

25:56.961 --> 25:59.128
hand . So are you , are you bullish on

25:59.128 --> 26:01.295
this grout approach ? I'm very bullish

26:01.295 --> 26:04.310
on it . Thank you . Um , Oak Ridge Y-12

26:04.310 --> 26:06.949
site is being , uh , is being rebuilt .

26:06.979 --> 26:09.035
It's a very large facility , 500,000

26:09.035 --> 26:12.619
square feet , um . Is that , are we ,

26:12.719 --> 26:14.830
uh , is , is that , what , what's the

26:14.830 --> 26:16.830
status of that , of that asset ? Is

26:16.830 --> 26:19.380
that being , is that going to be taken

26:19.380 --> 26:21.380
down ? That , that's a lot of space

26:21.380 --> 26:23.602
that can be used at Oak Ridge . It is .

26:28.760 --> 26:31.599
Good . Um , it is , uh , we just

26:31.599 --> 26:33.655
completed Alpha 2 , which was one of

26:33.655 --> 26:35.821
the key buildings there , taken down ,

26:35.821 --> 26:38.140
and we're , uh , in the process of

26:38.680 --> 26:40.640
going through decontamination and

26:40.640 --> 26:42.800
decommissioning of the next series of

26:42.800 --> 26:45.359
buildings that will be taken down , uh ,

26:45.439 --> 26:48.479
in a similar fashion . Thank you . Uh ,

26:48.640 --> 26:50.807
Admiral , uh , we haven't made uranium

26:50.910 --> 26:53.132
fuel , we haven't made fuel for nuclear

26:53.132 --> 26:55.680
submarines since 1992 , but is it first ,

26:55.719 --> 26:58.099
my first question is . Is it now

26:58.099 --> 27:00.321
necessary to begin that process again ,

27:00.321 --> 27:02.210
given the expansion of the of the

27:02.210 --> 27:04.543
submarine fleet , the aircraft carriers ,

27:04.543 --> 27:06.660
and also ACCAs ? What , what , what's

27:06.660 --> 27:08.827
the status ? Where , where do we stand

27:08.827 --> 27:10.882
on fuel for these nuclear propulsion

27:10.882 --> 27:13.890
plants ? Yes , Rank Member King , thank

27:13.890 --> 27:16.589
you for that question . So , uh , our ,

27:16.770 --> 27:19.390
uh , highly enriched uranium is , uh ,

27:19.410 --> 27:21.609
out into the 2050s . Our supply will

27:21.609 --> 27:24.849
last us at our current plan . Um , we

27:24.849 --> 27:26.793
do need to develop a plan . We are

27:26.793 --> 27:29.410
working very closely with NNSA and NA

27:29.410 --> 27:32.250
10 to develop that . We have some pilot

27:32.250 --> 27:36.079
programs that , uh , Uh , uh , and a 10

27:36.079 --> 27:38.135
can talk about further if you want ,

27:38.135 --> 27:40.520
but it's absolutely critical that we do

27:40.520 --> 27:42.520
start working on the development of

27:42.520 --> 27:44.930
enrichment capability . Um , that will

27:44.930 --> 27:46.986
first be for the weapons program and

27:46.986 --> 27:48.874
then it'll be for our program and

27:48.874 --> 27:51.239
absolutely critical . Aus , as far as

27:51.239 --> 27:54.459
enrichment we need for Aus , um , It is

27:54.459 --> 27:56.780
a very minor . We're talking months

27:56.780 --> 27:59.750
we're to shift our window . It's not a

27:59.750 --> 28:02.869
large impact on our program , and that

28:02.869 --> 28:05.150
is those figures I quote you for the

28:05.150 --> 28:07.810
2050s is based on our current , which

28:07.810 --> 28:11.089
is 1 + 2 plus our carrier build program .

28:11.270 --> 28:13.492
So you would you would characterize the

28:13.492 --> 28:15.492
fuel situation . As serious but not

28:15.492 --> 28:17.603
critical at this moment , but we need

28:17.603 --> 28:19.826
to begin the process to be sure that we

28:19.826 --> 28:21.714
don't have a gap . Is that a fair

28:21.714 --> 28:23.881
summary ? That is absolutely correct ,

28:23.959 --> 28:26.520
Senator . And if you look at the the

28:26.520 --> 28:28.409
record shows absolutely correct ,

28:28.409 --> 28:29.964
Senator . That's a phrase .

28:32.260 --> 28:34.482
And I would add that that's part of the

28:34.482 --> 28:36.538
NNSA blueprint to develop that , and

28:36.538 --> 28:38.482
that's where we've put some of the

28:38.482 --> 28:40.427
larger uh projects that we have to

28:40.427 --> 28:42.704
ensure that it's cost conscious across ,

28:42.704 --> 28:44.760
uh , some of the major projects that

28:44.760 --> 28:46.982
NNSA has to execute . Thank you . Yes ,

28:46.982 --> 28:50.790
sir . Thank you Senator King .

28:51.189 --> 28:53.510
Um , we'll ask a couple more questions

28:53.510 --> 28:55.566
while we wait to see if other , um ,

28:55.566 --> 28:57.399
members are going to come to the

28:57.399 --> 29:00.430
hearing . Uh , Admiral , when we've ,

29:00.589 --> 29:04.069
when we think of Aucus and , um ,

29:04.229 --> 29:06.949
really the big undertaking and the

29:06.949 --> 29:09.116
important undertaking that we see with

29:09.116 --> 29:11.030
Aucus and your part in that

29:11.030 --> 29:14.400
implementation . Um , what , sometimes

29:14.400 --> 29:16.760
people say , why are we doing this ? So

29:16.760 --> 29:18.816
what's in it for the United States ?

29:18.816 --> 29:20.927
What are the Australians providing to

29:20.927 --> 29:22.927
us ? Can , how would you respond to

29:22.927 --> 29:25.680
that ? Yes , thank you for the question ,

29:25.790 --> 29:28.012
Senator . Um , it's a tremendous ally .

29:28.012 --> 29:30.280
It's a key partner in the Western

29:30.280 --> 29:33.400
Pacific for us , uh , key partner since

29:33.400 --> 29:36.079
every conflict since , uh , the , uh ,

29:36.089 --> 29:38.089
middle of World War One , close and

29:38.089 --> 29:40.400
trusted , very close maritime

29:40.400 --> 29:42.567
relationship . I actually qualified in

29:42.567 --> 29:45.319
an Australian submarine for command on

29:45.319 --> 29:47.680
those very close relationships . They

29:47.680 --> 29:49.624
share a heavyweight torpedo . They

29:49.624 --> 29:52.189
share our combat system . The submarine

29:52.189 --> 29:54.189
rotational forces west , the first

29:54.189 --> 29:57.069
phase of August will include , it will

29:57.069 --> 29:59.430
include rotational basing in uh

29:59.430 --> 30:02.099
Sterling , uh , their West Coast uh

30:02.099 --> 30:04.270
naval base . Um , we are on track of

30:04.270 --> 30:06.790
that to be executed in the 2 .

30:07.025 --> 30:10.064
27-2028 time frame there they've made

30:10.064 --> 30:12.584
great progress and then it's condition

30:12.584 --> 30:15.505
based for them sovereign ready for us

30:15.505 --> 30:18.145
to sell them Virginia class submarines .

30:18.425 --> 30:20.185
The Australians have performed

30:20.185 --> 30:22.129
exceptionally well in our training

30:22.129 --> 30:25.020
pipeline . Um , their sailors are on

30:25.239 --> 30:27.128
more than half of our fast attack

30:27.128 --> 30:29.350
submarines in the Western Pacific right

30:29.350 --> 30:31.839
now , performing superbly and

30:31.839 --> 30:33.479
contributing to us . They've

30:33.479 --> 30:36.239
contributed tremendous amounts , $2

30:36.239 --> 30:38.239
billion to our submarine industrial

30:38.239 --> 30:40.834
base . And for my program alone it's

30:40.834 --> 30:43.885
over $600 million to expand our

30:43.885 --> 30:46.525
infrastructure and help with American

30:46.525 --> 30:49.564
jobs and help drive for completion of

30:49.564 --> 30:51.508
our nuclear enterprise , our naval

30:51.508 --> 30:53.453
nuclear propulsion program . So an

30:53.453 --> 30:55.397
absolutely key partner , Senator .

30:55.397 --> 30:57.175
Thank you , Admiral . Uh , Mr .

30:57.175 --> 30:59.397
Secretary , when you were talking about

30:59.405 --> 31:02.275
the number of sites , uh , that have

31:02.275 --> 31:04.685
already been , uh , cleaned up and you

31:04.685 --> 31:08.170
mentioned there were 14 left . What

31:08.589 --> 31:11.430
most concerns you about those sites and

31:11.430 --> 31:14.989
are you confident um that you will be

31:14.989 --> 31:17.030
able to uh remediate them ?

31:19.930 --> 31:22.250
You know , our biggest challenge right

31:22.250 --> 31:26.150
now is , is Hanford , obviously . Uh ,

31:26.670 --> 31:30.609
it represents 40% of our budget , and I

31:30.609 --> 31:33.510
feel like we haven't had clear

31:33.880 --> 31:36.047
direction and leadership and alignment

31:36.047 --> 31:38.650
out there , but under my leadership and

31:38.650 --> 31:40.650
the team we have in place now , I'm

31:40.650 --> 31:42.594
confident that we're gonna finally

31:42.594 --> 31:44.928
tackle the tank waste mission out there .

31:44.928 --> 31:46.761
I feel like this is a really our

31:46.761 --> 31:48.983
breakout year . Uh , we're making great

31:48.983 --> 31:51.430
progress on taking down old , uh ,

31:51.500 --> 31:54.270
gaseous diffusion plants at Portsmouth

31:54.270 --> 31:57.130
and Paducah , just like we did at , uh ,

31:57.150 --> 32:01.030
K-25 in Oak Ridge . Progress is going

32:01.030 --> 32:03.989
really well in Savannah River . One of

32:03.989 --> 32:07.949
the critical aspects to NNSA's

32:07.949 --> 32:10.339
mission and our completion mission

32:10.829 --> 32:13.469
really is keeping WHIP up and running

32:13.469 --> 32:15.136
and operational , some of the

32:15.136 --> 32:17.890
infrastructure there . Is , uh ,

32:18.010 --> 32:20.660
vintage , uh , but still operational ,

32:20.670 --> 32:22.892
and we're repairing that and we're just

32:22.892 --> 32:25.380
coming out of a , a shutdown , uh ,

32:25.500 --> 32:28.160
last year we upgraded our HVAC system ,

32:28.819 --> 32:31.660
uh , for that , uh , we're , we , we

32:31.660 --> 32:33.660
have plenty of capacity to go , but

32:33.660 --> 32:36.420
that is a critical , uh , aspect of our

32:36.420 --> 32:38.859
cleanup mission that we'll stay focused

32:38.859 --> 32:42.560
on . Thank you . And uh Mr . Beck

32:42.920 --> 32:45.430
and on NNSA's

32:45.430 --> 32:48.959
enterprise blueprint concept

32:49.439 --> 32:52.319
um that's shaping the long range

32:52.319 --> 32:56.099
planning for modernization for um

32:56.239 --> 32:58.599
our critical infrastructure how's that

32:58.599 --> 33:01.880
going ? Are you , um , you're new to

33:01.880 --> 33:04.239
this position in this administration

33:04.239 --> 33:06.295
and you look at that , uh , what are

33:06.295 --> 33:09.770
your feelings about it ? Well , the ,

33:09.859 --> 33:11.915
the enterprise blueprint is a , is a

33:11.915 --> 33:13.859
very good business tool to project

33:13.859 --> 33:16.026
modernization efforts over the next 25

33:16.026 --> 33:18.420
years . Uh , I'm personally a little

33:18.420 --> 33:20.476
frustrated that it's not fast enough

33:20.476 --> 33:22.959
and costs too much , so we're working ,

33:23.219 --> 33:25.108
um , as I mentioned in my earlier

33:25.108 --> 33:27.219
remarks , working to fix that problem

33:27.219 --> 33:29.420
of speed things up using commercial

33:29.420 --> 33:32.020
standards where possible and , uh , try

33:32.020 --> 33:34.187
to provide things at lower cost . We ,

33:34.380 --> 33:36.579
we , uh , plan to have that updated

33:36.579 --> 33:39.199
within the next few months . And we'll

33:39.199 --> 33:43.040
provide you as as we status as we

33:43.040 --> 33:44.929
move forward . We've already made

33:44.929 --> 33:47.319
significant progress on LAP 4 and the

33:47.319 --> 33:50.160
uranium processing facility and lithium

33:50.160 --> 33:52.410
processing facility , and we will , we

33:52.410 --> 33:54.410
will be able to provide that update

33:54.410 --> 33:56.632
with with the enterprise blueprint tool

33:56.632 --> 33:59.079
that we have . How would you define

33:59.079 --> 34:01.959
success ? Is that being able to go

34:01.959 --> 34:04.989
faster at lower cost ? The success is

34:05.750 --> 34:07.417
the success is to provide the

34:07.417 --> 34:09.583
warfighter department of war what they

34:09.583 --> 34:11.639
need when they need it , and we have

34:11.639 --> 34:13.750
not yet done that and we , we plan to

34:13.750 --> 34:16.229
do so . We are , we have the antiquated

34:16.229 --> 34:18.949
facilities that are in many , in many

34:18.949 --> 34:21.250
cases that are still providing the ,

34:21.469 --> 34:23.709
the materials that are needed , but

34:23.709 --> 34:25.899
they're , they have significant risk

34:25.899 --> 34:28.066
with them , and we try to , we want to

34:28.066 --> 34:29.732
reduce that risk and give the

34:29.732 --> 34:31.955
warfighter what's needed when they need

34:31.955 --> 34:34.066
it . Thank you , sir . Senator King .

