1 00:00:00,140 --> 00:00:02,600 virtually once you start speaking 2 00:00:02,780 --> 00:00:04,724 there's a slight delay before your 3 00:00:04,724 --> 00:00:07,370 displayed on the main screen speak into 4 00:00:07,370 --> 00:00:10,220 the microphone because it will activate 5 00:00:10,220 --> 00:00:12,480 the camera displaying the speaker on 6 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,810 the main screen . Do not stop your 7 00:00:14,810 --> 00:00:16,960 remarks . If you're not immediately 8 00:00:16,970 --> 00:00:19,420 seeing the screen switch . If the 9 00:00:19,420 --> 00:00:22,180 screen does not change after several 10 00:00:22,180 --> 00:00:24,500 seconds , please make sure you are not 11 00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:27,820 muted to minimize background noise and 12 00:00:27,820 --> 00:00:31,140 ensure correct speaker is being heard 13 00:00:31,150 --> 00:00:34,100 and displayed . We ask that you remain 14 00:00:34,110 --> 00:00:36,250 on mute unless you have sought 15 00:00:36,260 --> 00:00:38,390 recognition and I will call on you or 16 00:00:38,390 --> 00:00:40,840 if you need to seek recognition . Uh 17 00:00:40,850 --> 00:00:44,380 please do so . Um myself for a staff 18 00:00:44,380 --> 00:00:46,440 designee may mute the participants 19 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:48,329 microphone when they're not under 20 00:00:48,329 --> 00:00:50,384 recognition that there's inadvertent 21 00:00:50,384 --> 00:00:52,420 background noise . Members who are 22 00:00:52,420 --> 00:00:54,420 virtual though I want to remind you 23 00:00:54,420 --> 00:00:56,642 that you are responsible for muting and 24 00:00:56,642 --> 00:00:58,698 UNM muting yourself unless we have a 25 00:00:58,698 --> 00:01:02,180 technical issue . If I notice when 26 00:01:02,180 --> 00:01:03,902 you're recognized and having a 27 00:01:03,902 --> 00:01:05,847 technical issue and you have not a 28 00:01:05,847 --> 00:01:08,170 muted yourself , I will ask the staff 29 00:01:08,170 --> 00:01:10,030 to send you a request to unmute 30 00:01:10,030 --> 00:01:12,600 yourself . Please accept the request so 31 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:15,290 that you are no longer muted . And 32 00:01:15,290 --> 00:01:19,160 finally , house rules would require 33 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,382 me to remind you that we have set up an 34 00:01:21,382 --> 00:01:23,604 email address in which members can send 35 00:01:23,604 --> 00:01:25,827 anything they wish to submit in writing 36 00:01:25,827 --> 00:01:28,040 to any of our hearings . That email 37 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,790 address has been provided in advance to 38 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:34,140 your staff this morning subcommittee 39 00:01:34,140 --> 00:01:36,140 Will we received testimony from the 40 00:01:36,140 --> 00:01:38,150 honorable Lloyd Austin Secretary of 41 00:01:38,150 --> 00:01:40,730 Defense General Mark Milley , Chairman 42 00:01:40,730 --> 00:01:43,320 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to 43 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:45,590 help answer any extremely technical 44 00:01:45,590 --> 00:01:47,770 questions . We are joined today by 45 00:01:47,770 --> 00:01:50,610 Under Secretary Mike McCord Controller . 46 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,450 Gentlemen , thank you for participating 47 00:01:53,460 --> 00:01:55,682 and I welcome you're welcome you to our 48 00:01:55,682 --> 00:01:58,830 subcommittee . The Biden administration 49 00:01:58,830 --> 00:02:01,440 released its fiscal year 2023 budget 50 00:02:01,450 --> 00:02:04,190 request in March . As always , this 51 00:02:04,190 --> 00:02:06,246 subcommittee will have an aggressive 52 00:02:06,246 --> 00:02:08,412 schedule to review the request to make 53 00:02:08,412 --> 00:02:10,610 adjustments and pass the bill out of 54 00:02:10,610 --> 00:02:14,030 committee in June . Our goal will be to 55 00:02:14,030 --> 00:02:16,252 go to the floor with the appropriations 56 00:02:16,252 --> 00:02:18,460 bill in july and to get them to the 57 00:02:18,460 --> 00:02:20,980 president's desk by october for his 58 00:02:20,980 --> 00:02:23,810 signature . We both know that speed is 59 00:02:23,810 --> 00:02:25,810 of the essence because both here at 60 00:02:25,810 --> 00:02:28,130 home and around the world , democracy 61 00:02:28,130 --> 00:02:30,460 and democratic values are under threat . 62 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,262 Congress must make every effort to pass 63 00:02:33,262 --> 00:02:36,310 these appropriations bills on time for 64 00:02:36,310 --> 00:02:38,810 fiscal year 2023 the president has 65 00:02:38,810 --> 00:02:41,770 proposed Seven excuse me , 66 00:02:41,780 --> 00:02:43,490 $762 billion 67 00:02:43,490 --> 00:02:47,690 $33 68 00:02:47,690 --> 00:02:51,540 billion 4.6% increase 69 00:02:51,540 --> 00:02:53,596 over what was enacted in fiscal year 70 00:02:53,596 --> 00:02:57,330 2022 . Make no mistake . We 71 00:02:57,330 --> 00:02:59,274 will ensure that the Department of 72 00:02:59,274 --> 00:03:01,720 Defense has the resources it needs to 73 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,070 protect our country . But this top line 74 00:03:05,070 --> 00:03:07,237 number , when you put in perspective , 75 00:03:07,740 --> 00:03:09,851 Let's think about it for a minute and 76 00:03:09,851 --> 00:03:11,962 2015 , when we were still fighting in 77 00:03:11,962 --> 00:03:14,850 Afghanistan , the department received 78 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:19,140 $5.60 billion . That's an increase of 79 00:03:19,140 --> 00:03:21,670 spending over $200 billion dollars in 80 00:03:21,670 --> 00:03:24,350 just eight years . And yes , the world 81 00:03:24,350 --> 00:03:26,517 has changed and has changed rapidly in 82 00:03:26,517 --> 00:03:29,060 recent years and we've learned a lot . 83 00:03:29,540 --> 00:03:31,651 We've learned from the war in Ukraine 84 00:03:31,651 --> 00:03:33,707 that it's not only important that we 85 00:03:33,707 --> 00:03:36,530 have strong military deterrence , but 86 00:03:36,530 --> 00:03:39,470 we also must have a robust diplomatic 87 00:03:39,470 --> 00:03:41,830 efforts to rally the world in 88 00:03:41,830 --> 00:03:44,730 opposition to authoritarianism . We 89 00:03:44,730 --> 00:03:48,710 must both ensure that we have both in 90 00:03:48,710 --> 00:03:50,988 order to protect our national security . 91 00:03:51,940 --> 00:03:54,162 It is our responsibility as Congress to 92 00:03:54,162 --> 00:03:56,107 strike the correct balance between 93 00:03:56,107 --> 00:03:58,450 defense , diplomacy and development . 94 00:03:58,940 --> 00:04:00,940 The war in Ukraine has also made it 95 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:02,940 clear that the foundational task of 96 00:04:02,940 --> 00:04:05,630 properly maintaining training and 97 00:04:05,630 --> 00:04:08,030 equipping a modern military is 98 00:04:08,030 --> 00:04:11,870 essential to our success In the 21st 99 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:13,900 century conflicts . The poor 100 00:04:13,900 --> 00:04:16,010 performance in Russia and their 101 00:04:16,010 --> 00:04:18,210 military has high delighted this very 102 00:04:18,210 --> 00:04:22,100 fact . Taking care of our personnel , 103 00:04:22,370 --> 00:04:24,680 their families , providing our service 104 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,013 members with the best training possible , 105 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,590 ensuring logistics challenges can be 106 00:04:29,590 --> 00:04:32,330 overcome and given decision makers the 107 00:04:32,330 --> 00:04:35,060 best intelligence . These are all vital 108 00:04:35,060 --> 00:04:37,004 components of making sure that our 109 00:04:37,004 --> 00:04:39,660 military can win in any conflict . 110 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:43,080 Procurement , modernization , of course 111 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,302 are important . But we will always want 112 00:04:45,302 --> 00:04:48,060 to have the edge over our enemy . 113 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,070 It doesn't matter if we have 355 114 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,050 Navy ships with the most advanced 115 00:04:55,050 --> 00:04:57,680 weapons . If we cannot perform basic 116 00:04:57,690 --> 00:04:59,579 maintenance and keep the ships in 117 00:04:59,579 --> 00:05:02,180 service investments in personnel and 118 00:05:02,180 --> 00:05:04,236 operation and maintenance and health 119 00:05:04,236 --> 00:05:06,650 don't always drive the defense budget 120 00:05:06,660 --> 00:05:09,150 debates , But last year they made up at 121 00:05:09,150 --> 00:05:12,930 63% , of our 122 00:05:12,940 --> 00:05:15,230 bill . We all know that there's more 123 00:05:15,230 --> 00:05:17,230 and more critical investment in the 124 00:05:17,230 --> 00:05:19,119 life and health and safety of our 125 00:05:19,119 --> 00:05:21,810 service members members have been 126 00:05:21,810 --> 00:05:24,360 particularly alarmed with recent events 127 00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:27,210 at the USS George Washington where 128 00:05:27,210 --> 00:05:29,043 there have been several deaths , 129 00:05:29,043 --> 00:05:31,310 including investigations into suicide . 130 00:05:31,940 --> 00:05:34,300 The Navy has launched its investigation 131 00:05:34,490 --> 00:05:36,268 into what led to these terrible 132 00:05:36,268 --> 00:05:38,580 tragedies . This subcommittee stands 133 00:05:38,580 --> 00:05:40,302 ready to work with you for any 134 00:05:40,302 --> 00:05:42,358 additional funding for mental health 135 00:05:42,358 --> 00:05:44,410 services and any suicide prevention 136 00:05:44,410 --> 00:05:46,466 programs that you should want . More 137 00:05:46,650 --> 00:05:49,450 resources for . We look forward to 138 00:05:49,450 --> 00:05:51,650 hearing from our witnesses how the 139 00:05:51,650 --> 00:05:54,470 budget requests prioritizes investments 140 00:05:54,670 --> 00:05:57,510 in our people , which are the backbone 141 00:05:57,520 --> 00:05:59,900 of our force . I want to commend the 142 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:03,170 department for proposing a $3.1 billion 143 00:06:03,170 --> 00:06:05,281 dollars in this budget for increasing 144 00:06:05,281 --> 00:06:07,450 resiliency , at installations for 145 00:06:07,460 --> 00:06:09,770 energy efficiency , for its research 146 00:06:09,770 --> 00:06:12,710 and development into clean energy as 147 00:06:12,710 --> 00:06:15,520 the largest consumer of fuel in the 148 00:06:15,530 --> 00:06:17,530 federal government . The department 149 00:06:17,530 --> 00:06:19,252 needs to do more to reduce its 150 00:06:19,252 --> 00:06:21,530 emissions , lower the cost of energy 151 00:06:21,540 --> 00:06:23,651 and to fight climate change . And our 152 00:06:23,651 --> 00:06:25,818 subcommittee wants to work with you on 153 00:06:25,818 --> 00:06:29,270 these shared goals and we all know that 154 00:06:29,270 --> 00:06:31,930 climate change and addressing it is 155 00:06:31,930 --> 00:06:34,250 part of our national security agenda . 156 00:06:35,140 --> 00:06:37,380 Finally , several of us have had the 157 00:06:37,380 --> 00:06:40,060 opportunity to travel to Eastern europe 158 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:42,607 in the last month to see firsthand the 159 00:06:42,607 --> 00:06:45,270 importance of working with the soldiers 160 00:06:45,270 --> 00:06:47,326 and sailors and marines , airmen and 161 00:06:47,326 --> 00:06:49,570 guards who are all doing whatever they 162 00:06:49,570 --> 00:06:52,470 can to help Ukraine defend itself and 163 00:06:52,470 --> 00:06:55,000 promote uh security throughout the 164 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,600 region . We look forward to hearing how 165 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,090 this budget request and the immediate 166 00:07:00,090 --> 00:07:02,257 threat of Russian aggression in europe 167 00:07:02,257 --> 00:07:04,257 while making investments and future 168 00:07:04,257 --> 00:07:06,660 capabilities in the indo pacific region . 