WEBVTT 00:00.940 --> 00:03.570 We have our full committee hearing this 00:03.570 --> 00:05.600 morning on the fiscal year 2022 00:05.600 --> 00:07.711 national defense authorization budget 00:07.711 --> 00:10.044 requests from the Department of Defense . 00:10.044 --> 00:11.933 We are honored this morning to be 00:11.933 --> 00:13.989 joined by the Secretary of Defense , 00:13.989 --> 00:16.044 Lloyd Austin , the Chairman of Joint 00:16.044 --> 00:18.156 Chiefs of Staff General , Mark Milley 00:18.156 --> 00:18.120 and by Mike McCord , the under 00:18.120 --> 00:20.130 Secretary of Defense , the control 00:20.130 --> 00:22.186 chief financial officer of Video D . 00:22.186 --> 00:24.408 And we look forward your testimony . We 00:24.408 --> 00:26.574 are back in the committee hearing room 00:26.574 --> 00:29.380 which is great . We do still allow a 00:29.380 --> 00:31.491 hybrid option for members who wish to 00:31.491 --> 00:33.602 participate remotely . And because of 00:33.602 --> 00:36.090 that we have this uh set of rules that 00:36.090 --> 00:38.312 I must read before we be in . So I will 00:38.312 --> 00:40.146 do that before making my opening 00:40.146 --> 00:42.146 statement . Members who are joining 00:42.146 --> 00:44.312 remotely must be visible on screen for 00:44.312 --> 00:46.534 the purposes of identity verification , 00:46.534 --> 00:46.380 establishing and maintaining a quorum , 00:46.380 --> 00:48.269 participate in the proceeding and 00:48.269 --> 00:50.491 voting . Those members must continue to 00:50.491 --> 00:52.269 use the software platform video 00:52.269 --> 00:54.269 function while in attendance unless 00:54.269 --> 00:56.436 they experience connectivity issues or 00:56.436 --> 00:55.830 other technical problems that render 00:55.830 --> 00:57.997 them unable to participate on camera . 00:57.997 --> 00:59.886 If remember experiences technical 00:59.886 --> 01:02.052 difficulties , they should contact the 01:02.052 --> 01:04.219 committee staff for assistance . Video 01:04.219 --> 01:06.441 members participation will be broadcast 01:06.441 --> 01:05.800 in the room and via the television . 01:05.800 --> 01:07.967 Internet feeds . Members participating 01:07.967 --> 01:10.189 remotely must seek recognition verbally 01:10.189 --> 01:12.022 and they are asked to mute their 01:12.022 --> 01:14.300 microphones when they are not speaking . 01:14.300 --> 01:13.920 Members who are participating remotely 01:13.920 --> 01:15.809 are reminded to keep the software 01:15.809 --> 01:17.920 platform video function on the entire 01:17.920 --> 01:20.142 time they intend the proceeding Members 01:20.142 --> 01:22.420 may leave and we joined the proceeding . 01:22.420 --> 01:24.531 If members depart for a short while , 01:24.531 --> 01:23.860 for reasons other than joining a 01:23.860 --> 01:25.804 different proceeding , they should 01:25.804 --> 01:27.638 leave the video function on . If 01:27.638 --> 01:29.249 members will be absent for a 01:29.249 --> 01:31.304 significant period or depart to join 01:31.304 --> 01:31.250 different proceeding , they should exit 01:31.260 --> 01:34.310 the software platform entirely and then 01:34.310 --> 01:36.532 we joined it . If they return , members 01:36.532 --> 01:38.643 may use the software platforms , chat 01:38.643 --> 01:40.532 feature to communicate with staff 01:40.532 --> 01:42.699 regarding technical logistical support 01:42.699 --> 01:44.421 issues only . And finally I've 01:44.421 --> 01:44.310 designated committee staff member to if 01:44.310 --> 01:46.143 necessary . Unrecognized members 01:46.143 --> 01:48.254 microphones to cancel any inadvertent 01:48.254 --> 01:50.366 background noise that may disrupt the 01:50.366 --> 01:52.290 proceeding with that . Only other 01:52.290 --> 01:55.350 procedural thing is the 01:55.740 --> 01:58.120 secretary is a hard stop at two o'clock . 01:58.130 --> 02:00.670 We we will stop at two o'clock . I know 02:00.670 --> 02:02.503 we have a lot of members who ask 02:02.503 --> 02:04.614 questions , we'll get through as many 02:04.614 --> 02:06.892 of them as possible as we possibly can . 02:06.892 --> 02:09.114 We will also be taking a break at 11 30 02:09.114 --> 02:11.540 for for the witnesses brief break five 02:11.540 --> 02:13.651 ish minutes and then get that going . 02:13.651 --> 02:15.651 So I hope members will make note of 02:15.651 --> 02:17.960 that hard stop two o'clock break at 11 02:17.960 --> 02:21.110 30 . So plan accordingly with that , I 02:21.120 --> 02:23.231 want to thank our witnesses for being 02:23.231 --> 02:25.176 here and thank them also for their 02:25.176 --> 02:27.009 service to our country and their 02:27.009 --> 02:29.176 leadership at the pentagon . These are 02:29.176 --> 02:31.231 extraordinarily difficult times in a 02:31.231 --> 02:33.453 variety of different ways . Certainly , 02:33.453 --> 02:32.980 we have a very complex threat 02:32.980 --> 02:35.750 environment across the globe . Russia 02:35.760 --> 02:37.640 china , north Korea , Iran 02:37.640 --> 02:39.862 transnational terrorist groups . All of 02:39.862 --> 02:42.084 those things are things that we need to 02:42.084 --> 02:44.140 worry about in order to maintain the 02:44.140 --> 02:46.029 security of this country . We are 02:46.029 --> 02:48.140 actively building on our partnerships 02:48.140 --> 02:50.140 across the globe , try and confront 02:50.140 --> 02:52.196 those threats , recognizing the need 02:52.196 --> 02:54.084 for a cooperative effort with our 02:54.084 --> 02:56.084 allies and partners appreciate that 02:56.084 --> 02:58.196 effort as well . Much of the focus of 02:58.196 --> 03:00.307 this committee for the last couple of 03:00.307 --> 03:02.473 weeks has been on the top line for the 03:02.473 --> 03:04.529 defense budget , which is an area of 03:04.529 --> 03:06.640 some controversy . I personally , you 03:06.640 --> 03:08.751 know , I don't think it should be . I 03:08.751 --> 03:10.696 think the budget the president has 03:10.696 --> 03:12.918 submitted is more than adequate . It is 03:12.918 --> 03:13.918 a $12 billion 03:13.918 --> 03:17.970 $3 03:17.970 --> 03:19.803 billion dollar increase over the 03:19.803 --> 03:22.680 previous budget . $753 billion 03:22.680 --> 03:31.890 $753 03:31.890 --> 03:34.120 billion . My concern , as many of you 03:34.120 --> 03:36.550 have heard before goes more towards how 03:36.560 --> 03:39.310 we are spending that money . Number one , 03:39.320 --> 03:41.431 making sure that we are getting value 03:41.431 --> 03:43.376 out of it , that the programs that 03:43.376 --> 03:45.598 we're spending the money on our meeting 03:45.598 --> 03:47.487 their budget requirements and are 03:47.487 --> 03:49.870 meeting their requirements requirements , 03:49.870 --> 03:52.037 basically producing what we asked them 03:52.037 --> 03:54.148 for . And we've really struggled with 03:54.148 --> 03:56.203 that in the last couple of decades . 03:56.203 --> 03:58.148 The members of this committee know 03:58.148 --> 04:00.370 better than anyone the list of programs 04:00.370 --> 04:02.592 that have either been cancelled or have 04:02.592 --> 04:04.759 wound up way over budget and under the 04:04.759 --> 04:06.981 performance expectations . Now , I will 04:06.981 --> 04:09.148 say that in the last couple of years , 04:09.148 --> 04:08.650 I think that's gotten better . I think 04:08.650 --> 04:11.040 a succession of secretaries of defense 04:11.050 --> 04:13.217 and other members of the pentagon have 04:13.217 --> 04:15.383 really buckled down and looked at that 04:15.383 --> 04:17.328 The most optimistic thing that has 04:17.328 --> 04:19.661 happened to me in this , in this regard . 04:19.661 --> 04:21.550 With several weeks ago when I was 04:21.550 --> 04:23.772 briefed on the B-21 program which is on 04:23.772 --> 04:25.772 time under budget and performing as 04:25.772 --> 04:27.939 expected , we learned a lot of lessons 04:27.939 --> 04:30.050 from the disappointments of the F- 35 04:30.050 --> 04:32.272 and others . And I know there are other 04:32.272 --> 04:34.494 programs that are similarly progressing 04:34.494 --> 04:36.494 in a positive way . There are still 04:36.494 --> 04:38.661 some that aren't . But number one , if 04:38.661 --> 04:40.661 we think about all the money in the 04:40.661 --> 04:42.828 last 20 years that went to things that 04:42.828 --> 04:42.500 didn't produce . If we just had that 04:42.500 --> 04:44.556 money back , we wouldn't be having a 04:44.556 --> 04:46.611 conversation about what the top line 04:46.611 --> 04:48.667 budget is . So going forward , let's 04:48.667 --> 04:50.611 make sure that we're efficient and 04:50.611 --> 04:52.833 effective and how we spend that money . 04:52.833 --> 04:52.790 And then the second piece of it is 04:52.790 --> 04:55.010 something that has been a big focus of 04:55.010 --> 04:57.121 this committee for the last couple of 04:57.121 --> 04:59.232 years . And that is understanding the 04:59.232 --> 05:00.843 changing nature of warfare , 05:00.843 --> 05:03.066 Understanding how important information 05:03.066 --> 05:05.288 systems and survivability have become , 05:05.288 --> 05:07.700 simply massing a huge amount of 05:07.700 --> 05:09.850 firepower in one place isn't enough . 05:09.860 --> 05:12.027 If you can't protect those systems and 05:12.027 --> 05:14.193 you can't get adequate information and 05:14.193 --> 05:16.304 if those systems are not survivable , 05:16.304 --> 05:18.193 we've had two task forces in this 05:18.193 --> 05:20.416 committee last year , we had the Future 05:20.416 --> 05:22.304 of Defense task Force that really 05:22.304 --> 05:24.416 focused on this issue . Um you know , 05:24.416 --> 05:26.471 what , what are the programs that we 05:26.471 --> 05:28.693 need going forward ? I reject the whole 05:28.693 --> 05:31.020 legacy versus the future argument 05:31.030 --> 05:33.197 because maybe a legacy system actually 05:33.197 --> 05:35.363 fits what we need right now . It's not 05:35.363 --> 05:37.530 a matter of old or new , it's a matter 05:37.530 --> 05:39.363 of what is going to work for the 05:39.363 --> 05:41.530 environment that we face . And I think 05:41.530 --> 05:40.790 that task force produced some 05:40.790 --> 05:43.390 incredibly important information about 05:43.390 --> 05:45.390 how we do that . We now have a task 05:45.390 --> 05:47.612 force focused on the supply chain which 05:47.612 --> 05:49.779 is directly tied to that as well . How 05:49.779 --> 05:51.890 are we , how can we make sure that we 05:51.890 --> 05:54.057 get the crucial equipment and have the 05:54.057 --> 05:56.279 crucial manufacturing capabilities that 05:56.279 --> 05:58.279 we need to perform ? Lastly , we we 05:58.279 --> 06:00.446 formed a new subcommittee , uh , focus 06:00.446 --> 06:02.668 specifically on emerging technologies , 06:02.668 --> 06:04.723 Artificial intelligence being at the 06:04.723 --> 06:06.946 top of that list , but not the only one 06:06.946 --> 06:09.001 that's what's really going to be the 06:09.001 --> 06:11.279 key to our ability to defend ourselves . 06:11.279 --> 06:13.334 I know we've we've heard a lot about 06:13.334 --> 06:13.090 some of the war games that have been 06:13.090 --> 06:15.312 done specifically focused on what would 06:15.312 --> 06:17.423 happen if we got into a conflict with 06:17.423 --> 06:19.479 china and for the better part of , I 06:19.479 --> 06:21.479 don't know , 78 years while they're 06:21.479 --> 06:23.701 doing those war games , that did not go 06:23.701 --> 06:25.868 particularly well . But they did a new 06:25.868 --> 06:25.730 one , the Air Force did just a few 06:25.730 --> 06:28.560 months back that introduced some new 06:28.560 --> 06:30.960 capabilities and totally flipped how 06:30.960 --> 06:32.960 that went . And it wasn't about the 06:32.960 --> 06:35.127 sheer volume of stuff that we had . It 06:35.127 --> 06:37.270 was about having a different set of 06:37.270 --> 06:39.437 capabilities , capabilities that could 06:39.437 --> 06:41.437 survive capabilities that could get 06:41.437 --> 06:44.060 information to our warfighters reliably 06:44.070 --> 06:47.370 in crucial circumstances that drives 06:47.370 --> 06:49.710 home that point , it isn't how much 06:49.710 --> 06:51.877 money we're spending . It's what we're 06:51.877 --> 06:54.043 spending it on and how it reflects the 06:54.043 --> 06:56.154 threats that we face today . Um , the 06:56.154 --> 06:58.154 last point that I'm anxious to hear 06:58.154 --> 07:00.377 from our witnesses about is we've had a 07:00.377 --> 07:02.488 fair amount of difficulty in terms of 07:02.488 --> 07:04.599 protecting our service members . Uh , 07:04.599 --> 07:06.821 focus has been on sexual assault in the 07:06.821 --> 07:09.043 military . We have not adequately dealt 07:09.043 --> 07:11.154 with that . And I think there is wide 07:11.154 --> 07:13.377 bipartisan support for the idea that we 07:13.377 --> 07:15.599 need to make some big changes to try to 07:15.599 --> 07:17.488 address that . This committee has 07:17.488 --> 07:19.321 passed a number of provisions to 07:19.321 --> 07:21.488 attempt to address this issue . We are 07:21.488 --> 07:23.654 not there yet . Um , there is going to 07:23.654 --> 07:23.330 be a big change in that . It is , 07:23.330 --> 07:25.450 however , not just sexual assault . I 07:25.450 --> 07:27.506 know that both of you gentlemen have 07:27.506 --> 07:29.672 looked closely at the report that came 07:29.672 --> 07:31.894 out of Fort Hood , um , and some of the 07:31.894 --> 07:33.950 command structure problems that were 07:33.950 --> 07:36.117 down there . That led to many problems 07:36.117 --> 07:38.283 with the force . We need to figure out 07:38.283 --> 07:40.450 how do we recruit , train and protect 07:40.450 --> 07:42.728 our service members and their families ? 07:42.728 --> 07:44.839 Because as you all know , that's what 07:44.839 --> 07:46.783 makes defense go . The systems are 07:46.783 --> 07:48.894 great , but it's the people that make 07:48.894 --> 07:50.894 it happen . We are an all volunteer 07:50.894 --> 07:52.950 military . We need to make sure that 07:52.950 --> 07:52.390 people still want to serve in the 07:52.390 --> 07:54.557 military . Want to keep serving in the 07:54.557 --> 07:57.280 military and feel most importantly that 07:57.280 --> 07:59.391 they and their families are safe when 07:59.391 --> 08:01.558 doing so . And I think we've got a lot 08:01.558 --> 08:03.613 of work to do in that area . I thank 08:03.613 --> 08:03.590 you both for being here . I look 08:03.590 --> 08:05.812 forward to your testimony and with that 08:05.812 --> 08:07.868 I will turn it over to MR Rogers for 08:07.868 --> 08:09.923 his opening statement . Thank you Mr 08:09.923 --> 08:11.868 Chairman . I really appreciate the 08:11.868 --> 08:13.923 witnesses being here . I know you're 08:13.923 --> 08:16.146 busy , but this is very important to us 08:16.146 --> 08:15.700 in the nation to be able to hear from 08:15.700 --> 08:17.922 you . So thank you for your preparation 08:17.922 --> 08:19.978 in your presence and your service to 08:19.978 --> 08:21.922 our country . Last month , Admiral 08:21.922 --> 08:24.144 Davidson testified that , quote , there 08:24.144 --> 08:26.367 is no guarantee the United States would 08:26.367 --> 08:28.311 win a future conflict with china . 08:28.311 --> 08:30.533 Close quote , in fact , in almost every 08:30.533 --> 08:32.756 war game conducted by the pentagon over 08:32.756 --> 08:34.756 the last decade , the United States 08:34.756 --> 08:36.867 lost to china . The chinese Communist 08:36.867 --> 08:39.033 Party now controls the largest navy in 08:39.033 --> 08:41.144 the world and the largest army in the 08:41.144 --> 08:43.367 world . It has more troops , more ships 08:43.367 --> 08:45.589 and more ground based missiles than the 08:45.589 --> 08:47.700 United States . And while we're still 08:47.700 --> 08:49.756 developing hypersonic missiles , the 08:49.756 --> 08:51.589 CCP is fielding them . The facts 08:51.589 --> 08:53.589 couldn't be more clear . China is a 08:53.589 --> 08:55.422 very real threat to our national 08:55.422 --> 08:57.478 security . Both Secretary Austin and 08:57.478 --> 08:59.589 General Milley have acknowledged that 08:59.589 --> 09:01.589 point at his confirmation hearing . 09:01.589 --> 09:01.530 Secretary often said , quote , china 09:01.530 --> 09:03.586 presents the most significant threat 09:03.586 --> 09:05.697 going forward . Close quote , General 09:05.697 --> 09:07.752 Milley testified before the Senate . 09:07.752 --> 09:09.752 From a strictly military standpoint 09:09.752 --> 09:11.974 china represented our greatest threat . 09:11.974 --> 09:14.000 Here's the problem . The President 09:14.010 --> 09:16.177 apparently doesn't see things the same 09:16.177 --> 09:18.343 way if he did . I don't understand why 09:18.343 --> 09:20.177 he'd send us a wholly inadequate 09:20.177 --> 09:22.232 defense budget . This budget request 09:22.232 --> 09:24.121 doesn't keep pace with china . It 09:24.121 --> 09:26.343 doesn't even keep pace with inflation . 09:26.343 --> 09:28.399 The fact it in fact , it constitutes 09:28.399 --> 09:30.454 over a $4 billion dollar cut in real 09:30.454 --> 09:32.680 spending dollars . This budget cuts the 09:32.680 --> 09:34.513 size of the navy in stars of the 09:34.513 --> 09:36.291 shipbuilding industry . It cuts 09:36.291 --> 09:38.458 procurement budgets across the board , 09:38.458 --> 09:40.791 delaying critical modernization efforts . 09:40.791 --> 09:42.847 Air force procurement are slashed by 09:42.847 --> 09:45.150 12% . Missile defense by more than 15% . 09:45.540 --> 09:47.420 There's a $25 billion 09:47.420 --> 09:53.960 China . 09:54.440 --> 09:56.607 The budget accelerates the vestment of 09:56.607 --> 09:58.829 important capabilities , including over 09:58.829 --> 10:01.162 200 fighter and reconnaissance aircraft . 10:01.162 --> 10:03.218 It doesn't seem to matter that these 10:03.218 --> 10:05.840 are still needed on the battlefield and 10:05.850 --> 10:07.683 as the services struggle to meet 10:07.683 --> 10:09.794 recruiting goals , the budget cuts in 10:09.794 --> 10:11.940 strength ask the administration why 10:11.940 --> 10:13.996 they propose such an economic budget 10:13.996 --> 10:16.051 and they struggle for excuses . They 10:16.051 --> 10:17.996 tell us that the savings uh , they 10:17.996 --> 10:20.120 produce today are being reinvested in 10:20.120 --> 10:22.342 future capabilities . Except that's not 10:22.342 --> 10:24.231 the case slashing procurement and 10:24.231 --> 10:26.540 accelerating investments uh , produces 10:26.540 --> 10:28.980 nearly 13 billion in so called savings . 