34:34.270 --> 34:36.381
Thank you , Mr . Beck . Uh , I'd like

34:36.381 --> 34:38.603
to just follow up on my question . Um ,

34:38.603 --> 34:40.826
if you could check in the next 24 hours

34:40.826 --> 34:42.992
as to whether or not there are NNSA or

34:42.992 --> 34:44.826
national lab people advising our

34:44.826 --> 34:47.800
negotiators in Islamabad and , uh , get

34:47.800 --> 34:49.967
us the answer to that before the close

34:49.967 --> 34:52.078
of business tomorrow , I'd appreciate

34:52.078 --> 34:54.133
it . That's a pretty straightforward

34:54.133 --> 34:56.356
question that that uh . That's , that's

34:56.356 --> 34:58.520
a function handled by NA 20 , the

34:58.520 --> 35:00.631
non-proliferation Office , and I know

35:00.631 --> 35:02.742
that there , I checked , we , we have

35:02.742 --> 35:04.964
people advising the people in there . I

35:04.964 --> 35:07.020
don't believe we have anyone there ,

35:07.020 --> 35:09.076
but I will check and verify that for

35:09.076 --> 35:11.131
you within 24 hours . I'd appreciate

35:11.131 --> 35:14.659
that . Thank you , um . I know you're ,

35:15.030 --> 35:17.086
we , we've talked a little bit about

35:17.086 --> 35:19.030
Savannah River . Can you give us a

35:19.030 --> 35:21.363
progress report and , and , uh , timing ?

35:21.363 --> 35:23.252
What , how , how we expect that ?

35:23.252 --> 35:25.530
You've talked about pits at Los Alamos .

35:25.530 --> 35:27.419
Uh , are , are we making progress

35:27.419 --> 35:29.419
converting the Mx facility ? That's

35:29.419 --> 35:31.197
been , that's been one of those

35:31.197 --> 35:33.363
projects that seems to always move out

35:33.363 --> 35:35.530
into the future . Uh , yes , Senator ,

35:35.530 --> 35:37.641
it is . And , and , uh , I've been to

35:37.641 --> 35:39.530
Savannah River twice in the 1st 3

35:39.530 --> 35:41.641
months on the job here and , and have

35:41.641 --> 35:43.586
toured the Mock facility and , and

35:43.586 --> 35:45.929
looked hard at , uh , how we approach

35:45.929 --> 35:48.810
that . Uh , the first step was to go to

35:48.810 --> 35:50.699
Savannah River and brainstorm how

35:50.699 --> 35:52.754
Savannah River could help Los Alamos

35:52.754 --> 35:55.949
make pits now . The next step will be ,

35:55.969 --> 35:58.050
uh , to go forward and try to figure

35:58.050 --> 36:00.409
out how to , how to get this , the , uh ,

36:00.860 --> 36:02.860
Savannah River plutonium processing

36:02.860 --> 36:05.739
facility done faster . Uh , right now

36:05.739 --> 36:08.709
it's projected to produce pits in 2035 ,

36:09.580 --> 36:11.524
full rate production beyond that .

36:11.524 --> 36:13.747
Eisenhower retook Europe in 11 months .

36:13.747 --> 36:16.350
Yes sir , 2034 .

36:17.979 --> 36:20.530
Our , uh , our intent is to

36:20.530 --> 36:22.752
dramatically improve the , the timeline

36:22.752 --> 36:25.649
on that facility by changing . Uh , the

36:25.649 --> 36:27.679
strategy and perhaps some of the

36:27.679 --> 36:30.169
leadership involved . We'll look

36:30.169 --> 36:32.340
forward to updates on on that . Uh ,

36:32.860 --> 36:34.860
Admiral , I understand we're moving

36:34.860 --> 36:37.027
away in our training uh on the nuclear

36:37.027 --> 36:40.229
in the nuclear navy from actual , uh ,

36:40.290 --> 36:43.459
uh , actual units to simulators . Is

36:43.459 --> 36:45.860
that , is that happening and can you

36:45.860 --> 36:48.082
discuss that ? Is that going to improve

36:48.082 --> 36:50.138
and make training more effective and

36:50.138 --> 36:53.739
faster ? Senator , uh , that is correct .

36:53.870 --> 36:56.037
Uh , we operate prototypes right now ,

36:56.037 --> 36:58.959
which are full scale , uh , submarines

36:58.959 --> 37:01.070
generally with , uh , actual reactors

37:01.070 --> 37:03.149
that we run . Uh , I would say that

37:03.149 --> 37:05.360
it's simulators doesn't do a credit .

37:05.679 --> 37:07.919
They're full scale models of submarines

37:07.919 --> 37:10.639
in their engine room , and we operate

37:10.639 --> 37:13.479
them and , uh , it's not with the

37:13.479 --> 37:16.399
actual reactor , but the Uh , full

37:16.399 --> 37:19.580
scale size and replica is so accurate

37:19.580 --> 37:21.691
that if I took an operator on there ,

37:21.780 --> 37:24.002
they may not understand whether they're

37:24.002 --> 37:26.002
on an actual submarine or an actual

37:26.002 --> 37:28.879
training platform . The valves operate

37:28.879 --> 37:31.840
the same way . They , if you have steam

37:31.840 --> 37:34.007
come out of a valve , they'll actually

37:34.007 --> 37:36.173
be steam coming out of this full scale

37:36.173 --> 37:38.439
replica . And we are pursuing these .

37:38.520 --> 37:40.760
The first propulsion plant team trainer

37:41.100 --> 37:44.639
will go into operation in 2035 . We've

37:44.639 --> 37:46.861
completed the design on it . We already

37:46.861 --> 37:49.083
operate these at our prototype training

37:49.083 --> 37:50.917
sites to supplement our training

37:50.917 --> 37:53.760
already , and we will have 3 more built ,

37:53.800 --> 37:55.856
and they're all going to be built in

37:55.856 --> 37:57.967
Charleston . They will give us better

37:57.967 --> 38:00.133
training than what we can get with our

38:00.133 --> 38:02.133
prototypes right now . They will be

38:02.133 --> 38:04.356
higher up time , and they will actually

38:04.356 --> 38:06.578
increase our throughput significantly .

38:06.578 --> 38:08.467
Thank you , thank you very much .

38:08.467 --> 38:08.189
Thanks for that initiative . Thank you ,

38:08.199 --> 38:11.840
Madam Chair . Thank you Senator King .

38:12.629 --> 38:14.796
Thank you gentlemen . I appreciate you

38:14.796 --> 38:17.270
being here today . Uh , if we have

38:17.270 --> 38:19.437
questions for the record , we will get

38:19.437 --> 38:21.790
those to you and then you'll have a

38:21.790 --> 38:23.909
short time period to get the answers

38:23.909 --> 38:26.270
back to us , but thank you again . I

38:26.270 --> 38:30.189
appreciate it . And

38:30.189 --> 38:32.550
with that , I would welcome up our

38:32.800 --> 38:36.770
panel number 2 , please . Who

38:38.340 --> 38:40.159
Including Yes

38:42.899 --> 38:45.179
He is . I like that . I like Admiral

38:45.179 --> 38:45.820
Houston .

39:45.790 --> 39:48.469
I'd like to welcome the members of our

39:48.469 --> 39:52.030
second panel at the hearing today . Uh ,

39:52.110 --> 39:55.159
we have , uh , Secretary Robert Cadlick ,

39:55.310 --> 39:57.199
who is the Assistant Secretary of

39:57.199 --> 39:59.032
Defense for Nuclear deterrence ,

39:59.032 --> 40:01.310
chemical and Biological Defense Policy

40:01.310 --> 40:04.489
and Programs , General Dale White with

40:04.489 --> 40:06.656
the United States Air Force Director ,

40:06.739 --> 40:08.709
Critical Major Weapons Systems

40:08.709 --> 40:10.949
Department of the Air Force , General

40:10.949 --> 40:14.030
Steven Davis , United States Air Force

40:14.030 --> 40:16.590
commander , Air Force Global Strike

40:16.870 --> 40:19.790
Command , and Vice Admiral Johnny Wolf

40:20.750 --> 40:24.689
Junior . United States Navy Director

40:24.689 --> 40:27.149
for Strategic Systems Programs

40:27.149 --> 40:29.371
Department of the Navy , welcome to all

40:29.371 --> 40:31.550
of you . Uh , let's begin with your

40:31.550 --> 40:33.919
opening statements , Secretary Cadle ,

40:34.070 --> 40:36.550
we will begin with you . Thank you very

40:36.550 --> 40:38.717
much , Chair Fisher and Ranking Member

40:38.717 --> 40:40.939
King . Thank you for the opportunity to

40:40.939 --> 40:43.050
testify before you today regarding US

40:43.050 --> 40:45.189
nuclear forces . I appear before you

40:45.189 --> 40:47.022
with a message that is stark and

40:47.022 --> 40:48.967
sobering as you kind of alluded to

40:48.967 --> 40:51.189
during your opening statement . For the

40:51.189 --> 40:53.411
first time in our nation's history , we

40:53.411 --> 40:55.467
will face the challenge of deterring

40:55.467 --> 40:57.633
two nuclear peers , China and Russia ,

40:57.633 --> 41:00.389
simultaneously . As well as regional

41:00.389 --> 41:02.790
powers with growing capabilities . This

41:02.790 --> 41:05.120
is not a hypothetical future problem .

41:05.399 --> 41:08.830
This is a now crisis . China is engaged

41:08.830 --> 41:10.997
in a breathtaking and opaque expansion

41:11.189 --> 41:13.300
of its nuclear arsenal while Russia ,

41:13.389 --> 41:15.379
with the world's largest arsenal ,

41:15.750 --> 41:17.750
continues to modernize its forces ,

41:18.429 --> 41:20.262
integrating new kinds of nuclear

41:20.262 --> 41:22.689
weapons into its strategy for coercion .

41:23.090 --> 41:25.090
Both adversaries have sophisticated

41:25.090 --> 41:27.312
theater nuclear weapons , significantly

41:27.312 --> 41:30.409
outnumbering the US . Add to this

41:30.409 --> 41:32.969
challenge is North Korea , whose

41:32.969 --> 41:34.969
missiles now can reach the American

41:34.969 --> 41:36.691
homeland . The picture becomes

41:36.691 --> 41:38.949
alarmingly clear . We're in a new and

41:38.949 --> 41:42.090
more dangerous era . The 2020 Strategic

41:42.090 --> 41:44.034
Posture Commission highlighted the

41:44.034 --> 41:46.201
inefficiencies and risks we've allowed

41:46.201 --> 41:48.312
to fester in our nuclear enterprise .

41:48.312 --> 41:50.649
For too long we've operated under a

41:50.649 --> 41:53.050
business as usual model that reflected

41:53.050 --> 41:54.949
a benign security environment .

41:55.570 --> 41:57.899
Programs were delayed , hard decisions

41:57.899 --> 42:00.459
deferred , and taking risks were

42:00.459 --> 42:03.270
avoided . Now we must flip that model .

