WEBVTT

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like to call this hearing to order The

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committee meets today to receive

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testimony and the President's defensive

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budget requests for fiscal year 2022

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witnesses this morning , Our Secretary

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Lloyd Austin , Secretary of Defense ,

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Mr Michael McCord , undersecretary of

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Defense Controller and General Mark

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Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs

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of Staff . I welcome each of you and

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thank you for your service and

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willingness to appear before us today .

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Two weeks ago , President Biden

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released his defense budget request for

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the fiscal year 2022 with a top line of

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$715 billion . The request focused on

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several key areas defeating COVID-19 ,

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prioritizing china as the pacing

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challenge , addressing advanced and

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persistent threats , innovating and

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modernizing duty and tackling the

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climate crisis . The president's

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defense budget request is a starting

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point for Congress and must always be

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viewed in the broader context of the

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national security and physical

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challenges we face . It is important

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that we ensure we have the right

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strategies and resources to keep the

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american people safe now and in the

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future . With a keen eye toward

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evolving threats around the globe , I'm

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pleased to see that this budget request

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places a priority on taking care of the

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men and women who serve in uniform and

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the civilians who serve alongside them

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in the department By including across

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the board pay raise for military and

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civilian personnel of 2.7% . While this

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pay raises required by law for military

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personnel too often D . O . D .

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Civilians have been overlooked . This

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increase in civilian pay sends an

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important message to the workforce and

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begins to reverse years of pay freezes

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and benefit cuts , Notably the budget

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request includes $112 billion dollars

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in research , development , test and

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evaluation funds . The largest ever

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requested in this area . This includes

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significant funding for modernization

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areas such as micro electronics ,

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artificial intelligence , hypersonic

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missiles and five G . Building our

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strength in these areas will be

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critical to the modernization of our

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national security . But as the recent

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solar winds , Microsoft exchange and

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colonial pipeline server breaches

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painfully illustrate our traditional

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perimeter . Best based cyber defenses

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are simply inadequate to deal with

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sophisticated adversaries that are

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clearly advantaged in the cyber domain .

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I hope our witnesses will expand on

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what activities do d is taking to

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accelerate and expand our cybersecurity

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and what resources are needed to

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accomplish them With regard to the

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president's transition strategy in

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Afghanistan . The budget request

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includes $3.3 billion dollars for the

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Afghan Security Forces Fund . This will

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ensure our continued support for the

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sustainment infrastructure , equipment

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and training requirements for Afghan

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security personnel . I asked that our

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witnesses update the committee on this

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transition last year . This committee

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led the way in establishing the Pacific

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Defense Initiative for PD to serve as a

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means for improving the capabilities ,

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design and posture of our joint forces

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in the indo pacific region . The P . D .

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I . Was intended to strengthen the

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presence and resiliency of our armed

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forces , improve logistics and

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maintenance capabilities , support

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exercises , training , experimentation

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and innovation for the joint force and

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build the defense and security

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capabilities and cooperation of allies

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and partners . I am concerned that the

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department's budget request takes a

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heavily platform centric approach to P .

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D . I . And I look forward to working

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collaboratively with the Department of

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Defense leadership to approve more

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appropriately aligned resources in the

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D . O . D . Budget with our intent for

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P . D . I . Similarly , the budget

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request proposes an $800 million

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European deterrence an issue . Already .

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The initiative , which was also

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established by this committee has seen

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budget decreases for the past three

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years . The department has suggested

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that this is a part of transitioning to

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a steady state in the european command .

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L . R . I . Would ask that I witnessed

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further explained the reasoning behind

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that produced E . D . I . Budget and

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specifically whether you believe this

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level of investment in infrastructure

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force posture and capabilities is

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sufficient to deter Russian aggression

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with regard to our nuclear strategy . I

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understand the budget request before

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supports important steps towards

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nuclear modernization . Our allies and

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partners depend on the U . S . Nuclear

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umbrella and modernization of our

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strategic forces is needed to reassure

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them of our dependability . One thing I

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think everyone would agree on and often

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gets lost in discussion is the fact

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that arms control and the modernization

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of our nuclear forces are inherently

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linked together . Even as we modernize ,

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we should seek ways to promote

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strategic stability like the extension

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of the New Start Agreement and follow

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on talks to cover new strategic weapons

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and further reduce nuclear stockpiles .

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Lastly , I would note that fiscal year

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2022 is the first year in 10 years that

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we will not be constrained by the

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Budget Control Act . eliminating

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arbitrary spending caps means that

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every department's budget can and

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should be argued on its merits .

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Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for

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programs or systems that are wasteful

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or ineffective and Congress must not

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shrink its responsibilities to get rid

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of outdated systems in favor of more

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advanced , effective new technologies

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and capabilities . Belt tightening in

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any department , particularly defense

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is always a challenge , But it is also

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an opportunity to evaluate what is

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necessary and what drives innovation .

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The department has taken the first

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difficult steps in proposing $2.8

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billion dollars worth of divestments

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and retirements of platforms and I will

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work my colleagues to evaluate these

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proposals and make hard but necessary

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choices . Finally , as we progress

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through this legislative year , the

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committee will tackle many important

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policy issues , none bigger than how we

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prevent and prosecute sexual assault

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and harassment in the ranks , changes

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coming to the department and the

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military services more than anything .

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Cultural change when the force is

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critical to reducing the number of

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sexual assaults and related offenses .

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The president directed a review earlier

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this year , and I know the department

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has been hard at work . I look forward

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to receiving the administration's

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recommendations to incorporate into the

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committee's important work on this

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issue Again , I thank the witnesses for

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their participation today and I look

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forward to the testimonies . Now . Let

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me recognize the ranking member ,

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Senator in our Thank you . Thank you .

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Mr . Chairman . I'd like to thank all

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three of our witnesses for the

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dedicating their lives to securing our

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nation . Secretary Austin told us ,

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along with nearly every witness who has

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come before this committee china is are

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facing threat . It's a global long term

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competition and it's across every arena

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of the national power . But the

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military balance of power concerns me

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most . In 2018 , the National

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Defense strategy gave us a

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blueprint for pushing back on china .

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The bipartisan NDS commission said that

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3 to 5% real growth was needed to

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implement that strategy didn't look

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like we're going to get that . Since

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then , the threats have gotten worse .

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Administration gave us a budget that

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cuts spending when we need real growth .

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They want the military to do more on

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climate change and pandemic response

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more mission . But with fewer resources ,

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we've been asking our military to do

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too much with too little for too long

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and President biden's budget cuts but

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make it even harder . It barely trends

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dredged water . While we face all these

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threats , this budget cuts shifts ,

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aircraft munitions and more . We have

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nearly 25 billion dollars of unfunded

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priorities . These aren't wish lists .

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These are risk lists , The budget

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cuts , aircraft procurement by 20% back

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slides on army readiness and starves ,

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Navy shipbuilding . This budget forces

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our military leaders to choose between

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being ready for today's fight or the

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fight of the future . But the chinese

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military leaders are they're not making

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that choice . On Tuesday . I read in

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the press about the memo by acting

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Secretary of the Navy on the next

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year's budget . He says the navy must

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choose between modernizing shifts ,

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says subs and aircraft . Does anyone

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think the chinese the chinese have to

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make that that decision ? The Chinese

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defense budget has grown by 450

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Since 2001 . They added two , they

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added 200 billion in the last decade .

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While we cut 400 billion , so we're

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behind in some of the areas and we're

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falling behind in some of the other

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areas . And as a result , I'm more a

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deterrence will fail Maybe today or

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five years or 10 years and when it does ,

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the cost will be much higher than any

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investment we could be making today to

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prevent that and we're not making hard

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choices . We're making bad choices and

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short sighted choices . Administration

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tells us that the pentagon budget is

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cut because of fiscal realities , but

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they're spending trillions of taxpayer

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dollars on everything . Alison and of

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the son . We all agree that even the

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administration agrees that strong

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military improves all other tools of

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national power . I just can't

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understand this short sighted

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underfunding of our troops . We make

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sacred compact compact with

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our service members . We tell them

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we'll take care of them and their

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families and we do that very well . We

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also tell them that we'll give them the

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tools that are necessary to defend the

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nation and come home safe . But we're

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not holding up our end of the bargain

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with this proposed budget . We're

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failing to give them the resources they

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need to implement that strategy and

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this term . We need to do better .

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Thank you . Mr . Chairman . Well ,

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thank you very much . Senator off

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Secretary Austin please .

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Mm Chairman . Re ranking member

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Inhofe . Distinguished members of the

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committee . Thank you for the

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opportunity to testify today about the

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president's budget request for fiscal

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year 2022 . I'm pleased to appear

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before you alongside General Milley ,

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whose advice and counsel has been

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crucial to us as we developed our

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budget and as we continue to defend

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this nation which is our chief

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responsibility and my top priority .

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I'm also glad to be joined by our

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controller and our CFO . Mr Mike McCord .

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Let me say at the outset that I believe

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that our budget requests will help us

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match resources to strategy , strategy

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to policy and policy to the will of the

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american people informed by the

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President's interim national security

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guidance and my own message to the

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force . It funds the right mix of

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capabilities that we need most to

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defend this nation now and in the

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future it invests in hypersonic weapons ,

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artificial intelligence , micro

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electronics , five G . Technology ,

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space based systems , shipbuilding and

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nuclear modernization . To name a few .

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In fact this budget ask you to approve

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nearly $28 billion dollars to modernize

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our nuclear triad And $112 billion

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dollars for research , development ,

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test and evaluation . The largest R .

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And D . Request ever put forth by this

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department . Our request also gives us

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the flexibility to divest ourselves of

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systems and platforms that no longer

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adequately meet our needs , including

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older ships , aircraft and is our

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platforms that demand more maintenance

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upkeep and risk . Then we can afford ,

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as you know , we've commissioned a

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global posture review and a new

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national defense strategy which will

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further inform and guide our resource

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decisions . The department must be

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ready to meet and keep pace with our

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competitors and if necessary to fight

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and win the next war and not the last .

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That's why this budget stays true to

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our focus on matching the patient , the

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pacing challenge that we clearly see

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from the People's Republic of china To

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include more than $5 billion dollars

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for the Pacific Defense Initiative .

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And I would just add that are china

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Task forces also completed its work and

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yesterday I issued an internal

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directive kicking off several

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department wide efforts that will ,

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among other things , help bolster our

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deterrence against the PRC and

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revitalize our network of regional

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allies and partners and accelerate the

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development of cutting edge

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capabilities and new operational

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concepts . However , we recognize that

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china is not our only challenge . Our

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budget also includes $617 million

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dollars to counter the damaging effects

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of climate change and additional funds

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to prepare for future challenges like

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another pandemic . It also helps us

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counter the belligerents that we face

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from Russia , especially in the cyber

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cyber realm . And you'll see more than

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$10 billion dollars here devoted to

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cybersecurity , cyberspace operations

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and cyber research and development .

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With this emphasis on space , missile ,

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space , missile defense and more

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sophisticated sensors . Our budget will

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also help us counter the increasing

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ballistic missile capabilities of

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nations like North Korea and Iran . It

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funds a troop presence and

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counterterrorism capabilities in the

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Middle East and South Asia to meet the

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threats posed not only by Iran but also

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by terrorist networks like Isis and al

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Qaeda and in Africa like those posed by

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al Shabaab . I'm also confident that

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this budget will help us maintain the

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integrated deterrent capability and

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global posture necessary to back to

14:31.180 --> 14:33.347
back up the hard work of our diplomats

14:33.347 --> 14:35.069
and demonstrate our resolve in

14:35.069 --> 14:37.910
leadership all over the world alongside

14:37.910 --> 14:40.770
our allies and partners . I know that

14:40.770 --> 14:42.881
Afghanistan remains at the top of all

14:42.881 --> 14:44.881
of our minds and today I can report

14:44.881 --> 14:47.460
that the retrograde remains on pace .

14:48.340 --> 14:50.396
We have accomplished the mission for

14:50.396 --> 14:52.062
which our troops were sent to

14:52.062 --> 14:54.284
Afghanistan 20 years ago and I'm also ,

14:54.284 --> 14:56.507
I'm very proud of the men and women who

14:56.507 --> 14:58.673
made it possible and of those who gave

14:58.673 --> 15:01.060
their lives for this mission .

15:02.640 --> 15:04.418
I'm also deeply grateful to the

15:04.418 --> 15:06.418
families of our service members who

15:06.418 --> 15:09.360
have endured as much as they sent their

15:09.360 --> 15:12.120
sons and daughters and and husbands and

15:12.120 --> 15:15.080
wives into battle . And so we will now

15:15.080 --> 15:17.040
transition to a new bilateral late

15:17.050 --> 15:19.272
relationship with our Afghan partners ,

15:19.740 --> 15:21.796
one that continues to help them meet

15:21.796 --> 15:23.610
their responsibilities to their

15:23.610 --> 15:25.840
citizens , but one that will not

15:25.840 --> 15:28.020
require our U . S . Footprint larger

15:28.020 --> 15:30.076
than what's necessary to protect our

15:30.076 --> 15:32.230
diplomats . And that's one reason why

15:32.230 --> 15:34.010
we're asking to move overseas ,

15:34.010 --> 15:35.970
Contingency operations , fundings

15:36.440 --> 15:38.780
inside the budget . This will give us

15:38.780 --> 15:40.730
and you greater transparency ,

15:40.730 --> 15:43.020
accountability and predictability in

15:43.020 --> 15:45.260
the budgeting process . This is the

15:45.260 --> 15:47.316
right thing to do . And frankly it's

15:47.316 --> 15:50.140
overdue now taking care of our people

15:50.150 --> 15:52.690
is also the right thing to do . Our

15:52.690 --> 15:54.740
budget request increases funding to

15:54.740 --> 15:56.830
support in home care and support ,

15:56.930 --> 15:59.340
which has become increasingly important

15:59.340 --> 16:01.640
during the pandemic , will also be

16:01.640 --> 16:03.696
looked will also be seeking funds to

16:03.696 --> 16:05.990
improve military base pay retention

16:05.990 --> 16:08.500
bonuses and other incentives that will

16:08.500 --> 16:10.690
help us attract and retain the best

16:10.690 --> 16:12.850
talent . And we'll be working hard to

16:12.850 --> 16:15.017
combat challenges that make service in

16:15.017 --> 16:17.380
the ranks more difficult for the men

16:17.380 --> 16:20.480
and women of the department from

16:20.480 --> 16:22.610
getting a better handle on the extent

16:22.620 --> 16:24.509
to which we experienced extremist

16:24.509 --> 16:27.350
behavior to combating sexual assault

16:27.360 --> 16:30.300
and harassment . As you know , my first

16:30.300 --> 16:32.450
directive as Secretary of Defense ,

16:32.460 --> 16:34.920
issued on my first full day in the

16:34.920 --> 16:37.650
office was to service leadership about

16:37.650 --> 16:40.490
sexual assault . I made it clear then ,

16:40.490 --> 16:42.712
and I still believe that we must not be

16:42.712 --> 16:45.020
afraid to try new approaches and to

16:45.020 --> 16:48.470
change our minds so that we can truly

16:48.480 --> 16:51.300
and fully address the scourge of sexual

16:51.300 --> 16:53.990
assault in our force and clearly what

16:53.990 --> 16:56.157
we've been doing hasn't been working .

16:56.157 --> 16:58.580
And one assault is too many . The

16:58.580 --> 17:00.636
numbers of sexual assaults are still

17:00.636 --> 17:02.580
too high and the confidence in our

17:02.580 --> 17:04.560
system is still too low . The

17:04.560 --> 17:06.671
independent review commission that we

17:06.671 --> 17:08.671
established has provided me with an

17:08.671 --> 17:10.893
initial set of recommendations starting

17:10.893 --> 17:13.570
around the issue of accountability in

17:13.570 --> 17:15.681
this line of effort is focused on how

17:15.681 --> 17:17.570
these crimes are investigated and

17:17.570 --> 17:19.292
prosecuted . I've shared these

17:19.292 --> 17:21.459
recommendations with General Million .

