Transcripts For CSPAN3 Defense Sec. Esper Joint Chiefs Mill

Transcripts For CSPAN3 Defense Sec. Esper Joint Chiefs Milley On Presidents 2021 Pentagon... 20240713

The Committee Meets a diversity of testimony in the department of defense here, 2021. The budget request, we welcome our witnesses and thank you for their service in both doctor mark esper, and general mark. We have a pair of marks, this morning. This Committee Top priority is ensuring the effectiveness towards the National Defense strategy which is both what we have been adhering to for the long period of time now, but three years. Unfortunately in the last administration we asked irma terry to do more with less. That got us into trouble between 2012, 2017, we lost 150 billion to seek frustration. Our Defense Budget in the readiness of our forces were devastating. I think we all understand, that as a result, when President Trump came to office, he inherited American Military in crisis, thankfully, he delivered on his promise to begin rebuilding the u. S. Armed forces. Last, year President Trump and negotiated the highest level of defense spending ever. A down payment towards getting our military back to where it needs to be. But, that is not enough. We face a more dangerous world today than we did and anticipated we would since then there is been invasions, assad in syria, mercenaries to libya and violated the inf treaty, china became building islands in the south china sea, harassing its neighbors for frequently and accelerating its military in Nuclear Modernization. The bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission report said that if we are going to adequately fund the National Defense strategy and take on these threats, it is going to have a three to 5 that increase above inflation each year, now we are not doing that. That is what we committed to, we had a meeting here, everyone adheres to the logic of the contract that we agreed to, but we are not carrying through with it, that should mean about your request, if we had it here to, at 700 to 790 billion this, year instead of a budget agreement that provides 744. 5 billion billion for all that we have got to do for our military defense. That is not your fault, not you guys, but the Congress Needs to do more, be more realistic about what it is going to take to maintain a force capable of deterring and if needed, defeating our enemies. We are trying to do more, and the math just isnt that way. That is why you have seen so many stories about how we cant buy necessary equipment that is why we cant do the training that we need to do, that is why we cant give our troops the tools that they need to keep the peace. It is all in the nds. We can pay them now, or we pay them later, and leave one hour children leave the debt to her grandchildren to pay, and they will be doing it so in the more dangerous world, if we dont face the budget tragedy that we are facing right now. I know they have tried to do the best you can within limits of what you have been giving, and ive appreciated that you have done and found a lot of savings at our to be applauded for the. That is hard to do with the decreasing budget which we have today. On that note, i look forward to getting to work with you to make sure that our troops have the resources they need to fight in. Thank you very much mister chairman, i witnessed a day, thank you their service or nation, and look for their testimony. We consider the details of the budget request, i would like to address some broader concerns i half of the department. The National Defense Strategy Commission report released in november of 2018, expressing vacant wrist concerned about the balance of power between civilian and military leadership and the department of defense. The Commission Report stated, civilian voices have been relatively muted on issues at the center of the u. S. Defines a national policy, undermining the concept of fleeting control. Unfortunately, situations only gotten worse since the commission issued its report the offices of secretary of defense without getting conformation and its most important positions, policy office of the seven positions required senate confirmation, there are only two confirmed individuals and one of these is now serving as the acting undersecretary. We have received a nomination for with sector personnel rated after a two year vacancy. On monday ministration withdrew the nomination of al ain moscow, the departments control. These vacancies continue to challenge the departments responsibility to respond to National Security challenges, undermines billion inputs into the decisionmaking process. With political point the department is now being done by career Civil Servants and they too are belated. Congress shares the blame and adding to civilian workforce with quarter quiets. Higher pay freezes, other freezes, exam from collective bargaining and having Civil Servants carry out political surgeons is likely calling it a workforce whose experience and expertise we desperately need. Furthermore, october 23rd of last year, i should say, not last year this year, our counterparts are senate, mister secretary, a letter expressing concern of the departments failure to properly in power and staff the office of the assistant secretary of defense and successful operations, in order to fully access or size its advocacy and special operations. This position headed acting position, and it is unacceptable that we have not received response to our letter more than four months later. Returning to the budget request before us, 2020 budget for the department of defense six 600 billion dollars to the base budget, and 69 billion budgets overseas contingency funds. Which 16 billion is requested four based