WEBVTT

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Let's say the committee meets today to

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consider expected nomination of Mr

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Lloyd J . Austin , the third to be

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secretary of defense of the United

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States of American . I think all of you

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guys for being here . It's been a

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hardship on many of you , and it was on

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me to and were able to get this done .

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So , Mr Austin , we welcome you in a

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warm welcome to Charlene , your wife of

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more than 41 years . My wife and I were

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61 years . Think you'll make it ? You

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all right ? It We are

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very happy . Mr . Austin , you'll be

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introduced now by Senator Sullivan , a

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member of our committee . Senators

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Sullivan . Thank you , Mr Chairman .

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Last time we were together , a

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senator's our capital was under siege .

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America's authoritarian rivals abroad

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have been gloating about our disunity .

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Democracy brings chaos . They tell

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their people better to have a strong

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hand that keeps order . We live in an

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imperfect democracy , No doubt in the

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American . I am proud and honored to

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introduce Mr Lloyd . Austin understands

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our imperfections more than many . But

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on closer inspection , the world's

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dictators have little to celebrate .

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Congress went back to work on January 6

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to count Electoral College votes .

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Tomorrow there will be a transfer of

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power at the top of our government , as

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there has been since the founding of

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our republic . At some point , Chinese

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and Russian citizens will ask , Why

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can't we do that ? Why don't we have

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strong , resilient institutions that

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ensure the regular election of new

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leaders , invest self government and

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the people ? When these questions are

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asked , authoritarians like Xi Jinping

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and Putin won't be gloating anymore

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because they don't have answers . What

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does this all have to do with Lloyd

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Austin ? Ah , lot . Mr . Austin has

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been nominated to lead one of America's

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most trusted institutions , the

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Department of Defense . Many of us have

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worked hard to rebuild our military ,

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but we can all agree that there has

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been too much turmoil at the top . As

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its civilian leader , I am confident

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that Mr Austin will bring steadiness ,

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leadership and respect to this

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indispensable institution . I got to

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know Mr Austin in 2005 . In 2006 ,

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serving together in an Army heavy

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combatant command conducting combat

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operations throughout the Middle East ,

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we had what might be described today as

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an uneven power relationship . He was a

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two star general . I was a major . He

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had spent decades on active duty . I

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was a reservist . He was a soldier . I

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was a Marine . I was just one of

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hundreds of field grade infantry

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officers recall the active duty

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deployed in the region during a

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challenging time for our nation . But

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when I asked for his help , Mr Austin

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gave it . When I had a problem , he

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listened . And when I asked for

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guidance on an important mission , he

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provided it . The critical hallmark of

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exceptional leadership , especially for

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organizations like the Pentagon , is

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not just how one treats superiors , but

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how one treats subordinates . What I

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saw was respect , integrity and someone

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who gets things done in a difficult

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environment . It is clear to me that

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the core principles of Mr Austin's life

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have been duty , honor , country . That

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may sound quaint to some , but I think

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having individuals of impeccable

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character at the top of our government

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is more important than ever . Other

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than integrity , there is no singular

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requirement for the difficult job of

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secretary defense , but is the former

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director of the Joint Staff and Centcom

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commander Mr Austen , certainly has

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insights on critical issues such as

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inter agency budget battles , working

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with our allies and congressional

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oversight . Mr . Austin is fully

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committed to the constitutional

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principle of civilian control of our

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military , something that those who

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serve in uniform typically understand

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and revere more than those who don't in

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that regard . I thought some of the

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testimony from our recent hearing on

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this important topic was a bit

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simplistic , with discussions about so

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called military logic versus political

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logic . So let me play Devil's Advocate .

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The very nature of this confirmation

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hearing is evidence that civilian

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control of the military is not at risk

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in America . I believe they're related .

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But opposite problem should be of more

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concerned today . No military

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experience in the top ranks of our

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government . With the exception of Mr

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Austen , no nominee on the incoming

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Biden national security team has ever

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served in uniform with regard to the

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entire Biden Cabinet Onley . One other

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nominee has any military experience at

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all . This is not wise . If

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confirmed , I'm sure I won't agree with

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all of Mr Austin's decisions . But when

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the inevitable budget battles occur ,

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it will be critical for our nation's

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security and military members to have a

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secretary defense who understands first

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hands the very riel morale and

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readiness problems that result from

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drastic cuts to our military . Let me

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conclude with this . We're living

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through difficult times a pandemic ,

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racial tensions , riots , turmoil at

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the top of the Pentagon and rising

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dangers from China , Russia and Iran .

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Mr . Austin's confirmation won't solve

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all these problems , but it will help .

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He represents the best of America , a

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man of integrity , humility and

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character with a wealth of relevant

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experience . Our allies will take

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comfort in his confirmation , and our

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adversaries will take pause . And as

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America's first black secretary defense ,

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he will be an inspiration to millions

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both in and out of uniform . I urge my

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college colleagues to support his

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confirmation in the waiver it requires .

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Thank you , Mr Chairman . Thank you ,

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Senator Sullivan and I do agree with

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your comments who heartedly and I

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believe that we're gonna be doing the

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right thing here . Now we have another

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introduction by Secretary Panetta , a

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former secretary of you have defense

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and former very close friend of mine

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who served together in the house

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together . And it's not . It's been too

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long uh , Secretary Panetta

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and you are recognized for your part of

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this introduction . Thank you very much ,

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Mr Chairman . Senator Inhofe .

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I always enjoyed our friendship going

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back to the House of Representatives

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ranking member read on distinguished

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members of this committee . It's an

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honor for me to again have the

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opportunity to appear before this

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distinguished committee , this time

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alongside Senator Dan Sullivan . Thio

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Introduce President elect Biden's

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nominee to be the 28th secretary

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of defense Lloyd Austin

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We do meet at a time of great peril for

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our nation , but it's also a time of

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great promise . We have endured ,

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ah , harrowing year dealing with the

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deadly pandemic and , most recently ,

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a violent attack on our capital . This

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Congress and our democracy itself .

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Our adversaries are watching very

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closely . They're trying to determine

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whether America will remain the

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strongest and most resilient democracy

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the world has ever known .

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It's also a time of great promise .

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Tomorrow at this time , our country

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will have a new president , a man who

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many of you know personally from his

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decades of service as the United States

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senator , a man who alive knew him

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for over 40 years and had the privilege

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to work with during my years in the

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Congress in the White House , and

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I was honored to serve him when he was

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vice president of CIA director and

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Secretary of Defense Joe

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Biden is absolutely committed

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to ensuring that we remain the

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strongest military power on the face of

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the Earth . He believes that we must

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have the best trained , best equipped

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and most capable fighting force in the

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world . And he believes that the

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Department of Defense must be led by

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someone who not only knows the issues

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of war and peace but also knows the

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heart and soul , the women and men who

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bravely wear the uniforms with their

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lives on the line and fight for our

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freedom . That's why he selected

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Lloyd Austin to serve a secretary of

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defense . Lloyds accomplishments of the

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Department of Defense are without Peer .

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Graduated from West Point . He's

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leading . He led troops at almost every

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level , commanded in combat ,

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served as America's military commander

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During the draw down in Iraq , he

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served his vice chief of staff of the

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army and as commanding general of the U .

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S . Central Command . And all of you

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know that that's one of the key combat

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commands at the Department of Defense .

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I met Lloyd when I came to D o D . A

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secretary in July of 2011 .

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We had just six months to implement the

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drawdown in Iraq , and Lloyd

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was the man on the ground charged with

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getting a gun . It was a

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huge logistical task .

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He consulted carefully with the

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president with the vice president ,

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national security adviser , his

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colleagues at the State Department and

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those in the intelligence community .

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And he carried out with diligence and

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professionalism the plan that was set

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forth by me and other civilian leaders

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at the Pentagon . He had to

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negotiate with the Iraqis . We're not

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easy to negotiate with at that time and

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ensure that our troops and all of their

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equipment could redeploy safely

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while protecting America's court .

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National security interests

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mentioned this episode because I know

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that many of you are wondering whether

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a former general officer can uphold the

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principle of civilian control of the

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military . I've spoken toe

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Lloyd and there is no doubt in my mind

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that he will uphold the principle of

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civilian control and

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frankly , the best military officers

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and I had the honor to serve with are

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those who understand the importance

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of civilian control . And Lloyd was one

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of those . He will respect the civilian

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chain of command , enshrined not only

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in tradition but in law . He

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will ensure there is transparency and

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accountability at the Pentagon . He'll

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make himself and department leaders

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available to this committee and to the

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Congress for oversight , and he'll

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provide regular briefings to the

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American people . He will support the

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appointment of civilian leaders

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across the office of the secretary and

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the department . He

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knows that while we cannot defend our

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nation without our armed forces ,

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we cannot defend our democratic form of

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government without strong civilian

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stewardship of our national security .

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Lloyd Austin There's a man of uncommon

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character and decency . Encourage is

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a Trailblazer feared by our enemies

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and admired by those that he left .

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He was the first African American

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general officer , so lead the Army

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Corps in combat . He was the first

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African American to command an entire

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theater of war , and if

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confirmed , he will be the first

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African American to lead the Department

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of Defense in some Mr chairman

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and members of the committee . I

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believe that Lloyd Austin is the right

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person at the right time ,

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man that we need at this moment lead

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the Department of Defense . He's clear

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eyed about the threats , and we know

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there are a number of threats We're

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dealing with a broad China , Russia ,

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Iran , North Korea , cyber Attackers

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and terrorists . He understands the

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value of alliances , keeping them

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strong supporting that .

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And he's prepared to shoulder the

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awesome burden of sending our best men

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and women in uniform , if necessary ,

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into harm's way . The most difficult

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task we who have been secretary of

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defense had to assume

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as Americans watched the tragic

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images from the Capitol Rotunda in

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January 6th on January 6th ,

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I was reminded of one painting in that

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space that has always represented , for

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me the ideal of service to country .

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That's the oil painting of George

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Washington , resigning his commission

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as general in the Army so that he could

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assume the duties being the nation's

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first president . It's a

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statement about our democratic form of

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government that has stood the test of

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time in that hollowed citadel of

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liberty , the tradition of military

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leaders from Washington ,

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Eisenhower Marshall to the large

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number of veterans we're serving in

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Congress today , including my own son

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of taking off our uniforms , returning

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to civilian life the lead , and to

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serve again that tradition .

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It is as old as our republic itself

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and essential the quality of leadership

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we need in order to protect our

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Constitution and our national security .

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I am absolutely confident that Lloyd

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Austin will follow in that tradition .

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I'm honored to introduce him to the

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committee and urged his swift

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confirmation . Thank you ,

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Secretary Panetta . It's great to be

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with you again after all these years ,

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and you haven't lost a thing . Uh ,

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okay . Mm .

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Mr Austin , we have our first seven

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questions . And you know what ? There

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are . So you're ready to answer them ,

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but answer him audibly . If you would

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have you adhered to applicable laws and

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regulations governing conflict of

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interest , I have Will you

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ensure that your staff complies with

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deadlines established for requested

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communications , including questions ?

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For the record in hearings , I will .

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Will you cooperate in providing

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witnesses and briefers in response to

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congressional requests ? I will . Will

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those witnesses be protected from

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Reprisal for their testimony or

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briefings ? They will . Do you agree ,

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if confirmed , to appear and testify

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upon request before this committee , I

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do . And do you agree to provide

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documents including copies of

18:10.777 --> 18:12.943
electronic forms of communication in a

18:12.943 --> 18:15.240
timely matter when requested by a duly

18:15.240 --> 18:17.730
constituted , constituted committee ,

18:17.740 --> 18:20.010
or to consult with the committee

18:20.010 --> 18:22.288
regarding the basis for any good faith ,

18:22.288 --> 18:25.090
delay or denial in providing such

18:25.090 --> 18:27.910
documents ? I do . And have you assumed

18:27.910 --> 18:30.420
any duties or undertaking any actions ,

18:30.870 --> 18:32.840
which would appear to presume the

18:32.840 --> 18:36.170
outcome of the confirmation process ? I

18:36.170 --> 18:39.200
have not thank you very much . As

18:39.210 --> 18:41.870
Secretary Panetta clearly stated , We

18:41.870 --> 18:45.050
don't have a There's not a time in the

18:45.050 --> 18:47.161
past that we've had more threats that

18:47.161 --> 18:49.970
we're facing today and , uh ,

18:53.440 --> 18:55.570
focused on the ensuring

18:58.340 --> 19:01.400
and resource to implement this . The

19:01.400 --> 19:03.233
national defense strategy . This

19:03.233 --> 19:05.740
document is a document that means a lot

19:05.740 --> 19:07.629
to all of us here . It's been our

19:07.629 --> 19:10.240
blueprint we've used since 2018 , put

19:10.240 --> 19:13.550
together by six uh , knowledgeable

19:13.550 --> 19:15.217
Democrats , six knowledgeable

19:15.217 --> 19:17.600
Republicans and it's served as our

19:17.600 --> 19:19.822
blueprint , and I would assume that you

19:19.822 --> 19:22.980
would consider continue to do that as

19:22.980 --> 19:25.202
the secretary of Defense , second chain

19:25.202 --> 19:27.360
of command . You'd be responsible and

19:27.360 --> 19:29.360
accountable to the president of the

19:29.360 --> 19:31.249
United States and to the American

19:31.249 --> 19:33.471
people for implementing this strategy .

19:33.471 --> 19:35.416
I look forward to learning how you

19:35.416 --> 19:37.582
would drive military readiness for the

19:37.582 --> 19:39.638
strategic competition with China and

19:39.638 --> 19:41.804
Russia , which would have talked about

19:41.804 --> 19:44.050
at length there . How you will also

19:44.050 --> 19:46.106
handle some of the provocations from

19:46.106 --> 19:48.550
rogue nations like Iran and North Korea .

19:49.040 --> 19:51.280
Even worse is that our military's

19:51.280 --> 19:53.560
technology advantage advantage has

19:53.560 --> 19:55.980
eroded . We released the old days when

19:55.980 --> 19:57.980
we had the best of everything , and

19:57.980 --> 20:00.350
that's that's not true anymore . We saw

20:00.360 --> 20:02.660
way fell down a little bit . I know .

20:02.670 --> 20:06.550
Between the years of 2010 and 2015 , we

20:06.550 --> 20:08.606
were dropping our military , our our

20:08.606 --> 20:11.290
defense in terms of dollars , down by

20:11.290 --> 20:14.310
about 25% while China was increasing .

20:14.310 --> 20:17.670
There's , uh , Mr Charleston by

20:17.680 --> 20:21.500
83% and that's not acceptable . The

20:21.510 --> 20:23.510
nation and Department of Defense is

20:23.510 --> 20:25.732
gonna tackle this problem head on if we

20:25.732 --> 20:27.899
hope to preserve and defend our way of

20:27.899 --> 20:30.560
life from those who would do harm to us .

20:30.940 --> 20:33.460
If confirmed , you would have the honor

20:33.460 --> 20:35.404
of leading a team of Americans who

20:35.404 --> 20:37.460
represent everything that is noble .

20:37.460 --> 20:39.682
Invest for our nation , our soldiers or

20:39.682 --> 20:42.920
sailors , airman , Marines , space

20:42.920 --> 20:45.390
guardians , our military families and ,

20:45.400 --> 20:47.622
by the way , on the military families .

20:47.622 --> 20:49.622
We always hear from those who are a

20:49.622 --> 20:51.844
little less enthusiastic about a strong

20:51.844 --> 20:53.844
national defense that we spend more

20:53.844 --> 20:55.900
than Russia and China put together .

20:55.900 --> 20:57.900
And there's a reason for that . The

20:57.900 --> 20:57.430
reason for that is we care about the

20:57.430 --> 20:59.720
families we care about housing we care

20:59.720 --> 21:01.942
about . The largest single expense that

21:01.942 --> 21:04.276
we have in military is for our families ,

21:04.276 --> 21:06.109
our military families . Now in a

21:06.109 --> 21:08.442
communist country , you don't have that .

21:08.442 --> 21:10.609
They just give you a gun , said Go out

21:10.609 --> 21:12.664
and shoot people . So this is That's

21:12.664 --> 21:14.887
what we are concerned about and we will

21:14.887 --> 21:17.760
continue to do that are many defense

21:17.770 --> 21:20.170
civil servants also sacrificed day in

21:20.170 --> 21:22.392
and day out for a national security and

21:22.392 --> 21:24.750
really get credit for they deserve .

21:24.760 --> 21:26.704
The department will require strong

21:26.704 --> 21:28.927
civilian leadership for you to serve as

21:28.927 --> 21:30.927
the secretary of defense . Congress

21:30.927 --> 21:32.982
must provide an exception to the law

21:32.982 --> 21:35.093
that prohibits individuals from being

21:35.093 --> 21:37.038
appointed if they are within seven

21:37.038 --> 21:39.260
years of their military service . Last

21:39.260 --> 21:41.482
week , this committee held a hearing on

21:41.482 --> 21:43.760
civilian control of the armed services ,

21:43.760 --> 21:45.982
which I think it was instructive . I've

21:45.982 --> 21:48.204
never been all that concerned about the

21:48.204 --> 21:50.482
seven years , but others , others have .

21:50.482 --> 21:53.630
I hope that you will share with the

21:53.640 --> 21:55.862
committee what actions you will take to

21:55.862 --> 21:58.930
ensure your tenure reflects reflects in ,

21:58.940 --> 22:02.050
uh protects the principle of civilian

22:02.050 --> 22:04.050
control of the military . If you're

22:04.050 --> 22:06.217
confirmed , we look forward to hearing

22:06.217 --> 22:08.860
your views on these and other important

22:08.870 --> 22:11.890
issues . Senator Reid . Well , thank

22:11.890 --> 22:13.890
you very much , Mr Chairman , and I

22:13.890 --> 22:15.946
join you in welcoming Lloyd Austin .