17:21.459 --> 17:23.348
A civilian military leaders , the

17:23.348 --> 17:25.403
civilian and military leaders of the

17:25.403 --> 17:27.348
service branches and I'm carefully

17:27.348 --> 17:29.181
reviewing the feedback that they

17:29.181 --> 17:31.348
provided me . There will be additional

17:31.348 --> 17:33.459
recommendations coming to us from the

17:33.459 --> 17:35.514
IRC on prevention culture and victim

17:35.514 --> 17:37.300
support . And I look forward to

17:37.300 --> 17:39.600
receiving them as well . And making my

17:39.600 --> 17:41.920
full recommendation to the president

17:41.930 --> 17:44.780
later this month . As I've said before ,

17:44.790 --> 17:47.120
what we're doing is not working and we

17:47.120 --> 17:50.360
need to fix it . And I want to be sure

17:50.360 --> 17:52.638
that whatever changes we make to the U .

17:52.638 --> 17:55.860
C . M . J or whatever changes to the

17:55.860 --> 17:57.620
UcMJ A that I recommend to the

17:57.620 --> 17:59.950
president and ultimately to this

17:59.950 --> 18:02.350
committee that they are scoped to the

18:02.350 --> 18:04.890
problem that we're trying to solve and

18:04.890 --> 18:06.446
have a clear way forward on

18:06.446 --> 18:08.760
implementation and ultimately restore

18:08.760 --> 18:10.704
the confidence of the force in the

18:10.704 --> 18:13.000
system . You have my commitment to that

18:13.010 --> 18:14.621
and my commitment to working

18:14.621 --> 18:17.230
expeditiously as you consider

18:17.240 --> 18:19.860
legislative proposals . So whatever

18:19.860 --> 18:22.027
changes we make , I believe we need to

18:22.027 --> 18:24.138
focus on effective implementation and

18:24.138 --> 18:26.340
resources and I know I will need your

18:26.340 --> 18:28.950
help . Chairman read members of this

18:28.950 --> 18:30.783
committee . We feel the greatest

18:30.783 --> 18:34.080
military in human history , made up of

18:34.090 --> 18:36.257
the finest men and women who have ever

18:36.257 --> 18:38.257
done the cloth of their nation . We

18:38.257 --> 18:40.423
also enjoy a civilian workforce deeply

18:40.423 --> 18:42.479
committed to every mission that they

18:42.479 --> 18:44.840
take on and for all the things that we

18:44.840 --> 18:46.562
know we need to do better . No

18:46.562 --> 18:48.729
adversary can match the quality of our

18:48.729 --> 18:51.040
people . I'm immensely proud of them

18:51.280 --> 18:53.336
and humbled to be of service to them

18:53.840 --> 18:56.080
and privileged to be able to serve

18:56.080 --> 18:58.790
again with them and their families . I

18:58.790 --> 19:00.846
know the values their spouse and the

19:00.846 --> 19:02.760
oath that they took . I know what

19:02.760 --> 19:05.820
they're capable of And I believe I have

19:05.820 --> 19:07.987
a very good sense of what they need to

19:07.987 --> 19:10.340
do their jobs and I can assure you that

19:10.340 --> 19:12.284
the president's budget request for

19:12.284 --> 19:15.230
fiscal year 22 fulfills that obligation

19:15.240 --> 19:17.296
and I look forward to answering your

19:17.296 --> 19:19.073
questions and thank you for the

19:19.073 --> 19:21.240
steadfast support that you continue to

19:21.240 --> 19:23.296
provide to the Department of Defense

19:23.296 --> 19:25.407
and for all the efforts that you make

19:25.407 --> 19:27.351
every day to ensure that we remain

19:27.351 --> 19:29.573
ready to defend this nation . Thank you

19:29.573 --> 19:31.560
sir . Thank you very much . Mr

19:31.560 --> 19:34.090
Secretary Before I recognize General

19:34.090 --> 19:36.820
Milley . Since a quorum is present , I

19:36.820 --> 19:38.870
would ask the committee to consider

19:38.880 --> 19:41.350
seven nominations . The nominations of

19:41.350 --> 19:43.517
the honourable frank Kendall author to

19:43.517 --> 19:45.517
be Secretary of the Air Force . The

19:45.517 --> 19:47.072
honourable Heidi shoe to be

19:47.072 --> 19:49.239
undersecretary of Defense for Research

19:49.239 --> 19:51.183
and Engineering . Miss Suzanna V .

19:51.183 --> 19:53.017
Bloom to be the Director of cost

19:53.017 --> 19:55.017
assessment and program Evaluation ,

19:55.017 --> 19:57.183
Department of Defense , MS Jill M ruby

19:57.183 --> 19:59.239
to be the under sector of Energy for

19:59.239 --> 20:01.128
Nuclear Security Administration .

20:01.128 --> 20:02.572
National Nuclear Security

20:02.572 --> 20:04.739
Administration , Mr frank A Rose to be

20:04.739 --> 20:06.670
Principal Deputy Administrator ,

20:06.680 --> 20:08.240
National Nuclear Security

20:08.240 --> 20:10.380
Administration , Miss Deborah G .

20:10.380 --> 20:12.780
Rosenbloom to be Assistant Secretary of

20:12.780 --> 20:14.724
Defense for Nuclear , chemical and

20:14.724 --> 20:16.740
biological defense programs and Mr

20:16.740 --> 20:18.907
Christopher P . Mayor to the Assistant

20:18.907 --> 20:20.740
Secretary of Defense for special

20:20.740 --> 20:22.962
operations and low intensity conflict .

20:22.962 --> 20:25.018
Is there a motion to favour ? Report

20:25.018 --> 20:27.240
these seven nominations to the Senate ?

20:27.240 --> 20:30.770
Is there a second all in favor ? Yeah ,

20:31.440 --> 20:34.070
the motion carries thank you very much .

20:34.080 --> 20:36.850
Uh General Milley . Your comments

20:36.850 --> 20:37.260
please

20:41.940 --> 20:44.430
german read ranking member in off and

20:44.430 --> 20:46.486
distinguished members of committee .

20:46.486 --> 20:48.319
Thank you for the opportunity to

20:48.319 --> 20:50.541
testify before you today and it remains

20:50.541 --> 20:52.486
my distinct honor and privilege to

20:52.486 --> 20:54.430
represent the soldiers , sailors ,

20:54.430 --> 20:56.486
airmen , marines and guardians . The

20:56.486 --> 20:58.430
United States Joint Force the most

20:58.430 --> 21:00.430
capable military in the world . Our

21:00.430 --> 21:02.208
troops are the best lead , best

21:02.208 --> 21:03.986
equipped and best trained force

21:03.986 --> 21:05.986
anywhere . And I want to personally

21:05.986 --> 21:08.097
thank Secretary Austin for his steady

21:08.097 --> 21:10.097
leadership and wise guidance . Your

21:10.097 --> 21:12.730
Joint Forces standing watch protecting

21:12.730 --> 21:14.619
american interests in all domains

21:14.840 --> 21:17.390
around the globe . Alongside our allies

21:17.390 --> 21:19.334
and partners . American troops are

21:19.334 --> 21:21.557
currently training or conducting combat

21:21.557 --> 21:25.340
operations or other operations In 165

21:25.340 --> 21:28.110
countries . To keep Americans safe . We

21:28.110 --> 21:30.166
are conducting major exercises as we

21:30.166 --> 21:32.450
speak in europe . We are monitoring the

21:32.450 --> 21:34.890
dems in Korea . We are conducting

21:34.890 --> 21:37.112
freedom of navigation operations in the

21:37.112 --> 21:39.001
strategic waterways of the global

21:39.001 --> 21:41.310
commons . We are sustaining operations

21:41.310 --> 21:43.970
in space and cyberspace . We are

21:43.970 --> 21:46.140
supporting our allies and partners in

21:46.140 --> 21:49.120
Africa , Asia and europe . And we are

21:49.120 --> 21:51.453
patrolling the skies of the Middle East .

21:51.453 --> 21:53.730
And as we speak , our joint force is

21:53.730 --> 21:56.090
conducting a safe , responsible and

21:56.090 --> 21:58.146
deliberate strategic retrograde from

21:58.146 --> 21:59.979
Afghanistan and good order while

21:59.979 --> 22:02.090
ensuring continued support the Afghan

22:02.090 --> 22:04.920
national security forces . The purpose

22:04.920 --> 22:07.253
of the United States military is simple .

22:07.253 --> 22:09.570
It is to protect and defend the

22:09.570 --> 22:11.626
constitution of the United States of

22:11.626 --> 22:13.737
America against all enemies , foreign

22:13.737 --> 22:15.959
and domestic and with that comes to key

22:15.959 --> 22:19.390
tasks Past one is to fight when

22:19.400 --> 22:22.110
America's wars if necessary . And key

22:22.110 --> 22:25.630
task to is to prepare to fight and win

22:25.820 --> 22:28.420
America's wars . The United States

22:28.420 --> 22:30.700
military is a critical component of

22:30.700 --> 22:33.160
national power , which in concert with

22:33.160 --> 22:35.380
our diplomatic efforts , economic

22:35.380 --> 22:37.269
engine and overriding hope of the

22:37.269 --> 22:39.580
american message that will deter

22:39.580 --> 22:43.000
adversaries and preserve the peace . We

22:43.000 --> 22:45.080
are prepared to fight however , and

22:45.080 --> 22:47.470
fight and when if those who seek to

22:47.470 --> 22:49.692
attack the United States and our allies

22:49.692 --> 22:53.300
and partners are undeterred , but force

22:53.500 --> 22:56.050
must always be a last resort when other

22:56.050 --> 22:58.810
means of achieving our ends have been

22:58.810 --> 23:01.980
exhausted . We are in an era of

23:01.990 --> 23:05.060
increased strategic competition . The

23:05.060 --> 23:06.930
current strategic landscape is

23:06.930 --> 23:09.140
witnessing rapid change and the

23:09.140 --> 23:11.630
potential for increased threat to the

23:11.630 --> 23:14.550
peace and stability of various regions

23:14.780 --> 23:18.050
and indeed for the world . States and

23:18.050 --> 23:20.240
non state actors are rapidly

23:20.240 --> 23:22.620
transforming technologically . And we

23:22.620 --> 23:24.910
are bearing witness to a fundamental

23:24.910 --> 23:27.870
change in the character of war . In

23:27.870 --> 23:30.830
particular china is increasing its

23:30.830 --> 23:33.480
military capability at a very serious

23:33.480 --> 23:36.760
and sustained rate and we must ensure

23:36.770 --> 23:38.750
that we retain our competitive and

23:38.750 --> 23:41.280
technological edge against this pacing

23:41.280 --> 23:43.270
threat . As Secretary Ahsan has

23:43.270 --> 23:46.810
directed readiness , modernization and

23:46.810 --> 23:49.810
combat power are key to deter war and

23:49.810 --> 23:51.990
maintain the peace . And equally

23:51.990 --> 23:54.530
important are the combat multipliers of

23:54.530 --> 23:57.050
teamwork , cohesion and well led units .

23:57.640 --> 23:59.990
We must resolve the issue of sexual

23:59.990 --> 24:02.150
assault and confront the issue of

24:02.150 --> 24:05.530
extremism . Both are corrosive to the

24:05.530 --> 24:07.990
very essence of what it means to be in

24:07.990 --> 24:11.310
the military and they destroy cohesion ,

24:11.320 --> 24:14.050
they destroy teamwork and they reduce

24:14.060 --> 24:17.340
combat power . Additionally , we must

24:17.340 --> 24:19.220
continue to invest in leader

24:19.220 --> 24:21.109
development and talent management

24:21.109 --> 24:23.020
required for the future operating

24:23.020 --> 24:25.670
environment . And finally we must

24:25.670 --> 24:28.080
continue to nurture and sustain a key

24:28.080 --> 24:30.950
strategic source of our strength which

24:30.950 --> 24:33.172
is our network of many close allies and

24:33.172 --> 24:35.720
partners around the world . The Joint

24:35.720 --> 24:37.720
force appreciates the work that our

24:37.720 --> 24:39.940
elected representatives due to ensure

24:39.940 --> 24:41.996
that we have the resources needed to

24:41.996 --> 24:43.996
train equipment , man the forest in

24:43.996 --> 24:45.996
order to be ready . The days of the

24:45.996 --> 24:48.700
Budget Control Act has noted are over

24:48.760 --> 24:50.760
and repeated continuing resolutions

24:50.760 --> 24:52.816
which eroded readiness are hopefully

24:52.816 --> 24:55.200
behind us for good . The joint force

24:55.200 --> 24:57.256
will deliver modernization with this

24:57.256 --> 24:59.530
budget of our armed forces and security

24:59.530 --> 25:01.750
to the people of the United States At

25:01.750 --> 25:05.370
the FY 22 budget requests Of $715

25:05.370 --> 25:08.140
billion . While it is a modest increase

25:08.330 --> 25:11.260
from the enacted FY 21 budget is a

25:11.260 --> 25:13.390
significant commitment of treasure of

25:13.390 --> 25:16.650
the american people and entrusted to us

25:16.660 --> 25:18.771
and we will work diligently to ensure

25:18.771 --> 25:20.660
it is spent prudently in the best

25:20.660 --> 25:23.700
interests of the nation . The FY 22

25:23.700 --> 25:26.070
presidential budget as a result of very

25:26.070 --> 25:28.300
hard choices in a year in which the

25:28.300 --> 25:30.760
nation has suffered economic hardship

25:31.240 --> 25:34.800
Due to COVID 19 pandemic in alignment

25:34.800 --> 25:36.744
with the interim national security

25:36.744 --> 25:38.578
strategic guidance . This budget

25:38.578 --> 25:40.633
delivers a ready , agile and capable

25:40.633 --> 25:42.800
joint force that will compete to turn

25:42.800 --> 25:45.020
win across all domains and which is

25:45.020 --> 25:47.350
postured for continued dominance in the

25:47.350 --> 25:49.860
future . This budget prioritizes

25:49.860 --> 25:51.990
nuclear modernization , long range

25:51.990 --> 25:53.770
fires , hypersonic technology ,

25:54.140 --> 25:56.450
Artificial Intelligence , Shipbuilding ,

25:56.480 --> 25:59.170
Microelectronic Space , Cyber and five

25:59.170 --> 26:01.840
G . These investments , in concert with

26:01.840 --> 26:03.451
our recently developed joint

26:03.451 --> 26:05.673
warfighting concept , will pave the way

26:05.673 --> 26:07.784
for a joint force of the future . The

26:07.784 --> 26:10.540
PB 22 budget request increases the

26:10.540 --> 26:12.596
readiness of the force by developing

26:12.596 --> 26:14.373
the joint force of the future ,

26:14.373 --> 26:16.540
ensuring our people are our number one

26:16.540 --> 26:18.707
priority and positioning us to achieve

26:18.707 --> 26:20.860
through teamwork . Many enemies

26:21.240 --> 26:23.250
historically have grossly

26:23.250 --> 26:25.540
underestimated the United States and

26:25.540 --> 26:27.880
our people . They've underestimated our

26:27.880 --> 26:29.590
national resolve . They've

26:29.590 --> 26:31.900
underestimated our capability , our

26:31.900 --> 26:35.040
skill in our combat power and each in

26:35.040 --> 26:38.150
the past has made a fatal choice which

26:38.150 --> 26:40.094
ended with their enrollment in the

26:40.094 --> 26:42.206
dustbin of history . The same will be

26:42.206 --> 26:44.170
true of any enemy that makes that

26:44.170 --> 26:46.400
mistake today or tomorrow . We are

26:46.400 --> 26:48.622
ready now and remain so in the future .

