The Senate Armed Services Committee considers Lloyd J. Austin’s nomination for Defense Secretary, January 19, 2021. Part 1 of 2.

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Transcript

Let’s say the committee meets today to consider expected nomination of Mr. Lloyd J. Austin, the third to be secretary of defense of the United States of American. I think all of you guys for being here. It’s been a hardship on many of you, and it was on me to and were able to get this done. So, Mr. Austin, we welcome you in a warm welcome to Charlene, your wife of more than 41 years. My wife and I were 61 years. Think you’ll make it? You all right? It We are very happy. Mr. Austin, you’ll be introduced now by Senator Sullivan, a member of our committee. Senators Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Last time we were together, a senator’s our capital was under siege. America’s authoritarian rivals abroad have been gloating about our disunity. Democracy brings chaos. They tell their people better to have a strong hand that keeps order. We live in an imperfect democracy, No doubt in the American. I am proud and honored to introduce Mr Lloyd. Austin understands our imperfections more than many. But on closer inspection, the world’s dictators have little to celebrate. Congress went back to work on January 6 to count Electoral College votes. Tomorrow there will be a transfer of power at the top of our government, as there has been since the founding of our republic. At some point, Chinese and Russian citizens will ask, Why can’t we do that? Why don’t we have strong, resilient institutions that ensure the regular election of new leaders, invest self government and the people? When these questions are asked, authoritarians like Xi Jinping and Putin won’t be gloating anymore because they don’t have answers. What does this all have to do with Lloyd Austin? Ah, lot. Mr. Austin has been nominated to lead one of America’s most trusted institutions, the Department of Defense. Many of us have worked hard to rebuild our military, but we can all agree that there has been too much turmoil at the top. As its civilian leader, I am confident that Mr Austin will bring steadiness, leadership and respect to this indispensable institution. I got to know Mr Austin in 2005. In 2006, serving together in an Army heavy combatant command conducting combat operations throughout the Middle East, we had what might be described today as an uneven power relationship. He was a two star general. I was a major. He had spent decades on active duty. I was a reservist. He was a soldier. I was a Marine. I was just one of hundreds of field grade infantry officers recall the active duty deployed in the region during a challenging time for our nation. But when I asked for his help, Mr Austin gave it. When I had a problem, he listened. And when I asked for guidance on an important mission, he provided it. The critical hallmark of exceptional leadership, especially for organizations like the Pentagon, is not just how one treats superiors, but how one treats subordinates. What I saw was respect, integrity and someone who gets things done in a difficult environment. It is clear to me that the core principles of Mr Austin’s life have been duty, honor, country. That may sound quaint to some, but I think having individuals of impeccable character at the top of our government is more important than ever. Other than integrity, there is no singular requirement for the difficult job of secretary defense, but is the former director of the Joint Staff and Centcom commander Mr Austen, certainly has insights on critical issues such as inter agency budget battles, working with our allies and congressional oversight. Mr. Austin is fully committed to the constitutional principle of civilian control of our military, something that those who serve in uniform typically understand and revere more than those who don’t in that regard. I thought some of the testimony from our recent hearing on this important topic was a bit simplistic, with discussions about so called military logic versus political logic. So let me play Devil’s Advocate. The very nature of this confirmation hearing is evidence that civilian control of the military is not at risk in America. I believe they’re related. But opposite problem should be of more concerned today. No military experience in the top ranks of our government. With the exception of Mr Austen, no nominee on the incoming Biden national security team has ever served in uniform with regard to the entire Biden Cabinet Onley. One other nominee has any military experience at all. This is not wise. If confirmed, I’m sure I won’t agree with all of Mr Austin’s decisions. But when the inevitable budget battles occur, it will be critical for our nation’s security and military members to have a secretary defense who understands first hands the very riel morale and readiness problems that result from drastic cuts to our military. Let me conclude with this. We’re living through difficult times a pandemic, racial tensions, riots, turmoil at the top of the Pentagon and rising dangers from China, Russia and Iran. Mr. Austin’s confirmation won’t solve all these problems, but it will help. He represents the best of America, a man of integrity, humility and character with a wealth of relevant experience. Our allies will take comfort in his confirmation, and our adversaries will take pause. And as America’s first black secretary defense, he will be an inspiration to millions both in and out of uniform. I urge my college colleagues to support his confirmation in the waiver it requires. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Thank you, Senator Sullivan and I do agree with your comments who heartedly and I believe that we’re gonna be doing the right thing here. Now we have another introduction by Secretary Panetta, a former secretary of you have defense and former very close friend of mine who served together in the house together. And it’s not. It’s been too long uh, Secretary Panetta and you are recognized for your part of this introduction. Thank you very much, Mr Chairman. Senator Inhofe. I always enjoyed our friendship going back to the House of Representatives ranking member read on distinguished members of this committee. It’s an honor for me to again have the opportunity to appear before this distinguished committee, this time alongside Senator Dan Sullivan. Thio Introduce President elect Biden’s nominee to be the 28th secretary of defense Lloyd Austin We do meet at a time of great peril for our nation, but it’s also a time of great promise. We have endured, ah, harrowing year dealing with the deadly pandemic and, most recently, a violent attack on our capital. This Congress and our democracy itself. Our adversaries are watching very closely. They’re trying to determine whether America will remain the strongest and most resilient democracy the world has ever known. It’s also a time of great promise. Tomorrow at this time, our country will have a new president, a man who many of you know personally from his decades of service as the United States senator, a man who alive knew him for over 40 years and had the privilege to work with during my years in the Congress in the White House, and I was honored to serve him when he was vice president of CIA director and Secretary of Defense Joe Biden is absolutely committed to ensuring that we remain the strongest military power on the face of the Earth. He believes that we must have the best trained, best equipped and most capable fighting force in the world. And he believes that the Department of Defense must be led by someone who not only knows the issues of war and peace but also knows the heart and soul, the women and men who bravely wear the uniforms with their lives on the line and fight for our freedom. That’s why he selected Lloyd Austin to serve a secretary of defense. Lloyds accomplishments of the Department of Defense are without Peer. Graduated from West Point. He’s leading. He led troops at almost every level, commanded in combat, served as America’s military commander During the draw down in Iraq, he served his vice chief of staff of the army and as commanding general of the U. S. Central Command. And all of you know that that’s one of the key combat commands at the Department of Defense. I met Lloyd when I came to D o D. A secretary in July of 2011. We had just six months to implement the drawdown in Iraq, and Lloyd was the man on the ground charged with getting a gun. It was a huge logistical task. He consulted carefully with the president with the vice president, national security adviser, his colleagues at the State Department and those in the intelligence community. And he carried out with diligence and professionalism the plan that was set forth by me and other civilian leaders at the Pentagon. He had to negotiate with the Iraqis. We’re not easy to negotiate with at that time and ensure that our troops and all of their equipment could redeploy safely while protecting America’s court. National security interests mentioned this episode because I know that many of you are wondering whether a former general officer can uphold the principle of civilian control of the military. I’ve spoken toe Lloyd and there is no doubt in my mind that he will uphold the principle of civilian control and frankly, the best military officers and I had the honor to serve with are those who understand the importance of civilian control. And Lloyd was one of those. He will respect the civilian chain of command, enshrined not only in tradition but in law. He will ensure there is transparency and accountability at the Pentagon. He’ll make himself and department leaders available to this committee and to the Congress for oversight, and he’ll provide regular briefings to the American people. He will support the appointment of civilian leaders across the office of the secretary and the department. He knows that while we cannot defend our nation without our armed forces, we cannot defend our democratic form of government without strong civilian stewardship of our national security. Lloyd Austin There’s a man of uncommon character and decency. Encourage is a Trailblazer feared by our enemies and admired by those that he left. He was the first African American general officer, so lead the Army Corps in combat. He was the first African American to command an entire theater of war, and if confirmed, he will be the first African American to lead the Department of Defense in some Mr chairman and members of the committee. I believe that Lloyd Austin is the right person at the right time, man that we need at this moment lead the Department of Defense. He’s clear eyed about the threats, and we know there are a number of threats We’re dealing with a broad China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, cyber Attackers and terrorists. He understands the value of alliances, keeping them strong supporting that. And he’s prepared to shoulder the awesome burden of sending our best men and women in uniform, if necessary, into harm’s way. The most difficult task we who have been secretary of defense had to assume as Americans watched the tragic images from the Capitol Rotunda in January 6th on January 6th, I was reminded of one painting in that space that has always represented, for me the ideal of service to country. That’s the oil painting of George Washington, resigning his commission as general in the Army so that he could assume the duties being the nation’s first president. It’s a statement about our democratic form of government that has stood the test of time in that hollowed citadel of liberty, the tradition of military leaders from Washington, Eisenhower Marshall to the large number of veterans we’re serving in Congress today, including my own son of taking off our uniforms, returning to civilian life the lead, and to serve again that tradition. It is as old as our republic itself and essential the quality of leadership we need in order to protect our Constitution and our national security. I am absolutely confident that Lloyd Austin will follow in that tradition. I’m honored to introduce him to the committee and urged his swift confirmation. Thank you, Secretary Panetta. It’s great to be with you again after all these years, and you haven’t lost a thing. Uh, okay. Mm. Mr Austin, we have our first seven questions. And you know what? There are. So you’re ready to answer