22:15.946 --> 22:18.057
Today's hearing . General , I want to

22:18.057 --> 22:20.001
thank you for your four decades of

22:20.001 --> 22:22.223
military service to our country , and I

22:22.223 --> 22:24.334
appreciate your willingness to return

22:24.334 --> 22:26.168
to public service this time in a

22:26.168 --> 22:28.168
civilian capacity . In addition , I

22:28.168 --> 22:30.490
wanna welcome your wife Charlene , also

22:30.490 --> 22:32.434
want to recognize and thank former

22:32.434 --> 22:34.657
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta , who

22:34.657 --> 22:36.934
spoke on your behalf and , in addition ,

22:36.934 --> 22:38.546
center to Sullivan for their

22:38.546 --> 22:40.768
introductions . Today's hearing is also

22:40.768 --> 22:42.934
very different from previous Secretary

22:42.934 --> 22:44.990
Defense nomination hearings . Due to

22:44.990 --> 22:47.046
recent security threats , the acting

22:47.046 --> 22:48.934
sector defense has authorized the

22:48.934 --> 22:51.020
deployment of 25,000 National Guard

22:51.020 --> 22:53.610
troops to Washington D . C . I never

22:53.610 --> 22:55.443
thought I would see such a large

22:55.443 --> 22:57.610
display of U . S military force on the

22:57.610 --> 22:59.666
streets of our country . I thank the

22:59.666 --> 23:01.777
service members and the other federal

23:01.777 --> 23:03.943
agencies for ensuring that the U . S .

23:03.943 --> 23:05.999
Capitol and the inauguration is safe

23:05.999 --> 23:08.054
and secure . In addition , the world

23:08.054 --> 23:10.110
continues to be engulfed in a global

23:10.110 --> 23:12.221
pandemic that is course , hundreds of

23:12.221 --> 23:12.160
thousands of deaths in the United

23:12.160 --> 23:14.570
States and second , millions more .

23:14.940 --> 23:17.051
This has not only affected the way we

23:17.051 --> 23:19.162
conduct our hearings , but has become

23:19.162 --> 23:20.884
the paramount issue facing new

23:20.884 --> 23:22.607
administration , including the

23:22.607 --> 23:24.884
Department of Defense . General Austin ,

23:24.884 --> 23:27.162
You have a longer distinguished career .

23:27.162 --> 23:29.384
You have served the highest echelons in

23:29.384 --> 23:31.384
the Army and capture service as the

23:31.384 --> 23:33.440
commander of US Central Command . If

23:33.440 --> 23:35.662
confirmed the next sector defense , you

23:35.662 --> 23:37.773
will face a daunting array of current

23:37.773 --> 23:39.884
and emerging security threats . U . S

23:39.884 --> 23:41.940
strategic priorities have shifted in

23:41.940 --> 23:44.107
region ears , as reflected in the 2018

23:44.107 --> 23:46.290
National Defense Strategy to focus

23:46.290 --> 23:47.957
increasingly on the near peer

23:47.957 --> 23:50.130
competition with China and Russia . At

23:50.130 --> 23:51.574
the same time , the Trump

23:51.574 --> 23:53.797
administration , through its disruptive

23:53.797 --> 23:55.686
behavior , has eroded faith in US

23:55.686 --> 23:57.820
global leadership with adverse

23:57.820 --> 24:00.070
strategic consequences . Indeed , our

24:00.080 --> 24:02.510
national defense strategy must be a

24:02.510 --> 24:04.890
component oven overall national

24:04.890 --> 24:07.490
security strategy that embraces all

24:07.490 --> 24:09.700
aspects of soft power as well as

24:09.700 --> 24:12.260
military power . As a former commander

24:12.260 --> 24:14.093
of US Central command . You have

24:14.093 --> 24:15.982
valuable experience to addressing

24:15.982 --> 24:18.260
security threats in Iraq , Afghanistan ,

24:18.260 --> 24:20.204
Syria , Yemen and elsewhere in the

24:20.204 --> 24:22.280
Centcom area of operations . The

24:22.280 --> 24:24.447
incoming Biden administration faces an

24:24.447 --> 24:26.669
immediate challenge With respect to our

24:26.669 --> 24:28.391
rand's brewing growing nuclear

24:28.400 --> 24:30.070
ballistic missile and proxy

24:30.070 --> 24:32.010
capabilities , the Department of

24:32.010 --> 24:34.550
Defense will pick a key role in

24:34.550 --> 24:36.217
deterring these threats while

24:36.217 --> 24:38.550
supporting diplomatic efforts in Iraq

24:38.550 --> 24:40.680
and Syria . While the physical Isis

24:40.680 --> 24:42.569
caliphate has been defeated , the

24:42.569 --> 24:44.624
underlying factors they gave rise to

24:44.624 --> 24:46.740
Isis and Al Qaeda remained largely

24:46.750 --> 24:49.070
unaddressed . Defending against

24:49.080 --> 24:51.500
transnational violence . Extremist

24:51.500 --> 24:53.760
groups will require continued vigilance

24:54.240 --> 24:56.410
in Afghanistan . Our allies and

24:56.410 --> 24:58.770
partners need to be reassured that

24:58.770 --> 25:00.937
going forward , they will be consulted

25:00.937 --> 25:03.480
upfront on any changes in U . S . Force

25:03.480 --> 25:05.800
posture . The incoming administration

25:05.800 --> 25:07.911
will need to assess the conditions on

25:07.911 --> 25:09.856
the ground , including whether the

25:09.856 --> 25:11.967
Taliban is in fact living up to their

25:11.967 --> 25:14.189
commitments and what level of supported

25:14.189 --> 25:16.020
required to protect US national

25:16.020 --> 25:18.580
security interest invigorate a

25:18.590 --> 25:20.950
diplomatic solution . In addition to

25:20.950 --> 25:23.117
these broad strategic challenges , the

25:23.117 --> 25:25.006
secretary defense , you must also

25:25.006 --> 25:27.130
grapple with issues specific to the

25:27.130 --> 25:29.300
management of the department . The

25:29.300 --> 25:31.950
physical year 2022 budget were the

25:31.950 --> 25:33.894
first that is unconstrained by the

25:33.894 --> 25:36.380
Budget Control Act . And some view this

25:36.380 --> 25:38.430
as an opportunity to redirect the

25:38.430 --> 25:41.180
overall defense budget this year will

25:41.180 --> 25:43.347
mark an inflection point , and how the

25:43.347 --> 25:45.830
department prioritizes resource is it

25:45.830 --> 25:48.430
needs to accomplish its missions . The

25:48.430 --> 25:50.660
department most focused its efforts on

25:50.660 --> 25:53.010
critical technologies like artificial

25:53.010 --> 25:55.150
intelligence , quantum computing ,

25:55.160 --> 25:57.970
biotechnology and cybersecurity , while

25:57.970 --> 26:00.300
also emphasizing rapid delivery of

26:00.300 --> 26:02.340
advanced new weapons systems on

26:02.340 --> 26:04.580
timelines that keep pace with

26:04.580 --> 26:07.070
technological change . The Department

26:07.070 --> 26:09.181
of Defense most partner with Congress

26:09.440 --> 26:11.760
to find ways to retire legacy systems

26:11.770 --> 26:13.659
without incurring too much risk ,

26:13.659 --> 26:16.650
operationally or economically . The

26:16.650 --> 26:18.372
department also has management

26:18.372 --> 26:20.483
challenges that require investment in

26:20.483 --> 26:22.780
great people to manage the complexities

26:22.780 --> 26:24.760
of the Pentagon and its processes

26:25.140 --> 26:27.251
rather than endless search for budget

26:27.251 --> 26:29.029
cuts and workforce reductions .

26:29.440 --> 26:31.384
Ensuring a robust funding for full

26:31.384 --> 26:33.107
spectrum readiness , including

26:33.107 --> 26:35.051
additional home station training ,

26:35.051 --> 26:37.850
flying hours , steaming days , depot

26:37.850 --> 26:39.572
maintenance and installation .

26:39.572 --> 26:41.628
Sustainment has been a high priority

26:41.628 --> 26:43.683
for this committee , and I expect it

26:43.683 --> 26:45.850
will be yours , too . The department

26:45.850 --> 26:48.120
must also hold private housing

26:48.120 --> 26:51.380
companies and their defense chain of

26:51.380 --> 26:53.470
command accountable to ensure family

26:53.480 --> 26:55.990
live in the homes they deserve , our

26:55.990 --> 26:57.823
men and women in uniform and the

26:57.823 --> 26:59.934
civilian workforce that supports them

27:00.140 --> 27:02.251
remain this committee's top concern ,

27:02.440 --> 27:04.273
and they must be yours as well .

27:04.640 --> 27:06.862
Recruiting and retaining a sufficiently

27:06.862 --> 27:08.973
size trained and equipped military of

27:08.973 --> 27:11.140
the necessary quality of character and

27:11.140 --> 27:12.918
talent to meet national defense

27:12.918 --> 27:15.450
requirements is always a paramount goal

27:15.450 --> 27:17.728
of secretary defense in this committee .

27:18.040 --> 27:20.096
Successful recruiting , ensuring the

27:20.096 --> 27:21.984
health , the forces . Bannon will

27:21.984 --> 27:23.984
continue to be a challenge while we

27:23.984 --> 27:25.873
finish the national fight against

27:25.873 --> 27:28.200
covert General Lawson , as I have

27:28.200 --> 27:30.200
recounted in great Deal detail . If

27:30.200 --> 27:31.978
confirmed , you will manage the

27:31.978 --> 27:33.533
department coping with many

27:33.533 --> 27:35.644
extraordinarily difficult issues . It

27:35.644 --> 27:37.867
will require strong civilian leadership

27:37.867 --> 27:39.811
to address these challenges and to

27:39.811 --> 27:42.140
reverse the erosion of civil military

27:42.140 --> 27:44.680
relations over the past several years .

27:45.140 --> 27:47.170
However , in order to serve as a

27:47.170 --> 27:49.450
secular defense , Congress must provide

27:49.450 --> 27:51.117
an exception to the statutory

27:51.117 --> 27:53.283
requirement that prohibits individuals

27:53.283 --> 27:55.506
from being appointed if they are within

27:55.506 --> 27:57.617
seven years of the military service .

27:57.617 --> 27:59.728
Last week , this committee heard from

27:59.728 --> 28:01.561
expert witnesses on the state of

28:01.561 --> 28:03.728
civilian control of the armed forces .

28:03.728 --> 28:05.728
Some members expressed concern that

28:05.728 --> 28:07.950
providing an exception for you to serve

28:07.950 --> 28:10.061
with second defense , particularly so

28:10.061 --> 28:12.228
soon after Secretary Mattis could harm

28:12.228 --> 28:14.283
civil military relations . It is the

28:14.283 --> 28:16.394
valid concern , but as that witnesses

28:16.394 --> 28:18.561
testified it it's possible to mitigate

28:18.561 --> 28:20.650
the effects if you demonstrate your

28:20.650 --> 28:22.817
commitment to empowering civilians and

28:22.817 --> 28:25.130
department further , we must also hear

28:25.130 --> 28:27.074
how you view the role of secretary

28:27.074 --> 28:28.908
defense and how that position is

28:28.908 --> 28:31.410
different from your days of honorable

28:31.410 --> 28:33.760
service . As a military officer , this

28:33.760 --> 28:35.482
distinction is critical as the

28:35.482 --> 28:37.538
secretary , defense is an inherently

28:37.538 --> 28:39.704
political position , requiring a skill

28:39.704 --> 28:41.704
set for managing a vast bureaucracy

28:41.704 --> 28:43.760
while balancing personalities within

28:43.760 --> 28:45.871
the department and across our federal

28:45.871 --> 28:48.330
agencies . Related Lee on Effective

28:48.330 --> 28:50.274
Secretary Must Be Transparent with

28:50.274 --> 28:53.230
Congress Tensions awful often exists

28:53.230 --> 28:55.341
between the executive and legislative

28:55.341 --> 28:57.286
branches , regardless of political

28:57.286 --> 28:59.397
party . However , the department must

28:59.397 --> 29:01.174
keep Congress fully informed on

29:01.174 --> 29:03.397
critical national security developments

29:03.397 --> 29:05.452
so that we can conduct congressional

29:05.452 --> 29:07.563
oversight . GENERAL Austin With these

29:07.563 --> 29:09.674
broad categories of mind , I hope you

29:09.674 --> 29:11.730
will candidly share what actions you

29:11.730 --> 29:13.508
will take to ensure your tenure

29:13.508 --> 29:15.674
reflects and protects the principle of

29:15.674 --> 29:17.952
civilian control of military . Finally ,

29:17.952 --> 29:20.119
strengthening civil military relations

29:20.119 --> 29:22.230
is not the sole responsibility of the

29:22.230 --> 29:24.341
Secretary of defense . Congress has a

29:24.341 --> 29:26.920
role to . This includes expeditiously

29:26.920 --> 29:29.180
confirming qualified survey nominees to

29:29.180 --> 29:31.402
serve in the Pentagon . Furthermore , I

29:31.402 --> 29:33.402
believe Congress should revisit the

29:33.402 --> 29:35.402
headquarters reductions implemented

29:35.402 --> 29:37.402
over the past several years . While

29:37.402 --> 29:39.402
well intentioned , thes budget cuts

29:39.402 --> 29:41.069
have sapped the department of

29:41.069 --> 29:42.569
experience , expertise and

29:42.569 --> 29:44.736
institutional knowledge , all of which

29:44.736 --> 29:46.847
degrades the department's ability toe

29:46.847 --> 29:49.069
oversee the critical policy issues that

29:49.069 --> 29:50.902
are integral for robust civilian

29:50.902 --> 29:52.958
oversight . Again , I thank you , Mr

29:52.958 --> 29:55.013
Chairman . I look forward to hearing

29:55.013 --> 29:57.630
from our nominee . Thank you , Senator

29:57.630 --> 30:00.450
Reid . Excellent . Excellent statement

30:01.240 --> 30:04.740
with some senators attending remotely .

30:04.750 --> 30:06.806
I wanna let everyone knows how we're

30:06.806 --> 30:09.100
going to run this thing . Uh , since

30:09.100 --> 30:11.220
it's impossible to know exactly when

30:11.220 --> 30:14.070
our colleagues who will be joining via

30:14.080 --> 30:17.530
computer uh , we will not follow our

30:17.530 --> 30:19.530
standard early bird timing , Ruined

30:19.530 --> 30:21.474
said . We'll handle three order of

30:21.474 --> 30:23.530
questions by seniority , alternating

30:23.530 --> 30:25.863
between sides , Democrat and Republican .

30:25.863 --> 30:27.974
Until we have gone through everyone ,

30:27.974 --> 30:30.030
then we'll see how much time we have

30:30.030 --> 30:32.740
left in what the wishes we will do the

30:32.750 --> 30:34.528
standard . Instead of doing the

30:34.528 --> 30:36.583
standard five minutes , Senator Reid

30:36.583 --> 30:38.583
and I have agreed that seven minute

30:38.583 --> 30:40.750
rounds might be more appropriate , and

30:40.750 --> 30:42.917
I asked my colleagues on the computers

30:42.917 --> 30:44.972
to please keep an eye on the clock ,

30:44.972 --> 30:47.139
which you should see on your screens ,

30:47.139 --> 30:49.250
and we'll try to adhere to this seven

30:49.250 --> 30:51.306
minute rounds finally , to allow for

30:51.306 --> 30:53.417
everyone to be heard . Whether in the

30:53.417 --> 30:55.930
room or on a computer , I ask all

30:55.930 --> 30:57.960
colleagues to please mute your

30:57.970 --> 31:00.192
microphone . When you're not speaking ,

31:00.192 --> 31:02.026
Mr . Austin will begin with your

31:02.026 --> 31:04.650
opening statement and be assured that

31:04.650 --> 31:06.817
the entirety of your written statement

31:06.817 --> 31:08.872
would be made a part of the record .

31:09.440 --> 31:12.320
General Austin . Well , thank you , Mr

31:12.320 --> 31:14.153
Chairman and Ranking Member read

31:14.153 --> 31:16.190
members of this committee . I'm

31:16.190 --> 31:18.412
grateful for your time this afternoon ,

31:18.412 --> 31:21.050
especially during these momentous days .

31:21.740 --> 31:23.810
It was apparent to me and to all

31:23.810 --> 31:27.190
Americans two weeks ago how seriously

31:27.230 --> 31:28.786
you take your duties to the

31:28.786 --> 31:31.060
Constitution and I thank you for that

31:31.060 --> 31:33.550
commitment . I know that you share my

31:33.550 --> 31:35.772
gratitude for the commitment of the men

31:35.772 --> 31:37.939
and women of the Department of Defense

31:37.939 --> 31:39.994
as well , who share your devotion to

31:39.994 --> 31:41.670
that founding document , our

31:41.670 --> 31:44.700
Constitution . Many of them are serving

31:44.700 --> 31:47.860
overseas . Some of them are serving

31:47.870 --> 31:50.830
just outside this room , and all of

31:50.830 --> 31:54.210
them are keeping us safe . We owe much

31:54.210 --> 31:56.680
to their selflessness and to that of

31:56.680 --> 31:59.030
their families . I want to thank

31:59.030 --> 32:01.197
Senator Sullivan and Secretary Panetta

32:01.197 --> 32:03.363
for their kind words of introduction .