10:28.990 --> 10:31.212 But the research and development of new 10:31.212 --> 10:33.230 capabilities increases by only five 10:33.230 --> 10:35.286 billion . Then they tell us the fact 10:35.286 --> 10:37.397 that defense spending is hemmed in is 10:37.397 --> 10:39.341 because of fiscal realities . That 10:39.341 --> 10:41.230 might make sense if the president 10:41.230 --> 10:42.841 wasn't proposing spending of 10:42.841 --> 10:44.786 unprecedented amounts on money and 10:44.786 --> 10:47.110 progressive wish list , but not so on 10:47.110 --> 10:49.070 national security or defense . The 10:49.070 --> 10:51.126 budget proposes massive increases in 10:51.126 --> 10:53.292 funding for the EPA and the Department 10:53.292 --> 10:56.240 of Education , HHS and Commerce in all 10:56.240 --> 10:58.450 Defense , nondiscretionary and all non 10:58.450 --> 11:01.500 defense discretionary spending grows By 11:01.500 --> 11:04.510 an astonishing 16% , 10 times more than 11:04.510 --> 11:06.830 defense . And while it and that it 11:06.830 --> 11:09.140 doesn't count the night , 1.9 trillion 11:09.140 --> 11:11.650 wasted on so called COVID stimulus . 11:12.040 --> 11:14.960 More than 1.7 billion of that bill was 11:14.960 --> 11:17.016 spent on progressive priorities like 11:17.016 --> 11:18.904 stimulus checks , the prisoners , 11:18.904 --> 11:20.849 illegal immigrants and bailouts of 11:20.849 --> 11:22.904 union pension funds , but not a dime 11:22.904 --> 11:25.016 for defense . Nor does it include the 11:25.016 --> 11:27.238 infrastructure be able to talking about 11:27.238 --> 11:29.404 which spends money on everything under 11:29.404 --> 11:31.516 the sun except defense . The cost for 11:31.516 --> 11:33.738 that fiasco could range anywhere from 1 11:33.738 --> 11:36.071 to 6 trillion of new mandatory spending . 11:36.071 --> 11:38.071 The only reason the president's not 11:38.071 --> 11:40.293 spending more on defense is because the 11:40.293 --> 11:42.516 radical left is pushing him to cut it . 11:42.516 --> 11:44.682 They want to slash defense spending by 11:44.682 --> 11:46.404 10% or more to discredit . The 11:46.404 --> 11:48.516 president is not going that far , but 11:48.516 --> 11:50.738 what he's proposing is far from what we 11:50.738 --> 11:52.738 need for a credible deterrent . The 11:52.738 --> 11:54.793 National Defense Strategy Commission 11:54.793 --> 11:56.904 recommends an annual increase of 3-5% 11:56.904 --> 11:56.660 above inflation to stay ahead of China . 11:57.140 --> 11:59.084 Each one of the service Chiefs and 11:59.084 --> 12:00.918 commanders that I've talked with 12:00.918 --> 12:02.918 publicly has endorsed that level of 12:02.918 --> 12:04.807 spending . Deputy Secretary Hicks 12:04.807 --> 12:06.362 supported it when she was a 12:06.362 --> 12:08.529 commissioner on the Barre commission . 12:08.529 --> 12:10.529 I suspect that the level of funding 12:10.529 --> 12:12.640 Security Secretary Austin and General 12:12.640 --> 12:14.751 Miller would like to see is that same 12:14.751 --> 12:16.640 amount as well Given the colossal 12:16.640 --> 12:18.807 amounts of money the president and the 12:18.807 --> 12:21.140 majority are throwing around these days . 12:21.140 --> 12:23.196 I outright reject the notion that we 12:23.196 --> 12:24.973 can't somehow find 3-5% for our 12:24.973 --> 12:27.140 national security . If this budget was 12:27.140 --> 12:28.918 being driven by risk instead of 12:28.918 --> 12:31.084 politics , 3-5% is the level of growth 12:31.084 --> 12:33.196 we would see . Unfortunately , that's 12:33.196 --> 12:35.251 not the case . Mr Secretary , I know 12:35.260 --> 12:37.204 you're doing the best you can what 12:37.204 --> 12:39.316 you've been given , but it's wrong to 12:39.316 --> 12:41.482 put you in this position . This budget 12:41.482 --> 12:43.204 robs our war fighters of vital 12:43.204 --> 12:45.316 capabilities . They need to carry out 12:45.316 --> 12:45.170 their mission and it fails to 12:45.170 --> 12:46.892 adequately support our defense 12:46.892 --> 12:49.040 industrial base . Most regrettably it 12:49.040 --> 12:51.430 gives china more than uh more time to 12:51.430 --> 12:53.486 enhance their military advantage and 12:53.486 --> 12:55.319 undermine deterrence . I urge my 12:55.319 --> 12:57.374 colleagues to reject this budget and 12:57.374 --> 12:59.486 work in a bipartisan manager with our 12:59.486 --> 13:01.652 colleagues to address the urgent needs 13:01.652 --> 13:01.610 on national defense . With that . Mr . 13:01.610 --> 13:04.770 Chairman of your back . Thank you . Mr 13:04.770 --> 13:06.492 Secretary . You are recognized 13:08.540 --> 13:10.840 Chairman smith ranking member Rogers 13:10.840 --> 13:12.729 and distinguished members of this 13:12.729 --> 13:14.396 committee . Thank you for the 13:14.396 --> 13:16.690 opportunity to testify today about the 13:16.690 --> 13:18.801 president's budget request for fiscal 13:18.801 --> 13:22.020 year 2022 . I'm pleased to appear 13:22.020 --> 13:23.853 alongside General Milley , whose 13:23.853 --> 13:25.930 counsel has been crucial to us as we 13:25.930 --> 13:28.650 developed our budget and as we continue 13:28.650 --> 13:30.872 to defend this nation which remains our 13:30.872 --> 13:33.190 top priority . I'm also grateful to 13:33.190 --> 13:35.710 have our control or mike McCord with us 13:35.710 --> 13:38.360 today . And let me say at the outset 13:38.740 --> 13:41.950 and I believe our budget request will 13:41.950 --> 13:44.630 help us match our resources to strategy 13:44.640 --> 13:47.020 and strategy to policy and policy to 13:47.020 --> 13:49.540 the world of the american people . This 13:49.540 --> 13:51.651 budget is informed by the president's 13:51.651 --> 13:53.818 interim national security guidance and 13:53.818 --> 13:55.920 by my own message to the force . We 13:55.920 --> 13:58.087 believe that it funds the right mix of 13:58.087 --> 13:59.976 capabilities that we need most to 13:59.976 --> 14:02.180 defend this nation now and in the 14:02.180 --> 14:05.160 future it invests in hypersonic weapons , 14:05.170 --> 14:07.170 artificial intelligence , micro 14:07.170 --> 14:10.000 electronics , five G . Technology in 14:10.000 --> 14:12.350 space based systems , shipbuilding and 14:12.350 --> 14:14.572 nuclear modernization . To name a few . 14:15.240 --> 14:17.320 In fact this budget acts ask you to 14:17.320 --> 14:20.120 approve nearly $28 billion dollars to 14:20.130 --> 14:23.530 modernize our nuclear try it And $112 14:23.530 --> 14:25.310 billion dollars for research 14:25.310 --> 14:27.477 development , testing and evaluation , 14:27.740 --> 14:29.573 which is the largest R . And D . 14:29.573 --> 14:31.310 Request ever put forth by this 14:31.310 --> 14:34.230 department . Our request also gives us 14:34.230 --> 14:36.930 the flexibility to divest ourselves of 14:36.930 --> 14:39.980 systems and platforms that no longer 14:39.980 --> 14:42.970 meet our needs including older ships , 14:42.980 --> 14:46.140 aircraft , s our platforms that demand 14:46.140 --> 14:49.030 more maintenance upkeep and risk than 14:49.030 --> 14:52.260 we can afford . The department must be 14:52.260 --> 14:54.482 ready to keep pace with our competitors 14:54.500 --> 14:57.250 and if necessary to fight and win the 14:57.250 --> 15:00.680 next war And not the last one . And 15:00.680 --> 15:02.569 that's why we have commissioned a 15:02.569 --> 15:04.402 global posture review in the new 15:04.402 --> 15:06.458 national defense strategy which will 15:06.458 --> 15:08.569 further inform and guide our resource 15:08.569 --> 15:10.624 decisions . This budget reflects our 15:10.624 --> 15:13.250 focus on the pacing challenge that we 15:13.250 --> 15:15.417 clearly see from the People's Republic 15:15.417 --> 15:17.910 of china To include more than $5 15:17.910 --> 15:20.750 billion Pacific Deterrence Initiative 15:21.840 --> 15:23.930 earlier this month . Are after our 15:23.930 --> 15:26.730 china task force completed its work , I 15:26.730 --> 15:28.786 issued an internal directive kicking 15:28.786 --> 15:31.320 off department wide efforts that will , 15:31.330 --> 15:33.490 among other things , help bolster our 15:33.490 --> 15:35.850 deterrence against the PRC and 15:35.850 --> 15:38.020 revitalize our network of regional 15:38.020 --> 15:41.010 allies and partners and accelerate the 15:41.010 --> 15:42.566 development of cutting edge 15:42.566 --> 15:44.440 capabilities and new operational 15:44.440 --> 15:48.160 concepts . However , China is not our 15:48.170 --> 15:50.590 only challenge . Our budget also invest 15:50.590 --> 15:53.540 $617 million dollars to counter the 15:53.540 --> 15:56.170 damaging effects of climate change in 15:56.170 --> 15:58.337 additional funds to prepare for future 15:58.337 --> 16:01.380 challenges . Like another pandemic . It 16:01.380 --> 16:03.491 helps us to counter belligerence from 16:03.491 --> 16:05.769 Russia , especially in the cyber realm . 16:06.140 --> 16:08.196 And you'll see more than $10 billion 16:08.196 --> 16:10.140 dollars devoted to cybersecurity , 16:10.140 --> 16:11.960 cyberspace operations and cyber 16:11.960 --> 16:14.950 research and development . With this 16:14.950 --> 16:17.150 emphasis on space and missile defense 16:17.150 --> 16:19.820 and more sophisticated sensors . Our 16:19.820 --> 16:22.310 budget will also help help us counter 16:22.310 --> 16:24.143 the increasing ballistic missile 16:24.143 --> 16:26.090 capabilities of nations like North 16:26.090 --> 16:29.350 Korea and Iran . It funds a troop 16:29.350 --> 16:31.017 presence and counterterrorism 16:31.017 --> 16:33.017 capabilities in the Middle East and 16:33.017 --> 16:35.170 South Asia to meet the threats posed 16:35.170 --> 16:37.980 not only by Iran but also by terrorist 16:37.980 --> 16:41.350 networks like ISIS and Al Qaeda and in 16:41.350 --> 16:44.270 Africa like those posed by al Shabaab . 16:44.940 --> 16:47.162 And it helps us maintain the integrated 16:47.162 --> 16:49.384 deterrent capability and global posture 16:49.640 --> 16:51.751 necessary to back up the hard work of 16:51.751 --> 16:54.160 our diplomats , allies and partners . 16:55.040 --> 16:57.207 Now I know that Afghanistan remains at 16:57.207 --> 16:59.330 the top of all of our minds and I can 16:59.330 --> 17:02.220 report that our withdrawal remains on 17:02.220 --> 17:04.760 pace . Last week . In brussels we 17:04.760 --> 17:07.190 updated our NATO allies and I was 17:07.190 --> 17:09.301 encouraged by their continued support 17:09.301 --> 17:11.634 for the new direction that we're taking . 17:11.634 --> 17:13.579 We've accomplished the mission for 17:13.579 --> 17:15.801 which our troops were sent were sent to 17:15.801 --> 17:17.912 Afghanistan some 20 years ago and I'm 17:17.912 --> 17:20.023 very proud of the brave men and women 17:20.023 --> 17:22.246 who made it possible and those who gave 17:22.246 --> 17:24.610 their lives for that mission . And I'm 17:24.610 --> 17:27.570 also deeply grateful to the families of 17:27.570 --> 17:29.792 our service members who have endured so 17:29.792 --> 17:31.514 much as they sent their sons , 17:31.610 --> 17:33.610 daughters , husbands and wives into 17:33.610 --> 17:37.450 battle . We will now transition into 17:38.040 --> 17:40.780 to to a new bilateral relationship with 17:40.780 --> 17:43.290 our afghan partners , one that helps 17:43.290 --> 17:45.290 them meet their responsibilities to 17:45.290 --> 17:47.630 their citizens , but one that will not 17:47.630 --> 17:49.900 require a U . S . Footprint larger than 17:49.900 --> 17:51.678 what's necessary to protect our 17:51.678 --> 17:54.240 diplomats . And that's one reason why 17:54.240 --> 17:56.018 we're asking to move overseas , 17:56.018 --> 17:58.210 contingency operations funding inside 17:58.210 --> 18:00.240 the budget . This will add greater 18:00.240 --> 18:02.210 transparency , accountability and 18:02.210 --> 18:04.432 predictability to the budgeting process 18:04.840 --> 18:07.860 and frankly it's overdue now this 18:07.860 --> 18:10.060 budget also takes care of our people . 18:10.740 --> 18:13.000 It increases funding to support in home 18:13.000 --> 18:15.340 care and support , which has become 18:15.350 --> 18:17.294 increasingly important during this 18:17.294 --> 18:20.560 pandemic . We also seek to improve 18:20.570 --> 18:23.000 military base pay and retention bonuses 18:23.000 --> 18:25.170 and other incentives , incentives that 18:25.640 --> 18:27.910 will help us attract and retain the 18:27.910 --> 18:30.580 best talent and we will be working hard 18:30.580 --> 18:32.802 to combat challenges that makes service 18:32.802 --> 18:35.024 in the ranks more difficult for all the 18:35.024 --> 18:37.080 men and women of the department from 18:37.140 --> 18:39.251 getting a better handle on the extent 18:39.251 --> 18:41.084 to which we experience extremist 18:41.084 --> 18:43.920 behavior to combating sexual assault 18:43.930 --> 18:46.860 and harassment . As you know , 18:47.740 --> 18:49.740 my first directive as Secretary of 18:49.740 --> 18:52.360 Defense , issued on my first full day 18:52.370 --> 18:55.610 in the office was to service leadership 18:55.620 --> 18:58.780 about sexual assault . Yesterday I 18:58.780 --> 19:01.550 received the final recommendations uh 19:02.640 --> 19:04.807 and complete report of the Independent 19:04.807 --> 19:06.918 Independent Review Commission . And I 19:06.918 --> 19:08.973 want to thank Lynn Rosenthal for her 19:08.973 --> 19:10.696 exceptional leadership on this 19:10.696 --> 19:12.640 commission , as well as a talented 19:12.640 --> 19:14.529 experts who worked so hard and so 19:14.529 --> 19:17.850 diligently to support her . The result 19:17.850 --> 19:19.930 is a comprehensive assessment across 19:19.930 --> 19:22.320 four lines of effort , accountability , 19:22.420 --> 19:25.080 prevention , climate and culture and 19:25.080 --> 19:26.760 victim care and support , 19:29.140 --> 19:31.362 and that assessment recommends creative 19:31.362 --> 19:34.000 and evidence based options . In the 19:34.000 --> 19:36.333 coming days , I'll present to president , 19:36.333 --> 19:38.590 biden my specific recommendations about 19:38.590 --> 19:40.701 the commission's finding . But I know 19:40.701 --> 19:42.646 enough at this point to say that I 19:42.646 --> 19:45.010 fully support removing the prosecution 19:45.010 --> 19:47.240 of sexual assaults and related crimes 19:47.580 --> 19:50.540 from the military chain of command . We 19:50.540 --> 19:52.700 are prepared to work with Congress to 19:52.710 --> 19:54.654 amend the uniform code of military 19:54.654 --> 19:57.930 justice in this regard . The IRC also 19:57.930 --> 19:59.930 recommended the inclusion of others 19:59.930 --> 20:01.874 special victims crimes inside this 20:01.880 --> 20:04.380 independent prosecution system to 20:04.380 --> 20:06.269 include domestic violence . And I 20:06.269 --> 20:08.730 support this as well , given the strong 20:08.730 --> 20:10.750 correlation between these sorts of 20:10.750 --> 20:12.750 crimes and the prevalence of sexual 20:12.750 --> 20:15.770 assault as we move forward , 20:17.040 --> 20:19.151 I believe that it's important to make 20:19.151 --> 20:21.151 changes that are both scoped to the 20:21.151 --> 20:23.318 problem that we're solving , trying to 20:23.318 --> 20:26.260 solve and properly resourced . The 20:26.260 --> 20:28.038 department will likely need new 20:28.038 --> 20:30.093 authorities to implement many of the 20:30.093 --> 20:32.520 IRC s recommendations and we will most 20:32.520 --> 20:35.140 assuredly require additional resources , 20:35.140 --> 20:38.020 both in personnel and in funding . And 20:38.020 --> 20:39.798 we look forward to having those 20:39.798 --> 20:41.964 discussions with this committee and we 20:41.964 --> 20:44.187 must treat this as the leadership issue 20:44.187 --> 20:46.409 that it is . And Chairman smith members 20:46.409 --> 20:49.040 of the committee . We feel the greatest 20:49.040 --> 20:51.530 military in human history , made up of 20:51.530 --> 20:53.697 the finest men and women who have ever 20:53.697 --> 20:56.070 done the cloth of this nation . We also 20:56.070 --> 20:58.090 enjoy a civilian workforce deeply 20:58.090 --> 21:00.312 committed to every mission that we take 21:00.312 --> 21:03.780 on . No adversary can match the quality 21:03.780 --> 21:06.320 of our people and I am immensely proud 21:06.320 --> 21:08.487 and humbled to serve with them again . 21:08.487 --> 21:10.153 And I can assure you that the 21:10.153 --> 21:12.320 president's budget requests for fiscal 21:12.320 --> 21:14.460 Year 22 fulfills our obligations to 21:14.460 --> 21:17.030 them and to their families . And I 21:17.030 --> 21:19.400 thank you for your steadfast support of 21:19.400 --> 21:21.511 the Department of Defense and for all 21:21.511 --> 21:23.640 that you do to ensure that we remain 21:23.650 --> 21:26.700 ready to defend to defend this nation . 21:26.720 --> 21:28.887 And I look forward to your questions . 21:29.840 --> 21:32.650 Thank you . General Milley , Chairman , 21:32.650 --> 21:34.790 smith ranking member , Rogers and 21:34.790 --> 21:37.068 distinguished members of the committee . 21:37.068 --> 21:38.901 Thank you for the opportunity to 21:38.901 --> 21:41.123 testify before you today and remains my 21:41.123 --> 21:42.901 distinct honor and privilege to 21:42.901 --> 21:45.234 represent the United States joint force , 21:45.234 --> 21:47.512 the most capable military in the world . 21:47.512 --> 21:49.623 Our troops remain the best led , best 21:49.623 --> 21:51.401 equipped and best trained force 21:51.401 --> 21:53.512 anywhere . And that is largely due to 21:53.512 --> 21:55.568 the efforts of this Congress . And I 21:55.568 --> 21:57.512 want to personally thank Secretary 21:57.512 --> 21:59.568 Austin and his steady leadership and 21:59.568 --> 22:01.346 wise guidance your joint forces 22:01.346 --> 22:03.520 standing watch protecting american 22:03.520 --> 22:05.950 interests in all domains , air , sea , 22:05.950 --> 22:09.270 land , cyber and space around the globe . 22:09.640 --> 22:13.380 24 7 . We're also Fully engaged here at 22:13.380 --> 22:15.550 home in both defense support civil 22:15.550 --> 22:17.980 authorities through COVID-19 medical 22:17.980 --> 22:20.450 support as well as homeland defense . 22:20.630 --> 22:23.390 To keep americans safe . We are 22:23.390 --> 22:25.770 conducting major exercises in europe . 22:26.140 --> 22:28.270 We are monitoring the dems in Korea . 