169 00:07:07,340 --> 00:07:09,451 And as you know , we sent over to the 170 00:07:09,451 --> 00:07:11,800 Senate the supplemental support for 171 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,250 Ukraine last night . So Secretary 172 00:07:14,250 --> 00:07:16,590 Austin General Milley , undersecretary 173 00:07:16,590 --> 00:07:18,701 of record . I want to thank you again 174 00:07:18,701 --> 00:07:20,701 for your service and the service of 175 00:07:20,701 --> 00:07:22,757 your families to our country and for 176 00:07:22,757 --> 00:07:24,479 being here ready to answer any 177 00:07:24,479 --> 00:07:26,701 questions we might have . But before we 178 00:07:26,701 --> 00:07:28,812 hear your testimony sir , I'd like to 179 00:07:28,812 --> 00:07:30,812 recognize our distinguished ranking 180 00:07:30,812 --> 00:07:32,701 member Mr calvert for any opening 181 00:07:32,701 --> 00:07:34,701 comments he would have Mr calvert . 182 00:07:34,701 --> 00:07:37,034 Thank you . Thank you . Chairman column . 183 00:07:37,034 --> 00:07:38,868 I want to thank Secretary Austin 184 00:07:38,868 --> 00:07:41,034 General Milley for being here today to 185 00:07:41,034 --> 00:07:43,034 testify . Department defense budget 186 00:07:43,034 --> 00:07:45,201 request for fiscal year 19 2023 . So I 187 00:07:45,201 --> 00:07:47,146 look forward to hearing about your 188 00:07:47,146 --> 00:07:49,368 priorities for the coming fiscal year . 189 00:07:49,368 --> 00:07:51,423 I must note my disappointment in the 190 00:07:51,423 --> 00:07:53,257 request , both in the amount and 191 00:07:53,257 --> 00:07:55,146 substance as I said last year , I 192 00:07:55,146 --> 00:07:57,312 believe it's critical that we fund the 193 00:07:57,312 --> 00:07:59,479 D . O . D . At 3 to 5% above inflation 194 00:07:59,479 --> 00:08:01,090 to meet our national defense 195 00:08:01,090 --> 00:08:04,410 requirements . The 4.6 requested for Fy 196 00:08:04,410 --> 00:08:07,310 23 would be sufficient historic levels 197 00:08:07,310 --> 00:08:09,990 but do To this administration spending 198 00:08:09,990 --> 00:08:12,101 inflation is soaring at rates we have 199 00:08:12,101 --> 00:08:14,750 not seen since 1981 . Instead of 200 00:08:14,750 --> 00:08:17,083 accounting for these economic realities . 201 00:08:17,083 --> 00:08:19,306 The D . O . D . Wrongfully budgeted for 202 00:08:19,306 --> 00:08:21,800 a 2.2% inflation rate in a time where 203 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,856 we must increase defense spending to 204 00:08:23,856 --> 00:08:26,660 keep pace with peer adversaries . This 205 00:08:26,660 --> 00:08:28,882 administration is effectively proposing 206 00:08:28,882 --> 00:08:30,827 to cut the Department of Defense . 207 00:08:30,827 --> 00:08:32,882 America must continue to enforce the 208 00:08:32,882 --> 00:08:34,993 rules based order that we lead in the 209 00:08:34,993 --> 00:08:36,827 enduring global security that we 210 00:08:36,830 --> 00:08:38,700 involved in . As we have seen in 211 00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:40,922 Ukraine . The world looks to the United 212 00:08:40,922 --> 00:08:42,978 States to stand by democratic allies 213 00:08:42,978 --> 00:08:45,200 around the world . This comes at a cost 214 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,130 but doing so is in our own national 215 00:08:48,130 --> 00:08:50,400 security interest . Republicans in the 216 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,660 house and the Senate are united Just as 217 00:08:52,660 --> 00:08:55,220 we were in fiscal year 22 to ensure 218 00:08:55,220 --> 00:08:57,276 that our war fighters have the tools 219 00:08:57,276 --> 00:09:00,060 they need to be ready , modernized and 220 00:09:00,060 --> 00:09:02,370 lethal . It's my hope that the majority 221 00:09:02,370 --> 00:09:05,150 follows that fiscal year 2022 222 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,280 conference framework that provided 223 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,391 sufficient funding to D . O . D . And 224 00:09:09,391 --> 00:09:11,730 that we pass our bills on time this 225 00:09:11,730 --> 00:09:14,200 year . Along with my disappointment in 226 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,640 the top line funding level . I also 227 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,862 have serious concerns about some of the 228 00:09:18,862 --> 00:09:21,330 proposals by the administration . First , 229 00:09:21,610 --> 00:09:23,777 many of the services are continuing to 230 00:09:23,777 --> 00:09:27,000 pursue a divest to invest strategy . In 231 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:29,056 some cases like the Marine Corps , I 232 00:09:29,056 --> 00:09:31,222 think this is appropriate and others , 233 00:09:31,222 --> 00:09:33,389 I fear some proposals are shortsighted 234 00:09:33,389 --> 00:09:35,600 and leave glaring capability gaps . We 235 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:37,680 cannot simply hope that the programs 236 00:09:37,680 --> 00:09:40,013 will meet the needs of the war fighters , 237 00:09:40,140 --> 00:09:43,370 china Russia , Iran North Korea non 238 00:09:43,370 --> 00:09:45,680 state actors are continuing to invest 239 00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:47,569 in capabilities that threaten our 240 00:09:47,569 --> 00:09:50,780 security as well of our allies . I fail 241 00:09:50,780 --> 00:09:53,500 to understand How Decommissioning 24 242 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:55,540 Navy ships divesting hundreds of 243 00:09:55,540 --> 00:09:57,530 aircraft helps us maintain our 244 00:09:57,530 --> 00:09:59,760 strategic combat advantage over these 245 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,550 threats . Budget . Prioritization must 246 00:10:02,560 --> 00:10:05,040 of course occur . But we must be ready 247 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,262 for a variety of conflicts to break out 248 00:10:07,340 --> 00:10:09,460 in multiple warfighting domains . 249 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,407 Though I expect much of the discussion 250 00:10:12,407 --> 00:10:14,629 today to be focused on the situation in 251 00:10:14,629 --> 00:10:16,573 Ukraine . I do not want us to lose 252 00:10:16,573 --> 00:10:18,290 sight on what happened in the 253 00:10:18,290 --> 00:10:20,970 withdrawal from Afghanistan . Not only 254 00:10:20,970 --> 00:10:23,137 did this decision weaken our strategic 255 00:10:23,137 --> 00:10:25,248 footprint in the region , It directly 256 00:10:25,248 --> 00:10:27,590 led to the deaths of 13 US service 257 00:10:27,590 --> 00:10:29,790 members . I look forward to hearing 258 00:10:29,790 --> 00:10:31,623 from you about what our enduring 259 00:10:31,623 --> 00:10:34,040 requirements in this region are Along 260 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:35,929 with what capability we should be 261 00:10:35,929 --> 00:10:38,750 focused on in FY 23 appropriation bills . 262 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,518 Again , thank you for being here today . 263 00:10:41,518 --> 00:10:43,740 Look forward to taking time to question 264 00:10:43,740 --> 00:10:46,680 you . And are you back my time . Thank 265 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:49,280 you . Mr calvert . The full committee 266 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:52,060 chairwoman , MS Dolora will be joining 267 00:10:52,060 --> 00:10:54,440 us later . But now it's my pleasure to 268 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,329 recognize the former chair of the 269 00:10:56,329 --> 00:10:59,630 subcommittee and uh now the full uh 270 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,807 ranking member of the committee , Miss 271 00:11:01,807 --> 00:11:05,390 Granger . Thank you . Chair Chairman 272 00:11:05,390 --> 00:11:07,723 McCaul . Um I appreciate that very much . 273 00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:11,120 I'm sorry and I'd like to thank the 274 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,460 witnesses for appearing before us today . 275 00:11:14,140 --> 00:11:15,751 The past several months have 276 00:11:15,751 --> 00:11:17,640 highlighted how important is that 277 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:19,590 Congress prioritizes our national 278 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:21,529 security and adequately funds are 279 00:11:21,529 --> 00:11:24,850 military Russia's unprovoked , illegal 280 00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:27,610 and appalling invasion of Ukraine must 281 00:11:27,610 --> 00:11:29,780 continue to be met with strong 282 00:11:29,780 --> 00:11:31,891 resistance from the United States and 283 00:11:31,891 --> 00:11:34,600 our allies adversaries like China and 284 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:36,750 Iran and north Korea must know that 285 00:11:36,750 --> 00:11:38,972 America will stand firm with its allies 286 00:11:38,972 --> 00:11:41,030 and we have the ability to win any 287 00:11:41,030 --> 00:11:44,290 fights . Well , I command thee commend 288 00:11:44,290 --> 00:11:46,457 the department's swift response to the 289 00:11:46,457 --> 00:11:48,950 ongoing conflict in Ukraine . I'm 290 00:11:48,950 --> 00:11:51,172 disappointed by the department's fiscal 291 00:11:51,172 --> 00:11:54,620 year 2023 budget request , inflation 292 00:11:54,620 --> 00:11:56,620 continues to increase costs for all 293 00:11:56,620 --> 00:11:58,890 sections sectors and the defense 294 00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:01,320 industry is not immune to its effects 295 00:12:01,330 --> 00:12:03,970 despite increased aggression from our 296 00:12:03,980 --> 00:12:06,490 adversaries . And once again the biden 297 00:12:06,490 --> 00:12:08,323 administration is short changing 298 00:12:08,323 --> 00:12:10,550 defense . I hope we can reach a 299 00:12:10,550 --> 00:12:13,350 bipartisan consensus similar to the one 300 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,416 that led to the final passage of the 301 00:12:15,416 --> 00:12:19,410 fiscal year 2022 appropriation bills . 302 00:12:19,420 --> 00:12:21,910 This includes robust defense spending 303 00:12:21,910 --> 00:12:24,220 at a rate much higher than requested by 304 00:12:24,220 --> 00:12:26,940 the administration . Congress must 305 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:28,933 ensure that our men and women in 306 00:12:28,933 --> 00:12:30,656 uniform have the tools and the 307 00:12:30,656 --> 00:12:32,710 resources to meet and defeat our 308 00:12:32,710 --> 00:12:35,120 enemies . Now . It's not the time to 309 00:12:35,130 --> 00:12:37,500 under fund the military and the clothes . 310 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:39,870 I think each of you for your service . 311 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:41,824 I look forward to hearing from you 312 00:12:41,824 --> 00:12:43,824 today and thank you madam Chair . I 313 00:12:43,824 --> 00:12:45,824 yield back . Thank you Mr Granger . 314 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,260 Gentlemen . Your for Britain testimony 315 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,007 will be placed on the record . Members 316 00:12:52,007 --> 00:12:54,173 have lots of questions as you can well 317 00:12:54,173 --> 00:12:57,020 imagine so feel free to give summarized 318 00:12:57,020 --> 00:12:59,930 form of your statements . Secretary 319 00:12:59,930 --> 00:13:01,660 Austin the floor is yours . 320 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,090 Well . Good morning chairman column . 321 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,560 Ranking member calvert , ranking member 322 00:13:10,560 --> 00:13:12,449 granger and all the distinguished 323 00:13:12,449 --> 00:13:14,504 members of the committee . Thank you 324 00:13:14,504 --> 00:13:16,449 for the chance to testify today in 325 00:13:16,449 --> 00:13:18,338 support of the president's budget 326 00:13:18,338 --> 00:13:20,670 request for fiscal year 2023 . It's 327 00:13:20,670 --> 00:13:22,726 great to be here with General Milley 328 00:13:22,726 --> 00:13:24,837 who has been an outstanding partner . 