26:48.740 --> 26:50.629
We're also facing tough strategic

26:50.629 --> 26:52.684
choices and we're being increasingly

26:52.684 --> 26:54.851
challenged with very capable potential

26:54.851 --> 26:56.629
adversaries , clearly acting in

26:56.629 --> 26:58.962
opposition to our interest , consistent ,

26:58.970 --> 27:01.120
predictable budgets informed of the

27:01.120 --> 27:03.340
will of the people are critical to our

27:03.340 --> 27:05.420
nation's defense and the passage of

27:05.420 --> 27:07.820
this budget in a timely way is

27:07.820 --> 27:10.810
important . The FY 22 presidential

27:10.810 --> 27:12.921
budget strikes an appropriate balance

27:12.921 --> 27:14.977
between preserving present readiness

27:14.977 --> 27:17.200
and future modernization . It's a down

27:17.200 --> 27:19.400
payment on investments for the future

27:19.540 --> 27:21.762
with a bias toward the future operating

27:21.762 --> 27:24.360
environment . It is now that we must

27:24.360 --> 27:26.600
set ourselves on a path to modernize

27:26.600 --> 27:28.530
the joint force and this budget

27:28.540 --> 27:31.130
contributes to doing that . Our job is

27:31.130 --> 27:33.186
your joint force , our contract with

27:33.186 --> 27:35.130
the american people is that we the

27:35.130 --> 27:37.297
United States military will be able to

27:37.297 --> 27:39.940
fight and win when called upon . We

27:39.940 --> 27:41.551
will support and defend this

27:41.551 --> 27:43.960
consultation of constitution always and

27:43.960 --> 27:46.140
forever . And I look forward to your

27:46.140 --> 27:48.460
questions . Thank you very much .

27:48.470 --> 27:50.581
General Milley understand . Mr McCord

27:50.581 --> 27:52.637
does not have a statement and that's

27:52.637 --> 27:54.526
correct . Thank you . Mr McCord .

27:54.526 --> 27:56.550
Secretary Austin . Uh We are in the

27:56.550 --> 27:58.990
process of withdrawing our combat

27:58.990 --> 28:02.740
forces uh save for embassy protection

28:02.740 --> 28:06.740
personnel . It is going rapidly . The

28:06.750 --> 28:08.639
projections I think I've read are

28:08.639 --> 28:10.806
perhaps july we could have wall forces

28:10.806 --> 28:14.700
out I think also to the taliban . Are

28:14.700 --> 28:16.960
aware that if they would encroach upon

28:16.960 --> 28:19.127
our forces , that would not only delay

28:19.127 --> 28:22.280
at departure but re engage us in active

28:22.280 --> 28:24.730
operations . So the questions I think

28:24.730 --> 28:26.950
now are after the departure of our

28:26.950 --> 28:30.770
forces , uh do uh believe you

28:30.770 --> 28:33.830
have the appropriate authorities and

28:33.830 --> 28:36.080
funding to continue to support the

28:36.090 --> 28:38.500
afghan national security forces and

28:38.510 --> 28:41.260
counterterrorism operations after the

28:41.260 --> 28:44.990
transition . Thank you .

28:44.990 --> 28:47.070
Chairman . As you know , what we've

28:47.070 --> 28:50.260
said is that we intend to maintain a

28:50.840 --> 28:53.790
a good and productive relationship with

28:53.790 --> 28:57.080
the afghans uh post our withdrawal

28:57.080 --> 29:00.760
retrograde . Uh and that entails

29:00.770 --> 29:04.350
making sure that with your support , we

29:04.350 --> 29:07.170
can we can continue to provide funding

29:07.170 --> 29:09.840
for the military and support for the

29:09.850 --> 29:11.961
government as well . And I think that

29:11.961 --> 29:14.220
support is critical in ensuring that

29:14.220 --> 29:16.770
the government remains uh uh huh

29:17.240 --> 29:19.370
retains the ability to function and

29:19.380 --> 29:22.890
that the military remains intact . And

29:22.890 --> 29:25.150
so again , we'll need your support to

29:25.150 --> 29:27.060
be able to do that in terms of

29:27.060 --> 29:29.830
authorities . I do think that we have

29:29.830 --> 29:32.052
the authorities that we need to be able

29:32.052 --> 29:34.960
to focus on a discreet

29:35.440 --> 29:38.970
set of threats . And that threat is

29:38.980 --> 29:42.050
uh those threats that could um

29:43.440 --> 29:46.460
uh conduct operations uh against the

29:46.460 --> 29:48.460
United States of America that would

29:48.460 --> 29:50.320
emanate from that that space in

29:50.320 --> 29:54.320
Afghanistan . So R . C . T . Threat is

29:54.320 --> 29:57.930
focused on al Qaeda . Uh huh .

29:57.940 --> 30:00.550
And we are confident that we will have

30:00.550 --> 30:02.630
the authorities to uh to continue

30:02.630 --> 30:05.270
operations . Are you also confident

30:05.270 --> 30:07.410
that given a significant drawdown of

30:07.410 --> 30:09.890
personnel that you'll be able to

30:09.890 --> 30:12.830
effectively distribute the resources of

30:12.830 --> 30:16.470
the Afghan National Army and

30:16.480 --> 30:19.550
other insecurity institutions ?

30:20.440 --> 30:22.620
As you know , senator , we our plan is

30:22.620 --> 30:25.470
to keep our embassy there and hopefully

30:25.480 --> 30:28.200
uh as we work uh we continue to work

30:28.200 --> 30:30.220
with the Afghan government will

30:30.220 --> 30:33.490
establish those uh those capabilities

30:33.490 --> 30:36.000
and procedures necessary to be able to

30:36.000 --> 30:38.950
effectively distribute uh funds and

30:38.950 --> 30:41.200
track the movement of those funds and

30:41.200 --> 30:44.200
capabilities . Well at any point in

30:44.200 --> 30:46.311
your review as the situation develops

30:46.311 --> 30:48.144
and you feel you need additional

30:48.144 --> 30:50.780
authorities , Please do not hesitate to

30:50.780 --> 30:52.836
contact the committee . I think both

30:52.940 --> 30:55.170
myself and the ranking member would be

30:55.170 --> 30:57.670
very eager to provide those authorities .

30:58.140 --> 31:00.610
Uh You mentioned in your opening

31:00.610 --> 31:03.060
statements , the scourge of sexual

31:03.060 --> 31:06.950
assault and military and uh the ongoing

31:06.950 --> 31:09.450
efforts to reform the U . C . M . J .

31:09.840 --> 31:12.020
The last time we did a major military

31:12.030 --> 31:15.790
reform in 2017 . The defense bill

31:15.790 --> 31:17.734
required a two-year implementation

31:17.734 --> 31:20.220
timeframe and every bit of which was

31:20.220 --> 31:23.680
used critical to this process is that

31:23.680 --> 31:26.060
the fact the president must republish

31:26.060 --> 31:28.040
the manual for courts martial and

31:28.040 --> 31:30.260
ensure that ongoing investigations and

31:30.260 --> 31:32.610
prostitution prosecutions are not

31:32.610 --> 31:34.860
jeopardized by Russian implementation .

31:35.540 --> 31:37.790
And uh when you forward the

31:37.790 --> 31:40.012
administration's recommendations , will

31:40.012 --> 31:42.346
you include your assessment at the time ,

31:42.346 --> 31:44.457
resources and the qualified personnel

31:44.457 --> 31:46.530
necessary to effectively implement

31:46.530 --> 31:50.410
those changes ? We will Chairman . And

31:50.420 --> 31:53.280
to your point , uh any change ? Any

31:53.280 --> 31:56.280
proposed change to the U . C . M . J is

31:56.280 --> 31:59.370
a very serious issue . We'll need the

31:59.380 --> 32:02.690
adequate time to implement the change

32:02.700 --> 32:05.180
in a very responsible way . And we'll

32:05.180 --> 32:07.291
also need resources to make sure that

32:07.291 --> 32:09.960
we can effectively implement it and uh

32:09.970 --> 32:12.440
we'll need flexibility to ensure that

32:12.450 --> 32:14.672
if there's something that needs to be a

32:14.672 --> 32:16.672
just we can adjust . Thank you very

32:16.672 --> 32:18.920
much . Mr Secretary thank you . General

32:18.920 --> 32:21.087
Milley and Mr McCord . Senator North .

32:21.640 --> 32:23.930
Thank you Mr Chairman because the

32:23.930 --> 32:26.097
interest we have here , I just have to

32:26.100 --> 32:29.260
brief questions . One General Milley

32:29.740 --> 32:32.990
In 2018 you testified that it's hard to

32:32.990 --> 32:35.610
compare the US . and Chinese defense

32:35.610 --> 32:38.360
budgets because china's budget is very

32:38.360 --> 32:41.130
different . And for a better comparison

32:41.130 --> 32:43.352
we need to make some adjustments and we

32:43.352 --> 32:45.520
have we have done that little things

32:45.520 --> 32:48.260
like the cost of labor and all of that .

32:48.740 --> 32:50.740
But making those adjustments is not

32:50.740 --> 32:53.660
easy and that's why we required in last

32:53.660 --> 32:56.090
year's defense authorization bill that

32:56.090 --> 32:58.770
the pentagon do a study to try to make

32:58.770 --> 33:02.430
this comparison . Uh china and

33:02.430 --> 33:04.570
Russia combined probably spend more

33:04.570 --> 33:07.010
than we do . I made that point in an op

33:07.010 --> 33:10.840
ed piece last me . So I would ask

33:10.840 --> 33:13.860
you general miller Millie the

33:14.340 --> 33:17.180
chinese and Russian economies and

33:17.180 --> 33:20.890
defense spending are unique . And given

33:20.890 --> 33:23.112
this , do you think that their relative

33:23.112 --> 33:26.330
combined effort is similar to ours ?

33:26.340 --> 33:29.510
And do you think that they under state

33:29.520 --> 33:32.270
the spending that they're doing

33:35.940 --> 33:39.450
center Mike taylor . The

33:40.740 --> 33:43.980
both of our analysis uh Diodes analysis

33:43.980 --> 33:45.813
and the intelligence community's

33:45.813 --> 33:48.530
analysis of budgets for um both Russia

33:48.530 --> 33:50.697
and china classified at non classified

33:50.697 --> 33:53.210
level . I would tell you that combined

33:53.210 --> 33:55.670
the Russian and chinese budgets exceed

33:56.140 --> 33:58.307
our budgets . If all the cards are put

33:58.307 --> 34:00.473
on the table , both governments do not

34:00.473 --> 34:02.584
put all their cards on the table when

34:02.584 --> 34:04.807
it comes to the budget . Um it's a it's

34:04.807 --> 34:06.973
a very difficult thing to discern that

34:06.973 --> 34:09.084
which is being spent on their defense

34:09.084 --> 34:10.973
versus other priorities . Uh with

34:10.973 --> 34:12.807
respect to china , they have put

34:12.807 --> 34:15.320
significant levels of effort Of their

34:15.320 --> 34:17.487
economy . And of course the economy is

34:17.487 --> 34:19.542
second only to ours . Uh significant

34:19.542 --> 34:21.653
levels of resources into building the

34:21.653 --> 34:23.487
Chinese military and the Chinese

34:23.487 --> 34:25.542
military is , we've noted many times

34:25.542 --> 34:27.653
before is on a significant increasing

34:27.653 --> 34:29.764
rising capability over the last 20 or

34:29.764 --> 34:32.040
30 years . Uh and uh and they continue

34:32.040 --> 34:34.490
to invest heavily in that . That's

34:34.490 --> 34:38.080
right . And Secretary Austin during

34:38.080 --> 34:40.247
your confirmation hearing in january ,

34:40.247 --> 34:42.580
you said , and this is a quote you said .

34:42.580 --> 34:45.410
I see china in particular as a pacing

34:45.410 --> 34:48.710
challenge for our department and that

34:48.720 --> 34:51.540
you need our help to deter china . Now ,

34:51.540 --> 34:53.910
I'm worried that if we under fund the

34:53.910 --> 34:55.970
military , our military , we will

34:56.440 --> 34:59.250
undermine our alliances and weaken

34:59.250 --> 35:02.470
deterrence . And in your opinion .

35:03.040 --> 35:05.970
Well , let me just state this . We've

35:05.980 --> 35:09.700
felt for some time and have said that

35:09.710 --> 35:12.030
when we we have countries

35:12.030 --> 35:15.550
that happened that we

35:15.560 --> 35:19.090
senator rounds and I went to

35:19.100 --> 35:22.280
six different countries last week , one

35:22.280 --> 35:24.350
of those was Romania . And they

35:24.360 --> 35:27.680
reminded us that We talked to them

35:27.680 --> 35:30.750
about 2% . They should get to 2% for

35:30.750 --> 35:32.806
the defense spending . They did that

35:32.806 --> 35:34.917
and they told us that they did that .

35:34.917 --> 35:37.400
And yet they're looking at us actually

35:37.400 --> 35:39.590
reducing our funding . And I'd just

35:39.590 --> 35:41.701
like to have you comment on what kind

35:41.701 --> 35:43.990
of effect that might have to other

35:43.990 --> 35:44.990
countries too .

35:49.440 --> 35:53.230
Well , thank you , Senator . I I would

35:53.230 --> 35:55.400
say that when you look at our overall

35:55.400 --> 35:58.980
contributions to NATO , we

35:58.980 --> 36:02.870
contribute a substantial amount to the

36:02.870 --> 36:05.037
NATO effort and will continue to do so

36:05.037 --> 36:08.750
going forward . I think uh the

36:08.760 --> 36:10.593
budget gives us the right mix of

36:10.593 --> 36:14.430
capabilities uh in the flexibility to

36:14.440 --> 36:17.780
uh to be very effective uh in our

36:17.780 --> 36:20.650
efforts to um

36:21.430 --> 36:24.090
deter china going forward in Russia or

36:24.090 --> 36:26.201
anyone else who would want to take us

36:26.201 --> 36:28.840
on . So I'm confident that this budget

36:28.850 --> 36:32.010
uh will allow us to match our resources

36:32.010 --> 36:34.177
to our strategy and our strategy to it

36:34.177 --> 36:36.790
to our policy . My concern has been

36:36.790 --> 36:38.930
that our insistence in the previous

36:38.930 --> 36:41.097
administration , which I agreed with ,

36:41.097 --> 36:43.208
that we reached the 2% in these other

36:43.208 --> 36:46.360
countries and they see that it appears

36:46.360 --> 36:49.030
that our expectations are much less

36:49.030 --> 36:51.197
than this administration . Thank you .

36:51.197 --> 36:55.140
Mr Chairman . Ah Thank you very much

36:55.140 --> 36:57.140
Senator Inhofe . Before I recognize

36:57.140 --> 36:59.680
Senator Shaheen , uh we have a room

36:59.680 --> 37:02.340
reserved for a closed session after

37:02.730 --> 37:06.300
this open session . So there are any

37:06.300 --> 37:09.200
questions that the panel fields would

37:09.200 --> 37:11.880
be best addressed in a closed session .

37:11.880 --> 37:14.047
We will retire there . If there are no

37:14.047 --> 37:16.213
such questions and we'll conclude with

37:16.213 --> 37:18.380
the open session center Sheen , please

37:18.730 --> 37:20.897
thank you Mr Chairman and thank you to

37:20.897 --> 37:22.952
all three of you for your service to

37:22.952 --> 37:24.952
the country and for being here this

37:24.952 --> 37:27.560
morning , Secretary Austin . There's an

37:27.560 --> 37:31.450
interesting article out in the new

37:31.450 --> 37:34.700
york Times today that suggests that our

37:34.700 --> 37:38.420
plan in Afghanistan is to

37:38.430 --> 37:41.830
not just provide for some sort of over

37:41.830 --> 37:43.460
the horizon um

37:45.430 --> 37:47.800
troops to address counterterrorism ,

37:47.900 --> 37:49.960
but that we might also be looking at

37:49.960 --> 37:53.430
ways that we can provide air support to

37:53.630 --> 37:57.120
the Afghan forces if they're in danger

37:57.130 --> 37:59.960
or if we're in danger of losing Kabul

37:59.970 --> 38:02.480
or another major city in the country .