22:28.740 --> 22:30.962 We are conducting freedom of navigation 22:30.962 --> 22:33.073 operations in the strategic waterways 22:33.073 --> 22:34.796 of the global commons . We are 22:34.796 --> 22:36.740 sustaining operations in space and 22:36.740 --> 22:38.629 cyberspace . We're supporting our 22:38.629 --> 22:41.040 allies and partners in africa and latin 22:41.040 --> 22:43.400 America . We are patrolling the skies 22:43.400 --> 22:45.730 of the Middle East and our joint forces 22:45.730 --> 22:48.070 currently conducting a safe , 22:48.110 --> 22:50.760 responsible and deliberate strategic 22:50.770 --> 22:53.040 retrograde from Afghanistan in good 22:53.040 --> 22:54.984 order while ensuring the continued 22:54.984 --> 22:57.140 support the Afghan national Security 22:57.140 --> 22:59.980 force . The purpose of the United 22:59.980 --> 23:02.460 States military is simple . It is to 23:02.460 --> 23:04.920 protect and defend the constitution of 23:04.920 --> 23:06.976 the United States of America against 23:06.976 --> 23:10.020 all enemies , foreign and domestic and 23:10.020 --> 23:13.300 with that comes to key tasks Task . one 23:13.300 --> 23:16.150 is to prepare for war in order to deter 23:16.170 --> 23:19.730 our enemies . And key task to is to 23:19.730 --> 23:21.870 fight and win America's wars If 23:21.870 --> 23:24.190 deterrence fails , the United States 23:24.190 --> 23:26.720 military is a critical component of our 23:26.730 --> 23:28.850 overall national power . The 23:28.850 --> 23:31.072 combination of our diplomatic efforts , 23:31.120 --> 23:33.370 economic strength and the overriding 23:33.370 --> 23:36.110 hope for the american message and our 23:36.110 --> 23:38.260 military capability will deter 23:38.260 --> 23:41.200 adversaries and preserve great power 23:41.200 --> 23:43.600 piece . In this era of great power 23:43.600 --> 23:47.520 competition . The current geo strategic 23:47.530 --> 23:50.350 landscape is witnessing rapid change 23:50.940 --> 23:53.107 and the potential for threats to peace 23:53.107 --> 23:55.260 and stability in various regions and 23:55.260 --> 23:58.170 indeed the world is increasing . Not 23:58.170 --> 24:00.930 decreasing . States and non state 24:00.930 --> 24:02.920 actors are rapidly transforming 24:02.930 --> 24:04.874 technologically and we are bearing 24:04.874 --> 24:07.041 witness to a fundamental change in the 24:07.041 --> 24:08.986 character of wars . Chairman smith 24:08.986 --> 24:12.600 pointed out . In particular , china is 24:12.610 --> 24:15.100 increasing its military capability at a 24:15.100 --> 24:18.340 very serious and sustained rate . And 24:18.340 --> 24:20.360 we must ensure that we retain our 24:20.530 --> 24:22.474 competitive and technological edge 24:22.474 --> 24:24.641 against this pacing threat readiness . 24:24.641 --> 24:27.780 Modernization and combat power are key 24:27.970 --> 24:30.660 to deter war and maintain the peace . 24:31.440 --> 24:33.850 And equally important are the combat 24:33.850 --> 24:36.990 multipliers of teamwork , cohesion and 24:36.990 --> 24:40.380 well led units . We must resolve the 24:40.380 --> 24:42.740 issue of sexual assault and I and all 24:42.740 --> 24:44.851 the chiefs are in alignment with what 24:44.851 --> 24:47.018 the Secretary of defense just said and 24:47.018 --> 24:50.060 we must confront the issue of extremism . 24:50.840 --> 24:53.700 Both are corrosive and the very essence 24:53.700 --> 24:55.950 of what it means to be in the military 24:56.340 --> 24:58.580 is negatively impacted if we allow them 24:58.580 --> 25:01.620 to continue . Additionally , we must 25:01.620 --> 25:03.370 continue to invest in leader 25:03.370 --> 25:05.259 development and talent management 25:05.259 --> 25:06.926 required for future operating 25:06.926 --> 25:09.320 environment . And finally , we must 25:09.320 --> 25:11.880 continue to nurture and sustain a key 25:11.880 --> 25:13.824 strategic source of our strength , 25:13.940 --> 25:15.884 which is our network of many close 25:15.884 --> 25:18.051 allies and partners around the world . 25:18.051 --> 25:20.107 The Joint force appreciates the work 25:20.107 --> 25:22.273 that our elected representatives do to 25:22.273 --> 25:24.162 ensure that we have the resources 25:24.162 --> 25:26.218 needed to be ready . The days of the 25:26.218 --> 25:27.996 Budget Control Act are over and 25:27.996 --> 25:29.884 repeated . Continuing resolutions 25:29.884 --> 25:32.390 hopefully are behind us for good . The 25:32.390 --> 25:35.140 joint force will deliver modernization 25:35.140 --> 25:37.440 of our armed forces and security to the 25:37.440 --> 25:40.190 people of the United States . At the FY 25:40.190 --> 25:42.900 22 presidents proposed budget request 25:43.030 --> 25:47.000 of $715 million . The american people 25:47.000 --> 25:49.290 have entrusted to us a significant 25:49.290 --> 25:51.512 commitment of treasure and we will work 25:51.512 --> 25:53.734 diligently to ensure to spend prudently 25:53.734 --> 25:55.846 in the best interests of the nation , 25:55.846 --> 25:58.012 in alignment with the interim national 25:58.012 --> 25:59.957 Security strategic guidance . This 25:59.957 --> 26:01.901 budget makes hard choices , but it 26:01.901 --> 26:04.110 delivers a ready , agile and capable 26:04.120 --> 26:05.940 joint force that will compete 26:05.940 --> 26:08.330 successfully . It will deter and will 26:08.330 --> 26:11.040 win across all domains in which is 26:11.040 --> 26:13.540 postured for continued over match in 26:13.540 --> 26:16.680 the future . This budget focuses on the 26:16.680 --> 26:18.730 future and prioritizes nuclear 26:18.730 --> 26:20.674 modernization , long range fires , 26:20.674 --> 26:22.690 hypersonic technology , artificial 26:22.690 --> 26:24.610 intelligence , shipbuilding , 26:24.620 --> 26:28.360 microelectronic space , cyber and 5G . 26:29.040 --> 26:31.262 These investments , in concert with our 26:31.262 --> 26:33.318 recently developed joint warfighting 26:33.318 --> 26:35.540 concept , will pave the way for a joint 26:35.540 --> 26:37.540 force of the future The president's 26:37.540 --> 26:39.318 budget for Fy 22 . This request 26:39.318 --> 26:42.150 increases the readiness and ensures our 26:42.150 --> 26:44.360 people are our number one priority , 26:44.940 --> 26:47.000 consistent , predictable budgets 26:47.250 --> 26:49.417 informed by the will of the people are 26:49.417 --> 26:51.472 critical to our nation's defense and 26:51.472 --> 26:53.639 the passage of this budget in a timely 26:53.639 --> 26:56.450 way is important . The FY 22 26:56.450 --> 26:58.200 presidential budget strikes an 26:58.200 --> 27:00.720 appropriate balance between preserving 27:00.730 --> 27:02.470 present readiness and future 27:02.470 --> 27:05.410 modernization . It's a down payment on 27:05.410 --> 27:07.740 the investment of the future with a 27:07.740 --> 27:09.573 bias toward the future operating 27:09.573 --> 27:11.462 environment and the change in the 27:11.462 --> 27:13.920 character of war . It is now that we 27:13.920 --> 27:15.698 must set ourselves on a path to 27:15.698 --> 27:17.910 modernize the joint force and this 27:17.910 --> 27:20.060 budget contributes to doing just that 27:20.940 --> 27:23.810 many enemies historically have grossly 27:23.810 --> 27:25.866 underestimated the United States and 27:25.866 --> 27:28.810 our people . We are ready now and we 27:28.810 --> 27:31.340 will remain so in the future . And any 27:31.340 --> 27:33.229 adversary of the United States of 27:33.229 --> 27:35.284 America should not underestimate our 27:35.284 --> 27:37.770 military capability , our skill and our 27:37.770 --> 27:40.460 combat power . Our job is your joint 27:40.460 --> 27:42.630 force , our contract with the american 27:42.630 --> 27:44.741 people is that we , the United States 27:44.741 --> 27:46.908 military will be able to fight and win 27:46.908 --> 27:48.963 when called upon and we will support 27:48.963 --> 27:50.908 and defend the Constitution of the 27:50.908 --> 27:53.440 United States always and forever . And 27:53.440 --> 27:55.384 I look forward to your questions . 27:56.740 --> 27:59.560 Thank you both . The unfunded 27:59.560 --> 28:01.449 requirements is something that is 28:01.449 --> 28:03.710 always sort of struck me as odd every 28:03.710 --> 28:05.821 budget I've ever seen . I think there 28:05.821 --> 28:07.710 may be a couple of years where we 28:07.710 --> 28:09.766 didn't do them , no matter how large 28:09.766 --> 28:09.550 the budget , there's always this list 28:09.550 --> 28:13.400 of unfunded requirements . Um , and it 28:13.400 --> 28:15.880 strikes me is simply a way to try to 28:15.890 --> 28:17.890 forcing mechanism , mechanism to no 28:17.890 --> 28:20.001 matter what force more money into the 28:20.001 --> 28:22.112 system When , as I said in my opening 28:22.112 --> 28:24.223 remarks , but we really need to do is 28:24.223 --> 28:26.390 to force more effectiveness out of the 28:26.390 --> 28:28.446 money that we get . But we have this 28:28.446 --> 28:29.446 $25 billion 28:29.446 --> 28:34.470 $25 28:34.470 --> 28:36.470 million dollar list that we haven't 28:36.470 --> 28:38.637 done that are somehow going to make it 28:38.637 --> 28:40.859 impossible for you to do your job ? And 28:40.859 --> 28:42.859 and if not , please explain why not 28:44.340 --> 28:47.600 Chairman . As I said , uh in my opening 28:47.600 --> 28:50.030 remarks , I think that this budget 28:50.040 --> 28:53.990 provides us the flexibility to go after 28:53.990 --> 28:56.210 the capabilities that we need to 28:56.210 --> 28:58.432 support , the operational concepts that 28:58.432 --> 29:00.280 will allow us to be not only 29:00.280 --> 29:03.350 competitive against any near pier , but 29:03.360 --> 29:05.830 actually dominant in in that battle 29:05.830 --> 29:09.220 space . And so I'm comfortable that 29:09.220 --> 29:11.276 this budget provides us what what we 29:11.276 --> 29:14.940 need . You've heard me say , also that 29:14.950 --> 29:17.910 are pacing challenges china . If you 29:17.910 --> 29:20.077 look at the types of things that we're 29:20.077 --> 29:23.140 investing in 20 , almost $20 and a half 29:23.150 --> 29:25.317 billion dollars for missile defeat and 29:25.317 --> 29:28.260 defense . Uh $6.6 billion for long 29:28.260 --> 29:31.390 range fires . $52.4 billion for a 29:31.390 --> 29:35.210 lethal air force , uh $34.6 billion 29:35.210 --> 29:37.940 for combat effective naval forces and 29:37.940 --> 29:40.880 $12.3 billion for for effective ground 29:40.880 --> 29:43.670 forces , Not to mention the almost $28 29:43.680 --> 29:45.791 billion dollars that were invested in 29:45.791 --> 29:48.050 investing in modernizing the nuclear 29:48.440 --> 29:51.490 try it . So , uh , I believe that it 29:51.490 --> 29:53.880 gives us uh , you know , the right 29:53.880 --> 29:55.436 flexibility to go after the 29:55.436 --> 29:57.480 capabilities that we need to be uh 29:57.490 --> 29:59.712 successful going forward . I understand 29:59.712 --> 30:01.879 uh General Miller if you wanna dive in 30:01.879 --> 30:03.934 here . So how would you explain this 30:03.934 --> 30:06.140 this ? And I've argued that we should 30:06.140 --> 30:07.918 have gotten rid of the unfunded 30:07.918 --> 30:10.380 requirements list a long time ago . But 30:10.390 --> 30:12.550 how do you explain that the Service 30:12.550 --> 30:15.420 chiefs submitting this list ? You know , 30:15.420 --> 30:17.642 I agree with Secretary Austin . I think 30:17.642 --> 30:19.753 he's absolutely right about where the 30:19.753 --> 30:21.976 budgets at . But what what are we doing 30:21.976 --> 30:24.087 with this list of things that members 30:24.087 --> 30:26.198 up here makes us think that we're not 30:26.198 --> 30:28.142 meeting our needs . Um as a former 30:28.142 --> 30:30.364 Service Chief of four years , Chiefs of 30:30.364 --> 30:32.420 the Army , the unfunded requirements 30:32.420 --> 30:34.531 list . Uh And everyone probably looks 30:34.531 --> 30:36.753 at slightly differently . But generally 30:36.753 --> 30:38.309 speaking , I would say that 30:38.309 --> 30:40.600 requirements always , I can't think of 30:40.600 --> 30:42.900 a budget where requirements do not 30:42.910 --> 30:45.480 exceed resources and the whole purpose 30:45.480 --> 30:47.660 of a budget is to prioritize that , 30:47.660 --> 30:49.716 which is most important down to that 30:49.716 --> 30:51.660 which is least important . And the 30:51.660 --> 30:53.660 unfunded requirements list given an 30:53.660 --> 30:55.604 amount of money to given service , 30:55.604 --> 30:57.549 Anything that goes beyond what the 30:57.549 --> 30:59.771 budget is that they're given goes on to 30:59.771 --> 31:01.771 an unfunded requirements list . And 31:01.771 --> 31:03.827 these things are paid as long as you 31:03.827 --> 31:05.882 said in the billions of dollars . Uh 31:05.882 --> 31:07.993 The key question though , is relative 31:07.993 --> 31:06.890 to your opponent , Everything's 31:06.890 --> 31:08.723 relative to someone in this case 31:08.723 --> 31:10.890 relative to pacing , threat of china , 31:10.890 --> 31:12.668 relative to Russia terrorists , 31:12.668 --> 31:14.334 etcetera . Are those unfunded 31:14.334 --> 31:16.557 requirements critical path capabilities 31:16.557 --> 31:18.723 that are required to succeed . And the 31:18.723 --> 31:20.920 answer is no . In my opinion , my 31:20.920 --> 31:23.087 professional opinion , others may have 31:23.087 --> 31:24.864 different opinions if they were 31:24.864 --> 31:27.087 critical than they need to be higher on 31:27.087 --> 31:29.142 the priority list in the base budget 31:29.142 --> 31:30.976 and the Chief Service Chiefs and 31:30.976 --> 31:33.198 service secretaries all go through that 31:33.198 --> 31:35.420 drill . It's a hard drill . I had to do 31:35.420 --> 31:37.642 it with several service Secretary , you 31:37.642 --> 31:39.753 have night courts and so on . But the 31:39.753 --> 31:41.753 unfunded requirement lists are less 31:41.753 --> 31:43.864 important than that , which is in the 31:43.864 --> 31:43.310 base budget . The reason they're 31:43.310 --> 31:45.421 submitted is to provide the committee 31:45.421 --> 31:47.588 in Congress the representatives of the 31:47.588 --> 31:49.870 people . To determine if those unfunded 31:49.870 --> 31:51.926 requirement lists meet the needs and 31:51.926 --> 31:54.080 you have to make some assessments and 31:54.080 --> 31:56.136 determine to take such as set out of 31:56.136 --> 31:58.302 the base budget and add something from 31:58.302 --> 31:59.913 the requirements . This is a 31:59.913 --> 32:02.024 flexibility option for the committees 32:02.024 --> 32:04.191 and it gets submitted every year . Try 32:04.191 --> 32:04.050 to minimize them to the amount possible 32:04.240 --> 32:06.407 Because we really want the base budget 32:06.407 --> 32:08.684 is what needs to be passed . Thank you . 32:08.684 --> 32:10.907 I think that's a good explanation . And 32:10.907 --> 32:12.907 again , I'll stand by the statement 32:12.907 --> 32:14.851 that , you know , over the last 15 32:14.851 --> 32:16.962 years in particular the the amount of 32:16.962 --> 32:16.780 money that has gone to programs that 32:16.780 --> 32:19.002 haven't performed . I mean , I'd rather 32:19.002 --> 32:21.169 have the service chiefs go through and 32:21.169 --> 32:23.336 tell us how they're going to make sure 32:23.336 --> 32:22.790 that their programs are actually going 32:22.790 --> 32:25.170 to perform as intended and on budget 32:25.340 --> 32:27.396 and and the mistakes that we've made 32:27.396 --> 32:29.507 with the money that has been wasted . 32:29.507 --> 32:31.673 So we don't do that again . Um , and I 32:31.673 --> 32:34.007 have no doubt whatsoever if we did that , 32:34.007 --> 32:36.007 we'd have more than enough money to 32:36.007 --> 32:38.229 meet the requirements as we do . And as 32:38.229 --> 32:37.510 I mentioned again , I want to 32:37.510 --> 32:40.140 compliment this department in the last 32:40.140 --> 32:42.362 couple of years , series of secretaries 32:42.362 --> 32:44.529 of defense who have done the hard work 32:44.529 --> 32:46.696 to do that scrub , to go back in there 32:46.696 --> 32:48.751 and learn the lessons from what went 32:48.751 --> 32:48.470 wrong and try and fix it . And I think 32:48.470 --> 32:50.692 that is the most important thing we can 32:50.692 --> 32:52.637 do to meet our defense needs going 32:52.637 --> 32:55.440 forward . Mr Rogers . Thanks Mr 32:55.440 --> 32:58.430 Chairman . Uh General Milley is , as I 32:58.430 --> 33:00.541 noted in my opening statement , china 33:00.541 --> 33:02.874 already has a larger navy , more troops , 33:02.874 --> 33:04.986 more missiles more hypersonic than we 33:04.986 --> 33:07.230 do . Where are you most concerned that 33:07.230 --> 33:09.450 china has gained or may soon gain an 33:09.450 --> 33:13.170 advantage against us ? Um , 33:15.440 --> 33:18.150 I was just several areas . Um , you 33:18.150 --> 33:20.206 know , if you roll the clock back to 33:20.206 --> 33:22.317 1975 and the reforms of Deng Xiaoping 33:22.317 --> 33:24.630 uh , the Chinese economy has risen at a 33:24.630 --> 33:27.030 rate of about 10% down to six or 7% 33:27.030 --> 33:29.180 recently and is projected to reduce a 33:29.180 --> 33:31.402 little bit more . But with that massive 33:31.402 --> 33:33.402 economy with that massive amount of 33:33.402 --> 33:35.200 money , China has developed an 33:35.200 --> 33:37.510 extraordinarily capable military . They 33:37.510 --> 33:40.050 are not to be clear , they are not 33:40.060 --> 33:42.282 currently superior to the United States 33:42.282 --> 33:45.080 military , but their aim . Their object 33:45.090 --> 33:48.360 is to be at least co equal to , if not 33:48.360 --> 33:51.260 superior . Uh and that is possible if 33:51.260 --> 33:53.482 we stood still , that would be possible 33:53.482 --> 33:56.250 in a certain amount of years . Uh , and 33:56.260 --> 33:59.230 and I think that the area of cyber uh 33:59.240 --> 34:01.510 in space , those are two critical areas 34:01.520 --> 34:05.240 and subsurface submarines are three a 34:05.240 --> 34:07.296 third area , all of which we need to 34:07.296 --> 34:09.184 watch . But there's also emerging 34:09.184 --> 34:11.296 technologies that are very concerning 34:11.296 --> 34:13.129 things like hyper sonics , man , 34:13.129 --> 34:15.870 machine interface , uh changing the 34:15.880 --> 34:18.970 relationship of men or human beings . 