32:03.363 --> 32:06.080
I am I am truly grateful and Of course ,

32:06.540 --> 32:08.540
I want to thank my wonderful wife ,

32:08.540 --> 32:10.810
Charlene , who , like today , had stood

32:10.810 --> 32:13.180
by my side for more than 40 years ,

32:13.640 --> 32:16.960
guiding me , supporting me and making

32:16.960 --> 32:19.900
me a better man . I'm also very

32:19.900 --> 32:22.470
grateful to President elect Biden for

32:22.470 --> 32:25.390
asking me to serve my country again . I

32:25.390 --> 32:27.501
value the strength of my relationship

32:27.501 --> 32:29.446
with him , and I am humbled by the

32:29.446 --> 32:31.780
trust and confidence that he has placed

32:31.780 --> 32:35.440
in me . I hope this hearing will earn

32:35.440 --> 32:38.850
me your trust . Let me say at the

32:38.850 --> 32:40.920
outset that I understand and respect

32:40.920 --> 32:43.087
the reservations that some of you have

32:43.087 --> 32:46.260
expressed about having another recently

32:46.260 --> 32:48.710
retired general at the head of the

32:48.710 --> 32:52.150
Department of Defense . The safety and

32:52.150 --> 32:54.930
security of our democracy demands

32:54.930 --> 32:57.152
competent civilian control of our armed

32:57.152 --> 33:00.330
forces . The subordination of military

33:00.330 --> 33:03.950
power to the civil . I spent my

33:03.950 --> 33:07.060
entire life committed to that principle

33:07.840 --> 33:09.896
in war and peace . I implemented the

33:09.896 --> 33:12.400
policies of civilians elected and

33:12.400 --> 33:14.850
appointed over me . Leaders like

33:14.850 --> 33:18.400
Secretary Panetta and I know that being

33:18.400 --> 33:20.750
a member of the President's Cabinet a

33:20.750 --> 33:23.150
political appointee requires a

33:23.150 --> 33:25.540
different perspective and unique duties

33:25.540 --> 33:29.440
from a career in uniforms . I intend t

33:29.450 --> 33:32.840
to surround myself with and empower

33:33.640 --> 33:37.060
experience capable civilian leaders

33:37.540 --> 33:39.707
who will enable healthy civil military

33:39.707 --> 33:42.330
relations grounded in meaningful

33:42.340 --> 33:46.160
oversight . Indeed , I plan to include

33:46.160 --> 33:48.049
the undersecretary of defense for

33:48.049 --> 33:50.550
policy and top decision making meetings

33:50.940 --> 33:52.884
ensuring strategic and operational

33:52.884 --> 33:55.350
decisions are informed by policy .

33:56.840 --> 33:58.840
I will re balance collaboration and

33:58.840 --> 34:00.896
coordination between the joint staff

34:00.896 --> 34:03.270
and the OSD staff to ensure civilian

34:03.280 --> 34:05.660
input is integrated at every level of

34:05.660 --> 34:08.860
the process . And I will make clear my

34:08.860 --> 34:11.920
expectation that the Pentagon work hand

34:11.920 --> 34:13.864
in glove with the State Department

34:13.940 --> 34:16.460
supporting the work of our diplomats .

34:18.340 --> 34:20.396
Now , I know that a large measure of

34:20.396 --> 34:23.630
civilian control of our military lies

34:23.630 --> 34:26.720
right here with this body . And if you

34:26.720 --> 34:29.270
confirm me , I assure you that the

34:29.270 --> 34:31.381
Pentagon , under my leadership , will

34:31.381 --> 34:33.714
respect your oversight responsibilities .

34:33.840 --> 34:35.951
And we will be transparent with you ,

34:36.640 --> 34:38.807
and I will provide you my best counsel

34:39.240 --> 34:42.180
and I will seek yours . And just like

34:42.180 --> 34:44.236
you , I will take seriously the many

34:44.236 --> 34:46.402
challenging many challenges facing our

34:46.402 --> 34:48.650
country , the most immediate of which ,

34:48.660 --> 34:52.470
in my view , is the pandemic . And if

34:52.470 --> 34:54.581
confirmed , I will quickly review the

34:54.581 --> 34:56.248
department's contributions to

34:56.248 --> 34:58.359
coronavirus relief efforts , ensuring

34:58.359 --> 35:00.581
that we're doing everything that we can

35:00.581 --> 35:02.820
tow help distribute vaccines across the

35:02.820 --> 35:05.280
country and to vaccinate our troops and

35:05.280 --> 35:08.730
preserve readiness . We'll also do

35:08.730 --> 35:10.674
everything we can for our military

35:10.674 --> 35:13.330
families . They , too , are educating

35:13.330 --> 35:17.070
kids at home and losing their jobs and

35:17.070 --> 35:20.260
trying to stock the pantry . I know

35:20.260 --> 35:23.040
this committee shares my view that we

35:23.040 --> 35:25.262
owe them our best efforts toe . Lighten

35:25.262 --> 35:29.190
that load . We also

35:29.190 --> 35:31.590
are people are working environment free

35:31.590 --> 35:34.750
of discrimination , hate and harassment .

35:35.740 --> 35:37.962
And if confirmed , I will fight hard to

35:37.962 --> 35:40.390
stamp out sexual assault and to read

35:40.390 --> 35:43.370
our ranks of racist and extremist and

35:43.370 --> 35:45.537
to create a climate where everyone fit

35:45.537 --> 35:47.860
and willing , has the opportunity to

35:47.860 --> 35:51.400
serve this country with dignity . The

35:51.400 --> 35:53.567
job of the Department of Defense is to

35:53.567 --> 35:55.622
keep America safe from our enemies .

35:55.640 --> 35:57.800
But we can't do that if some of those

35:57.800 --> 36:01.050
enemies lie within our own ranks . For

36:01.050 --> 36:03.520
those enemies and adversaries outside

36:03.520 --> 36:06.430
the ranks and around the world , we

36:06.430 --> 36:09.820
need resource is to match strategy and

36:09.820 --> 36:13.420
strategy matched to policy and policy

36:13.420 --> 36:15.420
matched to the will of the American

36:15.420 --> 36:19.020
people globally . I understand that

36:19.030 --> 36:21.252
Asia must be the focus of our efforts ,

36:21.930 --> 36:24.250
and I see China in particular as a

36:24.250 --> 36:27.260
pacing challenge for the department . I

36:27.260 --> 36:29.880
know I'll need your help in tackling

36:29.880 --> 36:32.250
these problems and to give our men and

36:32.250 --> 36:34.770
women and uniformed the tools that they

36:34.770 --> 36:36.400
need to fight and win .

36:38.730 --> 36:40.563
Mr . Chairman and members of the

36:40.563 --> 36:43.270
committee . Well , I did not seek this

36:43.270 --> 36:46.240
job . I consider it an honor .

36:47.230 --> 36:49.452
And if confirmed , I will carry out the

36:49.452 --> 36:51.508
mission of the Department of Defense

36:51.508 --> 36:54.640
always with the goal to deter war and

36:54.640 --> 36:57.290
ensure our nation's security . And I

36:57.290 --> 36:59.750
will uphold the principle of civilian

36:59.750 --> 37:02.460
control of the military as intended .

37:03.940 --> 37:06.162
And I would not be here asking for your

37:06.162 --> 37:09.960
support if I felt that I was unable or

37:09.970 --> 37:12.800
unable or unwilling toe question people

37:12.800 --> 37:16.140
with whom I once served in operations

37:16.140 --> 37:18.960
that I once led , or too afraid to

37:18.960 --> 37:20.740
speak my mind to you or to the

37:20.740 --> 37:24.320
president . I was a general and a

37:24.320 --> 37:27.550
soldier , and I'm proud of that . But

37:27.550 --> 37:29.828
today I appear before you as a citizen ,

37:30.230 --> 37:32.410
the son of a postal worker and a

37:32.410 --> 37:34.577
homemaker from Thomasville , Georgia ,

37:34.730 --> 37:37.190
and I'm proud of that , too . And if

37:37.190 --> 37:39.920
you confirm me , I am prepared to serve

37:39.920 --> 37:43.270
now as a civilian , fully acknowledging

37:43.270 --> 37:45.326
the importance of this distinction ,

37:45.930 --> 37:48.390
and I thank you again for consideration

37:48.390 --> 37:50.612
of my nomination and for your steadfast

37:50.612 --> 37:53.260
support of our men and women in uniform ,

37:53.730 --> 37:56.720
our civilians and their families . And

37:56.720 --> 37:58.800
I look forward to answering your

37:58.800 --> 38:00.911
questions . Thank you , Mr Chairman .

38:01.050 --> 38:02.900
Thank you . Jane Austen . Great

38:02.900 --> 38:05.830
statement . You heard my comments ,

38:05.830 --> 38:07.530
General Austin , about the

38:09.620 --> 38:11.620
the document , the national defense

38:11.620 --> 38:13.787
strategy . You're familiar with this ?

38:13.787 --> 38:15.870
I'm sure you've read it many times .

38:15.880 --> 38:17.991
What do you think about its relevance

38:17.991 --> 38:20.790
today ? Have you seen changes should be

38:20.790 --> 38:22.790
made in this or what you're playing

38:22.790 --> 38:24.734
today ? Contemporary Li about this

38:24.734 --> 38:27.960
statement . I think much of the

38:27.960 --> 38:29.960
document is absolutely on track for

38:29.960 --> 38:33.150
today's challenges . Mr . Chairman , a

38:33.150 --> 38:36.690
za za case with all strategies . If

38:36.690 --> 38:38.746
confirmed , one of the things that I

38:38.746 --> 38:40.634
would look to do is is to work to

38:40.634 --> 38:42.857
update the strategy and work within the

38:42.857 --> 38:45.190
confines of the guidance and the policy ,

38:45.190 --> 38:47.720
uh , issued by the current the next

38:47.720 --> 38:49.831
administration . Yeah , well , that's

38:49.831 --> 38:52.053
right . And the guidance also from this

38:52.053 --> 38:53.887
this document I think it's still

38:53.887 --> 38:56.480
relevant today in this document . The

38:56.490 --> 39:00.140
previous two secretaries of the Defense

39:00.140 --> 39:03.730
Secretary Mattis , Secretary Esper both

39:03.740 --> 39:07.180
agreed that that document , uh ,

39:07.190 --> 39:09.630
prescribed that we'd probably need a 3

39:09.630 --> 39:13.000
to 5% re really growth in defense

39:13.000 --> 39:15.820
budget effectively in the coming years .

39:15.830 --> 39:17.800
Do you agree generally with that

39:17.800 --> 39:20.420
statement ? Well , Mr Chairman , as I

39:20.420 --> 39:22.587
as I said in the opening statement , I

39:22.587 --> 39:24.642
believe that our resource is need to

39:24.642 --> 39:26.930
match our strategy and our strategy

39:26.930 --> 39:29.310
needs to match your policy . Yeah , I

39:29.310 --> 39:32.000
would assume that BS and others were

39:32.000 --> 39:33.944
gonna be asking about the civilian

39:33.944 --> 39:36.111
military relations . I know that , but

39:36.111 --> 39:38.278
let me cover a couple of things that I

39:38.278 --> 39:41.110
think are very important . The

39:42.120 --> 39:44.500
on the nuclear try a lot of people who

39:44.500 --> 39:46.667
are different ideas and what we should

39:46.667 --> 39:50.110
do in priorities we have in our defense

39:50.110 --> 39:53.660
system that we they try to whittle away

39:53.660 --> 39:57.020
at the nuclear triad . And we have

39:57.020 --> 39:58.909
always felt in the secretaries of

39:58.909 --> 40:01.960
defense that nuclear deterrence is . Do

40:01.960 --> 40:03.990
you agree with them that nuclear

40:04.000 --> 40:07.130
assessment that nuclear deterrence is

40:07.130 --> 40:09.660
the D . O . D s highest priority

40:09.670 --> 40:12.960
mission ? I do , Mr Chairman . And do

40:12.960 --> 40:15.870
you agree that the Triad , the land ,

40:15.880 --> 40:18.140
air and sea based nuclear delivery

40:18.140 --> 40:21.260
platforms are still necessary ? Even

40:21.260 --> 40:23.610
though we do here Ah , lot of arguments

40:23.610 --> 40:25.943
that two of the three would be adequate .

40:25.943 --> 40:28.900
What do you think Mr Chairman , I

40:28.900 --> 40:30.956
believe that the triad has served us

40:30.956 --> 40:32.930
well in the past and I certainly

40:32.930 --> 40:35.097
believe that it will continue to do so

40:35.097 --> 40:37.310
going forward and I personally support

40:37.470 --> 40:40.980
the try it Good way

40:40.990 --> 40:43.140
have kind of ah for gotten continent

40:43.140 --> 40:45.600
for a long period of time in Africa . I

40:45.610 --> 40:47.499
remember when Africa was in three

40:47.499 --> 40:50.980
different commands , it was in the pay

40:50.980 --> 40:54.240
calm , the Central Command

40:54.710 --> 40:58.660
and in the you come and we

40:58.660 --> 41:00.790
came along with Africom and I think

41:00.790 --> 41:02.957
it's things have really improved since

41:02.957 --> 41:05.179
that time and I'm really I think it's a

41:05.179 --> 41:08.240
critical theater for implementing this

41:08.250 --> 41:10.630
national defense strategy that we have .

41:11.010 --> 41:13.830
We see China all over people talk about

41:13.830 --> 41:15.650
the South China Sea about their

41:15.650 --> 41:17.761
building of the islands and all these

41:17.761 --> 41:19.817
things that were going on . But they

41:19.817 --> 41:22.039
forget that China is for the first time

41:22.039 --> 41:24.890
left their city limits to support a

41:24.890 --> 41:27.890
major objective on their behalf . And

41:27.890 --> 41:30.510
that's in Djibouti and they go not just

41:30.510 --> 41:32.677
in Djibouti but all throughout China .

41:32.677 --> 41:34.899
Asus , far south , is the southern part

41:34.899 --> 41:38.280
of Tanzania and it Z and so it's very

41:38.280 --> 41:41.530
active in that in that area , I would

41:41.530 --> 41:44.800
ask you right now we have some 6000 D o

41:44.800 --> 41:47.640
D personnel on the continent . I know

41:47.640 --> 41:49.640
there's been an effort . There's an

41:49.640 --> 41:51.751
effort in this last administration to

41:51.751 --> 41:53.696
be reducing in some areas what our

41:53.696 --> 41:55.696
presence , what are resource is how

41:55.696 --> 41:57.918
they should be put out . My feeling was

41:57.918 --> 42:00.040
that we had inadequate resource is to

42:00.040 --> 42:02.590
start with only 6000 in the entire

42:02.590 --> 42:04.646
continent . Do you have any thoughts

42:04.646 --> 42:07.870
that you've given Thio , uh , to that

42:07.880 --> 42:10.990
in terms of the resource is that we

42:10.990 --> 42:13.610
need to use in that part of the world ,

42:14.500 --> 42:16.870
Mr . Chairman , Africa , like some

42:16.870 --> 42:19.037
other places in the world , has been ,

42:19.037 --> 42:20.981
has been one of those places where

42:20.981 --> 42:24.960
we've been able to gain good effect by

42:24.970 --> 42:27.540
with a small amount of investment by

42:27.540 --> 42:30.860
helping to , uh , helping our partners

42:30.860 --> 42:33.670
to increase their their ability to

42:33.850 --> 42:36.072
defend their sovereign territory and to

42:36.072 --> 42:38.930
protect themselves that's actually way

42:38.930 --> 42:41.041
have to keep in mind that they have .

42:41.041 --> 42:43.097
Many of our closest allies are there

42:43.097 --> 42:44.708
right now . And if we should

42:44.708 --> 42:46.819
deteriorate our presence in any way ,

42:47.200 --> 42:49.750
we would I have a feeling they do the

42:49.750 --> 42:52.350
same thing . So I appreciate that very

42:52.350 --> 42:54.560
much . One last thing I want to touch

42:54.560 --> 42:57.300
on because it is a current issue . Ever

42:57.300 --> 42:59.840
since the International Court of

42:59.840 --> 43:02.530
Justice ruled way back in

43:03.420 --> 43:06.250
in 1975 I believe it was

43:06.590 --> 43:10.380
that that we have in

43:10.380 --> 43:14.000
Western Sahara . We've supported a

43:14.010 --> 43:16.860
referendum for self determination . Now

43:16.860 --> 43:18.916
the United States has that done that

43:18.916 --> 43:21.249
ever since the 19 seventies . The U . N .

43:21.249 --> 43:23.416
Has done that since the 19 seventies .

43:23.416 --> 43:25.749
The African Union has done that in most .

43:25.749 --> 43:28.140
All of the 52 nations of Africa have

43:28.140 --> 43:30.740
all stated that the Western Sahara

43:30.740 --> 43:32.890
should have a referendum for self

43:32.890 --> 43:34.890
determination . What do you think ?

43:35.400 --> 43:37.344
Well , that's a knish . You that I

43:37.344 --> 43:39.530
certainly would want to take a closer

43:39.530 --> 43:42.820
look at Mr Chairman before I gave you a

43:42.830 --> 43:46.250
a a detailed answer . But it's one of

43:46.250 --> 43:48.470
the things that I'll look at , uh , if

43:48.470 --> 43:50.581
confirmed right away , going into the

43:50.581 --> 43:52.803
into the position . Yeah , and I'd like

43:52.803 --> 43:55.026
to have you keep in mind that they have

43:55.026 --> 43:57.248
been consistent for so many years now .

43:57.248 --> 43:59.303
And s o . I would I would anticipate

43:59.303 --> 44:01.359
that your your feelings would be the

44:01.359 --> 44:02.581
same . Senator Reid .

44:05.590 --> 44:08.830
Um , Well , thank you very much , Mr

44:08.830 --> 44:10.774
Chairman . And thank you , General

44:10.774 --> 44:14.560
Lawson . Uh , one issue . Uh , that is

44:14.570 --> 44:17.900
obvious is the discussion of the

44:17.910 --> 44:21.320
erosion of civilian control ,

44:21.320 --> 44:23.560
participation , influence on department

44:23.560 --> 44:25.560
defense That was highlighted by the

44:25.560 --> 44:28.740
national , uh , defense security

44:28.750 --> 44:31.030
document , which the chairman has

44:31.030 --> 44:33.520
displayed . But the suggestion there

44:33.520 --> 44:35.409
was it was not something that was

44:35.409 --> 44:37.409
happening in an instant that it was

44:37.409 --> 44:40.140
taking place over years . And part of

44:40.140 --> 44:44.000
that , I believe , is the lack of

44:44.010 --> 44:47.360
competent civilian authorities in place .

