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All right , the hearing is in order . 

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We completed a productive classified 

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session down in the SCIF and now we 

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will begin the public portion of this 

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hearing . I welcome back Secretary 

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Hegseth , General Kane , and our acting 

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Controller , Mr . Jay Hurst . Uh , I 

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thank all of them , including their 

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families , for their service . For the 

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dozens of Americans that regularly 

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watch our hearings , my next remarks 

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will be no surprise , but for new 

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viewers , I want to reiterate some 

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context for my remarks . I&#39;ve said this 

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at almost every hearing . We live in 

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the most dangerous security environment 

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since World War II . Every 

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uniformed officer who has come before 

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this committee has agreed with that 

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statement . First and foremost , we&#39;re 

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locked in a competition with Xi Jinping 

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and the Chinese Communist Party . The 

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competition is high stakes , and it is 

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about whether this will be an 

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American-led century or a century 

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defined by authoritarian autocratic 

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regimes that care little for the needs 

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of their citizens or those in 

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neighboring countries . The Chinese 

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Communist Party has accelerated its 

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historic military buildup and its 

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predatory economic practices against 

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Americans and countries the world over . 

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Xi Jinping leads not only China but 

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also an axis of aggressors . This 

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growing alliance cannot be denied . It 

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includes China , Russia , Iran , and 

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North Korea . They&#39;re united around 

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this goal to oppose America&#39;s interests . 

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And the interests of other like-minded 

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democratic countries across the globe . 

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Vladimir Putin&#39;s war of choice in 

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Ukraine has now entered its 5th year . 

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In Putin&#39;s objectives , we hear echoes 

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of the imperialistic ambitions of World 

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War II&#39;s aggressors , including Adolf 

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Hitler . Uh , Vladimir Putin has 

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suffered 1.2 million 

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casualties and failed miserably in his 

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military objectives . Along the way , 

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he has transformed Russia&#39;s economy 

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into one fueled by war , raising the 

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prospect of an even more aggressive 

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Moscow for the foreseeable future . 

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Most of Iran&#39;s leaders are now deceased . 

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But they and those who survived them 

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have consistently sought violence 

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against America , Israel , our Gulf 

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allies , and the Iranian people . We , 

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we saw this during the October 7th 

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massacre . During their continued 

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support for Hezbollah and Hamas and in 

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their desire to engage in nuclear 

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blackmail , Iran&#39;s Ayatollahs have 

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consistently represented a threat to 

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American interests . Kim Jong Un has 

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joined . Mr . Putin&#39;s war of aggression . 

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He continues the military and nuclear 

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buildup that threatens South Korea , 

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Japan , and the United States . Ties 

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have never been closer among these four 

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dictators , among these four 

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dictatorships . They support each 

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other&#39;s aggressive endeavors . They 

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prop each other up financially and they 

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scheme to undermine America&#39;s 

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objectives . We should expect them to 

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continue this behavior . This context 

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plays out across every dimension of 

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national power , the economy , 

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technology , diplomacy , and more . But 

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today we&#39;re here to talk about the 

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military dimension of this competition . 

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These regimes have regularly tried to 

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take force , take by force what they 

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cannot secure through the political 

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process . For that reason , we must be 

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ready to deter conflicts . 

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And if necessary to win them , 

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President Trump has used the US 

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military appropriately and effectively 

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for American interests . He has viewed 

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our adversary adversaries as a united 

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block and has taken action in light of 

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that reality . In Operation Absolute 

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Resolve and associated statecraft , the 

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president removed an aspiring dictator 

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off the board and set up Venezuela for 

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a future aligned with democratic 

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interests . In Operation Midnight 

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Hammer , he sought to eliminate the 

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Ayatollah&#39;s nuclear program . When the 

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Ayatollah chose to double down the 

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president . launched Operation Epic 

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Fury . In that mission , he has worked 

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to remove the regime&#39;s conventional 

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military capabilities and force it back 

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to the table for a permanent solution . 

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While we all mourn the tragic loss of 

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the 14 service members who&#39;ve lost 

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their lives in this conflict , We do so 

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knowing the world is safer without a 

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nuclear Iran . All of these actions are 

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part of a peace through strength 

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strategy . In this approach , we seek 

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first to avoid war , but we take 

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military action when necessary to 

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achieve US interest . And so Mr . 

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Secretary , I&#39;m pleased that you are 

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here testifying today in support of 

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President Trump&#39;s historic $1.5 

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trillion defense budget request . That 

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sum will go a long way toward 

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rebuilding our military capabilities 

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for a generation . I should say upfront 

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that this may be a long hearing . 

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There&#39;s much to discuss . This $1.5 

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trillion request is chock full of 

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important programs and initiatives that 

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are absolutely necessary to secure 

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American interests in the 21st century . 

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I think this funding underpins and 

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accentuates three comparative 

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advantages . The United States 

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possesses over the axis of aggressors . 

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The first comparative advantage America 

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enjoys over our adversaries is that we 

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have the best innovation and industry 

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in the world . So I hope our witnesses 

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today will cover the progress we&#39;ve 

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made in just the past year . Rebuilding 

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the American arsenal . Last year , our 

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reconciliation bill combined with 

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bipartisan appropriation bills achieved 

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about a $1 trillion defense budget . 

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This year&#39;s request would represent a 

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near 50% increase . 

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Every penny of it should be money well 

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spent , making down payments on crucial 

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transformational capabilities such as 

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drone warfare , low-cost 

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munitions , and missile defense . 

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Also last year , Congress and the 

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executive branch achieved historic 

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acquisition reforms . Consequently , 

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we&#39;re well positioned to make huge 

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gains on efficiency this year and in 

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the years to come . Making it much more 

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flexible and a more 

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timely process . I look forward to 

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discussing how we might accelerate . 

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Implementation of these actions . In 

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particular , I&#39;d like to see the 

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Pentagon do more this year to drive 

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competition in the defense industrial 

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base . Competition absolutely drives 

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better outcomes for our service members 

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and taxpayers . Of course our people 

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are the final comparative advantage we 

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have over our adversaries . We&#39;ve 

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enjoyed significant improvements in 

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recruitment and retention , but we need 

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to solidify a merit-based environment . 

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That fully cares for our personnel . I 

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commend you , Mr . Secretary , for your 

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efforts over the past year to do just 

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that . That task will never be finished , 

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of course , but we embrace it gladly 

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and we salute the progress . We will 

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always be striving to care for and 

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equip American service members as much 

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as possible . I look forward to more 

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work between this committee and the 

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department this coming year . With that , 

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I turn to my friend and colleague , 

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Ranking Member Jack Reed . Well , thank 

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you very much , Mr . Chairman and 

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Secretary Hegseth , uh , General Kaine , 

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Mr . Hurst , welcome and please convey 

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my appreciation , all of our 

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appreciation to our military service 

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members and defense civilians . Uh , we 

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owe them our deepest sense of gratitude . 

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Mr . Secretary , this is your first 

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public appearance before this committee 

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in nearly a year . Since your last 

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public testimony , you and President 

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Trump have unwisely taken the United 

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States to war with Iran . You ordered 

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an attack on Venezuela and have 

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directed ongoing illegal boat strike 

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campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific . 

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At your direction , our forces have 

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bombed Yemen , Somalia , Iraq . Syria , 

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Nigeria , and Ecuador . In the United 

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States , you have deployed thousands of 

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troops to cities like Washington , Los 

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Angeles , Chicago , and Portland to 

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police American citizens , and you have 

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personally intervened to end the 

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careers of dozens of military leaders 

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without explanation . These actions 

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will have significant and long-term 

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consequences . Now , you , uh , 

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now you appear before us to ask for a 

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$1.5 trillion budget , a 45% 

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increase above last year . I , I must 

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say I&#39;m skeptical , and such a request 

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demands intense scrutiny . 

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61 days ago , President Trump 

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unilaterally began the war in Iran . He 

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had no coherent strategy . He refused 

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to make a case to the American people 

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or consult Congress . He failed to 

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present any evidence of an immediate 

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threat , and he ignored the advice of 

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military and intelligence experts who 

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warned him of the consequences . Today 

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our nation is in a worse strategic 

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position . The Strait of Hormuz was 

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open . Now it is closed . 13 service 

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members have tragically lost their 

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lives , and more than 400 have been 

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wounded . We have lost dozens of 

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aircraft , sustained significant damage 

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to our bases in the area , and expended 

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an alarming amount of our missile 

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inventory . Morale and readiness across 

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the force , especially among 

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overdeployed units and vessels like the 

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USS Gerald R . Ford aircraft carrier , 

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have suffered . Gasoline and fertilizer 

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prices throughout the world have surged . 

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American families are bearing the cost 

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of a war they wanted nothing to do with 

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and have gained nothing from . And yet 

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Secretary Head said , you declared 

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victory a month ago . On April 8th , 

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you said , in your words , Operation 

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Epic Fury was a historic and 

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overwhelming victory . By any measure , 

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epic Fury decimated Iran&#39;s military and 

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rendered its combat . Forces 

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ineffective for years to come . Let me 

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be clear , tactically , the United 

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States military performance against 

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Iran has been remarkable , and I salute 

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the service members who have executed 

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this mission with skill and bravery . 

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The problem with your statements , Mr . 

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Secretary , is they are dangerously 

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exaggerated . Iran&#39;s hardline regime 

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remains in place . It still retains 

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stockpiles of enriched uranium . And 

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its nuclear program remains viable . 

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Iran&#39;s military retains enough combat 

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effectiveness to keep the conflict at 

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an impasse . Its missiles and drones 

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remain a far greater threat than you 

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have acknowledged , and the regime has 

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demonstrated it can effectively control 

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the Strait of Hormuz when it chooses . 

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Mr . Secretary , I am concerned that 

274
00:11:48,126 --> 00:11:50,126
you have been telling the president 

275
00:11:50,126 --> 00:11:52,237
what he wants to hear instead of what 

276
00:11:52,237 --> 00:11:54,669
he needs to hear . Bold assurances of 

277
00:11:54,669 --> 00:11:56,725
success are a disservice to both the 

278
00:11:56,725 --> 00:11:58,836
commander in chief and the troops who 

279
00:11:58,836 --> 00:12:01,270
risked their lives based on them . Our 

280
00:12:01,270 --> 00:12:04,390
military has performed heroically , but 

281
00:12:04,390 --> 00:12:06,989
military force without Assad&#39;s strategy 

282
00:12:06,989 --> 00:12:10,030
is a path to long-term defeat . I&#39;d 

283
00:12:10,030 --> 00:12:11,863
like to know what options you&#39;re 

284
00:12:11,863 --> 00:12:14,086
considering now , given the course from 

285
00:12:14,086 --> 00:12:16,141
this war and the stalemate President 

286
00:12:16,141 --> 00:12:19,440
Trump has put us in . More broadly , Mr . 

287
00:12:19,489 --> 00:12:21,690
Secretary , too often you have made 

288
00:12:21,690 --> 00:12:23,809
dangerous statements that are 

289
00:12:23,809 --> 00:12:26,500
counterproductive to the mission . You 

290
00:12:26,500 --> 00:12:29,099
boasted about , quote , no stupid rules 

291
00:12:29,099 --> 00:12:31,780
of engagement just days after hundreds 

292
00:12:31,780 --> 00:12:34,099
of Iranian schoolgirls were tragically 

293
00:12:34,099 --> 00:12:36,609
killed in a missile strike . You have 

294
00:12:36,609 --> 00:12:38,831
made troubling statements about showing 

295
00:12:38,831 --> 00:12:42,000
no mercy and no quarter to the Iranians , 

296
00:12:42,450 --> 00:12:44,783
orders that would constitute war crimes . 

297
00:12:45,130 --> 00:12:47,074
As importantly , while our men and 

298
00:12:47,074 --> 00:12:49,297
women are fighting and dying overseas , 

299
00:12:49,297 --> 00:12:51,809
you have focused unduly on your own 

300
00:12:51,809 --> 00:12:54,200
personal agenda . In the past two 

301
00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,311
months alone , you have taken it upon 

302
00:12:56,311 --> 00:12:58,644
yourself to overhaul the chaplain corps . 

303
00:12:58,644 --> 00:13:00,919
Cancel flu vaccine requirements , 

304
00:13:01,010 --> 00:13:03,770
repeal firearm restrictions on military 

305
00:13:03,770 --> 00:13:06,369
posts , and bar service members from 

306
00:13:06,369 --> 00:13:09,090
attending certain universities . Just 

307
00:13:09,090 --> 00:13:11,489
this week , you brought performer Kid 

308
00:13:11,489 --> 00:13:13,890
Rock to an army base to go for a joy 

309
00:13:13,890 --> 00:13:16,809
ride on an Apache helicopter after 

310
00:13:16,809 --> 00:13:19,349
dismissing an earlier investigation 

311
00:13:19,349 --> 00:13:22,390
into the pilots who recklessly chose to 

312
00:13:22,390 --> 00:13:25,369
hover above his home . That runs 

313
00:13:25,369 --> 00:13:27,202
directly counter to the chain of 

314
00:13:27,202 --> 00:13:29,258
command . And maintaining good order 

315
00:13:29,258 --> 00:13:31,750
and discipline , most disturbingly , 

316
00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:33,649
during your tenure you have fired 

317
00:13:33,649 --> 00:13:35,593
dozens of our most senior military 

318
00:13:35,593 --> 00:13:37,900
leaders and personally intervened to 

319
00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:40,011
block the promotions of many others . 

320
00:13:40,510 --> 00:13:42,859
That is a betrayal of the merit-based 

321
00:13:42,859 --> 00:13:45,109
system that forms the foundation of our 

322
00:13:45,109 --> 00:13:47,950
military . You are hollering out the 

323
00:13:47,950 --> 00:13:50,609
military&#39;s bench of experience and high 

324
00:13:50,619 --> 00:13:52,739
highest performing senior officers 

325
00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,390
while making young officers wonder if 

326
00:13:55,390 --> 00:13:57,940
they should continue to serve . My 

327
00:13:57,940 --> 00:13:59,773
colleagues and I have heard from 

328
00:13:59,773 --> 00:14:01,829
countless service members throughout 

329
00:14:01,829 --> 00:14:03,662
the ranks , many of whom will be 

330
00:14:03,662 --> 00:14:05,859
watching right now , who are confused 

331
00:14:05,859 --> 00:14:08,250
and disturbed by your actions . Uh , 

332
00:14:08,260 --> 00:14:10,427
hopefully you can explain them today . 

333
00:14:10,820 --> 00:14:13,042
Additionally , this committee expects a 

334
00:14:13,042 --> 00:14:15,140
fulsome update on Operation Southern 

335
00:14:15,140 --> 00:14:18,159
Sphere . This ongoing campaign against 

336
00:14:18,219 --> 00:14:20,539
suspected drug trafficking boats has 

337
00:14:20,539 --> 00:14:24,309
resulted in nearly 200 fatalities . The 

338
00:14:24,309 --> 00:14:26,365
administration has failed to explain 

339
00:14:26,365 --> 00:14:28,198
the long-term objectives of this 

340
00:14:28,198 --> 00:14:31,080
mission or provide any evidence of 

341
00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,024
reduced drug flows into the United 

342
00:14:33,024 --> 00:14:35,090
States . I would ask for a credible 

343
00:14:35,090 --> 00:14:36,960
answer to this most fundamental 

344
00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,039
question . What is the operation 

345
00:14:39,039 --> 00:14:41,739
actually meant to accomplish ? Mrs . 

346
00:14:41,859 --> 00:14:45,169
Xray , you are here to promote . The 

347
00:14:45,169 --> 00:14:47,969
president&#39;s $1.5 trillion defense 

348
00:14:47,969 --> 00:14:50,380
budget . While this budget provides 

349
00:14:50,380 --> 00:14:52,219
funding for necessary programs 

350
00:14:52,219 --> 00:14:54,052
including shipbuilding and drone 

351
00:14:54,052 --> 00:14:56,429
manufacturing , many other critical 

352
00:14:56,429 --> 00:14:58,318
programs like barracks repair and 

353
00:14:58,318 --> 00:15:01,099
aircraft procurement would rely on the 

354
00:15:01,099 --> 00:15:03,739
passage of a party line reconciliation 

355
00:15:03,739 --> 00:15:06,780
bill . Further , this budget slashes 

356
00:15:06,780 --> 00:15:09,219
research and development , provides no 

357
00:15:09,219 --> 00:15:11,820
funding for Ukraine , and includes no 

358
00:15:11,820 --> 00:15:13,876
funding for losses incurred from the 

359
00:15:13,876 --> 00:15:16,900
Iran war . Yesterday , Mr . Hurst 

360
00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:20,099
testified that Operation Epic Fury has 

361
00:15:20,099 --> 00:15:23,659
cost $25 billion . If nothing else , 

362
00:15:23,739 --> 00:15:26,299
that helped clarifies that we certainly 

363
00:15:26,299 --> 00:15:28,500
do not need a supplemental anywhere 

364
00:15:28,500 --> 00:15:31,640
near $100 billion much less 

365
00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:35,179
$200 billion . And in this record 

366
00:15:35,179 --> 00:15:37,068
breaking budget , there is no pay 

367
00:15:37,068 --> 00:15:39,346
adjustments for the civilian workforce , 

368
00:15:39,346 --> 00:15:41,512
and with inflation that is a pay cut . 

369
00:15:41,739 --> 00:15:43,859
After a year of doge layoffs and a 

370
00:15:43,859 --> 00:15:45,970
hiring freeze across the department , 

371
00:15:46,049 --> 00:15:48,900
this is an insult to the 800,000 men 

372
00:15:48,900 --> 00:15:51,210
and women who support our warfighters 

373
00:15:51,210 --> 00:15:54,380
every day . I cannot imagine a faster 

374
00:15:54,380 --> 00:15:56,539
way to erode readiness and distract 

375
00:15:56,539 --> 00:15:58,840
from our abilities to deter our 

376
00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:02,409
adversaries . Ultimately , Mrs . Eckley , 

377
00:16:02,580 --> 00:16:05,190
I believe you are causing lasting harm 

378
00:16:05,190 --> 00:16:08,750
to the military . Like many members of 

379
00:16:08,750 --> 00:16:10,917
this committee , I had the opportunity 

380
00:16:10,917 --> 00:16:12,806
and the privilege to serve in the 

381
00:16:12,806 --> 00:16:15,190
military . And every officer knows they 

382
00:16:15,190 --> 00:16:17,079
are duty bound to give their best 

383
00:16:17,079 --> 00:16:19,549
professional advice , even if it&#39;s not 

384
00:16:19,549 --> 00:16:21,929
what their superiors want to hear , 

385
00:16:22,510 --> 00:16:24,590
because when leaders fear to speak 

386
00:16:24,590 --> 00:16:27,190
honestly , people die , missions fail , 

387
00:16:27,349 --> 00:16:30,270
wars are lost . The American people&#39;s 

388
00:16:30,270 --> 00:16:33,390
trust in our military took 250 years to 

389
00:16:33,390 --> 00:16:35,989
build . You are dismantling it in a 

390
00:16:35,989 --> 00:16:38,229
fraction of that time , and trust , 

391
00:16:38,349 --> 00:16:40,950
once long , can take generations to 

392
00:16:40,950 --> 00:16:43,650
rebuild . Mr . Secretary , today I hope 

393
00:16:43,650 --> 00:16:46,409
you&#39;ll take a step forward toward 

394
00:16:46,409 --> 00:16:48,940
rebuilding the trust . That has been 

395
00:16:48,940 --> 00:16:52,109
lost . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Mr . 

396
00:16:52,119 --> 00:16:55,349
Secretary , you are now recognized for 

397
00:16:55,690 --> 00:16:59,530
your opening statement , sir . Well , 

398
00:16:59,609 --> 00:17:01,609
Mr . Chairman , uh , Ranking Member 

399
00:17:01,609 --> 00:17:03,690
Reed , senators , thank you for the 

400
00:17:03,690 --> 00:17:05,746
opportunity to testify in support of 

401
00:17:05,746 --> 00:17:07,746
President Trump&#39;s historic , as you 

402
00:17:07,746 --> 00:17:10,170
said , Mr . Chairman , $1.5 trillion 

403
00:17:10,170 --> 00:17:12,530
fiscal year 2027 budget for the 

404
00:17:12,530 --> 00:17:14,680
Department of War . The president&#39;s 

405
00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:17,630
budget request reflects the urgency of 

406
00:17:17,630 --> 00:17:19,463
the moment , addressing both the 

407
00:17:19,463 --> 00:17:21,839
deferment of long-standing problems as 

408
00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:24,006
well as positioning our forces for the 

409
00:17:24,006 --> 00:17:26,619
current and future fights . I&#39;m honored 

410
00:17:26,619 --> 00:17:28,786
to appear alongside General Dan Kane , 

411
00:17:28,786 --> 00:17:31,008
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , 

412
00:17:31,008 --> 00:17:33,008
and Jay Hurst , our Chief Financial 

413
00:17:33,008 --> 00:17:35,119
Officer and Comptroller . I&#39;d like to 

414
00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,175
start by thanking this committee and 

415
00:17:37,175 --> 00:17:39,008
Congress for your partnership in 

416
00:17:39,008 --> 00:17:41,119
securing the investments needed for a 

417
00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,063
stronger , prouder and more secure 

418
00:17:43,063 --> 00:17:45,286
military . Your focus on acquisitions , 

419
00:17:45,286 --> 00:17:47,119
your focus on efficiency are the 

420
00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,175
reflection in our department as well 

421
00:17:49,175 --> 00:17:51,452
and in this as well and in this budget . 

422
00:17:52,170 --> 00:17:54,003
A nation&#39;s ability to build , to 

423
00:17:54,003 --> 00:17:56,170
innovate , and to support the critical 

424
00:17:56,170 --> 00:17:58,281
needs of its warfighters at speed and 

425
00:17:58,281 --> 00:18:00,589
at scale is the foundation upon which 

426
00:18:00,589 --> 00:18:02,839
its deterrence and survival rests . 

427
00:18:03,750 --> 00:18:05,989
However , upon taking office on January 

428
00:18:05,989 --> 00:18:09,310
20th , 2025 , President Trump inherited 

429
00:18:09,310 --> 00:18:11,532
a defense industrial base that had been 

430
00:18:11,532 --> 00:18:13,643
hollowed out by years of America last 

431
00:18:13,643 --> 00:18:16,229
policies , resulting in a diminished 

432
00:18:16,229 --> 00:18:19,680
capacity to project strength . Under 

433
00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:21,680
the previous administration we were 

434
00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,280
offshoring , outsourcing , beset by 

435
00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,760
cost overruns and degraded capabilities . 

436
00:18:27,780 --> 00:18:29,891
But under the leadership of President 

437
00:18:29,891 --> 00:18:32,002
Trump , our builder in chief , we are 

438
00:18:32,002 --> 00:18:33,891
reversing this systemic decay and 

439
00:18:33,891 --> 00:18:35,891
putting our defense industrial base 

440
00:18:35,891 --> 00:18:38,540
back on a wartime footing . Urgency 

441
00:18:38,540 --> 00:18:41,030
informs everything we do . We&#39;re 

442
00:18:41,030 --> 00:18:43,252
rebuilding a military that the American 

443
00:18:43,252 --> 00:18:45,141
people can be proud of . One that 

444
00:18:45,141 --> 00:18:47,308
instills nothing less than unrelenting 

445
00:18:47,308 --> 00:18:49,363
fear in our adversaries and inspires 

446
00:18:49,363 --> 00:18:52,630
historic morale and recruiting in its 

447
00:18:52,630 --> 00:18:55,810
ranks . We fight to win in every 

448
00:18:55,810 --> 00:18:59,180
scenario . The $1.5 trillion budget put 

449
00:18:59,180 --> 00:19:01,180
forward by the president will build 

450
00:19:01,180 --> 00:19:03,939
upon a previous $1 trillion FY 26 top 

451
00:19:03,939 --> 00:19:06,339
line and will continue to reverse the 

452
00:19:06,339 --> 00:19:08,660
four years of underinvestment and 

453
00:19:08,660 --> 00:19:10,319
mismanagement of the Biden 

454
00:19:10,319 --> 00:19:12,959
administration . The $1.5 trillion 

455
00:19:12,959 --> 00:19:14,903
budget will ensure that the United 

456
00:19:14,903 --> 00:19:16,737
States continues to maintain the 

457
00:19:16,737 --> 00:19:18,626
world&#39;s most powerful and capable 

458
00:19:18,626 --> 00:19:21,119
military as we grapple with a complex 

459
00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,099
threat environment across multiple 

460
00:19:23,099 --> 00:19:25,750
theaters . Not to mention the budget 

461
00:19:25,750 --> 00:19:28,390
also includes a historic troop pay 

462
00:19:28,390 --> 00:19:32,069
increase , 7% for junior enlisted , and 

463
00:19:32,069 --> 00:19:34,469
the budget eliminates all poor or 

464
00:19:34,469 --> 00:19:36,709
failing barracks . Quality of life for 

465
00:19:36,709 --> 00:19:39,270
our troops is front and center in this 

466
00:19:39,270 --> 00:19:42,540
budget . By supercharging our defense 

467
00:19:42,540 --> 00:19:44,596
industrial capacity and transforming 

468
00:19:44,596 --> 00:19:46,707
how the department does business , we 

469
00:19:46,707 --> 00:19:48,599
are restoring American commercial 

470
00:19:48,599 --> 00:19:50,949
dominance at a pace unseen in 

471
00:19:50,949 --> 00:19:53,116
generations , transforming the defense 

472
00:19:53,116 --> 00:19:55,005
industrial base from the broken , 

473
00:19:55,005 --> 00:19:58,180
slow-moving systems of the past . We 

474
00:19:58,180 --> 00:20:00,670
have flipped the Pentagon acquisition 

475
00:20:00,670 --> 00:20:03,150
process from a bureaucratic model to a 

476
00:20:03,150 --> 00:20:05,790
business model . Decisively moving from 

477
00:20:05,790 --> 00:20:08,349
an acquisitions environment paralyzed 

478
00:20:08,550 --> 00:20:10,829
by bureaucratic red tape into an 

479
00:20:10,829 --> 00:20:13,430
outcomes-driven organization focused on 

480
00:20:13,430 --> 00:20:15,630
delivering the most for taxpayer 

481
00:20:15,630 --> 00:20:18,359
dollars . Over the past year , through 

482
00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:20,239
historic multi-year procurement 

483
00:20:20,239 --> 00:20:21,961
agreements that this committee 

484
00:20:21,961 --> 00:20:24,540
supported . We&#39;ve cut smart business 

485
00:20:24,540 --> 00:20:27,699
deals that have sent unambiguous demand 

486
00:20:27,699 --> 00:20:30,430
signals to industry to build more and 

487
00:20:30,430 --> 00:20:33,619
build faster . The result has been a 

488
00:20:33,619 --> 00:20:36,699
surge , a revitalization of our great 

489
00:20:36,699 --> 00:20:38,643
American factories , and a massive 

490
00:20:38,643 --> 00:20:40,699
reinvestment in the skilled American 

491
00:20:40,699 --> 00:20:42,699
workers who serve as the industrial 

492
00:20:42,699 --> 00:20:46,010
muscle behind our warriors . No . 

493
00:20:47,319 --> 00:20:50,890
Further um interruptions of our 

494
00:20:50,890 --> 00:20:53,530
hearing will , will be treated in like 

495
00:20:53,530 --> 00:20:55,400
manner . We appreciate the First 

496
00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,439
Amendment rights of Americans to 

497
00:20:57,439 --> 00:21:00,670
express , uh , themselves , but , um , 

498
00:21:01,369 --> 00:21:03,729
disruption of this hearing will not be 

499
00:21:03,729 --> 00:21:06,130
tolerated . So Mr . Secretary , you may 

500
00:21:06,130 --> 00:21:08,849
continue . I&#39;ll , I&#39;ll briefly provide 

501
00:21:08,849 --> 00:21:10,849
some concrete high-level metrics of 

502
00:21:10,849 --> 00:21:12,960
what we&#39;ve accomplished over just the 

503
00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,071
past few months . These are announced 

504
00:21:15,071 --> 00:21:16,960
new facilities and investments to 

505
00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:18,905
support American warfighters . The 

506
00:21:18,905 --> 00:21:20,960
department has helped stimulate more 

507
00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,829
than 250 private investment deals in 39 

508
00:21:23,829 --> 00:21:27,119
states , 180 cities , and 150 companies 

509
00:21:27,469 --> 00:21:31,069
worth more than $50 billion . It&#39;s 

510
00:21:31,069 --> 00:21:33,550
resulted in 280 new or expanded 

511
00:21:33,550 --> 00:21:35,670
facilities , more than 18 million new 

512
00:21:35,670 --> 00:21:38,109
square feet of American manufacturing , 

513
00:21:38,510 --> 00:21:41,829
and more than 70,000 new jobs . These 

514
00:21:41,829 --> 00:21:44,069
$50 billion in investments in new 

515
00:21:44,069 --> 00:21:46,349
plants , new assembly lines , and new 

516
00:21:46,349 --> 00:21:49,579
factories are private investments , not 

517
00:21:49,579 --> 00:21:52,300
taxpayer dollars . By completely 

518
00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:54,467
transforming our department&#39;s business 

519
00:21:54,467 --> 00:21:56,189
model , American companies are 

520
00:21:56,189 --> 00:21:58,189
investing in America with their own 

521
00:21:58,189 --> 00:22:01,040
dollars . A historic demonstration of 

522
00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:02,984
American manufacturing and defense 

523
00:22:02,984 --> 00:22:05,239
revitalization , all with their money , 

524
00:22:05,589 --> 00:22:08,119
not Uncle Sam&#39;s . This has never been 

525
00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,030
done before and is long overdue from a 

526
00:22:11,030 --> 00:22:13,859
bureaucratic model to a business model . 

527
00:22:14,930 --> 00:22:17,130
These investments equal great things 

528
00:22:17,130 --> 00:22:19,241
for America , for American families , 

529
00:22:19,241 --> 00:22:21,463
and American workers to ensure that our 

530
00:22:21,463 --> 00:22:23,686
warfighters have everything they need , 

531
00:22:23,686 --> 00:22:26,339
all American made . Together with the 

532
00:22:26,339 --> 00:22:28,061
help of the policy updates and 

533
00:22:28,061 --> 00:22:30,061
appropriations passed by Congress , 

534
00:22:30,260 --> 00:22:32,316
President Trump&#39;s War Department has 

535
00:22:32,316 --> 00:22:34,538
begun to turn the lights back on in our 

536
00:22:34,538 --> 00:22:36,871
manufacturing towns across this country , 

537
00:22:36,871 --> 00:22:39,660
forging a lethal arsenal of freedom . 

538
00:22:40,420 --> 00:22:42,142
Every policy we pursue , every 

539
00:22:42,142 --> 00:22:44,142
budgetary item we request serves to 

540
00:22:44,142 --> 00:22:46,142
ensure that this department remains 

541
00:22:46,142 --> 00:22:48,253
laser focused on increasing lethality 

542
00:22:48,469 --> 00:22:50,729
and survivability from the front lines 

543
00:22:50,790 --> 00:22:52,829
to the factory floor . This is a 

544
00:22:52,829 --> 00:22:55,030
historic budget , as you said , Mr . 

545
00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:56,910
Chairman . This is a fiscally 

546
00:22:56,910 --> 00:23:00,150
responsible budget , and this is a war 

547
00:23:00,150 --> 00:23:02,780
fighting budget . Speaking of war 

548
00:23:02,780 --> 00:23:05,002
fighting , the topic of Iran , I&#39;m sure 

549
00:23:05,002 --> 00:23:07,199
will come up often today , which I 

550
00:23:07,199 --> 00:23:09,421
welcome . I look forward to sharing the 

551
00:23:09,421 --> 00:23:11,729
incredible success of our military 

552
00:23:11,729 --> 00:23:14,290
effort achieved in a matter of weeks . 

553
00:23:15,050 --> 00:23:17,489
President Trump has the courage , has 

554
00:23:17,489 --> 00:23:19,433
had , unlike other presidents , to 

555
00:23:19,433 --> 00:23:22,050
ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear 

556
00:23:22,050 --> 00:23:24,650
weapon and that their nuclear blackmail 

557
00:23:24,930 --> 00:23:27,290
never succeeds . We have the best 

558
00:23:27,290 --> 00:23:30,209
negotiator in the world driving a great 

559
00:23:30,209 --> 00:23:33,569
deal . Unfortunately , as I said 

560
00:23:33,569 --> 00:23:35,902
yesterday , and I&#39;ll say it again today , 

561
00:23:35,902 --> 00:23:38,449
the biggest adversary we face at this 

562
00:23:38,449 --> 00:23:41,170
point are the reckless naysayers and 

563
00:23:41,170 --> 00:23:43,329
defeatist words of congressional 

564
00:23:43,329 --> 00:23:45,209
Democrats and some Republicans . 

565
00:23:46,140 --> 00:23:48,660
Defeatists from the cheap seats who two 

566
00:23:48,660 --> 00:23:51,099
months in seek to undermine the 

567
00:23:51,099 --> 00:23:52,988
incredible efforts that have been 

568
00:23:52,988 --> 00:23:55,300
undertaken and the historic nature of 

569
00:23:55,300 --> 00:23:57,939
taking on a 47 year threat with the 

570
00:23:57,939 --> 00:24:00,260
courage no other president has had to 

571
00:24:00,260 --> 00:24:02,900
great success and great opportunity for 

572
00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:05,140
preventing Iran from having a nuclear 

573
00:24:05,140 --> 00:24:08,189
weapon . Despite this , under President 

574
00:24:08,189 --> 00:24:09,800
Trump , we are restoring the 

575
00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:11,467
unbreakable might of American 

576
00:24:11,467 --> 00:24:13,689
manufacturing . We&#39;re providing for our 

577
00:24:13,689 --> 00:24:15,633
warfighters and we are putting the 

578
00:24:15,633 --> 00:24:17,689
people and interests of this country 

579
00:24:17,689 --> 00:24:20,459
first . May Almighty God continue to 

580
00:24:20,459 --> 00:24:22,900
watch over our troops wherever they are . 

581
00:24:23,540 --> 00:24:25,596
And may we honor the legacy of those 

582
00:24:25,596 --> 00:24:28,079
brave Americans that we have lost . 

583
00:24:28,579 --> 00:24:30,690
This is our sacred mission , and this 

584
00:24:30,690 --> 00:24:33,199
is what we will continue to execute on . 

585
00:24:33,660 --> 00:24:35,771
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Thank you 

586
00:24:35,771 --> 00:24:37,771
for that statement , Mr . Secretary 

587
00:24:37,771 --> 00:24:39,716
General King . You&#39;re recognized . 

588
00:24:39,716 --> 00:24:41,827
Thank you , Chairman Wicker , Ranking 

589
00:24:41,827 --> 00:24:44,104
Member Reed , members of the committee , 

590
00:24:44,104 --> 00:24:46,271
and your staff who we never get to say 

591
00:24:46,271 --> 00:24:48,549
thanks to . Thanks for having me today . 

592
00:24:48,549 --> 00:24:50,604
I&#39;m honored to be here alongside the 

593
00:24:50,604 --> 00:24:50,229
Honorable Pete Hegseth and the 

594
00:24:50,229 --> 00:24:52,469
Honorable Jay Hurst to testify on the 

595
00:24:52,469 --> 00:24:56,089
president&#39;s fiscal 2027 budget . I&#39;m 

596
00:24:56,089 --> 00:24:58,689
grateful for the opportunity to testify 

597
00:24:58,689 --> 00:25:00,578
today , and I&#39;m thankful for your 

598
00:25:00,578 --> 00:25:02,633
continued partnership and support of 

599
00:25:02,633 --> 00:25:04,411
our warfighters , defending the 

600
00:25:04,411 --> 00:25:06,522
homeland and our interests around the 

601
00:25:06,522 --> 00:25:08,859
world . It&#39;s a privilege to speak with 

602
00:25:08,859 --> 00:25:11,380
you today about the foundation of 

603
00:25:11,380 --> 00:25:13,890
America&#39;s strength , the 2.8 million 

604
00:25:13,890 --> 00:25:16,219
members of our joint force , and I am 

605
00:25:16,219 --> 00:25:19,010
continually inspired by the soldiers , 

606
00:25:19,140 --> 00:25:22,260
sailors , airmen , marines , guardians , 

607
00:25:22,420 --> 00:25:24,599
coast guardsmen , and civilians 

608
00:25:24,900 --> 00:25:26,900
standing the watch for the nation , 

609
00:25:26,979 --> 00:25:29,119
supported always by their families . 

610
00:25:29,390 --> 00:25:31,446
They could have chosen a much easier 

611
00:25:31,446 --> 00:25:33,279
path , any other path , but they 

612
00:25:33,279 --> 00:25:36,390
volunteered for a life of purpose and 

613
00:25:36,390 --> 00:25:39,030
passion and service , and every single 

614
00:25:39,030 --> 00:25:40,974
day they rise to meet the nation&#39;s 

615
00:25:40,974 --> 00:25:43,400
challenge , challenges , from combat 

616
00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:45,890
operations to critical support roles 

617
00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:48,670
with the courage , tenacity , and grit 

618
00:25:48,670 --> 00:25:51,410
that keeps our nation strong and secure . 

619
00:25:51,989 --> 00:25:54,819
I would also like to express my deep 

620
00:25:55,219 --> 00:25:58,760
gratitude for the 39 members of the 

621
00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:02,079
Joint Force who&#39;ve passed in operations , 

622
00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,280
combat , and training during my time as 

623
00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,199
the chairman and specifically highlight 

624
00:26:08,199 --> 00:26:10,959
the 14 who&#39;ve passed in Operation Epic 

625
00:26:10,959 --> 00:26:13,319
Fury . The Secretary and I are deeply 

626
00:26:13,319 --> 00:26:15,800
grateful for each of them and their 

627
00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,911
families , and their names will never 

628
00:26:17,911 --> 00:26:21,150
be forgotten . As the chairman , my 

629
00:26:21,150 --> 00:26:22,910
duty is to ensure our civilian 

630
00:26:22,910 --> 00:26:25,949
leadership has a comprehensive range of 

631
00:26:25,949 --> 00:26:28,880
military options and the associated 

632
00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,430
risks required to make the nation&#39;s 

633
00:26:31,430 --> 00:26:34,739
hardest and most complex decisions . I 

634
00:26:34,739 --> 00:26:37,150
owe the President , the Secretary , and 

635
00:26:37,150 --> 00:26:39,317
the Congress the truth at every turn . 

636
00:26:39,709 --> 00:26:42,310
And my blueprint for this role has 

637
00:26:42,310 --> 00:26:44,709
always been that of General George C . 

638
00:26:44,829 --> 00:26:47,410
Marshall . His firm commitment to 

639
00:26:47,410 --> 00:26:50,329
civilian control and nonpartisan and a 

640
00:26:50,329 --> 00:26:52,930
nonpartisan military remains my 

641
00:26:52,930 --> 00:26:55,770
constant standard , and I strive to 

642
00:26:55,770 --> 00:26:57,930
emulate his candor , delivering the 

643
00:26:57,930 --> 00:27:00,969
facts leaders need to hear , not always 

644
00:27:00,969 --> 00:27:03,400
what they want to hear . And once a 

645
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,640
decision is made , executing it with 

646
00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,170
the absolute dedication while keeping 

647
00:27:08,170 --> 00:27:10,410
the joint force precisely where it 

648
00:27:10,410 --> 00:27:12,599
should be . That&#39;s the demand of our 

649
00:27:12,599 --> 00:27:15,420
profession . As I sit before you today 

650
00:27:15,420 --> 00:27:17,753
representing our incredible joint force , 

651
00:27:17,753 --> 00:27:19,809
I want to emphasize my commitment to 

652
00:27:19,809 --> 00:27:21,976
this committee and to the Congress . I 

653
00:27:21,976 --> 00:27:24,087
will always follow General Marshall&#39;s 

654
00:27:24,087 --> 00:27:27,079
steadfast example by providing clear 

655
00:27:27,079 --> 00:27:29,719
and candid nonpartisan military advice , 

656
00:27:30,020 --> 00:27:32,380
working together to ensure the military 

657
00:27:32,380 --> 00:27:35,040
remains squarely focused on one thing , 

658
00:27:35,310 --> 00:27:37,959
being . Prepared to deter and if called 

659
00:27:37,959 --> 00:27:40,599
upon fight and win our nation&#39;s war , 

660
00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:42,920
and that is our mission . America&#39;s 

661
00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,680
joint force is operational at its core , 

662
00:27:45,839 --> 00:27:48,839
purpose built for the realities in a 

663
00:27:48,839 --> 00:27:50,790
complex world . We&#39;re organized , 

664
00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,589
trained , and equipped to execute the 

665
00:27:53,589 --> 00:27:55,533
most demanding missions across the 

666
00:27:55,533 --> 00:27:58,540
globe with unrivaled precision . And 

667
00:27:58,540 --> 00:28:01,260
over the past year our warfighters have 

668
00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:04,619
consistently demonstrated exactly what 

669
00:28:04,619 --> 00:28:07,339
it means to be the most capable and 

670
00:28:07,339 --> 00:28:10,819
most professional force on Earth . Our 

671
00:28:10,819 --> 00:28:13,589
shared goal is to ensure the joint 

672
00:28:13,589 --> 00:28:16,689
force remains the strategic , 

673
00:28:17,060 --> 00:28:19,500
sustains the strategic initiative and 

674
00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:22,339
advantage and ability to project power 

675
00:28:22,339 --> 00:28:24,540
to respond to the global challenges on 

676
00:28:24,540 --> 00:28:27,859
our nation&#39;s terms . During Operation 

677
00:28:27,859 --> 00:28:30,020
Rough Rider , Midnight Hammer , 

678
00:28:30,380 --> 00:28:33,140
Southern Spear , Absolute Resolve , and 

679
00:28:33,140 --> 00:28:35,579
Epic Fury , the Joint Force executed 

680
00:28:35,579 --> 00:28:39,020
globally integrated missions alongside 

681
00:28:39,020 --> 00:28:41,300
our interagency and international 

682
00:28:41,300 --> 00:28:44,089
partners . And once our leaders made a 

683
00:28:44,089 --> 00:28:46,256
decision , our forces demonstrated the 

684
00:28:46,256 --> 00:28:48,300
unmatched ability to seamlessly 

685
00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:51,140
synchronize actions and activities from 

686
00:28:51,140 --> 00:28:54,260
the seabed to cislunar space . We&#39;re 

687
00:28:54,260 --> 00:28:56,371
able to accomplish . Accomplish these 

688
00:28:56,371 --> 00:28:58,538
complex things that we are asked to do 

689
00:28:58,619 --> 00:29:01,430
because we draw from a deep reservoir 

690
00:29:01,619 --> 00:29:03,800
of training , professionalism , and 

691
00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:06,619
commitment . Our operational tempo is 

692
00:29:06,619 --> 00:29:09,339
high , but we&#39;re designed to sustain it , 

693
00:29:09,420 --> 00:29:11,619
rebuilding readiness every day , 

694
00:29:11,979 --> 00:29:14,300
training professionals every day , and 

695
00:29:14,300 --> 00:29:16,420
sharpening our edge every day . And I 

696
00:29:16,420 --> 00:29:19,459
am incredibly proud of this joint force 

697
00:29:19,459 --> 00:29:22,380
team and the leaders at every echelon 

698
00:29:22,380 --> 00:29:25,310
who command it . As the chairman said , 

699
00:29:25,599 --> 00:29:27,859
we&#39;re living in a complex environment . 

700
00:29:28,599 --> 00:29:30,766
Today I look forward to discussing how 

701
00:29:30,766 --> 00:29:32,655
we can sustain America&#39;s military 

702
00:29:32,655 --> 00:29:34,766
advantage . And I know this committee 

703
00:29:34,766 --> 00:29:36,719
recognizes the challenges and the 

704
00:29:36,719 --> 00:29:39,239
urgency in the environment that we face . 

705
00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:41,589
We&#39;re operating in delicate and 

706
00:29:41,589 --> 00:29:44,520
dangerous times where risk is scaling . 

707
00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,359
And the complexity of the modern 

708
00:29:47,359 --> 00:29:50,250
battlefield demands America&#39;s constant 

709
00:29:50,250 --> 00:29:52,890
adaptation , innovation , and 

710
00:29:52,890 --> 00:29:55,660
partnership with Congress . As a joint 

711
00:29:55,660 --> 00:29:57,660
force , we&#39;re up to the challenge . 

712
00:29:57,660 --> 00:29:59,604
We&#39;re built for this environment . 

713
00:29:59,604 --> 00:30:02,650
However , our continued success is not 

714
00:30:02,650 --> 00:30:05,189
guaranteed by our past achievements . 

715
00:30:05,449 --> 00:30:07,727
We must continue to be forward-looking . 

716
00:30:07,727 --> 00:30:09,949
And innovate together with the Congress 

717
00:30:10,152 --> 00:30:12,003
to drive the pace of change and 

718
00:30:12,003 --> 00:30:14,922
maintain our superiority requires 

719
00:30:14,922 --> 00:30:17,963
timely , predictable , and sustained 

720
00:30:17,963 --> 00:30:20,019
investment , and the resources we&#39;re 

721
00:30:20,019 --> 00:30:22,723
going to discuss today are critical to 

722
00:30:22,723 --> 00:30:24,883
modernizing the joint force and 

723
00:30:24,883 --> 00:30:27,483
ensuring whatever threats might emerge , 

724
00:30:27,603 --> 00:30:29,802
we are prepared to defeat them . 