34:19.040 --> 34:22.800 Two , the machine linking that to uh 34:22.810 --> 34:25.000 various very high powered computer 34:25.000 --> 34:27.000 systems . There's a wide variety of 34:27.000 --> 34:29.111 information technologies that they're 34:29.111 --> 34:30.778 working on . Uh these are all 34:30.778 --> 34:32.944 concerning . And then I would throw in 34:32.944 --> 34:32.860 robotics and most importantly is 34:32.860 --> 34:34.860 artificial intelligence . These are 34:34.860 --> 34:37.027 emerging technologies are gonna hit in 34:37.027 --> 34:39.193 time and space in the next 10 to 15 to 34:39.193 --> 34:41.138 20 years max . And we , the United 34:41.138 --> 34:43.304 States need to be out front and all of 34:43.304 --> 34:43.280 them . Otherwise we're going to be 34:43.280 --> 34:45.280 setting up future generations for a 34:45.280 --> 34:47.336 very difficult situation relative to 34:47.336 --> 34:50.260 china is a great answer and I agree 34:51.240 --> 34:53.462 that the real threat is down the road . 34:53.462 --> 34:55.684 But that's the point we can't put off , 34:55.684 --> 34:58.360 we can't keep deferring taking action 34:58.370 --> 35:00.620 on keeping pace with china because it's 35:00.620 --> 35:02.842 going to get us in a bad situation . So 35:02.842 --> 35:04.898 while this budget is basically level 35:04.898 --> 35:07.470 funding , just a little bit of a dip , 35:08.040 --> 35:10.151 it's irresponsible in the long term . 35:10.151 --> 35:12.096 And I'm not just going off on this 35:12.096 --> 35:14.318 present . The last president came to us 35:14.318 --> 35:16.540 with the budget that was inadequate and 35:16.540 --> 35:16.270 we got him to a better place . And I'm 35:16.270 --> 35:18.159 hoping we get this president to a 35:18.159 --> 35:20.326 better place . And I frankly hated for 35:20.326 --> 35:22.326 y'all because y'all are outstanding 35:22.326 --> 35:24.437 military leaders and you know what we 35:24.437 --> 35:26.437 need and you're just doing your job 35:26.437 --> 35:28.603 trying to spend this thing up or shine 35:28.603 --> 35:30.770 it up . Uh , but it's not what we need 35:30.770 --> 35:32.770 for our long term military growth . 35:32.770 --> 35:34.770 General Milley is the chairman just 35:34.770 --> 35:36.548 alluded to . We got $25 billion 35:36.548 --> 35:43.150 171.7 35:43.150 --> 35:45.070 billion for a new destroyer . 1.4 35:45.070 --> 35:48.190 billion for F15 exes . And 300 million 35:48.190 --> 35:50.246 for the defense of Hawaii and Guam . 35:50.246 --> 35:52.468 You don't think those should be in this 35:52.468 --> 35:55.860 year's funding priorities . A couple of 35:55.860 --> 35:59.110 points , Hawaii and Guam . No one china 35:59.120 --> 36:01.009 Russia . Anyone else should think 36:01.009 --> 36:02.842 Hawaii and Guam are not defended 36:02.842 --> 36:05.009 because on an unfunded requirements is 36:05.009 --> 36:06.842 doesn't mean Hawaii and Guam are 36:06.842 --> 36:08.564 independent . We have a tiered 36:08.564 --> 36:10.650 capability in the pacific arrayed 36:10.660 --> 36:13.810 explicitly to defend us territory , the 36:13.810 --> 36:16.370 United States , american mainland and 36:16.500 --> 36:19.370 Hawaii , Guam and our allies and 36:19.370 --> 36:21.700 partners are very well defended . So I 36:21.700 --> 36:23.867 don't want anyone to misinterpret that 36:23.867 --> 36:26.033 There are capabilities that would like 36:26.033 --> 36:28.089 to improve on . But they didn't meet 36:28.089 --> 36:30.033 the threshold of the base budget . 36:30.033 --> 36:30.000 Therefore there in an unfunded 36:30.000 --> 36:32.380 requirements for the destroyer . We're 36:32.380 --> 36:34.602 adding another destroyer next year . So 36:34.602 --> 36:36.713 it's going to be the 23 budget . Vice 36:36.713 --> 36:38.880 22 . Again , hard choices , 36:38.880 --> 36:40.936 prioritization . That's what budgets 36:40.936 --> 36:42.824 are all about and that's what the 36:42.824 --> 36:44.547 services did . That's what the 36:44.547 --> 36:44.020 Secretary Defense did not fully 36:44.020 --> 36:46.300 supported . And I think this budget 7 36:46.300 --> 36:48.522 15 provides for the adequate defense of 36:48.522 --> 36:50.960 the United States of America for fy 22 . 36:51.430 --> 36:53.652 Again , I understand and I know this is 36:53.652 --> 36:55.763 the president's budget and you got to 36:55.763 --> 36:57.763 do your best . But the commander of 36:57.763 --> 36:59.986 indo pak com says we need a using shore 36:59.986 --> 37:02.152 on Guam and we need a new radar system 37:02.152 --> 37:03.986 on Hawaii granted their defended 37:03.986 --> 37:06.208 defended as well as they need to be and 37:06.208 --> 37:08.319 we need to be taken action to protect 37:08.319 --> 37:10.319 them . Uh Gentlemen , you testified 37:10.319 --> 37:12.263 before the Senate uh and said that 37:12.263 --> 37:12.260 china and Russia combined are spending 37:12.260 --> 37:14.260 more money on Defense of the United 37:14.260 --> 37:16.427 States . How much risk are we embodied 37:16.427 --> 37:18.649 by failing to keep pace with china when 37:18.649 --> 37:21.190 it comes to this kind of spending ? I 37:21.190 --> 37:23.412 think I think we are keeping pace and I 37:23.412 --> 37:25.690 think we're ahead of china individually 37:25.690 --> 37:27.912 as a country when you combine china and 37:27.912 --> 37:30.000 Russia and and and would have to go 37:30.000 --> 37:32.167 into classified session to show how we 37:32.167 --> 37:34.000 do this mathematically . But the 37:34.000 --> 37:36.000 combined budgets when everything is 37:36.000 --> 37:38.056 taken into account and you normalize 37:38.056 --> 37:40.111 for the cost of personnel etcetera , 37:40.111 --> 37:42.780 then you will find that the combined 37:42.780 --> 37:45.270 budgets of china and Russia um do 37:45.270 --> 37:47.381 exceed that of the U . S . Department 37:47.381 --> 37:49.640 of Defense budget . Um In certain areas 37:49.640 --> 37:51.307 I'm concerned like research , 37:51.307 --> 37:52.973 development and some advanced 37:52.973 --> 37:54.918 modernization technologies , those 37:54.918 --> 37:56.751 areas which I'd rather go into a 37:56.751 --> 37:59.410 classified session but an open hearing 37:59.420 --> 38:01.500 and and factually correct . We are 38:01.500 --> 38:03.222 keeping pace . In fact , we're 38:03.222 --> 38:06.430 exceeding uh china or Russia in the 38:06.430 --> 38:08.652 specific niche capabilities and I don't 38:08.652 --> 38:10.541 want anyone to walk away from any 38:10.541 --> 38:12.708 hearing . Uh and we're talking to more 38:12.708 --> 38:15.041 people than just in this room right now . 38:15.041 --> 38:17.263 I don't want china Russia to ever think 38:17.263 --> 38:19.430 that the United States military Is not 38:19.430 --> 38:21.597 better than their military . We are in 38:21.597 --> 38:24.180 all domains every day 24/7 and that's 38:24.180 --> 38:27.260 not just bragging , that's fact and I 38:27.260 --> 38:29.316 completely agree everything you just 38:29.316 --> 38:32.010 said is accurate today , but you and I 38:32.010 --> 38:34.288 both know as you've alluded to earlier , 38:34.288 --> 38:36.510 if we don't step it up , they are going 38:36.510 --> 38:38.621 to meet us aren't possibly surpass us 38:38.621 --> 38:41.090 and capability if we don't get on pace 38:41.100 --> 38:43.940 to uh make sure we never lose uh 38:44.820 --> 38:48.060 standing with them . Now listen , I 38:48.060 --> 38:50.227 know what you got to say to this , but 38:50.227 --> 38:52.282 I got to ask it , uh every combatant 38:52.282 --> 38:54.338 Commander and service chief has been 38:54.338 --> 38:56.504 before this committee . I've asked did 38:56.504 --> 38:58.393 they support the National Defense 38:58.393 --> 39:00.449 Strategy Commission's recommendation 39:00.449 --> 39:02.560 that we Uh increased defense spending 39:02.560 --> 39:04.560 and foreseeable future 3-5% of over 39:04.560 --> 39:06.671 inflation . Both of you have publicly 39:06.671 --> 39:08.727 stated before the president's budget 39:08.727 --> 39:10.838 came out that that that's the way you 39:10.838 --> 39:13.004 felt as well . How do you feel today ? 39:13.004 --> 39:15.116 Do you still believe that that should 39:15.116 --> 39:17.227 be what we are doing is when it comes 39:17.227 --> 39:17.030 to Defense spending ? Secretary Austin 39:17.030 --> 39:20.740 you first ? Yeah . I support the 39:20.740 --> 39:22.890 President's budget and I as I stated 39:22.890 --> 39:26.680 earlier , so I think that this 39:26.680 --> 39:28.902 budget gives us the ability to go after 39:28.902 --> 39:32.180 the things that that we need to be very 39:32.180 --> 39:34.069 competitive going forward . And I 39:34.069 --> 39:36.230 absolutely agree with you that we are 39:36.230 --> 39:38.350 not only cited on what we're doing 39:38.350 --> 39:41.410 today , but we must be cited on what 39:41.410 --> 39:42.966 the requirements are in the 39:42.966 --> 39:45.188 capabilities will be uh in the future . 39:45.188 --> 39:47.132 And so we're working hard to build 39:47.132 --> 39:49.060 those capabilities to meet those 39:49.060 --> 39:51.200 requirements . And I think , I think 39:51.200 --> 39:54.250 this budget does that . Sure , billy , 39:54.820 --> 39:57.230 I agree . I I fully support this budget , 39:57.230 --> 39:59.397 I would have said it was adequate . If 39:59.397 --> 40:01.286 I didn't as far as the 3 to 5% of 40:01.286 --> 40:03.860 course 3 to 5% or 1% or 2% we could 40:03.860 --> 40:05.900 spend it appropriately with the you 40:05.900 --> 40:08.122 Phyllis etcetera . But the President is 40:08.122 --> 40:11.930 looking um , at a wider angle view for 40:11.930 --> 40:14.097 nations strength , not just a military 40:14.097 --> 40:16.208 strength and it's a combined strength 40:16.208 --> 40:18.080 of the nation . It's critically 40:18.080 --> 40:20.136 important that we have an incredibly 40:20.136 --> 40:22.080 healthy economy . Otherwise you'll 40:22.080 --> 40:24.080 never have a military , you have to 40:24.080 --> 40:23.900 have an educated workforce , You have 40:23.900 --> 40:26.122 to have all of these things in order to 40:26.122 --> 40:28.011 have a good military . So if this 40:28.011 --> 40:30.490 president's budget requires other parts 40:30.500 --> 40:33.630 of the government to have increases for 40:33.630 --> 40:36.410 various reasons , fine . Uh this budget 40:36.420 --> 40:38.760 is adequate to defend the United States 40:38.760 --> 40:41.510 of America . Uh And if given more money , 40:41.510 --> 40:43.066 we would certainly spend it 40:43.066 --> 40:45.121 appropriately and disciplined way in 40:45.121 --> 40:47.232 accordance with the priorities on the 40:47.232 --> 40:49.399 you Phyllis . But I fully support this 40:49.399 --> 40:51.732 budget . Absolutely . Last the question . 40:51.732 --> 40:53.899 Both the chairman and I have been very 40:53.899 --> 40:56.010 frustrated that we got this budget so 40:56.010 --> 40:58.000 late and I fear it's gonna make it 40:58.000 --> 41:00.000 difficult for us to get an approach 41:00.000 --> 41:02.222 bill defense probes and NBA passed in a 41:02.222 --> 41:04.167 reasonable amount of time that may 41:04.167 --> 41:06.333 force the CR secretary often , can you 41:06.333 --> 41:08.167 tell me what the implications of 41:08.167 --> 41:10.880 another CR would be . And so if we have 41:10.880 --> 41:14.470 a Cr uh ranking member 41:14.470 --> 41:16.800 Rogers , it will adversely affect 41:16.800 --> 41:19.420 readiness . It will slow down our 41:19.420 --> 41:23.330 ability to uh to modernize . 41:23.340 --> 41:26.790 It will adversely also adversely affect 41:26.800 --> 41:30.560 uh industry . And and so I think that's 41:30.560 --> 41:33.180 really important . I think uh we need 41:33.180 --> 41:35.530 to do everything we can to prevent 41:36.110 --> 41:38.310 having a detrimental effect on our 41:38.310 --> 41:41.160 ability to to man train and equip the 41:41.160 --> 41:45.060 force . Um And what obviously what the 41:45.070 --> 41:48.530 CR does is it prevents you from uh 41:48.540 --> 41:51.230 from uh initiating new starts . And 41:51.230 --> 41:53.410 that's uh that's a problem . Thank you 41:53.410 --> 41:55.840 Gentlemen . Mr McGill . But Mr Lander 41:55.840 --> 41:57.896 and is recognized for five minutes . 41:57.910 --> 41:59.910 Thank you . Mr Chairman . I want to 41:59.910 --> 42:02.077 thank our witnesses for your testimony 42:02.077 --> 42:01.770 today and for your service to our 42:01.770 --> 42:05.750 nation . I want to pick up where uh 42:05.760 --> 42:07.927 we have just a few minutes ago talking 42:07.927 --> 42:10.340 about uh preparing investing for not 42:10.340 --> 42:12.530 only today , but tomorrow and because 42:12.530 --> 42:14.420 that revolves around research and 42:14.420 --> 42:17.970 development . Mr Secretary , The FY 22 42:17.970 --> 42:20.450 budget uh is the largest request for 42:20.450 --> 42:22.394 research development testing uh an 42:22.394 --> 42:25.060 evaluation to date , which I applaud 42:25.070 --> 42:27.360 yet overall , basic and applied 42:27.360 --> 42:30.780 research funding is down from Fy 21 . I 42:30.780 --> 42:33.790 think this is a mistake . And given 42:33.790 --> 42:36.520 just by way of example , that COVID-19 42:36.520 --> 42:39.260 vaccine was a result of basic defense 42:39.260 --> 42:42.710 research 5-10 years ago which resulted 42:42.710 --> 42:45.090 in uh the M . RNA vaccine being 42:45.090 --> 42:47.146 developed . That was directly from a 42:47.146 --> 42:49.312 DARPA project . That early and applied 42:49.312 --> 42:51.312 research . Thank God that that that 42:51.312 --> 42:53.470 research actually bore fruit and then 42:53.470 --> 42:56.190 it happened in the first place . So I 42:56.190 --> 42:58.840 appreciate that in our our conversation 42:58.850 --> 43:01.060 on monday , you said that you would 43:01.060 --> 43:03.690 look into it . Uh My question is , will 43:03.690 --> 43:05.468 you commit to getting me a firm 43:05.468 --> 43:07.523 assessment of why we cut these vital 43:07.523 --> 43:09.746 budget lines by mid july so that we can 43:09.746 --> 43:11.720 consider it during the N . D . A . 43:15.400 --> 43:18.600 Let me just say again that this is the 43:18.600 --> 43:21.480 largest investment in R . D . R . D . T . 43:21.480 --> 43:23.920 Any that this department has ever made . 43:24.300 --> 43:26.740 Which speaks to our commitment to uh to 43:26.750 --> 43:28.694 ensure that we're investing in the 43:28.694 --> 43:30.694 right things to make sure that were 43:30.694 --> 43:32.730 relevant in the future . And I 43:32.730 --> 43:34.930 absolutely agree with you on the 43:34.930 --> 43:38.100 importance of uh uh resourcing science 43:38.100 --> 43:40.322 and technology and other things . And I 43:40.322 --> 43:42.860 would also say that the areas that 43:42.860 --> 43:46.320 you're concerned about uh while 43:46.700 --> 43:50.200 Uh if you look at our investment 43:50.210 --> 43:53.540 uh this year for this budget for 22 , 43:53.550 --> 43:55.772 it's actually above what the forecasted 43:55.772 --> 43:58.820 investment was in uh 21 , not what they 43:58.820 --> 44:01.100 were resource for but actually what 44:01.100 --> 44:03.433 they asked for in the budget . You know , 44:03.433 --> 44:06.610 we've asked for more . So again we will 44:06.610 --> 44:09.440 work hard to make sure that we have uh 44:09.450 --> 44:11.506 you know , the right money is in the 44:11.506 --> 44:14.140 right place , uh to to ensure that we 44:14.140 --> 44:17.270 maintain a robust capability uh in in 44:17.280 --> 44:20.640 in this realm . But you just give me a 44:20.650 --> 44:22.650 yes or no answer . If you look into 44:22.650 --> 44:24.761 that that assessment , you said you'd 44:24.761 --> 44:27.380 give me if we can get it before uh the 44:27.390 --> 44:29.446 timeframe so that we can consider in 44:29.446 --> 44:31.779 the N . D . A . I would appreciate that . 44:31.779 --> 44:34.001 Okay , thank you . Um Next , I'm really 44:34.001 --> 44:36.057 concerned with how the department is 44:36.057 --> 44:38.001 addressed electromagnetic spectrum 44:38.001 --> 44:40.057 Operations . Our adversaries clearly 44:40.057 --> 44:42.168 investing in technologies to dominate 44:42.168 --> 44:43.946 the domain while we continue to 44:43.946 --> 44:46.112 consider it uh an afterthought in some 44:46.112 --> 44:49.070 ways from my perspective , uh What uh 44:49.080 --> 44:51.247 when can we expect the electromagnetic 44:51.247 --> 44:53.480 spectrum uh superiority strategy , 44:53.490 --> 44:55.601 implementation plan . And what do you 44:55.601 --> 44:57.657 think is the first step to regaining 44:57.657 --> 45:01.570 our advantage ? Well , the first 45:01.570 --> 45:05.400 step to it , uh making sure that we 45:05.410 --> 45:07.670 maintain an advantage is to make sure 45:07.670 --> 45:11.340 that that we have a coordinated uh 45:11.350 --> 45:13.350 effort across the board to identify 45:13.350 --> 45:15.572 what the threats are and make sure that 45:15.572 --> 45:17.628 we have the right capabilities to be 45:17.628 --> 45:19.517 dominant in that space . Our vice 45:19.517 --> 45:21.461 chairman is currently leading this 45:21.461 --> 45:25.210 effort on for for our forces and 45:25.210 --> 45:28.120 and uh you know , I'm confident that as 45:28.120 --> 45:30.120 he works his way through this along 45:30.120 --> 45:32.287 with our deputy secretary , we'll come 45:32.287 --> 45:34.509 back with some good recommendations and 45:34.509 --> 45:36.509 and uh and we'll implement uh those 45:36.509 --> 45:38.830 that are appropriate . Secretary . The 45:38.840 --> 45:41.840 next Department Defense officially 45:41.840 --> 45:45.010 recognizes five domains of warfare . I 45:45.010 --> 45:47.220 think we all agree that cybersecurity 45:47.220 --> 45:49.331 is the national Security challenge of 45:49.331 --> 45:53.050 the 21st century . Uh The 44 of 45:53.050 --> 45:55.910 those domains uh I 45:56.590 --> 46:00.000 uh the senior uh civilian is 46:00.000 --> 46:02.550 a service secretary . Cyber has a 46:02.550 --> 46:04.772 deputy assistant secretary which is for 46:04.772 --> 46:07.060 rungs lower than the the other 46:07.060 --> 46:09.210 warfighting domains . Why does this 46:09.220 --> 46:11.480 make sense ? Especially when U . S . 46:11.480 --> 46:13.770 Service members are in contact with an 46:13.770 --> 46:16.010 engaging our adversaries in cyberspace 46:16.010 --> 46:19.540 daily ? Well , cyber 46:19.550 --> 46:22.640 isn't is obviously incredibly important 46:22.640 --> 46:24.696 to us I think were very effective in 46:24.696 --> 46:26.862 this domain . And I think uh currently 46:26.862 --> 46:29.990 we have the the right oversight for uh 46:30.000 --> 46:32.280 for our cyber efforts . Matter of fact , 46:32.280 --> 46:34.391 I was just out with General Nicholson 46:34.391 --> 46:36.558 here a couple weeks ago reviewing what 46:36.558 --> 46:39.250 he's doing and and uh and looking at 46:39.250 --> 46:41.417 his programs talking to his troops and 46:41.417 --> 46:43.472 I'm very impressed by the capability 46:43.472 --> 46:45.639 that he continues to develop and we're 46:45.639 --> 46:47.900 investing in cyber . You know , $10.4 46:47.900 --> 46:51.790 billion in this budget uh focused 46:51.790 --> 46:54.410 on cyber . And uh so it's important to 46:54.410 --> 46:56.632 us and it will remain important to us . 