44:47.790 --> 44:51.130
Uh , there are many individuals , as I

44:51.130 --> 44:53.570
suggested , my statement that are

44:53.580 --> 44:57.270
acting there are others who are civil

44:57.270 --> 45:00.260
servants have been pushed up into jobs

45:00.260 --> 45:02.316
that normally require confirmation .

45:02.316 --> 45:06.080
And there's been a lack of sometimes

45:06.080 --> 45:08.400
candidates for confirmation . So I

45:08.400 --> 45:11.110
would ask you , if you are confirmed ,

45:11.110 --> 45:14.060
will you do your utmost to ensure that

45:14.070 --> 45:16.520
every position , civilian position and

45:16.520 --> 45:18.870
department is filled that we get

45:18.880 --> 45:21.047
nominees promptly ? I know you have to

45:21.047 --> 45:23.260
work to the White House and that other

45:23.260 --> 45:26.290
individuals will be , um , put in

45:26.290 --> 45:28.457
positions where they were both skilled

45:28.457 --> 45:32.260
and qualified . Absolutely . Uh ,

45:32.270 --> 45:34.790
Senator Reid , I will do everything I

45:34.790 --> 45:37.470
can to move as quickly as I can to to

45:37.470 --> 45:39.900
move to fill those positions with

45:39.900 --> 45:43.100
experience and competent , qualified

45:43.110 --> 45:46.260
civilians . And I will need the help of

45:46.270 --> 45:48.610
this body to make sure that , uh , that

45:48.610 --> 45:51.590
we're moving quickly . Yeah , I concur

45:51.590 --> 45:53.701
with this . Has to be a collaborative

45:53.701 --> 45:55.868
effort . I think in addition to that ,

45:55.868 --> 45:59.100
it , uh , with the civilian employees ,

45:59.110 --> 46:02.240
uh , members ondas you suggesting

46:02.240 --> 46:04.129
remarks ? You have to ensure that

46:04.129 --> 46:07.790
there's a a very appropriate , uh ,

46:07.800 --> 46:10.030
working relationship with uniformed

46:10.030 --> 46:12.197
personnel , particularly joint staff .

46:12.197 --> 46:14.419
And I from your comments , I assume you

46:14.419 --> 46:16.586
that will be one of your priorities to

46:16.586 --> 46:18.530
make sure that and indeed that the

46:18.530 --> 46:20.890
civilians have , ah , a critical role

46:20.900 --> 46:23.970
in that process that correct . It's

46:24.040 --> 46:26.100
absolutely correct , Senator Reid .

46:26.100 --> 46:28.700
It's I think it's imperative that

46:29.280 --> 46:32.750
the the OSD staff maintain

46:32.750 --> 46:35.530
primacy in terms off crafting strategy

46:35.530 --> 46:38.570
and policy . And I think you know , we

46:38.570 --> 46:40.403
need we'll need the right , uh ,

46:40.580 --> 46:42.760
civilians in the in key positions to

46:42.760 --> 46:44.593
help help us do that . And we've

46:44.593 --> 46:46.760
already begun to move down that road .

46:46.780 --> 46:49.640
You've seen Colin Kahl nominated to be

46:49.930 --> 46:53.420
Thea undersecretary for Policy , Very

46:53.420 --> 46:55.587
talented young man , that that will do

46:55.587 --> 46:57.753
well . You've seen Catholics nominated

46:57.753 --> 47:00.140
to be the deputy secretary of Defense ,

47:00.150 --> 47:03.090
so we're off to a good start and we'll

47:03.090 --> 47:05.170
continue to maintain momentum and

47:05.170 --> 47:07.780
filling those positions and making sure

47:07.780 --> 47:11.670
that we re balance , uh , the workload

47:11.680 --> 47:14.510
between the joint staff and and the

47:14.510 --> 47:18.010
secretary of thank you on another

47:18.010 --> 47:21.980
subject . Uh , the need for strengthen

47:21.980 --> 47:25.600
alliances seems to be obvious , but

47:25.610 --> 47:27.610
something that you're gonna have to

47:27.610 --> 47:31.350
take on immediately . I'm thinking of

47:31.350 --> 47:33.517
the Pacific Defense Initiative , which

47:33.517 --> 47:35.739
the chairman was the principal author .

47:35.980 --> 47:39.160
And it's based on solidifying our

47:39.170 --> 47:41.580
relationships both the diplomatic and

47:41.580 --> 47:44.440
operation operationally with our near

47:44.440 --> 47:46.330
partners in the Pacific , the

47:46.340 --> 47:48.284
Australians , the Japanese and the

47:48.284 --> 47:50.710
South Korea and then building further ,

47:50.720 --> 47:53.590
uh , with other Pacific nations

47:53.980 --> 47:56.770
on . I would presume and hope that you

47:56.770 --> 48:00.100
would see that as an important of task .

48:00.100 --> 48:02.720
Also building up our relationships and

48:02.720 --> 48:04.942
alliances , which in many respects have

48:04.942 --> 48:07.053
been neglected is that something that

48:07.053 --> 48:09.053
you see is important . I think it's

48:09.053 --> 48:11.800
critical . Senator Reid and I also , uh ,

48:12.270 --> 48:14.700
look very much look forward . Thio

48:15.270 --> 48:18.390
going out in refurbishing those

48:18.390 --> 48:21.340
alliances and making sure that that way

48:21.350 --> 48:23.690
build additional capacity were possible .

48:24.070 --> 48:26.900
And you can look when we are when we do

48:26.910 --> 48:29.370
begin to travel again that you know

48:29.370 --> 48:31.370
that region will be one of my first

48:31.370 --> 48:33.259
stops , right ? Yeah . You know ,

48:33.259 --> 48:35.481
there's the old saying There's strength

48:35.481 --> 48:37.703
in numbers , and , uh , I think there's

48:37.703 --> 48:39.870
some truth to that . So is we build up

48:39.870 --> 48:43.840
our not just in a superficial way ,

48:43.840 --> 48:46.230
but training together , conducting

48:46.230 --> 48:48.510
exercises together , integrating our

48:48.510 --> 48:51.790
intelligence , integrating our

48:51.800 --> 48:55.510
operations at sea , on land in the

48:55.510 --> 48:58.140
air that I think it could be the best

48:58.140 --> 49:00.084
deterrent we could think of . With

49:00.084 --> 49:02.570
respect to the aspirations of China on ,

49:02.570 --> 49:06.180
I think you might concur . Uh , one of

49:06.180 --> 49:08.090
the tasks you're gonna have is as

49:08.090 --> 49:10.146
you're trying to deal with all these

49:10.146 --> 49:12.368
crisis around the world , you also have

49:12.368 --> 49:14.646
to transform the Department of Defense .

49:14.646 --> 49:16.201
As the German indicated our

49:16.201 --> 49:19.020
technological advantage , which was ,

49:19.030 --> 49:22.470
we thought uncontested in the fifties

49:22.470 --> 49:24.581
sixties seventies eighties , etcetera

49:24.970 --> 49:27.280
is contested . In fact , there are

49:27.290 --> 49:30.750
suggestions that we might not be ahead

49:30.750 --> 49:32.830
in many places . And so you're gonna

49:32.830 --> 49:35.450
have to think very seriously about how

49:35.450 --> 49:38.430
do we elevate science ? How do we more

49:38.430 --> 49:40.710
importantly , take our scientific

49:40.710 --> 49:43.790
developments are prototypes and get it

49:43.800 --> 49:46.680
to the field . Two soldiers , sailors ,

49:46.680 --> 49:48.880
airmen , Marines in the field . And if

49:48.880 --> 49:50.991
any comments on that , I'd appreciate

49:50.991 --> 49:52.880
it . I certainly agree with you ,

49:52.880 --> 49:55.690
Senator Reid , that our acquisition

49:55.700 --> 49:58.640
system needs to be more agile and more

49:58.640 --> 50:00.751
responsive to the needs that you just

50:00.751 --> 50:02.529
mentioned . Way need to get the

50:02.529 --> 50:06.320
capability down to the to the to the

50:06.320 --> 50:08.542
people who need it , the people who are

50:08.542 --> 50:10.820
going to use it as quickly as possible .

50:10.820 --> 50:12.987
I also say that we need to develop the

50:12.987 --> 50:14.876
operational concepts that support

50:18.860 --> 50:22.830
and a credible deterrent . But

50:22.840 --> 50:25.210
I absolutely agree that there is much

50:25.210 --> 50:28.640
to be done in terms off working with

50:28.640 --> 50:30.900
the with the acquisition process to

50:30.900 --> 50:32.900
make sure that becomes more agile .

50:32.900 --> 50:34.844
Well , thank you . And I just as a

50:34.844 --> 50:37.067
final point , I think I have to respond

50:37.067 --> 50:39.289
to the challenge that the chairman gave

50:39.289 --> 50:41.011
you to reach your 61st wedding

50:41.011 --> 50:43.122
anniversary . Haven't been married at

50:43.122 --> 50:45.570
the for the first time at the age of 55 .

50:46.160 --> 50:48.240
Despite my best efforts , I can

50:48.240 --> 50:50.462
guarantee the chairman I will not reach

50:50.462 --> 50:53.130
61 years . Thank you very much , Mr

50:53.130 --> 50:55.580
Chairman . E . I don't believe that .

50:56.060 --> 50:58.227
Pretty weak Senator Reid , you just do

50:58.227 --> 51:00.620
it one day at a time . Thank you . Good

51:00.620 --> 51:02.800
advice , Senator . Mr . Austin , thank

51:02.800 --> 51:05.022
you for being with us today . Thank you

51:05.022 --> 51:06.856
for the conversation that we had

51:06.856 --> 51:09.880
several weeks ago over the phone and

51:09.880 --> 51:12.102
thank you for your willingness to serve

51:12.102 --> 51:14.324
in the military and now to serve in the

51:14.324 --> 51:16.670
city and capacity . You're a West Point

51:16.670 --> 51:19.730
graduate . I pointed out to Senator

51:19.730 --> 51:23.540
Reid that I'm wearing an army tie today

51:23.550 --> 51:26.950
in your honor , but I suppose also in

51:26.950 --> 51:29.680
honor of Senator Reid and all the

51:29.680 --> 51:33.340
distinguished Army folks , I'm I'm an

51:33.340 --> 51:37.040
Air Force veteran myself . But I'm

51:37.040 --> 51:39.410
also a former chair of Seapower

51:39.410 --> 51:42.680
subcommittee . And so today

51:43.060 --> 51:46.720
I want to talk to you a two .

51:46.720 --> 51:50.570
Beginning about seapower . Um , the

51:50.570 --> 51:54.350
30 year shipbuilding plan was

51:54.350 --> 51:57.980
finally released just last month by

51:57.990 --> 52:01.850
the leadership in the Navy . And

52:02.100 --> 52:04.800
it calls , um , for

52:04.810 --> 52:08.410
405 man ships by the year

52:08.410 --> 52:11.190
2051 . That's compared to a

52:11.190 --> 52:15.080
355 uh , ship requirement

52:15.080 --> 52:17.490
that we previously had and that we

52:17.500 --> 52:20.550
actually placed into the statute . Have

52:20.550 --> 52:23.210
you read the 30 year shipbuilding plan ,

52:23.210 --> 52:25.720
Mr Austin ? Uh , I've not read the ship .

52:25.730 --> 52:28.080
The 30 year plan yet , Senator , work .

52:28.090 --> 52:30.312
Are you familiar with the fact that the

52:30.312 --> 52:33.850
30 year shipbuilding plan , uh , calls

52:33.850 --> 52:36.380
for increasing our requirement ?

52:36.950 --> 52:39.870
Actually , it , um ,

52:39.880 --> 52:42.830
increases our requirement from 355

52:42.830 --> 52:46.270
ships to 405 . Man ships by the year

52:46.270 --> 52:49.580
2051 . I am familiar with that . With

52:49.580 --> 52:52.780
that fact , do you support that finding ?

52:53.350 --> 52:56.330
I certainly I would just say , Senator ,

52:56.330 --> 53:00.260
I , our Navy is the most capable

53:00.270 --> 53:02.492
naval force on the face of the planet .

53:02.750 --> 53:06.230
It will remain so if if I'm

53:06.230 --> 53:09.390
confirmed and become secretary defense ,

53:09.850 --> 53:12.350
I think that it's important that we

53:12.360 --> 53:15.740
maintain the capabilities that will

53:15.740 --> 53:17.796
need to be relevant not only today ,

53:17.796 --> 53:19.700
but relevant tomorrow . So I look

53:19.700 --> 53:21.922
forward to getting on the ground and if

53:21.922 --> 53:24.210
confirmed and working with with the

53:24.220 --> 53:26.053
leadership of the Navy to better

53:26.053 --> 53:27.900
understand , uh , you know , the

53:27.900 --> 53:31.870
requirements and how we're , uh ,

53:32.850 --> 53:34.961
going to support those requirements .

53:34.961 --> 53:37.017
And also , I look forward to working

53:37.017 --> 53:39.017
with this body to make sure that we

53:39.017 --> 53:41.183
have the right resource is , uh , Thio

53:41.183 --> 53:43.570
to support that requirement . Well ,

53:43.570 --> 53:46.760
that does bring me Thio

53:47.150 --> 53:49.320
a point that I need to make . And that

53:49.320 --> 53:52.240
is that within the administration ,

53:52.240 --> 53:54.730
it's not only the White House , and

53:54.730 --> 53:58.380
it's not only uh d o d , but also

53:58.390 --> 54:02.060
o M b . It is a mighty big gorilla

54:02.060 --> 54:04.530
sitting in the room there , and they

54:04.540 --> 54:08.410
force a lot of constraints upon us

54:08.630 --> 54:11.740
Let me just say to you that I hope you

54:11.740 --> 54:14.890
will soon become familiar with this

54:14.890 --> 54:18.530
ship building plan . Um , And

54:18.540 --> 54:22.510
on be able Thio , give us , um , or

54:22.510 --> 54:26.260
definite answer about the need for

54:26.270 --> 54:29.240
for an increased navy t do the things

54:29.240 --> 54:32.200
that we have to do . It calls for

54:32.210 --> 54:35.310
adding 82 new ships

54:36.040 --> 54:40.040
between 2022 2026 at a

54:40.040 --> 54:43.670
cost of $147 billion . Um ,

54:44.040 --> 54:47.320
previously that number was only 44

54:47.320 --> 54:50.010
ships . So the new the new requirement .

54:50.010 --> 54:53.580
The new plan is 82 new ships in that

54:53.580 --> 54:56.400
short four year period rather than 44

54:56.400 --> 54:59.260
ships and a new extra

54:59.270 --> 55:02.890
$45 billion over that time frame .

55:02.890 --> 55:06.520
So rest assured that we need to have

55:06.830 --> 55:09.680
more conversations there .

55:10.740 --> 55:12.800
The distinguished chairman mentioned

55:12.800 --> 55:16.630
China the fact that there ambitions

55:16.630 --> 55:19.290
not only are in the Pacific but also

55:19.290 --> 55:21.770
extend to Africa , and he named a few

55:21.770 --> 55:24.070
locations there . Um ,

55:25.240 --> 55:28.680
the D . O . D report to Congress on

55:28.680 --> 55:32.040
China recently said it is likely China

55:32.040 --> 55:34.750
will aim to develop a military by mid

55:34.750 --> 55:37.430
century that is equal to or in some

55:37.430 --> 55:40.310
cases , superior to the U . S .

55:40.320 --> 55:42.098
Military Do you agree with that

55:42.098 --> 55:45.730
assessment , Mr Austin ? I would agree .

55:45.900 --> 55:48.067
I would agree that that's their goal .

55:48.240 --> 55:50.640
My job confirmed the secretary of

55:50.640 --> 55:52.760
defense , is to make sure that we

55:52.760 --> 55:55.700
developed the capabilities of plans and

55:55.700 --> 55:58.140
the operational concepts to ensure that

55:58.140 --> 56:00.510
we maintain a competitive edge . And

56:00.520 --> 56:02.742
eso that while that may be their goal ,

56:02.830 --> 56:06.760
I would again , if I'm confirmed ,

56:06.990 --> 56:08.990
would intend to make sure that that

56:08.990 --> 56:10.712
never happens . Well , it's my

56:10.712 --> 56:13.670
contention that the new shipbuilding

56:13.670 --> 56:16.460
plan calling for 405

56:17.130 --> 56:20.340
man shifts by the year 20

56:20.930 --> 56:24.760
51 an additional 82 new ships in the

56:24.760 --> 56:27.940
next uh , five years is part and

56:27.940 --> 56:31.030
parcel to answering that challenge .

56:31.040 --> 56:33.770
What do you say to that , Mr Austin ? I

56:33.780 --> 56:36.058
certainly say that we need to have the ,

56:36.058 --> 56:37.724
you know , the right kinds of

56:37.724 --> 56:40.070
capability to be able to counter the ,

56:40.080 --> 56:42.850
you know , the emerging threat . And

56:42.860 --> 56:44.971
again , I look forward to having that

56:44.971 --> 56:47.050
conversation with the with the

56:47.060 --> 56:50.700
Department of the Navy . Uh , if if

56:50.700 --> 56:53.050
that's the analysis that's been

56:53.050 --> 56:54.939
provided by the Navy , have every

56:54.939 --> 56:57.106
reason to believe that it's accurate .

56:57.106 --> 56:59.161
But I really would like to have that

56:59.161 --> 57:01.161
conversation in more depth . Let me

57:01.161 --> 57:03.470
quote another Army man . Distinguished ,

57:03.480 --> 57:05.660
uh , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

57:05.660 --> 57:09.240
Staff , General Milley , who

57:09.250 --> 57:11.750
said just last month quote Look , I'm

57:11.750 --> 57:13.972
an army guy , and I love the army . But

57:13.972 --> 57:16.083
the fundamental defense of the United

57:16.083 --> 57:18.370
States and the ability to project power

57:18.380 --> 57:21.890
power forward will always be for

57:21.890 --> 57:25.690
America , naval and and airspace power .