42:03.389 --> 42:06.229
We have to act with urgency while we

42:06.229 --> 42:08.451
take steps to accept risk appropriately

42:08.550 --> 42:10.790
to confront these challenges . Through

42:10.790 --> 42:12.901
the modernization and diversification

42:12.901 --> 42:14.512
of US nuclear forces and the

42:14.512 --> 42:16.389
recapitalization of our NC-3

42:16.389 --> 42:19.709
capabilities , the president's FY 2027

42:19.709 --> 42:22.870
budget prioritizes the nuclear

42:22.870 --> 42:24.909
deterrent as the foundation of

42:24.909 --> 42:28.409
America's defense , approximately 55%

42:28.590 --> 42:31.010
of the total budget . The modernization

42:31.010 --> 42:32.954
and diversification of our nuclear

42:32.954 --> 42:34.850
deterrent , our submarines , our

42:34.850 --> 42:37.290
missiles , our bombers and MC-3 is not

42:37.290 --> 42:40.040
a choice but an imperative . As

42:40.040 --> 42:42.770
Secretary Hagth said recently , nothing

42:42.770 --> 42:45.389
else matters if we don't get this right .

42:46.169 --> 42:48.058
We must accelerate these critical

42:48.058 --> 42:50.330
programs wherever possible to deliver

42:50.330 --> 42:52.552
the next generation capabilities to the

42:52.552 --> 42:55.129
warfighter as soon as possible . We

42:55.129 --> 42:57.879
must also accelerate , slick amend and

42:57.879 --> 42:59.823
develop additional theater nuclear

42:59.823 --> 43:01.610
forces . Such capabilities are

43:01.610 --> 43:03.840
essential to managing escalation and

43:03.840 --> 43:05.840
ensuring the United States is never

43:05.840 --> 43:08.290
subject to blackmail . Finally , we

43:08.290 --> 43:10.512
must supercharge our defense industrial

43:10.512 --> 43:12.457
base , returning the US to world's

43:12.457 --> 43:14.623
premier arsenal capable of producing a

43:14.623 --> 43:16.949
scale and speed . With unmatched

43:16.949 --> 43:19.116
quality , the cost of investing in our

43:19.116 --> 43:20.782
nuclear forces and supporting

43:20.782 --> 43:22.727
capabilities and infrastructure is

43:22.727 --> 43:24.727
significant . However , the cost of

43:24.727 --> 43:27.229
failure is is a world where the risk of

43:27.229 --> 43:29.949
miscalculation , catastrophic conflict

43:30.110 --> 43:32.750
is unacceptably high . That is a price

43:32.750 --> 43:34.917
we cannot afford to pay . We owe it to

43:34.917 --> 43:37.250
the warfighter , to the American people ,

43:37.250 --> 43:39.306
and our posterity to ensure that our

43:39.306 --> 43:41.417
freedom remains . That our arsenal of

43:41.417 --> 43:43.583
freedom remains ready , reliable , and

43:43.583 --> 43:45.583
resolute . The time to act is now .

43:45.899 --> 43:48.066
Thank you , and I look forward to your

43:48.066 --> 43:50.343
questions . Thank you , Mr . Secretary .

43:50.343 --> 43:53.209
General White , welcome . We would , uh ,

43:53.219 --> 43:55.275
welcome your comments at this time .

43:55.275 --> 43:57.497
Thank you , Chairman . Fisher , Ranking

43:57.497 --> 43:59.719
Member King , and distinguished members

43:59.719 --> 43:59.465
of the subcommittee , on behalf of the

43:59.465 --> 44:01.354
Secretary of War , Honorable Pete

44:01.354 --> 44:03.687
Hegseth and the Deputy Secretary of War ,

44:03.687 --> 44:05.854
the Honorable Steve Feinberg , I thank

44:05.854 --> 44:07.965
you for the opportunity to testify on

44:07.965 --> 44:10.132
the vital work of the Direct reporting

44:10.132 --> 44:12.187
portfolio manager for critical Major

44:12.187 --> 44:14.021
weapons systems . The office was

44:14.021 --> 44:13.969
established by Secretary Hegseth to

44:13.969 --> 44:17.399
provide urgent unified focus on a

44:17.399 --> 44:19.229
select group of weapons systems

44:19.560 --> 44:21.504
critical to the nation's defense .

44:21.504 --> 44:24.050
These programs , Sentinel , ICBM ,

44:24.060 --> 44:27.729
Minuteman 3 ICBM , B-21 raider family

44:27.729 --> 44:31.199
of systems , F-47 CCA family of systems ,

44:31.439 --> 44:35.090
and VC-25B require a higher level of

44:35.090 --> 44:37.201
leadership and operational urgency to

44:37.201 --> 44:39.034
ensure their timely delivery and

44:39.034 --> 44:41.540
execution . In alignment with the

44:41.540 --> 44:43.707
national defense strategy , the DUPA's

44:43.707 --> 44:45.484
role is twofold to relentlessly

44:45.484 --> 44:47.159
prioritize the programs most

44:47.159 --> 44:49.260
consequential to the security and

44:49.260 --> 44:51.371
prosperity of the American people and

44:51.371 --> 44:53.316
to drive the transformation of the

44:53.316 --> 44:55.316
acquisition process to equip the US

44:55.316 --> 44:57.538
military with the world's most decisive

44:57.538 --> 44:59.649
and lethal warfighting capabilities .

44:59.649 --> 45:01.816
Success demands on outcomes focused on

45:01.816 --> 45:04.419
outcomes-focused culture that delivers

45:04.419 --> 45:06.530
capabilities to the warfighter at the

45:06.530 --> 45:08.697
speed of relevance . And this requires

45:08.697 --> 45:10.808
an accelerated pace and a transparent

45:10.808 --> 45:12.975
partnership with the industrial base .

45:13.489 --> 45:15.656
The core purpose of the DARPA Critical

45:15.656 --> 45:17.600
Major Weapons Systems is to enable

45:17.600 --> 45:19.545
warfighters by delivering decisive

45:19.545 --> 45:21.711
capability at the speed of relevance .

45:21.770 --> 45:23.826
My mission is guided by three golden

45:23.826 --> 45:26.449
rules empowered execution , integration

45:26.449 --> 45:28.560
over independence , and a revitalized

45:28.560 --> 45:30.782
relationship with the industrial base .

45:31.679 --> 45:33.679
Uh , Empowered execution . Program

45:33.679 --> 45:35.846
executive officers are fully empowered

45:35.846 --> 45:38.159
to execute with urgency under the DUPA

45:38.159 --> 45:40.360
concept . My role is to serve as their

45:40.360 --> 45:42.304
strategic champion , leveraging my

45:42.304 --> 45:43.916
authority to resolve complex

45:43.916 --> 45:45.804
cross-departmental challenges and

45:45.804 --> 45:48.027
dismantle bureaucratic obstacles in the

45:48.027 --> 45:50.750
process . Integration over independence .

45:51.030 --> 45:53.659
I function as the direct milestone

45:53.659 --> 45:55.881
decision authority for this portfolio ,

45:55.881 --> 45:57.826
ensuring frictionless and absolute

45:57.826 --> 45:59.992
integration with the Department of the

45:59.992 --> 46:02.215
Air Force and other stakeholders . This

46:02.215 --> 46:04.629
streamlined structure and deliberately

46:04.629 --> 46:06.351
avoids replicating traditional

46:06.351 --> 46:08.573
oversight layers to accelerate decision

46:08.573 --> 46:11.590
making . a revitalized industrial

46:11.590 --> 46:14.030
partnership . We're instituting a new

46:14.030 --> 46:16.252
paradigm of partnership with industry ,

46:16.252 --> 46:17.919
moving beyond a transactional

46:17.919 --> 46:19.530
relationship to one built on

46:19.530 --> 46:21.750
transparency , collaboration , and

46:21.750 --> 46:23.949
shared accountability . We expect our

46:24.899 --> 46:27.066
industry partners to embrace modular ,

46:27.066 --> 46:29.066
open system architectures to foster

46:29.066 --> 46:31.177
innovation , create opportunities for

46:31.177 --> 46:33.010
emerging companies , and deliver

46:33.010 --> 46:35.177
superior performance at a lower cost .

46:35.177 --> 46:37.288
This portfolio directly underpins the

46:37.288 --> 46:39.232
2026 National Defense strategy and

46:39.232 --> 46:41.455
contains the critical capabilities that

46:41.455 --> 46:43.621
serve as the ultimate guarantor of our

46:43.621 --> 46:45.677
national , national sovereignty . As

46:45.677 --> 46:47.850
the NDS unequivocally states , the

46:47.850 --> 46:50.209
United States should never , will never

46:50.489 --> 46:52.822
be left vulnerable to nuclear blackmail .

46:52.919 --> 46:55.252
Two of the programs , B-21 and Sentinel ,

46:55.409 --> 46:57.465
are dedicated to modernizing nuclear

46:57.465 --> 46:59.631
surety , while a third , Minuteman 3 ,

46:59.631 --> 47:02.610
is focused on sustaining it until the

47:02.610 --> 47:04.919
replacement is fielded , defending the

47:04.919 --> 47:07.419
US homeland . is the bedrock of

47:07.419 --> 47:09.641
homeland defense is a robust and modern

47:09.641 --> 47:11.863
nuclear deterrent , with both China and

47:11.863 --> 47:13.975
Russia aggressively modernizing their

47:13.975 --> 47:15.919
nuclear forces . It is an absolute

47:15.919 --> 47:17.752
imperative that US modernization

47:17.752 --> 47:19.752
programs proceed with urgency . The

47:19.752 --> 47:22.760
B-21 radar and LGM-35A Sentinel are the

47:23.379 --> 47:25.379
essential guarantors of credible US

47:25.379 --> 47:27.100
nuclear deterrent for future

47:27.100 --> 47:29.510
generations . Investment continues to

47:29.510 --> 47:31.566
stain the LGM 30 Minuteman 3 fleet ,

47:31.790 --> 47:34.550
which remains on high alert 24/7 as a

47:34.550 --> 47:36.161
prompt and highly responsive

47:36.161 --> 47:38.659
retaliatory force . The cornerstone of

47:38.659 --> 47:41.129
the future bomber force , the B-21 , is

47:41.129 --> 47:43.185
in its flight test campaign with the

47:43.185 --> 47:45.296
physical production advancing daily .

47:45.389 --> 47:47.556
This progress was further evidenced by

47:47.556 --> 47:49.611
the award of two additional low rate

47:49.611 --> 47:51.445
initial production lots , one in

47:51.445 --> 47:53.556
December of 2025 and another in March

47:53.556 --> 47:55.667
2026 . And the first aircraft remains

47:55.667 --> 47:57.833
on track for delivery to Ellsworth Air

47:57.833 --> 48:00.620
Force Base in 2027 , with a planned

48:00.620 --> 48:03.179
fleet of at least 100 aircraft and a

48:03.389 --> 48:05.556
recent agreement with Northrop Grumman

48:05.556 --> 48:07.445
to increase the annual production

48:07.445 --> 48:09.750
capacity by 25% . As a land-based

48:09.750 --> 48:11.861
foundation of the nuclear triad , the

48:11.861 --> 48:13.750
department is firmly committed to

48:13.750 --> 48:16.083
ensuring Minuteman 3 force remains safe ,

48:16.083 --> 48:18.194
secure , and effective until Sentinel

48:18.194 --> 48:19.972
is fielded . Over $2 billion is

48:19.972 --> 48:21.806
allocated annually for Operation

48:21.806 --> 48:23.972
sustainment , with crucial investments

48:23.972 --> 48:26.139
continuing at the Little Mountain Test

48:26.139 --> 48:28.361
Facility to modernize testing equipment

48:28.361 --> 48:27.870
that will also support the future

48:27.870 --> 48:30.100
Sentinel program . The Sentinel program

48:30.100 --> 48:32.156
is advancing with clear purpose on a

48:32.156 --> 48:34.378
path to its milestone P decision by the

48:34.378 --> 48:36.544
end of 2026 and additional operational

48:36.544 --> 48:38.544
capability in the early 2030s . Key

48:38.544 --> 48:40.544
milestones achieved to date include

48:40.544 --> 48:42.767
taking the first Minuteman silo offline

48:42.767 --> 48:44.711
for transition in summer of 2025 ,

48:44.711 --> 48:46.933
assembling the first three-stage ground

48:46.933 --> 48:49.156
test missile , and breaking ground on a

48:49.156 --> 48:51.322
prototype launch silo on February 26 .