requirements, its base budget requests, it highlights resources target for the marginalization of a more lethal force that has been prepared for a highend fight against near competitors and to operationalize the National Defense strategy. Including investments, space and cyber demands, the recapitalization of our nuclear territory, and the largest ever Research Development for arched official intelligence, direct energy, and hypersonic pins. The base budget requests also forts the quality of life for our Service Members by sustaining Family Support initiatives, and by authorizing a 3 pay raise. However, it is clear the base budget requests will not cover all of the Defense Department requirements. So, once again, we have been presented with an overly generous use of the oak will count. I have acknowledge that both congress and other administrations have given funding to account, but overlooking the request with 1 16 billion dollars back to that truly belongs in the face budget, its truly difficult to justify. I will also highlight this budget will reflect the outcome of the secretary fences wider view. The departments their report to congress in january, stated in an era flattening budget, it is more important than ever that we find creative ways to fund and the estimate activities. Their view identified more than five billion dollars of savings in defense white programs that were deemed a lower priority or inconsistent with the priorities in the nds. In the sector, let me commend you for taking this review on. It is a tough job, and you did it thoroughly. You did it with quite a bit of energy. Now, these savings will be taking, however, from among other things, health affairs, beauty schools, uncooperative deduction programs. Im interesting hearing about the programs in which these resources reinvested. Scrutinizing programs to determine which are the departments priorities, and what should be eliminated, is inappropriate and unnecessary. It is somewhat disingenuous to argue that the Defense Budgets are forced to departments to read biased funds to implement and is making an affirmative decision for nds priorities, such as the department recently approved the transfer of 3. 8 billion dollars from National Guard, additional combat air craft, acids, and other ships, in order to play for the president s court of war. The budget requests for force proposes cuts to initiatives such as the European Defense initiative, this is after funding for several military constructive projects the edi has taken out for the war. Our close bonds our european allies and partners, one of our greatest strategic advantages in key to countering nearest competitor competition of russia, however the cut edi sends the wrong message. It is responsible of this committee to ensure the minimum we send it to harm his way have the resources necessary to keep the missionary turn home safely. I am proud of this committee and the chairmans leadership has always worked in a bipartisan fashion during this process, and i look forward to working with all of the Committee Matters to come to reasonable agreement again this year. Thank you. Thank you senator. Opening statements from secretary esper, and general milley. Your entire state will be made a part of the record, and you are recognized. Thank you mister chairman. And chairman in, have read, distinguished managers of this committee. In support of the president s budget request in support of 2021, i am joined today by the chairman of joint chiefs of staff, general mark a. Milley. The 2018 National Defense strategy provides a clear roadmap for the department of defense to address the reemergence of long term strategic competition from near pierre competitors, china, then russia. Throughout the pentagon and across the joint forces the ngos guides our decisions and actions as we head down to the force to simultaneously contempt of the threats of today, all preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. We do this by increasing the readiness and lethality of our war fighter, strengthening our alliances in partnership, and reforming the way the department as business. Additionally, we have replaced renewed emphasis on taking care of our Service Members and their families. The department is grateful for the strong support provided in the 20 nda and the appropriations, such a lot of smoke vital investments in our militarys modernization. Enable the creation of the space for, us and provide our Service Members with the largest pay increase in a decade. Our continued success is continued about predictable, adequate, a sustained, and timely funding. I encourage congress to pass a full Year Spending package for all, fy 21 on time to avoid the g billeting effects of another continue resolution. The departments request is 705 point billion dollars, liz represents a minor increase from f i20 and an active amount of 704. 6 billion dollars, but does not keep pace with inflation. Given this find funding level we required to make many decisions to ensure our parties were funded. Two naval our decision, regularly conducted a comprehensive defense wider view and at reallocating to sources from programs that activities that offered low return on investment, the goals and objectives of the nds. Over four month period of conducting 20 abuse actions, examining almost 100 billion dollars in programs, agencies, and activities that make up the fourth of state. Theres a huge entered 5. 