725
00:30:30,036 --> 00:30:32,092
Protect our interests and defend the 

726
00:30:32,092 --> 00:30:34,395
nation and win . This president&#39;s 

727
00:30:34,395 --> 00:30:37,875
budget for 2027 supports the secretary 

728
00:30:37,875 --> 00:30:39,486
and the department&#39;s goal of 

729
00:30:39,486 --> 00:30:41,836
reinvigorating , recharging the defense 

730
00:30:41,836 --> 00:30:44,276
industrial base and the national 

731
00:30:44,276 --> 00:30:46,054
industrial base , enhancing our 

732
00:30:46,054 --> 00:30:48,206
readiness and securing our military 

733
00:30:48,206 --> 00:30:50,235
advantage to ensure that our 

734
00:30:50,235 --> 00:30:52,495
warfighters are properly armed . 

735
00:30:53,050 --> 00:30:55,770
Globally integrated and ready while 

736
00:30:55,770 --> 00:30:58,410
always taking care of our people , and 

737
00:30:58,410 --> 00:31:01,540
that is what truly sets America&#39;s joint 

738
00:31:01,540 --> 00:31:03,207
force apart from each other , 

739
00:31:03,207 --> 00:31:06,089
especially the 1.8 million members , 

740
00:31:06,209 --> 00:31:09,050
enlisted members of our joint . Force . 

741
00:31:09,369 --> 00:31:11,202
It is them , the character , the 

742
00:31:11,202 --> 00:31:12,930
competence of that force that 

743
00:31:12,930 --> 00:31:16,130
transforms our capabilities into a 

744
00:31:16,130 --> 00:31:18,969
decisive advantage . And our enlisted 

745
00:31:18,969 --> 00:31:20,969
force is represented today by the 

746
00:31:20,969 --> 00:31:24,170
senior enlisted advisor to the chairman , 

747
00:31:24,890 --> 00:31:27,001
United States Navy Fleet Master Chief 

748
00:31:27,001 --> 00:31:29,250
Dave Isom sitting behind me , a 

749
00:31:29,250 --> 00:31:31,361
teammate who I greatly appreciate and 

750
00:31:31,361 --> 00:31:33,583
many of , many of you on this committee 

751
00:31:33,583 --> 00:31:35,861
know from his time in the Indo-Pacific . 

752
00:31:36,060 --> 00:31:39,050
While we face dynamic and dangerous 

753
00:31:39,050 --> 00:31:42,050
times , I have absolute trust and 

754
00:31:42,050 --> 00:31:44,660
confidence in the extraordinary men and 

755
00:31:44,660 --> 00:31:47,420
women within our joint force who every 

756
00:31:47,420 --> 00:31:50,339
day execute the missions we ask them to 

757
00:31:50,339 --> 00:31:53,010
quietly and with precision , and 

758
00:31:53,010 --> 00:31:55,010
coupled with the American spirit to 

759
00:31:55,010 --> 00:31:57,380
outthink , outcompete , and 

760
00:31:57,380 --> 00:31:59,635
relentlessly innovate . We will 

761
00:31:59,635 --> 00:32:02,355
maintain our decisive edge , but doing 

762
00:32:02,355 --> 00:32:04,633
so requires your continued partnership . 

763
00:32:04,916 --> 00:32:06,860
We stand ready today to answer the 

764
00:32:06,860 --> 00:32:09,395
nation&#39;s call . I humbly ask that as 

765
00:32:09,395 --> 00:32:11,995
we&#39;re here today in this hearing , we 

766
00:32:11,995 --> 00:32:14,217
remember those deployed service members 

767
00:32:14,316 --> 00:32:16,427
who are out there right now doing our 

768
00:32:16,427 --> 00:32:20,206
nation&#39;s work , and may we always 

769
00:32:20,206 --> 00:32:22,262
forget remember our fallen and Never 

770
00:32:22,262 --> 00:32:24,411
forget them or their families who 

771
00:32:24,411 --> 00:32:26,578
continue to show us what courage looks 

772
00:32:26,578 --> 00:32:28,522
like . Thank you for your enduring 

773
00:32:28,522 --> 00:32:30,578
support , and I look forward to your 

774
00:32:30,578 --> 00:32:32,467
questions . Thank you very much , 

775
00:32:32,467 --> 00:32:34,633
General . We appreciate your service . 

776
00:32:34,633 --> 00:32:36,689
Uh , let&#39;s jump right in . Secretary 

777
00:32:36,689 --> 00:32:38,911
Heeth , let&#39;s talk about the money from 

778
00:32:38,911 --> 00:32:41,982
reconciliation 1.0 last year . There 

779
00:32:41,982 --> 00:32:43,982
have been some complaints about the 

780
00:32:43,982 --> 00:32:47,239
speed . But , um , not everything we 

781
00:32:47,239 --> 00:32:49,461
hear is actually accurate . How much of 

782
00:32:49,461 --> 00:32:52,260
the $154 billion from 

783
00:32:52,650 --> 00:32:55,680
reconciliation has the Pentagon put on 

784
00:32:55,689 --> 00:32:58,810
contract ? My understanding , Mr . 

785
00:32:58,859 --> 00:33:01,081
Chairman , uh , first , I&#39;d like to say 

786
00:33:01,081 --> 00:33:02,526
what an important vehicle 

787
00:33:02,526 --> 00:33:04,748
reconciliation was for us and how , how 

788
00:33:04,748 --> 00:33:06,970
it gave us a chance coming out of FY 25 

789
00:33:06,970 --> 00:33:09,192
to advance the president&#39;s priorities , 

790
00:33:09,192 --> 00:33:11,303
whether it&#39;s drone dominance , Golden 

791
00:33:11,303 --> 00:33:13,415
Dome for America , shipbuilding , the 

792
00:33:13,415 --> 00:33:13,339
defense industrial base . It was a 

793
00:33:13,339 --> 00:33:15,619
critical vehicle for us . Uh , the 

794
00:33:15,619 --> 00:33:17,841
number you&#39;re looking for is about what 

795
00:33:17,841 --> 00:33:19,952
I&#39;m looking at about 26 billion right 

796
00:33:19,952 --> 00:33:22,175
now . Uh , but we&#39;ve got the floodgates 

797
00:33:22,175 --> 00:33:24,341
about to open and , and apply to those 

798
00:33:24,341 --> 00:33:25,897
priorities . OK , so , um , 

799
00:33:25,897 --> 00:33:28,008
unfortunately , You&#39;re starting a bit 

800
00:33:28,008 --> 00:33:30,063
late , um , through no fault of your 

801
00:33:30,063 --> 00:33:32,008
own because the money was not sent 

802
00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:34,687
timely by the Office of Management and 

803
00:33:34,687 --> 00:33:36,687
Budget to the department until last 

804
00:33:36,687 --> 00:33:39,000
month . That&#39;s over and done with , but 

805
00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,333
it should be mentioned , Mr . Secretary , 

806
00:33:41,333 --> 00:33:43,900
where are we , um , on the obligation 

807
00:33:43,900 --> 00:33:47,339
rates , um , as , as far as , 

808
00:33:47,439 --> 00:33:50,569
uh , a normal appropriation bill . Are 

809
00:33:50,569 --> 00:33:52,680
we a little behind , a little ahead , 

810
00:33:52,680 --> 00:33:54,902
or what ? I would say probably a little 

811
00:33:54,902 --> 00:33:56,513
bit behind as it pertains to 

812
00:33:56,513 --> 00:33:58,680
reconciliation , but part of that is , 

813
00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:00,513
as you know , uh , this is a new 

814
00:34:00,513 --> 00:34:02,847
funding vehicle for the department , uh , 

815
00:34:02,847 --> 00:34:04,847
and twofold . One , you got to make 

816
00:34:04,847 --> 00:34:06,847
sure you do it right and do it in a 

817
00:34:06,847 --> 00:34:06,790
fiscally responsible way in conjunction 

818
00:34:06,790 --> 00:34:08,790
with the Congress to ensure that we 

819
00:34:08,790 --> 00:34:10,846
meet congressional intent . But also 

820
00:34:10,846 --> 00:34:12,679
that we , we&#39;ve been using it to 

821
00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:14,734
energize our ability to exercise new 

822
00:34:14,734 --> 00:34:16,846
pathways to get at problems in , in , 

823
00:34:16,846 --> 00:34:19,068
in different and more dynamic ways that 

824
00:34:19,068 --> 00:34:21,123
don&#39;t get stovepiped or stuck in the 

825
00:34:21,123 --> 00:34:23,290
bureaucracy . We&#39;ve , so yes , there&#39;s 

826
00:34:23,290 --> 00:34:25,401
been some , some , uh , some delays , 

827
00:34:25,401 --> 00:34:27,568
but ultimately I think it&#39;s , it&#39;s all 

828
00:34:27,568 --> 00:34:29,734
goodness on the other side given the , 

829
00:34:29,734 --> 00:34:29,319
the , the , the new nature of this 

830
00:34:29,319 --> 00:34:31,486
funding vehicle , right ? Yes , well , 

831
00:34:31,486 --> 00:34:33,263
and , and things have been done 

832
00:34:33,263 --> 00:34:35,430
differently , and we appreciate that . 

833
00:34:35,430 --> 00:34:37,652
But Mr . Secretary , will you commit to 

834
00:34:37,652 --> 00:34:39,652
us ? That you&#39;ll keep the committee 

835
00:34:39,652 --> 00:34:41,819
informed frequently of your efforts to 

836
00:34:41,819 --> 00:34:44,209
get all this money out the door so our 

837
00:34:44,209 --> 00:34:46,370
industrial base can start building as 

838
00:34:46,370 --> 00:34:48,389
you have described in this new 

839
00:34:49,010 --> 00:34:51,010
flexibility that we provided them . 

840
00:34:51,489 --> 00:34:53,898
Absolutely . Um , and , and you 

841
00:34:53,898 --> 00:34:56,969
mentioned a few things in , um . In 

842
00:34:56,969 --> 00:34:59,540
reconciliation that you think have have 

843
00:34:59,540 --> 00:35:03,449
been uh game changers , uh , we&#39;ve , 

844
00:35:03,459 --> 00:35:07,110
um , I do , I don&#39;t think we&#39;ve talked 

845
00:35:07,110 --> 00:35:09,277
enough about some of the game changers 

846
00:35:09,277 --> 00:35:11,388
uh , uh , for years we failed to take 

847
00:35:11,388 --> 00:35:13,719
action on rebuilding America&#39;s drone 

848
00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:17,250
industrial base . And critical mineral 

849
00:35:17,250 --> 00:35:19,790
supply chains , um , after last 

850
00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,250
reconciliation bill and the National 

851
00:35:22,250 --> 00:35:24,520
Defense Authorization Act , we&#39;re in a 

852
00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,419
very different position on drones and 

853
00:35:27,419 --> 00:35:29,697
critical mineral mineral supply chains , 

854
00:35:29,850 --> 00:35:32,729
are we not ? Very much so . Uh , 

855
00:35:33,129 --> 00:35:35,129
mineral supply chains , drones . We 

856
00:35:35,129 --> 00:35:37,185
went from Jiata 401 to an autonomous 

857
00:35:37,185 --> 00:35:39,240
warfare group . We&#39;re looking at the 

858
00:35:39,240 --> 00:35:41,351
concept of a subunified command , and 

859
00:35:41,351 --> 00:35:43,296
you&#39;re , and you&#39;re looking at $54 

860
00:35:43,296 --> 00:35:45,629
billion in the FY-27 budget dedicated 

861
00:35:45,629 --> 00:35:48,620
to drone dominance . UAS counter UAS 

862
00:35:48,850 --> 00:35:50,810
ensuring we can scale not just 

863
00:35:50,810 --> 00:35:52,588
exquisite drones , but also the 

864
00:35:52,588 --> 00:35:54,754
attritable ones that are proliferating 

865
00:35:54,754 --> 00:35:56,977
on the battlefield today . We , we need 

866
00:35:56,977 --> 00:35:58,866
to be ahead . Are there any other 

867
00:35:58,866 --> 00:36:01,032
initiatives from last year&#39;s bill that 

868
00:36:01,032 --> 00:36:03,143
you want to point out ? And I , I , I 

869
00:36:03,143 --> 00:36:05,143
think no , the investment in Golden 

870
00:36:05,143 --> 00:36:07,254
Dome for America , the ability to get 

871
00:36:07,254 --> 00:36:09,032
running on that , and we are on 

872
00:36:09,032 --> 00:36:11,088
schedule for to deliver capabilities 

873
00:36:11,088 --> 00:36:13,199
inside this administration . Minerals 

874
00:36:13,199 --> 00:36:14,977
and shoring up supply chains on 

875
00:36:14,977 --> 00:36:16,921
minerals . The Office of Strategic 

876
00:36:16,921 --> 00:36:18,921
Capital , which its ability to loan 

877
00:36:18,921 --> 00:36:21,439
gives 10x to new entrants into the into 

878
00:36:21,439 --> 00:36:23,439
the department , the opportunity to 

879
00:36:23,439 --> 00:36:25,661
fund things that wouldn&#39;t normally meet 

880
00:36:25,661 --> 00:36:27,828
the threshold for the department , but 

881
00:36:27,828 --> 00:36:30,050
give them the running room to invest in 

882
00:36:30,050 --> 00:36:32,217
those capabilities , and we&#39;ve already 

883
00:36:32,217 --> 00:36:31,560
seen fruit from that as well . And 

884
00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:33,616
briefly , General Kaine , there&#39;s no 

885
00:36:33,616 --> 00:36:35,838
question that Vladimir Putin&#39;s Russia . 

886
00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:40,179
Is taking serious action to undermine 

887
00:36:40,489 --> 00:36:42,629
our efforts for success in Iran . Is 

888
00:36:42,629 --> 00:36:46,459
there any question about that ? Uh , 

889
00:36:46,659 --> 00:36:48,739
Senator , uh , um , I think there&#39;s 

890
00:36:48,739 --> 00:36:50,961
actions and activities that are mindful 

891
00:36:50,961 --> 00:36:52,906
of the hearing room we&#39;re in , but 

892
00:36:52,906 --> 00:36:55,072
there&#39;s , there&#39;s , there&#39;s definitely 

893
00:36:55,072 --> 00:36:57,406
some action there . Thank you very much . 

894
00:36:57,406 --> 00:36:59,461
Um , Senator , Senator Reed , you&#39;re 

895
00:36:59,461 --> 00:37:02,090
recognized . Uh , thank you . Thank you 

896
00:37:02,090 --> 00:37:05,149
very much , Mr . Chairman . Uh , Mr . 

897
00:37:05,159 --> 00:37:07,550
Secretary , you recently fired the Army 

898
00:37:07,550 --> 00:37:09,772
Chief of Staff , General Randy George , 

899
00:37:09,772 --> 00:37:11,272
uh , who&#39;s one of the most 

900
00:37:11,272 --> 00:37:13,494
distinguished and decorated officers of 

901
00:37:13,494 --> 00:37:15,272
his generation . General , uh , 

902
00:37:16,620 --> 00:37:19,030
George&#39;s nomination came before us . We 

903
00:37:19,030 --> 00:37:21,363
reviewed it thoroughly and we concurred . 

904
00:37:21,429 --> 00:37:23,610
Uh , why did you fire General George ? 

905
00:37:26,199 --> 00:37:28,439
Well , as I did then and I&#39;ll say now , 

906
00:37:29,300 --> 00:37:31,633
we thank General George for his service , 

907
00:37:31,633 --> 00:37:33,578
er , and out of respect to him and 

908
00:37:33,578 --> 00:37:35,633
other officers , we never talk about 

909
00:37:35,633 --> 00:37:37,744
the nature of , of , er , why certain 

910
00:37:37,744 --> 00:37:40,100
officers are asked to step down , er , 

911
00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:42,742
but we all serve at the pleasure of the 

912
00:37:42,742 --> 00:37:44,964
president . And ultimately my view in , 

913
00:37:44,964 --> 00:37:47,187
in , er , coming into this department , 

914
00:37:47,187 --> 00:37:49,464
as I stated in my confirmation hearing , 

915
00:37:49,464 --> 00:37:51,298
was to change the culture of the 

916
00:37:51,298 --> 00:37:53,131
department . And it&#39;s ultimately 

917
00:37:53,131 --> 00:37:55,298
challenging to change the department , 

918
00:37:55,298 --> 00:37:57,409
uh , the culture of a department with 

919
00:37:57,409 --> 00:37:57,340
the same people who are a part of or in 

920
00:37:57,340 --> 00:37:59,451
that department . So I have made many 

921
00:37:59,451 --> 00:38:01,618
changes , uh , with general officers . 

922
00:38:01,618 --> 00:38:03,618
We will continue to make changes as 

923
00:38:03,618 --> 00:38:05,729
necessary with general officers , and 

924
00:38:05,729 --> 00:38:07,562
they will be in keeping with the 

925
00:38:07,562 --> 00:38:09,729
trajectory of where we would like to , 

926
00:38:09,729 --> 00:38:08,889
uh , take the department , but it 

927
00:38:08,889 --> 00:38:11,000
doesn&#39;t take away from the service of 

928
00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:13,167
those , and I think you , you&#39;ll , you 

929
00:38:13,167 --> 00:38:15,167
will note that every officer that&#39;s 

930
00:38:15,167 --> 00:38:17,167
been , um , uh , asked to leave has 

931
00:38:17,167 --> 00:38:19,750
been treated with respect . Interesting . 

932
00:38:19,909 --> 00:38:23,030
Uh , of the 2 dozen officers that you 

933
00:38:23,030 --> 00:38:26,469
have fired for reasons unrelated to 

934
00:38:26,469 --> 00:38:28,302
performance , since you have not 

935
00:38:28,302 --> 00:38:31,870
indicated any cause , 60% are black or 

936
00:38:31,870 --> 00:38:34,790
females . Uh , now , did the president 

937
00:38:34,790 --> 00:38:37,050
direct you to single out female and 

938
00:38:37,270 --> 00:38:40,879
black officers to be dismissed ? Um , 

939
00:38:42,090 --> 00:38:44,590
Senator , er , of course not . And as 

940
00:38:44,590 --> 00:38:46,590
we&#39;ve emphasized at this department 

941
00:38:46,590 --> 00:38:48,830
from the beginning , the only metric is 

942
00:38:48,830 --> 00:38:51,469
merit . Uh , this , this members on 

943
00:38:51,469 --> 00:38:53,247
this committee and the previous 

944
00:38:53,247 --> 00:38:55,358
leadership of this department . We&#39;re 

945
00:38:55,358 --> 00:38:57,358
focused on hype , you know , social 

946
00:38:57,358 --> 00:38:59,469
engineering , race and gender in ways 

947
00:38:59,469 --> 00:39:01,525
that we think were unhealthy for the 

948
00:39:01,525 --> 00:39:03,747
department . Focusing on those things , 

949
00:39:03,747 --> 00:39:06,025
making decisions based on those things . 

950
00:39:06,025 --> 00:39:08,136
In President Trump&#39;s War Department , 

951
00:39:08,136 --> 00:39:07,959
we make decisions based on only one 

952
00:39:07,959 --> 00:39:10,209
thing , merit , and that&#39;s how we&#39;ve 

953
00:39:10,209 --> 00:39:12,320
made decisions going forward . That&#39;s 

954
00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:14,376
how we&#39;ve made them , and that&#39;s how 

955
00:39:14,376 --> 00:39:13,280
we&#39;ll make them going forward . Well , 

956
00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:15,542
let me go back to General George . Uh , 

957
00:39:15,542 --> 00:39:18,879
what did he fail in terms of his lack 

958
00:39:18,879 --> 00:39:22,810
of merit to continue serving ? As I , 

959
00:39:22,959 --> 00:39:25,070
as I&#39;ve said , I don&#39;t talk about the 

960
00:39:25,070 --> 00:39:27,237
nature of dismissal out of respect for 

961
00:39:27,237 --> 00:39:29,459
these officers , but ultimately we want 

962
00:39:29,459 --> 00:39:31,626
to take the department in a particular 

963
00:39:31,626 --> 00:39:33,515
direction , certain services in a 

964
00:39:33,515 --> 00:39:35,459
particular direction , and we want 

965
00:39:35,459 --> 00:39:37,515
leadership that&#39;s running as fast in 

966
00:39:37,515 --> 00:39:37,330
that direction as possible and in some 

967
00:39:37,330 --> 00:39:39,649
cases we make changes accordingly , uh , 

968
00:39:39,729 --> 00:39:41,618
but do so out of respect to those 

969
00:39:41,618 --> 00:39:43,340
officers . Well , I think that 

970
00:39:43,340 --> 00:39:45,507
direction from your behavior is , uh , 

971
00:39:45,507 --> 00:39:49,030
an intense interest in Christianity , 

972
00:39:49,439 --> 00:39:52,520
uh , in nationalism . And 

973
00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:56,080
in not . Uh , 

974
00:39:56,199 --> 00:39:59,239
recognizing the talents of women and , 

975
00:39:59,659 --> 00:40:02,620
uh , non-white gentlemen , and that&#39;s 

976
00:40:02,620 --> 00:40:04,787
the wrong direction . I , I don&#39;t know 

977
00:40:04,787 --> 00:40:07,009
what you&#39;re insinuating , Senator , but 

978
00:40:07,009 --> 00:40:09,120
I am not ashamed of my faith in Jesus 

979
00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:11,342
Christ . Well , I&#39;m , I , you shouldn&#39;t 

980
00:40:11,342 --> 00:40:11,310
be , and if you want to shame me for it , 

981
00:40:11,419 --> 00:40:13,939
go ahead . I&#39;m not shaming you , but 

982
00:40:13,939 --> 00:40:16,399
are you , uh , critical of other faiths ? 

983
00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:20,600
I am a believer . I&#39;m quite open in 

984
00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:22,767
that , and our department allows for a 

985
00:40:22,767 --> 00:40:24,822
multitude of faiths , so I don&#39;t , I 

986
00:40:24,822 --> 00:40:24,469
don&#39;t know what you&#39;re suggesting . 

987
00:40:24,679 --> 00:40:26,679
I&#39;ve heard the likes of things that 

988
00:40:26,679 --> 00:40:28,846
people like you suggest , uh , uh , to 

989
00:40:28,846 --> 00:40:30,957
try to smear my character and I won&#39;t 

990
00:40:30,957 --> 00:40:34,899
give into it . No . I&#39;m sorry , Mr . 

991
00:40:35,090 --> 00:40:37,780
Secretary , but , uh , broadcasting 

992
00:40:37,780 --> 00:40:40,780
before the national , uh , religious 

993
00:40:40,780 --> 00:40:42,780
broadcasters stressing the need for 

994
00:40:42,780 --> 00:40:44,800
more Christianity in the military 

995
00:40:44,800 --> 00:40:47,260
forces doesn&#39;t seem like a neutral 

996
00:40:47,260 --> 00:40:49,459
position in which you tolerate and 

997
00:40:49,459 --> 00:40:52,239
accept all religions . Let me move on , 

998
00:40:52,580 --> 00:40:55,939
uh . The strategic aspects of 

999
00:40:55,939 --> 00:40:59,320
this operation in Iran . Uh , the 

1000
00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:02,350
president declared that we&#39;re going to 

1001
00:41:02,350 --> 00:41:04,517
destroy their missiles and raise their 

1002
00:41:04,517 --> 00:41:06,919
missile industry to the ground . And 

1003
00:41:06,919 --> 00:41:09,070
after more than 13,000 strikes , 

1004
00:41:09,229 --> 00:41:11,520
unclassified assessments conclude that 

1005
00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:14,479
Iran retains more than 40% of its drone 

1006
00:41:14,479 --> 00:41:17,360
arsenal and 60% of its ballistic 

1007
00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:19,527
missile launches compared with pre-war 

1008
00:41:19,527 --> 00:41:22,439
pre-war levels . That&#39;s one of his 

1009
00:41:22,439 --> 00:41:25,919
objectives . The second 

1010
00:41:25,919 --> 00:41:29,909
objective was . Regime change . To 

1011
00:41:29,909 --> 00:41:32,080
the great proud people of Iran , I say 

1012
00:41:32,080 --> 00:41:34,191
tonight that the hour of your freedom 

1013
00:41:34,191 --> 00:41:36,358
is at hand , and we will finish , take 

1014
00:41:36,358 --> 00:41:38,469
over your government . Well , when we 

1015
00:41:38,469 --> 00:41:40,802
finish , we&#39;ll take over the government . 

1016
00:41:40,802 --> 00:41:43,080
That has not succeeded . And then , uh , 

1017
00:41:43,080 --> 00:41:45,302
one of his other things is the onset of 

1018
00:41:45,302 --> 00:41:47,469
the war , the president said , we will 

1019
00:41:47,469 --> 00:41:49,413
ensure that Iran does not obtain a 

1020
00:41:49,413 --> 00:41:51,636
nuclear weapon . Military operations in 

1021
00:41:51,636 --> 00:41:53,802
Iran have not achieved that goal yet . 

1022
00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:57,929
And it also seems to , uh . Indicate 

1023
00:41:57,929 --> 00:42:00,370
that his pronouncements about Operation 

1024
00:42:00,370 --> 00:42:02,889
Midnight Hammer obliterating the 

1025
00:42:02,889 --> 00:42:06,000
nuclear policy and structure of the 

1026
00:42:06,000 --> 00:42:08,770
Iranians was false . So you have not 

1027
00:42:08,770 --> 00:42:10,992
achieved any of the objectives yet that 

1028
00:42:10,992 --> 00:42:14,590
the president mentioned . Well , in 

1029
00:42:14,590 --> 00:42:16,701
this setting , I won&#39;t talk about the 

1030
00:42:16,701 --> 00:42:18,923
nature of metrics which are , which are 

1031
00:42:18,923 --> 00:42:21,090
classified as you know , Senator , but 

1032
00:42:21,090 --> 00:42:22,757
I can say that looking at the 

1033
00:42:22,757 --> 00:42:24,868
objectives we set out to achieve from 

1034
00:42:24,868 --> 00:42:24,669
the beginning , some of which you laid 

1035
00:42:24,669 --> 00:42:28,030
out , uh , our military , our military 

1036
00:42:28,030 --> 00:42:30,197
objectives have been . Uh , stunningly 

1037
00:42:30,197 --> 00:42:32,030
effective . Um , look , take for 

1038
00:42:32,030 --> 00:42:34,252
example their defense industrial base . 

1039
00:42:34,252 --> 00:42:36,363
They&#39;re completely incapable at scale 

1040
00:42:36,363 --> 00:42:38,308
at any level of reconstituting the 

1041
00:42:38,308 --> 00:42:40,530
capabilities you referred to , which is 

1042
00:42:40,530 --> 00:42:42,697
a devastating result for any country , 

1043
00:42:42,697 --> 00:42:44,919
uh , especially one whose ambitions are 

1044
00:42:44,919 --> 00:42:47,100
as wide as Iran&#39;s . Uh , so we&#39;ve put 

1045
00:42:47,100 --> 00:42:49,322
the president in a very strong position 

1046
00:42:49,322 --> 00:42:51,939
to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear 

1047
00:42:51,939 --> 00:42:54,050
weapon . That&#39;s , that&#39;s the takeaway 

1048
00:42:54,050 --> 00:42:56,050
that&#39;s been underneath every single 

1049
00:42:56,050 --> 00:42:58,106
aspect of this for 47 years . Iran&#39;s 

1050
00:42:58,106 --> 00:42:59,939
trying to blackmail its way to a 

1051
00:42:59,939 --> 00:43:02,106
nuclear weapon . They were closer than 

1052
00:43:02,106 --> 00:43:04,272
ever before because of bad deals under 

1053
00:43:04,272 --> 00:43:03,590
previous administration . President 

1054
00:43:03,590 --> 00:43:05,812
Trump was willing to do something about 

1055
00:43:05,812 --> 00:43:07,812
it and not allow their conventional 

1056
00:43:07,812 --> 00:43:10,034
missile shield . That&#39;s the North Korea 

1057
00:43:10,034 --> 00:43:12,090
strategy . That&#39;s to be clear , what 

1058
00:43:12,090 --> 00:43:13,923
Iran was pursuing . Hiding their 

1059
00:43:13,923 --> 00:43:16,146
nuclear ambitions , revealing them over 

1060
00:43:16,146 --> 00:43:18,368
time , and then building a conventional 

1061
00:43:18,368 --> 00:43:20,729
shield of missiles so powerful that no 

1062
00:43:20,729 --> 00:43:22,989
country would challenge them for fear 

1063
00:43:22,989 --> 00:43:25,156
of what would happen if they unleashed 

1064
00:43:25,156 --> 00:43:27,211
that arsenal . Weakened after the 12 

1065
00:43:27,211 --> 00:43:29,378
Day War in Midnight Hammer , which did 

1066
00:43:29,378 --> 00:43:31,656
obliterate their , their , their sites . 

1067
00:43:31,656 --> 00:43:33,600
President Trump saw an opportunity 

1068
00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:35,656
because their ambitions continued to 

1069
00:43:35,656 --> 00:43:37,433
ensure that umbrella of nuclear 

1070
00:43:37,433 --> 00:43:39,545
blackmailer did not allow them to get 

1071
00:43:39,545 --> 00:43:41,711
to a nuclear weapon . And the world is 

1072
00:43:41,711 --> 00:43:43,878
safer because of his bold and historic 

1073
00:43:43,878 --> 00:43:46,560
choice . Mr . Secretary , I think 

1074
00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:49,699
that&#39;s rhetorical but not factual . 

1075
00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:53,379
Thank you . Thank you , Senator Reid . 

1076
00:43:54,179 --> 00:43:57,090
Mr . Secretary , Mr . Hurst , General 

1077
00:43:57,090 --> 00:44:00,189
Kaine , welcome . Over the last several 

1078
00:44:00,189 --> 00:44:02,356
months , I&#39;ve worked closely with some 

1079
00:44:02,356 --> 00:44:04,989
of the new direct reporting program 

1080
00:44:04,989 --> 00:44:07,669
managers and I&#39;ve been encouraged by 

1081
00:44:07,669 --> 00:44:09,225
how they&#39;re approaching the 

1082
00:44:09,225 --> 00:44:12,229
department&#39;s most complex acquisition 

1083
00:44:12,229 --> 00:44:14,820
systems . General White&#39;s pulled 

1084
00:44:14,820 --> 00:44:16,929
forward the next milestone for the 

1085
00:44:16,929 --> 00:44:19,439
Sentinel program by at least 6 months . 

1086
00:44:19,939 --> 00:44:22,139
General Gutlein has completed the 

1087
00:44:22,139 --> 00:44:24,540
initial blueprint for the Golden Dome 

1088
00:44:24,540 --> 00:44:26,979
architecture and is beginning to build 

1089
00:44:26,979 --> 00:44:29,739
it out . For years this committee has 

1090
00:44:29,739 --> 00:44:32,379
known that we must improve our ability 

1091
00:44:32,379 --> 00:44:35,379
to defend our homeland against a wider 

1092
00:44:35,379 --> 00:44:38,100
variety of threats , and we finally 

1093
00:44:38,100 --> 00:44:40,780
have a partner with the full backing of 

1094
00:44:40,780 --> 00:44:44,090
the department to lead the charge . Mr . 

1095
00:44:44,189 --> 00:44:46,469
Secretary , what&#39;s the advantage of 

1096
00:44:46,469 --> 00:44:49,350
this new type of program management 

1097
00:44:49,350 --> 00:44:52,070
structure ? Well , thank you for the 

1098
00:44:52,070 --> 00:44:53,903
question , Senator . It&#39;s , it&#39;s 

1099
00:44:53,903 --> 00:44:55,800
acquisition authority , technical 

1100
00:44:55,800 --> 00:44:57,800
authority , contracting authority , 

1101
00:44:57,800 --> 00:45:00,040
it&#39;s consolidating decision making in 

1102
00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:02,239
one place under a highly screened , 

1103
00:45:02,350 --> 00:45:04,517
highly capable general , General White 

1104
00:45:04,517 --> 00:45:06,406
and General Gutline who know that 

1105
00:45:06,406 --> 00:45:08,879
terrain extremely well , uh , and 

1106
00:45:08,879 --> 00:45:11,101
understand what mistakes have been made 

1107
00:45:11,101 --> 00:45:12,879
in the past in programs of that 

1108
00:45:12,879 --> 00:45:14,823
magnitude , and then are given the 

1109
00:45:14,823 --> 00:45:17,046
authority to cut through the red tape . 

1110
00:45:17,046 --> 00:45:18,935
They , that&#39;s the key . There&#39;s , 

1111
00:45:18,935 --> 00:45:21,046
there&#39;s success or failure lands with 

1112
00:45:21,046 --> 00:45:23,379
them and they know it . And as a result , 

1113
00:45:23,379 --> 00:45:25,379
they&#39;re incentivized to ensure that 

1114
00:45:25,379 --> 00:45:27,601
program and then given every dollar and 

1115
00:45:27,601 --> 00:45:27,219
authority needed to move it as quickly 

1116
00:45:27,219 --> 00:45:29,497
as possible . So whether it&#39;s Sentinel , 

1117
00:45:29,497 --> 00:45:31,719
whether it&#39;s F-47 , whether it&#39;s Golden 

1118
00:45:31,719 --> 00:45:33,608
Dome for America , these critical 

1119
00:45:33,608 --> 00:45:35,775
strategic assets , the direct report , 

1120
00:45:35,775 --> 00:45:38,179
uh , it , it construct along with 

1121
00:45:38,179 --> 00:45:40,399
Deputy Secretary Feinberg . Who is a 

1122
00:45:40,399 --> 00:45:42,177
national treasure , uh , and is 

1123
00:45:42,177 --> 00:45:44,399
changing the way we do business at this 

1124
00:45:44,399 --> 00:45:46,399
department is giving us a chance to 

1125
00:45:46,399 --> 00:45:48,288
ensure these critical systems are 

1126
00:45:48,288 --> 00:45:50,288
delivered . Thank you . And General 

1127
00:45:50,288 --> 00:45:52,232
Cain , can you , uh , give us your 

1128
00:45:52,232 --> 00:45:54,290
thoughts on why the Golden Dome 

1129
00:45:54,290 --> 00:45:56,969
received the why they must receive that 

1130
00:45:56,969 --> 00:46:00,689
requested $17 billion in funding for 

1131
00:46:00,689 --> 00:46:03,459
the fiscal year 207 . Well , Senator , 

1132
00:46:03,540 --> 00:46:05,762
it&#39;s , uh , as you know , it&#39;s a , it&#39;s 

1133
00:46:05,762 --> 00:46:07,651
an essential part of our Homeland 

1134
00:46:07,651 --> 00:46:09,707
Security layered defense and as , as 

1135
00:46:09,707 --> 00:46:12,419
General Gutlein begins to do the work 

1136
00:46:12,419 --> 00:46:14,475
that you&#39;re asking about and frankly 

1137
00:46:14,475 --> 00:46:16,530
helping to advance , um , you know , 

1138
00:46:16,530 --> 00:46:19,070
the , the insurance around that down 

1139
00:46:19,070 --> 00:46:21,860
payment , charging the defense 

1140
00:46:21,860 --> 00:46:23,804
industrial base with those capital 

1141
00:46:23,804 --> 00:46:26,129
allocations will allow them to get 

1142
00:46:26,129 --> 00:46:28,018
after it much , much quicker . We 

1143
00:46:28,018 --> 00:46:30,185
appreciate the help . And if there&#39;s a 

1144
00:46:30,185 --> 00:46:32,919
delay in that funding . Well , I , I , 

1145
00:46:32,959 --> 00:46:35,015
hopefully there won&#39;t be , Senator , 

1146
00:46:35,015 --> 00:46:36,959
because we&#39;ve got a leader on that 

1147
00:46:36,959 --> 00:46:39,649
account 24/7 365 , but if we do , we&#39;ll 

1148
00:46:39,649 --> 00:46:42,489
always , um , of course , come back and , 

1149
00:46:42,570 --> 00:46:44,570
and talk to the Congress , but also 

1150
00:46:44,570 --> 00:46:47,389
figure out what has to be true to , uh , 

1151
00:46:47,489 --> 00:46:49,929
help that constraint get removed in 

1152
00:46:49,929 --> 00:46:52,060
that production system . And that&#39;s 

1153
00:46:52,060 --> 00:46:54,227
really what we&#39;re asking these leaders 

1154
00:46:54,227 --> 00:46:56,227
to do is to be able to get past the 

1155
00:46:56,227 --> 00:46:58,504
theory of constraints . OK , thank you , 

1156
00:46:58,550 --> 00:47:00,780
Secretary Hagueseth . I agree with your 

1157
00:47:00,780 --> 00:47:03,659
statement on nuclear deterrence when 

1158
00:47:03,659 --> 00:47:05,780
you said nothing else matters if we 

1159
00:47:05,780 --> 00:47:09,590
don&#39;t get this right , so we will . We 

1160
00:47:09,590 --> 00:47:13,149
need a modernized nuclear triad and NC3 

1161
00:47:13,149 --> 00:47:16,280
architecture that can credibly deter 

1162
00:47:16,629 --> 00:47:19,629
multiple adversaries instead of an 

1163
00:47:19,629 --> 00:47:22,310
insufficient nuclear force structure 

1164
00:47:22,310 --> 00:47:24,389
based on fundamentally flawed 

1165
00:47:24,389 --> 00:47:28,179
assumptions made 16 years ago . Our 

1166
00:47:28,179 --> 00:47:30,110
presidents must also have a more 

1167
00:47:30,110 --> 00:47:33,909
diverse set of options so that they can 

1168
00:47:33,909 --> 00:47:36,610
effectively manage more complex nuclear 

1169
00:47:36,750 --> 00:47:40,350
escalation dynamics . So Mr . Secretary , 

1170
00:47:40,429 --> 00:47:42,909
how does this budget request achieve 

1171
00:47:42,909 --> 00:47:46,590
those objectives ? Well , thank you for 

1172
00:47:46,590 --> 00:47:48,590
your leadership on this issue for a 

1173
00:47:48,590 --> 00:47:50,368
very long time . Uh , first and 

1174
00:47:50,368 --> 00:47:52,989
foremost , it , it invests in it . $71 

1175
00:47:52,989 --> 00:47:55,156
billion in our , our nuclear triad and 

1176
00:47:55,156 --> 00:47:57,270
NC3 , understanding that if you get 

1177
00:47:57,270 --> 00:47:59,326
that wrong , you get everything else 

1178
00:47:59,326 --> 00:48:01,510
wrong . Frankly , it&#39;s why the Iran 

1179
00:48:01,510 --> 00:48:03,621
effort is so important . Imagine what 

1180
00:48:03,621 --> 00:48:05,788
the situation in the region would look 

1181
00:48:05,788 --> 00:48:07,909
like if Iran also wielded a nuclear 

1182
00:48:07,909 --> 00:48:10,131
weapon . And the limits it would put on 

1183
00:48:10,131 --> 00:48:12,350
our capabilities in those situations . 

1184
00:48:12,639 --> 00:48:14,806
Our adversaries have to deal with that 

1185
00:48:14,806 --> 00:48:16,972
dilemma because of the strength of our 

1186
00:48:16,972 --> 00:48:18,972
nuclear triad . So that $71 billion 

1187
00:48:18,972 --> 00:48:21,083
investment , the DUPAs that have been 

1188
00:48:21,083 --> 00:48:22,917
put over top of it to move those 

1189
00:48:22,917 --> 00:48:25,083
systems left as you acknowledge , uh , 

1190
00:48:25,083 --> 00:48:27,195
it , it&#39;s , it&#39;s just been a priority 

1191
00:48:27,195 --> 00:48:29,361
since we came in , into the , into the 

1192
00:48:29,361 --> 00:48:31,028
building and we&#39;re funding it 

1193
00:48:31,028 --> 00:48:34,760
accordingly . And Chairman Kain , uh , 

1194
00:48:34,919 --> 00:48:36,919
Secretary Hague Seth , uh , whoever 

1195
00:48:36,919 --> 00:48:39,086
would like to answer this , should our 

1196
00:48:39,086 --> 00:48:41,320
nuclear command , control and 

1197
00:48:41,320 --> 00:48:44,800
communication systems like the SEOC be 

1198
00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:48,320
given the same level of priority as 

1199
00:48:48,320 --> 00:48:50,469
Congress considers the department&#39;s 

1200
00:48:50,479 --> 00:48:53,399
budget request as our as our triad . 

1201
00:48:56,129 --> 00:48:58,129
I , I think so , but I defer to the 

1202
00:48:58,129 --> 00:49:00,240
chairman . Yes , ma&#39;am , we&#39;ve got to 

1203
00:49:00,240 --> 00:49:02,729
be able to see to anything . So yes , 

1204
00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:05,729
ma&#39;am . Thank you . Senator Shaheen , 

1205
00:49:05,770 --> 00:49:09,020
you are recognized . Thank you Madam 

1206
00:49:09,020 --> 00:49:11,750
Chair . Um , Secretary Hegseth , 

1207
00:49:12,260 --> 00:49:14,780
Congress enacted $400 million to 

1208
00:49:14,780 --> 00:49:16,947
provide security assistance to Ukraine 

1209
00:49:16,947 --> 00:49:19,459
in January . Now the committee received 

1210
00:49:19,459 --> 00:49:21,879
a notification just yesterday 

1211
00:49:22,459 --> 00:49:24,626
confirming only that the funding would 

1212
00:49:24,626 --> 00:49:27,129
go toward Ukraine . It contained no 

1213
00:49:27,129 --> 00:49:29,240
details about the type of equipment , 

1214
00:49:29,240 --> 00:49:31,620
no delivery timelines , nothing that is 

1215
00:49:31,620 --> 00:49:33,176
typically included in these 

1216
00:49:33,176 --> 00:49:35,620
notifications . And when asked about 

1217
00:49:35,620 --> 00:49:37,676
the delay in funding . The committee 

1218
00:49:37,676 --> 00:49:39,409
was told that Bridge Colby was 

1219
00:49:39,409 --> 00:49:42,209
developing a spend plan , but we&#39;ve 

1220
00:49:42,209 --> 00:49:44,969
received nothing . So when can we 

1221
00:49:44,969 --> 00:49:47,129
expect the full spend plan for this 

1222
00:49:47,129 --> 00:49:49,810
appropriation ? And Madam Chair , can I , 

1223
00:49:49,929 --> 00:49:52,489
if this is not already part of the 

1224
00:49:52,489 --> 00:49:54,711
record for the committee , can I , um , 

1225
00:49:54,711 --> 00:49:56,211
enter it into the record ? 

1226
00:49:59,479 --> 00:50:01,201
We acknowledge and are and are 

1227
00:50:01,201 --> 00:50:03,146
executing on the European capacity 

1228
00:50:03,146 --> 00:50:05,368
building amount of 400 million that you 

1229
00:50:05,368 --> 00:50:07,257
referred to . Uh , Undersecretary 

1230
00:50:07,257 --> 00:50:09,879
Colby&#39;s done a great job looking at 

1231
00:50:09,879 --> 00:50:12,179
options and worked very closely with 

1232
00:50:12,399 --> 00:50:14,510
our European commander , uh , General 

1233
00:50:14,510 --> 00:50:16,510
Grikowicz . So his requests of what 

1234
00:50:16,510 --> 00:50:18,621
makes the most sense will inform what 

1235
00:50:18,621 --> 00:50:21,939
ultimately is invested in . Well , this 

1236
00:50:21,939 --> 00:50:25,159
notification says that UCO coordinated 

1237
00:50:25,159 --> 00:50:28,219
on the spin plan in March , but General 

1238
00:50:28,219 --> 00:50:30,780
Grekovich told this committee on April 

1239
00:50:30,780 --> 00:50:33,739
16th that he had not yet been asked to 

1240
00:50:33,739 --> 00:50:35,500
review any spend plan for this 

1241
00:50:35,500 --> 00:50:39,110
appropriation . So General Kane , have 

1242
00:50:39,110 --> 00:50:41,332
you received the spin plan for funds in 

1243
00:50:41,332 --> 00:50:43,388
Ukraine , and have you asked the UCO 

1244
00:50:43,388 --> 00:50:47,090
commander for his concurrence ? Uh , 

1245
00:50:47,959 --> 00:50:50,159
I do not believe so , but I will find 

1246
00:50:50,159 --> 00:50:52,326
out , Senator , and get back to you by 

1247
00:50:52,326 --> 00:50:54,449
the end of the day . Thank you . Um , 

1248
00:50:54,760 --> 00:50:57,820
and yesterday , Mr . Hurst , you told 

1249
00:50:58,320 --> 00:51:00,979
the House that you needed to seek legal 

1250
00:51:00,979 --> 00:51:03,080
review to appropriate the funds as 

1251
00:51:03,080 --> 00:51:05,679
Congress intended . So can you share 

1252
00:51:05,679 --> 00:51:07,790
with us what the nature of that legal 

1253
00:51:08,070 --> 00:51:10,760
review is ? And it seems to me the law 

1254
00:51:10,760 --> 00:51:12,816
was pretty clear . I saw it . It was 

1255
00:51:12,816 --> 00:51:14,520
part of the , um , Defense 

1256
00:51:14,520 --> 00:51:16,631
Appropriations bill that we passed in 

1257
00:51:16,631 --> 00:51:19,479
January . And as you know , violating 

1258
00:51:19,479 --> 00:51:21,590
congressional intent on appropriating 

1259
00:51:21,590 --> 00:51:23,812
funds is a violation of the Impoundment 

1260
00:51:23,812 --> 00:51:25,923
Control Act . So what&#39;s the nature of 

1261
00:51:25,923 --> 00:51:28,146
the legal review that you have to get ? 

1262
00:51:28,199 --> 00:51:30,199
Thanks for the question , Senator . 

