Cspans q a. Cspan, your unfiltered view of government. Created by cable in 1979 and brought to you today by your television provider. Defense secretary mark eer and mark milley were on capitol hill to testify for the 2020 request for the pentagon. They were also asked about military moderation efforts and defense funds for border wall construction. The Committee Meets today to receive testimony in the department of defense fiscal year 2021 budget request and our witnesses we thank them for our service and both dr. Marques per and general mark. We have a pair of marks this morning. This committees top priority is ensuring the effectiveness adjacent to a National Defense strategy thats our vote we had heard in hearing for a long period of time now, about three years. Unfortunately, the last administration we asked our military to do more with less. That got us in trouble between 2012 and 2017, we boost 150 billion to sequestration. Our Defense Budget in the redness of our forces were devastated. I think we all understand this. As a result when President Trump came to officer, he inherited an American Military in crisis, thankfully he delivered on his promise to begin rebuilding the u. S. Armed force. Last year, President Trump negotiated the highest level of defense spending ever. A down payment toward getting our military back to work it needs to be, but thats not enough. We face a more dangerous world today than we anticipated we would. Since then, the russian has invited crimea. Back to assad and syria, sent mers naers to libya and violatinged the imf treaty. China began building islandings in the south china sea, harassing its neighbors more frequently and accelerating Nuclear Modernization. The bipartisan National DefenseStrategy Commission report said if were going to adequately fund the National Defense strategy and take on these threats, its going to take a threeto5 increase, net increase above inflation each year. Now, were not doing that. Thats what we committed to. We had a meeting here. Everyone adheres to the logic of this contract that we agreed to. But were not carrying through with it. That should mean the budget request would have been if we had adhered to that, 775 to 790 billion this year. Instead, weve got a bucket agreement that provides 740. 5 billion for all that weve got to do for our military defence. Thats not your fault. Not you guys, but Congress Needs to do more, be more realistic about what its going to take to maintain a force capable of deterring and, if needed, defeating our enemies. Were trying to do more while spending less and the math just doesnt work that way. Thats why weve, youve seen so many stories about how we cant buy necessary equipment, thats why we cant do the training that we need to do. Thats why we cant give our troops the tools that they need to keep the peace. Its all in the nds. We can pay them now or we pay them later and leave when our children need leave the debt to our children and grandchildren to pay. Theyll be doing so in the more dangerous world if we dont fix the budget tragedy that were facing right now. I know youve tried to do the best you can within the limits of what you have been given and i appreciate that you are already done, found a lot of savings and you are to be applauded for that. Thats hard to do with the decreasing budget, which we have today. And on that heavy note, i look forward to continuing to work with you to make sure our troops have the resources they need to fight and win. Senator reed. Well, thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Let me join you in welcoming our witness today. We thank them for the service of the nation. I look forward to their testimony. We consider the details of the budget request, id like to address some broader concerns i have with the department. The National DefenseStrategy Commission report released in november 2018 expressed significant concern about the balance of power between civilian and military leadership at the department of defense. Specifically, it stated, civilian voices have been relatively muted at the center of u. S. Defense and policy undermining the concept of civilian control. Unfortunately, the situation has only gotten worse since the Commission Issues its report. The office of the secretary of defense is without Senate Confirmed leadership in many of the most important positions in the policy office of the seven positions requiring senate confirmation, there are only two confirmed individual, one of these is now serving as the acting under secretary. We just received a nomination for under secretary of personnel and readiness after two year vacancy. Then on monday, the administration withdrew the nomination of Elaine Acosta to be department controller. These vacancies continue to challenge the ability to effectively respond to National Challenges and undermining the decisionmaking process. The large amount of work in the department is now being done by career Civil Servants and they, too, are beleaguered. Congress shares the blame in adding to the civil work force woes, pay freezes, hiring freeze and having career Civil Servants carry the weight of political decisions is likely to lead to a hollowing out of the work force whose experience and expertise we des spatially need february 23rd of last year i should say not this year, they have sent you mr. Secretary a letter expressing concern about the departments failure to properly empower and staff the office of the assistant secretary of Defense Special Operations and lower intensity conflict in order to fully exercise the mandated responsibilities