38:02.480 --> 38:05.030
And it also quotes afghan officials as

38:05.030 --> 38:07.197
saying that they've been told by their

38:07.197 --> 38:09.363
american counterparts that the U . S .

38:09.363 --> 38:11.697
Would stop any takeover of a major city .

38:12.020 --> 38:14.750
Obviously who knows what the source of

38:14.750 --> 38:17.560
that is ? But can you tell me if we are

38:17.560 --> 38:20.470
in fact first of all where we are in

38:20.470 --> 38:22.530
our plans to develop an over the

38:22.530 --> 38:25.460
horizon C . T . Force and if we are in

38:25.460 --> 38:28.270
fact contemplating any other actions in

38:28.270 --> 38:30.492
support of the Afghan troops should the

38:30.492 --> 38:32.860
Taliban be in danger of taking over

38:32.860 --> 38:36.250
Kabul . Mhm .

38:37.520 --> 38:39.930
Thank you senator . As you know , we

38:39.930 --> 38:43.410
continue to provide support to the

38:43.410 --> 38:46.040
Afghan security forces as we retrograde .

38:46.520 --> 38:49.470
Once we have completed our retrograde

38:49.480 --> 38:52.920
that will be very difficult to

38:52.920 --> 38:55.890
do because our capabilities will have

38:55.890 --> 38:58.690
diminished in country . I really won't .

38:58.700 --> 39:02.030
I won't speculate about any uh any

39:02.030 --> 39:04.080
potential outcomes or any potential

39:04.080 --> 39:07.500
future actions . I will just say

39:07.500 --> 39:10.650
that the president has been clear that

39:10.650 --> 39:13.170
our mission in Afghanistan has been

39:13.170 --> 39:16.520
accomplished and and we are focused on

39:16.530 --> 39:18.630
on retro grading our people and

39:18.630 --> 39:22.090
equipment out and uh and again going

39:22.090 --> 39:24.940
forward . Uh in terms of our seti

39:24.940 --> 39:27.410
efforts , those seti efforts will be

39:27.410 --> 39:30.940
focused on uh those elements that can

39:30.940 --> 39:34.260
possibly conduct attacks against our

39:34.260 --> 39:37.810
homeland . And uh in terms of

39:37.820 --> 39:41.340
our efforts to establish over the

39:41.340 --> 39:44.140
horizon capability . I would just point

39:44.140 --> 39:46.140
to the fact that , you know , as we

39:46.140 --> 39:47.930
have retro grated a lot of our

39:47.930 --> 39:50.152
capability out of country . We're doing

39:50.152 --> 39:52.319
a lot of things over the horizon now .

39:52.319 --> 39:56.270
S . R . Is being flown from from gcc

39:56.280 --> 40:00.130
a lot of our combat aircraft or

40:00.140 --> 40:02.029
missions are being conducted from

40:02.029 --> 40:04.910
platforms uh you know , in the gulf .

40:04.920 --> 40:07.440
And and uh and so we have the

40:07.440 --> 40:10.250
capability now to do that . What we

40:10.250 --> 40:13.920
were looking for is uh , is the

40:13.920 --> 40:15.990
ability to shorten the legs going

40:15.990 --> 40:18.560
forward by stationing some capability

40:18.560 --> 40:21.130
in neighboring countries that is still

40:21.130 --> 40:23.330
a work in progress . So do you have a

40:23.340 --> 40:25.451
timetable for when that plan might be

40:25.451 --> 40:28.020
completed ? I don't have a timetable .

40:28.020 --> 40:30.076
I will tell you that we will move as

40:30.076 --> 40:32.350
quickly as we can in conjunction with

40:32.360 --> 40:35.530
with State Department efforts um , in

40:35.540 --> 40:37.707
talking with some of the women leaders

40:37.707 --> 40:40.580
of Afghanistan in the last weeks . One

40:40.580 --> 40:43.590
of the things that they have um asked

40:43.600 --> 40:45.322
and said they thought was very

40:45.322 --> 40:47.360
important would be for high level

40:47.360 --> 40:49.580
american officials . The president ,

40:49.590 --> 40:52.020
certainly you as Secretary of Defense

40:52.310 --> 40:55.130
to speak out against the Talibans ,

40:55.210 --> 40:57.440
attacks against women and girls in the

40:57.440 --> 40:59.840
country and to make it clear that

40:59.840 --> 41:02.300
that's a violation of international

41:02.300 --> 41:05.680
norms of behavior and human rights . I

41:05.680 --> 41:07.800
would urge you to do that along with

41:07.800 --> 41:10.240
other members of the administration . I

41:10.240 --> 41:13.370
think um that's the least we can do at

41:13.370 --> 41:16.710
this point is to make a point of the

41:16.720 --> 41:20.380
violation of norms and human rights

41:20.380 --> 41:22.580
that the Taliban are conducting in

41:22.580 --> 41:24.747
Afghanistan , especially when it comes

41:24.747 --> 41:28.180
to women and girls . I I want to go on

41:28.180 --> 41:31.220
to another issue in my time that's left

41:31.230 --> 41:33.286
because one of the things you talked

41:33.286 --> 41:35.508
about in your opening statement was the

41:35.508 --> 41:37.841
importance of taking care of our people .

41:37.841 --> 41:40.008
And as we know , one of the challenges

41:40.008 --> 41:42.286
that we're facing not just among D . O .

41:42.286 --> 41:45.130
D . Employees but and intel agencies at

41:45.130 --> 41:49.020
ST has been attacks of

41:50.210 --> 41:52.321
what has been come to be known as the

41:52.321 --> 41:54.730
Havana syndrome . The National Academy

41:54.730 --> 41:56.897
of Science report that was released in

41:56.897 --> 41:59.430
december calls these directed energy

41:59.430 --> 42:03.100
attacks . It's my understanding that D .

42:03.100 --> 42:05.460
O . D . Is the department that's taking

42:05.460 --> 42:07.380
the lead on treating individuals

42:07.390 --> 42:09.690
suffering from these attacks . Can you

42:09.690 --> 42:11.801
tell us if that's the case and if you

42:11.801 --> 42:13.801
have the resources that you need to

42:13.801 --> 42:16.210
continue to do that and then what steps

42:16.210 --> 42:18.266
you're taking to protect D . O . D .

42:18.266 --> 42:20.620
Personnel from future attacks ?

42:24.000 --> 42:27.050
Well , the the health and welfare of

42:27.050 --> 42:30.510
our people is utmost importance to me .

42:31.000 --> 42:33.890
Uh And we are working with uh we're

42:33.890 --> 42:37.490
working as one element of a larger

42:37.500 --> 42:41.000
uh whole of government effort to

42:41.010 --> 42:43.570
really determine the cause of these ,

42:43.580 --> 42:45.747
try to determine the cause of these uh

42:46.400 --> 42:49.830
uh these injuries . And uh and also

42:49.840 --> 42:52.062
we're working as hard as fast as we can

42:52.062 --> 42:54.590
to expand our medical capabilities .

42:54.590 --> 42:56.910
And we've done that expanded our

42:56.910 --> 43:00.310
capabilities to to treat TB

43:00.320 --> 43:04.270
and and H . I .

43:05.100 --> 43:09.070
Uh injuries . And uh and so we'll have

43:09.070 --> 43:11.237
the ability to treat more people going

43:11.237 --> 43:13.403
forward . But but again , we'll remain

43:13.403 --> 43:15.459
cited on this and we're working as a

43:15.459 --> 43:17.514
part of a whole of government effort

43:17.700 --> 43:19.970
and you factor that into your budget

43:19.970 --> 43:23.020
request . Mhm .

43:23.400 --> 43:26.390
We did not ask for additional funds for

43:26.400 --> 43:28.567
this specific , but we have sufficient

43:28.567 --> 43:30.622
funds to do what's necessary . Thank

43:30.622 --> 43:32.844
you . Thank you . Mr . Chairman . Thank

43:32.844 --> 43:34.956
you . Let me recognize Senator Worker

43:34.956 --> 43:37.289
Police . Thank you . Mr . Chairman . Mr .

43:37.289 --> 43:39.511
Secretary , thank you for being with us

43:39.511 --> 43:42.230
today . We had a seapower subcommittee

43:42.240 --> 43:45.920
hearing just this week

43:46.500 --> 43:49.620
and the Navy's Vice Admiral Witness

43:50.000 --> 43:52.670
before that subcommittee said this and

43:52.670 --> 43:54.870
I quote , we've done many studies over

43:54.870 --> 43:57.037
the last five years that say we need a

43:57.037 --> 44:00.060
larger navy . The Navy we can afford

44:00.060 --> 44:03.570
now is roughly 300-305

44:03.580 --> 44:07.410
ships . So if we're going to pace the

44:07.420 --> 44:10.780
adversary , we need to have a

44:10.780 --> 44:14.130
bigger navy . Mr . Secretary did the

44:14.140 --> 44:17.260
did the Vice Admiral misspeak in saying

44:17.260 --> 44:21.150
that what I would

44:21.150 --> 44:24.510
say senator , and you know , I think

44:24.990 --> 44:28.390
certainly we have the most

44:28.400 --> 44:31.970
capable and dominant navy in the world

44:32.010 --> 44:34.010
and it will continue to be so going

44:34.010 --> 44:36.430
forward . And when you talk about naval

44:36.430 --> 44:38.780
power , certainly size matters . But

44:38.780 --> 44:40.891
what also matters is having the right

44:40.891 --> 44:44.740
mix of capabilities in the force and uh

44:44.750 --> 44:47.930
and so our goal is to make sure that we

44:47.930 --> 44:50.250
remain that we maintain a ready ,

44:50.260 --> 44:53.110
capable and sustainable force uh in the

44:53.110 --> 44:56.730
future . Okay .

44:56.740 --> 44:59.720
Did the Navy Vice Admiral Misspeak in

44:59.720 --> 45:01.887
saying that we need a larger navy ? He

45:01.887 --> 45:03.800
said that two days ago , um in

45:03.800 --> 45:05.467
testimony before the seapower

45:05.467 --> 45:07.800
subcommittee , can you just answer that ?

45:07.990 --> 45:10.510
What I will say senator is that uh for

45:10.510 --> 45:13.920
some time , uh we've had a goal of

45:13.930 --> 45:17.470
355 ship maybe . And I think that goal

45:17.480 --> 45:19.920
is a goal , a good goal to shoot at .

45:19.930 --> 45:21.986
So I think that's probably what he's

45:21.986 --> 45:24.760
referencing . This budget doesn't get

45:24.760 --> 45:27.590
us anywhere near back on the path to do

45:27.590 --> 45:29.701
that . I also have concerns about the

45:29.701 --> 45:32.150
Navy's plans for amphibious warships .

45:32.160 --> 45:36.120
Last year , Congress authorized um

45:36.200 --> 45:39.570
in the India multi ship

45:39.570 --> 45:42.790
procurement bundle for three L . P . D .

45:42.790 --> 45:46.380
S . And one LH A . This would

45:46.390 --> 45:49.870
result in a $700 million

45:50.000 --> 45:53.010
cost savings . And in that hearing on

45:53.010 --> 45:55.177
Tuesday , acting Secretary of the Navy

45:55.177 --> 45:56.899
for Research , Development and

45:56.899 --> 45:59.010
acquisition , testified that although

45:59.010 --> 46:00.843
the Navy had reached a handshake

46:00.843 --> 46:04.110
agreement to execute the block by the

46:04.110 --> 46:06.221
Department of Defense was unlikely to

46:06.221 --> 46:08.221
approve it . Why does it make sense

46:08.680 --> 46:10.900
That knowing that we're going to have

46:10.900 --> 46:13.180
to buy these amphibious ships , why

46:13.180 --> 46:16.200
does it make sense that the Department

46:16.200 --> 46:18.570
of Defense might oppose saving the

46:18.570 --> 46:21.850
taxpayers over $700 million

46:21.850 --> 46:25.370
dollars by procuring the ships in a

46:25.370 --> 46:29.350
block by as we said at

46:29.350 --> 46:31.960
the top senator ? Uh You know , and you

46:31.960 --> 46:33.980
well know , we're always faced with

46:33.980 --> 46:37.940
making tough choices . Uh And and so as

46:37.940 --> 46:41.650
we looked at what what we could

46:41.660 --> 46:43.827
do in this budget and what was best to

46:43.827 --> 46:45.827
do in this budget , uh we're making

46:45.827 --> 46:48.660
those choices . All right , well , let

46:48.660 --> 46:50.300
me just say this . Um

46:52.580 --> 46:56.290
this is an inadequate defense budget .

46:57.480 --> 47:01.220
And and and I sit here and and while

47:01.220 --> 47:04.290
I very much admire our constitution

47:05.080 --> 47:07.302
And the fact that we have one commander

47:07.302 --> 47:11.040
in chief . And so the military members ,

47:11.040 --> 47:13.151
no matter how many stars they have on

47:13.151 --> 47:15.429
their shoulders under our constitution ,

47:15.429 --> 47:18.020
they salute that Commander in chief and

47:18.020 --> 47:20.750
he appoints a secretary of defense and

47:20.750 --> 47:23.910
he appoints cabinet officials and and

47:23.920 --> 47:26.031
based on the best advice that you and

47:26.031 --> 47:28.198
others give him the Commander in chief

47:28.198 --> 47:30.920
makes the decision . And uh and the O .

47:30.920 --> 47:34.090
M . B . That he appoints apparently

47:34.980 --> 47:38.730
um has decided that we can do

47:39.030 --> 47:43.020
just fine in a world where

47:43.020 --> 47:46.630
china is expanding in the

47:46.630 --> 47:49.360
pacific where Hamas is still raining

47:49.370 --> 47:51.510
rockets down on Jerusalem , where

47:51.520 --> 47:54.030
Russia is not quitting at all and where

47:54.030 --> 47:56.141
we've just heard that they're they're

47:56.141 --> 48:00.000
combined budgets are of Russia and

48:00.000 --> 48:02.790
china are greater than ours . Uh We've

48:02.790 --> 48:05.200
decided based on what somebody in what

48:05.200 --> 48:08.200
some budget countries in O . And B .

48:08.570 --> 48:10.737
And bean counters and A . And B . Have

48:10.737 --> 48:12.903
decided that we ought to be able to do

48:12.903 --> 48:16.090
and that we can have massive increases

48:16.570 --> 48:19.880
in domestic spending but a

48:19.890 --> 48:23.790
cut in purchasing power um for

48:23.800 --> 48:27.420
the national defense budget . Let me

48:27.420 --> 48:29.700
just say to my colleagues , the

48:29.700 --> 48:31.867
Constitution of the United States also

48:31.867 --> 48:34.790
gives us the power of the purse . And

48:34.790 --> 48:37.123
while we appreciate the suggestion by O .

48:37.123 --> 48:39.460
N . B . Budget crunchers , it is our

48:39.460 --> 48:41.640
obligation to defend this nation and

48:41.640 --> 48:44.700
this proposed budget does not do so in

48:44.700 --> 48:47.330
the two respects that I have mentioned

48:47.340 --> 48:50.030
in the respect that the ranking member

48:50.040 --> 48:52.140
mentioned earlier on and it is

48:52.140 --> 48:56.120
incumbent on us to reverse this and

48:56.120 --> 48:58.670
to get our troops and our nation the

48:58.670 --> 49:01.003
national security budget that they need .