1263
00:51:30,199 --> 00:51:32,255
What we&#39;re looking at is if we could 

1264
00:51:32,255 --> 00:51:32,239
use the funds in the same manner as 

1265
00:51:32,239 --> 00:51:34,639
USAI . And we had our council look at 

1266
00:51:34,639 --> 00:51:36,695
that , uh , and so they provide us a 

1267
00:51:36,695 --> 00:51:38,917
legal opinion on how the funds could be 

1268
00:51:38,917 --> 00:51:40,806
used to support European capacity 

1269
00:51:40,806 --> 00:51:42,972
building . And can you share with this 

1270
00:51:42,972 --> 00:51:45,139
committee what that legal opinion is ? 

1271
00:51:45,919 --> 00:51:48,030
Ma&#39;am , I don&#39;t have a copy of that , 

1272
00:51:48,030 --> 00:51:50,141
but we can ask the OGC office if they 

1273
00:51:50,141 --> 00:51:52,475
can supply it to you . Um , Madam Chair , 

1274
00:51:52,475 --> 00:51:54,363
can we ask that that , um , legal 

1275
00:51:54,363 --> 00:51:56,530
opinion is shared with the committee ? 

1276
00:51:56,530 --> 00:51:59,860
Officially , thank you . Um , also , 

1277
00:52:00,610 --> 00:52:02,888
I don&#39;t know who can answer this , but . 

1278
00:52:04,810 --> 00:52:08,750
It says that Consistent with 

1279
00:52:08,750 --> 00:52:10,861
the president&#39;s priority to shift the 

1280
00:52:10,861 --> 00:52:12,972
financial burden of Ukraine&#39;s support 

1281
00:52:12,972 --> 00:52:14,861
to European partners , the United 

1282
00:52:14,861 --> 00:52:17,429
States will seek commensurate financial 

1283
00:52:17,429 --> 00:52:20,790
contributions via the prioritized 

1284
00:52:20,790 --> 00:52:22,790
Ukraine Requirements List , or PERL 

1285
00:52:23,590 --> 00:52:25,590
from the European partners for this 

1286
00:52:25,590 --> 00:52:29,510
program , so . What&#39;s the justification 

1287
00:52:29,510 --> 00:52:32,310
for using Pearl when there&#39;s $400 

1288
00:52:32,310 --> 00:52:36,189
million in appropriated funds ? Pearl 

1289
00:52:36,189 --> 00:52:37,800
Pearl is a reflection of the 

1290
00:52:37,800 --> 00:52:39,800
president&#39;s priority and the belief 

1291
00:52:39,800 --> 00:52:41,967
that any weapons that are supplied are 

1292
00:52:41,967 --> 00:52:44,133
paid for by European partners and used 

1293
00:52:44,133 --> 00:52:46,300
as they see fit , whether it&#39;s Ukraine 

1294
00:52:46,300 --> 00:52:48,522
or somewhere else was not the intent of 

1295
00:52:48,522 --> 00:52:50,745
Congress in providing that $400 million 

1296
00:52:50,745 --> 00:52:52,967
as I understand the Pearl program , the 

1297
00:52:52,967 --> 00:52:56,050
Europeans purchase those weapons from 

1298
00:52:56,050 --> 00:52:58,383
the United States and they pay for them , 

1299
00:52:58,489 --> 00:53:01,520
but this appropriation was $400 million 

1300
00:53:01,520 --> 00:53:04,659
that Congress expected . To be provided 

1301
00:53:04,659 --> 00:53:07,879
to Ukraine , not paid for by the 

1302
00:53:07,879 --> 00:53:10,540
Europeans , but provided from the 

1303
00:53:10,540 --> 00:53:13,939
United States to support Ukraine . So 

1304
00:53:13,939 --> 00:53:16,179
again , I don&#39;t understand what the 

1305
00:53:16,179 --> 00:53:18,290
justification is for using Pearl when 

1306
00:53:18,290 --> 00:53:20,780
that&#39;s not the intent that Congress 

1307
00:53:20,780 --> 00:53:23,620
provided . We&#39;re , we&#39;re following the 

1308
00:53:23,620 --> 00:53:25,787
intent of European capacity building , 

1309
00:53:26,209 --> 00:53:27,987
uh , and , but at the same time 

1310
00:53:27,987 --> 00:53:30,153
recognizing that wherever Pearl can be 

1311
00:53:30,153 --> 00:53:31,876
utilized so that the Europeans 

1312
00:53:31,876 --> 00:53:34,098
contribute to that fight , uh , per the 

1313
00:53:34,098 --> 00:53:36,265
burden sharing approach this president 

1314
00:53:36,265 --> 00:53:38,598
takes is important congressional intent , 

1315
00:53:38,598 --> 00:53:40,542
and that&#39;s what I&#39;m asking you why 

1316
00:53:40,542 --> 00:53:43,290
you&#39;re using Pearl to do something that 

1317
00:53:43,290 --> 00:53:45,290
Congress intended to go directly to 

1318
00:53:45,290 --> 00:53:47,629
Ukraine . Mr . Hurst , can you answer 

1319
00:53:47,629 --> 00:53:50,439
that ? What was the legal opinion on 

1320
00:53:50,439 --> 00:53:53,350
this ? Have , did you ask the attorneys 

1321
00:53:53,350 --> 00:53:56,030
if The 400 million could be used for 

1322
00:53:56,030 --> 00:53:58,649
the pearl program . Let&#39;s get back to 

1323
00:53:58,649 --> 00:54:00,705
you . We&#39;ll take it for the record , 

1324
00:54:00,705 --> 00:54:02,927
ma&#39;am . Thank you . And what portion of 

1325
00:54:02,927 --> 00:54:05,038
the funding that&#39;s committed from the 

1326
00:54:05,038 --> 00:54:07,330
Europeans under Pearl is being used to 

1327
00:54:07,330 --> 00:54:10,520
assist Ukraine ? Rather than restocking 

1328
00:54:10,520 --> 00:54:12,742
our own shelves , can you answer that ? 

1329
00:54:12,879 --> 00:54:15,212
Um , that&#39;s up to , that&#39;s up to Europe . 

1330
00:54:15,212 --> 00:54:17,969
Ultimately , uh , Europe pays for any 

1331
00:54:17,969 --> 00:54:20,136
weapons that we provide , and they can 

1332
00:54:20,136 --> 00:54:22,302
utilize them as they see fit , whether 

1333
00:54:22,302 --> 00:54:24,469
it&#39;s Ukraine or otherwise . Uh , thank 

1334
00:54:24,469 --> 00:54:26,691
you , Senator Shaheen . There have been 

1335
00:54:26,691 --> 00:54:28,747
a number of times when our witnesses 

1336
00:54:28,747 --> 00:54:31,560
have , uh , stated both in the closed 

1337
00:54:31,560 --> 00:54:33,727
hearing and up here that they will get 

1338
00:54:33,727 --> 00:54:35,949
back to us , and we , we certainly hope 

1339
00:54:35,949 --> 00:54:37,560
that will happen , um , very 

1340
00:54:37,560 --> 00:54:40,120
expeditiously . So thank you very much 

1341
00:54:40,120 --> 00:54:42,009
and thank you , Senator Shaheen . 

1342
00:54:42,009 --> 00:54:44,129
Senator Cotton . Thank you gentlemen 

1343
00:54:44,129 --> 00:54:46,290
for your appearance today . Um , Mr . 

1344
00:54:46,300 --> 00:54:48,244
Secretary , you provided us with a 

1345
00:54:48,244 --> 00:54:50,189
chart here entitled The Arsenal of 

1346
00:54:50,189 --> 00:54:52,356
Freedom , um , which includes a lot of 

1347
00:54:52,356 --> 00:54:54,189
sites that you visited . My , my 

1348
00:54:54,189 --> 00:54:56,133
favorite one is down here in South 

1349
00:54:56,133 --> 00:54:58,360
Arkansas , Camden , where you and I had 

1350
00:54:58,360 --> 00:55:00,304
a chance to visit just a couple of 

1351
00:55:00,304 --> 00:55:02,249
months ago , um , highlighting the 

1352
00:55:02,249 --> 00:55:04,699
great work that the people there are 

1353
00:55:04,699 --> 00:55:07,169
doing to help rebuild , um , our 

1354
00:55:07,800 --> 00:55:11,169
arsenal of freedom . Um , thank you 

1355
00:55:11,169 --> 00:55:13,489
first off for being there and for your 

1356
00:55:13,489 --> 00:55:15,489
kind words for the workforce of the 

1357
00:55:15,489 --> 00:55:17,860
people of South Arkansas . Uh , isn&#39;t 

1358
00:55:17,860 --> 00:55:20,810
it fair to say that , that the war in 

1359
00:55:20,810 --> 00:55:23,679
Iran , just like the Ukraine war . Uh , 

1360
00:55:25,969 --> 00:55:28,191
before it and still today hasn&#39;t caused 

1361
00:55:28,191 --> 00:55:30,302
any challenges with our munitions the 

1362
00:55:30,302 --> 00:55:32,413
way some of our Democratic colleagues 

1363
00:55:32,413 --> 00:55:34,136
would say , but it&#39;s exposed a 

1364
00:55:34,136 --> 00:55:36,302
decades-old problem of brittleness and 

1365
00:55:36,302 --> 00:55:38,302
fragility in our defense industrial 

1366
00:55:38,302 --> 00:55:40,469
base before you and General Kaine took 

1367
00:55:40,469 --> 00:55:42,580
over and that we&#39;re trying to address 

1368
00:55:42,580 --> 00:55:44,636
right now . Um , in many ways that&#39;s 

1369
00:55:44,636 --> 00:55:46,913
precisely what we&#39;re trying to address . 

1370
00:55:46,913 --> 00:55:48,636
We also have a situation where 

1371
00:55:48,636 --> 00:55:50,858
President Trump rebuilt our military in 

1372
00:55:50,858 --> 00:55:52,747
the first term and a lot of those 

1373
00:55:52,747 --> 00:55:54,358
munitions and a lot of those 

1374
00:55:54,358 --> 00:55:56,580
capabilities were sent to Ukraine under 

1375
00:55:56,580 --> 00:55:58,636
the previous administration . To the 

1376
00:55:58,636 --> 00:55:58,629
point where when we ask our commanders 

1377
00:55:58,629 --> 00:56:00,573
or when we look at old plans , the 

1378
00:56:00,573 --> 00:56:02,407
answer often is that was sent to 

1379
00:56:02,407 --> 00:56:04,518
Ukraine . So the recognition of those 

1380
00:56:04,518 --> 00:56:07,030
two things has , has the president gave 

1381
00:56:07,030 --> 00:56:09,679
us a charge from day one to rebuild the 

1382
00:56:09,679 --> 00:56:11,846
arsenal of freedom , to fast forward , 

1383
00:56:11,846 --> 00:56:13,846
not to provide a little bit more of 

1384
00:56:13,846 --> 00:56:16,020
each thing . But 2x , 3x , 4x the 

1385
00:56:16,020 --> 00:56:18,131
number of exquisite munitions that we 

1386
00:56:18,131 --> 00:56:20,353
need . The expenditures that we&#39;ve seen 

1387
00:56:20,353 --> 00:56:22,576
under this administration , we can , we 

1388
00:56:22,576 --> 00:56:24,798
can account for them and we ensure that 

1389
00:56:24,798 --> 00:56:26,742
other plans and elsewhere are well 

1390
00:56:26,742 --> 00:56:26,500
taken care of . So on the munitions 

1391
00:56:26,500 --> 00:56:28,667
front we&#39;re in really good shape , but 

1392
00:56:28,667 --> 00:56:30,611
we need to accelerate , and that&#39;s 

1393
00:56:30,611 --> 00:56:32,778
exactly what we&#39;re doing , and I think 

1394
00:56:32,778 --> 00:56:32,419
that&#39;s an important point you make is 

1395
00:56:32,419 --> 00:56:34,520
that we&#39;re not just trying to fill a 

1396
00:56:34,520 --> 00:56:37,850
hole that was created by epic fury or 

1397
00:56:37,850 --> 00:56:40,072
by support for Ukraine . We&#39;re going to 

1398
00:56:40,072 --> 00:56:42,239
fill that and then go much beyond that 

1399
00:56:42,239 --> 00:56:44,406
for our needs in the future . So we&#39;re 

1400
00:56:44,406 --> 00:56:46,406
never caught where we were over the 

1401
00:56:46,406 --> 00:56:49,290
last several years with these worries 

1402
00:56:49,290 --> 00:56:51,512
about munitions running short . Is that 

1403
00:56:51,512 --> 00:56:53,734
right , Mr . Secretary ? That&#39;s exactly 

1404
00:56:53,734 --> 00:56:55,790
right . The president has charged up 

1405
00:56:55,790 --> 00:56:57,846
with not just replacing anything but 

1406
00:56:57,846 --> 00:56:57,530
filling it up , as he might say , to 

1407
00:56:57,530 --> 00:56:59,810
the tippy top , and make sure that the 

1408
00:56:59,810 --> 00:57:01,729
remainder of this term and future 

1409
00:57:01,729 --> 00:57:03,896
presidents have all the munitions they 

1410
00:57:03,896 --> 00:57:06,007
need for any level of contingencies , 

1411
00:57:06,007 --> 00:57:08,062
especially considering the dangerous 

1412
00:57:08,062 --> 00:57:10,173
world we live in . I want to turn now 

1413
00:57:10,173 --> 00:57:10,129
to Operation Epic Fury . It&#39;s been a 

1414
00:57:10,129 --> 00:57:11,909
smashing military success . 

1415
00:57:12,949 --> 00:57:14,671
Unfortunately we have suffered 

1416
00:57:14,679 --> 00:57:17,360
casualties to include soldiers killed 

1417
00:57:17,360 --> 00:57:19,830
in the line of action . Obviously our 

1418
00:57:19,830 --> 00:57:22,439
military takes the greatest steps 

1419
00:57:22,439 --> 00:57:24,409
possible to protect our troops , 

1420
00:57:24,429 --> 00:57:26,540
whether they are in action or whether 

1421
00:57:26,540 --> 00:57:29,159
they are on bases in the region . No 

1422
00:57:29,159 --> 00:57:31,120
war though is antiseptic . Mr . 

1423
00:57:31,239 --> 00:57:33,350
Secretary , could you explain some of 

1424
00:57:33,350 --> 00:57:35,128
the steps we&#39;ve taken to try to 

1425
00:57:35,128 --> 00:57:37,406
minimize to the greatest extent we can , 

1426
00:57:37,406 --> 00:57:39,628
the number of casualties we&#39;ve taken in 

1427
00:57:39,628 --> 00:57:41,906
the Middle East ? First of all , every , 

1428
00:57:41,906 --> 00:57:44,017
um , every day we live to ensure that 

1429
00:57:44,017 --> 00:57:45,961
we follow through on the legacy of 

1430
00:57:45,961 --> 00:57:45,560
those who gave everything . So that&#39;s 

1431
00:57:45,560 --> 00:57:47,560
front and center for us . But I can 

1432
00:57:47,560 --> 00:57:49,671
also say , and , and the chairman may 

1433
00:57:49,671 --> 00:57:51,782
want to weigh in , from the beginning 

1434
00:57:51,782 --> 00:57:51,659
of looking at the , the , the 

1435
00:57:51,659 --> 00:57:53,548
possibility of this contingency , 

1436
00:57:53,548 --> 00:57:55,659
setting the defense and ensuring that 

1437
00:57:55,659 --> 00:57:57,826
Admiral Cooper and everyone throughout 

1438
00:57:57,826 --> 00:58:00,048
CENTCOM had every possible measure they 

1439
00:58:00,048 --> 00:58:02,048
could to ensure that our troops are 

1440
00:58:02,048 --> 00:58:03,992
protected and force protection was 

1441
00:58:03,992 --> 00:58:05,937
maximized , was the top priority . 

1442
00:58:05,937 --> 00:58:07,770
Moving assets to the region , we 

1443
00:58:07,770 --> 00:58:09,937
integrated our air defenses with local 

1444
00:58:09,937 --> 00:58:11,826
Gulf . Cut with Gulf countries to 

1445
00:58:11,826 --> 00:58:13,437
ensure our shot doctrine was 

1446
00:58:13,437 --> 00:58:15,492
maximalized , whether it&#39;s ballistic 

1447
00:58:15,492 --> 00:58:17,715
missiles or on drones , uh , flowing in 

1448
00:58:17,715 --> 00:58:19,966
the most recent uh capabilities to 

1449
00:58:19,966 --> 00:58:22,188
ensure we can intercept drones , moving 

1450
00:58:22,188 --> 00:58:24,426
troops off the X . I think what people 

1451
00:58:24,845 --> 00:58:27,166
mostly don&#39;t know is that a massive 

1452
00:58:27,166 --> 00:58:29,055
effort was undertaken before this 

1453
00:58:29,055 --> 00:58:31,565
conflict to move as many humans off of 

1454
00:58:31,565 --> 00:58:34,142
targets . To other places and maintain 

1455
00:58:34,142 --> 00:58:36,253
operational security about where they 

1456
00:58:36,253 --> 00:58:38,253
might be to minimize the space with 

1457
00:58:38,253 --> 00:58:40,364
which Iran could hit . We always knew 

1458
00:58:40,364 --> 00:58:42,475
something getting through was , was a 

1459
00:58:42,475 --> 00:58:44,586
poss was a tragic possibility , but I 

1460
00:58:44,586 --> 00:58:46,586
can assure you from our perspective 

1461
00:58:46,586 --> 00:58:48,642
that was priority number one , as it 

1462
00:58:48,642 --> 00:58:50,642
was Admiral Cooper&#39;s to ensure that 

1463
00:58:50,642 --> 00:58:52,864
fortification and missile defenses were 

1464
00:58:52,864 --> 00:58:55,031
right there when we went on offense if 

1465
00:58:55,031 --> 00:58:57,253
we had to . General Kaine , do you have 

1466
00:58:57,253 --> 00:58:59,475
anything to add ? Well , in addition to 

1467
00:58:59,475 --> 00:59:01,698
just again mourning our fallen from the 

1468
00:59:01,698 --> 00:59:03,309
103rd , what I&#39;ll add to the 

1469
00:59:03,309 --> 00:59:05,309
Secretary&#39;s comments is after every 

1470
00:59:05,309 --> 00:59:07,198
tragic loss , commanders at every 

1471
00:59:07,198 --> 00:59:09,219
echelon within our joint force are 

1472
00:59:09,219 --> 00:59:11,939
going to go back and look at what was 

1473
00:59:11,939 --> 00:59:14,199
our plan and what lessons we can learn 

1474
00:59:14,199 --> 00:59:16,532
from this so that we protect and defend . 

1475
00:59:17,030 --> 00:59:19,252
Uh , our soldiers , sailors , and other 

1476
00:59:19,252 --> 00:59:21,252
members of the joint force the next 

1477
00:59:21,252 --> 00:59:23,419
time . Thank you , and I know you do , 

1478
00:59:23,419 --> 00:59:25,308
and I just wanted to give you the 

1479
00:59:25,308 --> 00:59:24,550
opportunity to speak to what you&#39;ve 

1480
00:59:24,550 --> 00:59:26,679
done to try to prevent , um , 

1481
00:59:27,030 --> 00:59:28,863
casualties , and minimize them . 

1482
00:59:28,863 --> 00:59:31,141
Obviously again , no war is antiseptic . 

1483
00:59:31,141 --> 00:59:33,030
One final question , I understand 

1484
00:59:33,030 --> 00:59:32,429
you&#39;ve been accused of lying to the 

1485
00:59:32,429 --> 00:59:34,485
president . Uh , Mr . Hecketh , have 

1486
00:59:34,485 --> 00:59:36,651
you lied to the president at all about 

1487
00:59:36,651 --> 00:59:38,873
what&#39;s happening in Iran or epic fury ? 

1488
00:59:38,919 --> 00:59:41,086
only tell the truth to the president . 

1489
00:59:41,086 --> 00:59:43,141
General Kaine , have you lied to the 

1490
00:59:43,141 --> 00:59:42,909
president about what&#39;s happening in 

1491
00:59:42,909 --> 00:59:45,300
Iran or Operation Epic Fury ? Never . I 

1492
00:59:45,300 --> 00:59:47,411
suspected that would be your answer , 

1493
00:59:47,411 --> 00:59:49,633
but since you&#39;re accused of it and deep 

1494
00:59:49,633 --> 00:59:49,620
staters are leaking to the media about 

1495
00:59:49,620 --> 00:59:51,787
it as well , I just wanted to give you 

1496
00:59:51,787 --> 00:59:53,898
a chance to answer on the record that 

1497
00:59:53,898 --> 00:59:53,469
of course you&#39;ve always given the 

1498
00:59:53,469 --> 00:59:55,691
president a completely accurate picture 

1499
00:59:55,691 --> 00:59:57,580
of what&#39;s happening . Thank you , 

1500
00:59:57,580 --> 00:59:56,830
gentlemen . Thank you very much , 

1501
00:59:56,949 --> 00:59:59,060
Senator Cotton , Senator Gillibrand , 

1502
00:59:59,060 --> 01:00:01,171
and then Senator Rounds . Thank you , 

1503
01:00:01,171 --> 01:00:03,282
gentlemen , for appearing before this 

1504
01:00:03,282 --> 01:00:05,449
committee and thank you for the closed 

1505
01:00:05,449 --> 01:00:07,671
session prior to this . I don&#39;t know if 

1506
01:00:07,671 --> 01:00:09,560
you fully appreciate how much the 

1507
01:00:09,560 --> 01:00:11,893
American people do not support this war . 

1508
01:00:11,893 --> 01:00:14,219
It is an unauthorized war . Normally 

1509
01:00:14,219 --> 01:00:16,386
when you come to Congress , it&#39;s a way 

1510
01:00:16,386 --> 01:00:18,497
for the American people to be part of 

1511
01:00:18,497 --> 01:00:21,239
that discussion . The American people , 

1512
01:00:21,439 --> 01:00:23,840
particularly in my state of New York , 

1513
01:00:23,870 --> 01:00:26,239
are upset for a lot of reasons . First 

1514
01:00:26,239 --> 01:00:28,560
of all , this war is costing so much 

1515
01:00:28,560 --> 01:00:31,620
money . Over $25 billion already , 

1516
01:00:31,669 --> 01:00:33,891
estimates a billion dollars a day , and 

1517
01:00:33,891 --> 01:00:36,058
they&#39;re feeling it every single day at 

1518
01:00:36,058 --> 01:00:38,439
the gas pump with higher prices for 

1519
01:00:38,439 --> 01:00:41,389
both fuel , for diesel , for gasoline 

1520
01:00:41,389 --> 01:00:43,649
for their cars . They&#39;re also feeling 

1521
01:00:43,649 --> 01:00:45,639
it with higher grocery costs , and 

1522
01:00:45,639 --> 01:00:47,583
they&#39;re exhausted . They are truly 

1523
01:00:47,583 --> 01:00:51,189
exhausted . On top of that , on top of 

1524
01:00:51,189 --> 01:00:54,370
that , they have so many grave concerns 

1525
01:00:54,590 --> 01:00:56,959
about how this war is being prosecuted . 

1526
01:00:58,699 --> 01:01:01,699
They read in the paper that 22 schools 

1527
01:01:01,699 --> 01:01:04,419
have been hit . They read in the paper 

1528
01:01:04,419 --> 01:01:06,820
about a girls&#39; school , hundreds 

1529
01:01:06,820 --> 01:01:10,110
getting killed . We have a debate going 

1530
01:01:10,110 --> 01:01:13,929
on in this country about AI . A serious 

1531
01:01:13,929 --> 01:01:17,209
debate about AI . And I haven&#39;t heard 

1532
01:01:17,209 --> 01:01:19,629
yet from you that you will not allow AI 

1533
01:01:19,629 --> 01:01:21,949
to make final targeting determinations , 

1534
01:01:22,129 --> 01:01:24,129
even when nuclear weapons are being 

1535
01:01:24,129 --> 01:01:26,370
used . That&#39;s a huge issue that we need 

1536
01:01:26,370 --> 01:01:28,850
to discuss . So I want to start from 

1537
01:01:28,850 --> 01:01:31,629
the top , Secretary Hegseth . Why do 

1538
01:01:31,629 --> 01:01:33,685
you continue to prosecute a war that 

1539
01:01:33,685 --> 01:01:35,685
the American people aren&#39;t behind ? 

1540
01:01:38,000 --> 01:01:40,056
Uh , first of all , I appreciate the 

1541
01:01:40,056 --> 01:01:42,056
opportunity for that closed session 

1542
01:01:42,056 --> 01:01:44,056
where we had an unsurprisingly very 

1543
01:01:44,056 --> 01:01:46,222
different discussion than we have here 

1544
01:01:46,222 --> 01:01:48,333
with the cameras on . Um , we support 

1545
01:01:48,333 --> 01:01:50,556
this because my job is to represent New 

1546
01:01:50,556 --> 01:01:52,667
Yorkers , and I can tell you , when I 

1547
01:01:52,667 --> 01:01:54,889
talk to them all across my state , they 

1548
01:01:54,889 --> 01:01:58,139
are furious and they expect me to 

1549
01:01:58,139 --> 01:02:00,306
explain to them why they are furious . 

1550
01:02:00,600 --> 01:02:02,767
And Senator , when I talk to Americans 

1551
01:02:02,767 --> 01:02:04,656
and especially when I talk to the 

1552
01:02:04,656 --> 01:02:06,489
troops . They are grateful for a 

1553
01:02:06,489 --> 01:02:08,600
president who has the courage to take 

1554
01:02:08,600 --> 01:02:10,711
on this threat after 47 years of what 

1555
01:02:10,711 --> 01:02:12,711
Iran has done targeting and killing 

1556
01:02:12,711 --> 01:02:12,540
Americans and what it would mean to the 

1557
01:02:12,540 --> 01:02:15,020
world if Iran&#39;s nuclear ambitions were 

1558
01:02:15,020 --> 01:02:17,131
actually achieved . So the question I 

1559
01:02:17,131 --> 01:02:19,131
would ask to you and to others is , 

1560
01:02:19,131 --> 01:02:21,131
what is the cost of a nuclear armed 

1561
01:02:21,131 --> 01:02:23,353
Iran ? What is the cost to the American 

1562
01:02:23,353 --> 01:02:25,409
people if the world&#39;s most dangerous 

1563
01:02:25,409 --> 01:02:27,520
regime has a nuclear weapon ? But the 

1564
01:02:27,520 --> 01:02:29,687
truth is they don&#39;t want war coming to 

1565
01:02:29,687 --> 01:02:31,298
this shore , and when you do 

1566
01:02:31,298 --> 01:02:33,464
decapitation . The likelihood is going 

1567
01:02:33,464 --> 01:02:35,631
to be exchanged in the United States . 

1568
01:02:35,631 --> 01:02:37,742
There&#39;s no evidence that we are safer 

1569
01:02:37,742 --> 01:02:39,853
because of this war . We did not have 

1570
01:02:39,853 --> 01:02:41,798
any evidence that Iran intended to 

1571
01:02:41,798 --> 01:02:43,909
imminently attack this country in any 

1572
01:02:43,909 --> 01:02:45,909
way , shape or form . So I disagree 

1573
01:02:45,909 --> 01:02:48,076
with your assessment that we are under 

1574
01:02:48,076 --> 01:02:50,187
threat . Do you not believe them when 

1575
01:02:50,187 --> 01:02:52,242
they say death to America ? Listen , 

1576
01:02:52,242 --> 01:02:54,298
our adversaries use rhetoric all the 

1577
01:02:54,298 --> 01:02:56,409
time . What I&#39;m concerned about is we 

1578
01:02:56,409 --> 01:02:58,520
are not safer , and I would just like 

1579
01:02:58,520 --> 01:03:01,199
to know why you have not sought the 

1580
01:03:01,199 --> 01:03:03,366
support of the American people , and 3 

1581
01:03:03,366 --> 01:03:05,588
out of 5 Americans are against this war 

1582
01:03:05,588 --> 01:03:09,449
today . Um , I believe we do have the 

1583
01:03:09,449 --> 01:03:11,560
support of the American people and we 

1584
01:03:11,560 --> 01:03:13,393
have briefed regularly what this 

1585
01:03:13,393 --> 01:03:15,171
mission looks like and why it&#39;s 

1586
01:03:15,171 --> 01:03:17,338
critically important that we undertake 

1587
01:03:17,338 --> 01:03:19,393
it , and I would remind you and this 

1588
01:03:19,393 --> 01:03:21,282
group . That we&#39;re 2 months in an 

1589
01:03:21,282 --> 01:03:23,060
effort , and many congressional 

1590
01:03:23,060 --> 01:03:25,227
Democrats , as I pointed out , want to 

1591
01:03:25,227 --> 01:03:27,393
declare defeat 2 months in . Iraq took 

1592
01:03:27,393 --> 01:03:29,505
how many years ? Afghanistan took how 

1593
01:03:29,505 --> 01:03:31,505
many years , and they were nebulous 

1594
01:03:31,505 --> 01:03:33,671
missions that people went along with . 

1595
01:03:33,671 --> 01:03:35,782
This is different . This is a defined 

1596
01:03:35,782 --> 01:03:37,727
mission set that we have had great 

1597
01:03:37,727 --> 01:03:39,393
success in pursuing against a 

1598
01:03:39,393 --> 01:03:41,338
determined enemy who seeks nuclear 

1599
01:03:41,338 --> 01:03:43,393
weapons , and I&#39;m , I&#39;m proud of the 

1600
01:03:43,393 --> 01:03:45,338
opportunity to remind the American 

1601
01:03:45,338 --> 01:03:47,393
people because they believe in it as 

1602
01:03:47,393 --> 01:03:49,616
well , they can&#39;t . You don&#39;t care when 

1603
01:03:49,616 --> 01:03:51,560
the American people . The American 

1604
01:03:51,560 --> 01:03:53,227
people are quite smart . They 

1605
01:03:53,227 --> 01:03:55,393
understand and see through spin . They 

1606
01:03:55,393 --> 01:03:57,505
know that a regime that says death to 

1607
01:03:57,505 --> 01:03:59,560
America , that seeks nuclear weapons 

1608
01:03:59,560 --> 01:04:01,782
and the ability to , did they lie about 

1609
01:04:01,782 --> 01:04:04,005
the range of their missiles ? Because I 

1610
01:04:04,005 --> 01:04:07,231
saw a 4000 kilometers to pay for this 

1611
01:04:07,231 --> 01:04:09,342
war right now . Do you want a billion 

1612
01:04:09,342 --> 01:04:11,509
dollars a day ? Do you want $2 billion 

1613
01:04:11,509 --> 01:04:13,787
a day ? You&#39;re asking for $200 billion . 

1614
01:04:13,787 --> 01:04:15,842
Dollars more to fund this war and to 

1615
01:04:15,842 --> 01:04:17,675
make sure we didn&#39;t ask for $200 

1616
01:04:17,675 --> 01:04:17,604
billion . I don&#39;t know where you got 

1617
01:04:17,604 --> 01:04:19,660
that number from , Senator . I think 

1618
01:04:19,660 --> 01:04:21,715
you got it from the news , which you 

1619
01:04:21,715 --> 01:04:21,323
should be careful where you , what you 

1620
01:04:21,323 --> 01:04:23,490
read in the news . OK , Mr . Hegseth , 

1621
01:04:23,490 --> 01:04:25,601
here Secretary Hegseth , here&#39;s a few 

1622
01:04:25,601 --> 01:04:27,545
more . Let&#39;s talk about how you&#39;re 

1623
01:04:27,545 --> 01:04:29,523
prosecuting the war . What is your 

1624
01:04:29,523 --> 01:04:32,503
response to targeting that has resulted 

1625
01:04:32,553 --> 01:04:34,634
in the destruction of schools , 

1626
01:04:35,043 --> 01:04:37,895
hospitals , civilian . places . Why did 

1627
01:04:37,895 --> 01:04:40,615
you cut by 90% the division that&#39;s 

1628
01:04:40,615 --> 01:04:42,815
supposed to help you not target 

1629
01:04:42,815 --> 01:04:45,115
civilians ? And do you know the impact 

1630
01:04:45,446 --> 01:04:47,736
of a strategic failure at a war when 

1631
01:04:47,736 --> 01:04:50,095
you have so many civilian casualties ? 

1632
01:04:50,305 --> 01:04:52,305
You may have tactically completed a 

1633
01:04:52,305 --> 01:04:54,527
mission well , but strategically is not 

1634
01:04:54,527 --> 01:04:56,749
meeting your goals because of the harms 

1635
01:04:56,749 --> 01:04:59,083
to civilians . What is the cost of that ? 

1636
01:04:59,083 --> 01:05:01,194
Let&#39;s leave time for an answer . Uh , 

1637
01:05:01,194 --> 01:05:03,459
no military , no country works harder 

1638
01:05:03,459 --> 01:05:05,780
at every echelon to ensure they protect 

1639
01:05:05,780 --> 01:05:07,780
civilian lives in the United States 

1640
01:05:07,780 --> 01:05:09,724
military , and that is an ironclad 

1641
01:05:09,724 --> 01:05:11,947
commitment that we make no matter how , 

1642
01:05:11,947 --> 01:05:14,002
no matter what systems . And why did 

1643
01:05:14,002 --> 01:05:16,224
you cut the department by 90% ? Thank , 

1644
01:05:16,224 --> 01:05:18,058
thank you , Senator Gillibrand . 

1645
01:05:18,058 --> 01:05:20,280
There&#39;ll be other rounds of questions . 

1646
01:05:20,280 --> 01:05:22,169
Um , Senator Rounds , you are now 

1647
01:05:22,169 --> 01:05:24,502
recognized . Thank you , Thank you , Mr . 

1648
01:05:24,502 --> 01:05:26,669
Chairman . First of all , thank you to 

1649
01:05:26,669 --> 01:05:26,219
all of you for your service to our 

1650
01:05:26,219 --> 01:05:30,030
country . Um , let me just . I&#39;ll allow 

1651
01:05:30,030 --> 01:05:32,141
you to finish the answer a little bit 

1652
01:05:32,141 --> 01:05:34,469
with regard to the senator from New 

1653
01:05:34,469 --> 01:05:37,489
York . Does the United States military 

1654
01:05:37,979 --> 01:05:41,489
ever target a civilian center ? Well , 

1655
01:05:41,570 --> 01:05:43,403
thank you , Senator . Unlike our 

1656
01:05:43,403 --> 01:05:46,590
adversaries , unlike radical Islamists , 

1657
01:05:47,000 --> 01:05:49,129
unlike those that target civilians or 

1658
01:05:49,129 --> 01:05:52,260
use civilians as shields . The United 

1659
01:05:52,260 --> 01:05:54,482
States military never targets civilians 

1660
01:05:54,482 --> 01:05:58,010
and puts constructs in place to ensure 

1661
01:05:58,010 --> 01:06:00,689
that the maximum extent possible we do 

1662
01:06:00,689 --> 01:06:04,459
not harm or hit civilians . Is is war a 

1663
01:06:04,459 --> 01:06:06,126
difficult place with a lot of 

1664
01:06:06,126 --> 01:06:08,237
complexities ? Absolutely right . But 

1665
01:06:08,237 --> 01:06:10,403
no country does more and no department 

1666
01:06:10,403 --> 01:06:12,570
does more than our department . Do you 

1667
01:06:12,570 --> 01:06:14,348
still have all of the resources 

1668
01:06:14,348 --> 01:06:16,070
necessary to assure that every 

1669
01:06:17,270 --> 01:06:19,229
opportunity to eliminate that as a 

1670
01:06:19,229 --> 01:06:21,340
threat ? In terms of that happening , 

1671
01:06:21,399 --> 01:06:23,121
do we still have the resources 

1672
01:06:23,121 --> 01:06:25,121
available in the department to make 

1673
01:06:25,121 --> 01:06:27,232
sure that we do the best we can never 

1674
01:06:27,232 --> 01:06:29,066
to hit a civilian target ? Every 

1675
01:06:29,066 --> 01:06:32,120
resource necessary at every echelon is 

1676
01:06:32,120 --> 01:06:34,453
available , legal , intel and otherwise , 

1677
01:06:34,560 --> 01:06:36,560
to ensure that we minimize at every 

1678
01:06:36,560 --> 01:06:38,671
extent possible civilian casualties , 

1679
01:06:38,671 --> 01:06:40,504
and the suggestion was made that 

1680
01:06:40,504 --> 01:06:42,560
somehow . AI might be used without a 

1681
01:06:42,560 --> 01:06:44,727
human in the loop , which is a classic 

1682
01:06:44,727 --> 01:06:46,949
anthropic talking point , which is half 

1683
01:06:46,949 --> 01:06:49,004
of what we talked about previously . 

1684
01:06:49,004 --> 01:06:50,782
There is a human in the loop on 

1685
01:06:50,782 --> 01:06:52,671
decisions that are made , and the 

1686
01:06:52,671 --> 01:06:54,893
suggestion otherwise is to suggest that 

1687
01:06:54,893 --> 01:06:57,116
somehow AI is running targeting . Thank 

1688
01:06:57,116 --> 01:07:00,929
you . Right now , 

1689
01:07:01,370 --> 01:07:03,481
part of what we&#39;re also talking about 

1690
01:07:03,481 --> 01:07:05,703
is not just are we engaged right now in 

1691
01:07:05,703 --> 01:07:07,926
terms of trying to eliminate the threat 

1692
01:07:07,926 --> 01:07:10,037
from Iran in terms of being a nuclear 

1693
01:07:10,037 --> 01:07:11,981
armed country , but we&#39;ve also got 

1694
01:07:11,981 --> 01:07:14,203
staring with us as well , the fact that 

1695
01:07:14,203 --> 01:07:16,203
we have an ongoing principal threat 

1696
01:07:16,203 --> 01:07:18,203
with regard to a pacing threat with 

1697
01:07:18,203 --> 01:07:20,929
China . The dual capable B-21 radar 

1698
01:07:20,929 --> 01:07:23,330
will be a critical part of both our 

1699
01:07:23,330 --> 01:07:26,090
conventional and our nuclear deterrence 

1700
01:07:26,090 --> 01:07:28,368
against China and Russia . As you know , 

1701
01:07:28,368 --> 01:07:30,257
the Air Force&#39;s program of record 

1702
01:07:30,257 --> 01:07:33,110
includes plans to procure 100 B-21s , 

1703
01:07:33,520 --> 01:07:35,687
but many national security experts and 

1704
01:07:35,687 --> 01:07:37,964
leaders , including StratCOM commander , 

1705
01:07:37,964 --> 01:07:40,239
Admiral Correll and IOPECO commander , 

1706
01:07:40,560 --> 01:07:43,040
Admiral Paparo , are calling for a 

1707
01:07:43,040 --> 01:07:45,399
greater number of B-21s . Admiral 

1708
01:07:45,399 --> 01:07:47,719
Poparo testified here last week that he 

1709
01:07:47,719 --> 01:07:51,209
would favor buying 200 B-21s . Uh , 

1710
01:07:51,600 --> 01:07:53,711
Secretary Hegseth and Chairman Kean . 

1711
01:07:54,639 --> 01:07:56,861
Could you speak to the progress and the 

1712
01:07:56,861 --> 01:07:59,083
importance of the B-21 program , and if 

1713
01:07:59,083 --> 01:08:01,139
you agree with the growing sentiment 

1714
01:08:01,139 --> 01:08:03,250
that the US needs to revisit the B-21 

1715
01:08:03,250 --> 01:08:05,199
program of record and assess the 

1716
01:08:05,199 --> 01:08:08,239
requirement for at least 200 B-21s to 

1717
01:08:08,239 --> 01:08:10,350
match the global threat , would you , 

1718
01:08:10,350 --> 01:08:12,406
would you speak just to exactly what 

1719
01:08:12,406 --> 01:08:14,017
that would mean and what the 

1720
01:08:14,017 --> 01:08:16,450
probability of that is ? Thanks for the 

1721
01:08:16,450 --> 01:08:18,450
question and , and I appreciate the 

1722
01:08:18,450 --> 01:08:20,339
fact that you&#39;re listening to and 

1723
01:08:20,339 --> 01:08:22,228
hearing from combatant commanders 

1724
01:08:22,228 --> 01:08:24,561
because that&#39;s who we listen to as well , 

1725
01:08:24,561 --> 01:08:24,169
who are looking at the operational 

1726
01:08:24,169 --> 01:08:26,169
plans and what would be required to 

1727
01:08:26,169 --> 01:08:28,502
ensure we deter and if necessary defeat . 

1728
01:08:28,502 --> 01:08:30,649
Assets like the B-21 or the F-47 are 

1729
01:08:30,649 --> 01:08:32,649
critical to that . That&#39;s why we&#39;re 

1730
01:08:32,649 --> 01:08:34,871
funding them and increasing the funding 

1731
01:08:34,871 --> 01:08:37,038
and where necessary would increase the 

1732
01:08:37,038 --> 01:08:39,371
allocation . Uh , and I think you see a , 

1733
01:08:39,371 --> 01:08:41,660
a budget that reflects the , the , the 

1734
01:08:41,660 --> 01:08:43,859
reality that we have to invest in more 

1735
01:08:43,859 --> 01:08:46,700
capabilities to include the B-21 , uh , 

1736
01:08:46,779 --> 01:08:49,000
which is ahead of schedule , uh , and 

1737
01:08:49,000 --> 01:08:51,167
we&#39;ll , uh , we will be funding to the 

1738
01:08:51,167 --> 01:08:53,389
tune of 6 billion and we believe , uh , 

1739
01:08:53,389 --> 01:08:55,444
we&#39;ll require a lot more over 100 in 

1740
01:08:55,444 --> 01:08:57,389
the future , but I&#39;ll defer to the 

1741
01:08:57,389 --> 01:08:59,500
chairman . Hey , sir , uh , thank you 

1742
01:08:59,500 --> 01:08:59,390
for the question . Working , working 

1743
01:08:59,390 --> 01:09:01,446
through the , the Jay Rock and the , 

1744
01:09:01,446 --> 01:09:03,557
and the vice Chiefs , I&#39;ll absolutely 

1745
01:09:03,557 --> 01:09:05,950
stack hands around assessing the 

1746
01:09:05,950 --> 01:09:07,990
requirement , and we&#39;re glad to see 

1747
01:09:07,990 --> 01:09:10,390
B-21 on the , on the flight path , no 

1748
01:09:10,390 --> 01:09:12,959
pun intended , uh , uh , that it&#39;s on 

1749
01:09:12,959 --> 01:09:15,181
through , through operational testing . 

1750
01:09:15,181 --> 01:09:17,470
Um , on the , on the specific numbers , 

1751
01:09:17,549 --> 01:09:20,209
the one sort of big picture strategic 

1752
01:09:20,209 --> 01:09:22,487
thing I want to say is we , we&#39;ll make , 

1753
01:09:22,509 --> 01:09:24,342
we want to make sure as we think 

1754
01:09:24,342 --> 01:09:26,565
through what is air power of the future 

1755
01:09:26,565 --> 01:09:28,731
look like based on the evolving threat 

1756
01:09:28,731 --> 01:09:31,009
that we&#39;re staying well in front of it . 

1757
01:09:31,009 --> 01:09:33,231
And so that&#39;s the only thing we&#39;ll look 

1758
01:09:33,231 --> 01:09:35,453
at in the assessment . I , I&#39;m on board 

1759
01:09:35,453 --> 01:09:37,453
with assessing the numbers . Um , I 

1760
01:09:37,453 --> 01:09:39,676
want to make sure we&#39;re buying ahead of 

1761
01:09:39,676 --> 01:09:41,676
the technology development curve so 

1762
01:09:41,676 --> 01:09:41,329
that we give all those young 

1763
01:09:41,329 --> 01:09:43,729
warfighters out there the capabilities 

1764
01:09:43,729 --> 01:09:45,896
that we need well into the future . Is 

1765
01:09:45,896 --> 01:09:47,951
there any question at all that we&#39;re 

1766
01:09:47,951 --> 01:09:51,680
going to need more than 100 B-21s ? I 

1767
01:09:51,680 --> 01:09:53,847
want to go back . Here&#39;s how I&#39;ll look 

1768
01:09:53,847 --> 01:09:56,069
at it , Senator . I want to go back and 

1769
01:09:56,069 --> 01:09:58,291
look at the old plans right now that we 

1770
01:09:58,291 --> 01:10:00,124
have , uh , to make sure that we 

1771
01:10:00,124 --> 01:10:02,236
allocate those numbers . So I , I , I 

1772
01:10:02,236 --> 01:10:04,458
don&#39;t believe so , but I , I do want to 

1773
01:10:04,458 --> 01:10:06,569
take the due diligence time if you&#39;ll 

1774
01:10:06,569 --> 01:10:08,736
allow me to look at that , Senator . I 

1775
01:10:08,736 --> 01:10:10,736
appreciate the opportunity to visit 

1776
01:10:10,736 --> 01:10:12,902
with you and to , uh , clarify , sir , 

1777
01:10:12,902 --> 01:10:12,520
what that number should look like in 

1778
01:10:12,520 --> 01:10:14,853
the near future . Yes , sir . Thank you . 

1779
01:10:14,853 --> 01:10:16,964
Thank you very much , Senator Brown . 

1780
01:10:16,964 --> 01:10:19,076
Senator Blumenthal . Thank you , Mr . 