57:25.690 --> 57:28.310
I would just commend to you that

57:28.310 --> 57:30.840
statement and suggest that

57:31.230 --> 57:34.430
that the additional

57:34.440 --> 57:36.300
seapower is going is going to be

57:36.300 --> 57:39.970
necessary . I would also , uh ,

57:40.430 --> 57:42.541
I want you to comment , and I'll just

57:42.541 --> 57:44.708
ask you because we're time constrained

57:44.930 --> 57:47.260
to comment about the idea of basing two

57:47.260 --> 57:50.270
additional destroyers that wrote a

57:50.270 --> 57:53.770
Spain to , uh , to be there to

57:53.770 --> 57:56.700
combat Russian aggression . But , Mr

57:56.700 --> 57:58.644
Chairman , because I only have two

57:58.644 --> 58:00.978
seconds . I'll take that for the record .

58:00.978 --> 58:02.978
Thank you , Mr Austin . Thank you ,

58:02.978 --> 58:05.150
Senator . Thank you's Senator Wicker .

58:05.150 --> 58:07.460
Senator Shaheen . Thank you , Mr

58:07.460 --> 58:10.370
Chairman . General Austin , thank you

58:10.370 --> 58:12.537
for being willing to be considered for

58:12.537 --> 58:14.592
this important post of this critical

58:14.592 --> 58:17.380
time in our nation's history . Um , as

58:17.380 --> 58:20.500
you're probably aware , last week ,

58:20.510 --> 58:22.677
this committee received testimony from

58:22.677 --> 58:25.620
outside experts on the issue of the

58:25.620 --> 58:27.842
waiver that will be required for you to

58:27.842 --> 58:31.130
serve and the whole issue of civil

58:31.130 --> 58:33.130
military relations . And I know you

58:33.130 --> 58:35.186
address that briefly in your opening

58:35.186 --> 58:37.408
comments , and Senator Reid followed up

58:37.408 --> 58:39.574
with some specific questions . But one

58:39.574 --> 58:41.797
of the interesting things to me in that

58:41.797 --> 58:44.019
hearing last week was one of the people

58:44.019 --> 58:47.490
testifying talked about the concern

58:47.490 --> 58:49.610
that during Secretary Mattis tenure

58:49.620 --> 58:52.320
that there was an over deference to

58:52.320 --> 58:55.950
military views that were critical to

58:55.950 --> 58:59.160
shaping America's military policy or

58:59.160 --> 59:02.880
defense policy . Can you talk about how

59:02.960 --> 59:05.240
you would respond to those concerns and

59:05.240 --> 59:07.462
what you think should be done to ensure

59:07.462 --> 59:10.850
that the balance continues with the

59:11.220 --> 59:13.442
prominence being on civilian control of

59:13.442 --> 59:15.331
the military ? Yeah . Thank you ,

59:15.331 --> 59:17.730
Senator . I I believe that you need to

59:17.730 --> 59:19.674
have the right people in the right

59:19.674 --> 59:22.900
positions that can be in that are in

59:22.900 --> 59:26.210
the decision making process . And so ,

59:26.220 --> 59:28.109
you know , I looked a have a very

59:28.109 --> 59:30.460
experienced undersecretary for policy .

59:30.920 --> 59:33.530
I'd like to have a very experienced

59:34.520 --> 59:37.540
deputy secretary of Defense . Um ,

59:37.920 --> 59:41.200
my chief of staff will not if I'm

59:41.200 --> 59:43.533
confirmed will not be a military person ,

59:43.533 --> 59:45.680
but yet a person that's , uh , that

59:45.680 --> 59:48.390
really understands strategy and policy

59:48.390 --> 59:52.370
and also has deep ties to the hill as

59:52.370 --> 59:55.070
well as as to the White House . And so

59:55.070 --> 59:57.181
I think , the people in the room when

59:57.181 --> 59:59.660
and contributing to the decision making

01:00:00.210 --> 01:00:02.154
it makes all the difference in the

01:00:02.154 --> 01:00:04.700
world . So to answer your question , I

01:00:04.700 --> 01:00:06.811
will make sure that that , you know ,

01:00:06.811 --> 01:00:08.700
we staff the positions with right

01:00:08.700 --> 01:00:10.811
people who have the right experiences

01:00:10.811 --> 01:00:13.450
and who are not afraid Thio to provide

01:00:13.450 --> 01:00:15.700
their input . And I will empower them

01:00:15.740 --> 01:00:18.290
to make sure that you know they have

01:00:18.290 --> 01:00:21.080
the flexibility Teoh get the job done

01:00:21.080 --> 01:00:23.280
to coordinate with the joint staff and

01:00:23.280 --> 01:00:25.900
and coordinate with other agencies to

01:00:25.900 --> 01:00:29.150
ensure that we have a policy . Uh , you

01:00:29.150 --> 01:00:31.540
have a significant policy input on

01:00:31.540 --> 01:00:33.810
every decision . Well , thank you . I

01:00:33.810 --> 01:00:35.643
appreciate that , especially the

01:00:35.643 --> 01:00:37.810
importance of the empowerment of those

01:00:37.810 --> 01:00:40.190
individuals . When we talked shortly

01:00:40.190 --> 01:00:42.760
after your nomination was put forward ,

01:00:42.890 --> 01:00:45.950
I we talked about two of New

01:00:45.950 --> 01:00:49.230
Hampshire's military installations that

01:00:49.230 --> 01:00:51.286
we're very proud of . The Portsmouth

01:00:51.286 --> 01:00:53.119
Naval Shipyard , which is shared

01:00:53.119 --> 01:00:55.119
between New Hampshire and Maine and

01:00:55.119 --> 01:00:58.610
also our 157th air refueling wing at

01:00:58.620 --> 01:01:00.890
Peace National Guard , which was the

01:01:00.890 --> 01:01:02.770
first Air National Guard base to

01:01:02.770 --> 01:01:05.050
receive the new Casey 46 refueling

01:01:05.050 --> 01:01:07.930
tanker and there , too long term

01:01:07.930 --> 01:01:10.630
concerns that I have about those

01:01:11.010 --> 01:01:13.850
installations . One is the shipyard

01:01:13.850 --> 01:01:16.080
optimization plan is we look at what ,

01:01:16.090 --> 01:01:17.923
the need to invest in our public

01:01:17.923 --> 01:01:20.020
shipyards in the future . That

01:01:20.020 --> 01:01:22.187
optimization plan is gonna be critical

01:01:22.187 --> 01:01:24.840
to ensuring that the capacity is there ,

01:01:24.840 --> 01:01:26.673
not just at the Portsmouth Naval

01:01:26.673 --> 01:01:28.451
Shipyard , but our other public

01:01:28.451 --> 01:01:31.910
shipyards to support are Naval

01:01:31.910 --> 01:01:35.910
Fleet . And I hope that you will remain

01:01:35.910 --> 01:01:37.966
committed to that plan and to moving

01:01:37.966 --> 01:01:40.640
forward with that plan . As we look at

01:01:40.640 --> 01:01:44.510
the at the upcoming years , I will ,

01:01:44.510 --> 01:01:47.890
senator , um and the other is the K C

01:01:47.890 --> 01:01:51.390
46 the continuing issues with getting

01:01:51.390 --> 01:01:54.130
that tanker online . Aziz , you know ,

01:01:54.130 --> 01:01:56.019
the most recent one is the remote

01:01:56.019 --> 01:01:58.730
vision system , which still is not

01:01:59.410 --> 01:02:02.280
fixed in a way that allows those

01:02:02.290 --> 01:02:04.540
tankers to fly and do the refueling

01:02:04.540 --> 01:02:07.180
mission that is so critical again , I

01:02:07.180 --> 01:02:10.080
would hope that you will stay on that

01:02:10.090 --> 01:02:13.030
issue with Boeing and make sure we get

01:02:13.030 --> 01:02:15.560
those planes right so that they can do

01:02:15.560 --> 01:02:17.560
the refueling that we're paying for

01:02:17.560 --> 01:02:21.340
them to do . Uh , I will

01:02:21.340 --> 01:02:23.630
absolutely stay on this on this issue .

01:02:23.630 --> 01:02:25.852
I think it's critical . It's a critical

01:02:25.852 --> 01:02:28.780
component of our overall force and s .

01:02:28.780 --> 01:02:30.950
So I think it's it's important that ,

01:02:30.960 --> 01:02:33.127
uh , that we continue to press and and

01:02:33.127 --> 01:02:35.238
get this capability to where it needs

01:02:35.238 --> 01:02:37.404
to be great . And I hope you will come

01:02:37.404 --> 01:02:39.516
up to New Hampshire and visit both of

01:02:39.516 --> 01:02:41.571
those installations at some point in

01:02:41.571 --> 01:02:43.571
your tenure . If confirmed , um , I

01:02:43.571 --> 01:02:45.182
would like Toa ask you about

01:02:45.182 --> 01:02:47.740
Afghanistan next , because as we look

01:02:47.750 --> 01:02:51.620
at where we are in Afghanistan , the

01:02:53.500 --> 01:02:56.420
treaty or the agreement , I don't know

01:02:56.420 --> 01:02:58.642
what we want to call it because clearly

01:02:58.642 --> 01:03:02.040
the Taliban is not complying with what

01:03:02.040 --> 01:03:04.262
have been announced as concessions that

01:03:04.262 --> 01:03:06.373
were made as part of that agreement .

01:03:06.373 --> 01:03:09.330
Also , the failure of that agreement to

01:03:09.330 --> 01:03:12.790
take into consideration the role of

01:03:12.790 --> 01:03:16.510
women and minorities in Afghanistan

01:03:16.520 --> 01:03:18.880
that have been so important as they

01:03:18.880 --> 01:03:20.991
have written a new constitution . And

01:03:20.991 --> 01:03:23.280
as we look at ending conflict there ,

01:03:23.280 --> 01:03:25.502
one of the things we know from the data

01:03:25.502 --> 01:03:27.724
is that when women are at the table and

01:03:27.724 --> 01:03:29.947
negotiations that there is a 35% better

01:03:29.947 --> 01:03:32.169
chance that those peace agreements will

01:03:32.169 --> 01:03:34.410
last 15 years or longer , so this isn't

01:03:34.410 --> 01:03:36.660
just for the optics . It looks great to

01:03:36.660 --> 01:03:38.716
have women at the table . It's about

01:03:38.716 --> 01:03:40.271
how do we ensure that those

01:03:40.271 --> 01:03:42.670
negotiations are long lasting ? And I

01:03:42.670 --> 01:03:45.660
wonder if you could talk about what you

01:03:45.660 --> 01:03:47.920
would like to see at this point in

01:03:47.930 --> 01:03:50.800
Afghanistan ? Is we think about how do

01:03:50.800 --> 01:03:53.400
we withdraw there in a way that leaves

01:03:53.400 --> 01:03:57.130
a country that enshrines some of

01:03:57.140 --> 01:03:59.220
the changes that have been made to

01:03:59.220 --> 01:04:03.020
support a new constitution and all of

01:04:03.020 --> 01:04:05.380
the effort that's been put in there by

01:04:05.580 --> 01:04:07.580
the United States and so many other

01:04:07.580 --> 01:04:10.710
countries in the world ? Well , Senator ,

01:04:10.710 --> 01:04:13.560
I certainly would like to see , uh ,

01:04:13.570 --> 01:04:16.530
this conflict in with the negotiated

01:04:16.530 --> 01:04:19.160
settlement on . I think we're gonna

01:04:19.160 --> 01:04:22.350
make every effort , uh , that we can

01:04:22.350 --> 01:04:24.650
thio to ensure that that happens . I

01:04:24.650 --> 01:04:28.340
would also like to say up front , uh ,

01:04:28.350 --> 01:04:30.840
I am truly grateful for the sacrifices

01:04:30.840 --> 01:04:33.210
of the thousands of men and women that

01:04:33.210 --> 01:04:35.470
have gone through Afghanistan and and

01:04:35.470 --> 01:04:38.380
given so much sacrifice so much , uh ,

01:04:38.390 --> 01:04:40.850
to your point , their work has made a

01:04:40.850 --> 01:04:43.810
difference . Um , but I think

01:04:44.290 --> 01:04:48.100
this conflict needs toe come to a

01:04:48.490 --> 01:04:50.712
you know , and then And , you know , we

01:04:50.712 --> 01:04:54.310
need to see a agreement reached on ,

01:04:54.320 --> 01:04:57.950
uh , and took it

01:04:57.950 --> 01:05:00.061
accords with what the President elect

01:05:00.061 --> 01:05:02.172
wants to see . I think we want to see

01:05:02.172 --> 01:05:04.339
in Afghanistan in the future that does

01:05:04.339 --> 01:05:07.200
not present a threat to America . So

01:05:07.210 --> 01:05:09.830
focus on on some kind of terrorism

01:05:09.830 --> 01:05:11.774
issues . I think in the future , I

01:05:11.774 --> 01:05:13.890
think would be helpful . Thank you .

01:05:13.890 --> 01:05:16.001
Thank you , Mr Chairman . Thank you .

01:05:16.001 --> 01:05:18.620
Senator Shaheen and , uh , via WebEx .

01:05:18.630 --> 01:05:22.230
Senator Fisher . Thank you , Mr

01:05:22.230 --> 01:05:25.310
Chairman . And welcome General Austin .

01:05:25.890 --> 01:05:28.390
This committee has consistently her

01:05:28.390 --> 01:05:30.570
testimony , including from every

01:05:30.570 --> 01:05:32.880
stratcom commander who has appeared

01:05:32.880 --> 01:05:35.102
before this committee since I've been a

01:05:35.102 --> 01:05:37.230
member recommending against making

01:05:37.230 --> 01:05:39.830
unilateral reductions to our nuclear

01:05:39.830 --> 01:05:42.410
forces . Do you agree that making you

01:05:42.410 --> 01:05:45.720
know unilateral reductions is unwise ?

01:05:46.490 --> 01:05:48.540
Senator , I'm having a tough time .

01:05:48.550 --> 01:05:51.140
Yeah , the volume seems not to be high

01:05:51.140 --> 01:05:53.307
enough . If anyone knows how to adjust

01:05:53.307 --> 01:05:55.029
that this good time to do it .

01:05:58.590 --> 01:06:00.990
Let me see if I dio That sounds better .

01:06:01.760 --> 01:06:04.720
Do you hear me ? OK , Yes . Okay .

01:06:06.180 --> 01:06:09.280
I was asking sir about making

01:06:09.290 --> 01:06:12.160
unilateral reductions to our nuclear

01:06:12.170 --> 01:06:15.570
forces . Uh , do you agree that making

01:06:15.600 --> 01:06:18.420
these reductions unilaterally is unwise ?

01:06:19.580 --> 01:06:23.300
I think that we should , uh ,

01:06:24.280 --> 01:06:26.113
you know , I look forward . Thio

01:06:26.113 --> 01:06:28.560
getting on board of confirm and having

01:06:28.570 --> 01:06:30.626
a nobility to kind of look under the

01:06:30.626 --> 01:06:33.340
hood and see exactly what we're doing

01:06:33.350 --> 01:06:37.010
with our nuclear forces . Eso

01:06:37.020 --> 01:06:39.300
uh , once I've had a chance to do that ,

01:06:39.300 --> 01:06:41.522
Senator , I would love to come back and

01:06:41.522 --> 01:06:45.120
discuss it with you in your

01:06:45.130 --> 01:06:47.540
answer to some questions that were sent

01:06:47.540 --> 01:06:51.210
over to you . You said that

01:06:51.680 --> 01:06:53.569
you said , I believe it is in the

01:06:53.569 --> 01:06:55.513
national security interests of the

01:06:55.513 --> 01:06:58.160
United States and its allies and

01:06:58.160 --> 01:07:01.810
partners to resume formal , verifiable

01:07:01.810 --> 01:07:04.540
arms control agreements that reduced

01:07:04.540 --> 01:07:06.484
the nuclear threats from Russia in

01:07:06.484 --> 01:07:08.318
China . Is that correct ? That's

01:07:08.318 --> 01:07:12.050
correct . So

01:07:12.060 --> 01:07:13.940
reduction should be made through

01:07:13.940 --> 01:07:17.300
negotiated , verifiable agreements ,

01:07:18.690 --> 01:07:21.220
not unilaterally . Is that right ?

01:07:21.780 --> 01:07:25.010
That's correct . Okay . Thank you , sir .