49:01.003 --> 49:03.226
Thank you very much . Thank you senator

49:03.226 --> 49:05.059
worker . Let me recognize center

49:05.059 --> 49:07.430
Gentlemen please thank you Mr Chairman .

49:07.440 --> 49:09.607
Um thank you to our witnesses for your

49:09.607 --> 49:11.920
service , your dedication uh and your

49:11.920 --> 49:14.620
integrity as you both know , I've been

49:14.620 --> 49:16.787
fighting against sexual assault in the

49:16.787 --> 49:19.840
military for the last eight years Along

49:19.840 --> 49:21.970
with now 66 co sponsors on the

49:21.970 --> 49:24.520
legislation from the U . S . Senate are

49:24.520 --> 49:26.742
proposing that we draw a bright line at

49:26.742 --> 49:28.853
all serious crimes , take them out of

49:28.853 --> 49:31.110
this change of chain of command and

49:31.110 --> 49:33.330
that one change we believe will create

49:33.330 --> 49:35.663
more transparency , more accountability ,

49:35.663 --> 49:37.774
a higher professionalization and will

49:37.774 --> 49:39.830
create less bias within the system .

49:40.370 --> 49:42.426
General Milley , I'd like to ask you

49:42.426 --> 49:44.592
about your thoughts on this proposal .

49:44.592 --> 49:46.759
It's my understanding that you are now

49:46.759 --> 49:48.759
open to removing sexual assault and

49:48.759 --> 49:50.592
related crimes from the chain of

49:50.592 --> 49:52.703
command . Can you please confirm that

49:52.703 --> 49:54.926
to the committee today ? Thanks Senator

49:54.926 --> 49:57.092
and thanks for your leadership on this

49:57.092 --> 49:59.390
issue . Um , I've said publicly before

49:59.770 --> 50:02.570
and and I'll say it here . I I think

50:02.570 --> 50:04.737
that this issue has been out there for

50:04.737 --> 50:07.200
quite a long time and and we in uniform

50:07.200 --> 50:09.144
generals and change members of the

50:09.144 --> 50:11.311
Chain of Command , et cetera . We have

50:11.311 --> 50:13.367
not successfully moved the needle in

50:13.367 --> 50:15.880
resolving sexual assault . Uh , and in

50:15.880 --> 50:18.470
addition to that , I have some evidence ,

50:18.470 --> 50:20.637
some studies , some anecdotal evidence

50:20.637 --> 50:22.637
that junior members of the chain of

50:22.637 --> 50:24.637
command of or junior members in the

50:24.637 --> 50:26.990
military of primarily women have lost

50:26.990 --> 50:29.046
faith and confidence in our chain of

50:29.046 --> 50:30.934
command to resolve sexual assault

50:30.934 --> 50:33.101
through the chain of command . So I am

50:33.101 --> 50:35.157
very open minded to some significant

50:35.157 --> 50:37.268
and fundamental change in the area of

50:37.268 --> 50:39.434
sexual assault and sexual harassment .

50:39.434 --> 50:41.601
What you mentioned was the bright line

50:41.601 --> 50:44.120
of all the other , um all felonies .

50:44.120 --> 50:46.400
For example , I think that requires

50:46.400 --> 50:48.190
some detailed study before we

50:48.190 --> 50:50.640
completely overall the entire U . C . M .

50:50.640 --> 50:52.670
J . But the focused area of sexual

50:52.670 --> 50:54.337
assault and sexual harassment

50:54.337 --> 50:56.337
completely open minded to some very

50:56.337 --> 50:58.559
significant change . And I think that's

50:58.559 --> 51:00.781
also true of most of the senior leaders

51:00.781 --> 51:03.003
in uniform . Thank you . Thank you very

51:03.003 --> 51:04.837
much . General as you and I have

51:04.837 --> 51:07.700
discussed um In recent years , we've

51:07.700 --> 51:09.756
seen some very chilling statistics ,

51:09.756 --> 51:11.867
statistics about bias in the military

51:11.867 --> 51:14.200
justice system against people of colour .

51:14.200 --> 51:16.200
Black Service members were at least

51:16.200 --> 51:18.480
1.29 times and as much as 2.16 times

51:18.480 --> 51:20.750
more likely to have disciplinary action

51:20.760 --> 51:23.038
taken against them in the average year .

51:23.038 --> 51:25.490
Across all branches from 2006 to 2015 ,

51:25.960 --> 51:27.960
these disparities largely did not

51:27.960 --> 51:30.127
improve and in some cases got worse in

51:30.127 --> 51:32.700
the most recent years . As an example ,

51:32.700 --> 51:34.811
the december 2020 Air Force Inspector

51:34.811 --> 51:36.700
General's review found that black

51:36.700 --> 51:38.422
service members quote voiced a

51:38.422 --> 51:40.589
consistent lack of confidence . End of

51:40.589 --> 51:42.922
quote in Air Force discipline processes .

51:42.922 --> 51:44.978
Three and five black service members

51:44.978 --> 51:47.160
said they would not receive the same

51:47.160 --> 51:49.160
benefit of the doubt as their white

51:49.160 --> 51:51.216
peers if they got into trouble . And

51:51.216 --> 51:53.216
one and three said they believe the

51:53.216 --> 51:55.104
military justice system is biased

51:55.104 --> 51:57.216
against them . Problem , however , is

51:57.216 --> 51:59.327
even more chilling . When you look at

51:59.327 --> 52:01.438
military capital cases . 1 2012 death

52:01.438 --> 52:03.550
penalty study found that 41% of

52:03.550 --> 52:05.661
defendants were people of color , but

52:05.661 --> 52:07.960
67% of those that actually receive the

52:07.960 --> 52:10.750
death penalty were people of color . So

52:10.750 --> 52:12.917
the reason why we wrote our bill eight

52:12.917 --> 52:15.083
years ago to draw bright lines against

52:15.083 --> 52:17.028
all serious felonies , all serious

52:17.028 --> 52:19.028
crimes . Anything that carried more

52:19.028 --> 52:21.194
than a year of penalty Was not just to

52:21.194 --> 52:23.306
professionalize the system and remove

52:23.306 --> 52:25.139
bias against survivors of sexual

52:25.139 --> 52:27.139
assault , but also to remove biases

52:27.139 --> 52:29.361
across the board and to professionalize

52:29.361 --> 52:31.417
the entire military justice system .

52:31.417 --> 52:33.850
That is what all military experts in

52:33.850 --> 52:36.072
criminal justice recommended . And it's

52:36.072 --> 52:38.183
what our allies actually did over the

52:38.183 --> 52:40.370
last 40 years . UK Germany , Israel ,

52:40.380 --> 52:43.870
Canada Netherlands , Australia . And so

52:43.870 --> 52:45.870
as a result , we mirror that in our

52:45.870 --> 52:48.660
legislation , uh , and we carve out all

52:48.660 --> 52:50.940
uniquely military crimes . So I'd like

52:50.940 --> 52:52.996
to know , um , General Milley , will

52:52.996 --> 52:55.107
you remain to have an open mind as to

52:55.107 --> 52:56.940
review these statistics and this

52:56.940 --> 52:58.996
additional data before you make your

52:58.996 --> 53:00.884
recommendation to the committee ?

53:00.884 --> 53:03.051
Totally , I am very sincere . I have a

53:03.051 --> 53:05.162
complete open mind on this . As I set

53:05.162 --> 53:07.218
up front my opening statement , uh ,

53:07.218 --> 53:09.051
the United States military has a

53:09.051 --> 53:11.218
singular purpose to support and defend

53:11.218 --> 53:13.162
the constitution . And we have two

53:13.162 --> 53:15.329
tasks uh to fight and win our nation's

53:15.329 --> 53:17.440
wars and prepare to fight and win our

53:17.440 --> 53:19.496
nation's wars and unit cohesion is a

53:19.496 --> 53:21.496
significant contributor . In fact ,

53:21.496 --> 53:23.329
it's probably the most important

53:23.329 --> 53:25.496
contributor to combat power and sexual

53:25.496 --> 53:27.770
assault , sexual harassment . Any kind

53:27.770 --> 53:30.490
of uh deviance from any sort of good

53:30.490 --> 53:32.823
order and discipline rips apart at that .

53:32.823 --> 53:35.290
Central to the concept is also the

53:35.290 --> 53:37.512
commander's personal responsibility and

53:37.512 --> 53:39.623
accountability for the good order and

53:39.623 --> 53:41.623
discipline of the unit and they are

53:41.623 --> 53:43.957
personally responsible for the cohesion .

53:43.957 --> 53:46.012
Uh So I am absolutely open minded to

53:46.012 --> 53:45.830
suggestions to improve the system

53:45.830 --> 53:47.830
because what we wanna do is fix the

53:47.830 --> 53:50.052
problem and improve the combat power of

53:50.052 --> 53:52.070
the U . S . Military general . Uh

53:52.080 --> 53:54.191
Secretary Austin . We've also had the

53:54.191 --> 53:56.358
benefit of having a conversation about

53:56.358 --> 53:58.580
these details . And I'd like to ask you

53:58.580 --> 54:00.747
the same question . Will you remain an

54:00.747 --> 54:02.969
open mind as you look at new data about

54:02.969 --> 54:05.136
racial disparities as well as the data

54:05.136 --> 54:07.191
you will receive from the panel that

54:07.191 --> 54:09.630
you requested advice on specifically

54:09.630 --> 54:12.010
sexual assault related crimes . Uh and

54:12.010 --> 54:14.490
I ask that you remain an open mind as

54:14.490 --> 54:17.300
you look at the full uh version of the

54:17.310 --> 54:19.366
details and facts that the diode has

54:19.366 --> 54:21.477
compiled over many years And the work

54:21.477 --> 54:23.588
of this committee over the last eight

54:23.588 --> 54:25.754
years . Before I answer that , Senator

54:25.754 --> 54:28.710
Gillibrand , let me thank you for your

54:28.710 --> 54:31.580
incredible work that you have done over

54:31.580 --> 54:35.220
the years to on this issue on the issue

54:35.220 --> 54:37.442
of sexual assault , sexual harassment .

54:37.940 --> 54:39.996
Whatever changes occur going forward

54:40.000 --> 54:43.320
will be largely due to your incredible

54:43.320 --> 54:46.000
dedication to this issue . So behalf of

54:46.000 --> 54:48.111
the Department of Defense , thank you

54:48.111 --> 54:50.500
for what you've done as you know ,

54:50.500 --> 54:53.020
Senator . Uh , first of all , yes , I

54:53.020 --> 54:55.310
always have an open mind to solving any

54:55.310 --> 54:59.150
tough problem . But as you know ,

54:59.160 --> 55:01.550
the commission that the president

55:01.940 --> 55:05.390
tasked me to stand up and that has

55:05.390 --> 55:07.501
stood up and provided me some initial

55:07.501 --> 55:09.668
recommendations and still owes me more

55:09.668 --> 55:12.140
recommendations is focused has been

55:12.140 --> 55:14.470
focused on the issue of sexual assault

55:14.480 --> 55:16.860
and sexual harassment , and so that

55:16.870 --> 55:18.759
those are the those those are the

55:18.759 --> 55:22.590
problems that we're we're trying to to

55:22.600 --> 55:26.130
resolve and improve and and so . But

55:26.130 --> 55:28.186
yes , I always maintain an open mind

55:28.186 --> 55:30.500
with with any tough problem , but we're

55:30.500 --> 55:32.667
focused on the issue of sexual assault

55:32.667 --> 55:34.889
and sexual harassment and again , thank

55:34.889 --> 55:37.000
you for all the work that you've done

55:37.000 --> 55:39.222
on this issue . Thank you . Secretary .

55:39.222 --> 55:41.444
Thank you . Mr . Chairman . Thank you .

55:41.444 --> 55:41.240
Senator Gillibrand . Now let me

55:41.240 --> 55:43.900
recognize Senator Fisher please . Thank

55:43.900 --> 55:46.233
you . Mr . Chairman . Welcome Gentlemen .

55:46.233 --> 55:48.420
I too want to thank you for your

55:48.430 --> 55:51.240
patriotism , your years of service and

55:51.240 --> 55:53.390
your years and years of caring for

55:53.390 --> 55:56.690
those who serve with you in protecting

55:56.690 --> 55:59.720
this nation . Secretary Austin . I

55:59.720 --> 56:01.553
appreciate the way the budget is

56:01.553 --> 56:03.870
prioritized nuclear modernization and

56:03.870 --> 56:06.860
kept important programs like G . B . S .

56:06.860 --> 56:09.670
D . L . R . S . O . And the Columbia

56:09.680 --> 56:13.090
class submarine on track . I'm also

56:13.090 --> 56:16.190
happy to see it invests in n . c .

56:16.190 --> 56:19.010
three and finally begin moving forward

56:19.010 --> 56:21.650
on replacing the F four B with

56:21.660 --> 56:24.550
survivable Airborne Operations Center .

56:25.230 --> 56:27.341
During your confirmation , you talked

56:27.341 --> 56:29.286
about the need for a review of our

56:29.286 --> 56:31.450
nuclear posture and modernization

56:31.450 --> 56:34.600
programs . Has the department begun a

56:34.600 --> 56:37.350
formal nuclear posture review ? And

56:37.350 --> 56:39.550
when do you expect it to be complete ?

56:41.430 --> 56:43.950
We have not begun that review yet ,

56:43.960 --> 56:45.793
Senator , but it will begin very

56:45.793 --> 56:47.970
shortly and it will take us several

56:47.970 --> 56:51.030
months to to conduct the review . Well ,

56:51.030 --> 56:53.380
I think that review process is so very

56:53.380 --> 56:56.900
important . These systems are the most

56:56.900 --> 56:59.350
important military capabilities that we

56:59.350 --> 57:01.610
possess . And decisions about our

57:01.610 --> 57:04.570
nuclear policies and programs must be

57:04.570 --> 57:06.950
considered in a thorough deliberative

57:06.950 --> 57:10.110
process that allows stakeholders from

57:10.110 --> 57:12.221
across the Department of Defense , as

57:12.221 --> 57:14.890
well as other federal agencies like the

57:14.890 --> 57:17.920
Department of Energy and our allies to

57:17.920 --> 57:20.230
provide their input so that decisions

57:20.230 --> 57:22.440
can be made with a full understanding

57:22.440 --> 57:25.390
of consequences . We can't be careless

57:25.390 --> 57:29.100
about this , which is why I was very

57:29.100 --> 57:32.890
concerned to see a news story um

57:32.900 --> 57:35.810
that put forth a copy of a memo from

57:35.810 --> 57:38.440
the acting secretary of the Navy thomas

57:38.440 --> 57:41.380
Harker , in which he directed the Navy

57:41.380 --> 57:44.050
to defund the sea launched cruise

57:44.050 --> 57:47.340
missile program . This memo was signed

57:47.350 --> 57:50.480
June four . That's just one week after

57:50.480 --> 57:52.591
the Department of Defense submitted a

57:52.591 --> 57:56.500
budget request That asked for $5

57:56.510 --> 57:59.080
million dollars to continue to study

57:59.080 --> 58:02.890
that concept and the NSA requested $10

58:02.890 --> 58:05.540
million to conduct its own assessment

58:06.020 --> 58:08.610
based on what you've just said . It

58:08.610 --> 58:11.620
seems like this decision was made

58:11.630 --> 58:14.760
outside of any kind of posture review

58:14.760 --> 58:18.730
process . Is that correct , sir ? I

58:18.730 --> 58:21.710
have not seen the memo , but uh , but I

58:21.710 --> 58:24.300
would say that uh , you know , all of

58:24.300 --> 58:25.967
us , all the services and the

58:25.967 --> 58:27.940
department , again , making tough

58:27.940 --> 58:30.480
choices in terms of where , what to

58:30.480 --> 58:33.400
prioritize and and we're too except uh ,

58:33.410 --> 58:37.220
except risk uh , that memo

58:37.230 --> 58:39.760
has to be pre decisional because

58:39.770 --> 58:42.048
because of where we are in the process .