329 00:13:24,837 --> 00:13:26,892 I'm also pleased to be joined by our 330 00:13:26,892 --> 00:13:29,114 controller under Secretary Mike Mccurry 331 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,300 Madam chair . We're still focused on 332 00:13:32,310 --> 00:13:34,477 three key priorities at the Department 333 00:13:34,477 --> 00:13:36,750 of Defense , defending our nation , 334 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,107 taking care of our people and 335 00:13:39,107 --> 00:13:41,500 succeeding through teamwork in our 336 00:13:41,500 --> 00:13:43,880 budget request helps us meet each of 337 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,530 those priorities . Our budget request 338 00:13:46,530 --> 00:13:48,752 seeks more than $56 billion dollars for 339 00:13:48,752 --> 00:13:51,140 air power platforms and systems And 340 00:13:51,140 --> 00:13:52,973 more than $40 billion dollars to 341 00:13:52,973 --> 00:13:55,350 maintain our dominance at sea including 342 00:13:55,350 --> 00:13:58,780 buying nine more battle force ships And 343 00:13:58,780 --> 00:14:00,930 almost $13 billion dollars to support 344 00:14:00,930 --> 00:14:03,240 and modernize our combat credible land 345 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,590 forces . Our budget request also funds 346 00:14:06,590 --> 00:14:08,757 the modernization of all three legs of 347 00:14:08,757 --> 00:14:11,040 the nuclear triad to ensure that we 348 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,450 maintain a safe , secure and effective 349 00:14:13,450 --> 00:14:16,500 strategic deterrent and of course none 350 00:14:16,500 --> 00:14:18,389 of these capabilities matter much 351 00:14:18,389 --> 00:14:20,611 without our people and their families . 352 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,750 So we're seeking your support for a 4.6 353 00:14:25,140 --> 00:14:27,140 pay raise for military and civilian 354 00:14:27,140 --> 00:14:29,210 personnel and other special pay and 355 00:14:29,210 --> 00:14:33,010 benefits . We also plan to invest 356 00:14:33,010 --> 00:14:35,710 in outstanding and affordable child 357 00:14:35,710 --> 00:14:38,440 care and in the construction of on 358 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,770 based child development centers and in 359 00:14:40,770 --> 00:14:42,770 ensuring that all of our families , 360 00:14:42,770 --> 00:14:44,720 Families can always put good and 361 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,200 healthy food on the table . We're also 362 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,560 deeply focused on a terrible problem of 363 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,480 suicide in the U . S . Military . So 364 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,369 we're increasing access to mental 365 00:14:56,369 --> 00:14:58,520 health care , expanding telehealth 366 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,990 capacities and fighting the tired old 367 00:15:00,990 --> 00:15:04,160 stigmas against seeking help . And with 368 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,049 your support , I just ordered the 369 00:15:06,049 --> 00:15:08,216 establishment of an independent review 370 00:15:08,216 --> 00:15:10,660 committee to help us grapple with 371 00:15:10,660 --> 00:15:13,600 suicide to better understand it , to 372 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,700 prevent it and treat the unseen wounds 373 00:15:16,700 --> 00:15:19,380 that lead to it . At the same time , 374 00:15:19,390 --> 00:15:21,501 we're still working hard to implement 375 00:15:21,501 --> 00:15:23,680 the recommendations of the Independent 376 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:25,791 Review Commission on Sexual Assault . 377 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,351 We know that we have a long way to go 378 00:15:28,351 --> 00:15:30,490 to rid ourselves of this scourge and 379 00:15:30,490 --> 00:15:33,780 our budget requests Seeks nearly $480 380 00:15:33,790 --> 00:15:36,360 million dollars to do just that . This 381 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:38,790 is a leadership issue . And you have my 382 00:15:38,790 --> 00:15:40,901 personal commitment to keep leading . 383 00:15:41,940 --> 00:15:43,718 You're also seeing how much our 384 00:15:43,718 --> 00:15:45,718 leadership matters when it comes to 385 00:15:45,718 --> 00:15:47,940 Ukraine . And last month I convened the 386 00:15:47,940 --> 00:15:50,360 first meeting of what's now the Contact 387 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:53,220 group on Ukrainian security . It's a 388 00:15:53,220 --> 00:15:55,276 group of defense leaders from around 389 00:15:55,276 --> 00:15:57,190 the world committed to supporting 390 00:15:57,190 --> 00:15:59,301 Ukraine after Russia's unprovoked and 391 00:15:59,301 --> 00:16:02,320 unjust invasion . And it's an important 392 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,290 new way for nations of goodwill to 393 00:16:04,290 --> 00:16:07,020 intensify their efforts to help Ukraine 394 00:16:07,020 --> 00:16:09,740 better defend itself , both for today's 395 00:16:09,750 --> 00:16:11,806 urgent needs and for the long haul . 396 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:14,640 Now with the help of Congress , the 397 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,807 United States has been able to deliver 398 00:16:16,807 --> 00:16:18,918 a security assistance to Ukraine with 399 00:16:18,918 --> 00:16:21,060 unprecedented speed and resolved and 400 00:16:21,060 --> 00:16:23,116 that's made a huge difference on the 401 00:16:23,116 --> 00:16:25,850 ground and President Zelensky made that 402 00:16:25,850 --> 00:16:27,906 clear when I met with him last month 403 00:16:27,906 --> 00:16:30,128 and keith along with Secretary of State 404 00:16:30,128 --> 00:16:33,840 Blinken . Since January 2021 , The 405 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:35,396 United States has committed 406 00:16:35,396 --> 00:16:37,670 approximately $4.5 billion dollars in 407 00:16:37,670 --> 00:16:40,320 security assistance to Ukraine , which 408 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:44,300 includes $150 million President 409 00:16:44,300 --> 00:16:47,190 last Friday . Our most urgent goal 410 00:16:47,190 --> 00:16:49,357 continues to be sending the Ukrainians 411 00:16:49,357 --> 00:16:51,670 and capabilities they need most right 412 00:16:51,670 --> 00:16:54,200 now , as the war has shifted to the 413 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,010 Donbas and to the south , the coming 414 00:16:57,010 --> 00:16:59,066 weeks will be critical for Ukraine . 415 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,384 Next week we expect to exhaust the 416 00:17:02,384 --> 00:17:04,218 drawdown authority that Congress 417 00:17:04,218 --> 00:17:06,273 approved in March . So as you know , 418 00:17:06,273 --> 00:17:08,440 the president submitted a supplemental 419 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,551 budget request to Congress so that we 420 00:17:10,551 --> 00:17:12,662 can continue to meet Ukraine's urgent 421 00:17:12,662 --> 00:17:14,884 requirements without interruption . And 422 00:17:14,884 --> 00:17:16,884 I deeply appreciate the Houses vote 423 00:17:16,884 --> 00:17:18,884 yesterday to approve that request . 424 00:17:18,940 --> 00:17:22,550 With bipartisan support . And I hope 425 00:17:22,550 --> 00:17:25,270 that the Senate quickly follows . The 426 00:17:25,270 --> 00:17:27,270 supplemental will fund will provide 427 00:17:27,270 --> 00:17:29,603 funds for additional drawdown authority . 428 00:17:29,603 --> 00:17:31,826 It will also provide more resources for 429 00:17:31,826 --> 00:17:33,603 the Ukraine Security Assistance 430 00:17:33,603 --> 00:17:35,714 initiative , for critical investments 431 00:17:35,714 --> 00:17:37,881 and for covering the operational costs 432 00:17:37,881 --> 00:17:40,550 of bolstering NATO's eastern flame . I 433 00:17:40,550 --> 00:17:42,439 want to thank all of you for your 434 00:17:42,439 --> 00:17:44,439 strong leadership toward our shared 435 00:17:44,439 --> 00:17:46,740 goal of helping Ukraine defend itself 436 00:17:46,750 --> 00:17:50,480 and support NATO . Now in 437 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,647 supporting NATO . Now , let me briefly 438 00:17:52,647 --> 00:17:54,813 mention a few other major efforts that 439 00:17:54,813 --> 00:17:56,813 the departments focused on , as you 440 00:17:56,813 --> 00:17:58,536 know , the department's pacing 441 00:17:58,536 --> 00:18:00,758 challenge remains countering aggression 442 00:18:00,758 --> 00:18:02,758 from china . So this budget invests 443 00:18:02,758 --> 00:18:04,950 some $6 billion Pacific Deterrence 444 00:18:04,950 --> 00:18:07,380 initiative . And in keeping with our 445 00:18:07,390 --> 00:18:09,650 new national defense strategy we're 446 00:18:09,650 --> 00:18:11,650 going to going to enhance our force 447 00:18:11,650 --> 00:18:14,460 posture , our infrastructure , our 448 00:18:14,460 --> 00:18:16,627 presence and our readiness in the indo 449 00:18:16,627 --> 00:18:18,738 pacific including the missile defense 450 00:18:18,738 --> 00:18:20,849 of Guam . At the same time we must be 451 00:18:20,849 --> 00:18:22,980 prepared for threats that pay no heed 452 00:18:23,150 --> 00:18:25,620 to borders from pandemics to climate 453 00:18:25,620 --> 00:18:27,470 change and we must tackle the 454 00:18:27,470 --> 00:18:29,692 persistent threats posed by north Korea 455 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,670 Iran and global terrorist groups . So 456 00:18:32,670 --> 00:18:34,726 I'm proud that our budget seeks more 457 00:18:34,726 --> 00:18:37,003 than $130 billion dollars for research , 458 00:18:37,003 --> 00:18:39,180 development , testing and evaluation 459 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,607 and it's the largest R . And D request 460 00:18:41,607 --> 00:18:43,662 that this department has ever made . 461 00:18:43,662 --> 00:18:47,570 This includes $1 billion $250 462 00:18:47,570 --> 00:18:50,600 million 5G . Nearly $28 billion 463 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:54,550 $11 billion dollars to protect 464 00:18:54,550 --> 00:18:56,650 our networks and develop a cyber 465 00:18:56,650 --> 00:18:59,920 mission force Madam chair . This budget 466 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:02,570 maintains our edge but it does not take 467 00:19:02,570 --> 00:19:04,792 that edge for granted . So I asked this 468 00:19:04,792 --> 00:19:06,848 committee to support the president's 469 00:19:06,848 --> 00:19:09,070 budget and with the help of Congress we 470 00:19:09,070 --> 00:19:11,181 will continue to defend this nation . 471 00:19:11,340 --> 00:19:13,690 Take care of our people and support our 472 00:19:13,690 --> 00:19:15,900 allies and partners . Thank you and I 473 00:19:15,900 --> 00:19:18,067 look forward to your questions . Thank 474 00:19:18,067 --> 00:19:20,430 you . Mr Secretary General Milley , the 475 00:19:20,430 --> 00:19:23,630 flourish Urz german column and ranking 476 00:19:23,630 --> 00:19:25,519 member calvert and ranking member 477 00:19:25,519 --> 00:19:27,680 granger . I'm indeed privileged to be 478 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,902 here alongside the Secretary of Defense 479 00:19:29,902 --> 00:19:32,100 and Secretary McCord represent the 480 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:34,100 soldiers and sailors , the airmen , 481 00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:36,322 marines , Guardians , the United States 482 00:19:36,322 --> 00:19:38,433 Joint Force . Our troops are the best 483 00:19:38,433 --> 00:19:40,544 lead , best equipped , best trained , 484 00:19:40,544 --> 00:19:42,656 most lethal and most capable military 485 00:19:42,656 --> 00:19:44,656 force in the world . Largely due to 486 00:19:44,656 --> 00:19:46,711 your continued support alongside our 487 00:19:46,711 --> 00:19:48,933 allies and partners At any given time . 488 00:19:48,933 --> 00:19:51,350 Approximately 400,000 of us Are 489 00:19:51,350 --> 00:19:53,960 currently standing watch 155 countries 490 00:19:54,340 --> 00:19:56,720 and conducting operations every day to 491 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,390 keep americans safe . Currently , we 492 00:19:59,390 --> 00:20:01,557 are supporting our european allies and 493 00:20:01,740 --> 00:20:04,400 guarding NATO's eastern flank In the 494 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,340 face of the unnecessary war of 495 00:20:06,340 --> 00:20:09,640 aggression by Russia against the people 496 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:11,880 of Ukraine and the assault on the 497 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,250 democratic institutions and the rules 498 00:20:14,250 --> 00:20:16,250 based international order that have 499 00:20:16,250 --> 00:20:18,940 prevented great power war For the last 500 00:20:18,940 --> 00:20:22,110 78 years since the end of World War Two , 501 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,670 We are now facing two global powers 502 00:20:26,140 --> 00:20:28,610 china and Russia , each with 503 00:20:28,610 --> 00:20:30,610 significant military capabilities , 504 00:20:30,940 --> 00:20:34,520 both who intend to fundamentally change 505 00:20:34,700 --> 00:20:37,360 the current rules based order . We are 506 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:39,990 entering a world that is becoming more 507 00:20:39,990 --> 00:20:42,160 unstable and the potential for 508 00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:44,104 significant international conflict 509 00:20:44,190 --> 00:20:46,350 between great powers is increasing . 