48:51.322 --> 48:53.100
The first missile pad launch is

48:53.100 --> 48:55.659
scheduled for 2027 . The programs

48:55.659 --> 48:57.881
within the portfolio sustaining Man 3 ,

48:57.881 --> 48:59.659
accelerating the B-21 radar and

48:59.659 --> 49:01.603
executing sentinel program are the

49:01.603 --> 49:03.770
bedrock of our nation's nuclear surety

49:03.770 --> 49:05.826
and sovereignty . And the successful

49:05.826 --> 49:07.937
and timely execution of these efforts

49:07.937 --> 49:09.937
sends an unequivocal message to our

49:09.937 --> 49:11.937
adversaries and allies , the United

49:11.937 --> 49:13.881
States . I thank you again for the

49:13.881 --> 49:16.103
opportunity to testify and look forward

49:16.103 --> 49:18.437
to your questions . Thank you , General .

49:18.437 --> 49:20.437
Uh , next , welcome General Davis .

49:20.437 --> 49:22.659
Appreciate having you here today . We ,

49:22.659 --> 49:24.770
we're ready for your comments . Thank

49:24.770 --> 49:24.659
you , Chairwoman Fisher , Ranking

49:24.659 --> 49:26.770
Member King . It's an honor to appear

49:26.770 --> 49:28.881
before you today representing the men

49:28.881 --> 49:30.937
and women of Air Force Global Strike

49:30.937 --> 49:33.048
Command . I want to extend my sincere

49:33.048 --> 49:32.580
thanks to this committee and Congress

49:32.580 --> 49:34.439
for your continued support . And

49:34.439 --> 49:36.661
specifically for your commitment to the

49:36.661 --> 49:38.717
Air Force's nuclear and conventional

49:38.717 --> 49:40.606
long-range strike missions . This

49:40.606 --> 49:42.661
committee recognizes the existential

49:42.661 --> 49:44.661
threats to our nation . We face the

49:44.661 --> 49:46.717
unprecedented challenge of deterring

49:46.717 --> 49:48.772
two peer nuclear adversaries , China

49:48.772 --> 49:51.429
and Russia , who both possess modern

49:51.429 --> 49:53.429
and diverse arsenals , while at the

49:53.429 --> 49:55.485
same time , North Korea continuously

49:55.485 --> 49:57.540
attempts to expand and modernize its

49:57.540 --> 49:59.373
nuclear arsenal . The increasing

49:59.373 --> 50:01.151
coordination among these rivals

50:01.151 --> 50:03.040
underscores the urgent need for a

50:03.040 --> 50:05.262
capable , flexible , and modern nuclear

50:05.262 --> 50:07.540
force . Air Force Global Strike Command

50:07.540 --> 50:09.484
provides our nation's combat ready

50:09.484 --> 50:11.596
forces for a nuclear and conventional

50:11.596 --> 50:13.373
long-range strike . Our highest

50:13.373 --> 50:15.262
priority is to deter conflict and

50:15.262 --> 50:15.179
should deterrence fail , to win

50:15.179 --> 50:17.649
decisively . Today , that mission is

50:17.649 --> 50:19.705
being executed at an ever increasing

50:19.705 --> 50:21.760
operational tempo . Our bomber force

50:21.760 --> 50:24.030
consisting of B-1s , B-2s , and B-52s

50:24.449 --> 50:26.560
remain in high demand across multiple

50:26.560 --> 50:28.560
theaters . Over the last year , the

50:28.560 --> 50:30.560
command has played pivotal roles in

50:30.560 --> 50:32.560
military operations including Rough

50:32.560 --> 50:34.505
Rider , Midnight Hammer , Absolute

50:34.505 --> 50:36.838
Resolve , and more recently , Epic Fury .

50:36.838 --> 50:38.727
These missions have required long

50:38.727 --> 50:40.782
duration Conis to Conis missions and

50:40.782 --> 50:42.782
overlapping bomber deployments . In

50:42.782 --> 50:44.893
Operation Epic Fury alone , Air Force

50:44.893 --> 50:46.949
Global Strike Command conducted over

50:46.949 --> 50:49.060
150 bomber sorties , 48 of which were

50:49.060 --> 50:51.060
round trip from the United States .

50:51.320 --> 50:53.320
These missions were a minimum of 18

50:53.320 --> 50:55.431
hours in duration with those from the

50:55.431 --> 50:57.653
US taking as long as 40 hours . We have

50:57.653 --> 50:59.820
executed every task with precision and

50:59.820 --> 51:01.709
professionalism , however , these

51:01.709 --> 51:03.598
efforts have come at a cost borne

51:03.598 --> 51:05.764
largely by our airmen . We continue to

51:05.764 --> 51:07.709
deliver upon under ever increasing

51:07.709 --> 51:09.876
strain , and we are operating on tight

51:09.876 --> 51:12.098
margins , and your continued support is

51:12.098 --> 51:14.042
invaluable . To meet these no fail

51:14.042 --> 51:16.209
missions , we must sustain our current

51:16.209 --> 51:18.431
forces while simultaneously modernizing

51:18.431 --> 51:20.542
our two legs of the nuclear triad and

51:20.542 --> 51:22.820
the critical nuclear command , control ,

51:22.820 --> 51:25.042
and communication aircraft that connect

51:25.042 --> 51:27.153
them . This is a monumental task that

51:27.153 --> 51:26.879
includes the replacement of our aging

51:26.879 --> 51:28.935
weapons systems through the Sentinel

51:28.935 --> 51:30.990
program , the fielding of the B-21 ,

51:31.120 --> 51:33.342
the modernization of the B-52 , as well

51:33.342 --> 51:35.176
as developing and delivering the

51:35.176 --> 51:37.342
survivable airborne operation center ,

51:37.342 --> 51:39.398
and the long-range standoff weapon .

51:39.398 --> 51:41.398
Two of these systems , Sentinel and

51:41.398 --> 51:43.509
B-21 , are deemed so important to the

51:43.509 --> 51:45.509
future of natural security that the

51:45.509 --> 51:47.509
Secretary of War created the direct

51:47.509 --> 51:49.731
reporting portfolio manager who reports

51:49.731 --> 51:51.731
to the Deputy Secretary of War . In

51:51.731 --> 51:53.731
this new position , General White ,

51:53.731 --> 51:53.409
with both Service and Department of War

51:53.409 --> 51:54.965
acquisition authorities has

51:54.965 --> 51:56.631
significantly streamlined and

51:56.631 --> 51:58.631
accelerated acquisition decisions ,

51:58.631 --> 52:00.687
which provides the responsiveness to

52:00.687 --> 52:02.742
field these systems on time with the

52:02.742 --> 52:04.353
required capabilities . This

52:04.353 --> 52:06.576
unprecedented approach will be critical

52:06.576 --> 52:08.409
to delivering these 21st century

52:08.409 --> 52:10.576
platforms with the capabilities needed

52:10.576 --> 52:12.409
to stay ahead of ever increasing

52:12.409 --> 52:14.576
threats . Nuclear deterrence remains a

52:14.576 --> 52:16.798
bedrock of our military strength and is

52:16.798 --> 52:16.689
foundational to the defense of our

52:16.689 --> 52:18.879
nation and our allies . Our

52:18.879 --> 52:20.601
conventional long-range strike

52:20.601 --> 52:22.435
capabilities are equally vital ,

52:22.435 --> 52:24.435
providing the president with a full

52:24.435 --> 52:26.546
range of options to deter aggressions

52:26.546 --> 52:28.323
and when necessary , defeat any

52:28.323 --> 52:30.490
potential adversary . Air Force Global

52:30.490 --> 52:32.268
Strike Command , along with Air

52:32.268 --> 52:34.490
Mobility Command air refueling aircraft

52:34.490 --> 52:36.657
make the United States the only nation

52:36.657 --> 52:38.768
with the ability to conduct worldwide

52:38.768 --> 52:40.879
long-range strike missions anytime or

52:40.879 --> 52:43.046
anyplace . Of course , none of this is

52:43.046 --> 52:45.157
possible without our striker airmen .

52:45.157 --> 52:45.060
They're our greatest strength in their

52:45.060 --> 52:47.282
dedication , determination , and grit .

52:47.282 --> 52:49.338
Often delivered in austere and harsh

52:49.338 --> 52:51.504
environments are the real key to these

52:51.504 --> 52:53.727
remarkable capabilities . However , Air

52:53.727 --> 52:55.949
Force Global Strike Command and the Air

52:55.949 --> 52:55.790
Force nuclear Emprise remain at an

52:55.790 --> 52:57.629
inflection point . Critical

52:57.629 --> 52:59.740
modernization programs have begun and

52:59.740 --> 53:01.907
with stable and consistent resources ,

53:01.907 --> 53:04.129
we can reduce risk and build momentum .

53:04.129 --> 53:06.389
We must continue to safely and securely

53:06.389 --> 53:08.590
operate legacy nuclear systems with

53:08.590 --> 53:10.830
limited margins while fielding the new

53:10.830 --> 53:13.479
systems . Success relies , as it has in

53:13.479 --> 53:15.257
the past , on the hard work and

53:15.257 --> 53:17.312
dedication of our airmen . Today , I

53:17.312 --> 53:19.312
respectfully request your continued

53:19.312 --> 53:21.535
support as we confront these challenges

53:21.535 --> 53:23.757
and continue to guarantee the safety of

53:23.757 --> 53:23.739
our , and continue to guarantee our

53:23.739 --> 53:25.750
nation's security . Thank you and I

53:25.750 --> 53:27.472
look forward to answering your

53:27.472 --> 53:29.694
questions . Thank you , General Davis .

53:29.820 --> 53:32.820
Admiral Wolf , first of all I'd like to

53:32.820 --> 53:36.379
thank you for your service , and it has

53:36.379 --> 53:39.939
been a pleasure having you , uh , come

53:39.939 --> 53:43.300
before the subcommittee , uh , the last

53:43.300 --> 53:47.024
8 years , 8 years . And uh the

53:47.024 --> 53:48.913
information you've provided me as

53:48.913 --> 53:51.080
chairman or ranking member during that

53:51.080 --> 53:53.935
time has been invaluable so I thank you

53:53.935 --> 53:55.935
for that and you are recognized for

53:55.935 --> 53:57.824
your comments . Chairman Fisher ,

53:57.824 --> 54:00.046
Ranking Member King , it is an honor to

54:00.046 --> 54:01.935
be here today . I'd like to thank

54:01.935 --> 54:04.046
Congress for its continued support in

54:04.046 --> 54:06.157
providing the Navy with the resources

54:06.157 --> 54:07.991
required to execute our assigned

54:07.991 --> 54:10.800
mission . I'd like to begin by assuring

54:10.800 --> 54:12.856
you that the Navy's nuclear forces ,

54:13.120 --> 54:15.300
the bedrock of our national security ,

54:15.600 --> 54:18.840
are safe , secure , effective , and

54:18.840 --> 54:20.919
credible . As the Navy command that

54:20.919 --> 54:22.752
provides cost-effective , safe ,

54:23.040 --> 54:24.873
effective , and secure sea-based

54:24.873 --> 54:27.040
strategic deterrent solutions , SSP is

54:27.040 --> 54:29.280
entrusted to provide cradle to grave

54:29.280 --> 54:31.760
life cycle support to three critical

54:31.760 --> 54:34.600
programs the Trident IID5 strategic

54:34.600 --> 54:36.340
weapons System . The Navy's

54:36.340 --> 54:38.739
conventional prompt strike hypersonic

54:38.739 --> 54:40.739
program , and the nuclear armed sea

54:40.739 --> 54:42.899
launch cruise missile program . These

54:42.899 --> 54:45.100
are 3 of our nation's highest priority

54:45.100 --> 54:47.260
acquisition programs , and with your

54:47.260 --> 54:49.699
support , they ensure the Navy is

54:49.699 --> 54:52.500
delivering peace through strength . SSP

54:52.500 --> 54:54.722
ensures the highest levels of readiness

54:54.722 --> 54:56.556
and modernization of the Trident

54:56.556 --> 54:58.778
strategic weapons systems . As the most

54:58.778 --> 55:00.929
survivable leg of our nuclear triad ,

55:01.229 --> 55:03.340
the ballistic missile submarine force

55:03.570 --> 55:05.681
provides an unyielding foundation for

55:05.681 --> 55:08.310
assured response against any adversary .