58:42.048 --> 58:43.992
And so I don't feel comfortable in

58:43.992 --> 58:46.214
commenting on his on his memo . I would

58:46.214 --> 58:48.490
just say that uh that again , I am

58:48.490 --> 58:52.070
committed to a uh posture

58:52.070 --> 58:56.040
review to make sure that we uh uh

58:56.050 --> 58:58.300
adequate , adequately analyze what our

58:58.300 --> 59:00.522
capabilities are , what's needed in the

59:00.522 --> 59:02.744
future and that we that we maintain the

59:02.744 --> 59:04.744
right balance in our nuclear forces

59:04.744 --> 59:06.900
going forward . So you were not

59:06.900 --> 59:09.260
consulted on that at all . That's an

59:09.260 --> 59:11.980
internal department memo , I believe ,

59:11.990 --> 59:15.350
based upon what's been said . General

59:15.350 --> 59:17.930
Milley were the Joint Chiefs consulted

59:17.930 --> 59:20.200
at all to your knowledge . I'm not

59:20.200 --> 59:22.144
familiar with the memo , nor was I

59:22.144 --> 59:24.367
consulted . And um but as soon as we're

59:24.367 --> 59:26.589
done here , I'll find that memo and get

59:26.589 --> 59:30.330
consulted . Thank you , sir . I find it

59:30.330 --> 59:32.840
very concerning that an accurate

59:33.030 --> 59:36.780
enacting service secretary who hasn't

59:36.780 --> 59:38.947
been confirmed by the Senate is making

59:38.947 --> 59:42.340
a decision like this outside of any

59:42.350 --> 59:46.190
review process . Without analysis

59:46.200 --> 59:50.080
or input from OSD policy from

59:50.090 --> 59:52.400
nuclear matters , the Joint Chiefs or

59:52.400 --> 59:55.390
stratcom and without talking to other

59:55.400 --> 59:58.270
agencies or having it seems any

59:58.270 --> 01:00:00.910
discussions with our allies . I would

01:00:00.910 --> 01:00:03.320
also point out that the analysis of

01:00:03.320 --> 01:00:05.431
alternatives for the missile is still

01:00:05.431 --> 01:00:07.500
ongoing and so it would seem very ,

01:00:07.510 --> 01:00:11.090
very premature to reach any conclusions

01:00:11.090 --> 01:00:13.830
about it being feasible or infeasible .

01:00:14.610 --> 01:00:16.777
I don't think this is the right way to

01:00:16.777 --> 01:00:19.190
make decisions about nuclear policy .

01:00:19.200 --> 01:00:21.160
Do you agree with that ? Senate

01:00:21.170 --> 01:00:24.030
Secretary Austin , I do Senator

01:00:25.210 --> 01:00:27.710
should a decision like this be made

01:00:27.710 --> 01:00:29.640
through that review process .

01:00:32.310 --> 01:00:34.532
I have every confidence that it will be

01:00:34.532 --> 01:00:38.450
senator . Thank you . I I hope you will

01:00:38.450 --> 01:00:41.310
follow up with the acting secretary to

01:00:41.310 --> 01:00:44.700
make sure that it's uh it's a posture

01:00:44.700 --> 01:00:47.440
review that makes a decision on this .

01:00:48.310 --> 01:00:50.600
Does the department still support the

01:00:50.600 --> 01:00:53.500
President's Fy 22 budget request for

01:00:53.500 --> 01:00:57.370
this program ? It does , thank you .

01:00:57.370 --> 01:00:59.537
Happy to hear that . Thank you again .

01:01:00.410 --> 01:01:02.577
Thank you , Senator Fisher . Now , let

01:01:02.577 --> 01:01:04.577
me recognize Senator kelly , please

01:01:06.810 --> 01:01:10.400
thank you . Mr Chairman . Um

01:01:10.410 --> 01:01:14.410
thank you to uh Secretary McCord

01:01:14.410 --> 01:01:16.960
and Secretary Austin and General Milley

01:01:16.960 --> 01:01:20.150
for being here today . Uh General

01:01:20.150 --> 01:01:22.150
Milley . This question is for you .

01:01:22.150 --> 01:01:25.660
It's and it's specific to the 8 10 . Um ,

01:01:25.670 --> 01:01:28.090
I think you would agree that properly

01:01:28.090 --> 01:01:30.470
balancing the need to sustain americans .

01:01:30.480 --> 01:01:32.480
America's military with the need to

01:01:32.480 --> 01:01:35.230
modernize is paramount to ensuring our

01:01:35.240 --> 01:01:37.720
adversaries are unable to outpace the

01:01:37.720 --> 01:01:39.750
United States having the right

01:01:39.750 --> 01:01:41.806
equipment available to our troops on

01:01:41.806 --> 01:01:43.972
the battlefield is critical , which is

01:01:43.972 --> 01:01:46.320
why I am very concerned , very

01:01:46.320 --> 01:01:49.590
concerned by the proposed Divestment of

01:01:49.590 --> 01:01:52.550
42 8 10 aircraft in the fiscal year

01:01:52.550 --> 01:01:56.220
2022 budget . As you know , The a

01:01:56.220 --> 01:01:58.730
10 is a combat proven asset that is

01:01:58.740 --> 01:02:00.930
unmatched in its ability to provide

01:02:00.930 --> 01:02:02.874
close air support to troops on the

01:02:02.874 --> 01:02:05.540
ground . The Air Force has not been

01:02:05.550 --> 01:02:07.470
able to establish a convincing

01:02:07.470 --> 01:02:10.120
replacement to carry out this mission

01:02:11.000 --> 01:02:13.167
And it certainly is not demonstrated a

01:02:13.167 --> 01:02:15.333
replacement that can match the A . 10s

01:02:15.333 --> 01:02:18.870
cost effectiveness Budget analysts have

01:02:18.870 --> 01:02:22.500
estimated a modest cost savings if the

01:02:22.500 --> 01:02:25.800
A10s are divested . But those savings

01:02:25.800 --> 01:02:27.980
are quite small When you consider the

01:02:27.980 --> 01:02:30.760
scope of the department $715 billion

01:02:30.760 --> 01:02:34.220
dollar budget , and it's critical that

01:02:34.220 --> 01:02:36.410
we consider the real costs of what we

01:02:36.410 --> 01:02:38.900
would be trading away if we were to

01:02:38.900 --> 01:02:42.600
take this action before an effective

01:02:42.600 --> 01:02:44.890
close air support replacement is in

01:02:44.890 --> 01:02:48.500
place . American troops rely on close

01:02:48.500 --> 01:02:51.120
air support in the most dire of

01:02:51.120 --> 01:02:55.070
circumstances . The 810 has saved the

01:02:55.070 --> 01:02:58.540
lives of many men and women because of

01:02:58.540 --> 01:03:02.180
its unique capabilities . Everyone I

01:03:02.180 --> 01:03:04.950
speak to everyone Who has had

01:03:04.960 --> 01:03:07.720
experience with the 8:10 in combat

01:03:08.200 --> 01:03:11.410
wants that to be the plane that shows

01:03:11.410 --> 01:03:13.840
up when they're in trouble . So when I

01:03:13.840 --> 01:03:15.860
think about the trade offs we'd be

01:03:15.860 --> 01:03:19.190
making by divesting . I just don't

01:03:19.190 --> 01:03:22.400
see that the risk has been properly

01:03:22.400 --> 01:03:25.230
accounted for . And I expect

01:03:26.000 --> 01:03:27.944
that you've had some of these same

01:03:27.944 --> 01:03:30.900
conversations and experiences as you

01:03:30.900 --> 01:03:34.380
talk to our troops . So general , do

01:03:34.380 --> 01:03:36.240
you feel that we have adequately

01:03:36.250 --> 01:03:38.460
assessed the risk that these

01:03:38.460 --> 01:03:42.260
retirements could pose for our troops

01:03:42.260 --> 01:03:45.520
on the ground ? Um , thanks center .

01:03:45.530 --> 01:03:47.752
And as a ground soldier who's been in a

01:03:47.752 --> 01:03:49.863
lot of firefights and have , you know

01:03:49.863 --> 01:03:52.086
exactly what I'm talking about the A 10

01:03:52.086 --> 01:03:54.308
or attack helicopters or , or any other

01:03:54.308 --> 01:03:56.474
munitions delivered by air . Um , it's

01:03:56.474 --> 01:03:58.641
a very , very important capability and

01:03:58.641 --> 01:04:00.586
personally a big fan of the A 10 ,

01:04:00.586 --> 01:04:03.400
however , uh , We're talking about 42

01:04:03.400 --> 01:04:05.622
aircraft , we're still gonna have 239 .

01:04:05.622 --> 01:04:07.733
We've got enough for five squadrons .

01:04:07.733 --> 01:04:09.789
What we have to do . We collectively

01:04:09.789 --> 01:04:11.820
Congress Department offense , we in

01:04:11.820 --> 01:04:14.060
uniform , We've got to recognize and

01:04:14.060 --> 01:04:16.040
begin to shift toward the future

01:04:16.040 --> 01:04:18.096
operating environment and a changing

01:04:18.096 --> 01:04:21.600
character of war and we must shift the

01:04:21.600 --> 01:04:23.933
capabilities that are gonna be relevant .

01:04:23.933 --> 01:04:26.980
Survivable and effective against a Tier

01:04:26.980 --> 01:04:29.650
one adversary sometime in the future .

01:04:29.910 --> 01:04:32.410
This is a modest decrease in the number

01:04:32.410 --> 01:04:34.650
of a tens . I think it is acceptable

01:04:34.650 --> 01:04:36.594
risk and I support the Air Force's

01:04:36.594 --> 01:04:38.706
recommendations . So generally all we

01:04:38.706 --> 01:04:40.817
often think about these things as you

01:04:40.817 --> 01:04:42.817
know , what is day one of the world

01:04:42.817 --> 01:04:44.928
looks like . I'm also concerned about

01:04:44.928 --> 01:04:48.010
future conflict on day 3060 , 180

01:04:48.390 --> 01:04:50.501
and in a former life , I used to be a

01:04:50.501 --> 01:04:52.390
test pilot . I've flown close air

01:04:52.390 --> 01:04:54.557
support missions myself on an airplane

01:04:54.557 --> 01:04:56.668
that does not do the job well . And I

01:04:56.668 --> 01:04:58.557
don't see another airframe in our

01:04:58.557 --> 01:05:01.090
inventory , not the F 16 at the F 35 .

01:05:01.090 --> 01:05:03.350
That can do the mission like the A 10

01:05:03.350 --> 01:05:07.060
can when you combine the fact that it

01:05:07.060 --> 01:05:10.030
is far superior in that role and

01:05:10.030 --> 01:05:12.410
protects troops on the ground when they

01:05:12.410 --> 01:05:15.310
need it the most and at the same time

01:05:15.320 --> 01:05:18.980
is , Is cheap compared to

01:05:19.280 --> 01:05:21.800
the flight . Our cost of an F- 35 or

01:05:21.800 --> 01:05:25.710
even an F- 16 . Um , and

01:05:26.190 --> 01:05:28.301
We don't have an airplane that can do

01:05:28.301 --> 01:05:30.468
this mission like the a 10 Ken . And I

01:05:30.468 --> 01:05:34.100
am seriously concerned that if we go

01:05:34.100 --> 01:05:37.710
down this road And we remove 42

01:05:37.760 --> 01:05:40.830
airplanes from the inventory that if we

01:05:40.830 --> 01:05:42.886
wind up in a conflict And we wind up

01:05:42.886 --> 01:05:45.910
day 30 60 90 . um

01:05:46.990 --> 01:05:49.190
we're going to be regretful that we

01:05:49.190 --> 01:05:51.980
don't have that platform . So thank you

01:05:51.980 --> 01:05:54.400
general and I yield back the remainder

01:05:54.400 --> 01:05:56.567
of my time . Thank you Senator kelly .

01:05:56.567 --> 01:05:58.567
Now let me recognize Senator Cotton

01:05:58.567 --> 01:06:02.090
please . Mr Secretary I have received

01:06:02.090 --> 01:06:04.312
along with congressman Crenshaw several

01:06:04.312 --> 01:06:06.840
100 whistleblower complaints about

01:06:06.850 --> 01:06:08.840
pentagon extremists and diversity

01:06:08.840 --> 01:06:11.600
training . I want to share just a small

01:06:11.600 --> 01:06:13.711
selection of what your own troops are

01:06:13.711 --> 01:06:15.600
saying . And Mr Chairman I have a

01:06:15.600 --> 01:06:17.656
longer list . I would like to submit

01:06:17.656 --> 01:06:19.600
for the record without objection .

01:06:19.600 --> 01:06:19.600
Again , this is just a few examples .

01:06:20.480 --> 01:06:22.313
One Marine told us that military

01:06:22.313 --> 01:06:24.424
military history training session was

01:06:24.424 --> 01:06:26.424
replaced with mandatory training on

01:06:26.424 --> 01:06:28.591
police brutality , white privilege and

01:06:28.591 --> 01:06:30.536
systemic racism . He reported that

01:06:30.536 --> 01:06:32.591
several officers are now leaving his

01:06:32.591 --> 01:06:34.591
unit citing that training . Another

01:06:34.591 --> 01:06:36.758
service member told us that their unit

01:06:36.758 --> 01:06:38.980
was required to read white fragility by

01:06:38.980 --> 01:06:41.147
Robin D'angelo , which claims and this

01:06:41.147 --> 01:06:41.070
is a quote white people raised in

01:06:41.070 --> 01:06:43.237
Western society are conditioned into a

01:06:43.237 --> 01:06:45.820
white supremacist worldview . A member

01:06:45.820 --> 01:06:48.042
of the Special operations community has

01:06:48.042 --> 01:06:50.209
told us that they are being instructed

01:06:50.209 --> 01:06:52.042
that quote , the U . S . Special

01:06:52.042 --> 01:06:54.098
operations community is racist . One

01:06:54.098 --> 01:06:56.320
army officer related to us the words of

01:06:56.320 --> 01:06:58.431
his general officer who told him that

01:06:58.431 --> 01:07:00.542
the entire U . S . Army is racist . A

01:07:00.542 --> 01:07:02.598
midshipman at the Naval Academy said

01:07:02.598 --> 01:07:04.431
classmates are calling America a

01:07:04.431 --> 01:07:06.431
fundamentally racist place and that

01:07:06.431 --> 01:07:08.376
this sentiment is not contested by

01:07:08.376 --> 01:07:10.542
school administrators . An airman told

01:07:10.542 --> 01:07:12.709
us their unit was forced into a racist

01:07:12.709 --> 01:07:14.709
exercise called a privileged walk .

01:07:15.180 --> 01:07:17.291
Were members of the wing were ordered

01:07:17.291 --> 01:07:19.236
to separate themselves by race and

01:07:19.236 --> 01:07:21.300
gender in order to stratify people

01:07:21.300 --> 01:07:23.411
based on their perceived privileged .

01:07:23.980 --> 01:07:25.670
When African American officer

01:07:25.670 --> 01:07:28.560
disparagingly said , and I quote , the

01:07:28.560 --> 01:07:31.380
Navy thinks my only value is as a black

01:07:31.390 --> 01:07:34.040
woman and not the fact that she is a

01:07:34.050 --> 01:07:36.210
highly trained military specialist .