46:56.980 --> 46:59.870 Mhm . Thanks jim . Are you bet Mr 46:59.870 --> 47:02.092 Wilson is recognized for five minutes . 47:02.092 --> 47:04.314 Thank you . Mr Chairman . and I want to 47:04.314 --> 47:06.930 thank our witnesses for your service as 47:06.930 --> 47:10.070 a 31 year army veteran myself , as the 47:10.080 --> 47:12.220 grateful dead of four sons who have 47:12.220 --> 47:15.400 served in Iraq Egypt and Afghanistan . 47:15.580 --> 47:17.302 I particularly appreciate your 47:17.302 --> 47:19.524 dedication and Uh and what you mean for 47:19.524 --> 47:21.691 our troops , the military families and 47:21.700 --> 47:23.533 for each of you the issue of pit 47:23.533 --> 47:25.950 production . I'm grateful that in the 47:25.950 --> 47:28.920 FY 22 presidential budget request , it 47:28.920 --> 47:31.070 fully funds the modernization of our 47:31.070 --> 47:33.290 nuclear triad . A credible nuclear 47:33.290 --> 47:35.590 deterrent is key to maintaining peace 47:35.600 --> 47:38.130 during great power competition . This 47:38.130 --> 47:40.740 requires modernized and robust nuclear 47:40.740 --> 47:42.907 weapons infrastructure , including the 47:42.907 --> 47:45.550 capability to produce plutonium pits . 47:45.590 --> 47:47.810 Doctor charlie Burton , the acting 47:47.810 --> 47:49.960 administrator of the National Nuclear 47:49.960 --> 47:52.127 Security Administration , Secretary of 47:52.127 --> 47:54.238 Energy General for Grand Home . In an 47:54.238 --> 47:57.340 essay , nominee Jill ruby and Admiral 47:57.340 --> 47:59.070 Charles Richard all on record 47:59.070 --> 48:01.650 supporting a two site solution for pit 48:01.650 --> 48:03.560 production . In addition , just 48:03.560 --> 48:05.500 yesterday , general john Heighten 48:05.510 --> 48:07.800 reinforced the importance of a two 48:07.800 --> 48:10.480 sites solution . In a letter to ranking 48:10.480 --> 48:12.570 member Mike Turner , I request 48:12.570 --> 48:15.030 unanimous consent to enter direct the 48:15.030 --> 48:16.090 letter into record 48:19.670 --> 48:21.781 without objection . So ordered . Okay 48:22.370 --> 48:24.920 Secretary Austin and Chairman Millie , 48:24.930 --> 48:27.260 do you agree that limiting pit 48:27.260 --> 48:29.580 production to one site leaves us too 48:29.580 --> 48:31.870 little redundancy ? One of the benefits 48:31.870 --> 48:33.592 of a two sites solution to the 48:33.592 --> 48:35.640 resiliency of our nuclear weapons 48:35.640 --> 48:37.600 infrastructure to establish peace 48:37.600 --> 48:39.711 through strength . Secretary Austin . 48:41.770 --> 48:43.770 Well , thank you and first of all , 48:43.770 --> 48:45.992 thank you for your incredible service . 48:45.992 --> 48:48.580 Uh very , very impressive . And we're 48:48.580 --> 48:51.790 grateful um on the issue of uh 48:52.370 --> 48:55.600 pit production . As you know , um The 48:55.600 --> 48:57.650 Department of Energy is the lead 48:57.660 --> 49:00.540 element for that and oversees the 49:00.540 --> 49:03.120 efforts of in N . S . A . We work with 49:03.120 --> 49:05.342 the Department of Energy to ensure that 49:05.342 --> 49:07.453 we have uh you know , the right right 49:07.453 --> 49:09.720 approach . We want to make sure that we 49:09.720 --> 49:13.280 have uh you know , adequate resources 49:13.290 --> 49:16.240 in terms of pits in other elements that 49:16.240 --> 49:19.970 go into uh into supporting our 49:19.970 --> 49:22.480 triad there . So uh we're gonna 49:22.490 --> 49:24.750 continue to do a review of our overall 49:24.750 --> 49:26.750 capabilities and as we review those 49:26.750 --> 49:29.130 capabilities will determine , you know , 49:29.130 --> 49:31.410 what what the appropriate amount of 49:31.420 --> 49:33.790 appropriate number of sites ought to be . 49:35.370 --> 49:38.290 And and hey and in accordance with the 49:38.290 --> 49:40.457 President's budget , do you support to 49:40.457 --> 49:44.160 sites I support the President's 49:44.160 --> 49:46.450 budget and with two sites . Thank you . 49:46.450 --> 49:49.830 Excuse me , General Milley . Yes , I'm 49:49.830 --> 49:51.941 aligned with general recommendation . 49:51.941 --> 49:53.830 Yes . So we talked about it . The 49:53.830 --> 49:55.774 broader issue of course is the the 49:55.774 --> 49:57.774 number one priority actually in the 49:57.774 --> 49:59.774 budget is a recapitalization of the 49:59.774 --> 50:01.497 nuclear enterprise and and the 50:01.497 --> 50:03.441 secretary directed nuclear posture 50:03.441 --> 50:03.260 review . That's ongoing . We'll see 50:03.260 --> 50:05.371 what the results are . But in general 50:05.371 --> 50:07.538 as a general comment here , the entire 50:07.538 --> 50:09.260 nuclear enterprise needs to be 50:09.260 --> 50:11.204 recapitalized and includes the pit 50:11.204 --> 50:13.204 production of two sites . Thank you 50:13.204 --> 50:15.204 very much for each of you . And Sir 50:15.204 --> 50:17.093 Terry Austin . Guam is a critical 50:17.093 --> 50:19.316 western pacific theater of operations , 50:19.316 --> 50:21.590 logistical hub hub from the navy and a 50:21.590 --> 50:24.260 priority target sadly for the chinese 50:24.260 --> 50:27.280 Communist Party , the patriotic 50:27.290 --> 50:29.310 american territory of Guam is 50:29.310 --> 50:31.254 appreciated for having the highest 50:31.254 --> 50:33.366 percentage of military service of any 50:33.366 --> 50:35.590 state or territory . The missile 50:35.590 --> 50:38.290 defense agencies , fy 22 requests 50:38.290 --> 50:41.660 includes 118.3 million to develop an 50:41.660 --> 50:43.827 architecture for the defense of Guam . 50:43.827 --> 50:45.740 Still , the FDA does not have a 50:45.740 --> 50:48.070 detailed plan exactly what it would be 50:48.560 --> 50:51.020 given . China's increasingly hostile 50:51.020 --> 50:53.300 posture in peacetime military build up 50:53.310 --> 50:55.532 the largest peacetime military build up 50:55.532 --> 50:58.380 in the history of the world . What can 50:58.380 --> 51:00.324 we expect the status of a detailed 51:00.324 --> 51:02.047 overview of the system and its 51:02.047 --> 51:03.269 deployment timeline ? 51:06.060 --> 51:09.060 Uh As the chairman mentioned earlier , 51:09.070 --> 51:11.400 Guam is part of the United States of 51:11.400 --> 51:13.233 America and the United States of 51:13.233 --> 51:15.840 America . We will make sure that we we 51:15.840 --> 51:18.280 have appropriate adequate defense 51:18.280 --> 51:20.280 mechanisms to protect our territory 51:20.280 --> 51:23.920 here . Uh and you know , $118 million 51:23.920 --> 51:27.680 that we've allocated for uh missile 51:27.680 --> 51:31.580 defense is a , is a start as we develop 51:31.590 --> 51:34.020 integrated capabilities uh in terms of 51:34.020 --> 51:36.400 a specific timeline of when that , when 51:36.400 --> 51:38.400 our assessment and our work will be 51:38.400 --> 51:40.344 completed , I'll take that for the 51:40.344 --> 51:42.344 record . Uh um Congressman Wilson , 51:42.344 --> 51:45.480 thank you . And finally Uh Israel has 51:45.480 --> 51:48.630 been subject to 4500 Iranian rockets 51:48.640 --> 51:51.690 from Gaza by Hamas . But the iron dome 51:51.690 --> 51:53.746 has been successful , Miss Secretary 51:53.746 --> 51:57.160 will be um working more closely to 51:57.160 --> 51:58.380 promote iron dome . 52:01.150 --> 52:03.261 You've heard of say a number of times 52:03.261 --> 52:05.372 that , you know , we are committed to 52:05.372 --> 52:07.510 the defence of Israel and uh you know 52:07.510 --> 52:11.060 met with a um and I do apologize , 52:11.060 --> 52:14.430 gentleman's time has expired . Um so we 52:14.430 --> 52:16.486 will move on to Mr Larson and if you 52:16.490 --> 52:18.657 want to take that one for the record , 52:18.657 --> 52:20.990 we can do that . Mr Larson is right now . 52:21.250 --> 52:24.050 Thank you . Mr uh Dr Austin for the 52:24.050 --> 52:26.272 last several months . Media is reported 52:26.272 --> 52:28.410 on a number of damning substantial 52:28.410 --> 52:30.466 issues within the Special Operations 52:30.466 --> 52:33.620 Forces ranks . Um I want to know what 52:33.620 --> 52:35.953 jodi is doing to transparently identify , 52:35.953 --> 52:37.731 track and respond to reports of 52:37.731 --> 52:39.680 misconduct and soft 52:43.250 --> 52:45.560 in terms of what the department is 52:45.560 --> 52:49.120 doing to focus on , that . We have not 52:49.120 --> 52:52.070 taken any additional actions . Uh as 52:52.070 --> 52:54.870 you know , we have a a 52:55.480 --> 52:56.270 a 52:59.850 --> 53:02.340 we have additional oversight over 53:02.340 --> 53:05.840 Special Operations Command now . Uh huh . 53:05.850 --> 53:08.310 And that person reports directly to me , 53:08.320 --> 53:10.990 he's got a dual track Reporting 53:10.990 --> 53:13.790 responsibility one directly to me , one 53:13.800 --> 53:16.970 too to our policy so that we can make 53:16.970 --> 53:18.803 sure that special operations are 53:18.803 --> 53:21.620 integrated in policy . I've spoken with 53:21.620 --> 53:24.000 a commander of Special Operations 53:24.000 --> 53:26.260 command . Uh He is focused on these 53:26.260 --> 53:29.560 issues and uh he is uh he's really uh 53:29.950 --> 53:32.090 digging in to make sure that he 53:32.090 --> 53:34.146 understands the nature of the issues 53:34.146 --> 53:36.146 and taking preventative measures to 53:36.146 --> 53:38.800 ensure that those types of things don't 53:38.800 --> 53:40.770 occur in the future . It's a real 53:40.770 --> 53:42.714 serious issue and I appreciate you 53:42.714 --> 53:44.910 taking it seriously . And on that last 53:44.910 --> 53:47.132 point you've made um we've talked a lot 53:47.132 --> 53:49.299 about domains but I want to I want you 53:49.299 --> 53:51.630 to uh Change your brain a little bit 53:51.630 --> 53:53.630 here literally because I wanna talk 53:53.630 --> 53:55.797 about the cognitive domain so calm and 53:55.797 --> 53:57.963 soft as they want to focus on in terms 53:57.963 --> 54:00.019 of improving the cognitive domain of 54:00.019 --> 54:01.963 our war fighters . And saw as like 54:01.963 --> 54:04.297 there's a $10.2 million dollar requests , 54:04.297 --> 54:06.519 very small requests in the budget , but 54:06.519 --> 54:09.600 for investment in common domain 54:09.600 --> 54:12.930 improving , Um , the impact of soft 54:12.930 --> 54:15.380 training and improving the outcomes so 54:15.380 --> 54:17.602 that maybe we are getting a little more 54:17.602 --> 54:19.769 preventive . Can you talk a little bit 54:19.769 --> 54:23.690 about what your plan is , um , uh , to 54:23.690 --> 54:26.110 spend this $10.2 million ? I know it's 54:26.110 --> 54:28.277 a tiny bit of the budget is not as big 54:28.277 --> 54:30.443 as some parts of the budget , but it's 54:30.443 --> 54:32.666 an important part we're tracking well . 54:32.666 --> 54:35.450 So calm has , uh , has led our our 54:35.450 --> 54:37.840 forces in terms of developing ways to 54:37.840 --> 54:41.180 make our warriors more efficient , more 54:41.180 --> 54:43.402 effective on the battlefield . And this 54:43.402 --> 54:45.402 is one of those things that they've 54:45.402 --> 54:47.569 been looking at for some time in terms 54:47.569 --> 54:51.200 of specific plans to uh , to 54:51.210 --> 54:54.220 invest those monies into various pieces 54:54.220 --> 54:56.164 and parts . I'll take that for the 54:56.164 --> 54:58.498 record because I don't have those facts . 54:58.498 --> 55:00.776 Uh , I had my fingertips , that's fine . 55:00.776 --> 55:02.887 I think it's more about resilience of 55:02.887 --> 55:05.740 the warfighter before they , before we 55:05.740 --> 55:08.430 put them in to a situation . So when 55:08.430 --> 55:10.652 they come out they're more resilient as 55:10.652 --> 55:13.910 well . Um , just um , can you 55:13.920 --> 55:17.240 briefly then uh we describe a little 55:17.240 --> 55:19.407 bit , how are you working to implement 55:19.407 --> 55:22.820 directive 5111.10 That's the asd select 55:22.830 --> 55:26.360 directive that deaf hicks put out 55:27.640 --> 55:29.807 mm . Are you working to implement that 55:29.807 --> 55:33.130 directive ? Well , as you know , our 55:33.140 --> 55:35.800 our nominee to occupy that position is 55:35.810 --> 55:39.600 has yet to be confirmed . But as chris 55:39.600 --> 55:42.810 Mayer and once he is confirmed , uh I 55:42.810 --> 55:45.032 have every confidence that he will do a 55:45.032 --> 55:47.570 great job and making sure that he keeps 55:47.570 --> 55:50.520 me informed of uh , of his needs , in 55:50.520 --> 55:54.240 terms of service type needs uh and also 55:54.250 --> 55:57.260 what they're doing operationally . Um 55:57.840 --> 56:00.062 He will sit in on regular meetings with 56:00.062 --> 56:02.620 me or report directly to me on all 56:02.620 --> 56:04.880 service issues , service type issues . 56:04.890 --> 56:08.370 Uh and he will also 56:08.380 --> 56:10.560 integrate his activities in with our 56:10.560 --> 56:14.400 policy branch who of course 56:14.410 --> 56:16.466 we'll ensure that , you know , those 56:16.466 --> 56:18.521 activities are synchronized with the 56:18.521 --> 56:20.410 rest of the force . But uh but to 56:20.410 --> 56:22.632 answer your question , we are moving on 56:22.632 --> 56:25.570 on this to to uh to realize Congress's 56:25.570 --> 56:27.810 intent here . Thank you . General 56:27.810 --> 56:30.100 Milley don't want to let you go here 56:30.110 --> 56:32.166 that question . And this sense about 56:32.166 --> 56:33.999 the about the arctic . There's a 56:33.999 --> 56:35.721 broader , you know , a broader 56:35.721 --> 56:37.832 coordination that needs to take place 56:37.832 --> 56:39.888 throughout the U . S . Government on 56:39.888 --> 56:41.777 arctic policy generally . But the 56:41.777 --> 56:41.580 Defense Department has a piece of this . 56:41.590 --> 56:44.550 Can you articulate how the department 56:44.730 --> 56:46.760 sees the arctic from a national 56:46.760 --> 56:48.982 security through national security lens 56:49.230 --> 56:50.897 And then what you're doing to 56:50.897 --> 56:52.897 coordinate among the services , the 56:52.897 --> 56:55.170 desperate ideas they have for presence 56:55.180 --> 56:58.320 in that region . U- 27 seconds . Um , 56:58.330 --> 57:00.270 I'll give you a fulsome answer in 57:00.270 --> 57:02.548 writing . I'll take that . But briefly , 57:02.548 --> 57:04.603 uh , we recognize the importance and 57:04.603 --> 57:06.770 the increasingly growing importance of 57:06.770 --> 57:08.992 the arctic as climate change causes the 57:08.992 --> 57:11.214 arctic ice to melt and resources become 57:11.214 --> 57:13.437 available , it's going to become an era 57:13.437 --> 57:15.603 of our area of great power competition 57:15.603 --> 57:17.770 between United States china and Russia 57:17.770 --> 57:19.826 and perhaps other power as well . So 57:19.826 --> 57:21.992 I'll give you more full written answer 57:21.992 --> 57:20.950 on disposition of force and what we 57:20.950 --> 57:22.950 have planned ahead . Uh One comment 57:22.950 --> 57:25.006 though , if I could real quick and I 57:25.006 --> 57:27.228 know she was going to cut me off on the 57:27.228 --> 57:29.228 Special Operations Forces . Uh , We 57:29.228 --> 57:31.061 have the most disciplined vetted 57:31.061 --> 57:33.117 Special Operations force out there . 57:33.117 --> 57:35.339 I'm aware of the reports . Talk to Rich 57:35.339 --> 57:37.506 Clark as well as the Secretary . We're 57:37.506 --> 57:36.850 getting after that very , very closely . 57:36.860 --> 57:39.200 But we have exceptionally disciplined 57:39.200 --> 57:41.144 and well vetted Special Operations 57:41.144 --> 57:43.089 Forces . Thank you . General Simon 57:43.089 --> 57:45.200 expired . Mr Turner is recognized for 57:45.200 --> 57:47.533 five minutes . Thank you . Mr Secretary . 57:47.533 --> 57:49.811 Thank you . Mr Chairman . Mr Secretary . 57:49.811 --> 57:51.811 As you know , we're undertaking our 57:51.811 --> 57:53.978 budgetary hearings and as part of that 57:53.978 --> 57:56.140 testifying before us was acting Navy 57:56.140 --> 57:59.330 Secretary thomas Harker . Um he and I 57:59.330 --> 58:02.580 had an exchange about a June 4 , 2021 58:02.580 --> 58:05.470 memorandum that he wrote directing the 58:05.470 --> 58:09.050 Navy to defund the sea launched cruise 58:09.050 --> 58:11.680 missile , nuclear capable for a 58:11.680 --> 58:15.450 budgetary um year 2023 . 58:15.920 --> 58:18.660 The budget that you have before us and 58:18.660 --> 58:21.770 that you are testifying before is 2022 . 58:21.780 --> 58:24.340 And it fully funds this program . 58:24.350 --> 58:26.070 Yesterday I sent you a letter 58:26.070 --> 58:28.237 concerning my exchange with the acting 58:28.237 --> 58:30.403 secretary and I'm not going to ask you 58:30.403 --> 58:32.626 for a decision today , but I do want to 58:32.626 --> 58:34.792 engage you about his testimony and the 58:34.792 --> 58:37.070 importance of what I have asked of you . 58:37.070 --> 58:39.250 Um The acting secretary acknowledged 58:39.260 --> 58:41.840 that he requested that this be defunded . 58:42.320 --> 58:44.450 He testified that he did not consult 58:44.450 --> 58:46.710 with anyone in the pentagon . And in 58:46.710 --> 58:48.821 fact , both of you , Secretary Austin 58:48.821 --> 58:50.988 and General Milley have testified that 58:50.988 --> 58:54.110 you were not consulted . Also , Admiral 58:54.110 --> 58:56.510 Richard stratcom was not consulted . An 58:56.510 --> 59:00.180 Admiral Richard testifies that this um 59:00.190 --> 59:02.090 this missile is a much needed , 59:02.100 --> 59:04.590 nonstrategic regional presence to 59:04.590 --> 59:07.000 provide assured response capability . 59:07.010 --> 59:09.121 That it provides additional diversity 59:09.121 --> 59:11.720 in platforms and survivability , that 59:11.720 --> 59:14.330 it provides limited US response options . 