7 billion dollars, and fy 21 savings that were reinvested back into readiness and lethality efforts each of the military services is also instituting a similar review process across the budgets to achieve the same outcome of realign resources, and finding savings that could be reinvested into higher priorities. Additionally, i have initiated the process of conducting for abuse of all combatant commands to properly aligned our Global Military process to the nds. This effort will enable the government to have a higher priority engagement, and allow us to return troops home to build right in. This thus far, we have ongoing abuse of african southcom, and we will expand other demands over the next coming months. An army of security force, this is super great, two units to place the combat team to show how this is each combat command. The budget request reflects the same disciplined hearing to the nds to reserve our overmatched, we have made significant investments into over several technologies that will benefit the battlefield. It prioritizes hypersonics, microeconomics, 5g communications, atomic systems and Artificial Intelligence. We are moving forward with a long overdue recapitalization of the Nations Nuclear triad, with key investments in the ground based critiqued iterant, the be 21 stealth bomber, the columbia class submarine, and improve Nuclear Command control and Communications Systems to name a few. We are also enhancing our Missile Defense capabilities to grow against the growing threat. This budget requests expand our capacity to defend our interest in space as we consolidate much of our space and a price on the space horse. It also bounces the Department Cyber capabilities, allowing us to dip and our Digital Infrastructure will distracting covert activity. This includes defending the integrity of our democracy by assisting in the security of our elections. Finally, in the Traditional Air land and sea demands, we are focused on modernizing our investments by investing from platforms that are no longer suited for the strategic environment. The department appreciates the committees advocacy of National Defense strategy and we Value Congress is got as a reform, i now ask for your support, so it may fully implement our decisions move forward with the investments needed to ensure americas military contains our competitive advantage, confused her war and continues our nations security. Thank you. Thank you secretary esther. General milley. Chairman james m. Inhofe, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to join esper here today. It is my distinct honor and privilege to represent the almost 3 million soldiers, and others and civilians of the armed forces, the best trained, best equipped, and best led military force in the world, that would not be possible without your continued support. This budget is a strategy driven budget it, is driven by the nds what you are fully aware of. I fully support it. We stand ready and capable to deter war, defend our homeland from attack, support our allies, and if it turns fails, we are fully capable today to fight and win our nations wars against any potential adversary, anywhere on the earth surface, at any time. Our competitive advantage has eroded, and no one should have any doubt about that. And china and russia increasing military capabilities, to outmatched estates and its allies in order to exert their global influence. In chinas objectives to do that by mid century. North korea, iran, and violent extremist organizations feel regional instability imposed direct threats to partner nations and u. S. Citizens. While the nature of war is constant, advanced technologies have stressed our industrial aids capabilities, concepts, and processes. In the changing character war, is happening in a very fundamental way. Additionally, we are recovering from readiness, shortfalls, and modernization deferments from 20 years and continuous warfare, and a decade of fiscal instability. This years budget builds on previous readiness and modernization gains and i believe the fy 21 budget submission is the best allocation of resources in a balanced way to support a National Defense strategy. It builds a more lethal force it strengthens allies and partners and reforms the department for greater performances affordability it also prior charges as secretary said, and a person region to ensure access to commitments in order to preserve, free, and open international systems. From which my parents fought for in the second world war. It continues in europe to counter russian aggression, it will continue to allow the United States military in concept with our allies in partnerships to deter provocative north korea, iran, from aggressive action. In the regions. All the while, it provides money, continue our separations in various parts of the world. In short, fy21 it sure is ready and joint forces that complete deterrent and win across all the rage today, and in the future. It target specific investments in readiness modernization, and developments towards our people and their families. It invested our readiness recovery, built over the last three years, with this Committee Supports and all services are scheduled to meet their readiness recovery goals in this fight. It funds modernization, for a great power in competition across all war fighting the mains, it also improve safety, security, and reliability of our very Critical Nuclear enterprise. It invests and stands up to space force. It increases resiliency, deterrence, capability, and war fighting options in both space and cyberspace. It funds joint across all the services. And with our allies. And, it invests in the advanced technologies that the secretary mentioned to address a more complex threat at a faster pace as a character war changes. This budget also invest in our most valuable asset, the most valuable possible United States military is our people. It also funds the facilities, infrastructures, Family Support, and equality like progr

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