1781
01:10:19,076 --> 01:10:21,076
Chairman . Uh , thank you for being 

1782
01:10:21,076 --> 01:10:23,187
here today . I want to talk about the 

1783
01:10:23,187 --> 01:10:26,830
costs of war . The costs of war include 

1784
01:10:27,859 --> 01:10:31,500
Caring for our veterans . We&#39;ve had an 

1785
01:10:31,500 --> 01:10:33,879
estimate from Mr . Hurst yesterday that 

1786
01:10:34,919 --> 01:10:38,120
The cost to date in dollars for this 

1787
01:10:38,120 --> 01:10:41,750
war has been $25 billion . Which I 

1788
01:10:41,750 --> 01:10:44,229
believe is well below the actual cost 

1789
01:10:44,229 --> 01:10:47,029
based on everything that I&#39;ve heard , 

1790
01:10:47,430 --> 01:10:50,149
everything available to us in various 

1791
01:10:50,149 --> 01:10:52,850
kinds of settings , and I&#39;m gonna ask 

1792
01:10:52,850 --> 01:10:56,180
for a more accurate assessment . But we 

1793
01:10:56,180 --> 01:10:58,013
also know that about 400 service 

1794
01:10:58,013 --> 01:11:00,700
members have been wounded as a result 

1795
01:11:00,700 --> 01:11:04,129
of this war . When they 

1796
01:11:04,339 --> 01:11:07,750
retire , when they come home . Their 

1797
01:11:07,750 --> 01:11:10,390
retirement pay will be docked dollar 

1798
01:11:10,390 --> 01:11:13,770
for dollar . For 

1799
01:11:13,770 --> 01:11:17,540
every Disability benefit dollar they 

1800
01:11:17,540 --> 01:11:19,762
received . Secretary Hegseth , I&#39;d like 

1801
01:11:19,762 --> 01:11:23,149
your commitment that you will support 

1802
01:11:23,810 --> 01:11:26,490
the Major Richard Starr Act that will 

1803
01:11:26,490 --> 01:11:29,640
eliminate this wounded warrior tax . 

1804
01:11:29,689 --> 01:11:32,089
I&#39;m sure you&#39;re familiar with it . Tens 

1805
01:11:32,089 --> 01:11:34,790
of thousands of servicemen and women 

1806
01:11:35,250 --> 01:11:38,509
now . are reduced in their retirement 

1807
01:11:38,509 --> 01:11:41,910
pay literally for every $1 of 

1808
01:11:41,910 --> 01:11:45,520
disability benefits they receive . Well , 

1809
01:11:45,569 --> 01:11:47,791
I appreciate your focus on this issue , 

1810
01:11:47,791 --> 01:11:49,958
and I will tell you of the , you , you 

1811
01:11:49,958 --> 01:11:52,125
mentioned roughly 400 that , that have 

1812
01:11:52,125 --> 01:11:54,291
been injured , thankfully over 90% are 

1813
01:11:54,291 --> 01:11:53,919
returned to duty . Uh , but that 

1814
01:11:53,919 --> 01:11:55,808
doesn&#39;t mean they wouldn&#39;t have a 

1815
01:11:55,808 --> 01:11:57,808
residual challenge , uh , and we&#39;re 

1816
01:11:57,808 --> 01:11:59,808
tracking that at point of injury to 

1817
01:11:59,808 --> 01:12:01,919
ensure that that is noted even though 

1818
01:12:01,919 --> 01:12:03,975
they&#39;re returned to duty . But , but 

1819
01:12:03,975 --> 01:12:06,086
what I&#39;d like is your commitment that 

1820
01:12:06,086 --> 01:12:08,030
you will support the Major Richard 

1821
01:12:08,030 --> 01:12:10,141
Starr . As I have said in the past to 

1822
01:12:10,141 --> 01:12:09,850
other organizations , we support the 

1823
01:12:09,850 --> 01:12:13,370
Richard Starr Act . Thank you , uh . On 

1824
01:12:13,370 --> 01:12:17,160
the issue of cost . Uh , Mr . 

1825
01:12:17,279 --> 01:12:20,799
Hurst , uh , does that $25 billion 

1826
01:12:20,799 --> 01:12:23,729
estimate include all of the costs in 

1827
01:12:23,729 --> 01:12:27,410
terms of damage to Our bases . 

1828
01:12:28,160 --> 01:12:31,540
The Need to replace 

1829
01:12:31,540 --> 01:12:33,620
planes and munitions . 

1830
01:12:35,069 --> 01:12:38,799
And the costs of injuries to our 

1831
01:12:38,799 --> 01:12:42,310
servicemen and women . Senator , so , 

1832
01:12:42,529 --> 01:12:44,250
uh , for the Milon facilities 

1833
01:12:44,250 --> 01:12:46,417
replacement cost , that&#39;s probably the 

1834
01:12:46,417 --> 01:12:48,417
hardest thing to estimate right now 

1835
01:12:48,417 --> 01:12:48,370
because we don&#39;t know what our future 

1836
01:12:48,370 --> 01:12:50,426
posture is going to be or the future 

1837
01:12:50,426 --> 01:12:52,481
construction of those bases . Well , 

1838
01:12:52,481 --> 01:12:54,592
you owe it to us . You&#39;re here to ask 

1839
01:12:54,592 --> 01:12:58,529
for appropriations , and , uh , I would 

1840
01:12:58,529 --> 01:13:02,370
like a more accurate . Estimate of what 

1841
01:13:02,370 --> 01:13:05,330
has been done that will require 

1842
01:13:05,330 --> 01:13:08,930
replacement and renovation as well as 

1843
01:13:09,069 --> 01:13:11,669
the other costs . And I think 25 

1844
01:13:11,669 --> 01:13:15,339
billion is probably . Less than half , 

1845
01:13:15,459 --> 01:13:17,570
maybe less than 25% of the total cost 

1846
01:13:17,570 --> 01:13:19,626
of war , which is the reason why the 

1847
01:13:19,626 --> 01:13:22,640
supplemental request is much higher . 

1848
01:13:22,779 --> 01:13:24,890
So I think you owe it to the American 

1849
01:13:24,890 --> 01:13:27,620
people to give us the straight talk 

1850
01:13:27,620 --> 01:13:30,209
about what the costs have been . Mr . 

1851
01:13:30,220 --> 01:13:33,779
Secretary , um , I know you have 

1852
01:13:33,779 --> 01:13:37,589
characterized this war as A 

1853
01:13:38,509 --> 01:13:41,830
Astonishing military success , to use 

1854
01:13:41,830 --> 01:13:45,189
your words yesterday . But the American 

1855
01:13:45,189 --> 01:13:48,919
people aren&#39;t buying it . And I 

1856
01:13:48,919 --> 01:13:51,399
know you feel the American people are 

1857
01:13:51,399 --> 01:13:52,919
seeing through the . 

1858
01:13:54,930 --> 01:13:57,160
Abstruse stuff that is thrown at them , 

1859
01:13:57,370 --> 01:14:01,259
but one point is irrefutable , which is 

1860
01:14:01,259 --> 01:14:04,140
America . Never succeeds in war unless 

1861
01:14:04,140 --> 01:14:06,660
the American people are behind it . And 

1862
01:14:06,939 --> 01:14:10,370
if What you&#39;re seeing is 

1863
01:14:10,370 --> 01:14:14,140
success now is winning . I would hate 

1864
01:14:14,140 --> 01:14:17,080
to see what losing looks like because 

1865
01:14:17,299 --> 01:14:19,466
none of the shifting and contradictory 

1866
01:14:19,620 --> 01:14:21,899
objectives of the war so far have been 

1867
01:14:21,899 --> 01:14:24,066
achieved . Likewise , let me ask you , 

1868
01:14:24,500 --> 01:14:26,959
yesterday , the president said that 

1869
01:14:27,379 --> 01:14:30,040
Ukraine has been quote militarily 

1870
01:14:30,299 --> 01:14:33,339
defeated . I assume you don&#39;t agree 

1871
01:14:33,339 --> 01:14:34,617
with that assessment . 

1872
01:14:37,060 --> 01:14:39,979
Um , the negative nature in which you 

1873
01:14:39,979 --> 01:14:41,757
characterize the incredible and 

1874
01:14:41,757 --> 01:14:43,923
historic effort in Iran is part of the 

1875
01:14:43,923 --> 01:14:45,923
reason , Senator , why the American 

1876
01:14:45,923 --> 01:14:48,035
people view it the way they do . It&#39;s 

1877
01:14:48,035 --> 01:14:50,201
why I looked out at our press corps at 

1878
01:14:50,201 --> 01:14:49,379
the Pentagon and called them the 

1879
01:14:49,379 --> 01:14:51,490
Pharisees in the press . It&#39;s because 

1880
01:14:51,490 --> 01:14:53,379
they look for every problem . I&#39;m 

1881
01:14:53,379 --> 01:14:55,546
asking you look for every problem that 

1882
01:14:55,546 --> 01:14:57,657
exists , and you&#39;ve missed militarily 

1883
01:14:57,657 --> 01:14:59,712
defeated . You missed I would submit 

1884
01:14:59,712 --> 01:15:02,729
based on my 9 trips to Ukraine . 

1885
01:15:03,899 --> 01:15:06,129
That is a false narrative that the 

1886
01:15:06,129 --> 01:15:08,185
president&#39;s . We are 2 months into a 

1887
01:15:08,185 --> 01:15:10,407
historic military success in Iran , and 

1888
01:15:10,407 --> 01:15:12,629
you want to call it a defeat , and it&#39;s 

1889
01:15:12,629 --> 01:15:14,851
defeatist Democrats like you that cloud 

1890
01:15:14,851 --> 01:15:16,851
the mind of the American people and 

1891
01:15:16,851 --> 01:15:18,518
would otherwise fully support 

1892
01:15:18,518 --> 01:15:20,629
preventing Iran from having a nuclear 

1893
01:15:20,629 --> 01:15:22,685
weapon administration . And they are 

1894
01:15:22,685 --> 01:15:25,560
bravely fighting our fight . And that 

1895
01:15:25,560 --> 01:15:27,560
is the reason that I&#39;m pursuing the 

1896
01:15:27,560 --> 01:15:29,449
Russian sanctions bill , which is 

1897
01:15:29,449 --> 01:15:31,616
bipartisan along with Senator Graham , 

1898
01:15:31,616 --> 01:15:33,671
and why I hope we will recognize our 

1899
01:15:33,671 --> 01:15:35,893
obligation to release that $400 million 

1900
01:15:36,029 --> 01:15:38,085
Thank you we&#39;ve appropriated . Thank 

1901
01:15:38,085 --> 01:15:40,029
you , Senator Blumenthal . Senator 

1902
01:15:40,029 --> 01:15:42,085
Ernst . Thank you Mr . Chair , and , 

1903
01:15:42,085 --> 01:15:44,251
and thank you gentlemen for being here 

1904
01:15:44,251 --> 01:15:46,251
today . I really do appreciate your 

1905
01:15:46,251 --> 01:15:48,759
time to be with us . Um , uh , before I , 

1906
01:15:48,910 --> 01:15:51,109
I begin some of my questions , I do 

1907
01:15:51,109 --> 01:15:53,220
want to start with something personal 

1908
01:15:53,220 --> 01:15:55,053
and both to you , uh , Secretary 

1909
01:15:55,053 --> 01:15:57,220
Hegseth , and to , uh , the chairman . 

1910
01:15:57,220 --> 01:15:59,509
I wanna thank you both , uh , for the 

1911
01:15:59,509 --> 01:16:01,830
time that you take to recognize our 

1912
01:16:01,830 --> 01:16:05,430
fallen . And those that have given , uh , 

1913
01:16:05,439 --> 01:16:07,495
of course during this administration 

1914
01:16:07,495 --> 01:16:09,600
given their all , uh , you have 

1915
01:16:09,600 --> 01:16:11,711
traveled to Dover and have been there 

1916
01:16:11,711 --> 01:16:13,878
to greet those families and to welcome 

1917
01:16:13,878 --> 01:16:16,044
home the fallen . uh , I&#39;ve been there 

1918
01:16:16,044 --> 01:16:19,000
with you and Iowa has been hit in 

1919
01:16:19,000 --> 01:16:21,500
particular very hard . Uh , we lost two 

1920
01:16:21,500 --> 01:16:23,722
of our Iowa National Guardsmen from the 

1921
01:16:23,722 --> 01:16:26,419
2nd Brigade Combat Team , 34th Infantry 

1922
01:16:26,419 --> 01:16:28,689
Division . Secretary Hegseth , you know 

1923
01:16:28,689 --> 01:16:31,899
full well the 34th , um , but , uh , we 

1924
01:16:31,899 --> 01:16:34,740
also lost six members from the 103rd 

1925
01:16:34,939 --> 01:16:37,609
Sustainment Command Expeditionary , uh , 

1926
01:16:37,620 --> 01:16:40,080
based out of Des Moines , Iowa during 

1927
01:16:40,080 --> 01:16:42,729
this current conflict , and again . Uh , 

1928
01:16:42,779 --> 01:16:44,946
your presence there meant a lot to the 

1929
01:16:44,946 --> 01:16:47,660
families . Um , it also meant a lot to 

1930
01:16:47,660 --> 01:16:49,827
me . So , uh , thank you very much for 

1931
01:16:49,827 --> 01:16:51,819
taking the time to do that . Um , 

1932
01:16:52,060 --> 01:16:54,227
Secretary Hegseth , you and I have had 

1933
01:16:54,227 --> 01:16:57,060
many discussions , um , over , uh , the 

1934
01:16:57,060 --> 01:16:59,339
course of many months now regarding 

1935
01:16:59,339 --> 01:17:02,160
general officer positions and . You 

1936
01:17:02,160 --> 01:17:04,279
know , I , I believe that we were 

1937
01:17:04,279 --> 01:17:06,399
operating in good faith as we talked 

1938
01:17:06,399 --> 01:17:08,621
through a couple of those in particular 

1939
01:17:08,621 --> 01:17:11,479
two Iowans , General Mingus and General 

1940
01:17:11,479 --> 01:17:15,000
Randy George . Um , I was disappointed 

1941
01:17:15,000 --> 01:17:17,120
to see that their retirements were 

1942
01:17:17,120 --> 01:17:20,180
hastened . Um , over what I , I 

1943
01:17:20,180 --> 01:17:22,402
believed , uh , had been , had been set 

1944
01:17:22,402 --> 01:17:24,979
out by you and the administration , so 

1945
01:17:24,979 --> 01:17:27,299
I just want to take the time to list 

1946
01:17:27,299 --> 01:17:29,979
out some of General Randy George&#39;s 

1947
01:17:29,979 --> 01:17:32,560
accomplishments as Army Chief of Staff . 

1948
01:17:33,080 --> 01:17:35,024
Uh , he pulled the Army out of its 

1949
01:17:35,024 --> 01:17:36,913
worst recruiting crisis since the 

1950
01:17:36,913 --> 01:17:39,140
Vietnam era , exceeding fiscal year 

1951
01:17:39,140 --> 01:17:42,140
2024 recruiting goals and welcoming 

1952
01:17:42,140 --> 01:17:45,540
more than 61,000 new soldiers . Um , 

1953
01:17:45,569 --> 01:17:47,680
recruitment numbers that both you and 

1954
01:17:47,680 --> 01:17:49,625
the president talk a lot about and 

1955
01:17:49,625 --> 01:17:52,950
rightfully so . He cut 5% of general 

1956
01:17:52,950 --> 01:17:55,390
officer positions , 12 positions that 

1957
01:17:55,390 --> 01:17:58,330
were deemed as nonessential in the army , 

1958
01:17:58,620 --> 01:18:00,842
and he reduced the army headquarters by 

1959
01:18:00,842 --> 01:18:04,209
1000 personnel . He co-authored the 

1960
01:18:04,209 --> 01:18:06,376
Army Transformation Initiative , which 

1961
01:18:06,376 --> 01:18:09,049
is a comprehensive response aligned 

1962
01:18:09,049 --> 01:18:11,850
with your directives , and he testified 

1963
01:18:11,850 --> 01:18:13,906
here in front of Congress and took a 

1964
01:18:13,906 --> 01:18:16,410
lot of heat defending that army 

1965
01:18:16,410 --> 01:18:19,879
transformation . He was suddenly let go 

1966
01:18:19,879 --> 01:18:23,439
at the beginning of April 2026 . 

1967
01:18:23,919 --> 01:18:26,040
General George&#39;s merits , which I 

1968
01:18:26,040 --> 01:18:28,640
firmly believe in , he enlisted at the 

1969
01:18:28,640 --> 01:18:32,220
age of 17 . He is a West Point graduate . 

1970
01:18:32,359 --> 01:18:35,120
He had 4 combat deployments . He served 

1971
01:18:35,120 --> 01:18:37,319
in Desert Storm , Iraq , and 

1972
01:18:37,319 --> 01:18:40,200
Afghanistan . He had 38 years of 

1973
01:18:40,200 --> 01:18:42,479
honorable service . He achieved the 

1974
01:18:42,479 --> 01:18:44,160
greatest army recruitment and 

1975
01:18:44,160 --> 01:18:47,984
modernization effort . In a generation , 

1976
01:18:48,325 --> 01:18:51,935
so I want to thank him for his service , 

1977
01:18:52,185 --> 01:18:54,129
and I would like to enter into the 

1978
01:18:54,129 --> 01:18:57,745
record , Mr . Chair , uh , the speeches 

1979
01:18:57,745 --> 01:19:00,645
that I did honoring General Randy A . 

1980
01:19:00,854 --> 01:19:03,584
George on his retirement and General 

1981
01:19:03,584 --> 01:19:06,515
James J . Mingus on his retirement as 

1982
01:19:06,515 --> 01:19:08,404
well without objection they&#39;ll be 

1983
01:19:08,404 --> 01:19:10,515
admitted . Thank you very much . Um , 

1984
01:19:10,515 --> 01:19:12,459
I&#39;d like to , to talk a little bit 

1985
01:19:12,459 --> 01:19:15,450
about the audit , Mr . Secretary . Um , 

1986
01:19:15,529 --> 01:19:17,810
I saw the video that you posted this 

1987
01:19:17,810 --> 01:19:20,169
week calling on the department to pass 

1988
01:19:20,169 --> 01:19:22,609
a clean audit , and thank you for doing 

1989
01:19:22,609 --> 01:19:24,665
that . It&#39;s something that we talked 

1990
01:19:24,665 --> 01:19:26,942
about during your confirmation hearing . 

1991
01:19:26,942 --> 01:19:28,831
Uh , fiscal responsibility at the 

1992
01:19:28,831 --> 01:19:30,998
department has been a priority of mine 

1993
01:19:30,998 --> 01:19:33,379
for a very long time , and I think it&#39;s 

1994
01:19:33,379 --> 01:19:35,540
time that we build on that momentum . 

1995
01:19:35,640 --> 01:19:38,250
It&#39;s extremely important . And that&#39;s 

1996
01:19:38,250 --> 01:19:41,290
why I&#39;m pushing for my receipts Act in 

1997
01:19:41,290 --> 01:19:43,970
this year&#39;s NDAA . It&#39;s focused on 

1998
01:19:43,970 --> 01:19:46,129
improving financial traceability and 

1999
01:19:46,129 --> 01:19:48,296
accountability across the department . 

2000
01:19:48,689 --> 01:19:51,009
And if you could talk a little bit more 

2001
01:19:51,009 --> 01:19:53,450
about the efforts in making sure that 

2002
01:19:53,450 --> 01:19:55,569
we are being much more accountable to 

2003
01:19:55,569 --> 01:19:57,890
our taxpayers , what is that effort 

2004
01:19:57,890 --> 01:20:00,129
going to entail ? When will we see a 

2005
01:20:00,129 --> 01:20:02,979
clean audit ? As I said , Senator , 

2006
01:20:03,060 --> 01:20:05,060
thank you for your work on , on the 

2007
01:20:05,060 --> 01:20:07,171
audit . Uh , that has been a priority 

2008
01:20:07,171 --> 01:20:09,393
of our department from day one . and we 

2009
01:20:09,393 --> 01:20:11,060
put in place , uh , goals and 

2010
01:20:11,060 --> 01:20:13,299
benchmarks to get to FY 28 , get to 28 

2011
01:20:13,299 --> 01:20:15,243
for a clean audit . The joint task 

2012
01:20:15,243 --> 01:20:17,410
force audit , which we announced was a 

2013
01:20:17,410 --> 01:20:19,632
reflection of even more capabilities we 

2014
01:20:19,632 --> 01:20:21,632
want to push forward and centralize 

2015
01:20:21,632 --> 01:20:23,910
authority to make sure it happens . Uh , 

2016
01:20:23,910 --> 01:20:26,188
Jay&#39;s been involved from the beginning . 

2017
01:20:26,188 --> 01:20:28,243
We also have a new IG who , uh , the 

2018
01:20:28,243 --> 01:20:30,132
new IG&#39;s focus , one of his focus 

2019
01:20:30,132 --> 01:20:32,132
points is precisely this , and he , 

2020
01:20:32,132 --> 01:20:34,355
he&#39;s prepared , uh , to work with us to 

2021
01:20:34,355 --> 01:20:36,299
ensure we reach it . So I think at 

2022
01:20:36,299 --> 01:20:35,879
every level and through this budget , 

2023
01:20:35,890 --> 01:20:38,250
it&#39;s a focus . OK , thank you . We look 

2024
01:20:38,250 --> 01:20:40,472
forward to seeing a clean audit . Thank 

2025
01:20:40,472 --> 01:20:42,583
you , Mr . Chairman , Senator Senator 

2026
01:20:42,583 --> 01:20:44,639
Hirono . Thank you , Mr . Chairman . 

2027
01:20:44,830 --> 01:20:47,149
Before I begin my questions , I&#39;d like 

2028
01:20:47,149 --> 01:20:49,709
to take a moment to highlight the true 

2029
01:20:49,709 --> 01:20:52,140
costs of this war , both for the 

2030
01:20:52,140 --> 01:20:56,020
military and everyday Americans . Uh , 

2031
01:20:56,299 --> 01:20:58,355
and the true cost of the president&#39;s 

2032
01:20:58,355 --> 01:21:00,466
illegal war with Iran , and since the 

2033
01:21:00,466 --> 01:21:03,350
start of the war , 1314 brave US 

2034
01:21:03,350 --> 01:21:05,406
service members have been killed and 

2035
01:21:05,406 --> 01:21:07,740
more than 400 have been wounded . We&#39;ve 

2036
01:21:07,740 --> 01:21:10,189
burned through over $25 billion in 

2037
01:21:10,189 --> 01:21:12,300
taxpayer money with no end in sight . 

2038
01:21:12,790 --> 01:21:15,330
And the fiscal year 27 budget request 

2039
01:21:15,330 --> 01:21:19,149
is a massive 42% increase from last 

2040
01:21:19,149 --> 01:21:22,200
year , hundreds of critical munitions 

2041
01:21:22,390 --> 01:21:24,270
have been expended , and the 

2042
01:21:24,270 --> 01:21:27,390
deployments have been extended directly 

2043
01:21:27,390 --> 01:21:29,509
impacting service members&#39; quality of 

2044
01:21:29,509 --> 01:21:31,979
life , military readiness , and our 

2045
01:21:31,979 --> 01:21:35,490
ability to deter our adversaries . 

2046
01:21:37,000 --> 01:21:40,790
The relationships with our allies , 

2047
01:21:40,910 --> 01:21:43,132
some of our closest allies and partners 

2048
01:21:43,132 --> 01:21:45,243
have been fractured , and the closure 

2049
01:21:45,350 --> 01:21:47,930
of the Strait of Hormuz , which somehow 

2050
01:21:48,390 --> 01:21:50,669
caught the president by surprise , even 

2051
01:21:50,669 --> 01:21:52,558
though , uh , he had to have been 

2052
01:21:52,558 --> 01:21:54,970
warned , uh , is directly contributing 

2053
01:21:54,970 --> 01:21:57,192
to the affordable prices that Americans 

2054
01:21:57,192 --> 01:21:59,350
are facing . Energy costs are 

2055
01:21:59,350 --> 01:22:02,470
skyrocketing with the price of gas now 

2056
01:22:02,470 --> 01:22:05,660
at its highest level . In almost 4 

2057
01:22:05,660 --> 01:22:08,259
years , instability has driven interest 

2058
01:22:08,259 --> 01:22:10,339
rates to its highest level since 

2059
01:22:10,339 --> 01:22:13,100
September of last year . The cost of 

2060
01:22:13,100 --> 01:22:15,899
fertilizer is spiking , which will have 

2061
01:22:15,899 --> 01:22:18,240
a direct impact on the cost of food . 

2062
01:22:18,669 --> 01:22:20,910
This illegal war is driving up costs , 

2063
01:22:21,069 --> 01:22:24,029
undermining readiness and alienating 

2064
01:22:24,029 --> 01:22:26,709
our allies with neither a clear 

2065
01:22:26,709 --> 01:22:30,089
rationale for starting this war 

2066
01:22:30,470 --> 01:22:32,830
nor an exit strategy . And when the 

2067
01:22:32,830 --> 01:22:36,310
president was asked how long he&#39;ll let 

2068
01:22:36,310 --> 01:22:40,029
this war continue , he said , do not 

2069
01:22:40,029 --> 01:22:43,799
rush me . I have a question for General 

2070
01:22:43,799 --> 01:22:46,899
King relating to women serving in 

2071
01:22:46,899 --> 01:22:49,899
combat , and I&#39;d like to hear your best 

2072
01:22:49,899 --> 01:22:53,180
military advice . Does the mere fact of 

2073
01:22:53,180 --> 01:22:56,970
women being in combat armed units lower 

2074
01:22:56,970 --> 01:23:00,180
standards or readiness if they meet the 

2075
01:23:00,180 --> 01:23:03,700
physical standards ? Well , ma&#39;am , the 

2076
01:23:03,700 --> 01:23:06,620
standards are are set by the civilians . 

2077
01:23:06,700 --> 01:23:10,569
We have examples of women leading well 

2078
01:23:10,569 --> 01:23:14,060
across the joint force . I&#39;ll highlight 

2079
01:23:14,060 --> 01:23:16,419
some of our current commanders engaged 

2080
01:23:16,419 --> 01:23:18,020
in the fight in epic fury , 

2081
01:23:18,620 --> 01:23:20,787
specifically one of our bomb squadrons 

2082
01:23:20,787 --> 01:23:22,939
are led by an extraordinary female 

2083
01:23:22,939 --> 01:23:25,540
leader who&#39;s doing great work . Uh , 

2084
01:23:25,660 --> 01:23:27,716
but those standards are set by , I&#39;m 

2085
01:23:27,716 --> 01:23:29,882
sorry , I didn&#39;t mean to step on you . 

2086
01:23:29,882 --> 01:23:32,049
I think your answer is that it in fact 

2087
01:23:32,049 --> 01:23:33,771
it does not lower standards of 

2088
01:23:33,771 --> 01:23:35,771
readiness , uh , readiness . Second 

2089
01:23:35,771 --> 01:23:37,938
question , should every service member 

2090
01:23:37,938 --> 01:23:39,993
regardless of gender be permitted to 

2091
01:23:39,993 --> 01:23:39,939
serve in any role , including the 

2092
01:23:39,939 --> 01:23:42,100
combat arms , if they meet the 

2093
01:23:42,100 --> 01:23:45,919
standards established ? Yes or no , is 

2094
01:23:45,919 --> 01:23:48,399
that to me , ma&#39;am ? Over the last 

2095
01:23:48,399 --> 01:23:51,160
decade since combat arms have been open 

2096
01:23:51,160 --> 01:23:54,750
to women , have you personally . Seen 

2097
01:23:54,750 --> 01:23:57,189
any instance where the standard 

2098
01:23:57,189 --> 01:24:00,109
resulted in a degradation in combat 

2099
01:24:00,109 --> 01:24:02,430
effectiveness . Apologies , I didn&#39;t 

2100
01:24:02,430 --> 01:24:04,859
hear your first question . The , the , 

2101
01:24:04,990 --> 01:24:07,157
you know , people policies are all set 

2102
01:24:07,157 --> 01:24:08,899
by the civilian leaders in the 

2103
01:24:08,899 --> 01:24:10,870
government . Could you repeat the 

2104
01:24:10,870 --> 01:24:12,926
question again ? I&#39;m sorry , ma&#39;am . 

2105
01:24:12,926 --> 01:24:15,092
Over the last decade since combat arms 

2106
01:24:15,092 --> 01:24:17,037
have been open to women , have you 

2107
01:24:17,037 --> 01:24:19,203
personally seen any instance where the 

2108
01:24:19,203 --> 01:24:21,555
standard resulted in a degradation in 

2109
01:24:21,555 --> 01:24:24,154
combat effectiveness ? Um , again , 

2110
01:24:24,234 --> 01:24:26,345
I&#39;ll highlight that the standards are 

2111
01:24:26,345 --> 01:24:28,345
set by our civilian leaders . Women 

2112
01:24:28,345 --> 01:24:32,115
continue to perform , uh , well across 

2113
01:24:32,115 --> 01:24:35,515
a range of , of MOSs and jobs and AFSCs 

2114
01:24:35,515 --> 01:24:37,682
that are out there . No , I do need to 

2115
01:24:37,682 --> 01:24:39,848
get to a question from Secretary Hicks 

2116
01:24:39,848 --> 01:24:42,330
Seth . Prior to your nomination hearing , 

2117
01:24:42,450 --> 01:24:44,479
you said women shouldn&#39;t serve in 

2118
01:24:44,479 --> 01:24:46,930
combat armed units . At your 

2119
01:24:46,930 --> 01:24:48,959
confirmation hearing , you reverse 

2120
01:24:48,959 --> 01:24:52,450
course and excuse me , and you 

2121
01:24:52,450 --> 01:24:54,529
basically said as long as the women 

2122
01:24:54,529 --> 01:24:57,049
meet the standards they should be able 

2123
01:24:57,049 --> 01:24:59,129
to serve , but , um , recently , you 

2124
01:24:59,129 --> 01:25:01,240
ordered a review of the effectiveness 

2125
01:25:01,240 --> 01:25:03,430
of women in combat roles , and I am 

2126
01:25:03,430 --> 01:25:05,763
concerned you are laying the groundwork . 

2127
01:25:06,200 --> 01:25:08,520
To reverse the policy allowing women to 

2128
01:25:08,520 --> 01:25:10,620
serve in these units because , uh , 

2129
01:25:11,000 --> 01:25:13,111
right now , current law , if you want 

2130
01:25:13,111 --> 01:25:15,222
to change this policy , a current law 

2131
01:25:15,222 --> 01:25:17,167
requires you to submit a report to 

2132
01:25:17,167 --> 01:25:20,580
Congress justifying such a change . So , 

2133
01:25:21,080 --> 01:25:23,191
did you order the review to support a 

2134
01:25:23,191 --> 01:25:25,279
potential decision to overturn the 

2135
01:25:25,279 --> 01:25:27,720
policy of uh having women in combat 

2136
01:25:27,720 --> 01:25:30,890
roles ? We are laser focused on 

2137
01:25:30,890 --> 01:25:33,001
standards . The highest male standard 

2138
01:25:33,001 --> 01:25:35,112
for every combat arms position should 

2139
01:25:35,112 --> 01:25:37,112
be the standard , and 10 years into 

2140
01:25:37,112 --> 01:25:39,223
this , we are reviewing it , which is 

2141
01:25:39,223 --> 01:25:41,446
what the American people would expect . 

2142
01:25:41,446 --> 01:25:43,612
Also , there&#39;s nothing illegal about a 

2143
01:25:43,612 --> 01:25:43,569
war that defends the American people 

2144
01:25:43,569 --> 01:25:45,791
and prevents Iran from having a nuclear 

2145
01:25:45,791 --> 01:25:48,013
bomb . You know , you didn&#39;t answer the 

2146
01:25:48,013 --> 01:25:50,236
question because The reason that you&#39;re 

2147
01:25:50,236 --> 01:25:52,458
asking for this review , I think has to 

2148
01:25:52,458 --> 01:25:54,625
do with your earlier position that you 

2149
01:25:54,625 --> 01:25:56,513
don&#39;t think women should serve in 

2150
01:25:56,513 --> 01:25:58,847
combat roles . So now we have the study , 

2151
01:25:58,847 --> 01:26:00,830
and I&#39;d like to ask you , will you 

2152
01:26:00,830 --> 01:26:03,279
Senator reveal the study to the public , 

2153
01:26:03,359 --> 01:26:06,270
to the American people , will you make 

2154
01:26:06,270 --> 01:26:08,759
the study public ? Will you make that 

2155
01:26:09,089 --> 01:26:11,609
study ? Yes , we&#39;re doing the study for 

2156
01:26:11,609 --> 01:26:13,799
that very reason to ensure that real 

2157
01:26:13,799 --> 01:26:15,859
science is applied to this , this 

2158
01:26:15,859 --> 01:26:17,859
question and not social engineering 

2159
01:26:17,859 --> 01:26:19,970
like the previous administration . We 

2160
01:26:19,970 --> 01:26:22,081
appreciate your , uh , assurance that 

2161
01:26:22,081 --> 01:26:24,081
that will be made public . Yeah , I 

2162
01:26:24,081 --> 01:26:26,137
think it&#39;s really critical that this 

2163
01:26:26,137 --> 01:26:28,415
study be made . Thank you , ma&#39;am . Uh , 

2164
01:26:28,415 --> 01:26:30,359
Senator Scott , thank you . Well , 

2165
01:26:30,359 --> 01:26:32,526
first , thanks , thank each of you for 

2166
01:26:32,526 --> 01:26:32,229
being here . Secretary Hitchmith , you 

2167
01:26:32,229 --> 01:26:34,451
can talk about you&#39;ve had the job for a 

2168
01:26:34,451 --> 01:26:36,673
little bit . What&#39;s your , what are you 

2169
01:26:36,673 --> 01:26:38,673
most proud of , and , uh , what are 

2170
01:26:38,673 --> 01:26:40,618
your biggest challenges ? Well , I 

2171
01:26:40,618 --> 01:26:42,618
appreciate the question and , and . 

2172
01:26:42,618 --> 01:26:44,689
What I&#39;m most proud of is the 

2173
01:26:44,689 --> 01:26:47,370
incredible men and women who serve in 

2174
01:26:47,370 --> 01:26:49,450
our nation in , in uniform and what 

2175
01:26:49,450 --> 01:26:51,617
they are capable of when they&#39;re given 

2176
01:26:51,617 --> 01:26:53,894
a clear mission and unleashed to do it . 

2177
01:26:53,910 --> 01:26:56,589
And I think the best reflection of the 

2178
01:26:56,589 --> 01:26:58,830
success of President Trump and this War 

2179
01:26:58,830 --> 01:27:01,589
Department is the historic recruiting 

2180
01:27:01,589 --> 01:27:04,319
success and the historic morale amongst 

2181
01:27:04,390 --> 01:27:06,390
our ranks . I would encourage every 

2182
01:27:06,390 --> 01:27:08,557
member of this committee , Democrat or 

2183
01:27:08,557 --> 01:27:10,669
Republican , go into the formations . 

2184
01:27:11,479 --> 01:27:13,646
Go into the Air Force formations , the 

2185
01:27:13,646 --> 01:27:15,590
Army formations , the Marine Corps 

2186
01:27:15,590 --> 01:27:15,509
formations , and talk to corporals , 

2187
01:27:15,750 --> 01:27:18,083
talk to sergeants , talk to lieutenants , 

2188
01:27:18,083 --> 01:27:20,194
talk to captains , talk to colonels . 

2189
01:27:20,439 --> 01:27:22,870
And what you will find are men and 

2190
01:27:22,870 --> 01:27:24,870
women more inspired to serve in the 

2191
01:27:24,870 --> 01:27:26,759
military than they have been in a 

2192
01:27:26,759 --> 01:27:28,814
generation . And you see that in the 

2193
01:27:28,814 --> 01:27:30,926
young Americans who are rushing to to 

2194
01:27:30,926 --> 01:27:33,259
recruiting stations at historic numbers , 

2195
01:27:33,319 --> 01:27:35,486
30-year highs across the force . We&#39;re 

2196
01:27:35,486 --> 01:27:37,652
hitting our recruiting numbers halfway 

2197
01:27:37,652 --> 01:27:39,486
through the year . Why is that ? 

2198
01:27:39,819 --> 01:27:41,819
Because the American people look at 

2199
01:27:41,819 --> 01:27:43,986
what we&#39;re doing at the War Department 

2200
01:27:43,986 --> 01:27:46,208
by getting back to basics , and they&#39;re 

2201
01:27:46,208 --> 01:27:48,097
attracted to that . Same with our 

2202
01:27:48,097 --> 01:27:49,875
retention rates , which are now 

2203
01:27:49,875 --> 01:27:52,041
merit-based . Our best sergeants , our 

2204
01:27:52,041 --> 01:27:53,930
best leaders are staying . That&#39;s 

2205
01:27:53,930 --> 01:27:55,986
exactly what we want . So we&#39;ve made 

2206
01:27:55,986 --> 01:27:58,263
changes to change the environment . Uh , 

2207
01:27:58,379 --> 01:28:00,490
the renaming of the department to the 

2208
01:28:00,490 --> 01:28:02,657
War Department is not just a name , in 

2209
01:28:02,657 --> 01:28:04,435
fact , it&#39;s restoring it to the 

2210
01:28:04,435 --> 01:28:06,601
original name of the department set by 

2211
01:28:06,601 --> 01:28:08,712
George Washington . But it&#39;s an ethos 

2212
01:28:08,712 --> 01:28:10,935
as well , that that warrior ethos lives 

2213
01:28:10,935 --> 01:28:13,046
inside the heart of each one of these 

2214
01:28:13,046 --> 01:28:12,799
men and women and we&#39;re unleashing it . 

2215
01:28:13,060 --> 01:28:15,171
Uh , I&#39;m proud of , of the , I mean , 

2216
01:28:15,171 --> 01:28:17,504
you name it , the border , the missions , 

2217
01:28:17,504 --> 01:28:19,227
yes , those are all incredible 

2218
01:28:19,227 --> 01:28:18,950
demonstrations of that , but it&#39;s the 

2219
01:28:18,950 --> 01:28:21,310
people and the urgency of Americans to 

2220
01:28:21,310 --> 01:28:23,310
want to be a part of it that is the 

2221
01:28:23,310 --> 01:28:25,588
best affirmation , Senator . Thank you . 

2222
01:28:25,588 --> 01:28:27,810
So we&#39;ve talked about the importance of 

2223
01:28:27,810 --> 01:28:30,009
not um relying on Chinese drugs uh for 

2224
01:28:30,009 --> 01:28:32,176
our military . Can you just talk about 

2225
01:28:32,176 --> 01:28:34,176
what um the um what you&#39;re doing to 

2226
01:28:34,176 --> 01:28:36,176
make sure that we don&#39;t continue to 

2227
01:28:36,176 --> 01:28:38,231
rely on China for anything including 

2228
01:28:38,231 --> 01:28:40,640
our , our drugs ? Oh , drugs . Yeah , 

2229
01:28:41,740 --> 01:28:43,684
um , absolutely . Uh , we can&#39;t be 

2230
01:28:43,684 --> 01:28:45,796
dependent on China on anything that&#39;s 

2231
01:28:45,796 --> 01:28:47,962
critical to our supply chain , even if 

2232
01:28:47,962 --> 01:28:50,073
it&#39;s the national industrial base and 

2233
01:28:50,073 --> 01:28:52,240
not just the defense industrial base . 

2234
01:28:52,240 --> 01:28:54,462
Uh , and you&#39;ve been a leader on that , 

2235
01:28:54,462 --> 01:28:53,790
this committee&#39;s been a leader on that , 

2236
01:28:53,870 --> 01:28:56,109
onshoring meant bringing manufacturing 

2237
01:28:56,109 --> 01:28:58,990
here , bringing critical capabilities 

2238
01:28:58,990 --> 01:29:01,569
here , uh , is central to the 

2239
01:29:01,569 --> 01:29:03,950
interagency and the NSC but also our 

2240
01:29:03,950 --> 01:29:06,399
department . If any critical weapons 

2241
01:29:06,399 --> 01:29:08,566
system is reliant upon something China 

2242
01:29:08,566 --> 01:29:10,566
could change at a moment&#39;s notice , 

2243
01:29:10,566 --> 01:29:12,700
then we have a , uh , a , a true 

2244
01:29:13,240 --> 01:29:15,462
challenge to our ability to produce for 

2245
01:29:15,462 --> 01:29:17,407
the American people . And so we&#39;re 

2246
01:29:17,407 --> 01:29:17,399
finding all of those , changing them , 

2247
01:29:17,479 --> 01:29:20,879
onshoring it , reviving the divests the 

2248
01:29:20,879 --> 01:29:23,200
defense industrial base allows us to 

2249
01:29:23,200 --> 01:29:25,256
ensure we&#39;re separated from China on 

2250
01:29:25,256 --> 01:29:27,422
anything that&#39;s critical . Thank you . 

2251
01:29:27,422 --> 01:29:29,478
Can you talk about the importance of 

2252
01:29:29,478 --> 01:29:31,533
foreign military sales to our allies 

2253
01:29:31,533 --> 01:29:33,700
and our partners and what you&#39;re doing 

2254
01:29:33,700 --> 01:29:35,756
to make sure that , that , um , that 

2255
01:29:35,756 --> 01:29:37,811
whether it&#39;s what you&#39;re doing right 

2256
01:29:37,811 --> 01:29:39,922
now in Iran or any potential conflict 

2257
01:29:39,922 --> 01:29:42,089
in , in Asia , you , our partners have 

2258
01:29:42,089 --> 01:29:44,256
the best , um , uh , assets to be able 

2259
01:29:44,256 --> 01:29:46,479
to be a great partner . Absolutely . 

2260
01:29:46,640 --> 01:29:48,919
Foreign military sales has been a huge 

2261
01:29:48,919 --> 01:29:50,919
problem for a long time because the 

2262
01:29:50,919 --> 01:29:52,919
department didn&#39;t prioritize it and 

2263
01:29:52,919 --> 01:29:55,141
organize to deliver efficiently on it . 

2264
01:29:55,141 --> 01:29:56,919
So we&#39;re working with the State 

2265
01:29:56,919 --> 01:29:56,470
Department . We&#39;ve changed the way we 

2266
01:29:56,470 --> 01:29:58,637
do business internally . The executive 

2267
01:29:58,637 --> 01:30:00,859
order , the America First Arms strategy 

2268
01:30:00,919 --> 01:30:03,120
prioritizes what we sell and to whom , 

2269
01:30:03,189 --> 01:30:05,660
a catalog approach , but it took us , 

2270
01:30:05,759 --> 01:30:07,426
you . This committee would be 

2271
01:30:07,426 --> 01:30:09,560
astonished to , to , to know how long 

2272
01:30:09,560 --> 01:30:11,727
it took us just to get our arms around 

2273
01:30:11,727 --> 01:30:13,838
who we&#39;re selling to what and by what 

2274
01:30:13,838 --> 01:30:15,893
processes , which means there was no 

2275
01:30:15,893 --> 01:30:18,060
strategy behind ensuring we&#39;re sending 

2276
01:30:18,060 --> 01:30:20,116
the proper demand signal to industry 

2277
01:30:20,116 --> 01:30:22,171
and delivering those systems on time 

2278
01:30:22,171 --> 01:30:24,282
and under budget to those countries , 

2279
01:30:24,282 --> 01:30:24,200
which you can imagine is frustrating to . 

2280
01:30:24,299 --> 01:30:26,521
Partners who are relying on those to be 

2281
01:30:26,521 --> 01:30:28,632
able to step up and burden share . So 

2282
01:30:28,632 --> 01:30:30,743
foreign military sales is critical to 

2283
01:30:30,743 --> 01:30:32,910
our own defense industrial base . More 

2284
01:30:32,910 --> 01:30:34,855
customers , more customers for our 

2285
01:30:34,855 --> 01:30:36,855
companies that employ more American 

2286
01:30:36,855 --> 01:30:38,688
workers to ensure our allies are 

2287
01:30:38,688 --> 01:30:40,855
properly armed for the fights and they 

2288
01:30:40,855 --> 01:30:43,021
can stand alongside us . So FMS is a , 

2289
01:30:43,021 --> 01:30:42,899
is a big one for us , Senator . General 

2290
01:30:42,899 --> 01:30:45,121
Kaine , um , I just want to commend you 

2291
01:30:45,121 --> 01:30:47,177
and , uh , everybody in the military 

2292
01:30:47,177 --> 01:30:49,288
for , um , the what you did in , in , 

2293
01:30:49,288 --> 01:30:51,399
um , Venezuela , and then what you&#39;ve 

2294
01:30:51,399 --> 01:30:54,200
done in Iran . Um , can you , the 

2295
01:30:54,200 --> 01:30:56,533
willingness of the American military to , 

2296
01:30:56,533 --> 01:30:58,589
to fight and win , do you think it&#39;s 

2297
01:30:58,589 --> 01:31:00,811
changed the calculus for , uh , Beijing 

2298
01:31:00,811 --> 01:31:03,970
and Moscow ? Well , Senator , I&#39;m , I&#39;m , 

2299
01:31:04,049 --> 01:31:06,216
I know they&#39;re watching , um , and I&#39;m 

2300
01:31:06,216 --> 01:31:08,689
incredibly proud , uh , of the joint 

2301
01:31:08,689 --> 01:31:10,970
force , um , and their ability to 

2302
01:31:10,970 --> 01:31:13,439
integrate and synchronize a range of 

2303
01:31:13,439 --> 01:31:16,410
activities , and I suspect that my 

2304
01:31:16,410 --> 01:31:19,370
counterpart in China is watching very 

2305
01:31:19,370 --> 01:31:22,450
closely and envious of , uh , what our 

2306
01:31:22,450 --> 01:31:24,394
joint force is capable of doing if 

2307
01:31:24,394 --> 01:31:27,129
ordered to do so . Well , thank each of 

2308
01:31:27,129 --> 01:31:29,129
you and thank everybody that serves 

2309
01:31:29,129 --> 01:31:31,351
under you . Thank you , Senator Scott . 