59:14.340 --> 59:17.490 It is more credible deterrent and it 59:17.500 --> 59:20.500 allows us to not rely on the threat of 59:20.500 --> 59:23.720 large scale nuclear responses . Now , 59:23.720 --> 59:25.942 the acting secretary went on to tell us 59:25.942 --> 59:28.930 um that um he acknowledged that we're 59:28.930 --> 59:30.680 currently under analysis of 59:30.680 --> 59:32.569 alternatives with respect to this 59:32.569 --> 59:34.569 missile . And of course the nuclear 59:34.569 --> 59:36.791 posture review is ongoing and indicated 59:36.791 --> 59:38.847 that he was not qualified to have an 59:38.847 --> 59:41.069 opinion in either of those with respect 59:41.069 --> 59:43.124 to this missile . And yet he felt he 59:43.124 --> 59:45.236 was qualified to cancel it . Now it's 59:45.236 --> 59:46.958 always concerning when we have 59:46.958 --> 59:49.180 testimony , as we have from the both of 59:49.180 --> 59:51.180 you concerning China's and Russia's 59:51.180 --> 59:53.347 modernization and when we have what is 59:53.347 --> 59:55.458 basically a bureaucratic intervention 59:55.458 --> 59:58.040 in what the important processes are in 59:58.040 --> 01:00:00.151 determining what our capabilities are 01:00:00.151 --> 01:00:02.373 going to be in the future as we respond 01:00:02.373 --> 01:00:04.596 to our adversaries capabilities . Now , 01:00:04.596 --> 01:00:06.818 the Acting secretary also affirmatively 01:00:06.818 --> 01:00:08.818 acknowledged and that he understood 01:00:08.818 --> 01:00:10.940 that his memorandum was untimely in 01:00:10.940 --> 01:00:12.996 that the President United States was 01:00:12.996 --> 01:00:15.107 about ready to sit down with Vladimir 01:00:15.107 --> 01:00:16.940 Putin and that it undermined the 01:00:16.940 --> 01:00:19.162 President United States because as he's 01:00:19.162 --> 01:00:21.180 trying to engage Vladimir Putin in 01:00:21.810 --> 01:00:25.480 treaty negotiations for arms control . 01:00:25.610 --> 01:00:27.832 Certainly , Vladimir Putin doesn't care 01:00:27.832 --> 01:00:29.999 about arms control . If we're going to 01:00:29.999 --> 01:00:32.221 unilaterally be giving up platforms and 01:00:32.221 --> 01:00:34.443 the Acting Secretary on his own , as he 01:00:34.443 --> 01:00:36.388 says , without consulting anyone , 01:00:36.388 --> 01:00:38.443 signal to Russia and our adversaries 01:00:38.443 --> 01:00:40.277 and our allies that what Admiral 01:00:40.277 --> 01:00:42.443 Richard says is an important component 01:00:42.443 --> 01:00:44.388 of our overall capabilities Is not 01:00:44.388 --> 01:00:46.660 going to be pursued in 2023 . Now , 01:00:46.670 --> 01:00:48.726 I've sent you a letter asking you to 01:00:48.726 --> 01:00:50.559 rescind this because we have the 01:00:50.559 --> 01:00:52.970 testimony directly from the acting 01:00:52.970 --> 01:00:55.137 secretary saying he's not qualified to 01:00:55.137 --> 01:00:56.748 make this decision , that he 01:00:56.748 --> 01:00:58.637 understands it affects the United 01:00:58.637 --> 01:01:00.692 States standing and our arms control 01:01:00.692 --> 01:01:02.414 negotiations posture . That he 01:01:02.414 --> 01:01:04.526 understands that Admiral Richard says 01:01:04.526 --> 01:01:06.692 that it's an important capability that 01:01:06.692 --> 01:01:06.420 we have going forward in the future . 01:01:06.460 --> 01:01:09.020 Now , I'm not going to ask you today to 01:01:09.030 --> 01:01:12.920 uh to commit to rescinding this . But I 01:01:12.920 --> 01:01:15.470 do want to ask you , are you concerned 01:01:15.470 --> 01:01:17.359 about this process that an acting 01:01:17.359 --> 01:01:19.192 secretary could issue memorandum 01:01:19.192 --> 01:01:21.800 canceling a very important nuclear 01:01:21.800 --> 01:01:23.744 weapons program without consulting 01:01:23.744 --> 01:01:26.330 anyone in the pentagon . He testified 01:01:26.330 --> 01:01:28.552 here that he had not consulted anyone . 01:01:28.552 --> 01:01:30.330 You both testified you were not 01:01:30.330 --> 01:01:32.497 consulted . Admiral Richard , who says 01:01:32.497 --> 01:01:34.163 it's essential for the future 01:01:34.163 --> 01:01:36.330 capabilities and references what china 01:01:36.330 --> 01:01:38.552 and Russia is doing for modernization , 01:01:38.552 --> 01:01:40.552 says he was not consulted . And the 01:01:40.552 --> 01:01:42.663 acting secretary himself acknowledges 01:01:42.663 --> 01:01:44.886 that it undermines the President of the 01:01:44.886 --> 01:01:47.108 United States . Does that concern you ? 01:01:47.310 --> 01:01:50.970 Make two points very quickly . The 01:01:50.980 --> 01:01:53.600 first point is , the nuclear triad is 01:01:53.600 --> 01:01:56.230 very important to us . Uh and I'm fully 01:01:56.230 --> 01:01:59.150 committed to its modernization . The 01:01:59.150 --> 01:02:01.206 second point I would make is that we 01:02:01.206 --> 01:02:03.690 have , we've said a number of times 01:02:03.690 --> 01:02:05.930 that we're going to conduct a nuclear 01:02:05.930 --> 01:02:08.910 posture review and in in that review 01:02:08.910 --> 01:02:11.077 we're going to ensure that we have the 01:02:11.077 --> 01:02:13.077 right balance and mix of forces and 01:02:13.077 --> 01:02:15.990 capabilities . Uh , I think that any 01:02:16.000 --> 01:02:19.340 any announcements or decisions about Fy 01:02:19.340 --> 01:02:22.510 23 prior to the termination of that 01:02:22.510 --> 01:02:25.380 review or completion of that review is 01:02:25.380 --> 01:02:27.269 premature . Thank you . Secretary 01:02:27.269 --> 01:02:29.380 really do appreciate General Milley . 01:02:29.380 --> 01:02:31.269 Um , I want to thank you for your 01:02:31.269 --> 01:02:33.547 service . I did on the phone yesterday . 01:02:33.547 --> 01:02:35.713 I think your credibility is incredibly 01:02:35.713 --> 01:02:37.547 important to both for allies and 01:02:37.547 --> 01:02:39.602 adversaries . Do you believe Ukraine 01:02:39.602 --> 01:02:41.658 deserves lethal weapons support from 01:02:41.658 --> 01:02:43.491 United States ? I do . And we've 01:02:43.491 --> 01:02:45.602 provided lethal weapons in the past , 01:02:45.602 --> 01:02:45.100 but they're lethal weapons for 01:02:45.100 --> 01:02:47.810 defensive purposes only . I'll go back . 01:02:48.300 --> 01:02:50.720 Thank you . Dear Courtney is recognized 01:02:50.720 --> 01:02:52.609 for five minutes . Thank you , Mr 01:02:52.609 --> 01:02:54.664 Chairman and thank you again to both 01:02:54.664 --> 01:02:56.776 witnesses , um and Secretary Austin . 01:02:56.776 --> 01:02:58.887 You know , I just wanted to follow up 01:02:58.887 --> 01:03:00.831 one point , which is , man I'm not 01:03:00.831 --> 01:03:00.780 going to ask you to comment on it , but 01:03:00.780 --> 01:03:03.530 the the budget did come over later than 01:03:03.530 --> 01:03:05.363 normal . But , um , I think it's 01:03:05.363 --> 01:03:07.350 important to remember that the 01:03:07.350 --> 01:03:09.640 transition team had an unprecedented 01:03:09.640 --> 01:03:12.170 level of lack of cooperation in terms 01:03:12.170 --> 01:03:14.003 of getting into the building and 01:03:14.003 --> 01:03:16.280 sitting down and really using november 01:03:16.280 --> 01:03:18.510 and december and early january as an 01:03:18.510 --> 01:03:20.677 opportunity to get a head start on the 01:03:20.677 --> 01:03:22.899 budget process . And to me , you know , 01:03:22.899 --> 01:03:25.100 just common sense tells us that that's 01:03:25.100 --> 01:03:27.680 one of the reasons why we're sort of a 01:03:27.690 --> 01:03:29.690 little late this year . But again , 01:03:29.690 --> 01:03:31.912 this committee is going to work hard to 01:03:31.912 --> 01:03:33.968 make sure that our mark proceeds and 01:03:33.968 --> 01:03:36.190 we're gonna do everything we can to get 01:03:36.190 --> 01:03:39.250 regular order . Um Both of you have 01:03:39.250 --> 01:03:41.270 talked in the Service Chiefs in the 01:03:41.270 --> 01:03:43.270 last couple weeks have stressed the 01:03:43.270 --> 01:03:45.437 importance of deterring pacing threats 01:03:45.437 --> 01:03:47.603 to our nation , particularly china and 01:03:47.603 --> 01:03:49.548 Russia . The fiscal year 22 budget 01:03:49.548 --> 01:03:52.590 includes a very noticeable strong boost 01:03:52.590 --> 01:03:54.812 and an investment . The Navy's undersea 01:03:54.812 --> 01:03:57.034 force which uh , General Milley alluded 01:03:57.034 --> 01:03:59.170 to briefly earlier here . Attack subs 01:03:59.170 --> 01:04:01.503 the Columbia ballistic sub program in R . 01:04:01.503 --> 01:04:03.337 And D . For the follow on to the 01:04:03.337 --> 01:04:06.020 Virginia program . Can you mr . 01:04:06.020 --> 01:04:08.242 Secretary and general just sort of talk 01:04:08.242 --> 01:04:10.464 about how that undersea priority aligns 01:04:10.464 --> 01:04:12.353 with the goal to match the pacing 01:04:12.353 --> 01:04:14.409 threat in the indo pacific region as 01:04:14.409 --> 01:04:16.409 well as increased Russian submarine 01:04:16.409 --> 01:04:18.520 activity in the north atlantic in the 01:04:18.520 --> 01:04:20.890 article . Yeah . First of all , we have 01:04:20.890 --> 01:04:24.400 the most dominant uh naval force in the 01:04:24.410 --> 01:04:27.760 on the face of the planet . Uh , and a 01:04:27.770 --> 01:04:31.030 key port piece of that is , you know , 01:04:31.030 --> 01:04:34.320 what are key piece of that capability 01:04:34.320 --> 01:04:36.580 is what our submarine force brings to 01:04:36.580 --> 01:04:39.960 the uh , to the table . Uh , it is 01:04:39.960 --> 01:04:42.350 absolutely relevant to the future fight . 01:04:42.360 --> 01:04:44.810 Uh , it is necessary . And so I , I 01:04:44.810 --> 01:04:47.050 think our investments here are well 01:04:47.050 --> 01:04:49.720 placed , uh , in , yeah , I'll leave it 01:04:49.720 --> 01:04:53.610 at that congressman . I would say 01:04:53.610 --> 01:04:57.000 that relevance to future fight . Um , 01:04:58.290 --> 01:05:00.012 couple of things to consider . 01:05:00.012 --> 01:05:03.000 Survivability . Small , small is better . 01:05:03.390 --> 01:05:06.900 Dispersal and submarines by their 01:05:06.900 --> 01:05:09.640 nature are extraordinarily survivable . 01:05:09.700 --> 01:05:11.990 They're very lethal . And they are one 01:05:11.990 --> 01:05:14.212 of the significant asymmetric advantage 01:05:14.212 --> 01:05:16.434 is that the United States has . We have 01:05:16.434 --> 01:05:18.657 an incredible submarine force and it is 01:05:18.657 --> 01:05:20.823 probably the most lethal weapon on the 01:05:20.823 --> 01:05:20.320 battlefield in some future operating 01:05:20.320 --> 01:05:22.431 environment . So continued investment 01:05:22.431 --> 01:05:24.764 in subs is well worth it . Great . Well , 01:05:24.764 --> 01:05:26.820 thank you . And again , I've been on 01:05:26.820 --> 01:05:28.876 sea power for 15 years . This , this 01:05:28.876 --> 01:05:28.750 year's budget . There's , it's 01:05:28.760 --> 01:05:31.390 unmatched in terms of the proposed 01:05:31.400 --> 01:05:33.567 spending levels . And um , and I think 01:05:33.567 --> 01:05:36.320 it's worthy to again share that point . 01:05:36.330 --> 01:05:38.497 The number one acquisition authority , 01:05:38.497 --> 01:05:41.590 which both admiral guild and I think 01:05:41.600 --> 01:05:43.656 even general million others over the 01:05:43.656 --> 01:05:45.933 years has said is the Columbia program , 01:05:45.933 --> 01:05:48.044 which is recapitalizing the sea based 01:05:48.044 --> 01:05:51.040 leg of our triad . Um I was actually at 01:05:51.050 --> 01:05:54.010 E . B . On monday um and caught up with 01:05:54.010 --> 01:05:56.121 the program . There . They are now at 01:05:56.121 --> 01:05:59.140 85% design completion as construction 01:05:59.140 --> 01:06:01.500 begins . That is an unprecedented level 01:06:01.500 --> 01:06:03.722 of design completion and a shipbuilding 01:06:03.722 --> 01:06:05.833 program , which is a way of debugging 01:06:05.833 --> 01:06:08.290 uh the program to get the design done 01:06:08.290 --> 01:06:10.512 and make sure that then you just follow 01:06:10.512 --> 01:06:13.370 the requirements and stay within budget . 01:06:13.380 --> 01:06:16.530 That's there . In 2015 , this 01:06:16.530 --> 01:06:19.130 committee enacted the National Sea Bass 01:06:19.130 --> 01:06:21.880 Deterrence Fund , which was recognizing 01:06:21.880 --> 01:06:24.047 the bow wave of spending that Colombia 01:06:24.047 --> 01:06:26.269 was going to bring with it and it's set 01:06:26.269 --> 01:06:28.840 up again sort of um special authorities 01:06:28.840 --> 01:06:32.280 for multi year production for materials 01:06:32.290 --> 01:06:34.700 for different components of the program . 01:06:34.710 --> 01:06:37.043 It has saved millions of dollars in CBO , 01:06:37.043 --> 01:06:39.230 has has validated that , however , I 01:06:39.230 --> 01:06:41.330 would just note um and I think Mr 01:06:41.330 --> 01:06:43.497 Whitman would agree on this is that it 01:06:43.497 --> 01:06:45.608 really has been under utilized by the 01:06:45.608 --> 01:06:47.719 pentagon . And we in this year's Mark 01:06:47.719 --> 01:06:49.830 are going to continue to pursue other 01:06:49.830 --> 01:06:52.500 opportunities to get savings and 01:06:52.500 --> 01:06:54.770 efficiencies through the National Sea 01:06:54.770 --> 01:06:56.770 based Defense Fund . I've talked to 01:06:56.770 --> 01:06:59.360 undersecretary Hicks and Mr uh 01:06:59.370 --> 01:07:01.380 Stephanie about um you know these 01:07:01.380 --> 01:07:03.860 opportunities that are there , but 01:07:03.870 --> 01:07:06.310 again there's there's no time to waste 01:07:06.310 --> 01:07:08.143 in terms of getting this program 01:07:08.143 --> 01:07:10.366 complete . I know General Hillier , you 01:07:10.366 --> 01:07:12.532 took a rain check to come up and visit 01:07:12.532 --> 01:07:14.810 the South yard where the production is . 01:07:14.810 --> 01:07:17.032 It's it's eye watering when you come up 01:07:17.032 --> 01:07:19.254 and hopefully you'll join us soon to to 01:07:19.254 --> 01:07:21.477 sort of see this very important program 01:07:21.477 --> 01:07:23.699 for our country . I will I will do that 01:07:23.699 --> 01:07:25.921 car . Great . And without a year back , 01:07:26.980 --> 01:07:28.869 Mr Lamborn is recognized for five 01:07:28.869 --> 01:07:30.980 minutes . Thank you . Mr Chairman and 01:07:30.980 --> 01:07:33.147 Chairman Smith . I received a study by 01:07:33.147 --> 01:07:35.313 a retired commander of Air Force Space 01:07:35.313 --> 01:07:37.536 Command in NORAD North calm and another 01:07:37.536 --> 01:07:39.702 lieutenant general saying that the Air 01:07:39.702 --> 01:07:41.758 Force never fully considered keeping 01:07:41.758 --> 01:07:43.869 Space command in its current location 01:07:43.980 --> 01:07:46.147 and doing so would save over a billion 01:07:46.147 --> 01:07:48.202 dollars and save seven years . And I 01:07:48.202 --> 01:07:50.202 ask unanimous consent to place this 01:07:50.202 --> 01:07:51.924 into the record , hearing your 01:07:51.924 --> 01:07:53.869 objection so ordered . Thank you . 01:07:53.980 --> 01:07:56.670 Secretary Austin this monday the 01:07:56.680 --> 01:07:58.680 Taliban seized control of a key 01:07:58.680 --> 01:08:02.620 district of Kunduz province in the 01:08:02.620 --> 01:08:05.310 north of Afghanistan and it's the 01:08:05.310 --> 01:08:06.921 latest in a series of recent 01:08:06.921 --> 01:08:08.921 battlefield victories . After peace 01:08:08.921 --> 01:08:10.820 talks have stalled , Dozens of 01:08:10.820 --> 01:08:12.764 districts have been taken over the 01:08:12.764 --> 01:08:14.876 Taliban since May one when NATO began 01:08:14.876 --> 01:08:17.170 withdrawing . And you've said that , 01:08:17.180 --> 01:08:19.013 you quote , we're looking at the 01:08:19.013 --> 01:08:21.236 situation every day with a fresh set of 01:08:21.236 --> 01:08:23.530 eyes to see if you know the pace we are 01:08:23.530 --> 01:08:25.900 setting is the appropriate pace unquote . 01:08:26.570 --> 01:08:29.430 So , given the accelerating pace of 01:08:29.430 --> 01:08:31.830 Taliban victories and control of key 01:08:31.830 --> 01:08:34.310 districts since we've been withdrawing 01:08:34.310 --> 01:08:37.970 since May one . How are things going ? 01:08:37.970 --> 01:08:40.137 I mean , is that an appropriate is our 01:08:40.137 --> 01:08:42.303 withdrawal at an appropriate pace when 01:08:42.303 --> 01:08:44.470 they're picking up all these districts 01:08:44.470 --> 01:08:47.750 around the country ? Mhm . Well , thank 01:08:47.750 --> 01:08:51.180 you . We are focused on the task set . 01:08:51.190 --> 01:08:53.490 We've been that we have at hand is to 01:08:54.070 --> 01:08:56.820 conduct our retrograde in a safe , 01:08:56.830 --> 01:08:59.500 orderly and responsible fashion . 01:09:00.070 --> 01:09:02.930 We've developed a very detailed plan to 01:09:02.930 --> 01:09:06.760 do that and uh and we have accomplished 01:09:06.770 --> 01:09:09.830 the task according to plan thus far , 01:09:09.840 --> 01:09:13.560 uh and and really provided for the 01:09:13.560 --> 01:09:16.140 safety of not only our forces but our 01:09:16.140 --> 01:09:18.050 allies as well , and will remain 01:09:18.050 --> 01:09:21.610 focused on that . Uh Well , as a follow 01:09:21.610 --> 01:09:24.110 up on that , none of us want to see a 01:09:24.110 --> 01:09:28.040 bloodbath after we withdraw for unless 01:09:28.050 --> 01:09:30.106 you said there'd be a small presence 01:09:30.106 --> 01:09:32.380 guarding diplomatic personnel , but 01:09:32.380 --> 01:09:34.324 none of us want to see a bloodbath 01:09:34.324 --> 01:09:35.991 against women and Children in 01:09:35.991 --> 01:09:38.047 particular or against former U . S . 01:09:38.047 --> 01:09:42.020 Supporters like translators . So how 01:09:42.030 --> 01:09:44.086 how are we going to prevent that ? I 01:09:44.086 --> 01:09:46.520 mean , how how will the over the 01:09:46.520 --> 01:09:49.870 horizon process work , which I'm kind 01:09:49.870 --> 01:09:51.037 of skeptical about . 01:09:54.370 --> 01:09:57.210 So I would just point out to the on the 01:09:57.220 --> 01:09:59.500 on the over over the horizon piece 01:10:00.260 --> 01:10:02.740 we're doing over the horizon . Now we 01:10:02.740 --> 01:10:05.670 don't have very much s are on on the 01:10:05.670 --> 01:10:07.670 ground in Afghanistan . It's coming 01:10:07.670 --> 01:10:10.560 from the from the gulf countries uh , 01:10:10.560 --> 01:10:12.782 and our fighters support is also coming 01:10:12.782 --> 01:10:16.130 from either platforms at sea or from 01:10:16.130 --> 01:10:18.297 the gulf countries as well . So we can 01:10:18.297 --> 01:10:21.170 do that . We have been doing it and uh 01:10:21.180 --> 01:10:23.291 and we're doing it very effectively . 