01:07:36.980 --> 01:07:39.091
Soldiers have come forward to tell us

01:07:39.091 --> 01:07:41.202
they are being forced to watch videos

01:07:41.202 --> 01:07:43.424
about systemic racism and documentaries

01:07:43.424 --> 01:07:45.424
that rewrite America's history as a

01:07:45.424 --> 01:07:47.591
fundamentally racist and evil nation .

01:07:47.680 --> 01:07:49.791
When Space force officer told me that

01:07:49.791 --> 01:07:52.013
two guardians left his ranks in a short

01:07:52.013 --> 01:07:53.890
period of time . One was a young

01:07:53.890 --> 01:07:55.946
African american who said that after

01:07:55.946 --> 01:07:57.946
the training , she would never have

01:07:57.946 --> 01:08:00.112
joined the military had she known that

01:08:00.112 --> 01:08:02.168
it was such a hotbed of racism . The

01:08:02.168 --> 01:08:04.223
other was a white airman who said he

01:08:04.223 --> 01:08:06.390
didn't sign up to be indoctrinated and

01:08:06.390 --> 01:08:08.168
filed separation paperwork . MR

01:08:08.168 --> 01:08:10.223
Secretary . We're hearing reports of

01:08:10.223 --> 01:08:12.600
plummeting morale , growing mistrust

01:08:12.610 --> 01:08:14.721
between the races and sexes were none

01:08:14.721 --> 01:08:16.570
existed just six months ago and

01:08:16.580 --> 01:08:19.100
unexpected retirements and separations

01:08:19.110 --> 01:08:21.880
based on these trainings Alone . And

01:08:21.880 --> 01:08:24.060
again , these are not my words . These

01:08:24.060 --> 01:08:26.550
are the words of your own troops . So I

01:08:26.550 --> 01:08:28.494
want to ask a few simple but vital

01:08:28.494 --> 01:08:30.810
questions . Mr Secretary , do you

01:08:30.810 --> 01:08:32.532
believe that our military is a

01:08:32.532 --> 01:08:35.420
fundamentally racist organization ? Yes

01:08:35.420 --> 01:08:38.270
or no ? Please ? Well , I won't give

01:08:38.270 --> 01:08:40.381
you a yes or no answer on that center

01:08:40.381 --> 01:08:42.580
because it deserves more than a yes or

01:08:42.580 --> 01:08:46.370
no uh , military like any organization

01:08:46.380 --> 01:08:48.602
will have its challenges . But I do not

01:08:48.602 --> 01:08:50.658
believe it is a fundamentally racist

01:08:50.658 --> 01:08:52.824
organization . Thank you . I'm sorry ,

01:08:52.824 --> 01:08:55.047
I'm sorry to cut you off . But our time

01:08:55.047 --> 01:08:57.047
is limited . I think it is a pretty

01:08:57.047 --> 01:08:59.047
simple question . I'm glad that you

01:08:59.047 --> 01:09:01.213
agree it is not fundamentally racist .

01:09:01.213 --> 01:09:03.324
Do you believe that any member of the

01:09:03.324 --> 01:09:03.170
military should be treated differently

01:09:03.170 --> 01:09:05.281
based on their skin , color insects ?

01:09:05.281 --> 01:09:07.448
Again , yes or no will do again . This

01:09:07.448 --> 01:09:09.670
question deserves more than a yes or no

01:09:09.670 --> 01:09:11.781
answer . Uh , Mr . 2nd , I'm sorry to

01:09:11.781 --> 01:09:13.990
cut you off . Our time is limited . It

01:09:13.990 --> 01:09:16.150
is a very simple question . Should a

01:09:16.150 --> 01:09:18.317
member of the organization you lied be

01:09:18.317 --> 01:09:20.680
treated differently in violation of the

01:09:20.680 --> 01:09:22.680
constitution . I would add based on

01:09:22.680 --> 01:09:25.540
their or the color of their skin . No ,

01:09:25.540 --> 01:09:27.540
I do not believe that . And that is

01:09:27.540 --> 01:09:29.596
that that is why we have diversity ,

01:09:29.596 --> 01:09:31.596
equity and inclusion focused in the

01:09:31.596 --> 01:09:34.360
military . It's and the military for

01:09:34.360 --> 01:09:36.150
decades has been one of the

01:09:36.150 --> 01:09:38.261
institutions in the society where you

01:09:38.261 --> 01:09:40.372
are most likely to get ahead based on

01:09:40.372 --> 01:09:42.317
your own performance , on your own

01:09:42.317 --> 01:09:44.372
merit , irrespective of the color of

01:09:44.372 --> 01:09:46.594
your skin or where you came from or who

01:09:46.594 --> 01:09:48.594
your parents were , Sir . I have to

01:09:48.594 --> 01:09:50.539
agree with that . And I am I am an

01:09:50.539 --> 01:09:52.539
example of that . You're also and I

01:09:52.539 --> 01:09:54.706
would also say that the Secretary , mr

01:09:54.706 --> 01:09:57.310
Secretary your career is an excellent

01:09:57.320 --> 01:09:59.630
example of that . But I have more

01:09:59.630 --> 01:10:01.686
questions based on the reports we've

01:10:01.686 --> 01:10:03.741
seen . The military has included the

01:10:03.741 --> 01:10:05.908
works of critical race theories on its

01:10:05.908 --> 01:10:08.120
reading list by authors like Abraham

01:10:08.130 --> 01:10:10.186
Henry Rogers , who now calls himself

01:10:10.186 --> 01:10:12.880
Abraham Kennedy and Robin D'angelo . Mr

01:10:12.880 --> 01:10:15.080
Kennedy has written quote , the only

01:10:15.080 --> 01:10:16.950
remedy to pass discrimination is

01:10:16.950 --> 01:10:18.860
present discrimination . The only

01:10:18.860 --> 01:10:21.030
remedy to present discrimination is

01:10:21.030 --> 01:10:23.197
future discrimination . End quote . Do

01:10:23.197 --> 01:10:25.490
you agree with that proposition ? I've

01:10:25.490 --> 01:10:27.800
not read that and I don't you know , I

01:10:27.800 --> 01:10:29.800
certainly don't agree with what you

01:10:29.800 --> 01:10:31.689
just said . But I , you know , MR

01:10:31.689 --> 01:10:33.744
Secretary , it's always important to

01:10:33.744 --> 01:10:35.633
have the full context of anything

01:10:35.633 --> 01:10:37.689
that's uh that you're being asked to

01:10:37.689 --> 01:10:39.522
evaluate . MR Secretary , do you

01:10:39.522 --> 01:10:41.744
believe that race and should be the key

01:10:41.744 --> 01:10:43.800
factor when selecting combat leaders

01:10:44.160 --> 01:10:46.438
rather than say operational excellence ,

01:10:46.438 --> 01:10:48.493
technical proficiency , leadership ,

01:10:48.493 --> 01:10:50.680
agility and integrity . I do not ,

01:10:50.690 --> 01:10:52.990
senator . I think what you just said

01:10:52.990 --> 01:10:55.690
should be key components in making any

01:10:55.690 --> 01:10:58.050
selection . Thank you . I'm glad we

01:10:58.050 --> 01:11:00.272
agree on all this . So let me just wrap

01:11:00.272 --> 01:11:02.161
up by saying this . If troops are

01:11:02.161 --> 01:11:04.580
subjected to the kinds of trainings ,

01:11:04.580 --> 01:11:06.747
drawing on critical race concepts like

01:11:06.747 --> 01:11:08.913
America and our military is inherently

01:11:08.913 --> 01:11:11.200
racist or certain races are inherently

01:11:11.200 --> 01:11:13.422
privileged . Other races are inherently

01:11:13.422 --> 01:11:15.533
victimized . Given what you've said .

01:11:15.533 --> 01:11:17.589
Should they reported up the chain of

01:11:17.589 --> 01:11:19.756
command to the inspector general or to

01:11:19.756 --> 01:11:21.811
other appropriate channels ? They've

01:11:21.811 --> 01:11:23.644
always had . Yes , they should .

01:11:23.644 --> 01:11:23.430
They've always had that ability to take

01:11:23.430 --> 01:11:25.597
that and I would recommend that in the

01:11:25.597 --> 01:11:27.319
future . I would also say that

01:11:27.319 --> 01:11:29.208
diversity equity and inclusion is

01:11:29.208 --> 01:11:31.400
important to this military now and it

01:11:31.400 --> 01:11:33.511
will be important in the future . And

01:11:33.511 --> 01:11:36.550
so we're going to make sure that our

01:11:36.550 --> 01:11:38.661
military looks like America and there

01:11:38.661 --> 01:11:40.883
are leadership looks like what's in the

01:11:40.883 --> 01:11:42.939
ranks of the military . I appreciate

01:11:42.939 --> 01:11:44.939
your support and I and I agree with

01:11:44.939 --> 01:11:47.050
that . Like I said , the military has

01:11:47.050 --> 01:11:49.050
always been one of the most diverse

01:11:49.050 --> 01:11:51.161
institutions in our society where you

01:11:51.161 --> 01:11:53.383
can get ahead irrespective of the color

01:11:53.383 --> 01:11:55.606
of your skin or who you came , who your

01:11:55.606 --> 01:11:57.828
parents are , where you came from . And

01:11:57.828 --> 01:11:57.280
I'm glad that we agree on that . This

01:11:57.280 --> 01:11:59.280
is not about diversity in general ,

01:11:59.280 --> 01:12:01.447
though . This is about a very specific

01:12:01.447 --> 01:12:04.610
kind of anti american indoctrination

01:12:04.620 --> 01:12:06.787
that is seeping into some parts of our

01:12:06.787 --> 01:12:08.787
military based on the whistleblower

01:12:08.787 --> 01:12:11.120
complaints we have received . Thank you .

01:12:11.120 --> 01:12:14.090
My time's expired . Thank you . Let me

01:12:14.090 --> 01:12:16.720
recognize Senator Kaine , please . Mr

01:12:16.720 --> 01:12:18.942
Secretary , I want to give you a chance

01:12:18.942 --> 01:12:21.200
to uh explain the context . Senator

01:12:21.200 --> 01:12:23.367
Cotton asked you a question about your

01:12:23.367 --> 01:12:25.533
own career and you indicated that your

01:12:25.533 --> 01:12:27.367
career is an indication that the

01:12:27.367 --> 01:12:29.533
military can be welcoming to all kinds

01:12:29.533 --> 01:12:31.644
of people . But you are then going to

01:12:31.644 --> 01:12:33.700
explain the context of what your own

01:12:33.700 --> 01:12:35.589
personal experience has shown you

01:12:35.589 --> 01:12:37.533
during your time in the military ,

01:12:37.533 --> 01:12:39.740
about why we need to take seriously

01:12:39.740 --> 01:12:42.540
these issues of diversity um , and

01:12:42.540 --> 01:12:44.460
inclusion . The senator had other

01:12:44.460 --> 01:12:46.940
questions , but I'd like to hear how

01:12:46.940 --> 01:12:49.218
you were going to answer that question ,

01:12:49.218 --> 01:12:51.329
giving the full context . I think the

01:12:51.329 --> 01:12:53.273
leadership has a responsibility to

01:12:53.273 --> 01:12:55.496
create a climate where everyone , first

01:12:55.496 --> 01:12:57.880
of all it should be , we should be

01:12:57.880 --> 01:13:01.640
welcoming to everyone who is who can

01:13:01.640 --> 01:13:04.050
qualify and who is fit to serve and who

01:13:04.050 --> 01:13:06.350
can maintain the standards . And

01:13:06.350 --> 01:13:08.517
secondly , uh , you know , we ought to

01:13:08.517 --> 01:13:10.430
look like America America that we

01:13:10.430 --> 01:13:12.790
support and defend and our senior

01:13:12.790 --> 01:13:15.520
leadership should look like uh , what's

01:13:15.520 --> 01:13:17.520
in the ranks and where we've done a

01:13:17.520 --> 01:13:20.530
great job in uh , in recruiting very

01:13:20.540 --> 01:13:23.610
highly qualified and capable people . I

01:13:23.610 --> 01:13:26.780
think we need to do a bit better in

01:13:26.780 --> 01:13:28.558
terms of making sure that we're

01:13:28.558 --> 01:13:30.630
absolutely inclusive and making sure

01:13:30.630 --> 01:13:32.830
that that we create pathways or

01:13:32.830 --> 01:13:35.140
pathways are available for everybody

01:13:35.140 --> 01:13:37.520
that's in the ranks to uh , to achieve ,

01:13:37.530 --> 01:13:39.530
you know , to to realize their full

01:13:39.530 --> 01:13:41.530
potential . And so that's what that

01:13:41.530 --> 01:13:43.863
diversity equity inclusion is all about .

01:13:43.863 --> 01:13:45.974
Uh , it's about cohesion , it's about

01:13:45.974 --> 01:13:48.480
making sure that that we we remain

01:13:48.490 --> 01:13:51.530
remain the most effective and lethal

01:13:51.530 --> 01:13:54.530
fighting force in the , in the world .

01:13:54.540 --> 01:13:56.540
And we have been in the past and we

01:13:56.540 --> 01:13:58.540
will be in the future . And when we

01:13:58.540 --> 01:14:00.762
moved toward diversity , the military ,

01:14:00.762 --> 01:14:02.762
it's always made us stronger . When

01:14:02.762 --> 01:14:04.651
Secretary , when President Truman

01:14:04.651 --> 01:14:06.707
integrated the military , it was not

01:14:06.707 --> 01:14:08.929
uniformly popular . In fact , I believe

01:14:08.929 --> 01:14:10.818
as secretary of the Army ended up

01:14:10.818 --> 01:14:13.040
resigning after refusing to desegregate

01:14:13.040 --> 01:14:15.096
units about a year after the order .

01:14:15.140 --> 01:14:17.820
But moves like that where the military

01:14:17.820 --> 01:14:19.840
has often led society and building

01:14:19.840 --> 01:14:22.690
cohesion . The military does it ? Well .

01:14:22.700 --> 01:14:24.978
They're not always immediately popular ,

01:14:24.978 --> 01:14:27.144
but they end up paying dividends , not

01:14:27.144 --> 01:14:27.110
just for the military , but for

01:14:27.110 --> 01:14:28.888
american society has to be done

01:14:28.888 --> 01:14:30.888
sensitively carefully by people who

01:14:30.888 --> 01:14:32.999
understand it . But but I applaud you

01:14:32.999 --> 01:14:35.166
and other leaders who are trying to do

01:14:35.166 --> 01:14:37.166
that . Let me now move to questions

01:14:37.166 --> 01:14:39.388
that have been asked about the top line

01:14:39.388 --> 01:14:41.332
of the budget . And I've seen I've

01:14:41.332 --> 01:14:43.332
gotten some handouts from folks who

01:14:43.332 --> 01:14:42.930
haven't yet asked questions and so I

01:14:42.930 --> 01:14:45.152
can see some more questions on this are

01:14:45.152 --> 01:14:47.208
coming . So General Milley , if if I

01:14:47.208 --> 01:14:49.319
recall , you became head of the joint

01:14:49.319 --> 01:14:51.486
chiefs of staff in late 2018 . Is that

01:14:51.486 --> 01:14:53.950
correct ? 2019 ,

01:14:55.940 --> 01:14:59.630
were And so were you involved in the

01:14:59.640 --> 01:15:02.480
discussions around the submission of

01:15:02.480 --> 01:15:04.930
President trump's fy 21 budget which

01:15:04.930 --> 01:15:07.330
came to this committee in february of

01:15:07.330 --> 01:15:10.940
2020 . Sure . Absolutely . So I guess I

01:15:10.940 --> 01:15:14.360
want to just compare the biden proposal .