2310
01:31:31,351 --> 01:31:33,629
Senator Kaine , thank you , Mr . Chair . 

2311
01:31:33,629 --> 01:31:35,851
Mr . Hurst , I want you to just confirm 

2312
01:31:35,851 --> 01:31:38,018
something for me about the president&#39;s 

2313
01:31:38,018 --> 01:31:40,750
submitted budget . $1.5 trillion is 

2314
01:31:40,750 --> 01:31:44,540
about a 40+% increase from FY 26 . 

2315
01:31:45,069 --> 01:31:48,229
Am I right that not a penny of that is 

2316
01:31:48,229 --> 01:31:51,149
to go to a pay raise for the 

2317
01:31:51,379 --> 01:31:53,669
800,000 civilians who work for the 

2318
01:31:53,669 --> 01:31:57,180
Department of Defense ? We have a 42 

2319
01:31:57,180 --> 01:31:59,979
4.2% of a civilian salary set aside for 

2320
01:31:59,979 --> 01:32:02,500
bonuses to make sure we can recognize 

2321
01:32:02,500 --> 01:32:04,278
high performers in the civilian 

2322
01:32:04,278 --> 01:32:06,500
workforce , but you have guaranteed pay 

2323
01:32:06,500 --> 01:32:08,722
raises for the active duty in the guard 

2324
01:32:08,722 --> 01:32:10,444
and reserve component , but no 

2325
01:32:10,444 --> 01:32:10,299
guaranteed raises for there are 

2326
01:32:10,299 --> 01:32:12,355
guaranteed raises for the military , 

2327
01:32:12,355 --> 01:32:14,410
but you know , in the last year this 

2328
01:32:14,410 --> 01:32:16,466
department&#39;s given out more civilian 

2329
01:32:16,466 --> 01:32:16,379
bonuses . Well , I , you know , if 

2330
01:32:16,379 --> 01:32:18,546
we&#39;re , if we&#39;re going to increase the 

2331
01:32:18,546 --> 01:32:20,657
defense budget by that much , I would 

2332
01:32:20,657 --> 01:32:22,879
hope the committee would take a look at 

2333
01:32:22,879 --> 01:32:25,101
this , um , Chairman Kaine . And I like 

2334
01:32:25,101 --> 01:32:27,379
the sound of that , Chairman Kane . Um , 

2335
01:32:27,379 --> 01:32:29,323
General Kane , I want to ask you a 

2336
01:32:29,323 --> 01:32:31,546
question about Southern Spear . It&#39;s an 

2337
01:32:31,546 --> 01:32:33,768
operational question . I know from your 

2338
01:32:33,768 --> 01:32:35,823
background that you carefully act to 

2339
01:32:35,823 --> 01:32:37,990
keep military actions within the rules 

2340
01:32:37,990 --> 01:32:41,370
of war . What legal justification 

2341
01:32:41,870 --> 01:32:44,950
could there possibly be that would 

2342
01:32:44,950 --> 01:32:47,830
allow the US military to strike boats 

2343
01:32:47,830 --> 01:32:49,886
in international waters and kill the 

2344
01:32:49,886 --> 01:32:52,509
occupants of those boats ? Without a 

2345
01:32:52,509 --> 01:32:54,342
showing of evidence that there&#39;s 

2346
01:32:54,342 --> 01:32:57,169
narcotics on those boats . Well , sir , 

2347
01:32:57,370 --> 01:33:00,089
as , as you know , our , our job is to 

2348
01:33:00,129 --> 01:33:02,160
show the range of options , the 

2349
01:33:02,160 --> 01:33:04,890
associated risks , and then take those 

2350
01:33:04,890 --> 01:33:07,649
execution , uh , orders , transmit them 

2351
01:33:07,649 --> 01:33:10,750
down to the COOs on legally appropriate 

2352
01:33:11,129 --> 01:33:14,029
and legally backstopped actions . Um , 

2353
01:33:14,319 --> 01:33:17,049
could you give me a legal justification ? 

2354
01:33:17,390 --> 01:33:19,446
Well , sir , the execution order , I 

2355
01:33:19,446 --> 01:33:21,557
don&#39;t have striking boats that do not 

2356
01:33:21,557 --> 01:33:23,557
have evidence that they&#39;re carrying 

2357
01:33:23,557 --> 01:33:25,834
narcotics . I don&#39;t have , I apologize , 

2358
01:33:25,834 --> 01:33:28,001
I didn&#39;t mean to interrupt you . I , I 

2359
01:33:28,001 --> 01:33:30,057
don&#39;t have a copy of the , the , the 

2360
01:33:30,057 --> 01:33:32,279
order issued to SATHCOM with me today . 

2361
01:33:32,279 --> 01:33:34,223
It&#39;s classified in its own right , 

2362
01:33:34,223 --> 01:33:36,390
which clearly articulates , uh , based 

2363
01:33:36,390 --> 01:33:38,168
on a variety of criteria , what 

2364
01:33:38,168 --> 01:33:40,001
constitutes a valid military and 

2365
01:33:40,001 --> 01:33:43,100
legally valid target . In that theater , 

2366
01:33:43,209 --> 01:33:45,376
and I know , I just want to say I know 

2367
01:33:45,376 --> 01:33:47,819
and trust that our commanders at 

2368
01:33:47,819 --> 01:33:50,930
Echelon are rigorously following that 

2369
01:33:51,259 --> 01:33:53,299
legal opinion and those legal 

2370
01:33:53,299 --> 01:33:55,660
boundaries upon which we&#39;ve been issued 

2371
01:33:55,660 --> 01:33:58,339
those orders and General Kane , I would 

2372
01:33:58,339 --> 01:34:00,660
encourage again my colleagues . I am at 

2373
01:34:00,660 --> 01:34:02,716
a disadvantage . I&#39;ve seen the legal 

2374
01:34:02,716 --> 01:34:04,716
opinion , but I can&#39;t talk about it 

2375
01:34:04,716 --> 01:34:06,938
because it&#39;s classified . I&#39;ve seen the 

2376
01:34:06,938 --> 01:34:09,049
targeting criteria , but I can&#39;t talk 

2377
01:34:09,049 --> 01:34:11,271
about them because they&#39;re classified . 

2378
01:34:11,271 --> 01:34:13,419
I&#39;ve seen the secret list of DTOs 

2379
01:34:13,419 --> 01:34:15,586
against whom we have declared war that 

2380
01:34:15,586 --> 01:34:17,641
even they haven&#39;t been informed of , 

2381
01:34:17,641 --> 01:34:19,808
but I can&#39;t talk about it because it&#39;s 

2382
01:34:19,808 --> 01:34:22,030
classified . But I would urge all of my 

2383
01:34:22,030 --> 01:34:25,250
colleagues to go to the SCIF . And read 

2384
01:34:25,250 --> 01:34:27,417
the targeting criteria and get briefed 

2385
01:34:27,417 --> 01:34:29,528
about it and then also look at all of 

2386
01:34:29,528 --> 01:34:31,694
the files of all the strikes that have 

2387
01:34:31,694 --> 01:34:33,806
taken place . I&#39;ve done that with the 

2388
01:34:33,806 --> 01:34:36,450
1st 46 strikes or so , and I think 

2389
01:34:36,450 --> 01:34:39,209
there&#39;s a profound mismatch between 

2390
01:34:39,209 --> 01:34:41,589
what is occurring . And the underlying 

2391
01:34:41,589 --> 01:34:43,756
assumptions in the legal opinion , and 

2392
01:34:43,756 --> 01:34:45,978
I would just encourage my colleagues to 

2393
01:34:45,978 --> 01:34:48,033
dig into this . To Secretary Hegseth 

2394
01:34:48,033 --> 01:34:49,978
and General Kaine , the war powers 

2395
01:34:49,978 --> 01:34:51,756
resolution specifies that a war 

2396
01:34:51,756 --> 01:34:53,589
initiated by a president without 

2397
01:34:53,589 --> 01:34:55,311
congressional approval must be 

2398
01:34:55,311 --> 01:34:57,629
concluded within 60 days . It can be 

2399
01:34:57,629 --> 01:35:00,470
extended by an additional 30 days if , 

2400
01:35:00,589 --> 01:35:02,645
quote , the president determines and 

2401
01:35:02,645 --> 01:35:05,310
certifies to Congress in writing . That 

2402
01:35:05,310 --> 01:35:07,470
unavoidable military necessity 

2403
01:35:07,470 --> 01:35:09,581
respecting the safety of the US armed 

2404
01:35:09,581 --> 01:35:12,149
forces requires the continued use of 

2405
01:35:12,149 --> 01:35:14,189
such armed forces in the course of 

2406
01:35:14,189 --> 01:35:16,830
bringing about a prompt removal of such 

2407
01:35:16,830 --> 01:35:18,910
forces . We&#39;re right at the 60 day 

2408
01:35:18,910 --> 01:35:21,589
deadline . Is the president intending 

2409
01:35:21,589 --> 01:35:23,669
to either seek congressional 

2410
01:35:23,669 --> 01:35:26,689
authorization for the war in Iran or 

2411
01:35:27,029 --> 01:35:28,640
send us the legally required 

2412
01:35:28,640 --> 01:35:30,549
certification that he needs an 

2413
01:35:30,549 --> 01:35:33,750
additional 30 days to remove US forces 

2414
01:35:33,750 --> 01:35:36,970
from the war ? Just briefly on the 

2415
01:35:36,970 --> 01:35:39,137
previous question , there , we do know 

2416
01:35:39,137 --> 01:35:41,137
that these are designated terrorist 

2417
01:35:41,137 --> 01:35:43,248
organizations , so we treat them like 

2418
01:35:43,248 --> 01:35:45,414
the al Qaeda of our hemisphere just as 

2419
01:35:45,414 --> 01:35:45,009
a note . But , but that was not the 

2420
01:35:45,009 --> 01:35:46,953
question I asked . I know , I know 

2421
01:35:46,953 --> 01:35:49,120
there&#39;s more to that question . I just 

2422
01:35:49,120 --> 01:35:51,287
think it&#39;s important for the public to 

2423
01:35:51,287 --> 01:35:50,850
understand that there&#39;s no willy-nilly 

2424
01:35:50,850 --> 01:35:53,017
targeting of , of drug boats . We know 

2425
01:35:53,017 --> 01:35:55,239
exactly who these people are affiliated 

2426
01:35:55,239 --> 01:35:57,461
with . I was asking about what&#39;s on the 

2427
01:35:57,461 --> 01:35:59,683
boats on the , on , on , on Iran . Uh , 

2428
01:35:59,683 --> 01:35:59,370
ultimately I would , I would defer to 

2429
01:35:59,370 --> 01:36:01,592
the White House and White House counsel 

2430
01:36:01,592 --> 01:36:03,370
on that . However , we are in a 

2431
01:36:03,370 --> 01:36:05,259
ceasefire . Right now , which our 

2432
01:36:05,259 --> 01:36:07,314
understanding means the 60 day clock 

2433
01:36:07,314 --> 01:36:09,314
pauses or stops in a ceasefire . So 

2434
01:36:09,314 --> 01:36:11,259
they&#39;re not in . That&#39;s , it&#39;s our 

2435
01:36:11,259 --> 01:36:13,481
understanding , just so you know . OK , 

2436
01:36:13,481 --> 01:36:15,703
well , I , I do not believe the statute 

2437
01:36:15,703 --> 01:36:15,174
would support that . I think the 60 

2438
01:36:15,174 --> 01:36:17,535
days runs maybe tomorrow and it&#39;s going 

2439
01:36:17,535 --> 01:36:20,734
to pose a , a really important legal 

2440
01:36:20,734 --> 01:36:22,956
question for the administration . There 

2441
01:36:22,956 --> 01:36:25,178
we have serious constitutional concerns 

2442
01:36:25,178 --> 01:36:27,290
and we don&#39;t want to layer those with 

2443
01:36:27,290 --> 01:36:29,512
additional statutory concerns . I yield 

2444
01:36:29,512 --> 01:36:31,734
back , Mr . Chair . Uh , thank you very 

2445
01:36:31,734 --> 01:36:33,845
much , Senator Sullivan . Thank you , 

2446
01:36:33,845 --> 01:36:35,678
Mr . Chairman . Uh , thank you , 

2447
01:36:35,678 --> 01:36:37,790
gentlemen , for your testimony . Uh , 

2448
01:36:37,790 --> 01:36:40,012
Mr . Secretary , I , I mentioned in the 

2449
01:36:40,012 --> 01:36:39,950
classified hearing today , but I do 

2450
01:36:39,950 --> 01:36:43,669
think the $1.5 trillion top line . is 

2451
01:36:43,669 --> 01:36:47,029
historic , meets the needs . And the 

2452
01:36:47,029 --> 01:36:48,918
other thing as I mentioned in our 

2453
01:36:48,918 --> 01:36:51,029
earlier meeting , um , you know , the 

2454
01:36:51,029 --> 01:36:53,140
president&#39;s done a really good job of 

2455
01:36:53,140 --> 01:36:55,251
getting other allies , NATO and Asian 

2456
01:36:55,251 --> 01:36:59,109
allies to step up , meet a 5% GDP 

2457
01:36:59,109 --> 01:37:02,109
of defense spending , and , um , in 

2458
01:37:02,109 --> 01:37:04,220
many ways , that&#39;s what this is doing 

2459
01:37:04,220 --> 01:37:06,276
as well . So isn&#39;t that important as 

2460
01:37:06,276 --> 01:37:08,553
well in terms of our global leadership , 

2461
01:37:08,553 --> 01:37:10,665
what you and the president are , uh , 

2462
01:37:10,665 --> 01:37:12,776
providing as that example as well ? I 

2463
01:37:12,776 --> 01:37:14,831
think the more we step up , the more 

2464
01:37:14,879 --> 01:37:16,990
the world should look at the American 

2465
01:37:16,990 --> 01:37:19,101
leadership and example and step up as 

2466
01:37:19,101 --> 01:37:21,212
well , and they&#39;re gonna do that . It 

2467
01:37:21,212 --> 01:37:23,435
helps . We will . It remains to be seen 

2468
01:37:23,435 --> 01:37:25,435
whether some of our allies actually 

2469
01:37:25,435 --> 01:37:27,657
step up to their commitments , but that 

2470
01:37:27,657 --> 01:37:29,879
is , that is the hope . Let me go to an 

2471
01:37:29,879 --> 01:37:31,768
element of that budget that I , I 

2472
01:37:31,768 --> 01:37:31,759
mentioned in the classified hearing . 

2473
01:37:32,009 --> 01:37:34,065
You know , I always like to put this 

2474
01:37:34,065 --> 01:37:36,065
chart up in different hearings . We 

2475
01:37:36,065 --> 01:37:38,231
have the , the examples . So we have a 

2476
01:37:38,231 --> 01:37:40,398
lot of our adversaries , the Chinese , 

2477
01:37:40,398 --> 01:37:42,759
the Russians . In my uh AOR in the 

2478
01:37:42,759 --> 01:37:44,981
Arctic in the North Pacific . These are 

2479
01:37:44,981 --> 01:37:46,759
the numbers just recently , AIS 

2480
01:37:46,759 --> 01:37:49,120
incursions , EEZ incursions by the 

2481
01:37:49,120 --> 01:37:51,520
Russians , by the Chinese . By the way , 

2482
01:37:51,560 --> 01:37:52,959
the green ones are joint 

2483
01:37:52,959 --> 01:37:56,160
Russian-Chinese strategic bomber task 

2484
01:37:56,160 --> 01:37:58,640
forces , joint Russian-Chinese naval 

2485
01:37:58,640 --> 01:38:01,240
task forces . Uh , this is America , 

2486
01:38:01,379 --> 01:38:03,640
right ? This is a , a really important 

2487
01:38:03,640 --> 01:38:07,000
part of , uh , our national defense . 

2488
01:38:07,080 --> 01:38:09,450
So I was pleased to see . That one of 

2489
01:38:09,450 --> 01:38:12,319
the elements in the budget was what&#39;s 

2490
01:38:12,319 --> 01:38:14,490
uh referred to by the Air Force as the 

2491
01:38:14,490 --> 01:38:17,430
JBA fighter town recapitalization , 

2492
01:38:18,419 --> 01:38:20,586
given how strategically important that 

2493
01:38:20,586 --> 01:38:24,290
Air Force base is . Um , General , can 

2494
01:38:24,290 --> 01:38:26,250
you talk a little bit about that 

2495
01:38:26,500 --> 01:38:30,089
recapitalization ? It&#39;s , uh , uh , for 

2496
01:38:30,600 --> 01:38:33,410
Uh , building out what is a very 

2497
01:38:33,410 --> 01:38:35,810
strategic base , but old . A lot of 

2498
01:38:35,810 --> 01:38:38,370
these , uh , facilities are from the 

2499
01:38:38,370 --> 01:38:41,850
1950s . The goal of , in the Air 

2500
01:38:41,850 --> 01:38:43,572
Force&#39;s language was to have a 

2501
01:38:43,572 --> 01:38:45,794
recapitalization to provide a new state 

2502
01:38:45,794 --> 01:38:48,729
of the art fighter facility capable of 

2503
01:38:48,729 --> 01:38:50,840
supporting multiple platforms now and 

2504
01:38:50,840 --> 01:38:54,049
well into the future . $6.9 billion 

2505
01:38:54,049 --> 01:38:57,770
total authorization , 2 . $2 billion 

2506
01:38:57,770 --> 01:38:59,881
approach for this year . Can you talk 

2507
01:38:59,881 --> 01:39:01,937
about the importance , I was glad to 

2508
01:39:01,937 --> 01:39:04,048
host you at J Bear recently . Can you 

2509
01:39:04,048 --> 01:39:05,937
talk about the importance of this 

2510
01:39:05,937 --> 01:39:08,270
element of the president&#39;s budget ? Yes , 

2511
01:39:08,270 --> 01:39:07,990
Senator , thank you , thank you for , 

2512
01:39:08,000 --> 01:39:09,944
uh , for that . And you know , our 

2513
01:39:09,944 --> 01:39:12,399
investment up at JBA is essential to 

2514
01:39:12,399 --> 01:39:15,200
modernizing the nation&#39;s ability to 

2515
01:39:15,200 --> 01:39:17,680
project power and capabilities and 

2516
01:39:17,680 --> 01:39:20,680
really bolsters our effort in not only 

2517
01:39:20,680 --> 01:39:22,902
the Indo-Pacific , but also in the high 

2518
01:39:22,902 --> 01:39:25,013
north in the Arctic , which I know is 

2519
01:39:25,120 --> 01:39:27,176
something that&#39;s passionate to you . 

2520
01:39:27,270 --> 01:39:30,169
The Arctic is certainly becoming more 

2521
01:39:30,169 --> 01:39:31,947
operational . And strategically 

2522
01:39:31,947 --> 01:39:34,740
valuable , and we need to be thinking 

2523
01:39:34,740 --> 01:39:36,899
proactively around how we&#39;re going to 

2524
01:39:36,899 --> 01:39:38,970
set the conditions for us to offer a 

2525
01:39:38,970 --> 01:39:41,770
range of options to the Secretary and 

2526
01:39:41,770 --> 01:39:43,826
the President about power projection 

2527
01:39:44,660 --> 01:39:46,716
across a range of capabilities , and 

2528
01:39:46,716 --> 01:39:48,771
fighters is certainly one of them in 

2529
01:39:48,771 --> 01:39:50,827
the recap effort that&#39;s there . Um , 

2530
01:39:50,899 --> 01:39:53,140
you know , it is , uh , it is our 

2531
01:39:53,140 --> 01:39:55,084
ability to protect that flank is a 

2532
01:39:55,084 --> 01:39:57,251
national imperative and something that 

2533
01:39:57,251 --> 01:39:59,473
we want to keep . Uh , focused on , and 

2534
01:39:59,473 --> 01:40:01,696
we appreciate the efforts , uh , across 

2535
01:40:01,696 --> 01:40:03,807
this committee , uh , and the rest of 

2536
01:40:03,807 --> 01:40:05,807
the Congress to help us with that . 

2537
01:40:05,807 --> 01:40:07,918
Thank you . Uh , Mr . Secretary , one 

2538
01:40:07,918 --> 01:40:09,918
of the things that I&#39;ve , I&#39;ve been 

2539
01:40:09,918 --> 01:40:09,700
talking about and I think is really 

2540
01:40:09,700 --> 01:40:13,020
important now is American energy and us 

2541
01:40:13,020 --> 01:40:14,830
being , uh , energy dominant . 

2542
01:40:15,140 --> 01:40:18,180
President put a recent executive order 

2543
01:40:18,180 --> 01:40:20,439
out highlight , highlighting the need 

2544
01:40:20,779 --> 01:40:23,620
to accelerate , uh , the ability to 

2545
01:40:23,620 --> 01:40:27,529
produce LNG , uh , in America . Uh , 

2546
01:40:27,620 --> 01:40:29,731
we have a huge LNG project that we&#39;re 

2547
01:40:29,731 --> 01:40:32,100
getting close to getting off the ground 

2548
01:40:32,100 --> 01:40:33,878
in Alaska would be huge for our 

2549
01:40:33,878 --> 01:40:36,339
military in terms of , uh , energy for 

2550
01:40:36,339 --> 01:40:39,339
our military , huge for our allies . 

2551
01:40:39,660 --> 01:40:41,771
And can I get your commitment to work 

2552
01:40:41,771 --> 01:40:43,604
with me and this committee ? You 

2553
01:40:43,604 --> 01:40:45,493
mentioned in your testimony , the 

2554
01:40:45,493 --> 01:40:48,180
Office of Strategic Capital . This to 

2555
01:40:48,180 --> 01:40:51,129
me is one of these , uh , projects , uh , 

2556
01:40:51,140 --> 01:40:52,973
that I think would be absolutely 

2557
01:40:52,973 --> 01:40:55,196
critical for our national security . We 

2558
01:40:55,196 --> 01:40:57,362
talked about this just in Uh , Admiral 

2559
01:40:57,362 --> 01:40:59,850
Paparo&#39;s testimony last week , he was 

2560
01:40:59,850 --> 01:41:02,072
talking about the Alaska LNG project is 

2561
01:41:02,072 --> 01:41:04,529
hugely strategic , kind of a private 

2562
01:41:04,529 --> 01:41:06,890
sector , American counter to the 

2563
01:41:06,890 --> 01:41:08,946
Chinese Belt and Road Initiative . I 

2564
01:41:08,946 --> 01:41:11,001
think it&#39;d be a great opportunity to 

2565
01:41:11,001 --> 01:41:12,890
work with the Office of Strategic 

2566
01:41:12,890 --> 01:41:15,001
Capital . Can I get your commitment , 

2567
01:41:15,001 --> 01:41:17,001
Mr . Secretary , to do that on this 

2568
01:41:17,001 --> 01:41:18,946
project ? Yes , very aware of that 

2569
01:41:18,946 --> 01:41:18,689
project , and I think it&#39;s , uh , the 

2570
01:41:18,689 --> 01:41:20,911
Office of Strategic Capital is a , is a 

2571
01:41:20,911 --> 01:41:22,911
great place to look at partnering . 

2572
01:41:22,911 --> 01:41:24,745
Great , I appreciate that . Uh , 

2573
01:41:24,745 --> 01:41:27,100
finally , I&#39;m just gonna ask , uh , 47 

2574
01:41:27,100 --> 01:41:29,640
years of war that we&#39;ve had with Iran , 

2575
01:41:30,089 --> 01:41:32,311
um , my colleagues on the other side of 

2576
01:41:32,311 --> 01:41:34,422
the aisle that , you know , they talk 

2577
01:41:34,422 --> 01:41:36,970
about , uh , The civilian , uh , 

2578
01:41:37,189 --> 01:41:39,300
casualties , these are all horrible , 

2579
01:41:39,750 --> 01:41:41,917
horrible whenever there&#39;s any civilian 

2580
01:41:41,917 --> 01:41:44,620
casualties , but just general , um , do 

2581
01:41:44,620 --> 01:41:46,930
our forces target civilians ever ? 

2582
01:41:48,899 --> 01:41:52,419
Uh sir , not never intentionally , and 

2583
01:41:52,419 --> 01:41:54,729
I don&#39;t know in any particular case of 

2584
01:41:54,729 --> 01:41:56,896
unintentional , but we don&#39;t do that . 

2585
01:41:56,896 --> 01:41:59,062
That&#39;s our core to our American values 

2586
01:41:59,062 --> 01:42:01,229
or how we approach things . Because 11 

2587
01:42:01,229 --> 01:42:03,340
do our adversaries target civilians ? 

2588
01:42:03,340 --> 01:42:05,673
Yes sir , like the Quds Force ? Yes sir . 

2589
01:42:05,673 --> 01:42:07,673
I think it&#39;s really important as we 

2590
01:42:07,673 --> 01:42:09,785
keep bringing this topic up . Uh , to 

2591
01:42:09,785 --> 01:42:11,673
remember who we are and who you , 

2592
01:42:11,673 --> 01:42:13,451
Senator Sullivan . Uh , Senator 

2593
01:42:13,451 --> 01:42:15,618
Sullivan , do you , uh , ask unanimous 

2594
01:42:15,618 --> 01:42:17,785
consent to have the two exhibits added 

2595
01:42:17,785 --> 01:42:19,618
to the record ? Yes , sir , Mr . 

2596
01:42:19,618 --> 01:42:19,259
Chairman , without objection , that 

2597
01:42:19,259 --> 01:42:22,959
will be done , Senator King . Thank you , 

2598
01:42:22,970 --> 01:42:24,914
Mr . Chairman . We&#39;ve had a lot of 

2599
01:42:24,914 --> 01:42:26,914
discussion about Iran . I&#39;d like to 

2600
01:42:26,914 --> 01:42:29,137
talk about several other aspects of the 

2601
01:42:29,137 --> 01:42:31,026
budget . The first is the way the 

2602
01:42:31,026 --> 01:42:33,137
budget&#39;s been constructed . Uh , ever 

2603
01:42:33,137 --> 01:42:35,303
since I&#39;ve been here until last year , 

2604
01:42:35,303 --> 01:42:37,137
we&#39;ve had bipartisan budgets and 

2605
01:42:37,137 --> 01:42:38,692
bipartisan National Defense 

2606
01:42:38,692 --> 01:42:42,339
Authorization Acts and , uh , passed by 

2607
01:42:42,339 --> 01:42:44,506
majorities . I voted for all of them , 

2608
01:42:44,779 --> 01:42:47,299
and all of a sudden in this year , 25% 

2609
01:42:47,299 --> 01:42:50,339
of the budget . is essentially out of 

2610
01:42:50,339 --> 01:42:52,459
the process and will be passed 

2611
01:42:52,459 --> 01:42:54,237
presumably through some kind of 

2612
01:42:54,237 --> 01:42:56,459
reconciliation , which is by definition 

2613
01:42:56,509 --> 01:43:00,040
a partisan exercise . Mr . Secretary , 

2614
01:43:00,479 --> 01:43:03,100
why not what all those items of housing 

2615
01:43:03,100 --> 01:43:05,267
or Golden Dome , whatever , why aren&#39;t 

2616
01:43:05,267 --> 01:43:07,489
they in the in the regular budget ? Why 

2617
01:43:07,489 --> 01:43:09,600
do we suddenly have a two part budget 

2618
01:43:09,600 --> 01:43:11,950
where this committee and the Congress 

2619
01:43:11,950 --> 01:43:15,680
generally has oversight and input . To 

2620
01:43:15,680 --> 01:43:18,890
a process where 25% of the budget is 

2621
01:43:18,890 --> 01:43:21,890
essentially a slush fund . Well , 

2622
01:43:21,970 --> 01:43:24,192
Senator , I appreciate the question . I 

2623
01:43:24,192 --> 01:43:26,303
wouldn&#39;t characterize a quarter of it 

2624
01:43:26,303 --> 01:43:28,026
as a , as a slush fund , but I 

2625
01:43:28,026 --> 01:43:29,859
recognize that we see it as a in 

2626
01:43:29,859 --> 01:43:31,803
totality as a $1.5 trillion dollar 

2627
01:43:31,803 --> 01:43:33,859
budget . Multiple , the two pieces , 

2628
01:43:33,859 --> 01:43:36,081
multiple vehicles , as you know , there 

2629
01:43:36,081 --> 01:43:38,248
are multiple dynamics , uh , that play 

2630
01:43:38,248 --> 01:43:40,526
into . Why there are multiple vehicles , 

2631
01:43:40,526 --> 01:43:42,748
but we are fully committed with working 

2632
01:43:42,748 --> 01:43:42,169
to the committee to ensure that the 

2633
01:43:42,169 --> 01:43:44,113
right vehicles are utilized to get 

2634
01:43:44,113 --> 01:43:46,280
precisely this amount , 1.5 trillion . 

2635
01:43:46,280 --> 01:43:48,336
Why should we , you didn&#39;t answer my 

2636
01:43:48,336 --> 01:43:50,447
question . Why are there two pieces ? 

2637
01:43:50,447 --> 01:43:52,447
Why , why not for time immemorial , 

2638
01:43:52,447 --> 01:43:54,669
we&#39;ve done budgets here . We&#39;ve never , 

2639
01:43:54,669 --> 01:43:56,891
to my knowledge , we&#39;ve never used this 

2640
01:43:56,891 --> 01:43:58,947
reconciliation process for a defense 

2641
01:43:58,947 --> 01:44:00,836
budget before . What&#39;s , what&#39;s , 

2642
01:44:00,836 --> 01:44:02,947
what&#39;s going on ? My understanding of 

2643
01:44:02,947 --> 01:44:04,836
the reason for the vehicles is to 

2644
01:44:04,836 --> 01:44:07,069
ensure we . Actually get to 1.5 

2645
01:44:07,069 --> 01:44:09,236
trillion , which is the most important 

2646
01:44:09,236 --> 01:44:11,458
bottom line . The most important bottom 

2647
01:44:11,458 --> 01:44:13,569
line is that top line of 1.5 trillion 

2648
01:44:13,569 --> 01:44:15,569
to fund what we need , and we think 

2649
01:44:15,569 --> 01:44:17,736
this process is the most effective way 

2650
01:44:17,736 --> 01:44:19,791
to get there , Senator . Well . What 

2651
01:44:19,791 --> 01:44:21,902
you&#39;re really saying is we don&#39;t want 

2652
01:44:21,902 --> 01:44:21,759
to deal with that pesky Congress and 

2653
01:44:21,759 --> 01:44:23,926
their appropriation process . Uh , I , 

2654
01:44:23,926 --> 01:44:25,648
I think it&#39;s , I think this is 

2655
01:44:25,648 --> 01:44:27,592
significant , Mr . Chairman , that 

2656
01:44:27,592 --> 01:44:29,648
we&#39;re , we&#39;re basically abdicating a 

2657
01:44:29,648 --> 01:44:31,815
quarter of our responsibility in terms 

2658
01:44:31,815 --> 01:44:33,981
of this budget . Let me move on . Uh , 

2659
01:44:34,560 --> 01:44:36,727
one of the factors of this budget that 

2660
01:44:36,727 --> 01:44:39,020
hasn&#39;t gotten any publicity is , uh , 

2661
01:44:39,120 --> 01:44:41,342
that there&#39;s zero funding for Ukraine . 

2662
01:44:41,342 --> 01:44:43,620
That&#39;s correct , isn&#39;t it , Mr . Hurst ? 

2663
01:44:43,620 --> 01:44:45,453
That&#39;s correct . There&#39;s no USAI 

2664
01:44:45,453 --> 01:44:47,620
funding in this budget , and there was 

2665
01:44:47,620 --> 01:44:49,676
400 $400 billion 400 million dollars 

2666
01:44:49,676 --> 01:44:52,220
that was appropriated last year by a 

2667
01:44:52,220 --> 01:44:54,720
bipartisan bicameral act of Congress . 

2668
01:44:55,540 --> 01:44:57,373
What&#39;s become of that money ? My 

2669
01:44:57,373 --> 01:44:59,596
understanding is not a dollar of it has 

2670
01:44:59,596 --> 01:45:03,330
been dispersed . It was 

2671
01:45:03,330 --> 01:45:05,770
released very recently and again we got 

2672
01:45:05,770 --> 01:45:07,992
these funds I believe in March , and it 

2673
01:45:07,992 --> 01:45:09,992
takes time for funds to flow to the 

2674
01:45:09,992 --> 01:45:12,159
department , but it&#39;s going to get put 

2675
01:45:12,159 --> 01:45:14,270
to work very shortly . We&#39;re going to 

2676
01:45:14,270 --> 01:45:13,600
work with the UCO commander to make 

2677
01:45:13,600 --> 01:45:15,600
sure we use these funds in the most 

2678
01:45:15,600 --> 01:45:17,600
appropriate way possible . I didn&#39;t 

2679
01:45:17,600 --> 01:45:19,656
want Senator Sullivan to be the only 

2680
01:45:19,656 --> 01:45:21,711
one with an exhibit . This indicates 

2681
01:45:21,711 --> 01:45:23,656
what&#39;s happened to our support for 

2682
01:45:23,656 --> 01:45:25,711
Ukraine over a period of years . The 

2683
01:45:25,711 --> 01:45:28,240
orange bars are US support . The blue 

2684
01:45:28,240 --> 01:45:30,759
bars are Europe , as you see . Europe 

2685
01:45:30,759 --> 01:45:34,709
is 99% in the year 2026 . 

2686
01:45:35,040 --> 01:45:37,207
Same thing with humanitarian and other 

2687
01:45:37,207 --> 01:45:40,839
aid to Ukraine . And yet this is , I 

2688
01:45:40,839 --> 01:45:42,950
believe , an existential struggle for 

2689
01:45:43,399 --> 01:45:45,621
the future of democracy where we had an 

2690
01:45:45,621 --> 01:45:47,843
aggressive country invade a neighboring 

2691
01:45:47,843 --> 01:45:49,732
country without any justification 

2692
01:45:49,732 --> 01:45:51,759
whatsoever . And by the way , that 

2693
01:45:51,759 --> 01:45:54,600
invading country is the major winner so 

2694
01:45:54,600 --> 01:45:57,979
far of the war in Iran . They&#39;ve gotten 

2695
01:45:57,979 --> 01:46:00,660
the estimates are $40 to $80 billion of 

2696
01:46:00,660 --> 01:46:02,740
additional revenues from oil and the 

2697
01:46:02,740 --> 01:46:04,907
relief of sanctions as a result of the 

2698
01:46:04,907 --> 01:46:07,430
war in Iran . Uh , uh , Secretary Hag 

2699
01:46:07,430 --> 01:46:09,597
says , why are we abandoning Ukraine ? 

2700
01:46:10,410 --> 01:46:12,521
Senator , if , if you would hold that 

2701
01:46:12,521 --> 01:46:14,577
chart back up , I , I think that&#39;s a 

2702
01:46:14,577 --> 01:46:16,439
beautiful chart . I think that&#39;s 

2703
01:46:16,439 --> 01:46:19,330
exactly what we want . We want Europe 

2704
01:46:19,330 --> 01:46:21,552
stepping up and funding and shouldering 

2705
01:46:21,552 --> 01:46:23,608
the burden . They are rich countries 

2706
01:46:23,608 --> 01:46:25,774
worth 20 trillion versus an economy of 

2707
01:46:25,774 --> 01:46:27,663
2 trillion . Europe can step up . 

2708
01:46:27,663 --> 01:46:29,608
Europe can fund it , and they have 

2709
01:46:29,608 --> 01:46:31,441
through our Pearl initiative and 

2710
01:46:31,441 --> 01:46:33,552
through our European command . That&#39;s 

2711
01:46:33,552 --> 01:46:33,490
exactly what the American people want 

2712
01:46:33,490 --> 01:46:35,720
to see is other countries stepping up 

2713
01:46:35,720 --> 01:46:37,776
and funding that . If it&#39;s , if it&#39;s 

2714
01:46:37,776 --> 01:46:39,720
that important to Europe , which I 

2715
01:46:39,720 --> 01:46:39,500
understand why it is , and the 

2716
01:46:39,500 --> 01:46:41,667
incursion of Russia and the bravery of 

2717
01:46:41,667 --> 01:46:43,389
the Ukrainians , then European 

2718
01:46:43,389 --> 01:46:45,278
countries should pay for it , and 

2719
01:46:45,278 --> 01:46:47,389
that&#39;s exactly what that chart says , 

2720
01:46:47,389 --> 01:46:47,140
and that&#39;s the administration policy . 

2721
01:46:47,220 --> 01:46:49,276
So we don&#39;t have any , we don&#39;t have 

2722
01:46:49,276 --> 01:46:51,609
any interest in what happens in Ukraine . 

2723
01:46:51,609 --> 01:46:51,459
Is that what you&#39;re saying ? It&#39;s only 

2724
01:46:51,459 --> 01:46:54,490
the Europeans ? I&#39;m saying the threat 

2725
01:46:54,490 --> 01:46:56,770
is far closer to rich and capable 

2726
01:46:56,770 --> 01:46:58,881
countries in Europe , and they should 

2727
01:46:58,881 --> 01:47:01,103
step up to lead the charge , and that&#39;s 

2728
01:47:01,103 --> 01:47:00,879
why that chart is a good thing to see . 

2729
01:47:00,990 --> 01:47:03,609
They have stepped up , but I think the 

2730
01:47:03,609 --> 01:47:05,776
American people should understand that 

2731
01:47:05,776 --> 01:47:07,942
we&#39;ve stepped back , in fact , stepped 

2732
01:47:07,942 --> 01:47:10,109
back to the point of abandoning . This 

2733
01:47:10,109 --> 01:47:12,331
is a war that never would have happened 

2734
01:47:12,331 --> 01:47:12,089
under President Trump , and he supports 

2735
01:47:12,089 --> 01:47:14,089
ending it through a deal , and he&#39;s 

2736
01:47:14,089 --> 01:47:15,867
pursued that . So far it hasn&#39;t 

2737
01:47:15,867 --> 01:47:18,259
happened . I&#39;m out of time . I want to 

2738
01:47:18,259 --> 01:47:20,629
talk about DTOs , who designates , but 

2739
01:47:20,629 --> 01:47:22,462
we&#39;ll take that up . Thank you , 

2740
01:47:22,462 --> 01:47:26,319
Senator King . Uh , Senator Schmidt , 

2741
01:47:26,450 --> 01:47:28,617
thank you , Mr . Chairman , and , uh , 

2742
01:47:28,617 --> 01:47:30,561
it&#39;s apropos that I&#39;m following my 

2743
01:47:30,561 --> 01:47:32,728
friend from Maine , Missouri and Maine 

2744
01:47:32,728 --> 01:47:34,894
came into the union at the same time , 

2745
01:47:34,894 --> 01:47:34,770
but we couldn&#39;t disagree more on this 

2746
01:47:34,770 --> 01:47:36,659
particular point . We may have to 

2747
01:47:36,659 --> 01:47:38,770
separate here . Um , I actually think 

2748
01:47:38,770 --> 01:47:40,992
it&#39;s interesting that Ukraine just came 

2749
01:47:40,992 --> 01:47:43,103
up because we&#39;ve heard , uh , from my 

2750
01:47:43,103 --> 01:47:45,103
colleagues on the other side , um , 

2751
01:47:45,103 --> 01:47:47,326
discussion about the cost . Of what the 

2752
01:47:47,326 --> 01:47:49,910
ongoing American effort , there was 

2753
01:47:49,910 --> 01:47:52,077
never a , never a discussion about the 

2754
01:47:52,077 --> 01:47:54,200
$200 billion we were sending to a 

2755
01:47:54,200 --> 01:47:56,533
foreign country that&#39;s not even in NATO . 

2756
01:47:56,533 --> 01:47:59,080
Never . In fact , when amendments were 

2757
01:47:59,080 --> 01:48:01,359
offered for independent audits of how 

2758
01:48:01,359 --> 01:48:03,859
that money was spent . There was 

2759
01:48:03,859 --> 01:48:06,180
bipartisan opposition to that kind of 

2760
01:48:06,180 --> 01:48:08,750
oversight . So I find it really rich 

2761
01:48:08,750 --> 01:48:10,972
now that there&#39;s a complaint that we&#39;re 

2762
01:48:10,972 --> 01:48:14,220
not spending money on Ukraine , and by 

2763
01:48:14,220 --> 01:48:17,779
the way , $30 billion for salaries for 

2764
01:48:17,779 --> 01:48:20,299
bureaucrats , pensions , and social 

2765
01:48:20,299 --> 01:48:22,540
safety net programs and government 

2766
01:48:22,540 --> 01:48:24,151
operations to keep the state 

2767
01:48:24,151 --> 01:48:26,259
functioning during wartime . That&#39;s 

2768
01:48:26,259 --> 01:48:28,426
where American tax dollars are going , 

2769
01:48:28,426 --> 01:48:30,703
$30 billion for bureaucrats in Ukraine . 

2770
01:48:30,799 --> 01:48:33,359
And we just heard a , a , a speech for 

2771
01:48:33,359 --> 01:48:36,879
more money for Ukraine , yet the 

2772
01:48:36,879 --> 01:48:39,520
1.5 trillion for this country is being 

2773
01:48:39,520 --> 01:48:42,390
balked at . I mean , I&#39;ve seen Ukraine 

2774
01:48:42,390 --> 01:48:44,723
flags all over this capital for 3 years . 

2775
01:48:45,930 --> 01:48:48,700
At the same time , the same people call 

2776
01:48:48,700 --> 01:48:50,811
the President of the United States of 

2777
01:48:50,811 --> 01:48:54,810
this country a Nazi . So I forgive me 

2778
01:48:55,109 --> 01:48:57,220
if , if I , if I feel like we&#39;ve lost 

2779
01:48:57,220 --> 01:49:00,350
our bearings a little bit . So I&#39;m all 

2780
01:49:00,350 --> 01:49:03,229
for the America first agenda . I&#39;m all 

2781
01:49:03,229 --> 01:49:05,470
for us realigning our priorities . I&#39;m 

2782
01:49:05,470 --> 01:49:08,069
all for the national defense strategy 

2783
01:49:08,069 --> 01:49:10,669
that says our core strategic interests 

2784
01:49:10,669 --> 01:49:12,391
are the homeland , the Western 

2785
01:49:12,391 --> 01:49:14,502
Hemisphere , and the rising threat in 

2786
01:49:14,502 --> 01:49:17,240
China . And that means our European 

2787
01:49:17,240 --> 01:49:20,120
allies should step up . If Vladimir 

2788
01:49:20,120 --> 01:49:23,180
Putin is truly some existential threat 

2789
01:49:23,180 --> 01:49:25,180
and the next Hitler that&#39;s going to 

2790
01:49:25,180 --> 01:49:27,402
roll through Europe , you would think , 

2791
01:49:27,402 --> 01:49:29,458
by the way , he can&#39;t take Kiev , so 

2792
01:49:29,458 --> 01:49:29,439
you can&#39;t have it both ways . He hasn&#39;t 

2793
01:49:29,439 --> 01:49:31,550
made it to Kiev , but they would step 

2794
01:49:31,550 --> 01:49:34,209
up . And we better start demanding that 

2795
01:49:34,209 --> 01:49:35,931
because if we want to meet the 

2796
01:49:35,931 --> 01:49:38,479
challenges of the 21st century in China , 

2797
01:49:38,870 --> 01:49:41,490
our priorities , our focus has to be 

2798
01:49:41,750 --> 01:49:43,583
somewhere else . It doesn&#39;t mean 

2799
01:49:43,583 --> 01:49:45,528
abandonment , it just means a true 

2800
01:49:45,528 --> 01:49:47,694
partnership . With our European allies 

2801
01:49:47,694 --> 01:49:49,861
who for a very , very long time have , 

2802
01:49:49,861 --> 01:49:52,194
have not stepped up . I want to ask you , 

2803
01:49:52,194 --> 01:49:54,194
um , Mr . Secretary , in your first 

2804
01:49:54,194 --> 01:49:53,939
year , one of the things I think that&#39;s 

2805
01:49:53,939 --> 01:49:55,990
really gone towards this morale and 

2806
01:49:55,990 --> 01:49:58,129
recruitment boom that we&#39;ve seen 

2807
01:49:58,270 --> 01:50:00,381
through your leadership and President 

2808
01:50:00,381 --> 01:50:02,603
Trump was finally taking on the sort of 

2809
01:50:02,603 --> 01:50:05,149
cultural Marxism that had taken hold 

2810
01:50:05,149 --> 01:50:07,260
from the highest levels of leadership 

2811
01:50:07,260 --> 01:50:09,482
from the President of the United States 

2812
01:50:09,482 --> 01:50:11,538
to your predecessor , this obsession 

2813
01:50:11,538 --> 01:50:13,705
with DEI . Could you just walk through 

2814
01:50:13,705 --> 01:50:15,871
maybe . Maybe , uh , the worst example 

2815
01:50:15,871 --> 01:50:17,649
that you saw and a way that you 

2816
01:50:17,649 --> 01:50:19,871
addressed that and how it was affecting 

2817
01:50:19,871 --> 01:50:21,982
morale . Well , thank you , Senator . 