for oversight for special operations forces. This is another position as had had an acting principle for more than half the administration. Its unacceptable, frankly, we still havent received a response to our letter more than four months later. Turning to the budget request, the fiscal year 2021 budget for the department of defense seeks the for the base budget and 69 billion for overseas contingency funds of which 16 billion is designated to pay for base requirements. And its base budget request, the Defense Department highlights resources targeted for the modernization of a more lethal force that is prepared for a highend fight and operationalize a National Defense strategy including investments in space and cyber domains. The recapitalization of our Nuclear Deterrent and the largest ever resurgent budget for Artificial Intelligence, we directed energy and Hypersonic Weapons. The base budget also increases the quality of life for our personnel. Its clear that the base budget request will not cover all of the Defense Department requirements. We have been presented with an overgeneralize of this account, i acknowledge both congress and other administrations have included element a base funding. Overloading would with 16 billion dollars of the belong the base budget is hard to justify. The department submitted a report in january that stated it is more important than ever that we find creative ways to fund nds driven activities. The review identified more than 500 billion dollars of savings that were deemed a lower priority while and consistent with parties of the nds. Secretary let me commend you for taking this review, it is a tough job and you did it thoroughly. You did it with quite a bit of energy. Now these savings will be taken from among other things, health affairs, beauty schools and cooperative production programs. I have an interest in hearing more about the analysis behind the programs that will cut or eliminate and the areas in which these resources were reinvested. Scrutinizing current programs to determine which one supports the departments priorities and which ones should be reduced or eliminated is appropriate and necessary. I again commend you. It is somewhat disingenuous to say that it has forced the department to realign funds internally to support nds implementation when the department is making an affirmative decision to divert funding from nds priorities. For example, the department recently approved the transfer of 3. 8 billion dollars from National Guard equipment, additional combat aircraft, i. S. Our assets and and these shifts in order to pay for our wall. The budget requests proposed significant cuts like the European Defense initiative. This is after funding for several military construction projects, was taken out last year to pay for the wall again. Our close bond with our european allies and partners, when our greatest refugee advantages and key to combatting russia. But these cuts send the wrong message to our allies and adversaries. It is responsible for this committee that we men and men we send it to harms way can complete the mission and returned safely. This committee is always working a bipartisan fashion, i look forward to work with all members to come to a reasonable conclusion again this year. Opening statements from secretary esper and general milley, your entire statement will be made as part of the record and you are recognized. Thank you mister chairman. Chairman paul, Ranking Member reed, distinguished members of this committee. Iest appreciate the opportunity testify. Im joined by the chairman joints of staff general mark milley. E the 2018 defensive strategy provides d a clear roadmap for theddr department of defense to address the reemergence of longterm strategic rus interference by russia andnd china. Ndsoughout the pentagon and across the joint force, the ndsa guides ourct decisions and actions as we adapt the force to simultaneouslys of content wh thee preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. We increased the readiness of or our war fighters, strengthening our alliances and partnerships and reforming the way the department does business. Additionally, we have placed renewed emphasis on taking care of our Service Members and me their families. The department ismb grateful for the strong support provided in the fy 20 and d. O. D. Appropriations which allow us to make vital investments in our militarys modernization. Enabling the creation of theovii space force and provide our l Service Members with thea in largest pay increase in a decade. Our continued success is contingent upon predictable, adequate,predi sustained and tim funding. I encourage congress to pass a full yearss a spending package r all, fy 21 on time to avoid then debilitating effects of a another continuing resolution. The total budget request is 705. 4 bil 705. 4 billion dollars. This represents a minorrthom increase from fy 20 enacted amount of 704 billion 0. 6. K it does not keep pace with inflation. Given his flattened funding level, we were required to make many sure our priorities wereare adequately funded. Weely conducted a comprehensive ai defense why review aimed at from programs esources from programs and activities that provide low return on investment. Over four month period, we conducted o over 20 review sessio sessions, examining almost 100 billion dollars in programs, agencies and activities then make up the fourth of state. This review generated 5. 