55:08.770 --> 55:10.548
That force stands at a critical

55:10.548 --> 55:12.979
juncture . Decades of strategic

55:12.979 --> 55:14.535
foresight have delivered an

55:14.535 --> 55:17.129
unparalleled capability , but to

55:17.129 --> 55:19.240
maintain our advantage in the face of

55:19.240 --> 55:21.500
evolving threats , we must build on

55:21.500 --> 55:23.739
these decisions and prioritize the

55:23.739 --> 55:25.580
modernization of our nuclear

55:25.580 --> 55:28.600
infrastructure and our industrial base .

55:28.929 --> 55:30.985
A strong domestic industrial base is

55:30.985 --> 55:33.262
the foundation of a credible deterrent .

55:33.679 --> 55:35.719
Using resources authorized by this

55:35.719 --> 55:38.560
committee , SSP is actively working to

55:38.560 --> 55:40.830
revitalize this national asset ,

55:41.080 --> 55:43.159
ensuring the timely production and

55:43.159 --> 55:45.520
delivery of critical strategic weapons

55:45.520 --> 55:47.879
systems components while fostering

55:47.879 --> 55:50.360
American jobs and technological

55:50.360 --> 55:52.959
superiority . Our modernization needs

55:52.959 --> 55:55.050
cannot succeed without investing in

55:55.050 --> 55:57.272
research and development , investing in

55:57.272 --> 55:59.494
the critical skills for our workforce ,

55:59.494 --> 56:01.661
and the facilities needed to produce ,

56:01.661 --> 56:04.110
sustain , and certify our strategic

56:04.110 --> 56:06.919
systems . Our infrastructure is also at

56:06.919 --> 56:08.909
an inflection point . Existing

56:08.909 --> 56:11.020
facilities are reaching their 30-year

56:11.020 --> 56:13.479
recapitalization windows as we enter

56:13.479 --> 56:15.199
into a once-in a-generation

56:15.199 --> 56:17.389
modernization of both the Trident

56:17.389 --> 56:19.909
strategic weapons system and our

56:19.909 --> 56:22.076
ballistic missile submarine platform .

56:22.399 --> 56:24.360
Over the past year , Navy has made

56:24.360 --> 56:26.582
incredible progress moving forward with

56:26.582 --> 56:28.638
development of the Sea Launch cruise

56:28.638 --> 56:30.860
missile nuclear as the program moves at

56:30.860 --> 56:33.082
an extremely aggressive pace to deliver

56:33.082 --> 56:35.419
both a limited operational capability

56:35.679 --> 56:38.360
and an initial operational capability .

56:38.760 --> 56:41.139
SSP's mission , strategic deterrence ,

56:41.360 --> 56:43.840
is critical to this nation . It's the

56:43.840 --> 56:45.919
foundation of the national security

56:45.919 --> 56:48.250
strategy and is a top priority of our

56:48.250 --> 56:50.010
Secretary of War . In order to

56:50.010 --> 56:52.090
accomplish SSP sustainment and

56:52.090 --> 56:54.409
development missions , we must have

56:54.409 --> 56:56.870
trained , skilled employees on board .

56:57.120 --> 56:59.770
Systems do not design , test , and

56:59.770 --> 57:02.449
build themselves . People do , which is

57:02.449 --> 57:04.393
what makes our people our greatest

57:04.393 --> 57:06.729
asset . As the 14th director of

57:06.729 --> 57:08.850
strategic Systems Programs , I am

57:08.850 --> 57:11.270
honored to represent them . And I have

57:11.270 --> 57:13.790
absolute faith and confidence in the

57:13.790 --> 57:16.189
safety , security , effectiveness , and

57:16.189 --> 57:18.419
credibility of our Navy's strategic

57:18.419 --> 57:21.110
deterrent due to the proficiency and

57:21.110 --> 57:23.054
professionalism of these dedicated

57:23.054 --> 57:25.620
service members and civilians who have

57:25.620 --> 57:28.229
made deterrence their life's work . The

57:28.229 --> 57:30.790
15th director will inherit a legacy of

57:30.790 --> 57:32.870
proven success that will enable the

57:32.870 --> 57:35.540
command to grow and take challenges we

57:35.540 --> 57:37.979
have not yet begun to imagine . With

57:37.979 --> 57:39.979
continued congressional support and

57:39.979 --> 57:42.979
stable on-time funding , our Navy will

57:42.979 --> 57:45.260
continue to effectively defend our

57:45.260 --> 57:47.979
nation and preserve peace for future

57:47.979 --> 57:50.300
generations . This will be my last time

57:50.300 --> 57:52.467
sitting in front of this committee . I

57:52.467 --> 57:54.300
would like to thank you for your

57:54.300 --> 57:56.360
support of SSP and more specifically

57:56.540 --> 57:59.060
your support of me during my time as

57:59.060 --> 58:01.171
the director . You have allowed us to

58:01.171 --> 58:03.179
accelerate these critical national

58:03.179 --> 58:05.820
programs . I am humbled and honored to

58:05.820 --> 58:07.699
have been entrusted to lead an

58:07.699 --> 58:09.540
organization so critical to our

58:09.540 --> 58:11.596
nation's security . I'm proud of the

58:11.596 --> 58:13.830
work of my team that I and I have

58:13.830 --> 58:16.199
accomplished over the last 8 years that

58:16.199 --> 58:18.810
I have been director of SSP and indeed

58:19.179 --> 58:21.469
across my 38 year naval service career .

58:21.760 --> 58:23.593
Thank you for the opportunity to

58:23.593 --> 58:25.704
testify today , and I look forward to

58:25.704 --> 58:27.760
your questions . Thank you , Admiral

58:27.760 --> 58:29.816
Rolfe . I'd like to start with you ,

58:29.816 --> 58:32.830
sir , uh , with questions with , um ,

58:33.149 --> 58:36.909
the FY 26 NDAA . It directed the

58:36.909 --> 58:40.149
department and NNSA to provide a

58:40.149 --> 58:42.830
limited operational capability for

58:42.830 --> 58:46.590
SLCAM by 2032 . How's the

58:46.590 --> 58:49.189
Navy working in order to meet that

58:49.189 --> 58:51.356
timeline ? Yes , ma'am . Thank you for

58:51.356 --> 58:53.133
the question . Uh , we're doing

58:53.133 --> 58:55.245
extremely well . We have , uh , we've

58:55.245 --> 58:57.467
taken on the challenge . We've stood up

58:57.467 --> 58:59.411
our program office . We've , we're

58:59.411 --> 59:01.522
building the workforce in partnership

59:01.522 --> 59:03.133
with NNSA . We've identified

59:03.133 --> 59:04.911
opportunities to do just that ,

59:04.911 --> 59:07.078
accelerate where we wanted the program

59:07.078 --> 59:09.245
of record to be , to look at a limited

59:09.245 --> 59:11.022
operational capability . Um , I

59:11.022 --> 59:13.133
couldn't be prouder of the team . The

59:13.133 --> 59:15.300
way they're thinking differently about

59:15.300 --> 59:17.522
how we can get this critical technology

59:17.522 --> 59:19.745
into our warfighters' hands even sooner

59:19.745 --> 59:21.967
than what you've asked us to do , but I

59:21.967 --> 59:24.022
would say the partnership and we and

59:24.022 --> 59:26.133
the fleet as well . Admiral Sef and I

59:26.133 --> 59:28.300
at sub 4 are lockstep in how we're not

59:28.300 --> 59:30.467
only going to develop the capability ,

59:30.467 --> 59:32.689
but once it's there , how they're going

59:32.689 --> 59:34.911
to catch it and actually deploy it when

59:34.911 --> 59:37.078
the time comes . Thank you . Why is it

59:37.078 --> 59:38.967
important to have that ? I always

59:38.967 --> 59:41.133
stress , uh , that gives the president

59:41.133 --> 59:43.679
options and um we have to move faster

59:43.679 --> 59:46.012
to get to get the president . Yes ma'am ,

59:46.100 --> 59:48.211
absolutely you're , you're absolutely

59:48.211 --> 59:50.322
right . I mean , I think every option

59:50.322 --> 59:52.544
that we can provide as a department and

59:52.544 --> 59:54.711
within NSA to provide options . To our

59:54.711 --> 59:56.989
decision makers is absolutely critical ,

59:56.989 --> 59:59.100
particularly in this environment , as

59:59.100 --> 01:00:01.211
we've heard with not just one but two

01:00:01.211 --> 01:00:03.433
strategic competitors . Everything that

01:00:03.433 --> 01:00:05.656
we can do to put that capability in our

01:00:05.656 --> 01:00:07.878
warfighters' hands as quickly as we can

01:00:07.878 --> 01:00:09.933
is absolutely critical . Thank you .

01:00:09.933 --> 01:00:12.156
Doctor , uh , I'm always used to Doctor

01:00:12.156 --> 01:00:14.520
Cadlick , Secretary Cadlick , good to

01:00:14.520 --> 01:00:17.489
see you , sir . Uh , I appreciated that

01:00:17.510 --> 01:00:20.149
your written testimony included strong

01:00:20.149 --> 01:00:22.750
support for the SLCM program and your

01:00:22.750 --> 01:00:25.149
comments on how it will quote

01:00:25.149 --> 01:00:27.689
complement our existing capabilities

01:00:27.870 --> 01:00:30.037
and provide the president a persistent

01:00:30.037 --> 01:00:32.239
survivable regional nuclear presence

01:00:32.790 --> 01:00:35.629
presence without dependence on host

01:00:35.629 --> 01:00:39.189
nations , end quote . Um , I strongly

01:00:39.189 --> 01:00:41.750
agree that the president , uh , needs

01:00:41.750 --> 01:00:43.861
those options , and I look forward to

01:00:43.861 --> 01:00:45.889
working with you and the Nuclear

01:00:46.110 --> 01:00:49.550
Weapons Council on this . I also wanna

01:00:49.550 --> 01:00:52.149
bring up , uh , another topic , um .