2818
01:50:21,982 --> 01:50:24,093
First of all , I want to , uh , fully 

2819
01:50:24,093 --> 01:50:25,982
associate myself with the 1st 2.5 

2820
01:50:25,982 --> 01:50:27,816
minutes of your comments , and I 

2821
01:50:27,816 --> 01:50:27,549
appreciate that perspective very much 

2822
01:50:27,549 --> 01:50:29,950
so . I , I would note $30 billion for 

2823
01:50:29,950 --> 01:50:32,172
bureaucrats in Ukraine is more than the 

2824
01:50:32,172 --> 01:50:34,506
bill that we&#39;ve talked about today , uh , 

2825
01:50:34,506 --> 01:50:36,430
for an existential and critically 

2826
01:50:36,430 --> 01:50:38,430
important war to ensure that Iran 

2827
01:50:38,430 --> 01:50:40,541
doesn&#39;t get a nuclear weapon . That&#39;s 

2828
01:50:40,541 --> 01:50:42,430
worth noting . Uh , I , I haven&#39;t 

2829
01:50:42,430 --> 01:50:44,263
talked about it as much in these 

2830
01:50:44,263 --> 01:50:46,152
hearings , um , because this is a 

2831
01:50:46,152 --> 01:50:48,097
budget hearing about $1.5 trillion 

2832
01:50:48,097 --> 01:50:50,208
that&#39;s historic and significant . But 

2833
01:50:50,208 --> 01:50:52,152
underwriting the , the change that 

2834
01:50:52,152 --> 01:50:51,930
we&#39;ve seen in our department was a 

2835
01:50:51,930 --> 01:50:54,899
laser focus on getting back to basics . 

2836
01:50:55,209 --> 01:50:57,431
And the , the , the key word to that is 

2837
01:50:57,431 --> 01:50:59,542
merit . Uh , we had a department that 

2838
01:50:59,542 --> 01:51:01,653
was , that was obsessed with gender , 

2839
01:51:01,653 --> 01:51:03,890
ideology , and race , diversity , 

2840
01:51:03,970 --> 01:51:06,410
equity and inclusion . In fact , the 

2841
01:51:06,410 --> 01:51:08,632
mantra you would hear dripping from the 

2842
01:51:08,632 --> 01:51:10,632
lips of generals and with a serious 

2843
01:51:10,632 --> 01:51:12,799
look on their face was , our diversity 

2844
01:51:12,799 --> 01:51:14,910
is our strength . Which is the single 

2845
01:51:14,910 --> 01:51:18,029
dumbest phrase in military history . Of 

2846
01:51:18,029 --> 01:51:19,807
course our diversity is not our 

2847
01:51:19,807 --> 01:51:21,973
strength , our unity is our strength , 

2848
01:51:21,973 --> 01:51:24,250
our shared purpose , the flag we wear 

2849
01:51:24,399 --> 01:51:26,343
and who we and the constitution we 

2850
01:51:26,343 --> 01:51:28,399
serve to defend . And when you clear 

2851
01:51:28,399 --> 01:51:30,621
that debris away , whether it&#39;s Marxist 

2852
01:51:30,621 --> 01:51:32,990
ideologies or social engineering or 

2853
01:51:32,990 --> 01:51:35,509
political correctness or quotas based 

2854
01:51:35,509 --> 01:51:38,189
on gender and diversity , you get the 

2855
01:51:38,189 --> 01:51:40,411
best of the best rising up . Regardless 

2856
01:51:40,411 --> 01:51:42,245
of gender , regardless of race , 

2857
01:51:42,312 --> 01:51:44,502
motivated by that environment where 

2858
01:51:44,502 --> 01:51:46,632
merit reigns , it&#39;s accountability , 

2859
01:51:46,993 --> 01:51:49,223
standards , lethality , readiness , 

2860
01:51:49,513 --> 01:51:52,013
training , all the debris wiped away , 

2861
01:51:52,632 --> 01:51:55,333
that is the secret sauce of the revival 

2862
01:51:55,333 --> 01:51:57,555
of the War Department and why Americans 

2863
01:51:57,555 --> 01:51:59,722
are attracted to serving in it and why 

2864
01:51:59,722 --> 01:52:01,895
those inside it , why morale is . Sky 

2865
01:52:01,895 --> 01:52:04,136
high and any insinuation that it is not 

2866
01:52:04,416 --> 01:52:06,583
are coming from folks who haven&#39;t been 

2867
01:52:06,583 --> 01:52:08,638
in our units recently . Go visit the 

2868
01:52:08,638 --> 01:52:10,805
troops at every level and their morale 

2869
01:52:10,805 --> 01:52:10,525
is at record levels . And I want to 

2870
01:52:10,525 --> 01:52:12,636
talk about morale with the 15 seconds 

2871
01:52:12,636 --> 01:52:14,803
that I have left . I want to thank you 

2872
01:52:14,803 --> 01:52:16,858
for , um , coming to Saint Louis for 

2873
01:52:16,858 --> 01:52:19,025
your arsenal of Freedom tour where the 

2874
01:52:19,025 --> 01:52:19,016
next generation aircraft , the F-47 , 

2875
01:52:19,056 --> 01:52:21,167
is being built by the hardworking men 

2876
01:52:21,167 --> 01:52:23,000
and women in Missouri who take a 

2877
01:52:23,000 --> 01:52:25,112
tremendous amount of pride , uh , for 

2878
01:52:25,112 --> 01:52:26,945
that aircraft that&#39;s going to go 

2879
01:52:26,945 --> 01:52:29,278
further , see , see further , go faster , 

2880
01:52:29,278 --> 01:52:31,334
have a bigger payload , and . I know 

2881
01:52:31,334 --> 01:52:30,720
there&#39;s another decision coming with 

2882
01:52:30,720 --> 01:52:32,831
the FAXX , but really appreciate your 

2883
01:52:32,831 --> 01:52:34,776
leadership and thanks for coming . 

2884
01:52:34,776 --> 01:52:36,942
Thank you , Senator . Uh , thank you , 

2885
01:52:36,942 --> 01:52:39,164
Senator Schmidt . Senator King , do you 

2886
01:52:39,164 --> 01:52:40,998
wish to ask unanimous consent to 

2887
01:52:41,529 --> 01:52:43,585
include your exhibit in the record ? 

2888
01:52:44,799 --> 01:52:47,021
Without objection , that will be done . 

2889
01:52:47,021 --> 01:52:48,910
Senator Warren . Thank you , Mr . 

2890
01:52:48,910 --> 01:52:51,009
Chairman . So Americans are paying a 

2891
01:52:51,009 --> 01:52:53,176
high price for Donald Trump&#39;s war with 

2892
01:52:53,176 --> 01:52:55,490
Iran . We&#39;ve got 14 service members who 

2893
01:52:55,490 --> 01:52:58,250
are dead , over 400 more who are 

2894
01:52:58,250 --> 01:53:01,569
wounded . Prices are rising for nearly 

2895
01:53:01,569 --> 01:53:05,290
every American family , but someone is 

2896
01:53:05,290 --> 01:53:08,370
profiting off Trump&#39;s war . Insiders 

2897
01:53:08,370 --> 01:53:10,729
who know what&#39;s going on and who place 

2898
01:53:10,729 --> 01:53:14,509
bets on that inside information . On 

2899
01:53:14,509 --> 01:53:17,709
March 20th , just 14 minutes before 

2900
01:53:17,709 --> 01:53:21,149
Trump unexpectedly posted about quote 

2901
01:53:21,509 --> 01:53:24,189
very good conversations on ending the 

2902
01:53:24,189 --> 01:53:27,430
war , traders suddenly bet 

2903
01:53:27,430 --> 01:53:30,720
$500 million on the price of oil , 

2904
01:53:31,580 --> 01:53:33,858
which once Trump made his announcement , 

2905
01:53:34,069 --> 01:53:36,799
immediately dropped . Happened again on 

2906
01:53:36,799 --> 01:53:40,259
April 7th and then again on April 21st , 

2907
01:53:40,560 --> 01:53:44,330
a surge in oil bets , then a Trump post , 

2908
01:53:44,560 --> 01:53:48,000
and then a huge shift in oil prices in 

2909
01:53:48,000 --> 01:53:51,109
just the space of minutes . It looks 

2910
01:53:51,109 --> 01:53:53,359
like insiders have been making out like 

2911
01:53:53,359 --> 01:53:56,729
bandits using secret information about 

2912
01:53:56,729 --> 01:53:59,799
the war . Now one US soldier has been 

2913
01:53:59,799 --> 01:54:02,080
charged , but that was for betting on 

2914
01:54:02,080 --> 01:54:05,149
capturing Maduro months ago . Not a 

2915
01:54:05,149 --> 01:54:07,790
single person has been charged in the 

2916
01:54:07,790 --> 01:54:10,910
many , many , many trades over the 

2917
01:54:10,910 --> 01:54:13,549
Middle East war . So Secretary Hegseth , 

2918
01:54:14,229 --> 01:54:17,890
do you have any explanation for these 

2919
01:54:18,310 --> 01:54:21,990
perfectly timed spikes in trading 

2920
01:54:21,990 --> 01:54:24,790
activity other than insider trading ? 

2921
01:54:26,819 --> 01:54:28,875
Um , Senator , all I can tell you is 

2922
01:54:28,875 --> 01:54:30,763
that everything we&#39;ve done in our 

2923
01:54:30,763 --> 01:54:32,986
department , everything we&#39;ve done with 

2924
01:54:32,986 --> 01:54:35,097
information in working with the White 

2925
01:54:35,097 --> 01:54:34,729
House and across the interagency has 

2926
01:54:34,729 --> 01:54:37,649
been completely above board . Well , so 

2927
01:54:37,649 --> 01:54:39,649
what does it mean ? Do you have any 

2928
01:54:39,649 --> 01:54:42,410
other explanation other than insider 

2929
01:54:42,410 --> 01:54:45,529
trading ? Do you have a story for why 

2930
01:54:45,529 --> 01:54:47,370
just minutes before there&#39;s an 

2931
01:54:47,379 --> 01:54:49,850
announcement , there&#39;s a surge in 

2932
01:54:49,850 --> 01:54:53,060
trading activity ? Senator , I&#39;m more 

2933
01:54:53,060 --> 01:54:54,893
than focused on doing my job and 

2934
01:54:54,893 --> 01:54:56,949
ensuring we execute properly , which 

2935
01:54:56,949 --> 01:54:59,004
thankfully under this administration 

2936
01:54:59,004 --> 01:55:01,171
our troops have done incredible things 

2937
01:55:01,171 --> 01:55:03,282
in all these missions . My job in all 

2938
01:55:03,282 --> 01:55:05,449
of those moments is to make sure we&#39;re 

2939
01:55:05,449 --> 01:55:07,338
prepared , and that&#39;s part of the 

2940
01:55:07,338 --> 01:55:09,504
reason why we&#39;ve been so successful in 

2941
01:55:09,504 --> 01:55:09,500
these raids , in these efforts is that 

2942
01:55:09,500 --> 01:55:11,389
this joint force is you&#39;re saying 

2943
01:55:11,389 --> 01:55:13,611
you&#39;re not paying any attention to this 

2944
01:55:13,611 --> 01:55:15,722
insider trading . Is that what you&#39;re 

2945
01:55:15,722 --> 01:55:15,459
telling me that you&#39;ve paid no 

2946
01:55:15,459 --> 01:55:17,681
attention to this ? You haven&#39;t noticed 

2947
01:55:17,681 --> 01:55:20,015
it , you haven&#39;t done anything about it . 

2948
01:55:20,015 --> 01:55:22,237
What I&#39;m saying is we&#39;re focused on our 

2949
01:55:22,237 --> 01:55:24,348
mission of executing for the American 

2950
01:55:24,348 --> 01:55:26,459
people and what happens in markets is 

2951
01:55:26,459 --> 01:55:28,681
not in betting markets is not something 

2952
01:55:28,681 --> 01:55:30,681
we&#39;re involved in . What happens in 

2953
01:55:30,681 --> 01:55:32,903
betting markets doesn&#39;t matter to you , 

2954
01:55:32,903 --> 01:55:35,015
even if the information may be coming 

2955
01:55:35,015 --> 01:55:37,292
from insiders in your office , Senator . 

2956
01:55:37,292 --> 01:55:39,515
It&#39;s not something we&#39;re involved in at 

2957
01:55:39,515 --> 01:55:41,737
all . And of course we take operational 

2958
01:55:41,737 --> 01:55:41,589
security at every level very seriously . 

2959
01:55:41,904 --> 01:55:43,960
In fact , no one&#39;s taken operational 

2960
01:55:43,960 --> 01:55:47,064
security more seriously than us . If 

2961
01:55:47,064 --> 01:55:49,120
you look at what it required to keep 

2962
01:55:49,120 --> 01:55:51,185
secret midnight hammer and Operation 

2963
01:55:51,185 --> 01:55:53,584
Maduro , the , the , uh , absolute 

2964
01:55:53,584 --> 01:55:56,705
resolve with Maduro and the steps we&#39;ve 

2965
01:55:56,705 --> 01:55:58,745
taken , no one&#39;s been tighter about 

2966
01:55:58,745 --> 01:56:01,305
ensuring that operational security is 

2967
01:56:01,305 --> 01:56:03,495
ensured with insider trading out of 

2968
01:56:03,495 --> 01:56:07,439
your office . I mean , we have , we 

2969
01:56:07,439 --> 01:56:09,661
would ensure at every level that inside 

2970
01:56:09,661 --> 01:56:11,717
information is , I take that as a no 

2971
01:56:11,717 --> 01:56:14,050
properly safeguarded . All right , well , 

2972
01:56:14,050 --> 01:56:15,828
obviously you&#39;re not . I&#39;m also 

2973
01:56:15,828 --> 01:56:17,828
concerned about recent reporting on 

2974
01:56:17,828 --> 01:56:20,050
your own financial dealings with regard 

2975
01:56:20,050 --> 01:56:22,529
to profiting from the war in Iran . The 

2976
01:56:22,529 --> 01:56:24,473
Financial Times reported that your 

2977
01:56:24,473 --> 01:56:26,640
broker tried to buy hundreds of shares 

2978
01:56:26,779 --> 01:56:29,419
in a BlackRock fund invested in defense 

2979
01:56:29,419 --> 01:56:31,530
companies just before the war began . 

2980
01:56:31,899 --> 01:56:34,232
The law clearly prohibits the Secretary . 

2981
01:56:34,232 --> 01:56:36,343
That entire story is false , has been 

2982
01:56:36,343 --> 01:56:38,399
from the beginning , and was made up 

2983
01:56:38,399 --> 01:56:40,510
out of whole cloth , and anybody that 

2984
01:56:40,510 --> 01:56:42,732
looks at it sees how it was worded from 

2985
01:56:42,732 --> 01:56:44,788
the beginning to make it look like I 

2986
01:56:44,788 --> 01:56:47,010
was involved in something I had nothing 

2987
01:56:47,010 --> 01:56:46,950
to do and never have . So . Insinuation 

2988
01:56:46,950 --> 01:56:48,899
that I&#39;ve ever profited other than 

2989
01:56:48,899 --> 01:56:51,419
serving this nation , what , what I 

2990
01:56:51,419 --> 01:56:53,752
give , what you give , what others give , 

2991
01:56:53,752 --> 01:56:55,919
I&#39;m not looking for money . I don&#39;t do 

2992
01:56:55,919 --> 01:56:58,252
it for money . I don&#39;t do it for profit . 

2993
01:56:58,252 --> 01:56:57,500
I don&#39;t do it for stocks , and that&#39;s 

2994
01:56:57,500 --> 01:56:59,611
part of the reason why I&#39;m able to be 

2995
01:56:59,611 --> 01:57:01,667
effective in this job because no one 

2996
01:57:01,667 --> 01:57:03,889
owns me . No one owns this department . 

2997
01:57:03,889 --> 01:57:06,111
No one owns this president , and we can 

2998
01:57:06,111 --> 01:57:06,060
execute for the American people , and 

2999
01:57:06,060 --> 01:57:09,330
we do . The law clearly prohibits the 

3000
01:57:09,330 --> 01:57:11,274
Secretary of Defense . From owning 

3001
01:57:11,274 --> 01:57:14,020
stock in the 10 biggest defense 

3002
01:57:14,020 --> 01:57:16,379
contractors . Other senators and I sent 

3003
01:57:16,379 --> 01:57:18,500
you a letter with detailed questions 

3004
01:57:18,500 --> 01:57:21,000
about this , and you have not given us 

3005
01:57:21,140 --> 01:57:23,419
a response . So I&#39;d like to hear you 

3006
01:57:23,419 --> 01:57:25,930
say , did you , through your broker at 

3007
01:57:25,930 --> 01:57:28,259
Morgan Stanley or otherwise seek to 

3008
01:57:28,259 --> 01:57:31,500
invest in any defense-related funds 

3009
01:57:31,509 --> 01:57:33,879
right before Trump started the Iran war ? 

3010
01:57:35,899 --> 01:57:38,930
I&#39;ll give it to you as a big fat 

3011
01:57:39,109 --> 01:57:41,470
negative . Then let me ask you a second 

3012
01:57:41,470 --> 01:57:43,637
question . Is your broker getting your 

3013
01:57:43,830 --> 01:57:47,390
personal sign off on any investment in 

3014
01:57:47,390 --> 01:57:49,600
individual stocks , bigger , fatter , 

3015
01:57:49,830 --> 01:57:52,052
negative ? He&#39;s not . Getting your sign 

3016
01:57:52,052 --> 01:57:53,997
off before he makes investments in 

3017
01:57:53,997 --> 01:57:56,069
defense stocks . Can I refer you to 

3018
01:57:56,069 --> 01:57:58,069
your ? I&#39;m not making investments , 

3019
01:57:58,290 --> 01:58:00,529
Senator . I&#39;m asking , does he know 

3020
01:58:00,529 --> 01:58:02,930
that he has to get your sign off before 

3021
01:58:02,930 --> 01:58:05,152
he does that ? Of course . I don&#39;t know 

3022
01:58:05,152 --> 01:58:07,374
what you&#39;re looking for , but you ain&#39;t 

3023
01:58:07,374 --> 01:58:09,430
going to find it . Thank you . Thank 

3024
01:58:09,430 --> 01:58:11,541
you , Senator . I would like to enter 

3025
01:58:11,541 --> 01:58:13,819
into the record , the ethics agreement . 

3026
01:58:13,819 --> 01:58:15,708
That the Secretary of Defense has 

3027
01:58:15,708 --> 01:58:18,089
signed that he will sign off personally 

3028
01:58:18,669 --> 01:58:21,669
before his broker makes any attempt to 

3029
01:58:21,669 --> 01:58:24,189
buy defense stocks . Is there objection ? 

3030
01:58:24,509 --> 01:58:26,731
Thank you . Without objection , it will 

3031
01:58:26,731 --> 01:58:30,700
be admitted . Senator Banks . Thank you , 

3032
01:58:30,740 --> 01:58:32,796
Mr . Chairman . Secretary Heckseth , 

3033
01:58:33,149 --> 01:58:35,520
you&#39;re doing a great job . I&#39;ve been in 

3034
01:58:35,520 --> 01:58:37,870
Washington for 10 years . Several 

3035
01:58:37,870 --> 01:58:40,549
Secretaries have Defense , now 

3036
01:58:40,549 --> 01:58:42,716
Secretary of War , you&#39;re , you&#39;re the 

3037
01:58:42,716 --> 01:58:44,882
best that we&#39;ve had since I&#39;ve been in 

3038
01:58:44,882 --> 01:58:44,620
Washington . What you&#39;ve done to 

3039
01:58:44,620 --> 01:58:47,080
restore readiness , uh , restore 

3040
01:58:47,080 --> 01:58:49,302
military recruitment , get the Pentagon 

3041
01:58:49,302 --> 01:58:51,549
focused on warfighting is second to 

3042
01:58:51,549 --> 01:58:53,605
none , and I , I , I appreciate what 

3043
01:58:53,605 --> 01:58:55,605
you and President Trump and General 

3044
01:58:55,605 --> 01:58:57,716
Kaine are doing very much . In fact , 

3045
01:58:57,716 --> 01:58:59,827
uh , General Kaine , according to the 

3046
01:58:59,827 --> 01:59:01,771
Department&#39;s 2025 . China Military 

3047
01:59:01,771 --> 01:59:04,799
Power report . Quote , China believes 

3048
01:59:04,799 --> 01:59:07,279
the next revolution in military affairs 

3049
01:59:07,279 --> 01:59:09,390
will occur when militaries transition 

3050
01:59:09,390 --> 01:59:12,120
to intelligentized warfare and fully 

3051
01:59:12,120 --> 01:59:15,279
integrate artificial intelligence , big 

3052
01:59:15,279 --> 01:59:18,040
data , advanced computing , and other 

3053
01:59:18,040 --> 01:59:20,720
technologies into the joint force , end 

3054
01:59:20,720 --> 01:59:23,600
quote . Can you describe , general , in 

3055
01:59:23,600 --> 01:59:27,479
greater detail how the PLA is using AI 

3056
01:59:27,479 --> 01:59:29,646
to enhance its military capabilities ? 

3057
01:59:30,790 --> 01:59:33,310
Uh , you bet , Senator . Um , you know , 

3058
01:59:33,430 --> 01:59:36,750
they are attempting to integrate AI 

3059
01:59:36,750 --> 01:59:38,910
across the range of their warfighting 

3060
01:59:38,910 --> 01:59:41,629
functions , which extends to command 

3061
01:59:41,629 --> 01:59:44,350
and control , information advantage , 

3062
01:59:44,509 --> 01:59:48,430
intelligence , um , certainly kinetic 

3063
01:59:48,430 --> 01:59:51,629
and non-kinetic capabilities , and to a 

3064
01:59:51,629 --> 01:59:53,796
certain extent sustainment . I&#39;ll note 

3065
01:59:53,796 --> 01:59:57,250
that that so are we . And in many cases 

3066
01:59:57,250 --> 01:59:59,472
we are out in front of them . I want to 

3067
01:59:59,472 --> 02:00:01,600
commend our chief digital and 

3068
02:00:01,600 --> 02:00:04,049
artificial intelligence officers inside 

3069
02:00:04,049 --> 02:00:06,799
the joint force at the COOs with the 

3070
02:00:06,799 --> 02:00:10,080
services who are also leaning very far 

3071
02:00:10,080 --> 02:00:13,600
in as we march towards a digitized 

3072
02:00:13,600 --> 02:00:17,080
joint force that allows us to cease and 

3073
02:00:17,080 --> 02:00:19,191
see and command and control the force 

3074
02:00:19,191 --> 02:00:22,270
better . Uh , the China Military Power 

3075
02:00:22,270 --> 02:00:25,220
report also goes on to note that the 

3076
02:00:25,220 --> 02:00:27,450
Chinese AI sector remains quote , 

3077
02:00:27,870 --> 02:00:31,709
constrained by its limited access to 

3078
02:00:31,709 --> 02:00:35,229
high-performance AI chips . General 

3079
02:00:35,229 --> 02:00:37,709
Kane , how big of an advantage is it 

3080
02:00:37,709 --> 02:00:40,109
for the American warfighter that 

3081
02:00:40,109 --> 02:00:43,189
America&#39;s arsenal of compute is bigger 

3082
02:00:43,189 --> 02:00:47,009
than China&#39;s ? Sir , it&#39;s , it&#39;s , uh , 

3083
02:00:47,100 --> 02:00:49,370
it&#39;s critical to us and you know , 

3084
02:00:49,620 --> 02:00:51,731
while I acknowledge there&#39;s , there&#39;s 

3085
02:00:51,731 --> 02:00:53,970
all kinds of chip issues in this , it 

3086
02:00:53,970 --> 02:00:56,569
is important to us to uh to continue to 

3087
02:00:56,569 --> 02:00:58,625
scale at that , and I&#39;ll highlight a 

3088
02:00:58,625 --> 02:01:00,625
lot of the work going on up at Fort 

3089
02:01:00,625 --> 02:01:02,680
Meade that the committee&#39;s helped to 

3090
02:01:02,680 --> 02:01:04,847
advance in the cyber capabilities , so 

3091
02:01:04,847 --> 02:01:06,958
we appreciate the help with that . If 

3092
02:01:06,958 --> 02:01:09,013
that advantage were eroded and China 

3093
02:01:09,013 --> 02:01:11,125
were able to develop more advanced AI 

3094
02:01:11,125 --> 02:01:13,125
capabilities as a result , what are 

3095
02:01:13,125 --> 02:01:15,291
some of the potential consequences for 

3096
02:01:15,291 --> 02:01:17,458
American warfighters ? Well , sir , it 

3097
02:01:17,458 --> 02:01:19,513
could , it could certainly put us at 

3098
02:01:19,513 --> 02:01:21,680
risk , and that&#39;s why we&#39;re leaning in 

3099
02:01:21,680 --> 02:01:23,902
so hard . Um , there&#39;s always a balance 

3100
02:01:23,902 --> 02:01:27,189
between commerce and , uh , and , and 

3101
02:01:27,189 --> 02:01:29,245
protection . I acknowledge those are 

3102
02:01:29,245 --> 02:01:31,467
policy matters . I think is what you&#39;re 

3103
02:01:31,467 --> 02:01:33,990
starting to get towards , um , but on a 

3104
02:01:33,990 --> 02:01:37,399
pure military only standpoint , um , we , 

3105
02:01:37,419 --> 02:01:39,641
we would , we would see some defense in 

3106
02:01:39,641 --> 02:01:41,586
depth eroded from that . Secretary 

3107
02:01:41,586 --> 02:01:43,641
Hegseth , do you agree that enhanced 

3108
02:01:43,641 --> 02:01:46,109
Chinese AI capabilities , could , could 

3109
02:01:46,109 --> 02:01:48,276
put American service members at risk ? 

3110
02:01:49,390 --> 02:01:51,446
Um , Senator , we absolutely have to 

3111
02:01:51,446 --> 02:01:54,359
stay ahead . Uh , the advantage that AI 

3112
02:01:54,359 --> 02:01:56,137
provides apply to any number of 

3113
02:01:56,137 --> 02:01:58,081
capabilities , whether it&#39;s , uh , 

3114
02:01:58,081 --> 02:02:00,192
domain awareness , targeting cycles , 

3115
02:02:00,192 --> 02:02:02,526
you name it , uh , AI and leveraging it , 

3116
02:02:02,526 --> 02:02:04,359
and that&#39;s why we&#39;ve made it the 

3117
02:02:04,359 --> 02:02:06,581
forefront . I mean , it&#39;s AI first with 

3118
02:02:06,581 --> 02:02:08,748
everything that . We do integrating it 

3119
02:02:08,748 --> 02:02:10,970
at every potential echelon to ensure we 

3120
02:02:10,970 --> 02:02:13,192
can respond faster . If , if we&#39;re , if 

3121
02:02:13,192 --> 02:02:15,415
we&#39;re better at that than any adversary 

3122
02:02:15,415 --> 02:02:14,745
is , it&#39;s going to give us an advantage 

3123
02:02:14,745 --> 02:02:17,023
and we have to maintain that . I agree . 

3124
02:02:17,023 --> 02:02:18,745
Do you agree that we should do 

3125
02:02:18,745 --> 02:02:20,912
everything in our power to ensure that 

3126
02:02:20,912 --> 02:02:23,134
American service members go into battle 

3127
02:02:23,134 --> 02:02:25,865
with an overwhelming and fear-inducing 

3128
02:02:25,865 --> 02:02:28,032
technological advantage , particularly 

3129
02:02:28,032 --> 02:02:31,799
with AI ? Always , uh , overwhelming is , 

3130
02:02:31,850 --> 02:02:34,330
is the goal in every scenario . Uh , 

3131
02:02:34,370 --> 02:02:36,592
earlier this year , the Pentagon issued 

3132
02:02:36,592 --> 02:02:38,426
updated guidelines that prohibit 

3133
02:02:38,426 --> 02:02:40,648
department funds from supporting grants 

3134
02:02:40,648 --> 02:02:42,648
and contracts involving fundamental 

3135
02:02:42,648 --> 02:02:45,609
research collaboration with blacklisted 

3136
02:02:45,609 --> 02:02:48,089
Chinese entities . How important are 

3137
02:02:48,089 --> 02:02:50,256
those restrictions to safeguarding our 

3138
02:02:50,256 --> 02:02:53,720
technological leadership ? Have to have 

3139
02:02:53,720 --> 02:02:55,942
them , uh , especially when you look at 

3140
02:02:55,942 --> 02:02:57,998
the power of models and all of those 

3141
02:02:57,998 --> 02:02:57,950
things and you , you , you have 

3142
02:02:57,950 --> 02:03:00,172
connections to entities that could have 

3143
02:03:00,172 --> 02:03:02,283
connections to your adversary and you 

3144
02:03:02,283 --> 02:03:04,450
can , uh , you can have degradation of 

3145
02:03:04,450 --> 02:03:06,617
your advantage . Again , this is where 

3146
02:03:06,617 --> 02:03:08,617
I appreciate your leadership , Mr . 

3147
02:03:08,617 --> 02:03:08,509
Secretary , uh , which has been second 

3148
02:03:08,509 --> 02:03:10,589
to none , and I know that . You will 

3149
02:03:10,589 --> 02:03:12,811
work with Congress to help codify those 

3150
02:03:12,811 --> 02:03:14,811
restrictions and encourage taxpayer 

3151
02:03:14,811 --> 02:03:16,978
dollars that to , to never advance the 

3152
02:03:16,978 --> 02:03:19,089
capabilities of our enemies and , and 

3153
02:03:19,089 --> 02:03:21,256
our adversaries . I appreciate both of 

3154
02:03:21,256 --> 02:03:23,390
your leadership . Um , we&#39;ve come a 

3155
02:03:23,390 --> 02:03:25,790
long way in a couple of years from , I 

3156
02:03:25,790 --> 02:03:27,790
mean , the night and day difference 

3157
02:03:27,790 --> 02:03:29,790
between the last administration and 

3158
02:03:29,790 --> 02:03:31,846
this administration is apparent to . 

3159
02:03:31,846 --> 02:03:33,957
Every Hoosier that I talked to , so I 

3160
02:03:33,957 --> 02:03:36,012
appreciate your leadership . I yield 

3161
02:03:36,012 --> 02:03:38,068
back . Thank you very much , Senator 

3162
02:03:38,068 --> 02:03:40,401
Banks . Senator Peters , thank you , Mr . 

3163
02:03:40,401 --> 02:03:42,623
Chairman , ranking member , gentlemen , 

3164
02:03:42,623 --> 02:03:44,512
uh , welcome to the committee . I 

3165
02:03:44,512 --> 02:03:46,679
appreciate this discussion . I&#39;ll just 

3166
02:03:46,679 --> 02:03:46,020
start off , the , the number one 

3167
02:03:46,020 --> 02:03:48,187
question I get when I&#39;m back home from 

3168
02:03:48,187 --> 02:03:50,464
people , uh , is basically very simply , 

3169
02:03:50,464 --> 02:03:52,687
when , when will this war end ? Uh , we 

3170
02:03:52,687 --> 02:03:54,853
know the cost , uh , that the American 

3171
02:03:54,853 --> 02:03:57,020
people are paying both the higher fuel 

3172
02:03:57,020 --> 02:03:59,131
cost , our farmers are paying because 

3173
02:03:59,131 --> 02:04:01,353
of fertilizer costs . We , we know that 

3174
02:04:01,353 --> 02:04:03,464
the , uh , the whole world economy is 

3175
02:04:03,464 --> 02:04:05,631
paying a , a great deal for this war . 

3176
02:04:05,729 --> 02:04:07,729
And basically , when I , as I think 

3177
02:04:07,729 --> 02:04:09,896
that through , and this is what I want 

3178
02:04:09,896 --> 02:04:09,850
to talk to you about is that we , we 

3179
02:04:09,850 --> 02:04:11,961
all know that it&#39;s a whole lot easier 

3180
02:04:11,961 --> 02:04:14,072
to go to war than it is to get out of 

3181
02:04:14,072 --> 02:04:16,370
war . Uh , that&#39;s always the tough 

3182
02:04:16,370 --> 02:04:18,729
question . Uh , and we&#39;ve got to figure 

3183
02:04:18,729 --> 02:04:20,673
that out , uh , and there are some 

3184
02:04:20,673 --> 02:04:22,840
folks who&#39;ve written quite a bit about 

3185
02:04:22,840 --> 02:04:25,330
this . Uh , 11 text on war by Karl von 

3186
02:04:25,330 --> 02:04:27,497
Clausewitz . Uh , Mr . Secretary , I&#39;m 

3187
02:04:27,497 --> 02:04:29,719
sure you&#39;re familiar , uh , with , with 

3188
02:04:29,719 --> 02:04:31,830
the book . Uh , I know all of the men 

3189
02:04:31,830 --> 02:04:33,830
and women in uniform are . It&#39;s the 

3190
02:04:33,830 --> 02:04:35,830
most widely read , most influential 

3191
02:04:35,830 --> 02:04:38,009
military strategy book in Western 

3192
02:04:38,009 --> 02:04:39,953
history , which is , uh , pretty , 

3193
02:04:39,953 --> 02:04:41,842
pretty broad , and it is the core 

3194
02:04:41,842 --> 02:04:43,990
curriculum . That is read in all the 

3195
02:04:43,990 --> 02:04:46,990
war colleges . I read it when I was at 

3196
02:04:46,990 --> 02:04:49,259
the Navy War College , taking courses . 

3197
02:04:50,149 --> 02:04:52,038
It&#39;s part of what the US military 

3198
02:04:52,038 --> 02:04:54,260
thinks about when to go to war and then 

3199
02:04:54,260 --> 02:04:56,640
how to get out of the war . And one of 

3200
02:04:56,640 --> 02:04:59,200
those core principles , it starts with 

3201
02:04:59,200 --> 02:05:02,439
is basically war is the continuation of 

3202
02:05:02,439 --> 02:05:04,161
politics by other means , that 

3203
02:05:04,161 --> 02:05:06,272
everybody knows that quote who&#39;s worn 

3204
02:05:06,272 --> 02:05:08,050
the uniform and others too . It 

3205
02:05:08,050 --> 02:05:10,000
basically means there&#39;s two things 

3206
02:05:10,000 --> 02:05:12,056
about that . It&#39;s politics to get in 

3207
02:05:12,056 --> 02:05:14,278
the war and it&#39;s politics to get out of 

3208
02:05:14,278 --> 02:05:16,389
the war , and in between , we rely on 

3209
02:05:16,389 --> 02:05:18,444
the men and women in the military to 

3210
02:05:18,444 --> 02:05:20,667
carry out those policies . So I want to 

3211
02:05:20,667 --> 02:05:22,833
be clear , and I think I speak for all 

3212
02:05:22,833 --> 02:05:25,000
of my colleagues , is that we know the 

3213
02:05:25,000 --> 02:05:27,222
military plays an important part . They 

3214
02:05:27,222 --> 02:05:26,990
need to do the job , and nobody , 

3215
02:05:27,180 --> 02:05:29,700
nobody questions the amazing work that 

3216
02:05:29,700 --> 02:05:31,810
our men and women in the US military 

3217
02:05:31,810 --> 02:05:34,419
have done and continue to do . They&#39;ve 

3218
02:05:34,419 --> 02:05:37,020
performed absolutely brilliantly , and 

3219
02:05:37,020 --> 02:05:39,076
we applaud all that they have done . 

3220
02:05:39,259 --> 02:05:41,459
However , what we do question is the 

3221
02:05:41,459 --> 02:05:43,626
politics part . It&#39;s a continuation of 

3222
02:05:43,626 --> 02:05:45,459
politics . So it&#39;s our political 

3223
02:05:45,459 --> 02:05:47,515
leaders that get us into war and our 

3224
02:05:47,515 --> 02:05:49,600
political leaders who have to get us 

3225
02:05:49,649 --> 02:05:52,100
out of that war , which falls on , on 

3226
02:05:52,100 --> 02:05:54,339
you , Mr . Secretary Hef and others in 

3227
02:05:54,339 --> 02:05:56,283
the administration , including the 

3228
02:05:56,283 --> 02:05:58,450
president and his commander in chief . 

3229
02:05:58,450 --> 02:06:00,617
So , Secretary , are you familiar with 

3230
02:06:00,617 --> 02:06:02,783
the , uh , the concept in that book of 

3231
02:06:02,783 --> 02:06:06,390
Center of Gravity ? Sure , so center of 

3232
02:06:06,390 --> 02:06:08,723
gravity is , is basically , as you know , 

3233
02:06:08,723 --> 02:06:10,890
it&#39;s , it&#39;s the , basically the hub of 

3234
02:06:10,890 --> 02:06:12,890
all the power , uh , and movement . 

3235
02:06:12,890 --> 02:06:15,001
Everything depends on it . Clausewitz 

3236
02:06:15,001 --> 02:06:16,946
will say if you don&#39;t take out the 

3237
02:06:16,946 --> 02:06:19,168
center of gravity , it&#39;s very difficult 

3238
02:06:19,168 --> 02:06:21,334
to win the war . You can have tactical 

3239
02:06:21,334 --> 02:06:23,334
successes . You can have military . 

3240
02:06:23,334 --> 02:06:25,446
Successes , but if you&#39;re not focused 

3241
02:06:25,446 --> 02:06:27,557
on that , you&#39;re not going to be able 

3242
02:06:27,557 --> 02:06:29,557
to win . Basically , he talks about 

3243
02:06:29,557 --> 02:06:31,557
military strikes are tactical , and 

3244
02:06:31,557 --> 02:06:33,612
tactical success doesn&#39;t necessarily 

3245
02:06:33,612 --> 02:06:35,390
create the political conditions 

3246
02:06:35,390 --> 02:06:37,390
necessary to get the parties to the 

3247
02:06:37,390 --> 02:06:39,612
table to negotiate and get it done . So 

3248
02:06:39,612 --> 02:06:41,557
we&#39;ve got to focus on that . So my 

3249
02:06:41,557 --> 02:06:43,557
question for you , Mr . Secretary , 

3250
02:06:43,557 --> 02:06:45,834
what is the center of gravity for Iran ? 

3251
02:06:46,850 --> 02:06:48,906
Well , the senator of gravity as the 

3252
02:06:48,906 --> 02:06:51,128
president has seen it and as I see it , 

3253
02:06:51,128 --> 02:06:53,350
and he&#39;s talked about for 30 years is , 

3254
02:06:53,350 --> 02:06:55,406
is their pursuit of a nuclear weapon 

3255
02:06:55,406 --> 02:06:55,370
and what they could do with that in 

3256
02:06:55,370 --> 02:06:58,009
pursuit as an extension of the radical 

3257
02:06:58,009 --> 02:07:00,250
ideology they have professed since the 

3258
02:07:00,250 --> 02:07:02,528
beginning of their revolution . So the , 

3259
02:07:02,528 --> 02:07:05,009
the , the , the prophetic ideology they 

3260
02:07:05,009 --> 02:07:07,169
profess alongside the most dangerous 

3261
02:07:07,169 --> 02:07:09,391
weapon in the world would be the center 

3262
02:07:09,391 --> 02:07:11,502
of gravity of the rationality of this 

3263
02:07:11,502 --> 02:07:13,613
undertaking , which I appreciate it . 

3264
02:07:13,613 --> 02:07:15,836
I&#39;ll elaborate more . I appreciate it . 

3265
02:07:15,836 --> 02:07:17,780
General Kane . You know more about 

3266
02:07:17,780 --> 02:07:19,780
Clausewitz and strategy than I will 

3267
02:07:19,780 --> 02:07:21,780
ever know , including all the folks 

3268
02:07:21,780 --> 02:07:21,379
behind you . What would you consider 

3269
02:07:21,379 --> 02:07:23,379
the center of gravity as defined by 

3270
02:07:23,379 --> 02:07:26,120
Clauseitz in this type of war ? Well , 

3271
02:07:26,240 --> 02:07:28,462
sir , I , I , I , uh , you&#39;re not going 

3272
02:07:28,462 --> 02:07:30,684
to love this answer , but I hope you&#39;ll 

3273
02:07:30,684 --> 02:07:33,310
respect it . War is politics by any 

3274
02:07:33,310 --> 02:07:36,000
other means , and the political side of 

3275
02:07:36,000 --> 02:07:38,120
that necessitates that our political 

3276
02:07:38,120 --> 02:07:40,342
leaders determine what is the center of 

3277
02:07:40,342 --> 02:07:42,342
gravity associated with that from a 

3278
02:07:42,342 --> 02:07:44,453
military-only perspective . There&#39;s a 

3279
02:07:44,453 --> 02:07:46,620
variety of things academically that we 

3280
02:07:46,620 --> 02:07:48,731
could look at for center of gravities 

3281
02:07:48,731 --> 02:07:50,953
from leadership to will to capabilities 

3282
02:07:50,953 --> 02:07:52,842
to intent , but I&#39;ll defer to our 

3283
02:07:52,842 --> 02:07:54,842
political leaders to determine what 

3284
02:07:54,842 --> 02:07:57,009
that&#39;s fair . I don&#39;t like it . You&#39;re 

3285
02:07:57,009 --> 02:07:59,009
right , but I know , I know , and I 

3286
02:07:59,009 --> 02:07:58,490
know you know the answer to that , and 

3287
02:07:58,490 --> 02:08:00,657
you&#39;re just not telling me . I get why 

3288
02:08:00,657 --> 02:08:02,712
you&#39;re doing that , my inner I would 

3289
02:08:02,712 --> 02:08:04,768
say . You know , other observers say 

3290
02:08:04,768 --> 02:08:06,712
that basically it&#39;s , it&#39;s not the 

3291
02:08:06,712 --> 02:08:08,657
leader . Usually if you take out a 

3292
02:08:08,657 --> 02:08:10,712
leader that doesn&#39;t necessarily make 

3293
02:08:10,712 --> 02:08:12,768
the changes that in Iran&#39;s case it&#39;s 

3294
02:08:12,768 --> 02:08:14,712
probably the Islamic Revolutionary 

3295
02:08:14,712 --> 02:08:16,879
Guard . That&#39;s the center of gravity . 

3296
02:08:16,879 --> 02:08:18,768
They&#39;re the ones that control the 

3297
02:08:18,768 --> 02:08:20,934
country and they&#39;re very diverse to do 

3298
02:08:20,934 --> 02:08:23,101
that . The Americans center of gravity 

3299
02:08:23,101 --> 02:08:25,323
is probably our economy and our ability 

3300
02:08:25,323 --> 02:08:27,546
to maintain public opinion support . We 

3301
02:08:27,546 --> 02:08:26,870
already know the public isn&#39;t there . 

3302
02:08:27,069 --> 02:08:29,291
We know the impact to our economy , and 

3303
02:08:29,291 --> 02:08:31,402
central to that is the leverage , and 

3304
02:08:31,402 --> 02:08:33,569
I&#39;m running out of time here , but the 

3305
02:08:33,569 --> 02:08:35,625
central of leverage is the Strait of 

3306
02:08:35,625 --> 02:08:37,847
Hormuz . That that is the bottom line . 

3307
02:08:37,847 --> 02:08:39,902
We have to open that up . We have to 

3308
02:08:39,902 --> 02:08:41,902
take that away from Iran . The fact 

3309
02:08:41,902 --> 02:08:44,125
that we haven&#39;t done that yet and we&#39;re 

3310
02:08:44,125 --> 02:08:46,180
60 days in , we&#39;re just now bringing 

3311
02:08:46,180 --> 02:08:48,458
minesweepers from the Pacific in there . 

3312
02:08:48,720 --> 02:08:51,310
We have some unmanned of the 

3313
02:08:51,879 --> 02:08:53,990
opportunities , but we&#39;ve got to have 

3314
02:08:53,990 --> 02:08:56,157
the capacity to do that . It was clear 

3315
02:08:56,157 --> 02:08:58,212
even if there was a plan to keep the 

3316
02:08:58,212 --> 02:09:00,529
straits open . It was not going to be 

3317
02:09:00,529 --> 02:09:02,751
implemented because the assets were not 

3318
02:09:02,751 --> 02:09:05,140
positioned in a place to actually open 

3319
02:09:05,140 --> 02:09:07,251
the straits . If they were , it would 

3320
02:09:07,251 --> 02:09:09,307
have been , we would have seen those 

3321
02:09:09,307 --> 02:09:11,362
happening right now . We&#39;re not . So 

3322
02:09:11,362 --> 02:09:13,307
we&#39;re missing the point here . The 

3323
02:09:13,307 --> 02:09:15,140
center of gravity is going to be 

3324
02:09:15,140 --> 02:09:17,362
bringing down the government of Iran in 

3325
02:09:17,362 --> 02:09:19,362
a way that they will want to have a 

3326
02:09:19,362 --> 02:09:21,307
peace treaty so we can protect our 

3327
02:09:21,307 --> 02:09:23,307
country from having nuclear weapons 

3328
02:09:23,307 --> 02:09:25,307
pointed our way . But the center of 

3329
02:09:25,307 --> 02:09:27,529
gravity is going to be in a lot of ways 

3330
02:09:27,529 --> 02:09:27,379
is going to be focused on what happens 

3331
02:09:27,379 --> 02:09:29,629
on the straits . And Mr . Secretary , 

3332
02:09:29,870 --> 02:09:31,870
we&#39;ve got to see action a whole lot 

3333
02:09:31,870 --> 02:09:33,759
sooner in the straits . The world 

3334
02:09:33,759 --> 02:09:35,981
community needs it . We&#39;re not going to 

3335
02:09:35,981 --> 02:09:38,203
bring this war to an end until we seize 

3336
02:09:38,203 --> 02:09:40,426
control of the straits in a way that is 

3337
02:09:40,426 --> 02:09:40,339
why we have a . Blockade that has been 

3338
02:09:40,339 --> 02:09:42,540
impenetrable for the Iranians because 

3339
02:09:42,540 --> 02:09:44,707
they don&#39;t have a conventional navy to 

3340
02:09:44,707 --> 02:09:46,929
contest it , which means we control the 

3341
02:09:46,929 --> 02:09:48,762
straits . The time , the time of 

3342
02:09:48,762 --> 02:09:51,129
Senator Peters has expired . Let me , 

3343
02:09:51,470 --> 02:09:54,740
let me , um , observe that I very much 

3344
02:09:54,740 --> 02:09:58,080
appreciate . The senator from Michigan 

3345
02:09:59,500 --> 02:10:02,299
suggesting ways in which our effort in 

3346
02:10:02,299 --> 02:10:05,810
Iran . Could be more successful . I do 

3347
02:10:05,810 --> 02:10:07,699
appreciate that . And let me also 

3348
02:10:07,699 --> 02:10:09,699
observe , Senator Kaine , that that 

3349
02:10:09,699 --> 02:10:12,620
civilian control , um , goes back well 

3350
02:10:12,620 --> 02:10:15,899
beyond , uh , Marshall . It goes back 

3351
02:10:15,899 --> 02:10:18,459
to , to George Washington , who was 

3352
02:10:18,459 --> 02:10:20,819
wise enough to resign his commission to 

3353
02:10:20,819 --> 02:10:24,060
the elected , uh , membership of , of 

3354
02:10:24,060 --> 02:10:26,009
the government at that time . Uh , 

3355
02:10:26,100 --> 02:10:28,211
Senator Sheehy , you are recognized . 