510 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,610 Not decreasing the United States 511 00:20:49,610 --> 00:20:52,300 military comprises one of the four key 512 00:20:52,300 --> 00:20:54,022 components of national power , 513 00:20:54,340 --> 00:20:56,451 diplomatic , economic , informational 514 00:20:56,451 --> 00:20:58,507 and military in order to protect the 515 00:20:58,507 --> 00:21:00,673 homeland and sustain a stable and open 516 00:21:00,673 --> 00:21:02,950 international system in coordination 517 00:21:02,950 --> 00:21:05,061 with the other elements of power . We 518 00:21:05,061 --> 00:21:07,006 constantly develop a wide range of 519 00:21:07,006 --> 00:21:09,117 military options for the president as 520 00:21:09,117 --> 00:21:10,894 Commander in chief and for this 521 00:21:10,894 --> 00:21:12,839 Congress to consider as the United 522 00:21:12,839 --> 00:21:14,894 States military . We are prepared to 523 00:21:14,894 --> 00:21:17,006 deter and if necessary , to fight and 524 00:21:17,006 --> 00:21:19,172 win against anyone who seeks to attack 525 00:21:19,172 --> 00:21:21,320 the United States , our allies or are 526 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,542 significant and vital national security 527 00:21:23,542 --> 00:21:25,764 interests . The Joint force appreciates 528 00:21:25,764 --> 00:21:27,209 the work that our elected 529 00:21:27,209 --> 00:21:29,264 representatives do to ensure that we 530 00:21:29,264 --> 00:21:31,209 have the resources needed to train 531 00:21:31,209 --> 00:21:33,376 equip and manage the force in order to 532 00:21:33,376 --> 00:21:35,431 be ready . We thank the Congress for 533 00:21:35,431 --> 00:21:37,542 increasing last year's fiscal years , 534 00:21:37,542 --> 00:21:39,598 last fiscal year's level of military 535 00:21:39,598 --> 00:21:41,598 funding And we look forward to your 536 00:21:41,598 --> 00:21:43,653 support for this year's budget . The 537 00:21:43,653 --> 00:21:45,820 joint force will deliver modernization 538 00:21:45,820 --> 00:21:47,987 and readiness for our armed forces and 539 00:21:47,987 --> 00:21:50,042 security to the people of the United 540 00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:52,370 States . At the FY 23 budget request of 541 00:21:52,370 --> 00:21:55,900 773 billion . This budget will enable 542 00:21:55,900 --> 00:21:58,011 the decisions , the modernization and 543 00:21:58,011 --> 00:22:00,122 the transformation of the joint force 544 00:22:00,122 --> 00:22:02,344 in order to set and meet the conditions 545 00:22:02,344 --> 00:22:04,567 Of the operating environment that we're 546 00:22:04,567 --> 00:22:07,190 likely to see in 2030 and beyond the so 547 00:22:07,190 --> 00:22:09,301 called change in the character of war 548 00:22:09,301 --> 00:22:11,357 that we have discussed many times in 549 00:22:11,357 --> 00:22:14,150 the past . We will work diligently to 550 00:22:14,150 --> 00:22:16,039 ensure the resources the american 551 00:22:16,039 --> 00:22:18,261 people entrust to us are spent brutally 552 00:22:18,261 --> 00:22:20,428 in the best interests of the nation in 553 00:22:20,428 --> 00:22:22,428 alignment with the national defense 554 00:22:22,428 --> 00:22:24,594 strategy . In the forthcoming national 555 00:22:24,594 --> 00:22:26,372 military strategy . This budget 556 00:22:26,372 --> 00:22:28,317 delivers a ready agile and capable 557 00:22:28,317 --> 00:22:30,539 joint force that will defend the nation 558 00:22:30,539 --> 00:22:32,539 while taking care of our people and 559 00:22:32,539 --> 00:22:34,706 working with our partners and allies . 560 00:22:34,706 --> 00:22:36,594 We are currently witnessed to the 561 00:22:36,594 --> 00:22:38,428 greatest threat to the peace and 562 00:22:38,428 --> 00:22:40,372 security of europe and perhaps the 563 00:22:40,372 --> 00:22:42,372 world In my 42 , almost 43 years of 564 00:22:42,372 --> 00:22:44,910 service in uniform , the Russian 565 00:22:44,910 --> 00:22:47,260 invasion of Ukraine is threatening to 566 00:22:47,260 --> 00:22:49,650 undermine not only european peace and 567 00:22:49,650 --> 00:22:52,110 stability but global peace and 568 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:54,380 stability . The one that my parents and 569 00:22:54,380 --> 00:22:56,690 generations of americans fought so hard 570 00:22:56,690 --> 00:22:59,180 to defend the islands of the pacific 571 00:22:59,180 --> 00:23:01,090 and the beaches of Normandy bore 572 00:23:01,090 --> 00:23:03,257 witness to the incredible tragedy that 573 00:23:03,257 --> 00:23:05,201 befalls humanity when nations seek 574 00:23:05,201 --> 00:23:07,090 power through military aggression 575 00:23:07,090 --> 00:23:09,620 across sovereign borders . Despite this 576 00:23:09,620 --> 00:23:11,842 horrific assault on the institutions of 577 00:23:11,842 --> 00:23:13,953 freedom , it is heartening to see the 578 00:23:13,953 --> 00:23:16,064 world rally and say never again . The 579 00:23:16,064 --> 00:23:18,480 specter of war in europe , your 580 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,000 military stands ready to do whatever is 581 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,360 directed in order to maintain the peace 582 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:25,527 and stability not only in the european 583 00:23:25,527 --> 00:23:27,740 continent , but a piece that ensures 584 00:23:27,750 --> 00:23:29,940 global stability and international 585 00:23:29,940 --> 00:23:32,051 order . Where all nations can prosper 586 00:23:32,051 --> 00:23:34,300 in peace . We are also prepared and 587 00:23:34,300 --> 00:23:36,133 need to sustain our capabilities 588 00:23:36,133 --> 00:23:38,244 anywhere else on the globe as well as 589 00:23:38,244 --> 00:23:40,467 our priority effort in the AsIA pacific 590 00:23:40,467 --> 00:23:42,411 region measured against our pacing 591 00:23:42,411 --> 00:23:44,522 challenge of the People's Republic of 592 00:23:44,522 --> 00:23:46,744 china and in defense of our nation . We 593 00:23:46,744 --> 00:23:48,911 must maintain competitive overmatch in 594 00:23:48,911 --> 00:23:51,189 all the domains of war , space , cyber , 595 00:23:51,189 --> 00:23:53,500 land , sea and air , the United States 596 00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:55,810 of America is at a very critical and 597 00:23:55,810 --> 00:23:58,170 historic geo strategic inflection point . 598 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,062 We need to pursue a clear eyed strategy 599 00:24:01,340 --> 00:24:03,230 of maintaining the peace to the 600 00:24:03,230 --> 00:24:05,174 unambiguous capability of strength 601 00:24:05,340 --> 00:24:08,150 relative to china and Russia . This 602 00:24:08,150 --> 00:24:10,060 requires that we simultaneously 603 00:24:10,390 --> 00:24:12,450 maintain current readiness and 604 00:24:12,450 --> 00:24:15,050 modernize it for the future . If we do 605 00:24:15,050 --> 00:24:17,050 not do that then we are risking the 606 00:24:17,050 --> 00:24:19,217 security of future generations . And I 607 00:24:19,217 --> 00:24:21,383 believe this budget is a major step in 608 00:24:21,383 --> 00:24:23,606 the right direction . I look forward to 609 00:24:23,606 --> 00:24:27,370 your questions . Thank 610 00:24:27,370 --> 00:24:31,240 you . I've I've got three questions 611 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:35,190 and succinct answers . Um I want to 612 00:24:35,190 --> 00:24:38,530 be a good steward of time for my 613 00:24:38,790 --> 00:24:41,170 my colleagues here at the podium . 614 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:45,370 Um Yesterday President biden referred 615 00:24:45,370 --> 00:24:47,880 to combating inflation as his top 616 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,120 domestic policy . Would you please 617 00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:53,660 share with the committee the fy 23 618 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:56,560 budget request and how it was built in 619 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,560 the amount of program and costs 620 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:01,962 growth and then how you worked 621 00:25:01,962 --> 00:25:04,450 inflation into that . So as Secretary 622 00:25:04,450 --> 00:25:06,672 Austin , if you start out with that and 623 00:25:06,672 --> 00:25:08,561 if you want to turn it over to mr 624 00:25:08,561 --> 00:25:12,480 McCord at any point , please do so Well . 625 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,480 Thank you Terry Mccollum and I will 626 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:16,591 provide some comments and I certainly 627 00:25:16,591 --> 00:25:19,420 will invite uh Secretary Mccollum to 628 00:25:19,430 --> 00:25:21,486 Secretary McCord . Excuse me to make 629 00:25:21,486 --> 00:25:25,390 some comments as well . Um We built 630 00:25:25,390 --> 00:25:27,390 this budget based upon our national 631 00:25:27,390 --> 00:25:29,612 Defense strategy which we just released 632 00:25:29,612 --> 00:25:31,910 as you know in classified form . We 633 00:25:31,910 --> 00:25:34,132 were very diligent careful to make sure 634 00:25:34,132 --> 00:25:36,132 that we went after the capabilities 635 00:25:36,132 --> 00:25:38,670 that we needed to support that strategy . 636 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:41,670 Uh And I'm confident that that we were 637 00:25:41,670 --> 00:25:43,910 successful in doing that and this 638 00:25:43,910 --> 00:25:45,680 budget provides a significant 639 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,640 capability . Uh and and again as we 640 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,790 match those capabilities to what's 641 00:25:50,790 --> 00:25:54,750 needed to be relevant in uh in in the 642 00:25:54,750 --> 00:25:58,050 work that we're uh we're pursuing uh in 643 00:25:58,050 --> 00:26:01,510 the indo pacific and also in europe , I 644 00:26:01,510 --> 00:26:05,170 think that that again this is a very 645 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:06,847 healthy budget and provides a 646 00:26:06,847 --> 00:26:09,013 significant capability . When we built 647 00:26:09,013 --> 00:26:11,124 the budget , we had to snap the chalk 648 00:26:11,124 --> 00:26:13,660 line at some point in time . As as you 649 00:26:13,660 --> 00:26:15,771 always do when you build a budget and 650 00:26:15,771 --> 00:26:18,090 at that point in time we made some some 651 00:26:18,090 --> 00:26:20,990 key assumptions and uh and I'll let 652 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:23,530 Secretary McCord speak to them . Mr 653 00:26:23,530 --> 00:26:27,250 Secretary , thank you . Yes . As the 654 00:26:27,250 --> 00:26:29,472 secretary said the first line of effort 655 00:26:29,472 --> 00:26:31,694 of course was building the budget to to 656 00:26:31,694 --> 00:26:33,861 support the strategy and implement the 657 00:26:33,861 --> 00:26:36,083 strategy . But parallel to that , I was 658 00:26:36,083 --> 00:26:35,890 conducting a review . My team was on 659 00:26:35,890 --> 00:26:38,860 what inflation was doing In in county 660 00:26:38,860 --> 00:26:40,916 or 21 , which was the period we were 661 00:26:40,916 --> 00:26:42,916 building the budget . So we came in 662 00:26:42,916 --> 00:26:44,693 with an assumption that the GDP 663 00:26:44,693 --> 00:26:46,804 inflation that we used would be about 664 00:26:46,804 --> 00:26:49,027 two . We saw that that was increasingly 665 00:26:49,027 --> 00:26:51,880 doubled it basically 243.9% for 22 as 666 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,610 we built that price increase into 23 667 00:26:54,750 --> 00:26:57,080 going forward . Uh If you look at the 668 00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:59,136 last six months of data which we did 669 00:26:59,136 --> 00:27:01,302 not have them but have now That number 670 00:27:01,302 --> 00:27:03,470 is now five , So we are a little under 671 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:05,591 but we as secretary said , we did the 672 00:27:05,591 --> 00:27:07,702 best we could with the information we 673 00:27:07,702 --> 00:27:09,702 had . We recognize that things have 674 00:27:09,702 --> 00:27:12,340 changed a little since then . And as as 675 00:27:12,340 --> 00:27:14,562 I described in my rollout briefing when 676 