01:07:25.380 --> 01:07:28.410
Um , another fact that has been

01:07:28.410 --> 01:07:31.150
consistently emphasized by civilian

01:07:31.150 --> 01:07:33.990
officials and military leaders in both

01:07:33.990 --> 01:07:36.920
the Obama and Trump administration's is

01:07:36.920 --> 01:07:40.140
that nuclear modernization cannot be

01:07:40.140 --> 01:07:43.690
delayed any further . Speaking in 2016 ,

01:07:43.690 --> 01:07:45.968
President Obama's secretary of Defense ,

01:07:45.968 --> 01:07:48.023
Ash Carter , put it in the following

01:07:48.023 --> 01:07:50.900
way . The fact is , most of our nuclear

01:07:50.900 --> 01:07:53.000
weapon delivery systems have already

01:07:53.000 --> 01:07:55.340
been extended decades beyond their

01:07:55.340 --> 01:07:58.460
original expected service lives , so

01:07:58.460 --> 01:08:00.670
it's not a choice between replacing

01:08:00.670 --> 01:08:03.480
these platforms or keeping them . It's

01:08:03.480 --> 01:08:06.360
really a choice between replacing them

01:08:06.370 --> 01:08:08.910
or losing them . That would mean losing

01:08:08.910 --> 01:08:11.500
confidence in our ability to deter ,

01:08:11.570 --> 01:08:13.930
which we can't afford in today's

01:08:13.930 --> 01:08:16.860
volatile security environment . More

01:08:16.860 --> 01:08:18.693
recently , Admiral Richard , the

01:08:18.693 --> 01:08:20.582
current Stratcom commander in his

01:08:20.582 --> 01:08:23.610
posture statement last year testified

01:08:23.610 --> 01:08:25.910
that quote many of the modernization

01:08:25.920 --> 01:08:28.700
and sustainment efforts necessary to

01:08:28.700 --> 01:08:31.470
ensure that deterrence viability have

01:08:31.470 --> 01:08:34.690
zero schedule margin and are late to

01:08:34.690 --> 01:08:37.370
need end quote . He went on to state

01:08:37.380 --> 01:08:39.324
that cannot afford more delays and

01:08:39.324 --> 01:08:41.700
uncertainty and delivering capabilities ,

01:08:41.870 --> 01:08:43.940
and must maintain a focus on

01:08:43.940 --> 01:08:46.740
revitalizing our nuclear forces and the

01:08:46.740 --> 01:08:49.160
associate ID infrastructure . Uh ,

01:08:49.170 --> 01:08:51.400
General , is this also your

01:08:51.400 --> 01:08:53.720
understanding of the modernization

01:08:53.720 --> 01:08:57.370
schedule ? Well , I again

01:08:57.380 --> 01:09:00.480
e misunderstood your first part of the

01:09:00.490 --> 01:09:02.601
first part of the question there when

01:09:02.601 --> 01:09:04.768
you were when you started out . What I

01:09:04.768 --> 01:09:06.934
wanted to tell you was , I really look

01:09:06.934 --> 01:09:09.101
forward to getting into the details of

01:09:09.101 --> 01:09:10.934
the nuclear modern modernization

01:09:10.934 --> 01:09:13.100
program . Uh , you know , if if

01:09:13.100 --> 01:09:15.480
confirmed and you know , I really would

01:09:15.480 --> 01:09:17.830
like to say to be ableto look at the

01:09:17.830 --> 01:09:21.150
details of exactly what we're choosing

01:09:21.150 --> 01:09:24.180
to invest in on the timelines

01:09:24.180 --> 01:09:26.550
associated with that , and I would love

01:09:26.550 --> 01:09:28.606
to come back to you and discuss that

01:09:28.606 --> 01:09:31.400
with you . Okay . I would have your

01:09:31.400 --> 01:09:33.456
insure assurance , though , that you

01:09:33.456 --> 01:09:35.678
would of course , uh , be visiting with

01:09:35.678 --> 01:09:37.610
the current Stratcom combatant

01:09:37.610 --> 01:09:39.610
commander as well as previous ones

01:09:39.610 --> 01:09:42.280
about the need to make sure that we

01:09:42.280 --> 01:09:45.470
have these platforms that we need . And

01:09:45.470 --> 01:09:48.530
also , that would be a top priority .

01:09:48.530 --> 01:09:52.200
Senator e .

01:09:52.210 --> 01:09:54.321
I guess I'm kind of surprised by your

01:09:54.321 --> 01:09:56.820
answer , General , When when the

01:09:56.820 --> 01:09:59.280
chairman asked you about the triad

01:09:59.290 --> 01:10:02.230
specifically about maintaining an

01:10:02.230 --> 01:10:04.980
effective nuclear triad of land , air

01:10:04.980 --> 01:10:07.870
and sea based platforms , Um , I

01:10:07.870 --> 01:10:10.760
thought your answer was yes . We have

01:10:10.760 --> 01:10:13.240
to maintain that effective nuclear

01:10:13.240 --> 01:10:15.620
triad . Is that correct ? That's

01:10:15.620 --> 01:10:19.380
correct , Senator . And I

01:10:19.380 --> 01:10:23.090
realized that

01:10:23.660 --> 01:10:27.200
that you do have to review , um ,

01:10:28.060 --> 01:10:31.990
where we currently are in modernization .

01:10:32.000 --> 01:10:34.900
But I would think under having an

01:10:34.900 --> 01:10:37.160
understanding that every administration

01:10:37.160 --> 01:10:40.630
and every stratcom commander and

01:10:40.640 --> 01:10:43.180
also our our

01:10:44.060 --> 01:10:46.670
secretaries of defense have been

01:10:46.680 --> 01:10:49.160
adamant that we cannot fall behind on

01:10:49.170 --> 01:10:52.310
this . Um , your answer that you would

01:10:52.320 --> 01:10:55.050
have to get back on me is somewhat

01:10:55.050 --> 01:10:58.280
surprising . I understand it za

01:10:58.280 --> 01:11:02.220
complicated topic . Um , but it is

01:11:02.270 --> 01:11:06.130
a 60 year old foundational concept

01:11:06.130 --> 01:11:09.850
that we have here . Yes , Senator .

01:11:09.850 --> 01:11:12.570
And I think I think that we're in

01:11:12.570 --> 01:11:15.150
agreement that this is a priority .

01:11:15.150 --> 01:11:17.870
This needs to remain a priority . What

01:11:17.870 --> 01:11:20.170
I was just conveying was the specific

01:11:20.170 --> 01:11:24.110
timelines of which pieces are

01:11:24.120 --> 01:11:27.390
are being , uh , uh ,

01:11:27.760 --> 01:11:30.810
resourced . At what rate ? Uh , those

01:11:30.810 --> 01:11:32.977
things I would really like to get into

01:11:32.977 --> 01:11:35.088
details and have a further discussion

01:11:35.088 --> 01:11:37.199
with you on . But there's no question

01:11:37.199 --> 01:11:39.421
that I consider this to be a priority ,

01:11:39.421 --> 01:11:41.532
and it will remain a priority . And I

01:11:41.532 --> 01:11:43.643
look forward Thio getting with , uh ,

01:11:43.643 --> 01:11:45.421
stratcom commander and having a

01:11:45.421 --> 01:11:47.754
discussion in detail . Well , thank you ,

01:11:47.754 --> 01:11:49.921
I hope . Also , if you are confirmed ,

01:11:49.921 --> 01:11:52.032
you will be a strong advocate for the

01:11:52.032 --> 01:11:53.620
National Nuclear Security

01:11:53.620 --> 01:11:56.790
Administration . Being ableto receive

01:11:56.790 --> 01:11:58.890
sufficient funding so that they can

01:11:58.890 --> 01:12:01.960
meet the Department of Defense is need .

01:12:01.970 --> 01:12:05.630
I will be and thank you . Thank you ,

01:12:05.630 --> 01:12:08.330
Mr Chairman . Thank you , Senator

01:12:08.330 --> 01:12:11.880
Fisher . Now via WebEx , Senator

01:12:11.890 --> 01:12:15.410
Gillibrand . Thank you , Mr Chairman .

01:12:15.420 --> 01:12:17.830
It for Austin . A President elect Biden

01:12:17.830 --> 01:12:20.500
made overturning President Trump's ban

01:12:20.510 --> 01:12:23.340
on open transgender military service a

01:12:23.340 --> 01:12:26.840
day one priority . Can you confirm your

01:12:26.840 --> 01:12:28.951
commitment and tell the committee how

01:12:28.951 --> 01:12:31.760
you plan to reinstate open service ?

01:12:33.550 --> 01:12:36.540
I support the president's plan . Our

01:12:36.550 --> 01:12:40.180
plan Thio toe . Overturn the

01:12:40.190 --> 01:12:43.280
ban . I truly believe , senator that ,

01:12:43.650 --> 01:12:45.650
as I said in my opening statement ,

01:12:45.750 --> 01:12:47.583
that if you are a fit and you're

01:12:47.583 --> 01:12:49.417
qualified to serve and you could

01:12:49.417 --> 01:12:51.583
maintain the standards , you should be

01:12:51.583 --> 01:12:53.694
allowed to serve . And you can expect

01:12:53.694 --> 01:12:55.750
that , uh , that I will support that

01:12:55.750 --> 01:12:59.470
throughout . Thank you , Mr

01:12:59.470 --> 01:13:02.040
Austin . When we met together , we

01:13:02.040 --> 01:13:04.330
talked at length about the scourge of

01:13:04.330 --> 01:13:07.460
military sexual assault in the military .

01:13:07.470 --> 01:13:11.310
We talked about how this

01:13:11.320 --> 01:13:15.130
has been an issue for decades , and in

01:13:15.130 --> 01:13:17.630
fact , we talked about all the efforts

01:13:17.630 --> 01:13:19.741
of the Department of Defense has made

01:13:19.741 --> 01:13:21.741
over the least the last decade that

01:13:21.741 --> 01:13:23.519
I've been on the Armed Services

01:13:23.519 --> 01:13:25.463
Committee to try to eradicate it .

01:13:25.463 --> 01:13:27.880
Every secretary of fence defense , um ,

01:13:27.890 --> 01:13:31.780
from the last 25 years has said there

01:13:31.780 --> 01:13:34.210
is a zero tolerance for sexual assault

01:13:34.210 --> 01:13:36.690
in the military . But every time they

01:13:36.690 --> 01:13:38.857
say , there's zero tolerance , we look

01:13:38.857 --> 01:13:41.134
at the facts . We look at the evidence ,

01:13:41.134 --> 01:13:43.357
we look at how many sexual assaults are

01:13:43.357 --> 01:13:45.134
committed , how Maney go to try

01:13:45.134 --> 01:13:47.246
alehouse money , any conviction , and

01:13:47.246 --> 01:13:49.301
we don't seem to improve at all . In

01:13:49.301 --> 01:13:51.246
fact , last year the Department of

01:13:51.246 --> 01:13:53.440
Defense announced a record number of

01:13:53.440 --> 01:13:56.460
sexual assaults reported by or against

01:13:56.460 --> 01:13:58.710
service members and the lowest

01:13:58.710 --> 01:14:02.110
conviction rate for their assailants on

01:14:02.110 --> 01:14:06.030
record . In your opinion , does this

01:14:06.030 --> 01:14:08.350
reflect good order and discipline

01:14:08.360 --> 01:14:11.260
within the military ? Does this reflect

01:14:11.270 --> 01:14:13.270
enhanced military readiness ?

01:14:20.640 --> 01:14:23.810
Senator , I take the the issue of

01:14:23.810 --> 01:14:27.570
sexual assault seriously and

01:14:27.570 --> 01:14:31.040
personally and to To your point ,

01:14:31.040 --> 01:14:32.929
Senator , I think we put a lot of

01:14:32.929 --> 01:14:36.170
effort into this , and I'm grateful for

01:14:36.170 --> 01:14:37.948
all of the effort that you have

01:14:37.948 --> 01:14:39.837
personally put into this and this

01:14:39.837 --> 01:14:41.892
committee has put into this . But we

01:14:41.892 --> 01:14:44.114
have not gotten better , and we have to

01:14:44.114 --> 01:14:46.620
get better and we will get better . We

01:14:46.620 --> 01:14:48.564
have toe . We have to go after the

01:14:48.564 --> 01:14:50.453
culture . We have to go after the

01:14:50.453 --> 01:14:52.398
climate way . This is a leadership

01:14:52.398 --> 01:14:54.640
issue . It's a readiness issue , and it

01:14:54.640 --> 01:14:56.751
starts from the top and we gotta work

01:14:56.751 --> 01:14:58.196
from the bottom is , well

01:14:58.196 --> 01:15:00.340
simultaneously . So , therefore , is

01:15:00.340 --> 01:15:02.396
your answer . Yes , that it does not

01:15:02.396 --> 01:15:04.507
reflect good order and discipline and

01:15:04.507 --> 01:15:06.562
does not affect does not reflect the

01:15:06.562 --> 01:15:08.507
readiness that you would like your

01:15:08.507 --> 01:15:10.451
service to have . That's correct ,

01:15:10.451 --> 01:15:13.690
Senator . Furthermore , the most recent

01:15:13.700 --> 01:15:16.010
Pentagon survey on the topic found that

01:15:16.010 --> 01:15:19.140
64% of sexual assault survivors who

01:15:19.140 --> 01:15:21.500
reported their crime perceived some

01:15:21.500 --> 01:15:23.880
form of retaliation for reporting that

01:15:23.880 --> 01:15:26.870
crime often from the exact chain of

01:15:26.870 --> 01:15:29.203
command that's supposed to protect them .

01:15:29.740 --> 01:15:32.440
This number is statistically unchanged

01:15:32.450 --> 01:15:35.990
from 2016 . Does this suggest to you

01:15:35.990 --> 01:15:39.170
adequate progress on what the top brass

01:15:39.170 --> 01:15:42.050
has promised to dio year after year ?

01:15:42.740 --> 01:15:44.920
Do you believe that this is sufficient

01:15:44.920 --> 01:15:47.580
progress ? I absolutely do not believe

01:15:47.580 --> 01:15:51.030
that it is progress , Senator . Well ,

01:15:51.030 --> 01:15:53.300
given the total lack of progress or

01:15:53.300 --> 01:15:55.244
accountability within the military

01:15:55.244 --> 01:15:57.411
justice system , do you believe that a

01:15:57.411 --> 01:16:00.440
new approach must be taken ? Because as

01:16:00.440 --> 01:16:02.670
we discussed the recent events at Fort

01:16:02.670 --> 01:16:05.330
Hood , a new approach is clearly

01:16:05.340 --> 01:16:06.050
warranted .

01:16:09.230 --> 01:16:11.360
Believe that way . Need to do better

01:16:13.730 --> 01:16:17.240
terms of investigation and and

01:16:17.240 --> 01:16:20.610
prosecutions . And , uh And I think ,

01:16:20.620 --> 01:16:22.590
uh , we have to look at this

01:16:22.600 --> 01:16:26.290
holistically . And I know that you know

01:16:26.290 --> 01:16:28.401
that President Elect has committed to

01:16:28.630 --> 01:16:31.240
standing up a 90 day commission to

01:16:31.240 --> 01:16:33.610
really look at this soup to nuts . And

01:16:33.610 --> 01:16:35.950
I look forward to the , you know , to

01:16:35.950 --> 01:16:38.530
the read out of that commission . But I

01:16:38.530 --> 01:16:40.530
won't wait for 90 days to get after

01:16:40.530 --> 01:16:42.697
this as I indicated . That starts with

01:16:42.697 --> 01:16:44.641
me and you can you can count on me

01:16:44.641 --> 01:16:48.530
getting NAFTA this on day one . Well ,

01:16:48.540 --> 01:16:52.270
to be honest , President elect

01:16:52.280 --> 01:16:54.280
Biden said Much more than that , he

01:16:54.280 --> 01:16:56.447
promised much more than a commission ,

01:16:56.630 --> 01:16:59.300
he said . In fact , when asked directly

01:16:59.300 --> 01:17:01.910
by Protect our defenders Nancy Parrish ,

01:17:01.920 --> 01:17:03.976
if he would support quote moving the

01:17:03.976 --> 01:17:06.360
military justice system into the 21st

01:17:06.360 --> 01:17:08.560
century by allowing military

01:17:08.560 --> 01:17:10.960
prosecutors to make prosecute

01:17:10.960 --> 01:17:13.127
prosecution decisions for non military

01:17:13.127 --> 01:17:16.090
crimes seriously felonies like rape ,

01:17:16.090 --> 01:17:18.360
murder and child abuse . End of quote .

01:17:18.360 --> 01:17:20.360
And that President elect Biden , in

01:17:20.360 --> 01:17:23.850
response , said quote yes , yes , yes ,

01:17:23.860 --> 01:17:27.680
end of quote . So do you share

01:17:27.680 --> 01:17:30.150
President elect Biden's commitment to

01:17:30.150 --> 01:17:32.790
move prosecutorial decisions outside

01:17:32.790 --> 01:17:34.846
the chain of command and giving that

01:17:34.846 --> 01:17:38.460
decision to train military prosecutors ?

01:17:39.230 --> 01:17:41.230
I would like if confirmed , I would

01:17:41.230 --> 01:17:43.397
like to work with the chain of command

01:17:43.397 --> 01:17:46.720
and very rapidly assess what things ,

01:17:46.730 --> 01:17:49.970
uh , that there are that need to be .

01:17:50.430 --> 01:17:52.597
We need to be fixed or addressed , and

01:17:52.597 --> 01:17:54.763
I'd like to make those recommendations

01:17:54.763 --> 01:17:56.819
and provide those assessments , Thio

01:17:56.819 --> 01:17:59.710
the president elect . But you do agree

01:17:59.710 --> 01:18:01.932
that we can't keep doing the same thing

01:18:01.932 --> 01:18:03.877
that we've been doing for the past

01:18:03.877 --> 01:18:06.099
decade . I absolutely agree with that ,

01:18:06.099 --> 01:18:08.377
Senator , I absolutely agree with that .

01:18:08.377 --> 01:18:10.160
Do I have your commitment to be

01:18:10.160 --> 01:18:12.770
relentless on this issue . Until we can

01:18:12.770 --> 01:18:14.930
end the scourge of sexual violence in

01:18:14.930 --> 01:18:17.152
the military , you have my commitment .

01:18:18.220 --> 01:18:21.280
Okay , I now like toe move thio

01:18:21.290 --> 01:18:24.620
Civil military relations . Mr .

01:18:24.620 --> 01:18:27.660
Austin's scholars rightly argue that

01:18:27.660 --> 01:18:29.493
the secretary of defense plays a

01:18:29.493 --> 01:18:32.270
critical role in maintaining balanced

01:18:32.280 --> 01:18:34.810
civilian military relations by

01:18:34.810 --> 01:18:37.040
explaining the military's activities to

01:18:37.040 --> 01:18:39.700
the public secretary . Mattis , another

01:18:39.700 --> 01:18:42.460
recently retired general who required a

01:18:42.460 --> 01:18:44.770
waiver to serve , did not embrace this

01:18:44.770 --> 01:18:47.300
role . According to Bob Woodward's book

01:18:47.300 --> 01:18:50.330
Fear , Mattis grew so tired of being

01:18:50.330 --> 01:18:52.552
asked to appear on Sunday shows that he

01:18:52.552 --> 01:18:54.441
threatened to send Sean Spicer to

01:18:54.441 --> 01:18:56.930
Afghanistan . Mr Austin , can you

01:18:56.940 --> 01:18:59.660
commit to following in the footsteps of

01:18:59.660 --> 01:19:01.450
your predecessors and regularly

01:19:01.450 --> 01:19:04.730
appearing on TV to explain to Americans

01:19:04.740 --> 01:19:07.140
where the administration has asked

01:19:07.140 --> 01:19:09.362
service members to risk their lives and

01:19:09.362 --> 01:19:12.410
why I fully understand and appreciate

01:19:12.410 --> 01:19:14.577
the role that Secretary of Defense has

01:19:14.577 --> 01:19:16.577
and communicating with the American

01:19:16.577 --> 01:19:18.299
public Senator and you have my

01:19:18.299 --> 01:19:20.243
commitment that , uh , that I will

01:19:20.243 --> 01:19:22.410
establish a good relationship with the

01:19:22.410 --> 01:19:25.190
media and provide them the access and

01:19:25.190 --> 01:19:27.900
the information required to do their

01:19:27.900 --> 01:19:29.956
job of reporting out to the American

01:19:29.956 --> 01:19:32.500
people . Thank you , Mr Austin . Thank

01:19:32.500 --> 01:19:35.870
you , Mr Chairman . Thank you . Senator

01:19:35.870 --> 01:19:37.650
Gillibrand . Senator Cotton .