01:00:53.120 --> 01:00:56.419
NC3 . How's the department

01:00:56.419 --> 01:00:59.100
prioritizing that nuclear command

01:00:59.100 --> 01:01:01.300
control and communications and

01:01:01.300 --> 01:01:04.810
specifically how's your office , uh ,

01:01:04.820 --> 01:01:08.280
working with services to ensure that

01:01:08.280 --> 01:01:11.060
they are appropriately prioritizing

01:01:11.060 --> 01:01:13.489
that NC3 modernization ? Well , well ,

01:01:13.620 --> 01:01:15.731
Senator , I , I would , uh , describe

01:01:15.731 --> 01:01:17.842
it as you have in the past that's the

01:01:17.842 --> 01:01:20.149
fourth leg of the triad . But really

01:01:20.149 --> 01:01:22.371
it's the first leg of the triad . It is

01:01:22.371 --> 01:01:24.979
the most important , uh , piece of the

01:01:24.979 --> 01:01:27.146
triad that we have , particularly when

01:01:27.146 --> 01:01:29.350
we consider to sus to , to connecting

01:01:29.350 --> 01:01:32.310
the sustainment of existing systems to

01:01:32.310 --> 01:01:34.989
future systems , analog to digital . So

01:01:34.989 --> 01:01:36.878
it has the highest priority in my

01:01:36.878 --> 01:01:38.989
office and quite frankly , thanks to

01:01:38.989 --> 01:01:41.229
the , uh , reorganization that was

01:01:41.229 --> 01:01:44.510
mandated by 1635 , we've incorporated

01:01:44.510 --> 01:01:47.810
the NC3 office into my . Uh , into my ,

01:01:47.889 --> 01:01:50.570
uh , oversight and , uh , we have a

01:01:50.570 --> 01:01:52.889
very , uh , capable individual , Todd

01:01:52.889 --> 01:01:55.090
Shriver , Doctor Todd Shriver , who's

01:01:55.090 --> 01:01:57.129
managing that , and we're working

01:01:57.129 --> 01:01:59.240
through all these issues to basically

01:01:59.240 --> 01:02:01.790
get , uh , a functional review of this

01:02:02.050 --> 01:02:04.050
which was recently done at the four

01:02:04.050 --> 01:02:06.250
star level with Mr . Duffy , uh , as

01:02:06.250 --> 01:02:08.194
the , uh , Assistant secretary for

01:02:08.194 --> 01:02:10.250
acquisition , and we'll be taking it

01:02:10.250 --> 01:02:12.417
forward to a , uh , a nuclear decision

01:02:12.417 --> 01:02:14.510
forum , uh , hopefully soon with our

01:02:14.770 --> 01:02:17.330
deputy secretary . So we think that

01:02:17.330 --> 01:02:20.689
this is really key in light of not just

01:02:20.689 --> 01:02:22.870
the transition phase but the evolving

01:02:22.870 --> 01:02:25.090
threat landscape that we have to keep

01:02:25.090 --> 01:02:28.090
on top of this all the time and we will

01:02:28.090 --> 01:02:29.790
be working with the services

01:02:30.280 --> 01:02:32.391
individually and collectively as well

01:02:32.391 --> 01:02:34.502
as StratCom , which is the functional

01:02:34.502 --> 01:02:37.929
manager for the NC3 enterprise . Have

01:02:37.929 --> 01:02:40.209
you , have you started working with

01:02:40.209 --> 01:02:42.320
service ? At this point in time or is

01:02:42.320 --> 01:02:44.487
that in the future , ma'am , we have ,

01:02:44.487 --> 01:02:46.820
uh , we've started , uh , mostly at the ,

01:02:46.820 --> 01:02:49.159
uh , OSW level and with StratCom . I

01:02:49.159 --> 01:02:51.139
was on the call today with , uh ,

01:02:51.320 --> 01:02:53.264
Admiral Correll talking about this

01:02:53.264 --> 01:02:55.431
issue . How can we bring more focus to

01:02:55.431 --> 01:02:57.598
certain elements , particularly around

01:02:57.598 --> 01:02:59.820
the future threat , uh , but we will be

01:02:59.820 --> 01:03:01.931
working down to the individual , uh ,

01:03:01.931 --> 01:03:04.153
uh , individual service level as well ,

01:03:04.153 --> 01:03:07.429
ma'am . Uh , at , in future

01:03:07.429 --> 01:03:09.318
conversations we have , could you

01:03:09.318 --> 01:03:11.151
provide me with , uh , some more

01:03:11.151 --> 01:03:13.485
information on just , um , first of all ,

01:03:13.485 --> 01:03:15.860
specifically what services and what ,

01:03:15.919 --> 01:03:19.850
uh , um , what their focus is gonna

01:03:19.850 --> 01:03:22.128
be with regard to NC3 ? Well , just to ,

01:03:22.128 --> 01:03:24.350
just to topically I can just say as far

01:03:24.350 --> 01:03:26.406
as Tacommo and SEOC , obviously with

01:03:26.406 --> 01:03:28.572
the Air Force and with the Navy , uh ,

01:03:28.572 --> 01:03:30.794
with the , uh , with the development of

01:03:30.794 --> 01:03:33.169
the uh C-130Js , TacomO is obviously

01:03:33.169 --> 01:03:35.919
the Navy program . And uh SEAC is an

01:03:35.919 --> 01:03:38.399
Air Force program , but uh we are

01:03:38.399 --> 01:03:40.659
focusing on those two particular areas

01:03:40.800 --> 01:03:43.360
as well as Looking Glass next , which

01:03:43.360 --> 01:03:45.693
is a Stratcom Air Force program . Right ,

01:03:46.120 --> 01:03:48.176
thank you very much , Senator King .

01:03:49.120 --> 01:03:51.398
Thank you , Madam Chair , I think it's ,

01:03:51.398 --> 01:03:53.620
uh , it's worth commenting and noticing

01:03:53.620 --> 01:03:55.731
that everybody said that they're part

01:03:55.731 --> 01:03:58.530
of the triad was the bedrock , uh , and ,

01:03:58.560 --> 01:04:00.616
and I , I think that's a good way to

01:04:00.616 --> 01:04:02.393
look at it , and I hope you all

01:04:02.399 --> 01:04:04.677
continue to consider it in in that way .

01:04:04.677 --> 01:04:07.159
Um , Secretary Cadillac , your , your

01:04:07.159 --> 01:04:09.659
position was created last year . Uh ,

01:04:10.610 --> 01:04:12.777
in order to consolidate responsibility

01:04:12.777 --> 01:04:15.229
for nuclear policy , one of my favorite

01:04:15.409 --> 01:04:18.850
maxims of management is one throat to

01:04:18.850 --> 01:04:22.790
choke . That's you . And the whole idea

01:04:22.790 --> 01:04:25.000
was to consolidate and bring together

01:04:25.000 --> 01:04:28.090
into one office , all of these diverse

01:04:28.090 --> 01:04:30.320
issues of nuclear policy . I've heard

01:04:30.320 --> 01:04:33.070
rumors that Secretary Colby is building

01:04:33.070 --> 01:04:35.580
another . Office within his office on

01:04:35.580 --> 01:04:37.580
nuclear policy , is there any , any

01:04:37.580 --> 01:04:39.358
truth to those rumors ? Is that

01:04:39.358 --> 01:04:41.469
something we are we back to splitting

01:04:41.469 --> 01:04:43.580
things up again , Senator ? I'm , I'm

01:04:43.580 --> 01:04:45.636
not familiar with the rumor you're ,

01:04:45.636 --> 01:04:47.747
you're offering at this point , and I

01:04:47.747 --> 01:04:49.969
do know that I work with and speak with

01:04:49.969 --> 01:04:51.913
Under Secretary Colby regularly on

01:04:51.913 --> 01:04:54.024
these issues . Uh , he is co-chairing

01:04:54.024 --> 01:04:56.620
with Admiral Correll a nuclear strategy

01:04:56.620 --> 01:04:58.676
review . I don't know if that sounds

01:04:58.840 --> 01:05:01.062
that may be perhaps that's the source .

01:05:01.300 --> 01:05:03.467
However , we're participants in that ,

01:05:03.467 --> 01:05:05.633
um , our office , that's what I wanted

01:05:05.633 --> 01:05:07.633
to follow up . Do you , I guess the

01:05:07.633 --> 01:05:09.578
question is , do you feel that the

01:05:09.578 --> 01:05:11.800
coordination and cooperation and , uh ,

01:05:11.800 --> 01:05:14.078
and integration is , is working ? Well ,

01:05:14.078 --> 01:05:16.078
it , it's like anything , a work in

01:05:16.078 --> 01:05:18.244
progress , but it is working and , and

01:05:18.244 --> 01:05:20.189
we are advancing the cause here in

01:05:20.189 --> 01:05:22.522
terms of trying to address these issues .

01:05:22.719 --> 01:05:24.886
I think the nuclear strategy review is

01:05:24.886 --> 01:05:26.719
just a case in point where we're

01:05:26.719 --> 01:05:28.719
advancing this collectively between

01:05:28.919 --> 01:05:31.239
StratCom , the warfighter , and , and

01:05:31.239 --> 01:05:34.560
hopefully other COCOMs in the future as

01:05:34.560 --> 01:05:36.782
well as policy and our office . It's an

01:05:36.782 --> 01:05:38.949
acquisition to bring this all together

01:05:38.949 --> 01:05:41.804
into coherency that heretofore probably

01:05:41.804 --> 01:05:43.915
didn't exist . Well , that's , that's

01:05:43.915 --> 01:05:46.137
exactly the purpose of your office , so

01:05:46.137 --> 01:05:48.193
pursue it with vigor , as they say .

01:05:48.193 --> 01:05:50.248
Well , sir , it's a size 16 collar .

01:05:50.248 --> 01:05:52.137
All right , good , just , just to

01:05:52.137 --> 01:05:54.225
advise , uh , we , we , we've all

01:05:54.225 --> 01:05:56.281
talked today about the importance of

01:05:56.281 --> 01:05:58.503
the deterrent in order to protect the ,

01:05:58.503 --> 01:06:00.614
the , the continental United States .

01:06:00.614 --> 01:06:02.447
But part of our deterrent is our

01:06:02.447 --> 01:06:04.392
extended deterrent , the so-called

01:06:04.392 --> 01:06:06.503
nuclear umbrella . My concern is that

01:06:06.503 --> 01:06:08.679
our allies may be losing confidence in

01:06:08.679 --> 01:06:11.280
that commitment , whether they're

01:06:11.280 --> 01:06:14.919
European or or in Asia . Um , I think

01:06:14.919 --> 01:06:17.760
that would be a great , uh , that would

01:06:17.760 --> 01:06:20.679
be a geostrategic mistake of a high

01:06:20.679 --> 01:06:23.149
order because we don't want . More and

01:06:23.149 --> 01:06:25.149
more countries feeling they have to

01:06:25.149 --> 01:06:27.260
develop their own nuclear , uh , uh ,

01:06:27.260 --> 01:06:29.371
their own nuclear capacity that would

01:06:29.371 --> 01:06:31.538
lead to greater proliferation risk and

01:06:31.538 --> 01:06:33.538
other , other sort of destabilizing

01:06:33.538 --> 01:06:36.679
risks . Talk to me about , and , and it

01:06:36.679 --> 01:06:38.901
bothers me , let me put a fine point on

01:06:38.901 --> 01:06:41.068
this , the unclassified version of the

01:06:41.068 --> 01:06:42.957
national defense strategy did not

01:06:42.957 --> 01:06:44.800
mention extended deterrence or a

01:06:44.800 --> 01:06:47.929
nuclear umbrella at all . Can you

01:06:47.929 --> 01:06:50.270
reassure me that this is still part of

01:06:50.270 --> 01:06:53.850
the US nuclear policy , Senator ? I can ,

01:06:53.929 --> 01:06:56.010
and extended deterrence has been a

01:06:56.010 --> 01:06:58.570
matter of public comments by Under

01:06:58.570 --> 01:07:01.409
Secretary Colby , subject to Europe ,

01:07:01.419 --> 01:07:03.586
and , and , and I think in the case of

01:07:04.010 --> 01:07:06.370
how we vote with our feet , we do have

01:07:06.370 --> 01:07:08.850
nuclear weapons deployed with our dual

01:07:08.850 --> 01:07:12.639
dual capable aircraft and work with our

01:07:12.639 --> 01:07:15.669
allies in that way . So that hasn't

01:07:15.669 --> 01:07:18.590
changed one iota , at least in the

01:07:18.590 --> 01:07:20.590
current sense , and I think the key

01:07:20.590 --> 01:07:23.350
thing here is what is sometimes I think

01:07:23.350 --> 01:07:25.072
been confused with the idea of

01:07:25.729 --> 01:07:27.507
demanding that we have a strong

01:07:27.507 --> 01:07:30.149
conventional defense with our allies in

01:07:30.149 --> 01:07:32.510
Europe and in Asia to ensure that our

01:07:32.510 --> 01:07:35.010
extended deterrence provides a backstop .

01:07:35.459 --> 01:07:37.570
That extended deterrence should still

01:07:37.570 --> 01:07:39.792
be there . We do not want every country

01:07:39.792 --> 01:07:42.015
in the world developing our own nuclear

01:07:42.015 --> 01:07:41.340
weapons , and , and it's been

01:07:41.340 --> 01:07:43.530
explicitly stated that it is that's a

01:07:43.530 --> 01:07:46.500
separate issue as I see it as as

01:07:46.500 --> 01:07:48.699
stepping up in terms of their percent

01:07:48.699 --> 01:07:52.239
of GDP , etc . Uh , General White ,

01:07:52.540 --> 01:07:55.540
um , how , I know we spent all

01:07:55.540 --> 01:07:57.540
afternoon on this , but there was a

01:07:57.540 --> 01:07:59.790
non-McCurdy breach in Sentinel . How ,

01:07:59.870 --> 01:08:01.870
how are we doing in getting back on

01:08:01.870 --> 01:08:03.981
schedule and getting to a place where

01:08:03.981 --> 01:08:06.092
we can have control of the budget and

01:08:06.092 --> 01:08:08.092
uh deliver the project before those

01:08:08.092 --> 01:08:11.709
Minutemen uh Tresage out ? Uh , thank

01:08:11.709 --> 01:08:13.876
you for the question , Senator . I , I

01:08:13.876 --> 01:08:15.931
would submit to you that we're doing

01:08:15.931 --> 01:08:17.598
very well , as , as we've had

01:08:17.598 --> 01:08:19.653
discussions numerous times . I think

01:08:19.653 --> 01:08:21.820
the progress is , is very focused in a

01:08:21.820 --> 01:08:23.876
sense that a lot of the planning has

01:08:23.876 --> 01:08:23.509
been done . The restructure will be

01:08:23.509 --> 01:08:25.790
done in 2026 , and we'll enter the

01:08:25.790 --> 01:08:27.901
milestone B phase and , and , and get

01:08:27.901 --> 01:08:30.012
that completed statutorily , but more

01:08:30.012 --> 01:08:32.179
importantly , Getting everyone aligned

01:08:32.179 --> 01:08:34.179
on a vision of what we need to do .