00:27:14,562 --> 00:27:16,729 the budget came out , we put about $14 677 00:27:16,729 --> 00:27:20,190 billion five-year 678 00:27:20,190 --> 00:27:22,790 plan for goods and services , another 679 00:27:22,790 --> 00:27:26,770 $6 billion $20 billion dollars per year 680 00:27:27,340 --> 00:27:29,396 from last year's plan to this year's 681 00:27:29,396 --> 00:27:31,618 plan . Just for the pricing increase on 682 00:27:31,618 --> 00:27:34,290 top of the strategy driven specific 683 00:27:34,290 --> 00:27:36,850 program choices . So 684 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,150 thank you for that . Um So it's 685 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:44,050 inflation as as I said , the president 686 00:27:44,060 --> 00:27:46,570 is focused on combating it and I know 687 00:27:46,570 --> 00:27:48,950 you will work diligently with both 688 00:27:48,950 --> 00:27:51,800 sides of the aisle as well as as our 689 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:53,911 staff as we move forward . If we have 690 00:27:53,911 --> 00:27:56,010 any inflation issues that need to be 691 00:27:56,020 --> 00:27:58,020 addressed . But thank thank you for 692 00:27:58,020 --> 00:27:59,964 that answer . Uh the run up to the 693 00:27:59,964 --> 00:28:02,187 Russian invasion of Ukraine . The biden 694 00:28:02,187 --> 00:28:03,798 administration engaged in an 695 00:28:03,798 --> 00:28:05,853 unprecedented campaign to declassify 696 00:28:05,853 --> 00:28:08,060 intelligence one I fully supported 697 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,740 knowing what I was being briefed on and 698 00:28:10,740 --> 00:28:12,907 what I thought the american public and 699 00:28:12,907 --> 00:28:15,129 the world should know . Could you maybe 700 00:28:15,129 --> 00:28:17,110 expand for this committee ? How 701 00:28:17,120 --> 00:28:19,140 important the role of intelligence 702 00:28:19,140 --> 00:28:22,670 diplomacy has been in 703 00:28:22,670 --> 00:28:25,110 Ukraine and working with our european 704 00:28:25,110 --> 00:28:28,970 allies as the Russians prepared . It's 705 00:28:28,980 --> 00:28:31,260 unnecessary aggression against the 706 00:28:31,270 --> 00:28:34,030 people of Ukraine . Uh And are there 707 00:28:34,030 --> 00:28:36,510 any areas in the defense intelligent 708 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,250 enterprise that you would recommend for 709 00:28:39,250 --> 00:28:41,280 additional investments or for this 710 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,360 committee to focus on ? Okay , 711 00:28:45,340 --> 00:28:47,451 well thank you . Chair Mccollum . You 712 00:28:47,451 --> 00:28:50,080 make a great point . Yeah . What what 713 00:28:50,090 --> 00:28:53,300 what we did in terms of sharing 714 00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:55,133 intelligence with our allies and 715 00:28:55,133 --> 00:28:59,020 partners was very very helpful uh to to 716 00:28:59,020 --> 00:29:00,853 demonstrate that we wanted to be 717 00:29:00,853 --> 00:29:03,500 transparent and this is a tribute or 718 00:29:03,500 --> 00:29:06,120 credit to the president . It was his 719 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:09,610 decision to uh to move forward and uh 720 00:29:09,620 --> 00:29:12,330 and make sure that we shared as much 721 00:29:12,490 --> 00:29:15,270 information as possible that created 722 00:29:15,270 --> 00:29:17,640 trust amongst our our allies in a in a 723 00:29:17,650 --> 00:29:20,190 more meaningful way uh and that that 724 00:29:20,190 --> 00:29:22,960 trust created allowed us to create 725 00:29:22,970 --> 00:29:25,090 greater unity . And so from the very 726 00:29:25,090 --> 00:29:27,880 beginning you've seen the president 727 00:29:27,890 --> 00:29:30,250 myself , secretary Blinken Blinken 728 00:29:30,250 --> 00:29:33,620 worked hard to make sure that we 729 00:29:33,770 --> 00:29:37,150 united the Alliance as as much as we 730 00:29:37,150 --> 00:29:40,060 could . Uh and and they have we have 731 00:29:40,060 --> 00:29:42,227 been united from the very start and we 732 00:29:42,227 --> 00:29:44,449 hope to be that way going forward . But 733 00:29:44,449 --> 00:29:46,560 to answer your question , the sharing 734 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:48,616 of intelligence was a key element in 735 00:29:48,616 --> 00:29:50,782 getting us to where we are right now . 736 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:55,110 And then my last question and I know 737 00:29:55,110 --> 00:29:57,010 I'll probably get a brief answer 738 00:29:57,010 --> 00:29:59,110 because we're going to be talking to 739 00:29:59,110 --> 00:30:01,670 your status as we move forward . But uh 740 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:03,624 there's a lot of focus on the indo 741 00:30:03,624 --> 00:30:05,847 pacific and rightly so . But the arctic 742 00:30:05,847 --> 00:30:07,680 also with what is happening with 743 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:09,847 climate change , the natural resources 744 00:30:09,847 --> 00:30:12,013 that are up there , The shipping , the 745 00:30:12,013 --> 00:30:14,124 distance , the United States actually 746 00:30:14,124 --> 00:30:16,236 is from Russia . The fact that Russia 747 00:30:16,236 --> 00:30:18,530 and china at times are are working 748 00:30:18,530 --> 00:30:20,620 together and china is considering 749 00:30:20,620 --> 00:30:23,210 itself a near arctic nation , which as 750 00:30:23,210 --> 00:30:25,321 a geography teacher , I find a little 751 00:30:25,321 --> 00:30:27,580 baffling , but they often say things 752 00:30:27,580 --> 00:30:31,270 that baffle me . Um would you maybe uh 753 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,662 talk about what the department is doing 754 00:30:33,662 --> 00:30:35,940 to coordinate activities in the arctic ? 755 00:30:35,940 --> 00:30:38,273 But here again with a lot of our allies , 756 00:30:38,273 --> 00:30:40,107 a lot of our NATO allies and any 757 00:30:40,107 --> 00:30:42,620 resources that you would want us to be 758 00:30:42,620 --> 00:30:44,676 focused on that are included in this 759 00:30:44,676 --> 00:30:48,590 budget . We were an arctic nation . 760 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,830 This is this is a region that's very 761 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:54,560 important to us . Uh and you've seen 762 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:57,670 us address the arctic in our strategy , 763 00:30:57,670 --> 00:30:59,892 our national defense strategy that just 764 00:30:59,892 --> 00:31:02,114 came out . You've seen us most recently 765 00:31:02,114 --> 00:31:04,840 opened up a a a center that's that's 766 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:08,360 focused on arctic issues . And uh and 767 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:11,580 we're we continue the work of making 768 00:31:11,580 --> 00:31:13,747 sure that we have that center properly 769 00:31:13,747 --> 00:31:16,024 manned and focused on the right issues . 770 00:31:16,024 --> 00:31:18,247 We've conducted a number of significant 771 00:31:18,247 --> 00:31:21,170 exercises in the arctic region here 772 00:31:21,180 --> 00:31:23,347 recently . As a matter of fact , there 773 00:31:23,347 --> 00:31:25,458 is a substantial exercise on going up 774 00:31:25,458 --> 00:31:28,730 there right now with air exercise . And 775 00:31:28,740 --> 00:31:32,330 and uh that's been , you know , we've 776 00:31:32,330 --> 00:31:34,274 been doing that throughout . We'll 777 00:31:34,274 --> 00:31:36,497 continue that work . We've recently had 778 00:31:36,497 --> 00:31:38,386 to combatant commanders visit the 779 00:31:38,386 --> 00:31:40,441 arctic simultaneously . And and so I 780 00:31:40,441 --> 00:31:43,830 think I think this is a focus area for 781 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:45,608 us . As you pointed out this is 782 00:31:45,608 --> 00:31:47,719 important and uh , and we'll continue 783 00:31:47,719 --> 00:31:50,670 to resource it appropriately . Thank 784 00:31:50,670 --> 00:31:54,250 you for that . And I look forward 785 00:31:54,250 --> 00:31:56,890 to being a person from the Bold North . 786 00:31:56,890 --> 00:31:59,480 As many of us on this committee are not 787 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:01,702 the gentleman next to me from florida . 788 00:32:01,702 --> 00:32:03,813 However , uh , to work with with with 789 00:32:03,813 --> 00:32:06,620 you on this . Mr calvert . Thank you , 790 00:32:06,620 --> 00:32:09,030 madam . Chair Secretary Austin , I 791 00:32:09,030 --> 00:32:11,197 think we're all in agreement regarding 792 00:32:11,197 --> 00:32:13,390 the threats facing our nation . China 793 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:15,178 is using all the instruments of 794 00:32:15,178 --> 00:32:17,067 national power to erode America's 795 00:32:17,067 --> 00:32:19,270 standing in the world . We received 796 00:32:19,270 --> 00:32:21,437 your new National Defense Strategy and 797 00:32:21,437 --> 00:32:23,603 your fy 2023 budget request . I'd like 798 00:32:23,603 --> 00:32:26,690 to know A few things . 1st how does 799 00:32:26,690 --> 00:32:28,468 this budget align with your new 800 00:32:28,468 --> 00:32:30,800 strategy and second , how does this 801 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,070 budget specifically deter china and 802 00:32:33,070 --> 00:32:35,820 Russia for example , with no clear 803 00:32:35,820 --> 00:32:38,630 shipbuilding plan And only eight ships . 804 00:32:38,630 --> 00:32:40,741 As I read the budget requested in the 805 00:32:40,741 --> 00:32:42,852 budget coupled with the retirement of 806 00:32:42,852 --> 00:32:46,380 24 ships have a very big concern that 807 00:32:46,390 --> 00:32:48,446 we're not taking the threat of china 808 00:32:48,446 --> 00:32:50,334 aggression in the south china sea 809 00:32:50,334 --> 00:32:52,390 seriously . Especially when China is 810 00:32:52,390 --> 00:32:56,000 building 22 ships this year , retiring 811 00:32:56,010 --> 00:32:58,590 24 and only building eight . How does 812 00:32:58,590 --> 00:33:00,812 this budget ensure that we're balancing 813 00:33:00,812 --> 00:33:02,812 the ability to fight tonight with a 814 00:33:02,812 --> 00:33:04,868 much needed modernization across the 815 00:33:04,868 --> 00:33:07,740 armed forces . Well , thank you sir . 816 00:33:07,750 --> 00:33:11,070 Um again , when we built this budget , 817 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,900 we built it based upon our new National 818 00:33:14,900 --> 00:33:16,790 Defense strategy and there is 819 00:33:16,790 --> 00:33:19,340 significant investment in a number of 820 00:33:19,340 --> 00:33:22,630 issues that a number of capabilities 821 00:33:22,630 --> 00:33:25,700 that are absolutely relevant to to the 822 00:33:25,700 --> 00:33:29,000 competition with china . As you know , 823 00:33:29,010 --> 00:33:32,590 we have to be relevant in all 824 00:33:32,590 --> 00:33:34,923 domains , all warfighting domains , air , 825 00:33:34,923 --> 00:33:37,560 land , sea , space and cyber And in 826 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:39,449 this budget you see us invest $27 827 00:33:39,449 --> 00:33:42,250 billion $11 billion 828 00:33:42,250 --> 00:33:45,990 $24 billion dollars in 829 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:49,600 missile defense And defeat uh $7 830 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,350 billion $4 billion dollars of that is 831 00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:55,690 invested in hypersonic . And so we're 832 00:33:55,690 --> 00:33:57,940 investing in significant capability 833 00:33:58,140 --> 00:33:59,973 with this budget and there is an 834 00:33:59,973 --> 00:34:02,550 additional $6.1 billion dollars 835 00:34:02,940 --> 00:34:05,770 invested in our pacific Defense 836 00:34:05,780 --> 00:34:09,150 Initiative . So we believe that that 837 00:34:09,150 --> 00:34:11,150 again this is going after the right 838 00:34:11,150 --> 00:34:13,830 capabilities to ensure that we remain 839 00:34:13,830 --> 00:34:16,060 not only competitive but we're we 840 00:34:16,060 --> 00:34:18,227 maintain that competitive edge that we 841 00:34:18,227 --> 00:34:21,700 spoke of earlier . Well obviously 842 00:34:21,710 --> 00:34:24,140 from my perspective and I think from 843 00:34:24,140 --> 00:34:26,251 the perspective of many of us on this 844 00:34:26,251 --> 00:34:28,307 side is and obviously all the things 845 00:34:28,307 --> 00:34:30,418 that you talked about were supportive 846 00:34:30,418 --> 00:34:33,510 of at the same time , right numbers do 847 00:34:33,510 --> 00:34:36,370 matter . And right now as you know , 848 00:34:36,370 --> 00:34:39,820 the Chinese have won about 360 ships to 849 00:34:39,820 --> 00:34:43,270 our 280 ships And they're building 850 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,590 significantly almost 3-1 to our 851 00:34:45,590 --> 00:34:48,330 capability . So that's a big concern . 