3356
02:10:30,370 --> 02:10:32,537
I think it&#39;s important to note that um 

3357
02:10:33,250 --> 02:10:35,417
The objective is not to get out of the 

3358
02:10:35,417 --> 02:10:37,639
war , the objective is to win the war , 

3359
02:10:37,639 --> 02:10:39,890
not to get out of it . And I think 

3360
02:10:39,890 --> 02:10:42,112
we&#39;ve allowed the narrative to shift so 

3361
02:10:42,112 --> 02:10:44,223
off target here . President Trump did 

3362
02:10:44,223 --> 02:10:46,334
not start this war . We did not start 

3363
02:10:46,334 --> 02:10:48,609
this war . These radical , barbarian , 

3364
02:10:48,689 --> 02:10:51,009
savage clerics who have started killing 

3365
02:10:51,009 --> 02:10:53,979
Americans 47 years ago in a unilateral 

3366
02:10:53,979 --> 02:10:56,201
campaign of terror , murder , treason , 

3367
02:10:56,890 --> 02:10:59,180
kidnapping , torture . Have been 

3368
02:10:59,180 --> 02:11:01,347
murdering our countrymen all over this 

3369
02:11:01,347 --> 02:11:03,479
world , almost every single year , 

3370
02:11:03,740 --> 02:11:05,907
hijacking airplanes , hijacking cruise 

3371
02:11:05,907 --> 02:11:08,129
liners , taking our embassies , blowing 

3372
02:11:08,129 --> 02:11:10,018
up our embassies , blowing up our 

3373
02:11:10,018 --> 02:11:11,907
barracks , blowing up our ships , 

3374
02:11:11,907 --> 02:11:13,962
capturing our soldiers and murdering 

3375
02:11:13,962 --> 02:11:16,184
them in brutal ways . They started this 

3376
02:11:16,184 --> 02:11:18,379
war And it would be a lot easier to 

3377
02:11:18,379 --> 02:11:20,290
beat them if we didn&#39;t have 

3378
02:11:20,290 --> 02:11:22,401
administrations shoveling hundreds of 

3379
02:11:22,401 --> 02:11:24,568
billions of dollars into their pockets 

3380
02:11:24,568 --> 02:11:24,120
while they&#39;re actively fighting our own 

3381
02:11:24,120 --> 02:11:25,953
people . While our own uniformed 

3382
02:11:25,953 --> 02:11:28,176
service members have been fighting this 

3383
02:11:28,176 --> 02:11:29,898
murderous regime , and we have 

3384
02:11:29,898 --> 02:11:31,898
presidents quite literally shipping 

3385
02:11:31,898 --> 02:11:33,930
pallets of cash . To pay these 

3386
02:11:33,930 --> 02:11:36,209
terrorists off . It&#39;s been a disgrace . 

3387
02:11:36,290 --> 02:11:38,234
It&#39;s been an embarrassment to this 

3388
02:11:38,234 --> 02:11:40,740
country for far too long . But back to 

3389
02:11:40,740 --> 02:11:42,740
the point , General Kane , I have a 

3390
02:11:42,740 --> 02:11:44,907
specific question for you . I think in 

3391
02:11:44,907 --> 02:11:46,796
this day and age we all know that 

3392
02:11:46,796 --> 02:11:48,907
basically every single operation that 

3393
02:11:48,907 --> 02:11:50,962
we partake in , whether it&#39;s stealth 

3394
02:11:50,962 --> 02:11:53,184
bombers , whether it&#39;s a blockade , our 

3395
02:11:53,184 --> 02:11:54,962
special operations forces are a 

3396
02:11:54,962 --> 02:11:56,796
fundamental shaping and priority 

3397
02:11:56,796 --> 02:11:58,740
component to all those . Would you 

3398
02:11:58,740 --> 02:12:00,907
agree ? Uh , yes , Senator , I would . 

3399
02:12:01,020 --> 02:12:03,540
And I think for the last about 15 years , 

3400
02:12:03,620 --> 02:12:05,842
the special operations community budget 

3401
02:12:05,842 --> 02:12:07,953
has been largely flat , even adjusted 

3402
02:12:07,953 --> 02:12:11,009
for inflation . And yet continuously we 

3403
02:12:11,009 --> 02:12:13,759
call on those warriors to deliver the 

3404
02:12:13,759 --> 02:12:16,029
impossible , and they pretty much do . 

3405
02:12:16,629 --> 02:12:18,851
We were reminded just a few weeks ago , 

3406
02:12:18,851 --> 02:12:21,073
even after the amazing Maduro raid when 

3407
02:12:21,073 --> 02:12:22,907
we had to rescue one of our F-15 

3408
02:12:22,907 --> 02:12:25,073
crewmen , yet again our community came 

3409
02:12:25,073 --> 02:12:27,296
up and did something that probably most 

3410
02:12:27,296 --> 02:12:29,296
people thought was impossible , and 

3411
02:12:29,296 --> 02:12:31,518
they did an amazing job . But we cannot 

3412
02:12:31,518 --> 02:12:33,685
continue to call on a tiny fraction of 

3413
02:12:33,685 --> 02:12:36,120
our military to carry such a heavy load 

3414
02:12:36,270 --> 02:12:38,326
and to have such an up tempo without 

3415
02:12:38,326 --> 02:12:40,437
the appropriate resources . So , um , 

3416
02:12:40,437 --> 02:12:42,548
I&#39;d like to hear your thoughts on how 

3417
02:12:42,548 --> 02:12:44,770
we can not just increase the budget but 

3418
02:12:44,770 --> 02:12:46,992
make sure we&#39;re shaping their budget in 

3419
02:12:46,992 --> 02:12:46,549
a way that ensures that those warriors 

3420
02:12:46,549 --> 02:12:48,810
are getting the , the direct support 

3421
02:12:48,959 --> 02:12:51,181
for training and sustainment , but also 

3422
02:12:51,181 --> 02:12:53,589
the platforms that they need for many 

3423
02:12:53,589 --> 02:12:56,350
submarines . To unmanned aircraft , to 

3424
02:12:56,350 --> 02:12:58,350
manned aircraft , and the platforms 

3425
02:12:58,350 --> 02:13:00,517
that are very unique for their mission 

3426
02:13:00,517 --> 02:13:02,739
are furnished and deployed rapidly . So 

3427
02:13:02,739 --> 02:13:04,850
I&#39;d like to talk about the percentage 

3428
02:13:04,850 --> 02:13:06,850
increase of SOCOM&#39;s budget , how we 

3429
02:13:06,850 --> 02:13:06,600
affect that , and how fast we can do it . 

3430
02:13:06,830 --> 02:13:08,774
Well , sir , I&#39;ll just , I&#39;ll just 

3431
02:13:08,774 --> 02:13:11,189
highlight my gratitude and appreciation 

3432
02:13:11,189 --> 02:13:13,549
for the entirety of the SOCOM Joint 

3433
02:13:13,549 --> 02:13:16,509
Force at Echelon and the work that they 

3434
02:13:16,509 --> 02:13:18,620
do . You know , I&#39;ll , I&#39;ll leave the 

3435
02:13:18,620 --> 02:13:20,453
budget numbers and the increased 

3436
02:13:20,453 --> 02:13:22,870
percentages , to my civilian leadership , 

3437
02:13:23,020 --> 02:13:25,819
but Echo to your point , the 

3438
02:13:25,819 --> 02:13:28,419
exponential return on whatever 

3439
02:13:28,419 --> 02:13:30,252
investment they give . These are 

3440
02:13:30,252 --> 02:13:32,379
incredible entrepreneurial leaders at 

3441
02:13:32,379 --> 02:13:35,259
every echelon , uh , who do , who do 

3442
02:13:35,259 --> 02:13:37,339
great , great things , um , as the 

3443
02:13:37,339 --> 02:13:39,779
lights dim as I say that . So hopefully 

3444
02:13:39,779 --> 02:13:42,140
they&#39;ll see that as a nod towards them , 

3445
02:13:42,180 --> 02:13:44,402
but I&#39;ll defer on the budget allocation 

3446
02:13:44,402 --> 02:13:46,513
numbers to the , to the comptroller , 

3447
02:13:46,513 --> 02:13:49,979
sir . Uh , first of all , I , I want to 

3448
02:13:49,979 --> 02:13:52,257
second completely your opening remarks , 

3449
02:13:52,257 --> 02:13:54,590
uh , and that&#39;s certainly our view , uh , 

3450
02:13:54,590 --> 02:13:56,868
as well . On the , on the SOCOM budget , 

3451
02:13:56,868 --> 02:13:59,146
I&#39;m gonna , I&#39;m gonna say I think , uh , 

3452
02:13:59,146 --> 02:14:01,090
we need to increase what&#39;s in this 

3453
02:14:01,090 --> 02:14:03,201
budget , and I&#39;ve heard from multiple 

3454
02:14:03,201 --> 02:14:05,312
people about that . In fact , that if 

3455
02:14:05,312 --> 02:14:07,479
there is a supplemental , I actually , 

3456
02:14:07,479 --> 02:14:09,701
I just wrote a note to Jay about it . I 

3457
02:14:09,701 --> 02:14:09,620
think SOCOM , given the up tempo , 

3458
02:14:09,700 --> 02:14:11,660
given the , given their direct uh 

3459
02:14:11,660 --> 02:14:13,549
participation in so many of these 

3460
02:14:13,549 --> 02:14:15,549
historic , historic aspects , SOCOM 

3461
02:14:15,549 --> 02:14:17,716
should be part of that supplemental as 

3462
02:14:17,716 --> 02:14:19,716
well . Makes complete sense . Who&#39;s 

3463
02:14:19,716 --> 02:14:21,716
been shouldering a huge part of the 

3464
02:14:21,716 --> 02:14:23,827
burden ? Special Operations Command . 

3465
02:14:23,827 --> 02:14:23,790
So whether it&#39;s a supplemental or or 

3466
02:14:23,790 --> 02:14:25,901
this budget , I , I fully agree and I 

3467
02:14:25,901 --> 02:14:29,000
think we need to invest more . Great . 

3468
02:14:29,040 --> 02:14:31,040
And I&#39;d ask that particular care be 

3469
02:14:31,040 --> 02:14:32,929
given , uh , the era of , of , of 

3470
02:14:32,929 --> 02:14:35,151
beards and guns and kicking in doors as 

3471
02:14:35,151 --> 02:14:37,484
much fun as that was for all of us . Um , 

3472
02:14:37,484 --> 02:14:39,429
it&#39;s coming to a close and we&#39;re , 

3473
02:14:39,429 --> 02:14:39,120
we&#39;re going to be going back to our 

3474
02:14:39,120 --> 02:14:42,080
roots as specialized commandos , 

3475
02:14:42,390 --> 02:14:44,223
whether it&#39;s undersea , Arctic , 

3476
02:14:44,223 --> 02:14:46,390
airborne operations , and , uh , as we 

3477
02:14:46,390 --> 02:14:48,612
all became kind of one joint soft force 

3478
02:14:48,612 --> 02:14:50,834
during GWAT . Uh , quite frankly , that 

3479
02:14:50,834 --> 02:14:53,057
was an easier problem to resource for , 

3480
02:14:53,057 --> 02:14:55,223
to budget for , and acquire for . Uh , 

3481
02:14:55,223 --> 02:14:57,390
it&#39;s going to be a lot harder now when 

3482
02:14:57,390 --> 02:14:59,557
our operators go back to their service 

3483
02:14:59,557 --> 02:15:01,557
corners and these platform-specific 

3484
02:15:01,557 --> 02:15:01,459
technologies and training . Uh , 

3485
02:15:01,890 --> 02:15:04,001
Submersibles , aircraft take years to 

3486
02:15:04,001 --> 02:15:06,112
acquire , years to specify . It&#39;s not 

3487
02:15:06,112 --> 02:15:08,334
just buying more ARs and body armor and 

3488
02:15:08,334 --> 02:15:10,501
ammo and sending them downrange . So I 

3489
02:15:10,501 --> 02:15:10,430
think we have to think about the SOCOM 

3490
02:15:10,430 --> 02:15:12,430
budget a little differently than we 

3491
02:15:12,430 --> 02:15:14,430
have for the last 25 years and make 

3492
02:15:14,430 --> 02:15:16,486
sure we&#39;re programming in a way that 

3493
02:15:16,486 --> 02:15:18,208
it&#39;s , it&#39;s sustained . And is 

3494
02:15:18,208 --> 02:15:20,208
protected . Thank you . Thank you , 

3495
02:15:20,208 --> 02:15:22,152
Senator Schmidt , for , for that . 

3496
02:15:22,152 --> 02:15:24,629
Insightful exchange . Senator Kelly , 

3497
02:15:25,129 --> 02:15:27,351
thank you , Mr . Chairman . Gentlemen , 

3498
02:15:27,351 --> 02:15:29,407
thank you for being here . Secretary 

3499
02:15:29,407 --> 02:15:31,573
Hegseth , safe to say that our weapons 

3500
02:15:31,573 --> 02:15:33,970
like SM-3s , Tomahawks , Patriot 

3501
02:15:33,970 --> 02:15:35,970
missiles have capabilities that are 

3502
02:15:35,970 --> 02:15:38,248
unmatched . That&#39;s why they cost a lot , 

3503
02:15:38,410 --> 02:15:40,569
take a long time to produce . Your 

3504
02:15:40,569 --> 02:15:44,560
budget requests $31.8 billion to 

3505
02:15:44,560 --> 02:15:47,180
expand production capacity for critical 

3506
02:15:47,180 --> 02:15:49,750
missile stockpiles . Is that correct ? 

3507
02:15:50,290 --> 02:15:54,220
31.8 . Uh , I&#39;m looking at 53 

3508
02:15:54,220 --> 02:15:56,442
billion for munitions acceleration over 

3509
02:15:56,442 --> 02:15:58,664
14 critical munitions of which the ones 

3510
02:15:58,664 --> 02:16:00,720
you listed are a part , so I believe 

3511
02:16:00,720 --> 02:16:03,109
more than that , yes sir . More than 20 

3512
02:16:03,109 --> 02:16:06,310
billion more . So we&#39;ve been working 

3513
02:16:06,310 --> 02:16:08,366
together to grow the industrial base 

3514
02:16:08,366 --> 02:16:10,588
because we&#39;re all worried about how our 

3515
02:16:10,588 --> 02:16:12,754
stockpiles would hold up in a conflict 

3516
02:16:12,754 --> 02:16:15,080
against China . Since the start of this 

3517
02:16:15,080 --> 02:16:17,759
war , you&#39;ve made it a point to 

3518
02:16:17,759 --> 02:16:20,350
highlight the number of strikes the US 

3519
02:16:20,350 --> 02:16:23,160
military is carrying out , citing that 

3520
02:16:23,160 --> 02:16:25,759
more than 13,000 targets had been 

3521
02:16:25,759 --> 02:16:29,169
struck as of April 8th . On March 2nd , 

3522
02:16:29,240 --> 02:16:31,351
you said , and this is a quote , this 

3523
02:16:31,351 --> 02:16:33,351
was a massive , overwhelming attack 

3524
02:16:33,351 --> 02:16:35,129
across all domains of warfare , 

3525
02:16:35,129 --> 02:16:37,296
striking more than 1000 targets in the 

3526
02:16:37,296 --> 02:16:39,719
1st 24 hours . On March 10th , you said , 

3527
02:16:40,000 --> 02:16:42,160
yet again our most intense day of 

3528
02:16:42,160 --> 02:16:45,040
strikes inside of Iran . On April 6th , 

3529
02:16:45,089 --> 02:16:47,256
you said , and this is another quote , 

3530
02:16:47,256 --> 02:16:50,370
the largest volume of strikes since day 

3531
02:16:50,370 --> 02:16:52,849
one of this operation . Your department 

3532
02:16:52,849 --> 02:16:54,929
has released video after video of 

3533
02:16:54,929 --> 02:16:58,279
things blowing up . None of us doubt 

3534
02:16:58,279 --> 02:17:00,458
the strength of the US military and 

3535
02:17:00,458 --> 02:17:03,298
their ability to do hard things . I 

3536
02:17:03,298 --> 02:17:05,409
understand that better than anybody . 

3537
02:17:05,409 --> 02:17:07,978
The questions we should be asking and 

3538
02:17:07,978 --> 02:17:11,739
answering are , what does this cost us 

3539
02:17:11,739 --> 02:17:14,178
and what does it achieve for the 

3540
02:17:14,178 --> 02:17:16,730
American people . Many of these strikes 

3541
02:17:16,730 --> 02:17:19,929
use our best weapons , and we&#39;re using 

3542
02:17:19,929 --> 02:17:22,440
a lot of them and a lot of interceptors . 

3543
02:17:22,849 --> 02:17:24,969
Open source reporting has estimated 

3544
02:17:24,969 --> 02:17:26,690
that the military has used an 

3545
02:17:26,690 --> 02:17:28,912
outrageous number of patriots . I&#39;m not 

3546
02:17:28,912 --> 02:17:31,023
even going to say the numbers , but a 

3547
02:17:31,023 --> 02:17:33,190
lot of patriots , a lot of fo rounds , 

3548
02:17:33,190 --> 02:17:35,357
Jasm ER , tomahawks , very expensive , 

3549
02:17:35,490 --> 02:17:38,389
exquisite . We can&#39;t make these 

3550
02:17:38,389 --> 02:17:40,809
munitions overnight , and it&#39;s clear 

3551
02:17:41,219 --> 02:17:43,386
from your budget request that you know 

3552
02:17:43,386 --> 02:17:46,490
that . Can you tell us how many 

3553
02:17:46,490 --> 02:17:50,030
years specifically is it going to 

3554
02:17:50,030 --> 02:17:52,709
take to replace these systems ? 

3555
02:17:54,469 --> 02:17:56,636
Senator , thank you for the question . 

3556
02:17:56,636 --> 02:17:58,858
I would defer to the comptroller on the 

3557
02:17:58,858 --> 02:17:58,709
amount because I think it&#39;s a lot 

3558
02:17:58,709 --> 02:18:00,876
higher than 53 . If you look at , uh , 

3559
02:18:00,876 --> 02:18:02,876
long range fires , Jasms , Erasms , 

3560
02:18:02,876 --> 02:18:04,730
Tomahawks , we&#39;re looking at 238 

3561
02:18:04,730 --> 02:18:06,841
billion . We&#39;re looking at 40 billion 

3562
02:18:06,841 --> 02:18:08,897
for hypersonic . So I actually think 

3563
02:18:08,897 --> 02:18:11,230
it&#39;s closer to 330 billion in munitions . 

3564
02:18:11,230 --> 02:18:13,174
OK , how many years to replenish ? 

3565
02:18:13,174 --> 02:18:15,230
That&#39;s the question . I think that&#39;s 

3566
02:18:15,230 --> 02:18:14,589
exactly the right question too , 

3567
02:18:14,709 --> 02:18:17,030
Senator , because the time frame we 

3568
02:18:17,030 --> 02:18:19,197
were existing under was unacceptable . 

3569
02:18:19,230 --> 02:18:21,174
And what this budget does . I mean 

3570
02:18:21,174 --> 02:18:23,397
months and years , years . I mean we&#39;re 

3571
02:18:23,397 --> 02:18:25,660
building new plants in real time , so 

3572
02:18:25,660 --> 02:18:27,882
just to replace what we have expended . 

3573
02:18:27,882 --> 02:18:30,104
I said months and then you said years , 

3574
02:18:30,559 --> 02:18:32,726
but it depends on the weapons system , 

3575
02:18:32,726 --> 02:18:34,948
but 2 to 3 , 4x of what we have today . 

3576
02:18:34,948 --> 02:18:37,170
So yes , we&#39;re dealing with the reality 

3577
02:18:37,170 --> 02:18:39,226
under the previous administration of 

3578
02:18:39,226 --> 02:18:38,940
what they sent to Ukraine and what they 

3579
02:18:38,940 --> 02:18:41,107
allocated elsewhere . I got it . So we 

3580
02:18:41,107 --> 02:18:44,709
fired rapidly worth of munitions , 

3581
02:18:45,139 --> 02:18:48,379
and it is clear that we&#39;re , these are 

3582
02:18:48,379 --> 02:18:52,280
being expended . To try to achieve some 

3583
02:18:53,030 --> 02:18:56,250
Objectives . That was the plan , but Mr . 

3584
02:18:56,410 --> 02:18:59,179
Secretary , this war has stuck . The 

3585
02:18:59,179 --> 02:19:02,370
Strait of Hormuz is closed . The 

3586
02:19:02,370 --> 02:19:05,530
Iranian regime is in place . The 

3587
02:19:05,530 --> 02:19:08,450
nuclear material still in their hands . 

3588
02:19:09,570 --> 02:19:12,480
Americans are being crushed by higher 

3589
02:19:12,480 --> 02:19:15,459
costs , and it&#39;s not clear to them . 

3590
02:19:16,669 --> 02:19:20,129
At all what the goal of this war is . 

3591
02:19:21,228 --> 02:19:24,168
So , I&#39;ve got about a minute . 

3592
02:19:24,668 --> 02:19:27,320
And I want to go to another topic . 

3593
02:19:28,599 --> 02:19:31,129
I saw your hearing yesterday . And I&#39;m 

3594
02:19:31,129 --> 02:19:33,240
going to give you one more chance to 

3595
02:19:33,250 --> 02:19:36,900
address a question here . It&#39;s my 

3596
02:19:36,900 --> 02:19:39,940
understanding that the definition of no 

3597
02:19:39,940 --> 02:19:43,080
quarter is that legitimate 

3598
02:19:43,080 --> 02:19:46,360
offers of surrender will be refused . 

3599
02:19:47,200 --> 02:19:50,700
or that detainees will be executed . 

3600
02:19:51,559 --> 02:19:53,448
Is that your understanding of the 

3601
02:19:53,448 --> 02:19:57,160
definition ? Uh , the only entity that 

3602
02:19:57,809 --> 02:19:59,531
would kill detainees or target 

3603
02:19:59,531 --> 02:20:01,753
civilians is the Iranians , and they&#39;re 

3604
02:20:01,753 --> 02:20:04,087
the ones being crushed . So the Iranian , 

3605
02:20:04,087 --> 02:20:05,920
uh , military and their military 

3606
02:20:05,920 --> 02:20:08,142
capabilities . The question is , do you 

3607
02:20:08,142 --> 02:20:07,780
disagree completely with your 

3608
02:20:07,780 --> 02:20:09,891
articulation . No , do you understand 

3609
02:20:09,891 --> 02:20:12,002
the definition that I just read you , 

3610
02:20:12,002 --> 02:20:14,224
because that&#39;s the definition from your 

3611
02:20:14,224 --> 02:20:16,860
department&#39;s law of war manual . Is 

3612
02:20:16,860 --> 02:20:19,193
that your understanding ? And I&#39;m gonna , 

3613
02:20:19,193 --> 02:20:21,360
I&#39;m gonna just get to the point here . 

3614
02:20:21,360 --> 02:20:23,527
We , we fight to win and we follow the 

3615
02:20:23,527 --> 02:20:25,638
law , Senator , OK , so . Your , your 

3616
02:20:25,638 --> 02:20:27,860
quote was , we will keep pushing , keep 

3617
02:20:27,860 --> 02:20:29,971
advancing , no quarter , no mercy for 

3618
02:20:29,971 --> 02:20:32,379
our enemies . And yesterday you did not 

3619
02:20:32,379 --> 02:20:34,389
clarify whether you stand by this 

3620
02:20:34,389 --> 02:20:36,445
statement . So I&#39;m going to give you 

3621
02:20:36,445 --> 02:20:39,790
another opportunity to clarify if that 

3622
02:20:39,790 --> 02:20:42,620
is what you meant . Do you stand by 

3623
02:20:42,620 --> 02:20:45,150
that statement you made on March 13th ? 

3624
02:20:46,700 --> 02:20:48,650
We have untied the hands of our 

3625
02:20:48,650 --> 02:20:51,700
warfighters . We fight to win and we 

3626
02:20:51,700 --> 02:20:53,700
follow the law . OK , so you&#39;re not 

3627
02:20:53,700 --> 02:20:55,589
clarifying . So you stand by that 

3628
02:20:55,589 --> 02:20:57,756
statement . So you&#39;re the Secretary of 

3629
02:20:57,756 --> 02:20:59,978
Defense . The things you say matter and 

3630
02:20:59,978 --> 02:21:03,660
your response here right now makes it 

3631
02:21:03,660 --> 02:21:06,440
clear to the American people exactly 

3632
02:21:06,440 --> 02:21:08,490
why you are not right for this . It 

3633
02:21:08,490 --> 02:21:10,823
makes it clear to our enemies , Senator . 

3634
02:21:11,519 --> 02:21:14,410
Thank you , Mr . Chairman . Um , thank 

3635
02:21:14,410 --> 02:21:18,139
you . Um . Senator Sheehy has left 

3636
02:21:18,139 --> 02:21:21,000
the room , but it&#39;s been whispered to 

3637
02:21:21,000 --> 02:21:23,599
me that I just referred to him in the 

3638
02:21:23,599 --> 02:21:26,070
last exchange as Senator Schmidt . I 

3639
02:21:26,070 --> 02:21:28,014
don&#39;t know if he considered that a 

3640
02:21:28,014 --> 02:21:30,126
compliment or an insult , but I would 

3641
02:21:30,126 --> 02:21:31,959
do correct that for the record . 

3642
02:21:32,200 --> 02:21:34,478
Senator Slotkin , I think you are next . 

3643
02:21:34,478 --> 02:21:38,259
Thank you . Gentlemen , you&#39;re here to 

3644
02:21:38,259 --> 02:21:41,870
ask for $1.5 trillion 40% 

3645
02:21:41,870 --> 02:21:45,370
more than what we gave you last year , 

3646
02:21:45,500 --> 02:21:48,790
$1 trillion and I agree with the 

3647
02:21:48,790 --> 02:21:50,790
chairman of this committee that the 

3648
02:21:50,790 --> 02:21:53,012
world has never been more dangerous and 

3649
02:21:53,012 --> 02:21:56,530
complicated . Um , and regardless of 

3650
02:21:56,990 --> 02:21:59,157
whether we disagree on the reasons for 

3651
02:21:59,157 --> 02:22:01,323
getting into this war , I think we can 

3652
02:22:01,323 --> 02:22:03,490
all agree that we want our military to 

3653
02:22:03,490 --> 02:22:05,950
come out of it safely and successfully 

3654
02:22:05,950 --> 02:22:08,283
and as , you know , as soon as feasible . 

3655
02:22:09,059 --> 02:22:11,620
Uh , the military has taken , you all , 

3656
02:22:11,700 --> 02:22:13,644
the , the administration has taken 

3657
02:22:13,644 --> 02:22:16,019
military action in 10 different places 

3658
02:22:16,019 --> 02:22:18,580
in the world in 15 months , more than 

3659
02:22:18,580 --> 02:22:21,860
any president in US history . Um , I , 

3660
02:22:21,959 --> 02:22:23,903
I think President Trump has really 

3661
02:22:23,903 --> 02:22:26,160
become a foreign policy president , and 

3662
02:22:26,459 --> 02:22:28,570
many of those operations , you know , 

3663
02:22:28,570 --> 02:22:30,792
were on the news for a couple of days , 

3664
02:22:30,792 --> 02:22:30,780
but then the American public didn&#39;t 

3665
02:22:30,780 --> 02:22:32,947
feel them . And I think the difference 

3666
02:22:32,947 --> 02:22:35,530
with this war . With Iran is that the 

3667
02:22:35,530 --> 02:22:37,697
American public is feeling it in their 

3668
02:22:37,697 --> 02:22:39,849
pocketbooks . Uh , gas in Michigan is 

3669
02:22:39,849 --> 02:22:43,129
4.99 today . The cost of fertilizer , 

3670
02:22:43,169 --> 02:22:45,225
of airline tickets , things that are 

3671
02:22:45,225 --> 02:22:48,290
real to people . Um , Secretary Hague 

3672
02:22:48,290 --> 02:22:50,512
said , the president said that you were 

3673
02:22:50,512 --> 02:22:53,450
most keen , um , on this war . He , he 

3674
02:22:53,450 --> 02:22:55,469
said that you were the most gung ho 

3675
02:22:55,469 --> 02:22:59,280
about it , um . And , um , I , I think 

3676
02:22:59,280 --> 02:23:01,500
despite , um , us all wanting to come 

3677
02:23:01,500 --> 02:23:03,780
out of this successfully , it is hard 

3678
02:23:03,780 --> 02:23:05,947
to miss that we are at the stalemate , 

3679
02:23:05,947 --> 02:23:08,200
that , that we don&#39;t control the Strait 

3680
02:23:08,200 --> 02:23:10,120
of Hormuz because shipping is not 

3681
02:23:10,120 --> 02:23:13,160
getting through . Um , and we can block 

3682
02:23:13,160 --> 02:23:15,216
what they&#39;re trying to get through , 

3683
02:23:15,216 --> 02:23:17,382
but nothing is moving and it&#39;s costing 

3684
02:23:17,382 --> 02:23:19,549
the American public . Um , and I think 

3685
02:23:19,549 --> 02:23:21,771
that&#39;s a fundamentally different moment 

3686
02:23:21,771 --> 02:23:23,827
than the rest of the military action 

3687
02:23:23,827 --> 02:23:26,559
we&#39;ve taken . Um , even in like Middle 

3688
02:23:26,559 --> 02:23:28,780
East 101 class , we used to talk about 

3689
02:23:28,780 --> 02:23:30,724
and run war games on the Strait of 

3690
02:23:30,724 --> 02:23:32,759
Hormuz . It&#39;s a strategic geography 

3691
02:23:32,759 --> 02:23:35,509
that the Iranians have . Um , and I 

3692
02:23:35,509 --> 02:23:37,889
think it&#39;s , it&#39;s just concerning to me 

3693
02:23:37,889 --> 02:23:40,549
that we , you know , we can try and 

3694
02:23:40,549 --> 02:23:42,493
tell the American people that it&#39;s 

3695
02:23:42,493 --> 02:23:44,660
going great and we&#39;re killing it , but 

3696
02:23:44,660 --> 02:23:46,827
until the Strait of Hormuz is open , I 

3697
02:23:46,827 --> 02:23:48,882
don&#39;t think we can credibly say that 

3698
02:23:48,882 --> 02:23:51,400
with any seriousness . Um , I , I think 

3699
02:23:51,660 --> 02:23:53,771
the question I have for you though is 

3700
02:23:53,771 --> 02:23:56,610
future looking , and it&#39;s our 2026 

3701
02:23:56,610 --> 02:23:59,620
elections . Um , the president has been 

3702
02:23:59,620 --> 02:24:01,676
very clear . He said in the State of 

3703
02:24:01,676 --> 02:24:03,842
the Union that essentially if his side 

3704
02:24:03,842 --> 02:24:05,842
doesn&#39;t win , then the election was 

3705
02:24:05,842 --> 02:24:07,953
rigged . He said that before the 2020 

3706
02:24:07,953 --> 02:24:10,064
election . He&#39;s asked for voter rolls 

3707
02:24:10,064 --> 02:24:12,287
for 29 different states . He just asked 

3708
02:24:12,287 --> 02:24:15,400
for Detroit&#39;s votes , um , or ballots , 

3709
02:24:15,900 --> 02:24:19,139
um . And we know that in 2020 he wrote 

3710
02:24:19,139 --> 02:24:21,417
an executive order that he didn&#39;t sign , 

3711
02:24:21,650 --> 02:24:24,059
um , that said , um , to the US 

3712
02:24:24,059 --> 02:24:26,337
military , to the Secretary of Defense , 

3713
02:24:26,740 --> 02:24:28,809
you should go and seize ballots and 

3714
02:24:28,809 --> 02:24:31,610
voting machines . A few months ago , he 

3715
02:24:31,610 --> 02:24:33,721
said that he regretted that he ever , 

3716
02:24:33,721 --> 02:24:35,849
that he didn&#39;t sign that executive 

3717
02:24:35,849 --> 02:24:39,209
order . So the US military has never 

3718
02:24:39,209 --> 02:24:41,153
been deployed . You miscorrectly , 

3719
02:24:41,650 --> 02:24:43,706
incorrectly said yesterday that they 

3720
02:24:43,706 --> 02:24:45,428
were deployed during different 

3721
02:24:45,428 --> 02:24:47,428
elections . Governors deployed them 

3722
02:24:47,428 --> 02:24:49,317
under their authorities , but the 

3723
02:24:49,317 --> 02:24:52,190
federal government has never put The 

3724
02:24:52,190 --> 02:24:54,429
uniformed military at our polls during 

3725
02:24:54,429 --> 02:24:57,259
World War II , right after 9/11 . Um , 

3726
02:24:57,349 --> 02:24:59,150
we&#39;ve never had to do that . So 

3727
02:24:59,150 --> 02:25:01,490
Secretary Hegseth , if the president 

3728
02:25:01,759 --> 02:25:03,926
who regrets not signing that executive 

3729
02:25:03,926 --> 02:25:06,849
order to the then SECD in 2020 asks you 

3730
02:25:07,269 --> 02:25:10,730
to seize ballots or voting machines 

3731
02:25:11,070 --> 02:25:13,540
in states during the 2026 election , 

3732
02:25:13,830 --> 02:25:15,997
will you stand up for the Constitution 

3733
02:25:15,997 --> 02:25:18,230
and say no , or will you salute and do 

3734
02:25:18,230 --> 02:25:21,820
his bidding ? Um , Senator , 

3735
02:25:22,160 --> 02:25:24,160
I didn&#39;t get a chance to answer the 

3736
02:25:24,160 --> 02:25:26,271
front part of your question , which , 

3737
02:25:26,271 --> 02:25:25,799
uh , you know , there was a lot of 

3738
02:25:25,799 --> 02:25:27,855
deferred maintenance under the Biden 

3739
02:25:27,855 --> 02:25:29,688
administration that needed to be 

3740
02:25:29,688 --> 02:25:29,669
addressed because the world was in 

3741
02:25:29,669 --> 02:25:32,040
chaos when President Trump was elected 

3742
02:25:32,040 --> 02:25:34,207
because of , well , again , that&#39;s the 

3743
02:25:34,207 --> 02:25:36,151
most important thing . It&#39;s what&#39;s 

3744
02:25:36,151 --> 02:25:38,151
happening . It&#39;s yet another gotcha 

3745
02:25:38,151 --> 02:25:40,318
hypothetical , which is your specialty 

3746
02:25:40,318 --> 02:25:43,040
and ultimately order under the Biden 

3747
02:25:43,040 --> 02:25:45,610
administration in 2024 . It&#39;s not a 

3748
02:25:45,610 --> 02:25:47,832
hypothetical . I refuse to accept . You 

3749
02:25:47,832 --> 02:25:50,054
give that answer all the time . You and 

3750
02:25:50,054 --> 02:25:52,054
I have done this dance before . Get 

3751
02:25:52,054 --> 02:25:54,221
over it , OK ? In 2020 , he , he&#39;s the 

3752
02:25:54,221 --> 02:25:56,388
president , your boss , the guy you&#39;re 

3753
02:25:56,388 --> 02:25:58,388
performing for right now , told the 

3754
02:25:58,388 --> 02:26:00,610
journalists this year that he wished he 

3755
02:26:00,610 --> 02:26:02,610
signed that executive order to your 

3756
02:26:02,610 --> 02:26:04,832
predecessor , and your predecessor said 

3757
02:26:04,832 --> 02:26:06,666
publicly , thank God , we didn&#39;t 

3758
02:26:06,666 --> 02:26:08,832
actually go forward with it . What are 

3759
02:26:08,832 --> 02:26:11,054
you going ? To do . You&#39;re the guy here 

3760
02:26:11,054 --> 02:26:13,166
in the seat . It&#39;s not hypothetical . 

3761
02:26:13,166 --> 02:26:15,166
Tell the American people , will you 

3762
02:26:15,166 --> 02:26:17,221
deploy the uniformed military to our 

3763
02:26:17,221 --> 02:26:18,999
polls to collect voter rolls or 

3764
02:26:18,999 --> 02:26:21,221
machines ? Are , are you accusing me of 

3765
02:26:21,221 --> 02:26:23,277
performing because you&#39;re performing 

3766
02:26:23,277 --> 02:26:25,277
for cable news right now ? But Mr . 

3767
02:26:25,277 --> 02:26:26,888
Secretary , we have , it&#39;s a 

3768
02:26:26,888 --> 02:26:28,888
hypothetical . By the way , in 2024 

3769
02:26:28,888 --> 02:26:30,888
under the Biden administration , 15 

3770
02:26:30,888 --> 02:26:32,554
states did deploy under the . 

3771
02:26:32,554 --> 02:26:32,522
Governor&#39;s authority when their 

3772
02:26:32,522 --> 02:26:34,411
governors asked for Joe Biden say 

3773
02:26:34,411 --> 02:26:36,466
that&#39;s fundamentally , I don&#39;t think 

3774
02:26:36,466 --> 02:26:38,466
anything because he needed them for 

3775
02:26:38,466 --> 02:26:40,689
cybersecurity and for COVID . Trump did 

3776
02:26:40,689 --> 02:26:42,911
it too under Trump , but it was not the 

3777
02:26:42,911 --> 02:26:44,689
federal decision . It was those 

3778
02:26:44,689 --> 02:26:46,689
governors of the states under their 

3779
02:26:46,689 --> 02:26:48,911
authorities , OK ? It&#39;s never been done 

3780
02:26:48,911 --> 02:26:50,966
in our history . Please stand up for 

3781
02:26:50,966 --> 02:26:52,689
the Constitution . Do not send 

3782
02:26:52,689 --> 02:26:55,040
uniformed military to our polls . Do , 

3783
02:26:55,120 --> 02:26:57,287
do you have a response to that portion 

3784
02:26:57,287 --> 02:26:59,620
of the question , Mr . Secretary ? I&#39;ve , 

3785
02:26:59,620 --> 02:27:01,820
I&#39;ve never been ordered to do anything 

3786
02:27:01,820 --> 02:27:04,160
illegal , and I won&#39;t . That goes 

3787
02:27:04,160 --> 02:27:06,104
without saying . Thank you for the 

3788
02:27:06,104 --> 02:27:08,327
answer , Senator Duckworth . You&#39;re now 

3789
02:27:08,327 --> 02:27:10,493
recognized . Thank you Mr . Chairman . 

3790
02:27:10,493 --> 02:27:12,716
Um , despite his campaign promise of no 

3791
02:27:12,716 --> 02:27:14,716
new wars , President Trump has been 

3792
02:27:14,716 --> 02:27:16,771
obsessed with using the military any 

3793
02:27:16,771 --> 02:27:18,938
chance he gets , from deploying troops 

3794
02:27:18,938 --> 02:27:20,827
to American cities to propping up 

3795
02:27:20,827 --> 02:27:22,938
Maduro&#39;s chosen number 2 in Venezuela 

3796
02:27:22,938 --> 02:27:24,993
to an endless war of boat strikes in 

3797
02:27:24,993 --> 02:27:26,882
the Caribbean Sea , and now in an 

3798
02:27:26,882 --> 02:27:29,104
illegal war with Iran where hundreds of 

3799
02:27:29,104 --> 02:27:31,216
thousands of our troops are in harm&#39;s 

3800
02:27:31,216 --> 02:27:33,382
way every day with no exit strategy in 

3801
02:27:33,382 --> 02:27:35,493
sight . This administration hides bad 

3802
02:27:35,493 --> 02:27:37,660
policy behind the exceptional military 

3803
02:27:37,660 --> 02:27:39,438
operations and the valor of our 

3804
02:27:39,438 --> 02:27:41,493
uniformed personnel . I&#39;ve long said 

3805
02:27:41,493 --> 02:27:43,327
Iran is a maligned actor , but a 

3806
02:27:43,327 --> 02:27:45,438
responsible administration would have 

3807
02:27:45,438 --> 02:27:47,604
managed this short of conflict instead 

3808
02:27:47,604 --> 02:27:49,827
of starting a war of choice . There was 

3809
02:27:49,827 --> 02:27:52,049
no imminent threat to the United States 

3810
02:27:52,049 --> 02:27:54,104
or our troops . The military was not 

3811
02:27:54,104 --> 02:27:56,271
the most effective tool to get Iran to 

3812
02:27:56,271 --> 02:27:58,327
capitulate , as we&#39;re already seeing 

3813
02:27:58,327 --> 02:28:00,438
too clearly now . And using force has 

3814
02:28:00,438 --> 02:28:02,604
made Americans in the Middle East less 

3815
02:28:02,604 --> 02:28:04,771
safe while spiking costs for Americans 

3816
02:28:04,771 --> 02:28:06,827
here at home , all to the tune of 14 

3817
02:28:06,827 --> 02:28:09,160
service members dead , hundreds wounded , 

3818
02:28:09,160 --> 02:28:08,330
billions of taxpayer dollars , and 

3819
02:28:08,330 --> 02:28:10,730
untold costs to our military readiness . 

3820
02:28:11,129 --> 02:28:12,962
This administration claims to be 

3821
02:28:12,962 --> 02:28:14,740
focused on the warfighter , but 

3822
02:28:14,740 --> 02:28:16,518
President Trump told us when he 

3823
02:28:16,518 --> 02:28:18,685
announced a war from his luxury resort 

3824
02:28:18,685 --> 02:28:21,018
that he expected service members to die . 

3825
02:28:21,018 --> 02:28:23,019
Now sadly it&#39;s clear how unserious 

3826
02:28:23,019 --> 02:28:24,741
Trump is about his role as the 

3827
02:28:24,741 --> 02:28:26,741
commander in chief . His war within 

3828
02:28:26,741 --> 02:28:28,660
Iran has already reminded us how 

3829
02:28:28,660 --> 02:28:31,129
important it is to prevent a war , how 

3830
02:28:31,129 --> 02:28:33,185
serious it is to ask the military to 

3831
02:28:33,185 --> 02:28:35,518
wage one under poor strategic direction , 

3832
02:28:35,518 --> 02:28:37,685
how destructive a wide ranging war can 

3833
02:28:37,685 --> 02:28:39,629
be for Americans , for our service 

3834
02:28:39,629 --> 02:28:41,685
members , and how difficult it is to 

3835
02:28:41,685 --> 02:28:43,740
actually end one once you start it . 

3836
02:28:43,740 --> 02:28:45,851
The incompetence and casual disregard 

3837
02:28:45,851 --> 02:28:47,240
for our service members&#39; 

3838
02:28:47,240 --> 02:28:49,351
professionalism and sacrifice is , in 

3839
02:28:49,351 --> 02:28:51,879
my opinion , a scandal , General Kane . 

3840
02:28:53,589 --> 02:28:55,589
General Kane , can you tell us the 

3841
02:28:55,589 --> 02:28:57,589
status of the Iranian Revolutionary 

3842
02:28:57,589 --> 02:28:59,645
Guard Corps Navy , identity actively 

3843
02:28:59,645 --> 02:29:03,280
closing the strait ? Uh , they&#39;re , 

3844
02:29:03,400 --> 02:29:05,622
uh , Senator , apologies , I was , uh , 

3845
02:29:05,639 --> 02:29:07,861
listening to you . I was just trying to 

3846
02:29:07,861 --> 02:29:10,139
write it down . Uh , they&#39;re , uh , um , 

3847
02:29:10,160 --> 02:29:11,889
uh , mostly destroyed . CETCOM 

3848
02:29:11,889 --> 02:29:14,559
continues to watch them . Uh , the 

3849
02:29:14,559 --> 02:29:17,320
Iranian navy . No , no , the IRC , yes , 

3850
02:29:17,469 --> 02:29:19,469
ma&#39;am . The , the , the smaller , I 

3851
02:29:19,469 --> 02:29:21,802
won&#39;t get into any classified materials , 

3852
02:29:21,802 --> 02:29:24,919
but the smaller . Fast and you know , 

3853
02:29:25,129 --> 02:29:27,129
smaller boats , Boston whaler sized 

3854
02:29:27,129 --> 02:29:29,296
boats . There&#39;s still some out there . 

3855
02:29:29,296 --> 02:29:31,462
Yes ma&#39;am . So this administration and 

3856
02:29:31,462 --> 02:29:33,351
the Secretary of Defense has been 

3857
02:29:33,351 --> 02:29:35,573
boasting about sinking the ships of the 

3858
02:29:35,573 --> 02:29:35,410
Iranian navy , but let&#39;s call this what 

3859
02:29:35,410 --> 02:29:37,730
it is . It&#39;s a misdirection . They want 

3860
02:29:37,730 --> 02:29:39,952
us to focus on the impressive number of 

3861
02:29:39,952 --> 02:29:41,841
large Iranian ships underwater to 

3862
02:29:41,841 --> 02:29:44,063
distract from the fact that they had no 

3863
02:29:44,063 --> 02:29:46,286
plans for the 2nd navy that Iran owns . 