them, but answer him audibly. If you would have you adhered to applicable laws and regulations governing conflict of interest, I have Will you ensure that your staff complies with deadlines established for requested communications, including questions? For the record in hearings, I will. Will you cooperate in providing witnesses and briefers in response to congressional requests? I will. Will those witnesses be protected from Reprisal for their testimony or briefings? They will. Do you agree, if confirmed, to appear and testify upon request before this committee, I do. And do you agree to provide documents including copies of electronic forms of communication in a timely matter when requested by a duly constituted, constituted committee, or to consult with the committee regarding the basis for any good faith, delay or denial in providing such documents? I do. And have you assumed any duties or undertaking any actions, which would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process? I have not thank you very much. As Secretary Panetta clearly stated, We don’t have a There’s not a time in the past that we’ve had more threats that we’re facing today and, uh, focused on the ensuring and resource to implement this. The national defense strategy. This document is a document that means a lot to all of us here. It’s been our blueprint we’ve used since 2018, put together by six uh, knowledgeable Democrats, six knowledgeable Republicans and it’s served as our blueprint, and I would assume that you would consider continue to do that as the secretary of Defense, second chain of command. You’d be responsible and accountable to the president of the United States and to the American people for implementing this strategy. I look forward to learning how you would drive military readiness for the strategic competition with China and Russia, which would have talked about at length there. How you will also handle some of the provocations from rogue nations like Iran and North Korea. Even worse is that our military’s technology advantage advantage has eroded. We released the old days when we had the best of everything, and that’s that’s not true anymore. We saw way fell down a little bit. I know. Between the years of 2010 and 2015, we were dropping our military, our our defense in terms of dollars, down by about 25% while China was increasing. There’s, uh, Mr Charleston by 83% and that’s not acceptable. The nation and Department of Defense is gonna tackle this problem head on if we hope to preserve and defend our way of life from those who would do harm to us. If confirmed, you would have the honor of leading a team of Americans who represent everything that is noble. Invest for our nation, our soldiers or sailors, airman, Marines, space guardians, our military families and, by the way, on the military families. We always hear from those who are a little less enthusiastic about a strong national defense that we spend more than Russia and China put together. And there’s a reason for that. The reason for that is we care about the families we care about housing we care about. The largest single expense that we have in military is for our families, our military families. Now in a communist country, you don’t have that. They just give you a gun, said Go out and shoot people. So this is That’s what we are concerned about and we will continue to do that are many defense civil servants also sacrificed day in and day out for a national security and really get credit for they deserve. The department will require strong civilian leadership for you to serve as the secretary of defense. Congress must provide an exception to the law that prohibits individuals from being appointed if they are within seven years of their military service. Last week, this committee held a hearing on civilian control of the armed services, which I think it was instructive. I’ve never been all that concerned about the seven years, but others, others have. I hope that you will share with the committee what actions you will take to ensure your tenure reflects reflects in, uh protects the principle of civilian control of the military. If you’re confirmed, we look forward to hearing your views on these and other important issues. Senator Reid. Well, thank you very much, Mr Chairman, and I join you in welcoming Lloyd Austin. Today’s hearing. General, I want to thank you for your four decades of military service to our country, and I appreciate your willingness to return to public service this time in a civilian capacity. In addition, I wanna welcome your wife Charlene, also want to recognize and thank former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, who spoke on your behalf and, in addition, center to Sullivan for their introductions. Today’s hearing is also very different from previous Secretary Defense nomination hearings. Due to recent security threats, the acting sector defense has authorized the deployment of 25,000 National Guard troops to Washington D. C. I never thought I would see such a large display of U. S military force on the streets of our country. I thank the service members and the other federal agencies for ensuring that the U. S. Capitol and the inauguration is safe and secure. In addition, the world continues to be engulfed in a global pandemic that is course, hundreds of thousands of deaths in the United States and second, millions more. This has not only affected the way we conduct our hearings, but has become the paramount issue facing new administration, including the Department of Defense. General Austin, You have a longer distinguished career. You have served the highest echelons in the Army and capture service as the commander of US Central Command. If confirmed the next sector defense, you will face a daunting array of current and emerging security threats. U. S strategic priorities have shifted in region ears, as reflected in the 2018 National Defense Strategy to focus increasingly on the near peer competition with China and Russia. At the same time, the Trump administration, through its disruptive behavior, has eroded faith in US global leadership with adverse strategic consequences. Indeed, our national defense strategy must be a component oven overall