852 00:34:48,350 --> 00:34:52,130 Um one of the quick question on the 853 00:34:52,140 --> 00:34:54,710 issue of civilian personnel , I know I 854 00:34:54,710 --> 00:34:57,900 bring this up to you and others . Often 855 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:02,360 I have a historic trend sheet here that 856 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:05,580 I would like to submit to the record In 857 00:35:05,580 --> 00:35:08,600 the year 2000 , there were 651,000 d . 858 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:09,750 o . d . civilians 859 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:14,300 And 1,384,000 active duty 860 00:35:14,300 --> 00:35:17,490 military . Today there's 100,000 more 861 00:35:17,490 --> 00:35:19,670 civilians . 752,000 862 00:35:20,890 --> 00:35:24,670 Actually 753,000 civilian employees . 863 00:35:25,240 --> 00:35:29,220 2 1,350,000 active duty . So we've 864 00:35:29,220 --> 00:35:31,410 dropped active duty by 50,000 and 865 00:35:31,410 --> 00:35:34,120 increased civilians by 100,000 . And 866 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:37,030 the ratio obviously is out of sync to 867 00:35:37,030 --> 00:35:39,590 the historic average . And I think I've 868 00:35:39,590 --> 00:35:41,646 mentioned to you , if we went to the 869 00:35:41,646 --> 00:35:44,960 Business Council recommendation to 870 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:47,182 bring that back to the historic ratio , 871 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:49,940 We would save $125 billion dollars over 872 00:35:49,940 --> 00:35:52,051 five years which we could keep in the 873 00:35:52,051 --> 00:35:54,218 department and spend on procurement of 874 00:35:54,218 --> 00:35:56,218 building the ships that we need and 875 00:35:56,218 --> 00:35:58,440 building the new airframes that we need 876 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:00,760 and assisting the army and all the rest 877 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:03,370 of the service in on the capabilities 878 00:36:03,370 --> 00:36:06,530 that they desperately need . So again , 879 00:36:06,540 --> 00:36:09,300 I would take a look at the reforms that 880 00:36:09,300 --> 00:36:11,411 are necessary to bring this back into 881 00:36:12,030 --> 00:36:15,540 back into some historic ratio where we 882 00:36:15,550 --> 00:36:17,606 spend the money where it needs to be 883 00:36:17,606 --> 00:36:19,820 spent and Madam Chair , I'd like to 884 00:36:19,820 --> 00:36:21,700 submit this chair for the record 885 00:36:21,710 --> 00:36:25,680 without objection . Anything you would 886 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:27,402 like to address on that . Mr . 887 00:36:27,402 --> 00:36:29,458 Secretary . Well , thanks to read as 888 00:36:29,458 --> 00:36:31,569 we've as I've mentioned to you before 889 00:36:31,569 --> 00:36:33,736 and we talked about this , maintaining 890 00:36:33,736 --> 00:36:35,902 the right balance that you pointed out 891 00:36:35,902 --> 00:36:39,110 is uh is a key objective of mine and 892 00:36:39,110 --> 00:36:41,221 and we'll stay cited on this and make 893 00:36:41,221 --> 00:36:44,200 sure that that we have , we do in fact 894 00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:46,422 have the right balance . We've taken on 895 00:36:46,422 --> 00:36:48,880 a number of new initiatives were doing 896 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:50,824 things in space and cyberspace and 897 00:36:50,824 --> 00:36:53,850 other areas that that require um 898 00:36:54,230 --> 00:36:56,660 additional staffing . But to your point 899 00:36:56,670 --> 00:37:00,500 we have to make sure that we keep our 900 00:37:00,510 --> 00:37:03,000 our staff lean . Uh and uh and that 901 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,056 were you know , we have what we need 902 00:37:05,056 --> 00:37:07,000 and not more than we need . So I'm 903 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,056 committed to you to continue to work 904 00:37:09,056 --> 00:37:08,450 this . 905 00:37:13,130 --> 00:37:16,600 Mr Mr laurel or I should say for 906 00:37:16,600 --> 00:37:19,600 committee chairs . Mr Lawrence . Find 907 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:23,450 you could even call me rosa anyway um 908 00:37:23,460 --> 00:37:26,790 Thank you very very much Madam Chair uh 909 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,890 Mr Secretary . We when we wrote the 910 00:37:28,900 --> 00:37:30,956 second supplemental one area that we 911 00:37:30,956 --> 00:37:32,956 focused on was our ability to track 912 00:37:32,956 --> 00:37:35,011 weapons that we are sending to uh to 913 00:37:35,011 --> 00:37:37,240 Ukraine . The bill requires you along 914 00:37:37,240 --> 00:37:39,240 with Secretary Blinken to report to 915 00:37:39,240 --> 00:37:41,351 Congress on measures taken to account 916 00:37:41,351 --> 00:37:43,920 for the defense article sent to Ukraine , 917 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:46,030 particularly those that require 918 00:37:46,030 --> 00:37:49,340 enhanced uh and use monitoring um look 919 00:37:49,340 --> 00:37:51,229 forward to your report . Is there 920 00:37:51,229 --> 00:37:53,284 anything you can share with us today 921 00:37:53,284 --> 00:37:55,507 about actions you are taking . Uh we're 922 00:37:55,507 --> 00:37:57,729 having more of a diplomatic presence in 923 00:37:57,729 --> 00:37:59,729 Ukraine , even if it were less than 924 00:37:59,729 --> 00:38:01,896 before the Russian invasion Help ? How 925 00:38:01,896 --> 00:38:04,062 was the Department of Defense ensuring 926 00:38:04,062 --> 00:38:06,118 that equipment is reaching the right 927 00:38:06,118 --> 00:38:08,062 Ukrainian units and used for their 928 00:38:08,062 --> 00:38:11,470 intended purposes . Uh 2022 omnibus 929 00:38:11,470 --> 00:38:14,000 provided an additional $300 million for 930 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:16,150 US allies and partners in europe , 931 00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:18,750 Including 180 million for the Baltic 932 00:38:18,750 --> 00:38:21,220 Security Initiative . 30 million for 933 00:38:21,220 --> 00:38:23,850 Poland , 30 million for Romania . 20 934 00:38:23,850 --> 00:38:25,906 million from Bulgaria and 40 million 935 00:38:25,906 --> 00:38:28,017 for Georgia . How will the department 936 00:38:28,017 --> 00:38:30,128 use these resources to shore up their 937 00:38:30,128 --> 00:38:33,680 defenses ? Thanks . Charity laurel 938 00:38:33,690 --> 00:38:36,300 accountability is is an important issue 939 00:38:36,300 --> 00:38:38,820 to all of us . As you know , we don't 940 00:38:38,820 --> 00:38:40,931 have people on the ground right now . 941 00:38:40,931 --> 00:38:42,987 So it makes it a bit difficult . But 942 00:38:42,987 --> 00:38:45,153 this is an issue that when when when I 943 00:38:45,153 --> 00:38:48,830 met with President President Zelensky 944 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:51,950 and and Minister of Defense Reznikoff 945 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,820 in Kiev about two weeks ago , I 946 00:38:55,820 --> 00:38:57,431 emphasized the importance of 947 00:38:57,431 --> 00:38:59,653 accountability and his Chief of Defense 948 00:38:59,653 --> 00:39:01,840 was also in that meeting . Uh and and 949 00:39:01,840 --> 00:39:03,951 how important it is to make sure that 950 00:39:03,951 --> 00:39:06,510 they are tracking uh well , you know , 951 00:39:06,510 --> 00:39:08,790 the disposition of our sensitive 952 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:10,633 equipment that's uh that's being 953 00:39:10,633 --> 00:39:12,800 deployed . Uh And they assured me that 954 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:14,600 they were focused on this and I 955 00:39:14,610 --> 00:39:17,430 revisited this again with the Minister 956 00:39:17,430 --> 00:39:21,370 of Defense A week ago two weeks ago and 957 00:39:21,380 --> 00:39:23,640 and when when I met with him in Germany 958 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:26,070 and then as late as yesterday and in 959 00:39:26,070 --> 00:39:28,237 terms of the disposition of the actual 960 00:39:28,237 --> 00:39:30,860 disposition of the equipment whether or 961 00:39:30,860 --> 00:39:33,500 not it's getting to where the people 962 00:39:33,500 --> 00:39:35,722 that needed . This is this is something 963 00:39:35,722 --> 00:39:37,722 that the chairman and I check every 964 00:39:37,722 --> 00:39:39,833 time that we talk to our counterparts 965 00:39:39,833 --> 00:39:41,944 and we talked to them weekly . Uh and 966 00:39:41,944 --> 00:39:44,480 again , I revisited this issue with uh 967 00:39:44,490 --> 00:39:47,240 Minister Resident Reznikoff yesterday . 968 00:39:47,250 --> 00:39:50,600 And uh and again , we'll continue to 969 00:39:50,610 --> 00:39:53,360 uh to emphasize this this very , very 970 00:39:53,360 --> 00:39:55,980 important point . And I'm presuming 971 00:39:55,980 --> 00:39:58,036 that we are working with these other 972 00:39:58,036 --> 00:40:00,620 countries and in essence to bolster 973 00:40:00,620 --> 00:40:02,620 their resources as well in terms of 974 00:40:02,620 --> 00:40:04,860 what they need , Bulgaria , Romania 975 00:40:04,860 --> 00:40:07,910 Poland , we continue that work . You're 976 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:10,087 you're right , you're thank you . If I 977 00:40:10,087 --> 00:40:12,960 can just have a quick question . You 978 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:14,960 know , there's a great focus on the 979 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:16,738 total amount of funding for the 980 00:40:16,738 --> 00:40:18,738 Department of Defense . I'd like to 981 00:40:18,738 --> 00:40:20,849 focus on two other aspects consistent 982 00:40:20,849 --> 00:40:24,670 and timely funding Uh from 21 to 983 00:40:24,670 --> 00:40:26,290 22 for programs within the 984 00:40:26,290 --> 00:40:28,179 Subcommittee's jurisdiction , the 985 00:40:28,179 --> 00:40:30,800 Department received a 4.7% increase . 986 00:40:30,810 --> 00:40:32,866 The budget request proposes a nearly 987 00:40:32,866 --> 00:40:36,640 identical increase for 2022-2023 . 988 00:40:37,010 --> 00:40:39,580 We have already started the process of 989 00:40:39,580 --> 00:40:41,802 having full committee counterparts meet 990 00:40:41,802 --> 00:40:43,913 to attempt to come to an agreement on 991 00:40:43,913 --> 00:40:45,969 overall spending which would greatly 992 00:40:45,969 --> 00:40:49,010 facilitate the enactment of the 2023 993 00:40:49,010 --> 00:40:51,770 bills . How important our 994 00:40:51,770 --> 00:40:54,690 predictability , The Steady increases 995 00:40:54,690 --> 00:40:56,770 in funding . How helpful would it be 996 00:40:56,770 --> 00:40:58,714 for the Department for Congress to 997 00:40:58,714 --> 00:41:02,070 enact spending bills before October one . 998 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:03,990 And can you describe the negative 999 00:41:03,990 --> 00:41:06,140 consequences of another cr 1000 00:41:07,610 --> 00:41:09,666 well , first of all charity laurel . 