3864
02:29:46,286 --> 02:29:48,452
That has always been a hard problem to 

3865
02:29:48,452 --> 02:29:50,508
address by military force . The IRCG 

3866
02:29:50,508 --> 02:29:52,674
navy , not the Iranian navy , has been 

3867
02:29:52,674 --> 02:29:54,841
Iran&#39;s tip of the spear in the Straits 

3868
02:29:54,841 --> 02:29:54,410
of Hormuz , seizing vessels and 

3869
02:29:54,410 --> 02:29:57,230
threatening to target US assets . Iran 

3870
02:29:57,230 --> 02:29:59,650
has long invested in this second 

3871
02:29:59,650 --> 02:30:01,809
asymmetrical navy specifically to 

3872
02:30:01,809 --> 02:30:03,753
develop capabilities that would be 

3873
02:30:03,753 --> 02:30:05,920
difficult for conventional US military 

3874
02:30:05,920 --> 02:30:08,142
forces to target . Iran&#39;s advantage was 

3875
02:30:08,142 --> 02:30:10,365
well known to anyone paying attention . 

3876
02:30:10,365 --> 02:30:12,476
I&#39;ve no doubt that competent planners 

3877
02:30:12,476 --> 02:30:14,587
in the Pentagon raised their concerns 

3878
02:30:14,587 --> 02:30:14,209
about a quagmire in the Strait to 

3879
02:30:14,209 --> 02:30:16,376
leadership . The question is why their 

3880
02:30:16,376 --> 02:30:18,376
leadership did not pay attention to 

3881
02:30:18,376 --> 02:30:20,265
this sound advice . Hubris is not 

3882
02:30:20,265 --> 02:30:22,431
strategy , and in war it costs lives , 

3883
02:30:22,431 --> 02:30:24,320
even if the strait reopens . This 

3884
02:30:24,320 --> 02:30:26,542
administration has created a new , less 

3885
02:30:26,542 --> 02:30:28,431
safe world by initiating and then 

3886
02:30:28,431 --> 02:30:30,598
bungling this crisis and teaching Iran 

3887
02:30:30,598 --> 02:30:32,765
that it can charge a million dollars a 

3888
02:30:32,765 --> 02:30:34,820
ship to transit the strait . It will 

3889
02:30:34,820 --> 02:30:37,042
take a long time for the global economy 

3890
02:30:37,042 --> 02:30:39,209
to bounce back to normal trade flows , 

3891
02:30:39,209 --> 02:30:39,169
and Iran has learned again that they 

3892
02:30:39,169 --> 02:30:41,391
can charge a million dollars per ship , 

3893
02:30:41,391 --> 02:30:43,502
creating a new funding line for their 

3894
02:30:43,502 --> 02:30:45,558
malicious activity against Americans 

3895
02:30:45,558 --> 02:30:47,280
for years to come . And in the 

3896
02:30:47,280 --> 02:30:49,336
Indo-Pacific , I don&#39;t doubt that if 

3897
02:30:49,336 --> 02:30:51,558
the worst day comes , our military will 

3898
02:30:51,558 --> 02:30:53,336
step up to challenge and defend 

3899
02:30:53,336 --> 02:30:53,030
Americans and our interests with 

3900
02:30:53,030 --> 02:30:55,252
military force , but will they be asked 

3901
02:30:55,252 --> 02:30:57,363
to lay down their lives unnecessarily 

3902
02:30:57,363 --> 02:30:59,197
just because the White House was 

3903
02:30:59,197 --> 02:30:59,040
unready and incapable of preventing a 

3904
02:30:59,040 --> 02:31:01,320
crisis boiling over into a war in the 

3905
02:31:01,320 --> 02:31:03,376
Indo-Pacific ? General Kane , do you 

3906
02:31:03,376 --> 02:31:05,487
agree that the military would benefit 

3907
02:31:05,487 --> 02:31:07,598
from significant intraagency planning 

3908
02:31:07,598 --> 02:31:09,820
by the Department of Defense on actions 

3909
02:31:09,820 --> 02:31:11,820
short of war that can be taken if a 

3910
02:31:11,820 --> 02:31:13,879
crisis occurs ? Ma&#39;am , I , I 

3911
02:31:13,879 --> 02:31:15,768
appreciate that question , you&#39;re 

3912
02:31:15,768 --> 02:31:17,879
highlighting the importance of that , 

3913
02:31:17,879 --> 02:31:19,546
and we , we have really great 

3914
02:31:19,546 --> 02:31:22,320
relationships now on the joint staff 

3915
02:31:22,320 --> 02:31:24,679
with the interagency . I think our 

3916
02:31:24,679 --> 02:31:26,846
relationship in particular , I&#39;ll just 

3917
02:31:26,846 --> 02:31:29,299
pick CIA , I think it&#39;s the best it&#39;s , 

3918
02:31:29,320 --> 02:31:31,431
it&#39;s ever been . We&#39;re really working 

3919
02:31:31,431 --> 02:31:33,320
hard to find the best of Title 10 

3920
02:31:33,320 --> 02:31:36,040
capabilities plus the best of Title 50 

3921
02:31:36,040 --> 02:31:38,160
to ensure that we deliver really 

3922
02:31:38,160 --> 02:31:40,679
entrepreneurial options for our 

3923
02:31:40,679 --> 02:31:42,901
national policymakers to do what you&#39;re 

3924
02:31:42,901 --> 02:31:45,012
talking about , Senator . All right , 

3925
02:31:45,012 --> 02:31:47,179
um , but I am . Concern because during 

3926
02:31:47,179 --> 02:31:49,290
the recent NDS hearing I laid out the 

3927
02:31:49,290 --> 02:31:51,346
very real ways that a crisis in just 

3928
02:31:51,346 --> 02:31:53,568
one of the dozens of flashpoints in the 

3929
02:31:53,568 --> 02:31:53,285
Indo-Pacific could be devastating for 

3930
02:31:53,285 --> 02:31:55,605
our service members , Americans , and 

3931
02:31:55,605 --> 02:31:57,716
our American economy . But since then 

3932
02:31:57,716 --> 02:31:59,772
this administration has only further 

3933
02:31:59,772 --> 02:32:01,994
diminished DOD&#39;s ability to prepare for 

3934
02:32:01,994 --> 02:32:04,161
these crises . In fact , many of the , 

3935
02:32:04,161 --> 02:32:06,161
as many as 1/3 of the assets in the 

3936
02:32:06,161 --> 02:32:08,272
Middle East originally meant to be in 

3937
02:32:08,272 --> 02:32:10,383
the Indo-Pacific . This war of choice 

3938
02:32:10,383 --> 02:32:12,605
is draining our military resources . We 

3939
02:32:12,605 --> 02:32:14,827
need leaders who do everything they can 

3940
02:32:14,827 --> 02:32:14,620
to ensure warfighters only fight when 

3941
02:32:14,620 --> 02:32:16,842
they have to , not because of one man&#39;s 

3942
02:32:16,842 --> 02:32:19,064
whims and the lack of bravery among the 

3943
02:32:19,064 --> 02:32:21,176
yes men he surrounds himself with . I 

3944
02:32:21,176 --> 02:32:23,064
thank you for your service , uh , 

3945
02:32:23,064 --> 02:32:25,176
General , um , and I continue to look 

3946
02:32:25,176 --> 02:32:24,900
forward to working with you . Thank you , 

3947
02:32:25,019 --> 02:32:28,219
Senator Duckworth , Senator Rosen . Uh , 

3948
02:32:28,360 --> 02:32:30,582
thank you , Mr . Chairman . Thank you , 

3949
02:32:30,582 --> 02:32:32,749
Ranking Member Reed . Um , thank you , 

3950
02:32:32,749 --> 02:32:35,519
General , for your service . Uh , 

3951
02:32:35,759 --> 02:32:37,537
before I begin my questions for 

3952
02:32:37,537 --> 02:32:39,592
Secretary Hegseth , I have one brief 

3953
02:32:39,592 --> 02:32:41,703
important question for General Kane . 

3954
02:32:41,703 --> 02:32:43,815
Um , General , as you&#39;ve acknowledged 

3955
02:32:43,815 --> 02:32:45,981
at your confirmation hearing , service 

3956
02:32:45,981 --> 02:32:48,092
members who served at locations which 

3957
02:32:48,092 --> 02:32:50,037
another US government agency deems 

3958
02:32:50,037 --> 02:32:52,259
contaminated , like the Nevada Test and 

3959
02:32:52,259 --> 02:32:54,370
Training range , should have the same 

3960
02:32:54,370 --> 02:32:56,426
presumption of radiation exposure as 

3961
02:32:56,426 --> 02:32:59,259
DOE employees who served alongside them . 

3962
02:32:59,950 --> 02:33:01,799
But we also must ensure that DOD 

3963
02:33:01,799 --> 02:33:03,632
provides the VA with the records 

3964
02:33:03,632 --> 02:33:05,743
proving that these individuals served 

3965
02:33:05,743 --> 02:33:08,339
there . So this is a problem that DOD 

3966
02:33:08,339 --> 02:33:10,719
has the power to solve . I know we&#39;ve 

3967
02:33:10,719 --> 02:33:12,941
discussed this . So General Kane , will 

3968
02:33:12,941 --> 02:33:15,120
you commit to ensuring parity for DOD 

3969
02:33:15,120 --> 02:33:17,287
personnel who served in locations that 

3970
02:33:17,287 --> 02:33:19,342
the US government has already deemed 

3971
02:33:19,342 --> 02:33:21,398
contaminated . Identifying those who 

3972
02:33:21,398 --> 02:33:23,564
served in such locations and providing 

3973
02:33:23,564 --> 02:33:25,787
documentation of that service to the VA 

3974
02:33:25,787 --> 02:33:27,953
so that they can receive the veterans&#39; 

3975
02:33:27,953 --> 02:33:31,445
benefits that they have earned . You 

3976
02:33:31,445 --> 02:33:33,723
bet , ma&#39;am , and , and I&#39;m , you know , 

3977
02:33:33,723 --> 02:33:35,889
since our last time together on this , 

3978
02:33:35,889 --> 02:33:37,667
we&#39;ve continued to chip away at 

3979
02:33:37,667 --> 02:33:39,667
removing or figuring out how to get 

3980
02:33:39,667 --> 02:33:42,320
past that one . Particular blocking in 

3981
02:33:42,320 --> 02:33:44,839
that record so that that data flows 

3982
02:33:44,839 --> 02:33:47,019
normally and I&#39;m I&#39;m committed to 

3983
02:33:47,480 --> 02:33:49,647
trying to solve that for those leaders 

3984
02:33:49,647 --> 02:33:51,869
and teammates who are out there at that 

3985
02:33:51,869 --> 02:33:53,980
site . Thank you . We&#39;ll look forward 

3986
02:33:53,980 --> 02:33:56,258
to continuing to work with you on that . 

3987
02:33:56,258 --> 02:33:58,369
So Secretary Hegseth , I wanna talk a 

3988
02:33:58,369 --> 02:34:00,480
little bit about AI because of course 

3989
02:34:00,480 --> 02:34:00,389
our service members deserve every 

3990
02:34:00,389 --> 02:34:02,556
advantage we can give them . So I just 

3991
02:34:02,556 --> 02:34:04,667
want you to help me understand this . 

3992
02:34:04,667 --> 02:34:06,778
In February , on the eve of Operation 

3993
02:34:06,778 --> 02:34:09,070
Epic Fury , you publicly designated 

3994
02:34:09,070 --> 02:34:11,650
anthropic as a supply chain risk . 

3995
02:34:12,150 --> 02:34:14,317
However , this week it&#39;s been reported 

3996
02:34:14,317 --> 02:34:16,317
that the White House is now helping 

3997
02:34:16,317 --> 02:34:18,372
agencies get around this decision to 

3998
02:34:18,372 --> 02:34:21,320
access anthropic&#39;s technology . So the 

3999
02:34:21,320 --> 02:34:23,320
administration cannot credibly make 

4000
02:34:23,320 --> 02:34:26,700
both claims simultaneously . So before 

4001
02:34:26,700 --> 02:34:28,811
I ask you about the inconsistency , I 

4002
02:34:28,811 --> 02:34:31,019
just want you to reconfirm what it is 

4003
02:34:31,019 --> 02:34:33,629
you plan to use this technology for . 

4004
02:34:33,690 --> 02:34:35,746
It&#39;s been publicly reported that the 

4005
02:34:35,746 --> 02:34:37,912
decision to label anthropic a national 

4006
02:34:37,912 --> 02:34:39,968
security risk was influenced by your 

4007
02:34:39,968 --> 02:34:41,857
personal and very public contract 

4008
02:34:41,857 --> 02:34:44,079
dispute with anthropic when the company 

4009
02:34:44,079 --> 02:34:46,190
said that its technology could not be 

4010
02:34:46,190 --> 02:34:48,200
used for fully autonomous weapons 

4011
02:34:48,500 --> 02:34:50,820
targeting or mass surveillance of 

4012
02:34:50,820 --> 02:34:53,299
Americans . So following up on your 

4013
02:34:53,299 --> 02:34:55,355
response to Senator Rounds earlier . 

4014
02:34:56,070 --> 02:34:58,389
Can you confirm whether or not there 

4015
02:34:58,389 --> 02:35:00,740
will always be a human in the loop when 

4016
02:35:00,740 --> 02:35:03,620
AI is used for lethal targeting 

4017
02:35:03,629 --> 02:35:06,750
decisions ? Well , first of all , on 

4018
02:35:06,750 --> 02:35:08,972
anthropic , they would not agree to our 

4019
02:35:08,972 --> 02:35:11,083
terms of service . That would be like 

4020
02:35:11,083 --> 02:35:13,250
Boeing giving us airplanes and telling 

4021
02:35:13,250 --> 02:35:15,417
us who we can shoot at . This is not , 

4022
02:35:15,417 --> 02:35:15,209
they were not just about anthropic 

4023
02:35:15,209 --> 02:35:17,209
though . I just want to be , I just 

4024
02:35:17,209 --> 02:35:19,320
want to be clear . And also Anthropic 

4025
02:35:19,320 --> 02:35:21,376
is run by an ideological lunatic who 

4026
02:35:21,376 --> 02:35:23,709
shouldn&#39;t have a that&#39;s not my question . 

4027
02:35:23,709 --> 02:35:25,709
Question is AI decision making over 

4028
02:35:25,709 --> 02:35:27,820
what we do writ large . We follow the 

4029
02:35:27,820 --> 02:35:30,042
law . Senator AI , will you confirm you 

4030
02:35:30,042 --> 02:35:29,870
said this to Senator Rounds earlier , 

4031
02:35:29,950 --> 02:35:31,894
so I&#39;m just asking for you to , we 

4032
02:35:31,894 --> 02:35:34,006
follow the law , but we don&#39;t have to 

4033
02:35:34,006 --> 02:35:36,117
sign a different terms of agreement . 

4034
02:35:36,117 --> 02:35:38,339
That&#39;s not anthropic not the question . 

4035
02:35:38,339 --> 02:35:40,450
This is not about anthropic . This is 

4036
02:35:40,450 --> 02:35:42,672
just an example . I want you to confirm 

4037
02:35:42,672 --> 02:35:44,783
that whether or not there will always 

4038
02:35:44,783 --> 02:35:46,950
be a human in the loop when AI is used 

4039
02:35:46,950 --> 02:35:49,117
in the kill chain for lethal targeting 

4040
02:35:49,117 --> 02:35:51,061
decisions , will there always be a 

4041
02:35:51,061 --> 02:35:53,061
human in a loop or will AI make the 

4042
02:35:53,061 --> 02:35:56,059
decision ? You said this to we follow 

4043
02:35:56,059 --> 02:35:58,059
the law and humans make decisions . 

4044
02:36:00,940 --> 02:36:02,996
So you will confirm what you said to 

4045
02:36:02,996 --> 02:36:05,218
Senator Rounds that a human will always 

4046
02:36:05,218 --> 02:36:07,384
be in the loop when AI is used , which 

4047
02:36:07,384 --> 02:36:09,440
is why I&#39;m just , that&#39;s part of our 

4048
02:36:09,440 --> 02:36:13,019
terms of service anyway . You know , 

4049
02:36:13,169 --> 02:36:16,059
it&#39;s how we operate . All I want to say 

4050
02:36:16,059 --> 02:36:19,009
is this . There is a DOD directive 

4051
02:36:19,190 --> 02:36:23,549
3,0003,000.09 

4052
02:36:23,549 --> 02:36:25,493
which mandates that autonomous and 

4053
02:36:25,493 --> 02:36:27,790
semi-autonomous weapons systems be 

4054
02:36:27,790 --> 02:36:29,623
designed to allow commanders and 

4055
02:36:29,623 --> 02:36:31,512
operators to exercise appropriate 

4056
02:36:31,512 --> 02:36:33,950
levels of human judgment over use of 

4057
02:36:33,950 --> 02:36:37,190
force that is in the DOD . That&#39;s why 

4058
02:36:37,190 --> 02:36:39,301
we follow the law , Senator . So , so 

4059
02:36:39,301 --> 02:36:41,468
the answer is yes , Mr . The answer is 

4060
02:36:41,468 --> 02:36:43,879
we follow the law absolutely . I think 

4061
02:36:43,879 --> 02:36:45,990
this is more important than following 

4062
02:36:45,990 --> 02:36:48,101
the law . I think that people want to 

4063
02:36:48,101 --> 02:36:50,323
know that AI isn&#39;t going to make lethal 

4064
02:36:50,323 --> 02:36:52,435
decisions , and it&#39;s critically AI is 

4065
02:36:52,435 --> 02:36:54,500
not making lethal decisions . That&#39;s 

4066
02:36:54,500 --> 02:36:56,444
what we want to hear . We&#39;re gonna 

4067
02:36:56,444 --> 02:36:59,230
follow on that one . I have , uh , just 

4068
02:36:59,730 --> 02:37:03,309
a few seconds left , but . You keep 

4069
02:37:03,309 --> 02:37:06,519
doubling down on this phrase . Mr . 

4070
02:37:06,530 --> 02:37:08,830
Secretary , you compare journalists , 

4071
02:37:08,889 --> 02:37:11,056
you compare us , you compare so many . 

4072
02:37:12,299 --> 02:37:14,980
To Pharisees , Pharisees , it&#39;s a 

4073
02:37:14,980 --> 02:37:17,540
problematic and historically weaponized 

4074
02:37:17,540 --> 02:37:19,596
term that cast Jewish communities as 

4075
02:37:19,596 --> 02:37:21,707
hypocritical or morally corrupt . You 

4076
02:37:21,707 --> 02:37:25,150
doubled down again and said it . Words 

4077
02:37:25,150 --> 02:37:27,740
matter . Words matter what you choose 

4078
02:37:27,740 --> 02:37:30,519
to say , how we choose to say it . How 

4079
02:37:30,519 --> 02:37:32,639
do you justify using this language as 

4080
02:37:32,639 --> 02:37:34,750
Secretary of Defense ? Words matter . 

4081
02:37:34,750 --> 02:37:38,040
It&#39;s a historically hurtful term . Why 

4082
02:37:38,040 --> 02:37:40,150
do you continue to use it and what 

4083
02:37:40,150 --> 02:37:42,039
actions are you taking to prevent 

4084
02:37:42,039 --> 02:37:43,983
rhetoric like this from permeating 

4085
02:37:43,983 --> 02:37:46,206
throughout the department that is going 

4086
02:37:46,206 --> 02:37:47,817
to target specific groups or 

4087
02:37:47,817 --> 02:37:49,872
individuals of people based on their 

4088
02:37:50,280 --> 02:37:54,240
religion ? Senator , I feel like it&#39;s 

4089
02:37:54,240 --> 02:37:56,849
a pretty accurate term for folks who 

4090
02:37:56,849 --> 02:37:58,905
don&#39;t see the plank in their own eye 

4091
02:37:58,905 --> 02:38:00,905
and always want to see what&#39;s wrong 

4092
02:38:00,905 --> 02:38:02,905
with an operation as opposed to the 

4093
02:38:02,905 --> 02:38:02,839
historic success of preventing Iran 

4094
02:38:02,839 --> 02:38:04,895
from getting a nuclear weapon . So I 

4095
02:38:04,895 --> 02:38:07,049
stand by it . You stand by calling 

4096
02:38:07,049 --> 02:38:11,049
people Pharisees . Sir , I cannot . I 

4097
02:38:11,049 --> 02:38:14,339
cannot stand for that . That is wrong . 

4098
02:38:14,530 --> 02:38:16,889
It is not respectful to people , and I 

4099
02:38:16,889 --> 02:38:20,360
expect anyone who is in leadership in 

4100
02:38:20,360 --> 02:38:23,990
our country to be respectful 

4101
02:38:24,610 --> 02:38:27,669
and use respectful terms and not be an 

4102
02:38:27,679 --> 02:38:31,620
anti-Semite . Um , thank you , 

4103
02:38:31,780 --> 02:38:35,469
Senator Rosen . Um , the chair , 

4104
02:38:35,660 --> 02:38:38,160
uh , and the ranking member have no 

4105
02:38:38,540 --> 02:38:41,509
second round questions . I&#39;m told by 

4106
02:38:41,509 --> 02:38:43,731
Senator Kelly that he would like to ask 

4107
02:38:43,731 --> 02:38:47,309
a , a , second question . Yeah , Mr . 

4108
02:38:47,469 --> 02:38:51,269
Secretary , so $1.5 trillion 1.5 is a 

4109
02:38:51,269 --> 02:38:54,769
very round number . Um , you know , if 

4110
02:38:54,769 --> 02:38:56,713
you&#39;re putting together a budget , 

4111
02:38:56,713 --> 02:38:58,658
you&#39;d come up with , these are the 

4112
02:38:58,658 --> 02:39:01,089
problems we&#39;re trying to solve . This 

4113
02:39:01,089 --> 02:39:04,129
is the capability we need . These are 

4114
02:39:04,129 --> 02:39:07,419
the systems we have to buy . And at the 

4115
02:39:07,419 --> 02:39:09,475
end of the day , it would spit out a 

4116
02:39:09,475 --> 02:39:11,308
number and it&#39;s probably not 1.5 

4117
02:39:11,308 --> 02:39:13,308
trillion . So to me , it feels like 

4118
02:39:13,308 --> 02:39:15,530
that number was just kind of pulled out 

4119
02:39:15,530 --> 02:39:19,299
of thin air . I took a look 

4120
02:39:19,299 --> 02:39:23,299
recently and it seems that the defense 

4121
02:39:23,299 --> 02:39:26,509
budget of the rest of the world . I&#39;m 

4122
02:39:26,509 --> 02:39:30,120
talking China , Russia , India , every 

4123
02:39:30,120 --> 02:39:32,398
Asian country , every European country , 

4124
02:39:32,398 --> 02:39:35,030
South America , everybody else is in 

4125
02:39:35,030 --> 02:39:37,309
the neighborhood . It looked like 1.7 

4126
02:39:37,309 --> 02:39:41,209
to 1.8 . So your request 

4127
02:39:41,230 --> 02:39:44,480
is approaching . All defense spending 

4128
02:39:44,480 --> 02:39:46,647
from everybody else with the exception 

4129
02:39:46,647 --> 02:39:49,219
of us . That is a huge amount of money . 

4130
02:39:49,639 --> 02:39:51,861
You know , when I got here , you know , 

4131
02:39:51,861 --> 02:39:55,459
just 5 years ago , it was almost half 

4132
02:39:56,240 --> 02:39:59,400
of that . Through budget reconciliation , 

4133
02:39:59,440 --> 02:40:02,740
you&#39;ve received a bunch of money to buy 

4134
02:40:02,919 --> 02:40:05,599
things of some of the weapons systems , 

4135
02:40:05,679 --> 02:40:07,790
you know , to resupply what we need . 

4136
02:40:08,309 --> 02:40:10,400
I&#39;m just trying to understand , you 

4137
02:40:10,400 --> 02:40:12,400
know , like where is all this money 

4138
02:40:12,400 --> 02:40:14,622
going to go , and if you&#39;ve figured out 

4139
02:40:14,839 --> 02:40:16,839
ahead of time , what do you want to 

4140
02:40:16,839 --> 02:40:19,610
spend this on ? And by the way , There 

4141
02:40:19,610 --> 02:40:21,849
are systems the president wants , you 

4142
02:40:21,849 --> 02:40:25,169
know , he saw , um , last summer how 

4143
02:40:25,169 --> 02:40:27,799
effective Iron Dome and David&#39;s Sling 

4144
02:40:27,799 --> 02:40:31,419
were . And because of that , The 

4145
02:40:31,419 --> 02:40:33,586
president decided we&#39;re going to build 

4146
02:40:33,940 --> 02:40:36,051
our own version . We&#39;re going to call 

4147
02:40:36,051 --> 02:40:38,107
it Golden Dome because the president 

4148
02:40:38,107 --> 02:40:40,990
likes the color gold . We&#39;ve seen that , 

4149
02:40:41,370 --> 02:40:43,592
see it in the Oval Office . We&#39;re going 

4150
02:40:43,592 --> 02:40:45,703
to call it Golden Dome , and it might 

4151
02:40:45,703 --> 02:40:47,870
cost somewhere between $500 billion.01 

4152
02:40:47,870 --> 02:40:49,870
trillion dollars . I&#39;ve heard those 

4153
02:40:49,870 --> 02:40:51,703
estimates . By the way , on that 

4154
02:40:51,703 --> 02:40:53,703
problem , I know a little bit about 

4155
02:40:53,703 --> 02:40:55,648
intercepting stuff in space . It&#39;s 

4156
02:40:55,648 --> 02:40:57,959
really hard , and the physics on this 

4157
02:40:57,959 --> 02:41:00,259
favors the offense . There&#39;s some 

4158
02:41:00,259 --> 02:41:03,330
things in that program that I think is 

4159
02:41:03,330 --> 02:41:05,497
really important that we do and try to 

4160
02:41:05,497 --> 02:41:07,330
figure it , figure it out . But 

4161
02:41:07,330 --> 02:41:09,650
space-based interceptors . To hit 

4162
02:41:09,650 --> 02:41:12,169
multiple targets . And by the way , 

4163
02:41:12,290 --> 02:41:14,568
it&#39;s important how you size the system . 

4164
02:41:15,049 --> 02:41:17,400
So , I&#39;m trying to understand , Mr . 

4165
02:41:17,410 --> 02:41:19,632
Secretary , what kind of detail did you 

4166
02:41:19,632 --> 02:41:22,769
guys , did you work out like a detailed 

4167
02:41:22,769 --> 02:41:24,769
plan and at the end of the day , it 

4168
02:41:24,769 --> 02:41:26,991
came out , oh , it just happens to come 

4169
02:41:26,991 --> 02:41:30,870
out to be $1.5 trillion . Senator , the 

4170
02:41:30,870 --> 02:41:33,799
exact amount is actually $1.535 

4171
02:41:33,799 --> 02:41:35,743
trillion and it was a product of a 

4172
02:41:35,743 --> 02:41:37,929
highly rigorous process throughout our 

4173
02:41:37,929 --> 02:41:40,070
department . From COCOM commanders to 

4174
02:41:40,070 --> 02:41:42,070
the services with our comptroller , 

4175
02:41:42,070 --> 02:41:44,126
with our deputy secretary , with the 

4176
02:41:44,126 --> 02:41:46,014
chairman and myself to ensure the 

4177
02:41:46,014 --> 02:41:48,070
budget reflects the realities of the 

4178
02:41:48,070 --> 02:41:47,830
world we live in and the capabilities 

4179
02:41:47,830 --> 02:41:49,719
we&#39;re gonna need . And that&#39;s why 

4180
02:41:49,719 --> 02:41:51,886
there&#39;s $65 billion for shipbuilding , 

4181
02:41:51,886 --> 02:41:54,108
$120 billion for the defense industrial 

4182
02:41:54,108 --> 02:41:57,700
base , $331 billion for munitions , $44 

4183
02:41:57,700 --> 02:41:59,980
billion for quality of life , $71 

4184
02:41:59,980 --> 02:42:02,091
billion on our nuclear dib , you name 

4185
02:42:02,091 --> 02:42:04,147
it , we&#39;re investing in it . And the 

4186
02:42:04,147 --> 02:42:05,758
biggest reason for it is the 

4187
02:42:05,758 --> 02:42:07,369
underinvestment of the Biden 

4188
02:42:07,369 --> 02:42:09,591
administration . I mean what they spent 

4189
02:42:09,591 --> 02:42:11,758
on defense , the continued resolutions 

4190
02:42:11,758 --> 02:42:13,813
and others undercut the buildup that 

4191
02:42:13,813 --> 02:42:13,610
President Trump had created . So yes , 

4192
02:42:13,940 --> 02:42:15,773
we&#39;re doing a lot of uh deferred 

4193
02:42:15,773 --> 02:42:17,884
maintenance here around the world and 

4194
02:42:17,884 --> 02:42:19,884
in our department , and this budget 

4195
02:42:19,884 --> 02:42:22,107
reflects it , and it&#39;s a commitment , a 

4196
02:42:22,107 --> 02:42:24,329
generational commitment to the security 

4197
02:42:24,329 --> 02:42:23,900
of the American people . And if the 

4198
02:42:23,900 --> 02:42:26,067
rest of the world won&#39;t spend on their 

4199
02:42:26,067 --> 02:42:28,011
defense , that&#39;s their fault . The 

4200
02:42:28,011 --> 02:42:30,178
American Department of War will invest 

4201
02:42:30,178 --> 02:42:32,456
properly to defend the American people , 

4202
02:42:32,456 --> 02:42:34,622
and that&#39;s what this budget stands for 

4203
02:42:34,622 --> 02:42:36,789
supportive . Of defense spending in my 

4204
02:42:36,789 --> 02:42:38,900
entire time here . And after 25 years 

4205
02:42:38,900 --> 02:42:41,011
in the Navy , I want to make sure our 

4206
02:42:41,011 --> 02:42:43,519
folks have what they need . I think you 

4207
02:42:43,519 --> 02:42:46,589
should go back and take a look and see 

4208
02:42:46,799 --> 02:42:49,021
if there are places where we are making 

4209
02:42:49,021 --> 02:42:51,355
investments that we actually don&#39;t need . 

4210
02:42:51,355 --> 02:42:53,410
There are some systems out there . I 

4211
02:42:53,410 --> 02:42:55,521
mean , we&#39;re constantly looking and , 

4212
02:42:55,521 --> 02:42:57,577
and trying to balance . Do we want , 

4213
02:42:57,577 --> 02:42:59,466
you know , F-47 , which I&#39;ve been 

4214
02:42:59,466 --> 02:43:01,679
supportive of , um , B-21 also 

4215
02:43:01,679 --> 02:43:03,849
supportive . And then we want to make 

4216
02:43:03,849 --> 02:43:06,299
all these other investments in really 

4217
02:43:06,299 --> 02:43:09,700
inexpensive , low-cost e uh 

4218
02:43:09,700 --> 02:43:12,780
munitions because we suddenly realized 

4219
02:43:12,780 --> 02:43:14,900
that the expensive stuff , even with 

4220
02:43:14,900 --> 02:43:17,259
through B-21 , we can&#39;t really maybe 

4221
02:43:17,259 --> 02:43:19,315
not get close enough . But the whole 

4222
02:43:19,315 --> 02:43:21,490
idea behind B-21 and F-47 is we can 

4223
02:43:21,490 --> 02:43:24,080
penetrate further into the A2AD bubble . 

4224
02:43:24,740 --> 02:43:27,889
So there&#39;s some conflict there . So I&#39;m 

4225
02:43:27,889 --> 02:43:30,269
just encouraging you to go back and see , 

4226
02:43:30,969 --> 02:43:33,025
you know , if there are some systems 

4227
02:43:33,025 --> 02:43:35,200
where we can bring that number , the 

4228
02:43:35,200 --> 02:43:38,089
overall number down , because as I look 

4229
02:43:38,089 --> 02:43:40,450
at what the department is trying to 

4230
02:43:40,450 --> 02:43:42,730
field , you know , some of this stuff 

4231
02:43:42,730 --> 02:43:44,889
in my judgment , and , you know , I 

4232
02:43:44,889 --> 02:43:47,167
know others might have another opinion , 

4233
02:43:47,209 --> 02:43:49,629
some of this stuff we either don&#39;t need 

4234
02:43:49,809 --> 02:43:52,031
or it&#39;s not going to work . Thank you , 

4235
02:43:52,031 --> 02:43:54,253
Mr . Chairman . Serge Kelly , your time 

4236
02:43:54,253 --> 02:43:56,253
has expired . Let me just say , You 

4237
02:43:56,253 --> 02:43:58,365
have a great deal of expertise in the 

4238
02:43:58,365 --> 02:44:00,309
area of space and , and we do look 

4239
02:44:00,309 --> 02:44:02,669
forward to , uh , your contribution as 

4240
02:44:02,669 --> 02:44:05,320
we mark up , uh , further legislation . 

4241
02:44:05,639 --> 02:44:07,750
Senator Blumenthal , I understand you 

4242
02:44:07,750 --> 02:44:10,459
have a follow-up question . Uh , yes . 

4243
02:44:11,400 --> 02:44:13,511
Uh , first of all , I want to thank , 

4244
02:44:13,511 --> 02:44:16,549
uh . You , Mr . Secretary , for your 

4245
02:44:16,549 --> 02:44:19,139
support for the Major Richard Starr Act , 

4246
02:44:19,190 --> 02:44:21,870
which uh I think is tremendously 

4247
02:44:21,870 --> 02:44:24,400
significant . Uh , I&#39;m committed to 

4248
02:44:24,400 --> 02:44:26,511
getting it done as soon as possible . 

4249
02:44:27,349 --> 02:44:30,339
At least before Veterans Day , and I 

4250
02:44:30,440 --> 02:44:32,051
look forward to your help in 

4251
02:44:32,051 --> 02:44:34,280
accomplishing that goal , but I want to 

4252
02:44:34,280 --> 02:44:36,391
thank you for your support . I&#39;m sure 

4253
02:44:36,391 --> 02:44:39,809
the veterans of America . are grateful 

4254
02:44:39,809 --> 02:44:43,179
for the prospective victory there . Um . 

4255
02:44:44,900 --> 02:44:47,067
I&#39;ve talked to many of the combatant . 

4256
02:44:47,790 --> 02:44:51,200
Commanders About lessons learned from 

4257
02:44:51,200 --> 02:44:54,629
Ukraine . And uh . 

4258
02:44:55,820 --> 02:44:58,589
I think that there is unanimity on the 

4259
02:44:58,589 --> 02:45:01,549
point that there is a lot to be learned . 

4260
02:45:02,860 --> 02:45:05,179
Not only about what the Russians are 

4261
02:45:05,179 --> 02:45:07,123
doing , but what other adversaries 

4262
02:45:07,123 --> 02:45:09,200
could do as well . General Kaine , 

4263
02:45:09,700 --> 02:45:12,459
Chairman Kaine , um , Would you agree 

4264
02:45:12,459 --> 02:45:14,515
that there are lessons to be learned 

4265
02:45:14,515 --> 02:45:17,910
from Ukraine ? Uh , you bet , you bet , 

4266
02:45:18,030 --> 02:45:20,141
Senator , and there&#39;s lessons learned 

4267
02:45:20,141 --> 02:45:22,363
from everywhere , and that&#39;s really the 

4268
02:45:22,363 --> 02:45:24,586
culture of our joint force right now is 

4269
02:45:24,586 --> 02:45:26,641
to make sure that across the globe , 

4270
02:45:26,641 --> 02:45:28,974
anytime we&#39;re in contact with the enemy , 

4271
02:45:28,974 --> 02:45:31,086
we&#39;re going back and determining what 

4272
02:45:31,086 --> 02:45:33,363
we can learn from there . But , um , I , 

4273
02:45:33,363 --> 02:45:35,474
you know , a big one , if , if you&#39;ll 

4274
02:45:35,474 --> 02:45:37,697
allow me , a big one is , is , uh , You 

4275
02:45:37,697 --> 02:45:39,780
know , mass and , and simultaneity , 

4276
02:45:39,860 --> 02:45:41,804
which is something the secretary&#39;s 

4277
02:45:41,804 --> 02:45:44,027
taken a strong role in making sure that 

4278
02:45:44,027 --> 02:45:46,138
we&#39;re doing that through , uh , drone 

4279
02:45:46,138 --> 02:45:48,360
evaluations and things like that moving 

4280
02:45:48,360 --> 02:45:52,330
forward . Following up on a question 

4281
02:45:52,330 --> 02:45:55,379
that I asked earlier , my last question , 

4282
02:45:55,759 --> 02:45:58,000
er , the president said yesterday that 

4283
02:45:58,000 --> 02:46:01,179
his view is after his conversation with 

4284
02:46:01,599 --> 02:46:04,480
Vladimir Putin , that Ukraine has been 

4285
02:46:04,480 --> 02:46:08,129
quote militarily defeated . In 

4286
02:46:08,129 --> 02:46:10,910
your Professional judgment . Has 

4287
02:46:10,910 --> 02:46:13,610
Ukraine been militarily defeated , Sir , 

4288
02:46:13,669 --> 02:46:15,929
I haven&#39;t seen the president&#39;s quote , 

4289
02:46:16,070 --> 02:46:18,110
but you know , I&#39;ll go back to 

4290
02:46:18,110 --> 02:46:20,660
something I started with and That&#39;s the 

4291
02:46:20,660 --> 02:46:24,389
important importance of me maintaining 

4292
02:46:24,389 --> 02:46:27,440
trust with a variety of people , and 

4293
02:46:27,459 --> 02:46:30,259
you know , a president will make a wide 

4294
02:46:30,259 --> 02:46:32,230
range of , of comments and 

4295
02:46:32,230 --> 02:46:34,174
considerations as the commander in 

4296
02:46:34,174 --> 02:46:36,286
chief . You don&#39;t have to go too much 

4297
02:46:36,286 --> 02:46:38,397
farther . I understand the point that 

4298
02:46:38,397 --> 02:46:38,339
you&#39;re making . Thank you . I 

4299
02:46:38,339 --> 02:46:41,429
appreciate it , Senator . In my view , 

4300
02:46:42,040 --> 02:46:44,290
Ukraine has not only not been 

4301
02:46:44,290 --> 02:46:46,290
militarily defeated , but the point 

4302
02:46:46,290 --> 02:46:48,401
that I was trying to make in the last 

4303
02:46:48,401 --> 02:46:51,809
exchange with the secretary , there&#39;s a 

4304
02:46:51,809 --> 02:46:54,610
false narrative . Based on my last 

4305
02:46:54,610 --> 02:46:57,559
visit to Ukraine . Which was my 9th , 

4306
02:46:57,759 --> 02:47:00,620
my conversation not only with President 

4307
02:47:00,839 --> 02:47:04,459
Zelensky , but with our own military 

4308
02:47:04,639 --> 02:47:07,040
on the ground as well as our 

4309
02:47:07,040 --> 02:47:09,059
intelligence community . In fact , 

4310
02:47:11,000 --> 02:47:13,167
Ukraine arguably is winning . There is 

4311
02:47:13,167 --> 02:47:15,500
this false narrative . Russia&#39;s winning . 

4312
02:47:15,500 --> 02:47:17,667
Putin wants that false narrative to be 

4313
02:47:17,667 --> 02:47:19,500
our official narrative . I&#39;m not 

4314
02:47:19,500 --> 02:47:21,611
putting words in your mouth , and you 

4315
02:47:21,611 --> 02:47:23,667
don&#39;t have to respond . I understand 

4316
02:47:23,667 --> 02:47:25,778
your reasons for not responding , but 

4317
02:47:25,778 --> 02:47:27,944
the American people should know . That 

4318
02:47:27,944 --> 02:47:30,056
the President of the United States is 

4319
02:47:30,056 --> 02:47:32,179
undermining our security because 

4320
02:47:32,179 --> 02:47:35,059
Ukraine is holding the line against 

4321
02:47:35,059 --> 02:47:38,969
Vladimir Putin , who will keep Going 

4322
02:47:39,549 --> 02:47:41,716
against Moldova , which I also visited 

4323
02:47:41,716 --> 02:47:44,629
on my last trip , against our NATO 

4324
02:47:44,629 --> 02:47:46,296
allies , and we still have an 

4325
02:47:46,296 --> 02:47:49,709
obligation under Article 5 to come to 

4326
02:47:49,709 --> 02:47:53,169
their defense just as they did . 

4327
02:47:54,549 --> 02:47:56,780
After 9/11 , as King Charles so 

4328
02:47:57,700 --> 02:48:01,700
eloquently reminded us , and my view is , 

4329
02:48:01,830 --> 02:48:04,469
and this observation is hardly novel , 

4330
02:48:04,860 --> 02:48:07,082
that China is watching what we&#39;re doing 

4331
02:48:07,082 --> 02:48:10,830
in Ukraine . Would you agree ? Sir , 

4332
02:48:10,870 --> 02:48:12,709
I&#39;d agree that China&#39;s watching 

4333
02:48:12,709 --> 02:48:15,589
everywhere , um , and carefully 

4334
02:48:15,589 --> 02:48:17,811
thinking about what their force posture 

4335
02:48:17,811 --> 02:48:20,070
and approach will be , and , uh , I 

4336
02:48:20,070 --> 02:48:23,059
think they&#39;re learning a variety of 

4337
02:48:23,059 --> 02:48:25,349
things to include the tenacity and grit 

4338
02:48:25,349 --> 02:48:27,509
of the joint force around the things 

4339
02:48:27,509 --> 02:48:29,676
that we&#39;ve been ordered to do over the 

4340
02:48:29,676 --> 02:48:32,509
last year . But if they see weakness in 

4341
02:48:32,509 --> 02:48:35,429
our response to Russia and Ukraine , 

4342
02:48:35,870 --> 02:48:39,599
that will affect . The deterrence of 

4343
02:48:39,599 --> 02:48:43,360
their possibly Moving against 

4344
02:48:43,549 --> 02:48:47,320
one of our allies or partners in the 

4345
02:48:47,320 --> 02:48:49,653
Far East . Let me , uh , finally ask Mr . 

4346
02:48:49,653 --> 02:48:53,440
Hurst , um , your estimate of $25 

4347
02:48:53,440 --> 02:48:56,259
billion would you share with us ? What 

4348
02:48:56,259 --> 02:49:00,169
that estimate is based on . Yeah , 

4349
02:49:00,269 --> 02:49:02,491
we , we can work to get you a product , 

4350
02:49:02,491 --> 02:49:05,099
the details if you&#39;d like . And finally , 

4351
02:49:05,169 --> 02:49:07,391
Mr . Secretary , is there going to be a 

4352
02:49:07,391 --> 02:49:11,349
report on The bombing of the school in 

4353
02:49:11,349 --> 02:49:14,110
the first day or so of the war . I know 

4354
02:49:14,110 --> 02:49:16,332
you were asked about it yesterday . I&#39;m 

4355
02:49:16,332 --> 02:49:19,240
wondering whether you have a Uh , more 

4356
02:49:19,240 --> 02:49:21,296
detailed response that you can share 

4357
02:49:21,296 --> 02:49:23,480
with us . As I&#39;ve said , that&#39;s under 

4358
02:49:23,480 --> 02:49:25,313
investigation at 156 . A general 

4359
02:49:25,313 --> 02:49:27,202
officer from outside the chain of 

4360
02:49:27,202 --> 02:49:29,313
command has been reviewing it , and , 

4361
02:49:29,313 --> 02:49:31,424
uh , it&#39;s still within the parameters 

4362
02:49:31,424 --> 02:49:33,591
of the investigation . Will there be a 

4363
02:49:33,591 --> 02:49:35,647
preliminary report ? In the next few 

4364
02:49:35,647 --> 02:49:37,924
weeks , or do you have a time estimate ? 

4365
02:49:38,990 --> 02:49:41,157
I don&#39;t have a time estimate for you , 

4366
02:49:41,157 --> 02:49:43,490
but it , it , uh , it , it will be , it , 

4367
02:49:43,490 --> 02:49:45,712
it&#39;s right now within the parameters of 

4368
02:49:45,712 --> 02:49:47,879
the length of time that normally these 

4369
02:49:47,879 --> 02:49:50,046
investigations take . I&#39;m , I&#39;m asking 

4370
02:49:50,046 --> 02:49:51,934
because in your final response to 

4371
02:49:51,934 --> 02:49:54,219
Senator Gillibrand , you said that 

4372
02:49:54,740 --> 02:49:57,160
great care is taken to avoid civilian 

4373
02:49:57,799 --> 02:50:00,519
casualties and it would be profoundly 

4374
02:50:00,519 --> 02:50:02,575
significant if that report were made 

4375
02:50:02,575 --> 02:50:05,080
available in a timely way to show , in 

4376
02:50:05,080 --> 02:50:07,250
fact , the commitment to . Avoiding 

4377
02:50:07,250 --> 02:50:09,083
civilian casualties and learning 

4378
02:50:09,083 --> 02:50:11,830
lessons from the mistake made there . 

4379
02:50:12,410 --> 02:50:14,521
Thank you , Senator Blumenthal . Um , 

4380
02:50:14,521 --> 02:50:16,577
this concludes today&#39;s hearing . I&#39;d 

4381
02:50:16,577 --> 02:50:18,688
like to thank our witnesses for their 

4382
02:50:18,688 --> 02:50:20,632
testimony . For the information of 

4383
02:50:20,632 --> 02:50:22,577
members . Questions for the record 

4384
02:50:22,577 --> 02:50:24,743
would be due to the committee within 2 

4385
02:50:24,743 --> 02:50:26,910
business days of the conclusion of the 

4386
02:50:26,910 --> 02:50:26,809
hearing . We are adjourned .