01:15:14.360 --> 01:15:16.550
President biden's proposal for defense

01:15:16.550 --> 01:15:19.650
to President trump's proposal . And my

01:15:19.650 --> 01:15:22.400
argument is to some of my colleagues

01:15:22.410 --> 01:15:25.100
who are trying to attack the biden

01:15:25.100 --> 01:15:27.250
budget , it's exactly what president

01:15:27.250 --> 01:15:30.570
trump proposed . Um President Trump

01:15:30.570 --> 01:15:33.090
gave us a future year defense plan in

01:15:33.090 --> 01:15:37.040
February of 2020 , February of 2020

01:15:37.080 --> 01:15:40.300
and it called for a top line of $721

01:15:40.300 --> 01:15:44.080
billion dollars for this year . Now ,

01:15:44.080 --> 01:15:46.110
President Biden has submitted a top

01:15:46.110 --> 01:15:49.010
line of $715 billion . So it would

01:15:49.010 --> 01:15:52.760
suggest that may be the Trump budget

01:15:52.770 --> 01:15:54.992
projection for this year was $6 billion

01:15:54.992 --> 01:15:57.159
dollars higher than the biden budget .

01:15:57.159 --> 01:15:58.992
But that's actually not the case

01:15:59.640 --> 01:16:01.880
because under the trump administration

01:16:01.880 --> 01:16:03.936
there was a practice of taking money

01:16:03.936 --> 01:16:05.880
out of the pentagon budget for non

01:16:05.880 --> 01:16:08.670
military emergencies Over a 13-month

01:16:08.680 --> 01:16:11.840
period between I'm sorry , an 11-month

01:16:11.840 --> 01:16:14.950
period between March of 2019 and

01:16:14.950 --> 01:16:16.394
February 2020 . The Trump

01:16:16.394 --> 01:16:18.910
administration took $10 billion dollars

01:16:18.920 --> 01:16:22.250
out of the top line , so

01:16:22.630 --> 01:16:24.686
that straddled two fiscal years . So

01:16:24.686 --> 01:16:25.908
divide that in half ,

01:16:27.630 --> 01:16:31.440
About 5-6 billion dollars a

01:16:31.440 --> 01:16:34.170
year was taken out of the Pentagon's

01:16:34.170 --> 01:16:37.150
budget by President Trump . So the

01:16:37.150 --> 01:16:40.490
difference between 7 15 and 7 21 who's

01:16:40.490 --> 01:16:43.260
essentially erased so long as president

01:16:43.260 --> 01:16:45.371
biden did take money for non military

01:16:45.371 --> 01:16:47.960
purposes . I have asked the O . M . B .

01:16:47.960 --> 01:16:50.127
Director , I have asked everybody that

01:16:50.127 --> 01:16:52.182
I know in the biden White House , is

01:16:52.182 --> 01:16:54.349
that the intention of this White House

01:16:54.349 --> 01:16:57.170
to take pentagon dollars for non

01:16:57.170 --> 01:16:59.281
military purposes ? And the answer to

01:16:59.281 --> 01:17:02.730
that is no President biden says

01:17:02.860 --> 01:17:05.082
if Congress appropriates , I'm going to

01:17:05.082 --> 01:17:07.193
respect the appropriation and I'm not

01:17:07.193 --> 01:17:09.082
going to spirit monies out of the

01:17:09.082 --> 01:17:11.249
pentagon and use them for non military

01:17:11.249 --> 01:17:14.960
emergencies . So my belief is this is a

01:17:15.430 --> 01:17:18.600
budget that was essentially identical

01:17:18.600 --> 01:17:20.711
to the budget that we would have seen

01:17:20.711 --> 01:17:22.767
under President trump based upon the

01:17:22.767 --> 01:17:24.989
trump numbers that were submitted to us

01:17:24.989 --> 01:17:26.822
over a year ago . And when those

01:17:26.822 --> 01:17:29.044
numbers were submitted to us , I didn't

01:17:29.044 --> 01:17:30.711
hear anyone on this committee

01:17:30.711 --> 01:17:30.650
complained about President trump .

01:17:30.650 --> 01:17:33.640
Didn't have a high enough top line . We

01:17:33.640 --> 01:17:35.862
ultimately control what the number will

01:17:35.862 --> 01:17:38.970
be . But in terms of the difference

01:17:38.970 --> 01:17:40.970
between the two administrations and

01:17:40.970 --> 01:17:43.192
their budget submissions to this body ,

01:17:43.192 --> 01:17:45.414
I would argue that they are identical .

01:17:45.414 --> 01:17:47.414
President biden has submitted a top

01:17:47.414 --> 01:17:49.526
line that is essentially identical to

01:17:49.526 --> 01:17:51.303
what president trump would have

01:17:51.303 --> 01:17:53.526
submitted based upon the documents they

01:17:53.526 --> 01:17:55.748
gave us a year ago Without MR . Chair .

01:17:55.748 --> 01:17:57.692
I yield back . Thank you very much

01:17:57.692 --> 01:17:59.470
Senator Kaine . And I'll let me

01:17:59.470 --> 01:18:01.692
recognize , centered around thank you .

01:18:01.692 --> 01:18:04.000
Mr Chairman gentlemen , thank you for

01:18:04.000 --> 01:18:06.540
your service to our country . I'd like

01:18:06.540 --> 01:18:08.850
to follow up a little bit and continue

01:18:08.850 --> 01:18:10.961
the discussion that Senator Kaine has

01:18:10.961 --> 01:18:13.050
begun and that is with regard to the

01:18:13.050 --> 01:18:16.410
top line of the budget . I do believe

01:18:16.410 --> 01:18:19.540
that this defense budget request on the

01:18:19.540 --> 01:18:22.420
whole is moving in a very similar

01:18:22.420 --> 01:18:26.070
direction that we had before with

01:18:26.070 --> 01:18:28.292
regard to trying to follow through with

01:18:28.292 --> 01:18:30.650
the National Defense strategy . The NDS

01:18:31.120 --> 01:18:33.720
I think . And I would like confirmation .

01:18:33.720 --> 01:18:36.110
I'll begin with General Milley That

01:18:36.120 --> 01:18:38.490
this particular budget is focused on

01:18:38.500 --> 01:18:40.444
achieving the major goals that are

01:18:40.444 --> 01:18:43.940
found in the national the NFS from 2017 .

01:18:44.420 --> 01:18:46.364
General Milley , could you share a

01:18:46.364 --> 01:18:48.587
little bit about in terms of what those

01:18:48.587 --> 01:18:50.864
major goals are and the priorities are .

01:18:50.864 --> 01:18:53.087
And the nds that this particular budget

01:18:53.087 --> 01:18:56.190
is trying to achieve . Sure . Center

01:18:56.190 --> 01:18:58.650
the NDS as it was written and that was

01:18:58.650 --> 01:19:01.110
undersecretary Madison . I was at that

01:19:01.120 --> 01:19:04.030
point Chief Staff , the army uh and all

01:19:04.030 --> 01:19:06.252
the Joint chiefs participated in that .

01:19:06.252 --> 01:19:08.086
That's a rigorous documents well

01:19:08.086 --> 01:19:10.141
thought out and it stood the test of

01:19:10.141 --> 01:19:12.308
time and and we all still use it uh as

01:19:12.308 --> 01:19:14.252
a , as a guiding light . And we're

01:19:14.252 --> 01:19:16.419
under a review with Secretary Austin .

01:19:16.419 --> 01:19:18.530
Uh and we'll see how that comes out .

01:19:18.530 --> 01:19:20.752
There'll be modifications the documents

01:19:20.752 --> 01:19:22.863
four or five years old now . So there

01:19:22.863 --> 01:19:22.450
will be some modifications to that .

01:19:22.460 --> 01:19:24.349
But it's still good . And and the

01:19:24.349 --> 01:19:26.682
fundamentals of it emphasized readiness ,

01:19:26.682 --> 01:19:28.627
modernization , lethal et allies ,

01:19:28.627 --> 01:19:30.682
partners , uh irregular warfare . It

01:19:30.682 --> 01:19:33.440
calls out china Russia , uh , Iran

01:19:33.440 --> 01:19:35.650
north Korea counterterrorism . Uh So

01:19:35.650 --> 01:19:37.761
the main structures of it are more or

01:19:37.761 --> 01:19:40.300
less still valid . Uh And perhaps china

01:19:40.310 --> 01:19:42.477
is a little bit more advanced now than

01:19:42.477 --> 01:19:44.477
they were , say five years ago . So

01:19:44.477 --> 01:19:46.310
it's still a fundamentally solid

01:19:46.310 --> 01:19:48.477
document . But I would tell you , as I

01:19:48.477 --> 01:19:50.699
said in my opening statement , the $715

01:19:50.699 --> 01:19:53.110
billion dollar budget requires hard

01:19:53.110 --> 01:19:55.166
choices in terms of prioritization .

01:19:55.166 --> 01:19:57.166
But I think it adequately meets the

01:19:57.166 --> 01:19:59.388
needs in terms of the priorities of the

01:19:59.388 --> 01:20:01.499
current existing NDS and the one that

01:20:01.499 --> 01:20:03.388
we're working on to modify on the

01:20:03.388 --> 01:20:05.443
Secretary Austin signatures . So I'm

01:20:05.443 --> 01:20:07.666
very comfortable that we can provide an

01:20:07.666 --> 01:20:07.530
adequate defense of the United States

01:20:07.530 --> 01:20:09.752
of America with a seven and $15 billion

01:20:09.752 --> 01:20:11.830
budget . I I understand that the

01:20:11.840 --> 01:20:14.007
direction of the fact that you've been

01:20:14.007 --> 01:20:16.173
involved in establishing and that your

01:20:16.173 --> 01:20:18.340
input has been involved in that in the

01:20:18.340 --> 01:20:20.562
development of this budget . But I also

01:20:20.562 --> 01:20:22.673
know that I think nuclear command and

01:20:22.673 --> 01:20:24.896
control upgrades are critical and would

01:20:24.896 --> 01:20:26.840
be recognized under this as well ,

01:20:26.840 --> 01:20:28.951
would it not ? Yes , absolutely . And

01:20:28.951 --> 01:20:31.930
the continued development and

01:20:31.940 --> 01:20:34.030
modernization of the nuclear triad

01:20:34.030 --> 01:20:36.252
would also be involved , would it not .

01:20:36.252 --> 01:20:38.419
Absolutely . In fact , we've said that

01:20:38.419 --> 01:20:40.641
that the recapitalisation nuclear triad

01:20:40.641 --> 01:20:42.641
is one of the number one , it's the

01:20:42.641 --> 01:20:44.641
number one priority in terms of the

01:20:44.641 --> 01:20:46.974
actual programs . Programmatic spending .

01:20:46.974 --> 01:20:49.308
It's it's critical that we have the air ,

01:20:49.308 --> 01:20:51.700
sea and land components of that triad

01:20:51.700 --> 01:20:53.589
in order to maintain the security

01:20:53.589 --> 01:20:55.811
United States going forward generally .

01:20:55.811 --> 01:20:58.190
I think that the basic goals of the NDS

01:20:58.200 --> 01:21:00.490
are represented within this . I think

01:21:00.490 --> 01:21:02.820
that's I do not disagree with that . My

01:21:02.820 --> 01:21:06.010
concern and that I will express his is

01:21:06.010 --> 01:21:09.310
that is based on being able to handle

01:21:09.320 --> 01:21:11.890
those goals , but also being able to

01:21:11.890 --> 01:21:15.300
maintain and not expect the members of

01:21:15.300 --> 01:21:19.300
the armed services to to continue to do

01:21:19.300 --> 01:21:22.360
the day to day operations . If we have

01:21:22.370 --> 01:21:24.537
increases in inflation , whether it be

01:21:24.537 --> 01:21:26.592
for fuel or for other supplies , for

01:21:26.592 --> 01:21:28.759
health care and so forth . General . I

01:21:28.759 --> 01:21:30.981
think there were some very hard choices

01:21:30.981 --> 01:21:33.203
made . And I guess my question to you ,

01:21:33.203 --> 01:21:35.520
sir , uh and I don't intend this to be

01:21:35.520 --> 01:21:38.390
a gotcha question . But the hard

01:21:38.390 --> 01:21:40.810
choices that had to be made in order to

01:21:40.820 --> 01:21:43.760
achieve the top line goals of the NDS ,

01:21:44.410 --> 01:21:46.650
where are the reductions or the

01:21:46.650 --> 01:21:50.320
limitations that have to be recognized

01:21:50.330 --> 01:21:52.552
when we do have a very similar in terms

01:21:52.552 --> 01:21:54.663
of the total number of dollars . When

01:21:54.663 --> 01:21:56.719
we do expect that inflation will run

01:21:56.719 --> 01:21:59.130
perhaps between three and five and at

01:21:59.130 --> 01:22:01.690
the same time , the NDS expected to

01:22:01.690 --> 01:22:03.801
have and in order to meet its goals ,

01:22:04.100 --> 01:22:06.210
An ongoing increase of between three

01:22:06.210 --> 01:22:09.490
and 5% over inflation , which clearly

01:22:09.490 --> 01:22:11.657
is not reflected in the budget . And I

01:22:11.657 --> 01:22:13.970
know it's not news to you sir . Yeah ,

01:22:13.970 --> 01:22:17.210
sure . The the I mean , you can do the

01:22:17.210 --> 01:22:19.377
numbers all different ways . Uh and we

01:22:19.377 --> 01:22:21.488
have Mike McCord here and he knows it

01:22:21.488 --> 01:22:23.599
better than anyone else . But uh this

01:22:23.599 --> 01:22:25.750
budget is uh about $11 billion

01:22:25.750 --> 01:22:29.410
FY21 enacted budget .

01:22:29.900 --> 01:22:31.900
Uh If you factor in inflation , you

01:22:31.900 --> 01:22:33.956
normalize the dollars , it's more or

01:22:33.956 --> 01:22:36.400
less flat , or even , I think it's 0.5

01:22:36.400 --> 01:22:38.400
less or something like that . So it

01:22:38.400 --> 01:22:40.456
depends on which way you look at the

01:22:40.456 --> 01:22:39.830
numbers . But in terms of the key

01:22:39.830 --> 01:22:41.690
capabilities , uh Senator kelly

01:22:41.690 --> 01:22:44.480
mentioned 42 . Uh A ten's getting

01:22:44.480 --> 01:22:46.424
divested . We had to make a choice

01:22:46.424 --> 01:22:48.700
between buying two subs and buying one

01:22:48.700 --> 01:22:51.490
destroyer and frigate , uh and 12 subs

01:22:51.490 --> 01:22:53.546
one destroyer and frigate versus two

01:22:53.546 --> 01:22:55.712
destroyers . Uh and things like that .

01:22:55.712 --> 01:22:57.823
So there's hard choices in all of the

01:22:57.823 --> 01:22:59.934
domains . Uh , and that is this is my

01:22:59.934 --> 01:23:01.934
sixth budget in every single budget

01:23:01.934 --> 01:23:03.823
I've seen were always making hard

01:23:03.823 --> 01:23:06.157
choices . We always have you for a list .

01:23:06.157 --> 01:23:08.379
We always have ways to spend more money

01:23:08.379 --> 01:23:10.323
effectively for the defense of the

01:23:10.323 --> 01:23:12.157
country . But in my professional

01:23:12.157 --> 01:23:14.323
opinion , a $715 billion dollar budget

01:23:14.323 --> 01:23:16.379
as long as we are disciplined in its

01:23:16.379 --> 01:23:18.212
application and we adhere to the

01:23:18.212 --> 01:23:18.120
priorities that we've established will

01:23:18.120 --> 01:23:20.231
provide for the defense of the United

01:23:20.231 --> 01:23:22.509
States . Thank you sir . Mr . Chairman .

01:23:22.509 --> 01:23:24.290
My time has expired . Thank you

01:23:24.290 --> 01:23:26.179
gentlemen for your service to our

01:23:26.179 --> 01:23:26.120
country .