national security strategy that embraces all aspects of soft power as well as military power. As a former commander of US Central command. You have valuable experience to addressing security threats in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and elsewhere in the Centcom area of operations. The incoming Biden administration faces an immediate challenge With respect to our rand’s brewing growing nuclear ballistic missile and proxy capabilities, the Department of Defense will pick a key role in deterring these threats while supporting diplomatic efforts in Iraq and Syria. While the physical Isis caliphate has been defeated, the underlying factors they gave rise to Isis and Al Qaeda remained largely unaddressed. Defending against transnational violence. Extremist groups will require continued vigilance in Afghanistan. Our allies and partners need to be reassured that going forward, they will be consulted upfront on any changes in U. S. Force posture. The incoming administration will need to assess the conditions on the ground, including whether the Taliban is in fact living up to their commitments and what level of supported required to protect US national security interest invigorate a diplomatic solution. In addition to these broad strategic challenges, the secretary defense, you must also grapple with issues specific to the management of the department. The physical year 2022 budget were the first that is unconstrained by the Budget Control Act. And some view this as an opportunity to redirect the overall defense budget this year will mark an inflection point, and how the department prioritizes resource is it needs to accomplish its missions. The department most focused its efforts on critical technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology and cybersecurity, while also emphasizing rapid delivery of advanced new weapons systems on timelines that keep pace with technological change. The Department of Defense most partner with Congress to find ways to retire legacy systems without incurring too much risk, operationally or economically. The department also has management challenges that require investment in great people to manage the complexities of the Pentagon and its processes rather than endless search for budget cuts and workforce reductions. Ensuring a robust funding for full spectrum readiness, including additional home station training, flying hours, steaming days, depot maintenance and installation. Sustainment has been a high priority for this committee, and I expect it will be yours, too. The department must also hold private housing companies and their defense chain of command accountable to ensure family live in the homes they deserve, our men and women in uniform and the civilian workforce that supports them remain this committee’s top concern, and they must be yours as well. Recruiting and retaining a sufficiently size trained and equipped military of the necessary quality of character and talent to meet national defense requirements is always a paramount goal of secretary defense in this committee. Successful recruiting, ensuring the health, the forces. Bannon will continue to be a challenge while we finish the national fight against covert General Lawson, as I have recounted in great Deal detail. If confirmed, you will manage the department coping with many extraordinarily difficult issues. It will require strong civilian leadership to address these challenges and to reverse the erosion of civil military relations over the past several years. However, in order to serve as a secular defense, Congress must provide an exception to the statutory requirement that prohibits individuals from being appointed if they are within seven years of the military service. Last week, this committee heard from expert witnesses on the state of civilian control of the armed forces. Some members expressed concern that providing an exception for you to serve with second defense, particularly so soon after Secretary Mattis could harm civil military relations. It is the valid concern, but as that witnesses testified it it’s possible to mitigate the effects if you demonstrate your commitment to empowering civilians and department further, we must also hear how you view the role of secretary defense and how that position is different from your days of honorable service. As a military officer, this distinction is critical as the secretary, defense is an inherently political position, requiring a skill set for managing a vast bureaucracy while balancing personalities within the department and across our federal agencies. Related Lee on Effective Secretary Must Be Transparent with Congress Tensions awful often exists between the executive and legislative branches, regardless of political party. However, the department must keep Congress fully informed on critical national security developments so that we can conduct congressional oversight. GENERAL Austin With these broad categories of mind, I hope you will candidly share what actions you will take to ensure your tenure reflects and protects the principle of civilian control of military. Finally, strengthening civil military relations is not the sole responsibility of the Secretary of defense. Congress has a role to. This includes expeditiously confirming qualified survey nominees to serve in the Pentagon. Furthermore, I believe Congress should revisit the headquarters reductions implemented over the past several years. While well intentioned, thes budget cuts have sapped the department of experience, expertise and institutional knowledge, all of which degrades the department’s ability toe oversee the critical policy issues that are integral for robust civilian oversight. Again, I thank you, Mr Chairman. I look forward to hearing from our nominee. Thank you, Senator Reid. Excellent. Excellent statement with some senators attending remotely. I wanna let everyone knows how we’re going to run this thing. Uh, since it’s impossible to know exactly when our colleagues who will be joining via computer uh, we will not follow our standard early bird timing, Ruined said. We’ll handle three order of questions by seniority, alternating between sides, Democrat and Republican. Until we