1001 00:41:09,666 --> 00:41:11,666 Let me thank you for your continued 1002 00:41:11,666 --> 00:41:13,888 focus on this issue , you've done a lot 1003 00:41:13,888 --> 00:41:15,999 of work to help the department in the 1004 00:41:15,999 --> 00:41:18,230 past and I appreciate what what I 1005 00:41:18,230 --> 00:41:20,452 anticipate that you will continue to do 1006 00:41:20,452 --> 00:41:22,570 in the future . Thanks thanks for 1007 00:41:22,570 --> 00:41:25,290 everything . Uh This is this is really 1008 00:41:25,290 --> 00:41:27,660 important . And if I could ask for , 1009 00:41:27,670 --> 00:41:29,970 you know , anything , it's for , you 1010 00:41:29,970 --> 00:41:32,550 know , both sides to uh to lean into 1011 00:41:32,550 --> 00:41:34,620 this and get the budget passed as 1012 00:41:34,620 --> 00:41:36,980 quickly as possible . And I know it's 1013 00:41:36,980 --> 00:41:39,710 important to everybody , but as you 1014 00:41:39,710 --> 00:41:41,877 know , without a without a budget , we 1015 00:41:41,877 --> 00:41:43,877 can't do new starts and some of the 1016 00:41:43,877 --> 00:41:46,043 things that we want to invest in which 1017 00:41:46,043 --> 00:41:48,099 will give us that capability that uh 1018 00:41:48,099 --> 00:41:50,321 that helps us maintain that competitive 1019 00:41:50,321 --> 00:41:52,810 edge . Uh you know , it we're late in 1020 00:41:52,810 --> 00:41:55,550 some cases getting started , so getting 1021 00:41:55,550 --> 00:41:57,772 a budget by september would be would be 1022 00:41:57,772 --> 00:42:00,280 great . Uh and uh and again , if I 1023 00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:02,502 could ask for everyone's help on that , 1024 00:42:02,502 --> 00:42:04,724 again , that's that's that's one of the 1025 00:42:04,724 --> 00:42:06,947 most important things that you could do 1026 00:42:06,947 --> 00:42:08,836 to help us aside from passing the 1027 00:42:08,836 --> 00:42:10,947 budget itself . Thank you very , very 1028 00:42:10,947 --> 00:42:13,113 much . And thank you for your help the 1029 00:42:13,113 --> 00:42:15,169 last time , I just might conclude by 1030 00:42:15,169 --> 00:42:17,391 saying that Through the supplementals , 1031 00:42:17,391 --> 00:42:19,391 both in March and the one we passed 1032 00:42:19,391 --> 00:42:19,300 last night we're talking about close to 1033 00:42:19,300 --> 00:42:23,230 $30 billion so I think 1034 00:42:23,230 --> 00:42:25,230 we are keeping our commitment in in 1035 00:42:25,230 --> 00:42:27,810 that uh in in in in that in that effort 1036 00:42:27,820 --> 00:42:30,580 as as we move forward . And so that 1037 00:42:30,580 --> 00:42:32,691 what we're looking at in terms of the 1038 00:42:32,691 --> 00:42:34,913 increased percentage in the President's 1039 00:42:34,913 --> 00:42:37,136 budget , I should be in line with where 1040 00:42:37,136 --> 00:42:39,302 we can try to move forward . But thank 1041 00:42:39,302 --> 00:42:41,469 you very very much all of you for your 1042 00:42:41,469 --> 00:42:43,524 for your service and for all of your 1043 00:42:43,524 --> 00:42:45,302 efforts to keeping our national 1044 00:42:45,302 --> 00:42:47,636 security secure . Thank you . Thank you , 1045 00:42:47,636 --> 00:42:50,550 madam Chair . Thank you for working it 1046 00:42:50,550 --> 00:42:52,550 in . I know how busy everybody is . 1047 00:42:54,760 --> 00:42:57,480 Next four questions . We will hear from 1048 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:00,760 the full ranking member um at the 1049 00:43:00,770 --> 00:43:03,103 appropriations Committee , Miss Granger . 1050 00:43:07,300 --> 00:43:11,000 Thank you . The military services want 1051 00:43:11,000 --> 00:43:14,390 to retire equipment well before the end 1052 00:43:14,390 --> 00:43:16,540 of their useful lives , the 1053 00:43:16,540 --> 00:43:18,640 capabilities lost by retiring these 1054 00:43:18,640 --> 00:43:21,070 assets will not be replaced until 1055 00:43:21,070 --> 00:43:24,360 future systems come online . One 1056 00:43:24,360 --> 00:43:26,527 example of this is the Navy's littoral 1057 00:43:26,527 --> 00:43:29,190 combat ship General Milley . Please 1058 00:43:29,190 --> 00:43:31,360 explain how the department determines 1059 00:43:31,370 --> 00:43:34,210 what amount of risk is acceptable when 1060 00:43:34,210 --> 00:43:36,510 considering these types of retirements . 1061 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:41,880 The way we evaluate risk is the risk to 1062 00:43:41,880 --> 00:43:43,936 the mission primarily we take inputs 1063 00:43:43,936 --> 00:43:46,790 from the combatant commanders for that 1064 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:49,530 and secondly evaluate risk to force and 1065 00:43:49,540 --> 00:43:51,651 for that . We're looking at train man 1066 00:43:51,651 --> 00:43:53,762 equipped which is primarily the roles 1067 00:43:53,762 --> 00:43:55,929 of the service chiefs . Together those 1068 00:43:55,929 --> 00:43:58,310 come in to me and I compile that for 1069 00:43:58,310 --> 00:44:00,366 the secretary and provide him a risk 1070 00:44:00,366 --> 00:44:02,720 assessment with respect to the littoral 1071 00:44:02,730 --> 00:44:06,010 combat ship Navy program , uh Navy 1072 00:44:06,020 --> 00:44:09,620 Marine program . Um There's an ongoing 1073 00:44:09,620 --> 00:44:12,870 study for amphibious warfare uh and in 1074 00:44:12,870 --> 00:44:15,037 the navy for the shipbuilding , as was 1075 00:44:15,037 --> 00:44:17,203 mentioned by uh ranking member calvert 1076 00:44:17,203 --> 00:44:19,370 about shipbuilding . Uh And we based a 1077 00:44:19,370 --> 00:44:22,290 lot of our analysis on those inputs 1078 00:44:22,290 --> 00:44:24,690 from the Navy and the Marine Corps . So 1079 00:44:24,690 --> 00:44:26,857 if you don't have a replacement for it 1080 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:29,460 and you're still considering it , then 1081 00:44:29,460 --> 00:44:32,150 why why would you mothball them as we 1082 00:44:32,150 --> 00:44:35,190 call it at this time ? Well , it comes 1083 00:44:35,190 --> 00:44:38,680 down to balance uh in terms of 1084 00:44:38,690 --> 00:44:41,450 what's affordable and what the Navy can 1085 00:44:41,450 --> 00:44:43,339 afford and what the Department of 1086 00:44:43,339 --> 00:44:45,561 Defense can afford . Uh So there's risk 1087 00:44:45,561 --> 00:44:47,617 calculations on what not to fund and 1088 00:44:47,617 --> 00:44:49,506 what to fund . Uh And the overall 1089 00:44:49,506 --> 00:44:52,520 assessment was to go ahead and uh fund 1090 00:44:52,520 --> 00:44:54,960 the eight ships that were buying and 1091 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:57,040 not to continue to fund the LCS for 1092 00:44:57,040 --> 00:44:59,262 this particular budget , I have serious 1093 00:44:59,262 --> 00:45:01,770 concerns about the way that was 1094 00:45:01,780 --> 00:45:04,220 determined . I have another question . 1095 00:45:04,220 --> 00:45:06,860 Secretary Austin the conflict in 1096 00:45:06,860 --> 00:45:09,110 Ukraine has placed a high demand on our 1097 00:45:09,110 --> 00:45:12,860 supply of javelin singers and other U . 1098 00:45:12,860 --> 00:45:15,840 S . Munitions . This demand has 1099 00:45:16,390 --> 00:45:19,460 highlight a cap capacity issue for a 1100 00:45:19,460 --> 00:45:21,560 defense industry . How can we best 1101 00:45:21,560 --> 00:45:24,610 support a robust and flexible capacity 1102 00:45:24,620 --> 00:45:26,787 for our defense industry . And how can 1103 00:45:26,787 --> 00:45:29,200 we ensure that we have stockpile 1104 00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:31,870 sufficient to meet demand for critical 1105 00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:34,500 items needed in Ukraine and for future 1106 00:45:34,510 --> 00:45:38,370 conflicts , stockpiles are 1107 00:45:38,370 --> 00:45:40,259 something that the chairman and I 1108 00:45:40,259 --> 00:45:42,750 monitor routinely . Certainly we have 1109 00:45:42,750 --> 00:45:45,530 the input from each of the services uh 1110 00:45:45,530 --> 00:45:49,180 and uh in terms of working with 1111 00:45:49,180 --> 00:45:51,700 industry to get them to open up lines 1112 00:45:51,700 --> 00:45:54,010 and increased product uh production . 1113 00:45:54,390 --> 00:45:56,730 As you know , we we met with industry 1114 00:45:56,740 --> 00:45:59,290 early on . They've they've committed to 1115 00:45:59,290 --> 00:46:01,457 doing that . You saw the president was 1116 00:46:01,457 --> 00:46:03,630 just down at one of the one of the 1117 00:46:03,630 --> 00:46:06,730 Javelin , uh one of the places where 1118 00:46:06,730 --> 00:46:08,674 we're producing javelins here just 1119 00:46:08,674 --> 00:46:10,674 recently and and got a thorough lay 1120 00:46:10,674 --> 00:46:13,730 down . Uh so the the defense industry's 1121 00:46:13,730 --> 00:46:15,770 leading into this , uh it'll take a 1122 00:46:15,780 --> 00:46:18,040 little bit of time to to get some of 1123 00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:20,600 these opened up uh to the degree that 1124 00:46:20,600 --> 00:46:22,720 we want them opened up . But uh but 1125 00:46:22,720 --> 00:46:25,020 that work is ongoing and and I have to 1126 00:46:25,020 --> 00:46:28,110 admit that the industry is is meeting 1127 00:46:28,110 --> 00:46:30,290 us more than halfway on this issue . 1128 00:46:32,180 --> 00:46:33,290 Thank you . 1129 00:46:36,880 --> 00:46:39,570 Next . Excuse me Next . We'll go to Mr 1130 00:46:39,570 --> 00:46:41,960 Ruth Ruppersberger , Mr Womack . Mr 1131 00:46:41,960 --> 00:46:44,071 Aguilar . And then Mr after hold , Mr 1132 00:46:44,071 --> 00:46:46,290 Roethlisberger recognized the first 1133 00:46:46,290 --> 00:46:48,770 thing I want to acknowledge . Mr 1134 00:46:48,770 --> 00:46:52,560 Secretary and General , um your your 1135 00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:54,282 confidence , your leadership . 1136 00:46:54,282 --> 00:46:56,393 Throughout the years I've been here , 1137 00:46:56,393 --> 00:46:58,290 I've been working mostly national 1138 00:46:58,290 --> 00:47:00,220 security and I think you both are 1139 00:47:00,230 --> 00:47:02,286 excellent leaders and you're in very 1140 00:47:02,286 --> 00:47:04,508 difficult times and I think you have to 1141 00:47:04,508 --> 00:47:06,563 build the right team to move forward 1142 00:47:06,563 --> 00:47:08,508 and what what your mission is . So 1143 00:47:08,508 --> 00:47:10,508 thank you for your service . Um I'm 1144 00:47:10,508 --> 00:47:12,674 going to get into more specific area . 1145 00:47:12,674 --> 00:47:14,910 Ukraine cyber security posture . Um 1146 00:47:14,920 --> 00:47:16,698 over the last few weeks we have 1147 00:47:16,698 --> 00:47:18,753 publicly learned more and more about 1148 00:47:18,753 --> 00:47:22,050 how our nation's cyberspace operations 1149 00:47:22,050 --> 00:47:25,330 have ? Both aided allies and partners 1150 00:47:25,330 --> 00:47:27,920 like Ukraine and our own understanding 1151 00:47:27,920 --> 00:47:30,170 of our adversaries capabilities and 1152 00:47:30,170 --> 00:47:33,460 techniques in cyberspace now , how 1153 00:47:33,460 --> 00:47:36,130 important is persistent engagement with 1154 00:47:36,130 --> 00:47:39,000 malign actors in cyberspace ? And how 1155 00:47:39,000 --> 00:47:41,300 do you assess us ? Cyber command's 1156 00:47:41,300 --> 00:47:43,900 capacity to build more partnerships 1157 00:47:43,900 --> 00:47:46,340 like we have with european nations and 1158 00:47:46,340 --> 00:47:50,270 other parts of the world in terms of 1159 00:47:50,270 --> 00:47:52,550 the importance . It is absolutely 1160 00:47:52,550 --> 00:47:55,790 critical and that's why early on 1161 00:47:56,180 --> 00:47:59,440 we partnered with Ukrainians 1162 00:47:59,450 --> 00:48:03,070 in help them with training and and 1163 00:48:03,080 --> 00:48:06,860 help them to outline issues and 1164 00:48:06,870 --> 00:48:08,981 associated with their networks that's 1165 00:48:08,981 --> 00:48:12,030 paying dividends for them as we speak . 1166 00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:15,660 Uh It also allows us to get early 1167 00:48:15,660 --> 00:48:18,240 warning uh if if we see something 1168 00:48:18,240 --> 00:48:20,296 developing that could be a threat to 1169 00:48:20,296 --> 00:48:22,500 our allies or or us . And so that's 1170 00:48:22,500 --> 00:48:25,440 been very helpful to us In this budget . 1171 00:48:25,450 --> 00:48:27,561 Sir . You've seen that we've invested 1172 00:48:27,561 --> 00:48:30,860 some over $11 billion dollars in in in 1173 00:48:30,860 --> 00:48:34,720 cyber that helps us to modernize uh the 1174 00:48:34,730 --> 00:48:36,841 force , but it also helps to increase 1175 00:48:36,841 --> 00:48:39,100 the size of the force . And uh and that 1176 00:48:39,100 --> 00:48:42,120 will help in in our efforts to partner 1177 00:48:42,120 --> 00:48:44,970 with additional nations not only in 1178 00:48:44,970 --> 00:48:48,280 europe , but most importantly in in the 1179 00:48:48,290 --> 00:48:51,120 in the indo pacific as well . So to 1180 00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:53,342 answer your question , it's critical we 1181 00:48:53,342 --> 00:48:55,453 are building more capacity to be able 1182 00:48:55,453 --> 00:48:57,287 to do that as we speak . Another 1183 00:48:57,287 --> 00:48:59,453 question how much flexibility you have 1184 00:48:59,453 --> 00:49:01,970 in your posture based on the 1185 00:49:01,980 --> 00:49:05,280 department's Fiscal year 2023 budget 1186 00:49:05,880 --> 00:49:08,400 to account for possible increased risk 1187 00:49:08,610 --> 00:49:10,680 to national security systems and 1188 00:49:10,680 --> 00:49:12,990 defense , critical infrastructure here 1189 00:49:12,990 --> 00:49:15,750 in the United States given the White 1190 00:49:15,750 --> 00:49:17,940 House's public acknowledgement of 1191 00:49:17,940 --> 00:49:20,162 evolving intelligence that the Russians 1192 00:49:20,162 --> 00:49:22,720 are exploring options for cyber attacks 1193 00:49:24,030 --> 00:49:27,160 and I think we have we have significant 1194 00:49:27,160 --> 00:49:29,770 capacity and we need more capacity and 1195 00:49:29,770 --> 00:49:32,870 we're investing in that uh in terms of 1196 00:49:32,880 --> 00:49:35,102 threats to the homeland , as you know , 1197 00:49:35,102 --> 00:49:37,550 Sir , DHS is the lead agency for that , 1198 00:49:37,550 --> 00:49:39,800 but we are doing everything within our 1199 00:49:39,800 --> 00:49:43,170 power to be ready to assist DHS with 1200 00:49:43,170 --> 00:49:45,570 anything that uh they need help with . 