01:19:39.120 --> 01:19:41.120
Congratulations , General Austin on

01:19:41.120 --> 01:19:43.120
your nomination . And thank you for

01:19:43.120 --> 01:19:45.120
your parents today , especially for

01:19:45.120 --> 01:19:47.342
your four decades of military service .

01:19:47.342 --> 01:19:49.509
Unfortunately , I must announce that I

01:19:49.509 --> 01:19:51.509
oppose the waiver of the seven year

01:19:51.509 --> 01:19:53.342
cooling off period . My decision

01:19:53.342 --> 01:19:55.453
reflects not at all on you personally

01:19:55.453 --> 01:19:57.398
or your record , which I respect .

01:19:57.398 --> 01:19:59.509
Rather , I believe Congress should no

01:19:59.509 --> 01:20:01.564
longer grant such waivers at all . I

01:20:01.564 --> 01:20:03.787
supported the waiver for General Mattis

01:20:03.787 --> 01:20:03.650
with reservations four years ago ,

01:20:03.650 --> 01:20:05.539
which I quickly came to view as a

01:20:05.539 --> 01:20:07.706
mistake . And I have since regretted ,

01:20:08.210 --> 01:20:10.377
for that matter . Upon further reading

01:20:10.377 --> 01:20:12.432
of historical record , I now believe

01:20:12.432 --> 01:20:14.654
the waiver for General Marshall in 1950

01:20:14.654 --> 01:20:16.700
was also a mist ake under no

01:20:16.710 --> 01:20:18.599
foreseeable circumstances . Can I

01:20:18.599 --> 01:20:20.766
imagine supporting such a waiver again

01:20:21.410 --> 01:20:23.632
again ? General Austin , My reasons for

01:20:23.632 --> 01:20:25.854
this decision are distinct and separate

01:20:25.854 --> 01:20:28.077
from your nomination . And put simply ,

01:20:28.077 --> 01:20:30.299
my reasons are the same reasons we have

01:20:30.299 --> 01:20:30.190
a cooling off period for recently

01:20:30.190 --> 01:20:32.320
retired generals in the first place .

01:20:32.910 --> 01:20:35.243
Some of those reasons are simply affect ,

01:20:35.243 --> 01:20:37.354
not something that you can address or

01:20:37.354 --> 01:20:39.466
about which you can grant reassurance

01:20:39.466 --> 01:20:41.466
others . You can give reassurance .

01:20:41.466 --> 01:20:43.466
I'll give you that opportunity in a

01:20:43.466 --> 01:20:45.521
moment . Among those concerns I have

01:20:45.521 --> 01:20:47.743
that I don't think can be addressed are

01:20:47.743 --> 01:20:49.910
the following . First , the perception

01:20:49.910 --> 01:20:51.966
that these waivers are now routine ,

01:20:51.966 --> 01:20:54.077
not extraordinary . Senator Reid said

01:20:54.077 --> 01:20:55.910
in 2017 that he wouldn't support

01:20:55.910 --> 01:20:58.021
another waiver , and they should only

01:20:58.021 --> 01:21:00.132
happen . Quote Once in a generation ,

01:21:00.132 --> 01:21:02.299
no matter what we say , though , if we

01:21:02.299 --> 01:21:04.521
approve to waivers in just four years ,

01:21:04.521 --> 01:21:06.688
our actions will speak louder than our

01:21:06.688 --> 01:21:08.920
words . Second , the perception among

01:21:08.920 --> 01:21:11.087
flag officers that a four star bill it

01:21:11.310 --> 01:21:14.300
isn't a career capstone . Some generals

01:21:14.300 --> 01:21:16.522
and admirals may begin to think if they

01:21:16.522 --> 01:21:18.633
play their cards right , they , too ,

01:21:18.633 --> 01:21:20.800
could become a secretary in just a few

01:21:20.800 --> 01:21:22.911
years . I don't think that's good for

01:21:22.911 --> 01:21:25.078
the force or for the country . Three .

01:21:25.078 --> 01:21:26.967
The perception among the American

01:21:26.967 --> 01:21:28.967
people that military , the military

01:21:28.967 --> 01:21:31.022
expertise of our general officers is

01:21:31.022 --> 01:21:33.244
the same as national security expertise

01:21:33.244 --> 01:21:35.189
more broadly , and that the latter

01:21:35.189 --> 01:21:37.411
resides chiefly in the military , which

01:21:37.411 --> 01:21:39.411
I also believe is unhealthy for our

01:21:39.411 --> 01:21:42.450
democracy and for the perception the

01:21:42.450 --> 01:21:44.783
perception of potential army favoritism .

01:21:45.310 --> 01:21:48.290
There's a 41 year officer in the army .

01:21:48.300 --> 01:21:50.467
Many observers may disbelieve that you

01:21:50.467 --> 01:21:52.689
can hang up the Army green , rightly or

01:21:52.689 --> 01:21:54.467
wrongly , if you make the right

01:21:54.467 --> 01:21:56.522
decision for the Army over the other

01:21:56.522 --> 01:21:58.744
services . And those services advocates

01:21:58.744 --> 01:22:00.800
may say it's because of favoritism .

01:22:01.200 --> 01:22:03.311
Make the correct decision for another

01:22:03.311 --> 01:22:05.256
service against the Army , and the

01:22:05.256 --> 01:22:07.200
Army's advocates will say , You're

01:22:07.200 --> 01:22:09.144
protecting your flank against such

01:22:09.144 --> 01:22:11.311
charges of favoritism . Neither one of

01:22:11.311 --> 01:22:13.422
those may be true in the case , but I

01:22:13.422 --> 01:22:15.380
believe it's unavoidable . Those

01:22:15.380 --> 01:22:17.620
concerns alone are weighty and enough

01:22:17.620 --> 01:22:19.870
for me to oppose this waiver , as I

01:22:19.870 --> 01:22:22.790
should have done four years ago . But

01:22:22.790 --> 01:22:25.012
there are still more reasons behind the

01:22:25.012 --> 01:22:27.346
cooling off period . As I said , though ,

01:22:27.346 --> 01:22:29.568
you can give reassurances about some of

01:22:29.568 --> 01:22:29.450
these concerns , and I want to give you

01:22:29.450 --> 01:22:32.370
the opportunity to do that . First .

01:22:32.540 --> 01:22:34.707
Secretary of Defense is not a partisan

01:22:34.707 --> 01:22:36.818
job , but it is very much a political

01:22:36.818 --> 01:22:38.984
job . Bob Gates is a good example . He

01:22:38.984 --> 01:22:41.096
served in a Republican and Democratic

01:22:41.096 --> 01:22:43.096
administration with great political

01:22:43.096 --> 01:22:45.096
skill . We , of course , expect our

01:22:45.096 --> 01:22:47.318
generals like you and General Mattis to

01:22:47.318 --> 01:22:49.540
be a political , but our troops deserve

01:22:49.540 --> 01:22:51.651
a secretary with the political skills

01:22:51.651 --> 01:22:53.651
and willingness to fight for them ,

01:22:53.651 --> 01:22:55.873
whether within the Pentagon against its

01:22:55.873 --> 01:22:57.818
bureaucracy within the Cabinet and

01:22:57.818 --> 01:22:59.651
fights over policy and budgetary

01:22:59.651 --> 01:23:01.484
resource is or against parochial

01:23:01.484 --> 01:23:03.429
members of Congress . So , General

01:23:03.429 --> 01:23:05.484
Austin , what can you say to address

01:23:05.484 --> 01:23:07.707
this concern ? If , for instance , John

01:23:07.707 --> 01:23:09.651
Kerry wants to sacrifice our force

01:23:09.651 --> 01:23:11.818
posture on China's periphery in return

01:23:11.818 --> 01:23:13.873
for ephemeral promises from China to

01:23:13.873 --> 01:23:16.660
reduce emissions in 2070 or if Jennifer

01:23:16.660 --> 01:23:18.549
Granholm wants to rob the nuclear

01:23:18.549 --> 01:23:20.716
security budget to fund pie in the sky

01:23:20.716 --> 01:23:22.771
green energy programs , or simply if

01:23:22.771 --> 01:23:24.771
the Office of Management and Budget

01:23:24.771 --> 01:23:26.827
wants to cut the military's budget ,

01:23:26.827 --> 01:23:28.882
how would you manage such inherently

01:23:28.882 --> 01:23:31.510
political disputes ? Well , certainly

01:23:31.520 --> 01:23:33.610
in terms off ,

01:23:35.400 --> 01:23:39.240
providing resource is for the military .

01:23:39.900 --> 01:23:43.300
My goal is toe . My job is to defend

01:23:43.300 --> 01:23:45.950
this thing , this country if I'm

01:23:45.960 --> 01:23:48.320
confirmed as secretary of defense . And

01:23:48.320 --> 01:23:50.431
so I believe that we need to have the

01:23:50.431 --> 01:23:52.542
adequate resource is to be able to do

01:23:52.542 --> 01:23:54.710
that . Uh , in order to help me get my

01:23:54.720 --> 01:23:57.340
work , the issues and make my points

01:23:57.340 --> 01:24:00.110
throughout the inter agency Number one ,

01:24:00.120 --> 01:24:02.850
I'll develop good , great relationship

01:24:02.850 --> 01:24:05.900
with my partners in State and O , N . B

01:24:05.910 --> 01:24:08.180
and other places . Number two . I'll

01:24:08.180 --> 01:24:10.402
hire the right people to be on my staff

01:24:10.402 --> 01:24:12.569
to make sure that they're working with

01:24:12.569 --> 01:24:15.760
me , uh , Thio and crafting the right

01:24:15.760 --> 01:24:19.010
language to be able to be successful in

01:24:19.010 --> 01:24:21.310
this dialogue . Thank you , General .

01:24:21.310 --> 01:24:23.960
Have confirmed . I do urge you to be a

01:24:23.960 --> 01:24:25.960
forceful political advocate for the

01:24:25.960 --> 01:24:27.960
department and its interests , both

01:24:27.960 --> 01:24:29.738
inside the Cabinet and with the

01:24:29.738 --> 01:24:31.960
Congress is Well , a second concern I'd

01:24:31.960 --> 01:24:33.738
like you to address is that the

01:24:33.738 --> 01:24:35.904
secretary also holds a public office .

01:24:35.904 --> 01:24:37.849
Bob Gates routinely held on camera

01:24:37.849 --> 01:24:40.071
press briefings about major decisions ,

01:24:40.071 --> 01:24:42.293
new policies , public controversies and

01:24:42.293 --> 01:24:44.404
so forth . Those have been almost non

01:24:44.404 --> 01:24:46.349
existent for the last four years .

01:24:46.349 --> 01:24:48.516
General Austin have confirmed , or you

01:24:48.516 --> 01:24:50.682
commit to hold regular on camera press

01:24:50.682 --> 01:24:53.050
briefings ? Yes . Were you also commit

01:24:53.050 --> 01:24:55.480
to appear on television programs to

01:24:55.480 --> 01:24:57.710
explain the key issues of the day as

01:24:57.710 --> 01:25:00.310
Senator Gillibrand raised ? Yes . Thank

01:25:00.310 --> 01:25:02.366
you . Ah , third and final concern I

01:25:02.366 --> 01:25:04.532
want you to address is that a recently

01:25:04.532 --> 01:25:06.588
retired general is apt to bring with

01:25:06.588 --> 01:25:08.810
him much of his former military staff .

01:25:08.810 --> 01:25:10.977
Perhaps recreating his last command is

01:25:10.977 --> 01:25:13.060
a kind of Supreme Combatant command

01:25:13.070 --> 01:25:15.890
also likely to rely too much on the

01:25:15.890 --> 01:25:18.180
joint staff . General Austin , could

01:25:18.180 --> 01:25:20.740
you please discuss if confirmed how

01:25:20.740 --> 01:25:22.962
many of your former military staff from

01:25:22.962 --> 01:25:25.073
your various senior commands you plan

01:25:25.073 --> 01:25:27.129
to hire and how you will balance the

01:25:27.129 --> 01:25:29.296
joint staff with civilian appointees ?

01:25:29.296 --> 01:25:31.518
The services and the combatant commands

01:25:31.518 --> 01:25:34.510
the key village for , uh , for my staff .

01:25:34.890 --> 01:25:37.920
Uh , all of those positions are being

01:25:38.290 --> 01:25:40.401
We're looking at filling all of those

01:25:40.401 --> 01:25:42.290
positions . If I'm confirmed with

01:25:42.290 --> 01:25:45.650
experience senior civilians

01:25:45.830 --> 01:25:49.230
that again , I'll empower Teoh be able

01:25:49.230 --> 01:25:52.300
to get their job done . Thank you

01:25:53.090 --> 01:25:55.090
again , Journalist . In my concerns

01:25:55.090 --> 01:25:57.201
about these waivers don't bear it all

01:25:57.201 --> 01:25:59.257
on your nomination or your record of

01:25:59.257 --> 01:26:01.257
service to our nation , for which I

01:26:01.257 --> 01:26:03.368
have the highest regard . I thank you

01:26:03.368 --> 01:26:05.590
again for answering the call of duty to

01:26:05.590 --> 01:26:05.480
your country . Thank you , Senator

01:26:05.480 --> 01:26:08.370
Cotton . Senator Blumenthal . Thanks ,

01:26:08.370 --> 01:26:12.230
Mr Chairman . Uh , General Austin .

01:26:12.240 --> 01:26:14.530
Mr . Austin , thank you for being here

01:26:14.530 --> 01:26:16.030
today . Thank you for your

01:26:16.030 --> 01:26:18.420
extraordinary career of service , which

01:26:18.420 --> 01:26:21.970
I deeply respect and admire . My

01:26:21.970 --> 01:26:24.160
opposition of the waiver is not

01:26:24.160 --> 01:26:26.500
personal . It's a matter of principle

01:26:26.880 --> 01:26:29.490
and I want toe move on to the merits of

01:26:30.280 --> 01:26:32.336
the policy issues that will confront

01:26:32.336 --> 01:26:35.330
you if confirm . In my view , you have

01:26:35.340 --> 01:26:38.010
expressed clearly and cogently your

01:26:38.010 --> 01:26:40.580
commitment to strengthening civilian

01:26:40.580 --> 01:26:42.691
control over the military , which you

01:26:42.691 --> 01:26:46.200
would implement . It confirmed . First ,

01:26:46.210 --> 01:26:48.420
I have been deeply alarmed , as have

01:26:48.420 --> 01:26:51.620
been many of my colleagues by the rise

01:26:51.630 --> 01:26:55.220
of white supremacist and extremist

01:26:55.230 --> 01:26:58.090
ideology in the military . You and I

01:26:58.090 --> 01:27:00.146
have discussed it . The latest signs

01:27:00.146 --> 01:27:03.250
are , in fact , that two National Guard

01:27:03.250 --> 01:27:06.770
members have been removed from their

01:27:06.770 --> 01:27:09.500
duties regarding the inaugural because

01:27:09.500 --> 01:27:12.880
of their potential links

01:27:12.880 --> 01:27:16.760
to extremists sentiments organizations .

01:27:17.480 --> 01:27:20.440
Uh , last week , I lead 13 of my

01:27:20.440 --> 01:27:22.530
colleagues in a letter to the

01:27:22.530 --> 01:27:24.752
Department of Defense Inspector General

01:27:24.752 --> 01:27:26.641
asking for an immediate intensive

01:27:26.641 --> 01:27:29.230
investigation of the prevalence of

01:27:29.230 --> 01:27:32.820
white supremacy and extremist ideology .

01:27:33.280 --> 01:27:35.502
I'm asking for your commitment that you

01:27:35.502 --> 01:27:38.180
will cooperate with and support that

01:27:38.180 --> 01:27:40.069
investigation . Shortly after our

01:27:40.069 --> 01:27:42.013
letter , the Department of Defense

01:27:42.013 --> 01:27:43.791
indicated it was going to do an

01:27:43.791 --> 01:27:46.070
evaluation of this issue . But I want

01:27:46.080 --> 01:27:49.290
an intensive investigation and action

01:27:49.290 --> 01:27:51.234
to counter it . And I look forward

01:27:51.234 --> 01:27:53.360
hopefully to working with you in

01:27:53.510 --> 01:27:56.550
countering and combating this very

01:27:56.970 --> 01:28:00.300
important threat . I certainly look

01:28:00.300 --> 01:28:02.411
forward to working with you on this ,

01:28:02.411 --> 01:28:05.280
Senator . I think this is critical .

01:28:05.870 --> 01:28:09.560
Uh uh . I would share a story with you

01:28:09.560 --> 01:28:12.270
that from my past where when I was a

01:28:12.270 --> 01:28:14.492
lieutenant colonel working and probably

01:28:14.570 --> 01:28:16.680
the finest one of the finest

01:28:16.680 --> 01:28:18.513
organizations in the Army . 82nd

01:28:18.513 --> 01:28:20.624
Airborne Division . What ? We woke up

01:28:20.624 --> 01:28:22.569
one day and discovered that we had

01:28:22.569 --> 01:28:25.690
extremist , uh , elements in our ranks .