have gone through everyone, then we’ll see how much time we have left in what the wishes we will do the standard. Instead of doing the standard five minutes, Senator Reid and I have agreed that seven minute rounds might be more appropriate, and I asked my colleagues on the computers to please keep an eye on the clock, which you should see on your screens, and we’ll try to adhere to this seven minute rounds finally, to allow for everyone to be heard. Whether in the room or on a computer, I ask all colleagues to please mute your microphone. When you’re not speaking, Mr. Austin will begin with your opening statement and be assured that the entirety of your written statement would be made a part of the record. General Austin. Well, thank you, Mr Chairman and Ranking Member read members of this committee. I’m grateful for your time this afternoon, especially during these momentous days. It was apparent to me and to all Americans two weeks ago how seriously you take your duties to the Constitution and I thank you for that commitment. I know that you share my gratitude for the commitment of the men and women of the Department of Defense as well, who share your devotion to that founding document, our Constitution. Many of them are serving overseas. Some of them are serving just outside this room, and all of them are keeping us safe. We owe much to their selflessness and to that of their families. I want to thank Senator Sullivan and Secretary Panetta for their kind words of introduction. I am I am truly grateful and Of course, I want to thank my wonderful wife, Charlene, who, like today, had stood by my side for more than 40 years, guiding me, supporting me and making me a better man. I’m also very grateful to President elect Biden for asking me to serve my country again. I value the strength of my relationship with him, and I am humbled by the trust and confidence that he has placed in me. I hope this hearing will earn me your trust. Let me say at the outset that I understand and respect the reservations that some of you have expressed about having another recently retired general at the head of the Department of Defense. The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces. The subordination of military power to the civil. I spent my entire life committed to that principle in war and peace. I implemented the policies of civilians elected and appointed over me. Leaders like Secretary Panetta and I know that being a member of the President’s Cabinet a political appointee requires a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniforms. I intend t to surround myself with and empower experience capable civilian leaders who will enable healthy civil military relations grounded in meaningful oversight. Indeed, I plan to include the undersecretary of defense for policy and top decision making meetings ensuring strategic and operational decisions are informed by policy. I will re balance collaboration and coordination between the joint staff and the OSD staff to ensure civilian input is integrated at every level of the process. And I will make clear my expectation that the Pentagon work hand in glove with the State Department supporting the work of our diplomats. Now, I know that a large measure of civilian control of our military lies right here with this body. And if you confirm me, I assure you that the Pentagon, under my leadership, will respect your oversight responsibilities. And we will be transparent with you, and I will provide you my best counsel and I will seek yours. And just like you, I will take seriously the many challenging many challenges facing our country, the most immediate of which, in my view, is the pandemic. And if confirmed, I will quickly review the department’s contributions to coronavirus relief efforts, ensuring that we’re doing everything that we can tow help distribute vaccines across the country and to vaccinate our troops and preserve readiness. We’ll also do everything we can for our military families. They, too, are educating kids at home and losing their jobs and trying to stock the pantry. I know this committee shares my view that we owe them our best efforts toe. Lighten that load. We also are people are working environment free of discrimination, hate and harassment. And if confirmed, I will fight hard to stamp out sexual assault and to read our ranks of racist and extremist and to create a climate where everyone fit and willing, has the opportunity to serve this country with dignity. The job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies. But we can’t do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks. For those enemies and adversaries outside the ranks and around the world, we need resource is to match strategy and strategy matched to policy and policy matched to the will of the American people globally. I understand that Asia must be the focus of our efforts, and I see China in particular as a pacing challenge for the department. I know I’ll need your help in tackling these problems and to give our men and women and uniformed the tools that they need to fight and win. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Well, I did not seek this job. I consider it an honor. And if confirmed, I will carry out the mission of the Department of Defense always with the goal to deter war and ensure our nation’s security. And I will uphold the principle of civilian control of the military as intended. And I would not be here asking for your support if I felt that I was unable or unable or unwilling toe question people with whom I once served in operations that I once led, or too afraid to speak my mind to you or to the president. I was a general and a soldier, and I’m proud of that. But today I appear before you as a citizen, the son of a postal worker and a homemaker from Thomasville, Georgia, and I’m proud of that, too. And if you confirm me, I am prepared to serve now as a civilian, fully acknowledging the importance of this distinction, and I thank you again for consideration of my nomination and for your steadfast support of our men and women in uniform, our civilians and their families. And I look forward to answering your questions. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Thank you. Jane Austen. Great statement. You heard my comments, General Austin, about the the document, the national defense strategy. You’re familiar with this? I’m sure you’ve read it many times. What do you think about its relevance today? Have you seen changes should be made in this or what you’re playing today? Contemporary Li about this statement. I think much of the document is absolutely on track for today’s challenges. Mr. Chairman, a za za case with all strategies. If confirmed, one of the things that I would look to do is is to work to update the strategy and work within the confines of the guidance and the policy, uh, issued by the current the next administration. Yeah, well, that’s right. And the guidance also from this this document I think it’s still relevant today in this document. The previous two secretaries of the Defense Secretary Mattis, Secretary Esper both agreed that that document, uh, prescribed that we’d probably need a 3 to 5% re really growth in defense budget effectively in the coming years. Do you agree generally with that statement? Well, Mr Chairman, as I as I said in the opening statement, I believe that our resource is need to match our strategy and our strategy needs to match your policy. Yeah, I would assume that BS and others were gonna be asking about the civilian military relations. I know that, but let me cover a couple of things that I think are very important. The on the nuclear try a lot of people who are different ideas and what we should do in priorities we have in our defense system that we they try to whittle away at the nuclear triad. And we have always felt in the secretaries of defense that nuclear deterrence is. Do you agree with them that nuclear assessment that nuclear deterrence is the D. O. D s highest priority mission? I do, Mr Chairman. And do you agree that the Triad, the land, air and sea based nuclear delivery platforms are still necessary? Even though we do here Ah, lot of arguments that two of the three would be adequate. What do you think Mr Chairman, I believe that the triad has served us well in the past and I certainly believe that it will continue to do so going forward and I personally support the try it Good way have kind of ah for gotten continent for a long period of time in Africa. I remember when Africa was in three different commands, it was in the pay calm, the Central Command and in the you come and we came along with Africom and I think it’s things have really improved since that time and I’m really I think it’s a critical theater for implementing this national defense strategy that we have. We see China all over people talk about the South China Sea about their building of the islands and all these things that were going on. But they forget that China is for the first time left their city limits to support a major objective on their behalf. And that’s in Djibouti and they go not just in Djibouti but all throughout China. Asus, far south, is the southern part of Tanzania and it Z and so it’s very active in that in that area, I would ask you right now we have some 6000 D o D personnel on the continent. I know there’s been an effort. There’s an effort in this last administration to be reducing in some areas what our presence, what are resource is how they should be put out. My feeling was that we had inadequate resource is to start with only 6000 in the entire continent. Do you have any thoughts that you’ve given Thio, uh, to that in terms of the resource is that we need to use in that part of the world, Mr. Chairman, Africa, like some other places in the world, has been, has been one of those places where we’ve been able to gain good effect by with a small amount of investment by helping to, uh, helping our partners to increase their their ability to defend their sovereign territory and to protect themselves that’s actually way have to keep in mind that they have. Many of our closest allies are there right now. And if we should deteriorate our presence in any way, we would I have a feeling they do the same thing. So I appreciate that very much. One last thing I want to touch on because it is a current issue. Ever since the International Court of Justice ruled way back in in 1975 I believe it was that that we have in Western Sahara. We’ve supported a referendum for self determination. Now the United States has that done that ever since the 19 seventies. The U. N. Has done that since the 19 seventies. The African Union has done that in most. All of the 52 nations of Africa have all stated that the Western Sahara should have a referendum for self determination. What do you think? Well, that’s a knish. You that I certainly would want to take a closer look at Mr Chairman before I gave you a a a detailed answer. But it’s one of the things that I’ll look at, uh, if confirmed right away, going into the into the position. Yeah, and I’d like to have you keep in mind that they have been consistent for so many years now. And s o. I would I would anticipate that your your feelings would be the same. Senator Reid. Um, Well, thank you very much, Mr Chairman. And thank you, General Lawson. Uh, one issue. Uh, that is obvious is the discussion of the erosion of civilian control, participation, influence on department defense That was highlighted by the national, uh, defense security document, which the chairman has displayed. But the suggestion there was it was not something that was happening in an instant that it was taking place over years. And part of that, I believe, is the lack of competent civilian authorities in place. Uh, there are many individuals, as I suggested, my statement that are acting there are others who are civil servants have been pushed up into jobs that normally require confirmation. And there’s been a lack of sometimes candidates for confirmation. So I would ask you, if you are confirmed, will you do your utmost to ensure that every position, civilian position and department is filled that we get nominees promptly? I know you have to work to the White House and that other individuals will be, um, put in positions where they were both skilled and qualified. Absolutely. Uh, Senator Reid, I will do everything I can to move as quickly as I can to to move to