1201 00:49:45,580 --> 00:49:48,200 And so that that coordination is 1202 00:49:48,200 --> 00:49:50,367 ongoing . We've leaned forward on this 1203 00:49:50,367 --> 00:49:53,020 quite a bit and uh and I think it's 1204 00:49:53,020 --> 00:49:55,690 been very helpful so we will continue 1205 00:49:55,690 --> 00:49:58,320 those efforts well . And I know NSA 1206 00:49:58,320 --> 00:50:01,020 does a lot in this regard , chris 1207 00:50:01,020 --> 00:50:03,470 english who was Deputy director , very 1208 00:50:03,470 --> 00:50:05,359 qualified and competent is really 1209 00:50:05,359 --> 00:50:07,690 heading up the the domestic side now . 1210 00:50:08,060 --> 00:50:10,282 And I assume that you all come together 1211 00:50:10,282 --> 00:50:12,171 as a team to share information to 1212 00:50:12,171 --> 00:50:14,770 protect us . Absolutely , absolutely . 1213 00:50:14,770 --> 00:50:16,937 That's a that's a routine coordination 1214 00:50:16,937 --> 00:50:19,240 that uh and you know , general Macaroni 1215 00:50:19,240 --> 00:50:21,630 is , he is absolutely focused on being 1216 00:50:21,640 --> 00:50:24,890 uh you know , ahead of the need . And 1217 00:50:24,890 --> 00:50:27,020 so there's a great relationship there 1218 00:50:27,030 --> 00:50:29,141 and that that is a really good team . 1219 00:50:29,141 --> 00:50:30,808 In my opinion . You're back . 1220 00:50:34,160 --> 00:50:36,610 Thank you Mr Womack , Thank you Madam . 1221 00:50:36,610 --> 00:50:38,666 Chair , thank you gentlemen for your 1222 00:50:38,666 --> 00:50:40,610 service to our country . I want to 1223 00:50:40,610 --> 00:50:42,499 follow up on the question that my 1224 00:50:42,499 --> 00:50:44,554 colleague mr calvert had asked about 1225 00:50:44,554 --> 00:50:48,120 the indo pacific strategy . Um the 1226 00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:51,750 budget request seems to have small 1227 00:50:51,750 --> 00:50:55,580 increases in force rotations , but no 1228 00:50:55,580 --> 00:50:58,120 new real permanent increases in combat 1229 00:50:58,130 --> 00:51:00,780 capable military forces in the region 1230 00:51:00,780 --> 00:51:03,300 instead seems to be betting on more 1231 00:51:03,300 --> 00:51:06,270 innovation and soft power . Uh in that 1232 00:51:06,280 --> 00:51:10,040 strategy , in my opinion , the military , 1233 00:51:10,340 --> 00:51:12,340 the need for military power has not 1234 00:51:12,340 --> 00:51:14,451 decreased but were choosing to try to 1235 00:51:14,451 --> 00:51:16,562 plug in some gaps with maybe some non 1236 00:51:16,562 --> 00:51:19,420 military capabilities . So please mR 1237 00:51:19,420 --> 00:51:22,580 Secretary help me understand um 1238 00:51:23,860 --> 00:51:26,027 you know , where I'm wrong on this and 1239 00:51:26,027 --> 00:51:28,810 and and where this department is trying 1240 00:51:28,810 --> 00:51:32,510 to go in meeting that that 1241 00:51:32,510 --> 00:51:34,640 very complicated strategy . 1242 00:51:36,760 --> 00:51:40,560 Um and I don't think there's a 1243 00:51:40,560 --> 00:51:42,671 right or wrong here , sir . I think , 1244 00:51:42,671 --> 00:51:44,727 you know what , what I would like to 1245 00:51:44,727 --> 00:51:47,400 say is number one , I think we have a 1246 00:51:47,410 --> 00:51:51,180 very sound strategy and you've just 1247 00:51:51,180 --> 00:51:53,124 seen us roll out that new national 1248 00:51:53,124 --> 00:51:55,490 defense strategy . It focuses on making 1249 00:51:55,490 --> 00:51:59,300 sure that we employ uh capability in 1250 00:51:59,300 --> 00:52:01,411 all five of the warfighting domains , 1251 00:52:01,411 --> 00:52:03,133 air , land , sea , space , and 1252 00:52:03,133 --> 00:52:05,380 cyberspace . Uh And it also focuses on 1253 00:52:05,380 --> 00:52:08,230 making sure that that we uh we leverage 1254 00:52:08,230 --> 00:52:11,540 the capability resident in our in our 1255 00:52:11,540 --> 00:52:13,870 allies and partners and and and and I 1256 00:52:13,870 --> 00:52:16,100 think that's really important . And as 1257 00:52:16,100 --> 00:52:18,211 we continue that work , I think we're 1258 00:52:18,211 --> 00:52:20,322 seeing some great opportunities . But 1259 00:52:20,322 --> 00:52:22,489 as we as we look at our our strategy , 1260 00:52:22,900 --> 00:52:26,060 making sure that we are in fact uh 1261 00:52:26,070 --> 00:52:28,600 getting the capabilities of space and 1262 00:52:28,600 --> 00:52:31,260 cyberspace integrated into our efforts . 1263 00:52:31,260 --> 00:52:33,482 I think it's it's really , really key . 1264 00:52:33,482 --> 00:52:36,250 We again , with a pacific deterrence 1265 00:52:36,250 --> 00:52:38,090 initiative , we have invested 1266 00:52:38,090 --> 00:52:40,850 significantly in making sure that uh 1267 00:52:40,860 --> 00:52:44,120 you know , we increase our our rotation 1268 00:52:44,130 --> 00:52:45,963 training rotations in the in the 1269 00:52:45,963 --> 00:52:48,510 theater that we're investing in in some 1270 00:52:48,510 --> 00:52:50,510 infrastructure and doing some other 1271 00:52:50,510 --> 00:52:52,621 things . So . So I think it's a sound 1272 00:52:52,621 --> 00:52:54,843 strategy . I think what we've asked for 1273 00:52:54,843 --> 00:52:57,200 uh enables us to to to accomplish that 1274 00:52:57,200 --> 00:53:00,760 strategy has the 1275 00:53:01,150 --> 00:53:04,900 unanticipated um extraordinary 1276 00:53:04,900 --> 00:53:08,870 cost to deal with what was going on in 1277 00:53:08,870 --> 00:53:11,570 eastern europe right now . Has that um , 1278 00:53:11,580 --> 00:53:14,710 has that cost impacted um , 1279 00:53:14,720 --> 00:53:17,480 what we're needing or what we're trying 1280 00:53:17,480 --> 00:53:19,536 to do in this budget for our biggest 1281 00:53:19,536 --> 00:53:23,380 pacing threat , which is china . Uh huh . 1282 00:53:23,750 --> 00:53:26,810 I would say no . I think that , you 1283 00:53:26,810 --> 00:53:30,410 know , as we've taken on our uh 1284 00:53:30,420 --> 00:53:32,710 efforts to help the Ukrainians , we 1285 00:53:32,710 --> 00:53:35,620 certainly have invested uh quite a bit , 1286 00:53:35,630 --> 00:53:37,630 as you heard me say earlier , sir , 1287 00:53:37,630 --> 00:53:40,870 $4.5 billion over the last 1288 00:53:40,880 --> 00:53:43,970 uh couple of years . Um but we've 1289 00:53:43,970 --> 00:53:46,500 also seen investment from our allies 1290 00:53:46,500 --> 00:53:49,260 and partners are our major efforts here 1291 00:53:49,270 --> 00:53:51,780 are , you know , with NATO uh and with 1292 00:53:51,780 --> 00:53:53,891 the allies and partners that are that 1293 00:53:53,891 --> 00:53:55,613 are in the region who are also 1294 00:53:55,613 --> 00:53:57,920 investing and providing equipment and 1295 00:53:57,930 --> 00:54:00,380 training to the Ukrainians as well . 1296 00:54:00,390 --> 00:54:02,501 And it's that combination of effort . 1297 00:54:02,501 --> 00:54:04,390 But I think it's been very , very 1298 00:54:04,390 --> 00:54:06,723 meaningful . So to answer your question , 1299 00:54:06,723 --> 00:54:08,723 we've maintained our maintained our 1300 00:54:08,723 --> 00:54:11,470 pace , our efforts in the indo pacific 1301 00:54:11,490 --> 00:54:14,270 all the while we were we were engaged 1302 00:54:14,270 --> 00:54:16,326 in in our current efforts in Ukraine 1303 00:54:16,440 --> 00:54:18,329 got a question for General Milley 1304 00:54:18,329 --> 00:54:20,910 President's budget request cut and in 1305 00:54:20,910 --> 00:54:23,290 strength in the active Army by 12,000 1306 00:54:23,290 --> 00:54:25,512 soldiers . I want us to be very careful 1307 00:54:25,512 --> 00:54:27,623 as a country not to allow the army to 1308 00:54:27,623 --> 00:54:30,010 be a bill payer in a in a lot of areas . 1309 00:54:30,020 --> 00:54:32,640 Uh It also cut the in strength for both 1310 00:54:32,640 --> 00:54:34,640 active Air force and navy . But I'd 1311 00:54:34,640 --> 00:54:36,807 like to specifically focus on the cuts 1312 00:54:36,807 --> 00:54:40,500 of the army uh that the 1313 00:54:40,500 --> 00:54:42,667 army's requested reduction is based on 1314 00:54:42,667 --> 00:54:44,556 the reassessment of recruitment , 1315 00:54:44,556 --> 00:54:46,611 potential and obtainable goals . Can 1316 00:54:46,611 --> 00:54:48,778 you , can you speak to the pipeline uh 1317 00:54:48,778 --> 00:54:51,530 and the impact it's having on on on our 1318 00:54:51,530 --> 00:54:54,920 ability to uh to meet our 1319 00:54:54,930 --> 00:54:56,874 objectives , on the recruiting and 1320 00:54:56,874 --> 00:55:00,420 retention front . I can . 1321 00:55:00,430 --> 00:55:03,360 Overall recruiting has actually gone 1322 00:55:03,360 --> 00:55:05,620 well for the navy , the Air force uh 1323 00:55:05,630 --> 00:55:07,797 and the Marine Corps , they're meeting 1324 00:55:07,797 --> 00:55:09,852 their goals in space force , they're 1325 00:55:09,852 --> 00:55:09,500 meeting their goals . Army is a little 1326 00:55:09,500 --> 00:55:11,444 bit behind glide path . Now , high 1327 00:55:11,444 --> 00:55:13,667 schools haven't graduated yet . They're 1328 00:55:13,667 --> 00:55:15,722 they're coming up . So those numbers 1329 00:55:15,722 --> 00:55:17,778 are leaving out a little bit here in 1330 00:55:17,778 --> 00:55:19,889 the coming months . But we predict we 1331 00:55:19,889 --> 00:55:19,780 project that the army will come up 1332 00:55:19,780 --> 00:55:22,040 appointed to below what their desired 1333 00:55:22,050 --> 00:55:24,530 recruiting goals are relative to the 1334 00:55:24,530 --> 00:55:26,697 end strength . What Secretary of war , 1335 00:55:26,697 --> 00:55:28,863 Meth and Chief of Staff McConville are 1336 00:55:28,863 --> 00:55:31,086 focused on is quality of the force . So 1337 00:55:31,086 --> 00:55:33,086 they want to make sure that they're 1338 00:55:33,086 --> 00:55:35,141 bringing in high quality individuals 1339 00:55:35,141 --> 00:55:34,730 into the military . So they determined 1340 00:55:35,080 --> 00:55:37,247 in order to do that they wanted to cut 1341 00:55:37,247 --> 00:55:39,247 and strength just a little bit . So 1342 00:55:39,247 --> 00:55:41,469 it's a modest cut . Um I don't think it 1343 00:55:41,469 --> 00:55:43,691 will have a significant negative impact 1344 00:55:43,691 --> 00:55:43,040 on the overall national security . 1345 00:55:43,040 --> 00:55:45,262 United States . Uh Take , for example , 1346 00:55:45,262 --> 00:55:47,690 what you mentioned about in the pacific , 1347 00:55:47,700 --> 00:55:51,220 we've got 350 plus 1000 troops raid in 1348 00:55:51,220 --> 00:55:53,442 the pacific from the west Coast all the 1349 00:55:53,442 --> 00:55:55,970 way forward stationed west of the MDL . 1350 00:55:55,980 --> 00:55:57,950 We've got a very , very large and 1351 00:55:57,950 --> 00:56:00,300 capable naval force with the pac fleet . 1352 00:56:00,400 --> 00:56:02,289 You've got a core and a couple of 1353 00:56:02,289 --> 00:56:03,956 divisions uh and you've got a 1354 00:56:03,956 --> 00:56:05,789 tremendous amount of 4th and 5th 1355 00:56:05,789 --> 00:56:07,844 generation aircraft along with cyber 1356 00:56:07,844 --> 00:56:10,011 and space capabilities . So , relative 1357 00:56:10,011 --> 00:56:11,956 to the pacing threat , uh the main 1358 00:56:11,956 --> 00:56:14,011 effort , if you will , the strategic 1359 00:56:14,011 --> 00:56:14,010 main effort for the United States 1360 00:56:14,010 --> 00:56:15,899 military , that is clearly in the 1361 00:56:15,899 --> 00:56:17,980 pacific . So even though we are 1362 00:56:17,980 --> 00:56:20,160 incurring additional capabilities and 1363 00:56:20,160 --> 00:56:22,216 investments in what we're doing with 1364 00:56:22,216 --> 00:56:23,882 Ukraine , that's not having a 1365 00:56:23,882 --> 00:56:25,827 significant negative effect on our 1366 00:56:25,827 --> 00:56:27,882 ability to keep pace with china . Uh 1367 00:56:27,882 --> 00:56:30,104 And I think the cuts for the army , for 1368 00:56:30,104 --> 00:56:32,271 example , are quite modest relative to 1369 00:56:32,271 --> 00:56:32,360 the whole . Thank you General