01:10:23.560 --> 01:10:26.140 What we'd like to do going forward is 01:10:26.140 --> 01:10:28.950 shorten the legs that were required to 01:10:28.960 --> 01:10:32.310 uh to utilize by 01:10:32.320 --> 01:10:35.370 uh getting an agreement with one of the 01:10:35.370 --> 01:10:38.320 neighboring countries uh to base some 01:10:38.320 --> 01:10:40.690 of our eyes are uh in one of those 01:10:40.690 --> 01:10:43.900 countries , but you know , we're doing 01:10:43.900 --> 01:10:46.300 that effectively now . So it is , it is 01:10:46.300 --> 01:10:48.356 not only possible , it is what we're 01:10:48.356 --> 01:10:51.970 doing uh in terms of um 01:10:52.660 --> 01:10:54.560 taking care of women and girls in 01:10:54.560 --> 01:10:57.670 Afghanistan . Let me also at the very 01:10:57.670 --> 01:11:00.060 top say I really appreciate the 01:11:00.060 --> 01:11:02.370 bipartisan support that we've seen for 01:11:02.370 --> 01:11:04.950 for this . And I would also point to 01:11:04.950 --> 01:11:07.680 you that and you've mentioned this that 01:11:07.690 --> 01:11:10.180 our plan is to maintain an embassy 01:11:10.180 --> 01:11:12.470 there and through the embassy will 01:11:12.470 --> 01:11:15.250 continue to work programs that are 01:11:15.250 --> 01:11:18.020 focused on women and girls . And I 01:11:18.020 --> 01:11:19.964 would defer to secretary blink and 01:11:19.964 --> 01:11:22.131 really outlined that . I don't want to 01:11:22.131 --> 01:11:24.298 speak for him . Okay , thank you . And 01:11:24.298 --> 01:11:26.520 we all do bipartisanly share that those 01:11:26.520 --> 01:11:28.580 concerns . Is it at all possible to 01:11:28.580 --> 01:11:31.130 keep bagram Air Force Base ? 01:11:32.360 --> 01:11:35.580 Could I make a comment , Secretary ? So 01:11:35.590 --> 01:11:38.270 a couple of quick comments here on bob 01:11:38.270 --> 01:11:41.190 Graham Bartram is not necessary 01:11:41.190 --> 01:11:43.412 tactically operationally for what we're 01:11:43.412 --> 01:11:45.412 going to try to do here with , with 01:11:45.412 --> 01:11:49.320 Afghanistan consolidate on Kabul with 01:11:49.330 --> 01:11:51.441 in support of their government . Look 01:11:51.441 --> 01:11:53.663 to back up a little bit on the momentum 01:11:53.663 --> 01:11:55.886 of the Taliban , so to speak . Um there 01:11:55.886 --> 01:11:58.540 there's 81 district centers that have 01:11:58.550 --> 01:12:00.439 that are currently , we think are 01:12:00.439 --> 01:12:02.661 underneath Taliban control . That's out 01:12:02.661 --> 01:12:05.400 of 419 district centers . There's no 01:12:05.400 --> 01:12:07.570 provincial capital that is underneath 01:12:07.950 --> 01:12:09.950 The Taliban control . In this 34 of 01:12:09.950 --> 01:12:12.750 those , it is true that the Taliban are 01:12:12.890 --> 01:12:16.000 sniping at and picking off uh outpost 01:12:16.000 --> 01:12:18.000 except er and they have seized some 01:12:18.000 --> 01:12:20.700 district centers , Uh 60% of the 81 01:12:20.710 --> 01:12:23.870 were seized last year . Uh And and the 01:12:23.870 --> 01:12:26.760 other since uh last two months or so . 01:12:26.770 --> 01:12:29.310 So yes we're concerned we're watching 01:12:29.310 --> 01:12:31.740 it , but there's a 300,000 plus or 01:12:31.740 --> 01:12:34.850 minus uh military force , Afghanistan 01:12:34.860 --> 01:12:37.860 army uh and police force uh And it is 01:12:37.860 --> 01:12:39.860 their job to defend their country . 01:12:39.860 --> 01:12:41.971 We're going to continue to have a new 01:12:41.971 --> 01:12:43.916 relation again . I do apologize to 01:12:43.916 --> 01:12:45.916 Germans . Time has well I owe you a 01:12:45.916 --> 01:12:48.027 better answer and I'll get you one in 01:12:48.027 --> 01:12:50.193 in writing . Okay . Thank you . Okay . 01:12:50.193 --> 01:12:52.193 Mr Garamendi is recognized for five 01:12:52.193 --> 01:12:54.082 minutes . Thank you . Mr Chairman 01:12:54.250 --> 01:12:56.306 Secretary Austin General . Thank you 01:12:56.306 --> 01:12:58.306 very much for your service for your 01:12:58.306 --> 01:13:00.470 testimony today . A couple of things 01:13:00.470 --> 01:13:02.581 I'd like to get into . Uh I think the 01:13:02.581 --> 01:13:06.330 US is spending $770 billion , 01:13:06.340 --> 01:13:09.780 more or less China . About 250 01:13:09.790 --> 01:13:13.080 billion India 73 . Russia 61 . 01:13:13.750 --> 01:13:15.972 Just proportions here to keep in mind , 01:13:16.350 --> 01:13:18.239 the question really is how are we 01:13:18.239 --> 01:13:20.406 spending it and are we spending it the 01:13:20.406 --> 01:13:24.170 most effective way possible ? Um 01:13:25.950 --> 01:13:28.330 General you said the things in answer 01:13:28.330 --> 01:13:30.386 to Mr Rogers question , you said the 01:13:30.386 --> 01:13:32.760 things that concern you most are cyber 01:13:33.150 --> 01:13:36.810 subs new weapons such as hypersonic 01:13:36.820 --> 01:13:40.760 space and ai artificial intelligence . 01:13:42.350 --> 01:13:45.940 However all of you want to 01:13:45.950 --> 01:13:49.440 maintain the triad Which will be a 01:13:49.440 --> 01:13:52.650 trillion plus over the next 15 years or 01:13:52.650 --> 01:13:55.680 so . 20 years . Maybe one element of 01:13:55.680 --> 01:13:58.560 that is the G . BSD . The replacement 01:13:58.560 --> 01:14:02.220 of the Minuteman three . The reality is 01:14:02.220 --> 01:14:04.200 the minuteman three can be life 01:14:04.200 --> 01:14:07.760 extended if we were to pause 01:14:09.040 --> 01:14:12.990 the G . BSD for yeah 12 to 01:14:12.990 --> 01:14:15.980 15 years . During which time the 01:14:15.980 --> 01:14:18.530 minuteman three could serve the same 01:14:18.530 --> 01:14:22.470 purpose and serve it well . Can 01:14:22.470 --> 01:14:26.470 save somewhere north of $37 billion 01:14:26.470 --> 01:14:30.340 10 years . If you 01:14:30.340 --> 01:14:33.450 had $37 billion , which one of those 01:14:33.460 --> 01:14:36.560 unfunded priorities ? 01:14:37.640 --> 01:14:40.270 Would you spend it on cyber 01:14:42.040 --> 01:14:45.370 subs , new weapons , hypersonic , 01:14:45.940 --> 01:14:49.570 long range fires , space 01:14:49.570 --> 01:14:53.010 security , artificial intelligence . 01:14:54.940 --> 01:14:56.884 What would you do with $37 billion 01:14:56.884 --> 01:15:01.270 G.BSD 01:15:03.040 --> 01:15:07.000 Secretary Austin ? So um , 01:15:07.010 --> 01:15:10.300 the the evaluation of the the G . 01:15:10.300 --> 01:15:13.990 BSD . Uh , it's something that we will 01:15:13.990 --> 01:15:16.600 do as a part of or in the context of 01:15:16.600 --> 01:15:19.410 the nuclear posture review . And uh , 01:15:19.420 --> 01:15:22.590 and and we'll take a deliberate in 01:15:22.600 --> 01:15:24.990 earnest look at where we are and where 01:15:24.990 --> 01:15:27.720 we need to go in the future I think no 01:15:27.720 --> 01:15:29.887 matter what funds you have available . 01:15:29.887 --> 01:15:32.030 And I appreciate the question . Uh , 01:15:32.040 --> 01:15:35.030 it's always a question of kind of rank 01:15:35.030 --> 01:15:37.890 ordering capabilities that we need in 01:15:37.890 --> 01:15:40.001 light of the threat , the threat that 01:15:40.001 --> 01:15:42.210 we're facing . Uh and that would be 01:15:42.210 --> 01:15:44.266 deliberate work with the services to 01:15:44.266 --> 01:15:46.570 make sure that uh that you know , we 01:15:46.580 --> 01:15:48.691 were meeting the most pressing need . 01:15:51.040 --> 01:15:53.262 Congressman . Thanks for the question . 01:15:53.262 --> 01:15:55.484 I would not recommend taking that money 01:15:55.484 --> 01:15:57.484 away and putting it elsewhere . The 01:15:57.484 --> 01:15:59.707 recapitalization of the entire tried to 01:15:59.707 --> 01:16:01.873 include the G . BSD is critical to our 01:16:01.873 --> 01:16:04.096 nation's security and delay of 12 to 15 01:16:04.096 --> 01:16:06.230 years . Uh huh . You'll have a gap , 01:16:06.240 --> 01:16:08.462 you'll have a gap in the land based leg 01:16:08.462 --> 01:16:10.296 according to the reports and the 01:16:10.296 --> 01:16:12.407 studies I've seen . I'll get with you 01:16:12.407 --> 01:16:14.240 offline and go through it from a 01:16:14.240 --> 01:16:16.407 technical standpoint , get the experts 01:16:16.407 --> 01:16:18.518 in . But what I've been briefed is in 01:16:18.518 --> 01:16:20.851 order to make sure that there is no gap . 01:16:20.851 --> 01:16:22.962 We need to continue the investment in 01:16:22.962 --> 01:16:25.073 the G . BSD without delay . I'll take 01:16:25.073 --> 01:16:27.400 advantage of that offline online formal 01:16:27.400 --> 01:16:29.511 in for most everywhere you want to do 01:16:29.511 --> 01:16:31.456 it . But I think the facts are not 01:16:31.456 --> 01:16:33.580 clear . I think the facts are quite 01:16:33.580 --> 01:16:36.280 clear that we could pause the G B S D 01:16:36.280 --> 01:16:39.280 and B Secure with the minuteman three 01:16:39.280 --> 01:16:42.010 as it is life extended over that period 01:16:42.010 --> 01:16:44.290 of time And there is $37 billion 01:16:44.290 --> 01:16:46.460 dollars available there . Um 01:16:48.930 --> 01:16:52.270 The could you describe the 01:16:52.280 --> 01:16:55.640 pacific Initiative war games were 01:16:55.640 --> 01:16:57.420 mentioned many times here . The 01:16:57.420 --> 01:17:00.300 question I want to raise is can we 01:17:00.300 --> 01:17:03.450 sustain the fight in the pacific ? Do 01:17:03.450 --> 01:17:06.750 we have the necessary transport ? 01:17:09.030 --> 01:17:12.770 Yeah . So from a military 01:17:12.770 --> 01:17:14.881 standpoint , can we sustain the fight 01:17:14.881 --> 01:17:16.937 in the pacific against china ? And I 01:17:16.937 --> 01:17:19.159 think what we're talking about is a war 01:17:19.159 --> 01:17:21.270 against china . I think a war against 01:17:21.270 --> 01:17:23.437 china would be an enormous , expensive 01:17:23.437 --> 01:17:25.640 undertaking in terms of all measures . 01:17:25.650 --> 01:17:28.120 Uh and and I would be concerned about 01:17:28.120 --> 01:17:30.110 the ability to sustain a long term 01:17:30.110 --> 01:17:32.054 conflict . The idea though , is to 01:17:32.054 --> 01:17:34.410 deter conflict uh and to keep great 01:17:34.410 --> 01:17:36.577 power , competition at competition and 01:17:36.577 --> 01:17:39.250 not get it into conflict . But if if we 01:17:39.250 --> 01:17:41.640 had a war with china , uh sustaining a 01:17:41.640 --> 01:17:44.450 fight would be a significant challenge . 01:17:44.460 --> 01:17:46.627 There's no question about it . I would 01:17:46.627 --> 01:17:48.793 just add on their uh sir that we would 01:17:48.793 --> 01:17:50.960 look to prosecute that fight in a much 01:17:50.960 --> 01:17:53.127 different fashion . Uh And I know that 01:17:53.127 --> 01:17:55.460 you worked your way through all of this , 01:17:55.470 --> 01:17:58.850 distributed resilient capabilities . Uh 01:17:59.230 --> 01:18:02.440 Five domains and 01:18:03.120 --> 01:18:05.176 So it's a different look . Generally 01:18:05.176 --> 01:18:07.176 time has expired . Miss Hartzler is 01:18:07.176 --> 01:18:10.150 recognized for five minutes . Mhm . 01:18:10.520 --> 01:18:12.670 Thank you . Mr Chairman . Thank you . 01:18:12.670 --> 01:18:14.720 Gentlemen . Secretary Austin . Our 01:18:14.730 --> 01:18:17.200 aircraft carriers are in high demand 01:18:17.200 --> 01:18:19.367 and I understand that you're having to 01:18:19.367 --> 01:18:21.589 make difficult decisions about where to 01:18:21.589 --> 01:18:23.700 send them . Already . This year , two 01:18:23.700 --> 01:18:25.756 carriers have undertaken double pump 01:18:25.756 --> 01:18:27.900 deployments . That means the service 01:18:27.900 --> 01:18:30.220 lives on our tactical aviation aircraft 01:18:30.220 --> 01:18:32.387 are being drawn down even more rapidly 01:18:32.387 --> 01:18:34.640 than previously planned . The Navy 01:18:34.650 --> 01:18:36.450 currently has a strike fighter 01:18:36.450 --> 01:18:40.260 shortfall of 49 aircraft . Despite 01:18:40.270 --> 01:18:42.580 this , the budget request has proposed 01:18:42.580 --> 01:18:44.520 to shift procurement dollars from 01:18:44.520 --> 01:18:46.464 building the new block three super 01:18:46.464 --> 01:18:48.600 hornets into development of the next 01:18:48.600 --> 01:18:50.822 generation replacement aircraft , which 01:18:50.822 --> 01:18:53.044 is not slated to have initial operating 01:18:53.044 --> 01:18:55.650 capability until the 20 thirties . So 01:18:55.660 --> 01:18:58.240 taken into consideration the operations 01:18:58.240 --> 01:19:00.407 tempo of our carrier fleet demanded by 01:19:00.407 --> 01:19:02.630 our security environment . The strike 01:19:02.630 --> 01:19:04.870 fighter shortfall possible attrition of 01:19:04.870 --> 01:19:08.100 aircraft If 35 c costs , the 01:19:08.100 --> 01:19:10.240 likelihood of the next generation air 01:19:10.240 --> 01:19:12.240 dominant schedule could continue to 01:19:12.240 --> 01:19:14.920 slip to the right . Are you concerned 01:19:14.920 --> 01:19:17.400 about having sufficient tactical 01:19:17.410 --> 01:19:20.050 aviation fleet to deter and respond to 01:19:20.050 --> 01:19:23.760 china in the near term short answer 01:19:23.760 --> 01:19:26.700 is I I believe that we'll have , uh , 01:19:26.710 --> 01:19:28.766 if we stay on pace and invest in the 01:19:28.766 --> 01:19:30.710 things that we want to invest in , 01:19:30.710 --> 01:19:33.000 we'll have the right capabilities to uh 01:19:33.010 --> 01:19:36.300 to match our strategy going forward and 01:19:36.300 --> 01:19:39.950 our support our operating concepts 01:19:40.010 --> 01:19:43.900 again . Uh I think that you 01:19:43.900 --> 01:19:46.067 have to make decisions to invest in in 01:19:46.067 --> 01:19:48.067 future capabilities as we discussed 01:19:48.067 --> 01:19:50.289 this morning . Uh and we've worked with 01:19:50.289 --> 01:19:52.511 the services very closely and carefully 01:19:52.511 --> 01:19:54.067 to identify what what those 01:19:54.067 --> 01:19:57.090 requirements are . I think it provides 01:19:57.090 --> 01:19:59.201 too much operational risk in the near 01:19:59.201 --> 01:20:01.312 term and we need to re examine that . 01:20:01.312 --> 01:20:03.423 And uh I'm gonna be working to try to 01:20:03.423 --> 01:20:07.300 get some more F eighteens in this 01:20:07.300 --> 01:20:09.467 year's budget because I believe that's 01:20:09.467 --> 01:20:11.689 too much a shortfall that we have right 01:20:11.689 --> 01:20:13.911 there , but I want to change topics and 01:20:13.911 --> 01:20:16.570 just say how much I appreciate our men 01:20:16.570 --> 01:20:18.792 and women in uniform and I believe that 01:20:18.792 --> 01:20:20.959 they are absolute heroes . They should 01:20:20.959 --> 01:20:23.470 be respected and encouraged in every 01:20:23.470 --> 01:20:26.410 way . And I'm very concerned about the 01:20:26.410 --> 01:20:29.750 recent order that you have uh conducted 01:20:29.760 --> 01:20:31.540 regarding looking at so called 01:20:31.540 --> 01:20:33.540 extremism . And I have sent you two 01:20:33.540 --> 01:20:36.900 letters Mr Secretary asking for the 01:20:36.900 --> 01:20:39.510 definition of what the Department of 01:20:39.510 --> 01:20:42.830 Defense views as extremism and have not 01:20:42.830 --> 01:20:45.910 heard back from you yet . And so could 01:20:45.910 --> 01:20:48.380 you just share with me , Does the 01:20:48.380 --> 01:20:50.324 Department of Defense have a clear 01:20:50.324 --> 01:20:52.670 definition of extremism ? A couple of 01:20:52.670 --> 01:20:54.940 comments on this on this issue ? First 01:20:54.940 --> 01:20:57.250 of all , I think you've heard me say 01:20:57.250 --> 01:21:00.110 that on a number of occasions at 19 , I 01:21:00.110 --> 01:21:03.620 believe that 99.9% of our troops are 01:21:03.620 --> 01:21:06.090 focused on the right things embracing 01:21:06.090 --> 01:21:08.230 the right values each and every day . 01:21:08.710 --> 01:21:12.040 Uh small numbers of uh 01:21:12.510 --> 01:21:16.490 people can in this in this uh area 01:21:16.490 --> 01:21:19.440 can have outsized impact on our 01:21:19.440 --> 01:21:21.551 organization . And so we want to make 01:21:21.551 --> 01:21:23.551 sure that we're providing the right 01:21:23.551 --> 01:21:25.860 climate , the right environment for our 01:21:25.860 --> 01:21:28.980 troops uh to work and live in . We are 01:21:28.980 --> 01:21:31.230 not focused , we are focused on 01:21:31.410 --> 01:21:34.910 extremist behavior , uh not what people 01:21:34.910 --> 01:21:38.650 think our political ideas or religious 01:21:38.650 --> 01:21:41.760 ideas , but extremist behavior . So do 01:21:41.760 --> 01:21:43.982 you have a definition of what extremism 01:21:43.982 --> 01:21:46.960 is and what their behavior is ? Again , 01:21:46.960 --> 01:21:49.127 we're focused on behavior ? Well , you 01:21:49.127 --> 01:21:51.920 had to stand down and you had to pause 01:21:51.920 --> 01:21:54.031 over an entire military for an entire 01:21:54.031 --> 01:21:56.253 day to do training to talk about this . 01:21:56.253 --> 01:21:58.420 And you don't have a definition yet of 01:21:58.420 --> 01:22:00.642 what the purpose was and what extremism 01:22:00.642 --> 01:22:04.420 is the purpose was to uh help 01:22:04.900 --> 01:22:07.067 to have a discussion with our with our 01:22:07.067 --> 01:22:09.233 troops and our leaders on the issue of 01:22:09.233 --> 01:22:10.900 extremism . And that was very 01:22:10.900 --> 01:22:13.170 productive . And again , we were 01:22:13.170 --> 01:22:16.260 focused on those behaviors that don't 01:22:16.270 --> 01:22:19.530 that are not in congruence with our 01:22:19.530 --> 01:22:23.170 values and the military . Okay , that 01:22:23.170 --> 01:22:25.640 there be this commission and have a 01:22:25.640 --> 01:22:27.584 review . And I guess I just want a 01:22:27.584 --> 01:22:29.696 little more information . We're going 01:22:29.696 --> 01:22:31.751 to you're setting up and proposing a 01:22:31.751 --> 01:22:33.973 new screening capability , um ongoing , 01:22:33.973 --> 01:22:36.196 continuous vetting of our men and women 01:22:36.196 --> 01:22:38.362 in uniform and you're going to develop 01:22:38.362 --> 01:22:41.080 a policy to expand user activity . So 01:22:41.090 --> 01:22:43.050 what specifically would you be 01:22:43.050 --> 01:22:45.380 screening for ? So as if you set up the 01:22:45.380 --> 01:22:47.530 screening of our military members , 01:22:47.540 --> 01:22:49.707 what would be , what are you screening 01:22:49.707 --> 01:22:53.430 for ? Our screening is focused on 01:22:53.440 --> 01:22:55.440 screening those applicants that are 01:22:55.440 --> 01:22:57.607 coming into the military . You want to 01:22:57.607 --> 01:22:59.662 make sure that we're bringing in the 01:22:59.662 --> 01:23:01.496 right the right type of people , 01:23:01.496 --> 01:23:03.662 quality of people . So if someone says 01:23:03.662 --> 01:23:05.662 they're for president trump , would 01:23:05.662 --> 01:23:07.860 that be viewed as extremism as I said 01:23:07.860 --> 01:23:09.850 earlier ? Uh , this is not about 01:23:09.850 --> 01:23:13.000 politics . I want our troops to to 01:23:13.000 --> 01:23:15.111 participate in our political system . 