fill those positions with experience and competent, qualified civilians. And I will need the help of this body to make sure that, uh, that we’re moving quickly. Yeah, I concur with this. Has to be a collaborative effort. I think in addition to that, it, uh, with the civilian employees, uh, members ondas you suggesting remarks? You have to ensure that there’s a a very appropriate, uh, working relationship with uniformed personnel, particularly joint staff. And I from your comments, I assume you that will be one of your priorities to make sure that and indeed that the civilians have, ah, a critical role in that process that correct. It’s absolutely correct, Senator Reid. It’s I think it’s imperative that the the OSD staff maintain primacy in terms off crafting strategy and policy. And I think you know, we need we’ll need the right, uh, civilians in the in key positions to help help us do that. And we’ve already begun to move down that road. You’ve seen Colin Kahl nominated to be Thea undersecretary for Policy, Very talented young man, that that will do well. You’ve seen Catholics nominated to be the deputy secretary of Defense, so we’re off to a good start and we’ll continue to maintain momentum and filling those positions and making sure that we re balance, uh, the workload between the joint staff and and the secretary of thank you on another subject. Uh, the need for strengthen alliances seems to be obvious, but something that you’re gonna have to take on immediately. I’m thinking of the Pacific Defense Initiative, which the chairman was the principal author. And it’s based on solidifying our relationships both the diplomatic and operation operationally with our near partners in the Pacific, the Australians, the Japanese and the South Korea and then building further, uh, with other Pacific nations on. I would presume and hope that you would see that as an important of task. Also building up our relationships and alliances, which in many respects have been neglected is that something that you see is important. I think it’s critical. Senator Reid and I also, uh, look very much look forward. Thio going out in refurbishing those alliances and making sure that that way build additional capacity were possible. And you can look when we are when we do begin to travel again that you know that region will be one of my first stops, right? Yeah. You know, there’s the old saying There’s strength in numbers, and, uh, I think there’s some truth to that. So is we build up our not just in a superficial way, but training together, conducting exercises together, integrating our intelligence, integrating our operations at sea, on land in the air that I think it could be the best deterrent we could think of. With respect to the aspirations of China on, I think you might concur. Uh, one of the tasks you’re gonna have is as you’re trying to deal with all these crisis around the world, you also have to transform the Department of Defense. As the German indicated our technological advantage, which was, we thought uncontested in the fifties sixties seventies eighties, etcetera is contested. In fact, there are suggestions that we might not be ahead in many places. And so you’re gonna have to think very seriously about how do we elevate science? How do we more importantly, take our scientific developments are prototypes and get it to the field. Two soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines in the field. And if any comments on that, I’d appreciate it. I certainly agree with you, Senator Reid, that our acquisition system needs to be more agile and more responsive to the needs that you just mentioned. Way need to get the capability down to the to the to the people who need it, the people who are going to use it as quickly as possible. I also say that we need to develop the operational concepts that support and a credible deterrent. But I absolutely agree that there is much to be done in terms off working with the with the acquisition process to make sure that becomes more agile. Well, thank you. And I just as a final point, I think I have to respond to the challenge that the chairman gave you to reach your 61st wedding anniversary. Haven’t been married at the for the first time at the age of 55. Despite my best efforts, I can guarantee the chairman I will not reach 61 years. Thank you very much, Mr Chairman. E. I don’t believe that. Pretty weak Senator Reid, you just do it one day at a time. Thank you. Good advice, Senator. Mr. Austin, thank you for being with us today. Thank you for the conversation that we had several weeks ago over the phone and thank you for your willingness to serve in the military and now to serve in the city and capacity. You’re a West Point graduate. I pointed out to Senator Reid that I’m wearing an army tie today in your honor, but I suppose also in honor of Senator Reid and all the distinguished Army folks, I’m I’m an Air Force veteran myself. But I’m also a former chair of Seapower subcommittee. And so today I want to talk to you a two. Beginning about seapower. Um, the 30 year shipbuilding plan was finally released just last month by the leadership in the Navy. And it calls, um, for 405 man ships by the year 2051. That’s compared to a 355 uh, ship requirement that we previously had and that we actually placed into the statute. Have you read the 30 year shipbuilding plan, Mr Austin? Uh, I’ve not read the ship. The 30 year plan yet, Senator, work. Are you familiar with the fact that the 30 year shipbuilding plan, uh, calls for increasing our requirement? Actually, it, um, increases our requirement from 355 ships to 405. Man ships by the year 2051. I am familiar with that. With that fact, do you support that finding? I certainly I would just say, Senator, I, our Navy is the most capable naval force on the face of the planet. It will remain so if if I’m confirmed and become secretary defense, I think that it’s important that we maintain the capabilities that will need to be relevant not only today, but relevant tomorrow. So I look forward to getting on the ground and if confirmed and working with with the leadership of the Navy to better understand, uh, you know, the requirements and how we’re, uh, going to support those