7 billion dollars, in fy 2100 servings that bi were reinvested into readiness and lethalitynd efforts. Each of the military services sr is instant tweeting a similar process review to achieve theme outcome of realizing resources and finding f savings they can e reinvested into higherto higher priorities. Additionally, i have initiated the process of conducting full reviewsrior of all combat comm s toto probably align our globalie military posture to the nds. This will e will enable the department to shift greater emphasisasis to the indopacifir allow us to return troops home. We ha prepare readiness. Thus far, we have ongoing reviews of southcom and expand reviews over the incoming months. My recent decision to deploy ano Army Assistance brigade to a co replace units is an example of how this us process is allowins to better match resources to eachomma mission. The budget request reflects the sameref discipline adherence to the to nds. Preserve our ur overmatched, we made significant investments in several Critical Technologies thet will mad alter the future battlefield. Our already tea any budget isoy the largest in our history and prioritizes hypersonics, microeconomics, 5g communications, Autonomous Systems systems and artificial a intelligence. Are moving forward with a longe overdue overr capitalization of the Nations Nuclear triad, investment inubm deterrence, the be 21 stealth bomber,r,ear submarines and impd Nuclear Command systems to namei a few. Were enhancing our Missile Defense capabilities of against the growing threat of enemy advanced Missile Systems. This budgets. Request expanse os capacity to defend our interestd in space as weat consolidate muh of our space in to price in the space force. It als advances the departments Cyber Capabilities allowing ushl to protect our Digital Infrastructure while disrupting covert attacks. Finally, in the Traditional Air land and see the mains we are focused on modernizing divesting from and equipment that are no slonger suited. What the department appreciates thisth ecommittees advocacy ofa National Defense strategy ande we Value Congress is gun its on reform, i now ask on your support so we may fully s implement ouruppo decisions and move forwardth thewith the investments needed tostme ensurm militaryil maintains our competitive advantage, deter war, and preserves our nationur. Security. Thank you. Thank you secretary esper, general milley. Al chairman of Ranking Member re, me distinguished members of the committee hthank you. Foran the opportunity to join secretary esper here today. It is mymy distinct honor and privilege to represent the almost 3 million soldiers, marines, our guard coachman as the best trained, best equipped and best led military force in theeth world. It would note be possible without your continued support. This budget is a strategyrategyn driven budget. It is driven by the nds, which youch are fully aware of and i fully support. We stand ready and capable. To t deter war defend our homeland from attack. Support our allies, and if deterrence ifails, we are fully capable our nations war against any potential adversary, anywhere on the earths surface at any time. Our competitive advantage is eroding and no one should have any doubt about that. China and russia are increasing their military capabilities to e outmatched the United States and its allies in order to exert their global influence. Chinese objective is to do that by mid century. North korea, iran, and violent extremist organizations fuelan,l regional instability and pose direct threats to partnere nations anddi u. S. Citizens. And while the nature of war is constant, advanced technologies havehav stressed our Industrial Age capabilities, concepts and g processes and the changing character of war is happening in a very, very fundamental way. Ry additionally, we are recoverg from readiness shortfalls, modernization deferments, fromyf 20 years of continuous warfare in a decade a fiscalinstability. Instability. This previousss readiness and modernization gains and i believe the fy 21 budget submission is the best allocationsubmi of resources ina balanced wayayba to support the National Defensive strategy. It builds a more lethal force, it strengthens allies and partners. Force greater performance andent, the affordability. It also prioritizes the secretary said, the indopacific region to deter chinese aggression, maintainion stability and ensure access to common domains in order to preserven free and openpreservea International System for which my parents fought for in theints second world war. Ich it continues in europe, to counter russian aggression and it will continue to allow allow United States military in concert with our allies and det partners to deter a provocativen north korea and iran from i aggressive action in the regions. And all the while, it provides money to continue our Counter Terrorist operations in various parts of the world. In short, we it supports agile and capable jointorce force that can compete deter and win across all domains all today and in the future. Itthe targets specific investmes in readiness, modernization, leader development, support to our people and their families. Ana invest in our readiness recovery, whos built over the lastver three years with this committee support, all thecommip services are scheduled to meet their readiness recovery goals inss r this. It funds modernization for Great Power Competition acrossmd all war fighting domains andri improves thety safety, security andelia reliability of our very Critical Nuclear enterprise. Invests and extends the space force, and increases d resiliency, deterrence capability and more Funding Options in both space andcyberse cyberspace. It funds joint all