01:23:15.111 --> 01:23:17.278 Well , that's what they're fighting to 01:23:17.278 --> 01:23:20.310 defend . And but I will also say that 01:23:20.320 --> 01:23:22.440 uh that we will continue to be a 01:23:22.440 --> 01:23:24.820 diverse , diverse and inclusive 01:23:24.830 --> 01:23:26.886 organization . Now , that's what the 01:23:26.886 --> 01:23:29.060 United States military is all about . 01:23:29.070 --> 01:23:32.470 Generally , time has expired on our I'm 01:23:32.480 --> 01:23:35.590 sorry time has expired . uh miss spears 01:23:35.590 --> 01:23:37.812 recognized for five minutes . Thank you 01:23:37.812 --> 01:23:40.520 Mr chairman um , to both of you . Thank 01:23:40.520 --> 01:23:42.750 you so much for your outreach . Um , I 01:23:42.750 --> 01:23:44.870 want to say to you , uh Secretary 01:23:44.870 --> 01:23:48.150 Austin , you we talked some months ago , 01:23:48.160 --> 01:23:51.600 you're a man of your word . And excuse 01:23:51.600 --> 01:23:55.090 me . I am deeply grateful for the 01:23:55.090 --> 01:23:57.380 statement you put out yesterday . You 01:23:57.380 --> 01:24:00.220 are creating a profound transformation 01:24:00.220 --> 01:24:03.210 in the military as we address sexual 01:24:03.210 --> 01:24:06.100 assault and sexual harassment . So , um , 01:24:06.110 --> 01:24:09.510 thank you . Um I want to 01:24:09.730 --> 01:24:12.840 ask you , I'm deeply concerned about 01:24:12.840 --> 01:24:15.040 the suicide rate in the military right 01:24:15.040 --> 01:24:18.020 now . Um , there have been 10 suicides 01:24:18.030 --> 01:24:20.141 in Alaska already . This year , there 01:24:20.141 --> 01:24:23.500 was a 30% increase in suicides uh last 01:24:23.500 --> 01:24:26.280 year , over the the year before . And 01:24:26.290 --> 01:24:28.790 um , I would like to recommend to you 01:24:28.800 --> 01:24:30.911 much like you did with sexual assault 01:24:30.911 --> 01:24:33.280 and sexual harassment , is to stand up 01:24:33.290 --> 01:24:37.090 a commission to look at um what we 01:24:37.090 --> 01:24:40.210 should be doing to address this . Um , 01:24:40.220 --> 01:24:43.400 I think a frightening situation . Um , 01:24:43.410 --> 01:24:45.920 but that won't be my question . I want 01:24:45.920 --> 01:24:49.300 to um ask you about the climate surveys . 01:24:49.300 --> 01:24:51.522 We spent a lot of time , a lot of money 01:24:51.522 --> 01:24:53.578 on climate surveys and what we found 01:24:53.578 --> 01:24:55.800 out in the Fort Hood Independent Review 01:24:55.800 --> 01:24:57.911 Committee was that they were not even 01:24:57.911 --> 01:24:59.800 looked at . So what steps are you 01:24:59.800 --> 01:25:01.967 taking moving forward to make sure not 01:25:01.967 --> 01:25:04.189 only are the commanders on the ground , 01:25:04.189 --> 01:25:06.022 they're looking at these climate 01:25:06.022 --> 01:25:08.740 surveys each year , but that those 01:25:08.750 --> 01:25:10.972 above them , the senior leadership , is 01:25:10.972 --> 01:25:14.500 looking at them as well . Well , first 01:25:14.500 --> 01:25:17.590 of all , let me thank you personally 01:25:17.600 --> 01:25:20.010 and thank the committee as well for all 01:25:20.010 --> 01:25:23.000 that you have done uh to remain focused 01:25:23.000 --> 01:25:25.222 on the issue of sexual assault , sexual 01:25:25.222 --> 01:25:27.444 harassment , and the resources that you 01:25:27.444 --> 01:25:29.730 continue to provide to uh to make sure 01:25:29.730 --> 01:25:32.050 that we don't lose focus . Uh We truly 01:25:32.050 --> 01:25:34.780 appreciate your support , the survivors 01:25:34.780 --> 01:25:37.600 appreciate your commitment , uh and the 01:25:37.600 --> 01:25:39.767 troops in our ranks appreciate that as 01:25:39.767 --> 01:25:41.989 well . And then and we will get this in 01:25:41.989 --> 01:25:44.780 the right place , uh and it will 01:25:44.780 --> 01:25:46.930 require a lot of hard work , a lot of 01:25:46.940 --> 01:25:49.162 commitment and dedication . And it will 01:25:49.162 --> 01:25:51.360 require resources . And so I would ask 01:25:51.370 --> 01:25:54.980 that uh that you uh continue to support 01:25:54.980 --> 01:25:57.910 us as we as we take this on um 01:25:58.290 --> 01:25:59.210 the 01:26:01.780 --> 01:26:04.310 the the 01:26:06.680 --> 01:26:08.791 could you repeat the last part of the 01:26:08.791 --> 01:26:11.013 question there ? I kind of lost climate 01:26:11.013 --> 01:26:13.320 surveys . Climate surveys . Yeah . So 01:26:13.330 --> 01:26:15.620 uh one of the things that the 01:26:15.630 --> 01:26:18.680 Independent Review Commission uh 01:26:18.690 --> 01:26:20.690 recommended to us is that we take a 01:26:20.690 --> 01:26:22.746 harder look at what we're doing with 01:26:22.746 --> 01:26:25.023 climate surveys , that they be current , 01:26:25.023 --> 01:26:26.912 that they that the leadership pay 01:26:26.912 --> 01:26:29.079 attention to what's going on with them 01:26:29.079 --> 01:26:31.246 and that we refine the surveys to make 01:26:31.246 --> 01:26:30.620 sure that we're asking the right 01:26:30.620 --> 01:26:33.200 questions uh in the surveys and so will 01:26:33.200 --> 01:26:35.600 remain cited on this . And and uh and I 01:26:35.600 --> 01:26:37.711 would agree with you . They only work 01:26:37.711 --> 01:26:40.470 if you use uh the information that's in 01:26:40.470 --> 01:26:43.580 them . Plus if I could make a comment , 01:26:43.580 --> 01:26:45.747 congressman , the climate surveys need 01:26:45.747 --> 01:26:47.747 to be reviewed by the commanders at 01:26:47.747 --> 01:26:49.802 least two levels up previously years 01:26:49.802 --> 01:26:52.024 gone by , for example , they weren't uh 01:26:52.024 --> 01:26:54.191 there were reasons for that because we 01:26:54.191 --> 01:26:56.358 thought it was best to be used only by 01:26:56.358 --> 01:26:55.770 the commander , give free and open 01:26:55.770 --> 01:26:57.992 feedback to the commander and then they 01:26:57.992 --> 01:27:00.048 would take appropriate action . Uh , 01:27:00.048 --> 01:27:02.214 that didn't work . So now what we need 01:27:02.214 --> 01:27:01.930 to do is shift gears and make sure 01:27:01.930 --> 01:27:03.986 those climate surveys are personally 01:27:03.986 --> 01:27:05.986 reviewed by commanders at least two 01:27:05.986 --> 01:27:08.097 levels up on all their subordinates . 01:27:08.097 --> 01:27:10.041 And you're going to do that at all 01:27:10.041 --> 01:27:12.319 installations everywhere , Army , Navy , 01:27:12.319 --> 01:27:14.374 air Force , marines , space force at 01:27:14.374 --> 01:27:16.541 all echelons . So general , let me ask 01:27:16.541 --> 01:27:18.430 you about optempo . Um , we had a 01:27:18.430 --> 01:27:20.541 conversation , um , just earlier this 01:27:20.541 --> 01:27:24.000 week about it . Um , it appears that 01:27:24.480 --> 01:27:27.200 the op tempo has really had a profound 01:27:27.200 --> 01:27:29.830 effect on our service members . I think 01:27:29.830 --> 01:27:33.540 it's starting to impact retention . And 01:27:33.550 --> 01:27:35.772 as I mentioned to you at the time , one 01:27:35.772 --> 01:27:37.772 of the spouses , um , at one of our 01:27:37.772 --> 01:27:39.883 installations had said to me that she 01:27:39.883 --> 01:27:42.160 was concerned every night when she came 01:27:42.160 --> 01:27:44.160 home because she was afraid she was 01:27:44.160 --> 01:27:46.382 going to see her husband hanging in the 01:27:46.382 --> 01:27:48.800 shower . Um What steps are we taking to 01:27:48.800 --> 01:27:51.670 make sure that the training we do is 01:27:51.670 --> 01:27:53.500 necessary and appropriate ? 01:27:59.480 --> 01:28:03.340 General Milley . I'm the training of 01:28:03.340 --> 01:28:05.460 units as commanders , responsibility 01:28:05.690 --> 01:28:07.690 And again to levels up , commanders 01:28:07.690 --> 01:28:09.857 routinely develop their training plans 01:28:09.857 --> 01:28:11.857 back from and get them approved and 01:28:11.857 --> 01:28:14.023 they are tied directly to war plans to 01:28:14.023 --> 01:28:16.190 ensure that the training is focused on 01:28:16.190 --> 01:28:18.412 the readiness and the capability of the 01:28:18.412 --> 01:28:20.579 force to execute those tasks for which 01:28:20.579 --> 01:28:22.634 they required in accordance with the 01:28:22.634 --> 01:28:24.579 various war plans . So it's a very 01:28:24.579 --> 01:28:26.634 focused level of effort has been for 01:28:26.634 --> 01:28:28.801 years and they still are . The broader 01:28:28.801 --> 01:28:31.023 question is optempo . Uh And optempo is 01:28:31.023 --> 01:28:30.620 directly related to the size of the 01:28:30.620 --> 01:28:32.731 force . As the optempo came down from 01:28:32.731 --> 01:28:34.842 the peak of the wars in Afghanistan , 01:28:34.842 --> 01:28:36.953 Iraq . So did the size of the force . 01:28:36.953 --> 01:28:39.009 So the relative optempo on any given 01:28:39.009 --> 01:28:41.064 unit , especially Special Operations 01:28:41.064 --> 01:28:41.000 Forces , which was mentioned earlier , 01:28:41.010 --> 01:28:43.350 still remains high . It's a big concern . 01:28:43.360 --> 01:28:45.249 It impacts all kinds of things to 01:28:45.249 --> 01:28:47.471 include suicides . Uh So that's the key 01:28:47.471 --> 01:28:49.870 metric is the optimal wanna get given a 01:28:49.880 --> 01:28:52.740 general time has expired , we will get 01:28:52.740 --> 01:28:54.851 one more in and then we're gonna take 01:28:54.851 --> 01:28:57.090 our break . Um So Mr scott is 01:28:57.090 --> 01:28:59.090 recognized when he has done , we'll 01:28:59.090 --> 01:29:00.923 take a brief break . Mr scott is 01:29:00.923 --> 01:29:03.257 recognized for five minutes . Thank you . 01:29:03.257 --> 01:29:05.368 Mr Chairman gentlemen . I want you to 01:29:05.368 --> 01:29:06.979 know I support coming out of 01:29:06.979 --> 01:29:09.201 Afghanistan . One of the things that is 01:29:09.201 --> 01:29:11.090 on , I think every member of this 01:29:11.090 --> 01:29:12.979 committee is mind is what's gonna 01:29:12.979 --> 01:29:15.201 happen with special access visas of our 01:29:15.201 --> 01:29:17.470 interpreters and well , I don't expect 01:29:17.470 --> 01:29:19.640 you to necessarily speak in this 01:29:20.170 --> 01:29:22.900 setting about that . I do hope that 01:29:22.900 --> 01:29:25.122 there's progress in the right direction 01:29:25.122 --> 01:29:27.456 with regard to the special access visas . 01:29:27.456 --> 01:29:29.600 And I do hope that um 01:29:32.370 --> 01:29:34.370 that just needs it's just got to be 01:29:34.370 --> 01:29:37.680 done and uh uh huh . one other thing 01:29:37.680 --> 01:29:40.530 that I would mention is uh with regard 01:29:40.530 --> 01:29:42.474 to our troops , I do think that we 01:29:42.474 --> 01:29:44.641 should look at making internet service 01:29:44.970 --> 01:29:48.970 similar to water on the basis for 01:29:48.970 --> 01:29:51.470 our troops . Just make internet service . 01:29:51.480 --> 01:29:54.170 Uh basic utility . It does not sound 01:29:54.170 --> 01:29:56.140 like a That big of a deal . But if 01:29:56.140 --> 01:29:58.560 we're able to save our troops 50 or 60 01:29:58.560 --> 01:30:00.449 or $70 a month , whatever they're 01:30:00.449 --> 01:30:02.671 having to pay for the Internet access , 01:30:02.671 --> 01:30:04.690 it makes a big difference . Two , 01:30:05.060 --> 01:30:07.070 especially to our younger enlisted 01:30:07.070 --> 01:30:10.980 corps . Mm One other comment would be 01:30:10.980 --> 01:30:13.091 after spending time with some of your 01:30:13.091 --> 01:30:15.530 idea teams in Africa . Uh This is not a 01:30:15.540 --> 01:30:17.651 D . O . D . Mission but I do think it 01:30:17.651 --> 01:30:19.540 is uh would be a State Department 01:30:19.540 --> 01:30:22.520 mission or a uh perhaps another State 01:30:22.520 --> 01:30:24.409 Department's mission french State 01:30:24.409 --> 01:30:26.464 Department potentially . But when we 01:30:26.464 --> 01:30:28.631 bring these troops in and we have them 01:30:28.631 --> 01:30:30.798 for 24 months and they come in with an 01:30:30.798 --> 01:30:33.020 eighth grade education . I do not think 01:30:33.020 --> 01:30:32.980 they should leave with an eighth grade 01:30:32.980 --> 01:30:35.036 education . I think that while we're 01:30:35.036 --> 01:30:37.147 training them to fight when we've got 01:30:37.147 --> 01:30:39.424 him seven days a week , 24 hours a day , 01:30:39.424 --> 01:30:41.369 we need to have somebody trying to 01:30:41.369 --> 01:30:43.424 educate those troops that we haven't 01:30:43.424 --> 01:30:43.140 simply trained them to fight and 01:30:43.140 --> 01:30:46.340 release them back on the street uh and 01:30:46.340 --> 01:30:49.310 potentially turn it into the uh the 01:30:49.310 --> 01:30:51.880 photos of the future if you will . Uh 01:30:51.890 --> 01:30:53.890 those are just a couple of things I 01:30:53.890 --> 01:30:56.240 wanted I wanted to mention before I I 01:30:56.250 --> 01:30:58.361 hit on a specific weapon system . And 01:30:58.361 --> 01:31:01.250 uh Secretary Austin , uh General Brown 01:31:01.260 --> 01:31:03.593 and I have met at Robins Air Force Base . 01:31:03.593 --> 01:31:05.593 I know that you have called for the 01:31:05.593 --> 01:31:07.704 drought . The president has asked for 01:31:07.704 --> 01:31:09.927 the drawdown of For the J Show aircraft 01:31:09.927 --> 01:31:13.750 from the 1/16 . I uh I support this 01:31:13.760 --> 01:31:16.440 retirement given the commitment to 01:31:16.440 --> 01:31:18.718 Robins Air Force Base in the A . B . M . 01:31:18.718 --> 01:31:22.630 S mission . I do have concerns about 01:31:22.640 --> 01:31:24.584 the ground moving target indicator 01:31:24.584 --> 01:31:27.790 indication capability . And 01:31:29.160 --> 01:31:31.216 are you convinced that the Air Force 01:31:31.216 --> 01:31:34.090 can provide the GMT I capabilities uh 01:31:34.100 --> 01:31:35.580 with the existing fleet ? 01:31:38.260 --> 01:31:41.540 I am convinced that the Air Force is uh 01:31:41.550 --> 01:31:44.780 continues to upgrade and modernize uh 01:31:44.790 --> 01:31:46.960 its fleet of sensors to ensure that we 01:31:46.960 --> 01:31:49.016 have the capabilities that will need 01:31:49.016 --> 01:31:52.020 going forward . And I'm also very 01:31:52.020 --> 01:31:54.190 encouraged that to know that General 01:31:54.190 --> 01:31:56.470 Brown and has worked with you in terms 01:31:56.470 --> 01:31:59.520 of what the future is uh for for that 01:31:59.520 --> 01:32:01.830 base and other capabilities in the in 01:32:01.830 --> 01:32:03.886 the fleet there . So I would like to 01:32:03.886 --> 01:32:05.941 invite both of you to the Robins Air 01:32:05.941 --> 01:32:08.680 Force Base to to review the A . B . M . 01:32:08.680 --> 01:32:10.736 S . Mission and the good work that's 01:32:10.736 --> 01:32:12.736 going on down there . Uh , a lot of 01:32:12.736 --> 01:32:14.902 good things , a lot of good things are 01:32:14.902 --> 01:32:18.010 happening . Uh General Milley , I mean , 01:32:18.010 --> 01:32:20.380 we've all talked about um 01:32:22.050 --> 01:32:25.470 china a little bit uh this spring , the 01:32:25.470 --> 01:32:27.637 Southtown commander , Admiral Fowler , 01:32:27.637 --> 01:32:29.414 told our committee that our our 01:32:29.414 --> 01:32:31.359 interagency partners in the United 01:32:31.359 --> 01:32:33.470 States pointed out that chinese money 01:32:33.470 --> 01:32:33.080 laundering is the number one 01:32:33.450 --> 01:32:35.561 underwriting source for transnational 01:32:35.561 --> 01:32:37.561 criminal organizations . This is an 01:32:37.750 --> 01:32:39.861 obviously central and south America . 01:32:39.861 --> 01:32:41.639 Our africom Commander , General 01:32:41.639 --> 01:32:43.528 Townsend testified that illegal , 01:32:43.528 --> 01:32:46.390 unreported an unregulated fishing by 01:32:46.390 --> 01:32:48.334 the Chinese Communist Party is the 01:32:48.334 --> 01:32:50.446 primary contributor to a growing food 01:32:50.446 --> 01:32:52.168 crisis that will further drive 01:32:52.168 --> 01:32:54.140 instability in West Africa . So my 01:32:54.140 --> 01:32:57.760 question is , how do we counter this 01:32:57.760 --> 01:33:00.170 ongoing malign activity from china 01:33:00.950 --> 01:33:04.060 around the world ? And what are our 01:33:04.060 --> 01:33:06.280 partners that share our interests and 01:33:06.280 --> 01:33:09.080 our values are doing to help us combat 01:33:09.090 --> 01:33:10.368 that malign activity ? 01:33:12.850 --> 01:33:14.880 The issue of china obviously is not 01:33:14.880 --> 01:33:16.991 just a Western pacific issue , it's a 01:33:16.991 --> 01:33:18.880 global issue . China is a massive 01:33:18.880 --> 01:33:21.400 economy . Um They're developing a first 01:33:21.400 --> 01:33:24.340 rate military uh and they are expanding 01:33:24.350 --> 01:33:26.890 their missions and aspirations globally , 01:33:26.900 --> 01:33:29.440 not just regionally that includes South 01:33:29.440 --> 01:33:31.607 America is at my fellow said in Africa 01:33:31.607 --> 01:33:33.790 and elsewhere , uh and we are working 01:33:33.790 --> 01:33:36.012 closely with our allies and partners in 01:33:36.012 --> 01:33:38.820 all of those regions , uh to counter 01:33:38.820 --> 01:33:40.820 any sort of great power competition 01:33:40.820 --> 01:33:43.420 that they have uh in mind in in each of 01:33:43.420 --> 01:33:45.587 those regions . So we're doing that as 01:33:45.587 --> 01:33:47.809 we speak with with all of the countries 01:33:47.809 --> 01:33:50.031 of our allies and partners that network 01:33:50.031 --> 01:33:52.253 of allies and partners around the world 01:33:52.253 --> 01:33:54.253 is one of the single most important 01:33:54.253 --> 01:33:56.198 things we can do as a nation is to 01:33:56.198 --> 01:33:58.309 maintain it , keep it robust and that 01:33:58.309 --> 01:34:00.253 will help in this competition with 01:34:00.253 --> 01:34:02.309 respect to china . Gentlemen . Thank 01:34:02.309 --> 01:34:01.910 you for your time and your service . 01:34:01.920 --> 01:34:04.200 I'm uh , I'm extremely concerned that 01:34:04.200 --> 01:34:06.478 china is becoming much more aggressive , 01:34:06.478 --> 01:34:08.533 not just with resort to the military 01:34:08.533 --> 01:34:10.700 build up , have treatment of the other 01:34:10.700 --> 01:34:12.811 people of the country . And with that 01:34:12.811 --> 01:34:15.730 we will take a brief recess . My goal 01:34:15.730 --> 01:34:19.620 is to reconvene at 11 45 and when 01:34:19.620 --> 01:34:23.260 we do , Mr , Norcross is up , so we'll 01:34:23.260 --> 01:34:25.371 take a brief recess and we'll be back 01:34:25.371 --> 01:34:24.980 shortly .