01:08:34.179 --> 01:08:36.234
Cost estimation will be completed in

01:08:36.234 --> 01:08:38.457
the summer . We've already gone through

01:08:38.457 --> 01:08:40.568
some of the requirements process with

01:08:40.568 --> 01:08:39.964
some of the folks on the panel with

01:08:40.035 --> 01:08:42.354
with me here today , and then getting

01:08:42.354 --> 01:08:44.935
to a place like , uh , what we're doing

01:08:44.935 --> 01:08:47.185
with , uh , the , the launch silo and

01:08:47.185 --> 01:08:49.241
actually having a prototyping effort

01:08:49.241 --> 01:08:51.185
that we just started in February .

01:08:51.185 --> 01:08:53.241
Additionally , we're also working on

01:08:53.241 --> 01:08:55.407
the missile side and the ability to do

01:08:55.407 --> 01:08:57.518
our first pad launch in 2027 , so the

01:08:57.518 --> 01:08:59.518
restructure is near complete . Uh ,

01:08:59.518 --> 01:09:01.574
milestone B will be done this year ,

01:09:01.574 --> 01:09:03.796
and then we'll have substantive process

01:09:03.796 --> 01:09:06.990
with prototyping on the silo side as

01:09:06.990 --> 01:09:10.659
well as . On the ground launch in terms

01:09:10.659 --> 01:09:13.238
of a pad launch for 2027 , I hope

01:09:13.238 --> 01:09:15.999
you'll give some thought to the

01:09:15.999 --> 01:09:17.999
structure of the contracts that are

01:09:17.999 --> 01:09:19.777
going to be involved . You were

01:09:19.777 --> 01:09:21.943
involved in the B-21 project , is that

01:09:21.943 --> 01:09:24.110
correct ? Yes sir . I think that's one

01:09:24.110 --> 01:09:25.832
of the most successful defense

01:09:25.832 --> 01:09:27.999
contracts . acquisitions we've done in

01:09:27.999 --> 01:09:30.166
many , many years , and I hope that we

01:09:30.166 --> 01:09:32.166
can think about some of the lessons

01:09:32.166 --> 01:09:34.332
learned there to apply to this project

01:09:34.332 --> 01:09:36.110
in terms of sharing the risk on

01:09:36.110 --> 01:09:38.221
development but having fixed price on

01:09:38.221 --> 01:09:40.778
actual implementation . So I think

01:09:40.778 --> 01:09:42.834
that's an important part of how this

01:09:42.834 --> 01:09:45.056
proceeds . Yes sir , and I think you'll

01:09:45.056 --> 01:09:47.222
find over time one of the first things

01:09:47.222 --> 01:09:48.945
I did was look deeply into the

01:09:48.945 --> 01:09:51.167
acquisition strategy , whether it's the

01:09:51.167 --> 01:09:50.619
most effective approach as we enter

01:09:50.619 --> 01:09:52.786
that milestone B and we go through the

01:09:52.786 --> 01:09:55.008
process , making sure we have the right

01:09:55.008 --> 01:09:56.952
structure in place that's going to

01:09:56.952 --> 01:09:56.088
ensure we're going to get the

01:09:56.088 --> 01:09:58.421
capability delivered to our warfighters .

01:09:58.938 --> 01:10:00.938
Thank you all , and again , Admiral

01:10:00.938 --> 01:10:02.938
Wolf , thank you so much for your ,

01:10:02.938 --> 01:10:04.827
your work and your work with this

01:10:04.827 --> 01:10:06.994
committee has been invaluable over the

01:10:06.994 --> 01:10:08.938
years and uh . Uh , Fair winds and

01:10:08.938 --> 01:10:10.882
following seas , sir . Thank you .

01:10:10.882 --> 01:10:12.994
Thank you , sir . Thank you , Senator

01:10:12.994 --> 01:10:15.105
King . Admiral Wolf , can you provide

01:10:15.105 --> 01:10:17.327
us with an update on the life extension

01:10:17.327 --> 01:10:19.640
program for the Trident ? Yes , ma'am .

01:10:19.919 --> 01:10:22.879
Um , so we are , we are on plan . We ,

01:10:23.009 --> 01:10:25.009
um , as we've worked through that ,

01:10:25.240 --> 01:10:27.018
we're looking at what the right

01:10:27.018 --> 01:10:28.907
architecture is gonna be . We are

01:10:28.907 --> 01:10:31.073
actually looking at with , with , um ,

01:10:31.073 --> 01:10:33.184
funding that this committee has given

01:10:33.184 --> 01:10:35.407
us to look to accelerate that program .

01:10:35.407 --> 01:10:37.518
To figure out how we can pull some of

01:10:37.518 --> 01:10:39.740
the testing to the left early . Um , as

01:10:39.740 --> 01:10:41.740
I said in my opening remarks , uh ,

01:10:41.740 --> 01:10:43.796
getting this new workforce trained ,

01:10:43.796 --> 01:10:45.962
getting them to learn , um , how to do

01:10:45.962 --> 01:10:48.129
this business . So , um , that's where

01:10:48.129 --> 01:10:50.240
we're at . We've gotten all , all the

01:10:50.240 --> 01:10:52.919
milestones to date . Um , so it's on

01:10:52.919 --> 01:10:55.030
track . Yes ma'am , we are definitely

01:10:55.030 --> 01:10:58.009
on track . 2039 . Yeah , well , so 2039

01:10:58.009 --> 01:11:01.379
is when we deploy the first weapon on

01:11:01.379 --> 01:11:03.657
track on Colombia . Yes ma'am , we are ,

01:11:03.657 --> 01:11:05.759
we are definitely on track . Yeah ,

01:11:06.129 --> 01:11:08.185
thank you . Uh , what do you think's

01:11:08.185 --> 01:11:12.049
the , the biggest risks , um , so you

01:11:12.049 --> 01:11:14.890
can timely execute these , um , these

01:11:14.890 --> 01:11:17.200
milestones . Yes , ma'am . I , I think

01:11:17.200 --> 01:11:19.759
the biggest risk is making sure that we

01:11:19.759 --> 01:11:21.870
get , uh , as I said , the industrial

01:11:21.870 --> 01:11:24.589
base back up to where they can , can

01:11:24.589 --> 01:11:26.422
actually execute this program at

01:11:26.422 --> 01:11:28.279
capacity . Um , and then on the

01:11:28.279 --> 01:11:30.240
government side , it really is

01:11:30.240 --> 01:11:32.184
understanding all the testing that

01:11:32.184 --> 01:11:34.479
we're gonna need to do , um , both from

01:11:34.479 --> 01:11:36.839
the PA and from the platform before we

01:11:36.839 --> 01:11:39.439
start deploying in 2039 . So that's

01:11:39.439 --> 01:11:41.383
what we're focused on right now is

01:11:41.383 --> 01:11:43.328
getting all of that capacity . And

01:11:43.328 --> 01:11:45.439
getting all of the systems where they

01:11:45.439 --> 01:11:47.550
need to get so we can start testing .

01:11:47.550 --> 01:11:49.661
OK , thank you . Uh , General Davis ,

01:11:49.709 --> 01:11:52.270
can you , uh , provide us with an

01:11:52.270 --> 01:11:55.189
update on , uh , the SEOC program ?

01:11:56.270 --> 01:11:58.919
Absolutely , uh , Chairman Fisher , uh ,

01:11:59.000 --> 01:12:01.259
the SEAC program is , uh , is , uh ,

01:12:01.319 --> 01:12:03.430
past milestone B . Uh , it's fully

01:12:03.430 --> 01:12:06.359
funded in the FY 27 budget . Uh , the

01:12:06.359 --> 01:12:08.581
team at , uh , Dayton , Ohio is working

01:12:08.581 --> 01:12:10.748
very hard . They've already acquired 4

01:12:10.748 --> 01:12:12.581
aircraft , uh , in engineering ,

01:12:12.581 --> 01:12:12.279
manufacturing , and development that

01:12:12.279 --> 01:12:14.390
they're converting into the new SEAAC

01:12:14.390 --> 01:12:16.501
platforms . We're expecting the first

01:12:16.501 --> 01:12:18.709
aircraft to show up at Omaha , which

01:12:18.709 --> 01:12:20.487
has been identified as the main

01:12:20.487 --> 01:12:23.589
operating base in the early 2030s , but

01:12:23.589 --> 01:12:25.645
that program is remaining on track ,

01:12:25.645 --> 01:12:27.811
but obviously there's a lot of work to

01:12:27.811 --> 01:12:29.978
do between now and that time . Are you

01:12:29.978 --> 01:12:31.645
going to be able to prevent a

01:12:31.645 --> 01:12:34.149
capability gap between NAOC and SAOC ?

01:12:34.979 --> 01:12:36.979
Ma'am , we'll absolutely be able to

01:12:36.979 --> 01:12:39.035
keep NAOC , uh , up and operating in

01:12:39.035 --> 01:12:41.090
its , in its current configuration .

01:12:41.090 --> 01:12:43.257
Until then it's a challenge and it's a

01:12:43.257 --> 01:12:42.720
very expensive platform to maintain .

01:12:43.379 --> 01:12:45.435
Uh , so any actions we can take that

01:12:45.435 --> 01:12:47.657
move SAOC forward , forward , and we're

01:12:47.657 --> 01:12:49.712
looking at a couple of those , I , I

01:12:49.712 --> 01:12:51.657
think will be worth the taxpayers'

01:12:51.657 --> 01:12:51.620
money . And once again , I think the

01:12:51.620 --> 01:12:53.787
sooner we can recapitalize that , uh ,

01:12:53.787 --> 01:12:55.898
the better off we'll be . Thank you ,

01:12:56.020 --> 01:12:58.242
General White . Uh , you've been in the

01:12:58.242 --> 01:13:00.890
role about 5 months . Yes ma'am . Is

01:13:00.890 --> 01:13:03.680
that right ? Uh , how do you think , um .

01:13:04.299 --> 01:13:06.859
The authorities that you that you've

01:13:06.859 --> 01:13:08.970
been given , how does that help you ,

01:13:08.970 --> 01:13:11.160
uh , cut through all the bureaucratic

01:13:11.160 --> 01:13:14.919
red tape ? Are we , are we , um ,

01:13:15.259 --> 01:13:17.315
giving you what you need , what we ,

01:13:17.315 --> 01:13:19.680
what we hoped would happen ? Well ,

01:13:19.759 --> 01:13:21.926
thank you for the question , Senator .

01:13:21.926 --> 01:13:23.981
I , I would say a resounding yes . I

01:13:23.981 --> 01:13:26.148
would say just some of the , the major

01:13:26.148 --> 01:13:25.959
acquisition decisions I've made in the

01:13:25.959 --> 01:13:28.200
first , uh , several months , uh ,

01:13:28.279 --> 01:13:30.335
we've probably cut the time by 60 to

01:13:30.335 --> 01:13:33.080
70% . Uh , a large reason for that is ,

01:13:33.120 --> 01:13:35.279
is , uh , as you've probably heard me

01:13:35.279 --> 01:13:37.501
state publicly , is I don't have a very

01:13:37.501 --> 01:13:39.835
large staff . Right now , at last count ,

01:13:39.835 --> 01:13:41.835
I have 23 people . And the reason I

01:13:41.835 --> 01:13:43.835
have 23 people is because there are

01:13:43.835 --> 01:13:45.723
thousands of people working these

01:13:45.723 --> 01:13:47.779
programs , and what they did need is

01:13:47.779 --> 01:13:47.459
another extended layer of oversight .

