Press Article
House Armed Services Committee Confronts Defense Secretary on Budget and Security Concerns
WASHINGTON — During a tense hearing on Thursday, House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to address critical issues, including the Department of Defense’s fiscal year 2026 budget, rising threats from Russia, and defense acquisition reforms.
Chairman Rogers criticized delays in receiving the full budget request from the Office of Management and Budget, calling it “unacceptable” and detrimental to national security efforts. With President Donald Trump’s preliminary budget proposal at $961.6 billion—an increase of $113 billion from the previous year—Rogers expressed concerns that without additional reconciliation funding, the DOD budget would essentially remain stagnant compared to FY 2025.
Rogers pressed for continued growth in Pentagon funding amidst escalating global threats, emphasizing, “the urgency of our national security has never been higher.” Hegseth echoed this sentiment, asserting that the current administration’s policies foster peace but acknowledged that adapting to battlefield realities could necessitate funding increases.
The hearing also highlighted Rogers’ bipartisan initiative, the SPEED Act, aimed at streamlining the defense acquisition process to expedite delivery of military capabilities. Hegseth recognized the inefficiencies within the current system, calling it “too bureaucratic” with excessive gatekeepers.
In stark contrast to Rogers’ measured inquiries, Democrats, including Rep. Adam Smith, expressed frustration over issues such as the potential acquisition of Greenland and the recent Signal leak. Heated exchanges raised concerns about military contingency plans for both Panama and Greenland, emphasizing the divided views within the committee.
As discussions concluded, the committee recognized the interconnectedness of global adversarial actions, with Rogers warning that a Russian victory in Ukraine would embolden other adversaries, including China and North Korea. "We must not allow that to happen," he urged.
The hearing underscored the pressing need for robust defense strategies and bipartisan cooperation in navigating complex national security challenges.
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