01:28:25.870 --> 01:28:29.430
And they did bad things that that we

01:28:29.440 --> 01:28:31.496
held certainly held them accountable

01:28:31.496 --> 01:28:34.320
for . But we discovered that the signs

01:28:34.320 --> 01:28:36.431
for that that activity were there all

01:28:36.431 --> 01:28:38.431
along . We just didn't know what to

01:28:38.431 --> 01:28:40.542
look for , what to pay attention to .

01:28:40.542 --> 01:28:42.709
But we learned from that . And I think

01:28:42.709 --> 01:28:44.931
this is one of those things that that's

01:28:44.931 --> 01:28:47.330
important to our military to make sure

01:28:47.330 --> 01:28:49.540
that we keep a handle on . Make sure

01:28:49.540 --> 01:28:51.818
our leaders are doing the right things ,

01:28:51.818 --> 01:28:53.707
that they're taking care of their

01:28:53.707 --> 01:28:55.762
troops . They understand . They know

01:28:55.762 --> 01:28:57.818
their troops , and we can never take

01:28:57.818 --> 01:28:59.984
our hands off the wheel on this . This

01:28:59.984 --> 01:29:02.110
has no place in the military of the

01:29:02.110 --> 01:29:04.166
United States of America . Thank you

01:29:04.166 --> 01:29:06.221
very much . I really appreciate that

01:29:06.221 --> 01:29:09.040
answer you mentioned in your testimony

01:29:09.050 --> 01:29:11.680
the importance of the Chinese threat ,

01:29:11.680 --> 01:29:13.847
the need to focus on it . But the most

01:29:13.847 --> 01:29:15.850
recent attack on our country was by

01:29:15.850 --> 01:29:19.700
Russia , which for months

01:29:21.070 --> 01:29:24.160
literally intruded , interfered and

01:29:24.160 --> 01:29:27.850
attacked our nation in cyberspace , in

01:29:27.850 --> 01:29:30.110
part because , as General Nakasone

01:29:30.110 --> 01:29:33.960
testified to us , our adversaries do

01:29:33.960 --> 01:29:36.330
not fear us . That's exactly what he

01:29:36.330 --> 01:29:40.090
said in the cyber domain . I'd like to

01:29:40.090 --> 01:29:43.610
ask you to commit to conducting a top

01:29:43.610 --> 01:29:45.900
down review of our cyber operations ,

01:29:45.900 --> 01:29:49.720
including the ODS posture and structure ,

01:29:49.720 --> 01:29:53.080
and to making our adversaries pay a

01:29:53.080 --> 01:29:55.250
price when they attack us , as the

01:29:55.250 --> 01:29:58.580
Russians did through solar winds . You

01:29:58.580 --> 01:30:01.030
have my commitment that I will conduct

01:30:01.030 --> 01:30:03.270
that that review . I think that there

01:30:03.270 --> 01:30:05.670
is a review ongoing now to really

01:30:05.670 --> 01:30:08.210
ascertain what transpired . You know ,

01:30:08.210 --> 01:30:10.990
I'll join that if confirmed in stride .

01:30:10.990 --> 01:30:12.601
And I really look forward to

01:30:12.601 --> 01:30:15.500
understanding with clarity what what

01:30:15.500 --> 01:30:18.530
really happened . And I truly believe

01:30:18.530 --> 01:30:22.220
that , um , well , the FBI and the NSA

01:30:22.220 --> 01:30:24.220
have given Russia credit for this .

01:30:24.460 --> 01:30:26.900
They have attributed thistle activity

01:30:26.900 --> 01:30:29.067
to Russia , and if that's the case , I

01:30:29.067 --> 01:30:31.400
think Russia should be held accountable .

01:30:31.400 --> 01:30:33.622
That's my personal belief . Thank you .

01:30:33.960 --> 01:30:37.820
Uh , environmental action and climate

01:30:37.820 --> 01:30:40.042
change are more important than ever . I

01:30:40.042 --> 01:30:42.360
know the President elect is going to

01:30:42.360 --> 01:30:44.138
focus on it . As you and I have

01:30:44.138 --> 01:30:45.860
discussed in our meeting . The

01:30:45.860 --> 01:30:48.320
Department of Defense has an immense

01:30:48.320 --> 01:30:50.700
role to play . I welcome your comments

01:30:50.700 --> 01:30:53.880
on P fasts and the

01:30:54.360 --> 01:30:56.900
increasing resilience of our military

01:30:56.900 --> 01:30:58.956
installation , I'd like to work with

01:30:58.956 --> 01:31:01.390
you on a total program or planned for

01:31:01.390 --> 01:31:03.570
the Department of Defense beyond the

01:31:03.570 --> 01:31:06.660
magnitude of what is done now . And I

01:31:06.660 --> 01:31:08.827
know you've indicated your interest in

01:31:08.827 --> 01:31:11.030
it , so I'm not going to ask questions

01:31:11.030 --> 01:31:14.230
about it . But I do think that the use

01:31:14.230 --> 01:31:17.620
and procurement of clean energy , the

01:31:17.630 --> 01:31:19.840
energy efficiency steps that diode can

01:31:19.840 --> 01:31:22.370
take will not only save dollars , it

01:31:22.370 --> 01:31:24.820
will save energy and environmental

01:31:24.820 --> 01:31:27.290
values and provide leadership for the

01:31:27.290 --> 01:31:30.820
whole world . I want to focus on , uh ,

01:31:30.830 --> 01:31:33.960
military sexual assault , which my

01:31:33.960 --> 01:31:36.071
colleague , Senator Gillibrand , It's

01:31:36.071 --> 01:31:40.010
so well before and say that I'm working

01:31:40.010 --> 01:31:41.970
on legislation that would create

01:31:42.430 --> 01:31:46.410
liability for perpetrators and for

01:31:46.410 --> 01:31:49.360
the Department of Defense for sexual

01:31:49.360 --> 01:31:53.340
misconduct in among service members so

01:31:53.340 --> 01:31:56.980
that the survivors would have a right

01:31:56.980 --> 01:31:59.170
of action . It would be

01:32:00.550 --> 01:32:04.500
empowered to take action . Will

01:32:04.500 --> 01:32:06.667
you support that kind of legislation ,

01:32:06.667 --> 01:32:08.778
sir ? Well , I certainly look forward

01:32:08.778 --> 01:32:11.056
to reviewing what's in the legislation ,

01:32:11.056 --> 01:32:13.167
Senator . And , uh , and I would love

01:32:13.167 --> 01:32:15.278
to have that discussion with you once

01:32:15.278 --> 01:32:17.333
I've had to get up the ability to do

01:32:17.333 --> 01:32:19.444
that and I just want to take a moment

01:32:19.444 --> 01:32:22.180
to thank both you and Senator

01:32:22.180 --> 01:32:24.890
Gillibrand for the tremendous work ,

01:32:25.250 --> 01:32:28.710
especially Senator Senator Gillibrand ,

01:32:28.720 --> 01:32:31.600
for the work that you have both done to

01:32:31.600 --> 01:32:33.780
counter sexual assault in our ranks .

01:32:33.790 --> 01:32:35.957
Uh , and if confirmed , I look forward

01:32:35.957 --> 01:32:37.957
to working with both of you on this

01:32:37.957 --> 01:32:40.530
issue . I appreciate that point . Let

01:32:40.530 --> 01:32:43.700
me just say , uh , I welcomed and

01:32:43.700 --> 01:32:45.811
appreciate your focus in your written

01:32:45.811 --> 01:32:48.970
remarks in answer specific questions on

01:32:48.980 --> 01:32:52.390
the need to focus on our suppliers .

01:32:52.390 --> 01:32:55.130
Our supply chain , our workforce , our

01:32:55.130 --> 01:32:57.150
defense industrial base two very

01:32:57.150 --> 01:32:59.850
important to Connecticut , where we are

01:32:59.850 --> 01:33:03.100
the submarine capital of the world had

01:33:03.110 --> 01:33:05.040
electric boat and where a trained

01:33:05.040 --> 01:33:07.262
workforce is especially important . But

01:33:07.262 --> 01:33:09.280
the supply chain equally so And I'd

01:33:09.280 --> 01:33:12.720
like you toe review because I'm out of

01:33:12.720 --> 01:33:15.390
time legislation that I proposed that

01:33:15.390 --> 01:33:19.360
would give the mayor of

01:33:19.360 --> 01:33:21.249
the District of Columbia the same

01:33:21.249 --> 01:33:24.650
powers that governors have over the

01:33:24.650 --> 01:33:28.070
National Guard . Because a lot of the

01:33:28.650 --> 01:33:31.610
very unfortunate lack of planning and

01:33:31.610 --> 01:33:33.777
coordination between federal and local

01:33:33.777 --> 01:33:36.210
agencies that has been on display over

01:33:36.210 --> 01:33:39.190
recent months , in my view is

01:33:39.850 --> 01:33:43.580
attributable to the lack of that

01:33:43.590 --> 01:33:46.580
power on the part of in effect

01:33:46.950 --> 01:33:50.510
the locally empowered official here .

01:33:50.520 --> 01:33:53.500
Thank you . Thank you . Senator

01:33:53.500 --> 01:33:55.770
Blumenthal . Senator Ernst .

01:33:59.050 --> 01:34:01.320
Thank you , Mr Chair . And thank you so

01:34:01.320 --> 01:34:03.550
much , general , for being here today .

01:34:03.550 --> 01:34:05.880
We certainly appreciate your commitment

01:34:05.880 --> 01:34:08.620
and your service to our great nation

01:34:08.620 --> 01:34:10.842
and thank you for stepping forward with

01:34:10.842 --> 01:34:13.770
this nomination . I just want to

01:34:13.770 --> 01:34:17.330
briefly touch upon the issue of sexual

01:34:17.330 --> 01:34:19.930
harassment , sexual assault as Senator

01:34:19.930 --> 01:34:23.620
Gillibrand and and Senator Blumenthal

01:34:23.660 --> 01:34:25.827
just did . We had a conversation about

01:34:25.827 --> 01:34:27.882
this last week . Thank you very much

01:34:27.882 --> 01:34:31.110
for that . Um , but part of that Fort

01:34:31.110 --> 01:34:34.480
Hood report that came forward stated

01:34:34.490 --> 01:34:36.190
that the military readiness

01:34:36.190 --> 01:34:38.190
requirements superseded the need to

01:34:38.190 --> 01:34:41.820
protect our service members . What are

01:34:41.820 --> 01:34:44.110
your feelings as to that statement ?

01:34:44.120 --> 01:34:46.160
And then how do we move forward and

01:34:46.160 --> 01:34:49.960
correct that , Senator , I I earnestly

01:34:50.440 --> 01:34:54.370
I honestly don't believe that these two

01:34:54.370 --> 01:34:57.390
issues are mutually exclusive . We

01:34:57.390 --> 01:35:00.680
absolutely have to take care of the men

01:35:00.680 --> 01:35:03.100
and women that are in our ranks , you

01:35:03.100 --> 01:35:05.322
know , a failure to do so . I mean , we

01:35:05.322 --> 01:35:08.050
are about people in the military . We

01:35:08.050 --> 01:35:10.272
have the greatest best equipment in the

01:35:10.272 --> 01:35:12.920
world , and and and I get that . But

01:35:12.920 --> 01:35:16.050
this is about people , Uh , you know ,

01:35:16.640 --> 01:35:18.751
if We don't take care of our people .

01:35:18.751 --> 01:35:20.807
It's really , really tough to do the

01:35:20.807 --> 01:35:23.029
job at hand , and that's to defend this

01:35:23.029 --> 01:35:25.340
country . And so I do not see these two

01:35:25.340 --> 01:35:28.090
issues as being a Todd's with each

01:35:28.090 --> 01:35:30.257
other . I think we have to do both and

01:35:30.257 --> 01:35:32.201
we have to do them both . Well , I

01:35:32.201 --> 01:35:35.250
truly appreciate that . I fully agree

01:35:35.260 --> 01:35:38.120
our military readiness does not have to

01:35:38.120 --> 01:35:40.730
suffer because of sexual harassment .

01:35:40.740 --> 01:35:44.070
We can take care of that issue and also

01:35:44.070 --> 01:35:47.460
still be the best fighting force in the

01:35:47.460 --> 01:35:50.030
world . So I appreciate your stance

01:35:50.030 --> 01:35:53.970
there . Um , I today had such a great

01:35:53.970 --> 01:35:57.610
honor . Um , I retired from the Iowa

01:35:57.610 --> 01:36:01.440
Army National Guard in 2015 , and we

01:36:01.440 --> 01:36:04.480
have a number of those tremendous men

01:36:04.480 --> 01:36:07.400
and women serving right outside our

01:36:07.400 --> 01:36:10.820
doors today , and it was my honor to go

01:36:10.820 --> 01:36:13.110
out in front of the Capitol and

01:36:13.110 --> 01:36:16.460
reenlist about 15 of our Iowa Army

01:36:16.460 --> 01:36:19.560
National Guardsman a great honor for me .

01:36:19.570 --> 01:36:23.100
But the importance of our National

01:36:23.100 --> 01:36:26.820
Guard has really been on display the

01:36:26.820 --> 01:36:30.170
last year or so , as we have seen

01:36:30.180 --> 01:36:32.420
numerous troops deployed in support of

01:36:32.420 --> 01:36:36.040
fighting forest fires in California for

01:36:36.040 --> 01:36:38.040
deployments and mobilization ,

01:36:38.040 --> 01:36:41.430
supporting cull vid 19 activities ,

01:36:41.430 --> 01:36:43.920
whether it's food distribution to food

01:36:43.920 --> 01:36:46.260
banks , making sure that vaccines were

01:36:46.260 --> 01:36:49.300
distributed to our communities . We

01:36:49.300 --> 01:36:52.830
have seen tens of thousands of our

01:36:52.840 --> 01:36:56.330
soldiers and airman mobilized . Um ,

01:36:56.340 --> 01:36:58.510
they were there , they responded , and

01:36:58.510 --> 01:37:01.440
they did it quite quickly . Uh , and

01:37:01.440 --> 01:37:03.496
I'll emphasize that point again that

01:37:03.496 --> 01:37:05.607
the National Guard they mobilized and

01:37:05.607 --> 01:37:08.420
they were there quickly , even beyond

01:37:08.420 --> 01:37:10.450
the capacity of their active

01:37:10.530 --> 01:37:12.930
counterparts . Eso whether it was

01:37:12.930 --> 01:37:15.080
working for FEMA helping those local

01:37:15.080 --> 01:37:17.180
health clinics , um , you know ,

01:37:17.180 --> 01:37:19.200
distributing food . As I said , our

01:37:19.200 --> 01:37:21.500
National Guard members stepped up and

01:37:21.500 --> 01:37:24.680
again today , we we witnessed them out

01:37:24.680 --> 01:37:27.080
on our capital mall , keeping our

01:37:27.080 --> 01:37:29.270
nation's safe so that we here in

01:37:29.270 --> 01:37:33.010
Congress can do our duties . So no

01:37:33.010 --> 01:37:35.080
matter what happens , whether it's

01:37:35.080 --> 01:37:37.300
response to riots or violence or other

01:37:37.300 --> 01:37:40.540
types of activities , they are

01:37:40.550 --> 01:37:43.020
mobilizing for us . And so what we have

01:37:43.020 --> 01:37:46.610
learned over the last year is that

01:37:46.620 --> 01:37:50.300
they do come to us quickly in response

01:37:50.300 --> 01:37:53.940
to these domestic missions . Um , now

01:37:53.950 --> 01:37:57.330
what further changes or reforms could

01:37:57.330 --> 01:37:59.497
be made to make sure that our National

01:37:59.497 --> 01:38:02.350
Guard are treated equally because of

01:38:02.350 --> 01:38:04.710
their important role for our United

01:38:04.710 --> 01:38:07.000
States , but treated equally with their

01:38:07.010 --> 01:38:10.580
active duty count . I'm still equipment .

01:38:10.590 --> 01:38:14.480
When it comes to read Penis , what

01:38:14.480 --> 01:38:16.647
can we do to make sure that they're on

01:38:16.647 --> 01:38:20.050
par with their active duty counterparts ?

01:38:20.720 --> 01:38:23.010
Well , there are , as you know , being

01:38:23.010 --> 01:38:26.610
a having been a guard member for quite

01:38:26.610 --> 01:38:29.260
some time . There are some challenges

01:38:29.260 --> 01:38:31.482
in terms of the amount of days that you

01:38:31.482 --> 01:38:33.760
have to actually conduct that training .

01:38:33.760 --> 01:38:36.340
Uh , but quite frankly , you know ,

01:38:36.340 --> 01:38:39.210
over the last two decades , we've seen

01:38:39.210 --> 01:38:41.960
our great guard members work shoulder

01:38:41.960 --> 01:38:44.370
to shoulder in places like Iraq and

01:38:44.370 --> 01:38:47.410
Afghanistan , and we've seen we've seen

01:38:47.410 --> 01:38:50.540
a , uh , a difference in the quality of

01:38:50.540 --> 01:38:52.762
equipment . Early on , I think we close

01:38:52.762 --> 01:38:54.890
that gap now . I think I think we're

01:38:54.890 --> 01:38:56.890
doing better . There's there's mawr

01:38:56.890 --> 01:38:59.001
that we can do . Uh , but we're gonna

01:38:59.001 --> 01:39:01.168
have to continue to work through these

01:39:01.168 --> 01:39:03.334
challenges . There are no easy fixes ,

01:39:03.334 --> 01:39:05.390
but this is one thing that I'll work

01:39:05.390 --> 01:39:08.840
with with the services on to make sure

01:39:08.840 --> 01:39:11.260
that that you know where we are giving

01:39:11.270 --> 01:39:13.940
our guard the very best finest of

01:39:13.940 --> 01:39:17.080
equipment we are giving them good

01:39:17.080 --> 01:39:19.900
quality training opportunities on . We

01:39:19.900 --> 01:39:22.640
are recognized recognizing them for the

01:39:22.640 --> 01:39:24.340
great work that they're doing