01:13:47.830 --> 01:13:50.189
So my staff is focused on expertise

01:13:50.189 --> 01:13:52.970
like , uh , strategic advisor , which

01:13:52.970 --> 01:13:55.220
is , um , provides legal advice . I

01:13:55.220 --> 01:13:57.276
have an expert in budget , expert in

01:13:57.276 --> 01:13:59.387
contracting . Uh , and I also have an

01:13:59.387 --> 01:14:01.498
operator as my deputy who is a , uh ,

01:14:01.498 --> 01:14:03.664
former B-2 pilot and has experience in

01:14:03.664 --> 01:14:05.776
Global strike command . So that gives

01:14:05.776 --> 01:14:07.553
me the ability to support these

01:14:07.553 --> 01:14:09.720
programs . Uh , as you know , I have a

01:14:09.720 --> 01:14:11.887
vast experience in many of these , and

01:14:11.887 --> 01:14:11.759
so I have the ability to look in and

01:14:11.759 --> 01:14:13.870
see where they need help , number 1 ,

01:14:13.870 --> 01:14:15.981
and number 2 , to be able to expedite

01:14:15.981 --> 01:14:18.148
decision making so that we can deliver

01:14:18.148 --> 01:14:20.370
these capabilities . And so I would say

01:14:20.370 --> 01:14:22.537
to this point , uh , the authorities ,

01:14:22.537 --> 01:14:21.950
as you well know , far exceed just

01:14:21.950 --> 01:14:24.061
acquisition . Um , but they've been a

01:14:24.061 --> 01:14:26.283
resounding success in allowing me to be

01:14:26.283 --> 01:14:28.394
able to have that freedom of maneuver

01:14:28.394 --> 01:14:30.506
within these programs and , uh , back

01:14:30.506 --> 01:14:33.220
to Sentinel , uh , how , um , how are

01:14:33.220 --> 01:14:36.580
you ensuring that , uh , we're gonna ,

01:14:36.700 --> 01:14:38.922
we're going to have a capable Minutemen

01:14:38.922 --> 01:14:41.979
3 until Sentinel's , uh , going to be

01:14:41.979 --> 01:14:43.868
fully deployed ? Well , first and

01:14:43.868 --> 01:14:45.812
foremost , as you'll see in the 27

01:14:45.812 --> 01:14:48.035
budget , we resource it . Uh , that's ,

01:14:48.035 --> 01:14:50.368
that's step one , and we have done that .

01:14:50.368 --> 01:14:52.479
You'll also . We also see an increase

01:14:52.479 --> 01:14:52.104
over time as we start getting more

01:14:52.104 --> 01:14:54.584
RDTNE to get modernization programs in

01:14:54.584 --> 01:14:57.064
place to ensure that that system not

01:14:57.064 --> 01:14:59.544
only remains sustainable , but in an

01:14:59.544 --> 01:15:01.766
area where it's maintainable . So we'll

01:15:01.766 --> 01:15:03.822
upgrade those portions of the system

01:15:03.822 --> 01:15:05.988
that we need to along the way . And so

01:15:05.988 --> 01:15:07.877
you'll have my commitment and the

01:15:07.877 --> 01:15:09.988
commitment of my team to make sure we

01:15:09.988 --> 01:15:09.825
continue that , um , and you'll see the

01:15:09.825 --> 01:15:12.047
Air Force standing with me side by side

01:15:12.047 --> 01:15:14.103
on making sure we get that done . So

01:15:14.103 --> 01:15:15.825
there's , there's certainly no

01:15:15.825 --> 01:15:17.936
confusion on the importance of making

01:15:17.936 --> 01:15:20.103
sure it's maintainable , sustainable ,

01:15:20.103 --> 01:15:21.881
and online . Well , I certainly

01:15:21.881 --> 01:15:24.047
appreciate the updates , uh , that you

01:15:24.047 --> 01:15:25.825
give Senator King and myself in

01:15:25.825 --> 01:15:27.870
classified briefings . Those are

01:15:27.870 --> 01:15:30.350
extremely helpful and it only helps

01:15:30.350 --> 01:15:32.819
instill confidence in , uh , the

01:15:32.819 --> 01:15:35.669
position you have and that that it is

01:15:35.669 --> 01:15:38.310
working and that we , uh , are able to

01:15:38.310 --> 01:15:41.200
move ahead . Um , for General White and

01:15:41.200 --> 01:15:43.310
General Davis , how are you both

01:15:43.310 --> 01:15:46.270
working together along with Admiral

01:15:46.270 --> 01:15:48.990
Correll to ensure that

01:15:48.990 --> 01:15:51.390
Stratcom's requirements are going to be

01:15:51.390 --> 01:15:53.446
met with all these programs ? I'll ,

01:15:53.446 --> 01:15:55.446
I'll lead off and then I'll turn it

01:15:55.446 --> 01:15:57.446
over to my good friend SL . I think

01:15:57.446 --> 01:15:59.612
first and foremost , and it's just not

01:15:59.612 --> 01:16:01.946
Admiral Correll and , and General Davis ,

01:16:01.946 --> 01:16:04.057
it's also Doctor Cadli . And so sorry

01:16:04.057 --> 01:16:05.890
to have left you out . The , the

01:16:05.890 --> 01:16:07.810
success of our ability . To be we

01:16:07.810 --> 01:16:09.977
should throw in Admiral Wolf as well ,

01:16:10.009 --> 01:16:12.009
you know , it's his last , it's his

01:16:12.009 --> 01:16:14.120
last , it's your last one . We , we ,

01:16:14.120 --> 01:16:16.176
we do work together actually in many

01:16:16.176 --> 01:16:18.398
areas , yeah . And so the , the idea is

01:16:18.398 --> 01:16:20.453
simply that we , we operate a single

01:16:20.453 --> 01:16:22.565
mine and we're very well integrated .

01:16:22.565 --> 01:16:22.379
There's no gaps and seams . It's the

01:16:22.379 --> 01:16:24.601
first thing I said when I came on board

01:16:24.601 --> 01:16:26.823
is my ability to , for us , the four of

01:16:26.823 --> 01:16:29.180
us to work together on these major

01:16:29.180 --> 01:16:30.958
programs with B-21 and Sentinel

01:16:30.958 --> 01:16:32.624
especially is going to be the

01:16:32.624 --> 01:16:34.791
foundation of my success . And I would

01:16:34.791 --> 01:16:36.791
say we have a routine battle rhythm

01:16:36.791 --> 01:16:39.013
where Admiral Correll , General White ,

01:16:39.013 --> 01:16:41.069
and I get together every 2 weeks . I

01:16:41.069 --> 01:16:43.069
meet with Admiral White every other

01:16:43.069 --> 01:16:45.291
week , uh , to discuss these programs .

01:16:45.291 --> 01:16:47.347
I would say past that , I've had the

01:16:47.347 --> 01:16:47.339
opportunity to work with both , uh ,

01:16:47.359 --> 01:16:49.415
General White and Admiral Correll in

01:16:49.415 --> 01:16:51.470
previous jobs . So I have a personal

01:16:51.470 --> 01:16:53.748
relationship with both of them as well .

01:16:53.748 --> 01:16:55.859
So I think that keeps everything flat

01:16:55.859 --> 01:16:55.209
and allows us to have frank

01:16:55.209 --> 01:16:57.320
conversation conversation . about the

01:16:57.320 --> 01:16:59.542
needs of the program and to keep moving

01:16:59.542 --> 01:17:01.598
this forward . The alignment at this

01:17:01.598 --> 01:17:03.598
point , I would say is as strong as

01:17:03.598 --> 01:17:05.709
it's probably ever been across all of

01:17:05.709 --> 01:17:07.876
these different positions and , and if

01:17:07.876 --> 01:17:10.042
we have to maintain that to be able to

01:17:10.042 --> 01:17:09.830
execute the outcomes we want . Thank

01:17:09.830 --> 01:17:11.830
you . Thank you very much , Senator

01:17:11.830 --> 01:17:14.052
King . Did you have other questions ? I

01:17:14.052 --> 01:17:15.997
just wanted to make an observation

01:17:15.997 --> 01:17:18.052
because we're all talking sort of in

01:17:18.052 --> 01:17:20.274
detail . One of the issues we're facing

01:17:20.274 --> 01:17:22.274
and we're facing a difficult budget

01:17:22.274 --> 01:17:24.386
situation , as you know , the deficit

01:17:24.386 --> 01:17:26.719
is now itself a national security issue .

01:17:26.719 --> 01:17:28.886
That's going to have to be addressed .

01:17:28.886 --> 01:17:30.941
The unfortunate truth is though that

01:17:31.080 --> 01:17:33.479
it's fallen to the lot of all of us to

01:17:33.479 --> 01:17:36.200
modernize the entire nuclear triad at

01:17:36.200 --> 01:17:39.149
once . Uh , Probably in retrospect we

01:17:39.149 --> 01:17:41.149
should have been doing pieces of it

01:17:41.149 --> 01:17:45.140
over the last 30+ years . Plus , as

01:17:45.200 --> 01:17:47.919
we heard previously , we're having to

01:17:47.919 --> 01:17:50.600
modernize the nuclear weapon production

01:17:50.600 --> 01:17:53.799
as well as the triad platforms . Uh , I

01:17:53.799 --> 01:17:55.966
refer to it as the , as the pig in the

01:17:55.966 --> 01:17:59.080
budgetary python . It's a , it's a lump

01:17:59.080 --> 01:18:01.191
that's moving through that we're just

01:18:01.191 --> 01:18:03.859
gonna have to swallow , uh , in order

01:18:03.859 --> 01:18:06.700
to maintain . The basic

01:18:07.479 --> 01:18:09.859
bedrock of our national security

01:18:09.859 --> 01:18:11.692
strategy , which is deterrence .

01:18:12.120 --> 01:18:14.319
Deterrence consists of capacity and

01:18:14.319 --> 01:18:17.439
will , and our adversaries have to

01:18:17.439 --> 01:18:19.661
understand that we have both . And what

01:18:19.661 --> 01:18:21.606
you're working on right now is the

01:18:21.606 --> 01:18:23.720
capacity part , and I believe that's

01:18:23.720 --> 01:18:25.942
what's so important about the work that

01:18:25.942 --> 01:18:28.750
we're doing in Sentinel , in the B-21 ,

01:18:28.799 --> 01:18:32.589
and also in . In Colombia , so , uh ,

01:18:32.700 --> 01:18:34.867
I just , I , I think it's important to

01:18:34.867 --> 01:18:37.089
sort of look , look on this as a , as a

01:18:37.089 --> 01:18:39.180
bigger picture in terms of , of

01:18:39.180 --> 01:18:41.899
appropriations and , and , and expenses .

01:18:41.979 --> 01:18:43.757
This is not something that will

01:18:43.757 --> 01:18:45.812
continue forever . We'll get . We'll

01:18:45.812 --> 01:18:47.979
get through these new programs . It is

01:18:47.979 --> 01:18:49.590
unfortunate from a budgetary

01:18:49.590 --> 01:18:51.701
perspective we're having to do it all

01:18:51.701 --> 01:18:53.923
at once , but , uh , it's nonetheless ,

01:18:54.279 --> 01:18:56.501
uh , so critical to national security .

01:18:56.560 --> 01:18:58.560
So I wanna thank all of you for the

01:18:58.560 --> 01:19:00.504
work that you're doing , Secretary

01:19:00.504 --> 01:19:02.838
Callllick . I , I really appreciate the ,

01:19:02.838 --> 01:19:05.004
the role that you're playing and , and

01:19:05.004 --> 01:19:07.171
be aggressive . Don't let them , don't

01:19:07.171 --> 01:19:09.393
let them poach on your , on your , uh ,

01:19:09.393 --> 01:19:11.449
authority here . Your , your job was

01:19:11.449 --> 01:19:13.449
created for a purpose and it's very

01:19:13.449 --> 01:19:15.560
important . Uh , to have that central

01:19:15.560 --> 01:19:17.616
coordinating function . So thank you

01:19:17.616 --> 01:19:19.671
very much for your testimony today .

01:19:19.671 --> 01:19:21.782
Thank you , Madam Chair . Thank you ,

01:19:21.782 --> 01:19:23.560
Senator King , and I think it's

01:19:23.560 --> 01:19:25.671
important , um , for , for all of you

01:19:25.671 --> 01:19:28.370
and also for our committee as a whole

01:19:28.709 --> 01:19:30.876
to remind the American people that the

01:19:30.876 --> 01:19:33.709
first duty of Congress is for the

01:19:33.709 --> 01:19:36.069
defense of this country . It is for

01:19:36.069 --> 01:19:39.649
national security . And as all of you

01:19:39.649 --> 01:19:42.930
say , uh , the deterrence that our

01:19:42.930 --> 01:19:45.709
nuclear forces provide is the bedrock

01:19:45.970 --> 01:19:48.479
of that security . Thank you for the

01:19:48.479 --> 01:19:50.812
important work you do . Thank you again ,

01:19:50.812 --> 01:19:52.923
Admiral . Wolf . Wish you well in the

01:19:52.923 --> 01:19:54.759
future . We are adjourned .