requirements. And also, I look forward to working with this body to make sure that we have the right resource is, uh, Thio to support that requirement. Well, that does bring me Thio a point that I need to make. And that is that within the administration, it’s not only the White House, and it’s not only uh d o d, but also o M b. It is a mighty big gorilla sitting in the room there, and they force a lot of constraints upon us Let me just say to you that I hope you will soon become familiar with this ship building plan. Um, And on be able Thio, give us, um, or definite answer about the need for for an increased navy t do the things that we have to do. It calls for adding 82 new ships between 2022 2026 at a cost of $147 billion. Um, previously that number was only 44 ships. So the new the new requirement. The new plan is 82 new ships in that short four year period rather than 44 ships and a new extra $45 billion over that time frame. So rest assured that we need to have more conversations there. The distinguished chairman mentioned China the fact that there ambitions not only are in the Pacific but also extend to Africa, and he named a few locations there. Um, the D. O. D report to Congress on China recently said it is likely China will aim to develop a military by mid century that is equal to or in some cases, superior to the U. S. Military Do you agree with that assessment, Mr Austin? I would agree. I would agree that that’s their goal. My job confirmed the secretary of defense, is to make sure that we developed the capabilities of plans and the operational concepts to ensure that we maintain a competitive edge. And eso that while that may be their goal, I would again, if I’m confirmed, would intend to make sure that that never happens. Well, it’s my contention that the new shipbuilding plan calling for 405 man shifts by the year 20 51 an additional 82 new ships in the next uh, five years is part and parcel to answering that challenge. What do you say to that, Mr Austin? I certainly say that we need to have the, you know, the right kinds of capability to be able to counter the, you know, the emerging threat. And again, I look forward to having that conversation with the with the Department of the Navy. Uh, if if that’s the analysis that’s been provided by the Navy, have every reason to believe that it’s accurate. But I really would like to have that conversation in more depth. Let me quote another Army man. Distinguished, uh, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, who said just last month quote Look, I’m an army guy, and I love the army. But the fundamental defense of the United States and the ability to project power power forward will always be for America, naval and and airspace power. I would just commend to you that statement and suggest that that the additional seapower is going is going to be necessary. I would also, uh, I want you to comment, and I’ll just ask you because we’re time constrained to comment about the idea of basing two additional destroyers that wrote a Spain to, uh, to be there to combat Russian aggression. But, Mr Chairman, because I only have two seconds. I’ll take that for the record. Thank you, Mr Austin. Thank you, Senator. Thank you’s Senator Wicker. Senator Shaheen. Thank you, Mr Chairman. General Austin, thank you for being willing to be considered for this important post of this critical time in our nation’s history. Um, as you’re probably aware, last week, this committee received testimony from outside experts on the issue of the waiver that will be required for you to serve and the whole issue of civil military relations. And I know you address that briefly in your opening comments, and Senator Reid followed up with some specific questions. But one of the interesting things to me in that hearing last week was one of the people testifying talked about the concern that during Secretary Mattis tenure that there was an over deference to military views that were critical to shaping America’s military policy or defense policy. Can you talk about how you would respond to those concerns and what you think should be done to ensure that the balance continues with the prominence being on civilian control of the military? Yeah. Thank you, Senator. I I believe that you need to have the right people in the right positions that can be in that are in the decision making process. And so, you know, I looked a have a very experienced undersecretary for policy. I’d like to have a very experienced deputy secretary of Defense. Um, my chief of staff will not if I’m confirmed will not be a military person, but yet a person that’s, uh, that really understands strategy and policy and also has deep ties to the hill as well as as to the White House. And so I think, the people in the room when and contributing to the decision making it makes all the difference in the world. So to answer your question, I will make sure that that, you know, we staff the positions with right people who have the right experiences and who are not afraid Thio to provide their input. And I will empower them to make sure that you know they have the flexibility Teoh get the job done to coordinate with the joint staff and and coordinate with other agencies to ensure that we have a policy. Uh, you have a significant policy input on every decision. Well, thank you. I appreciate that, especially the importance of the empowerment of those individuals. When we talked shortly after your nomination was put forward, I we talked about two of New Hampshire’s military installations that we’re very proud of. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which is shared between New Hampshire and Maine and also our 157th air refueling wing at Peace National Guard, which was the first Air National Guard base to receive the new Casey 46 refueling tanker and there, too long term concerns that I have about those installations. One is the shipyard optimization plan is we look at what, the need to invest in our public shipyards in the future. That optimization plan is gonna be critical to ensuring that the capacity is there, not just at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, but our other public shipyards to support are Naval Fleet. And I hope that you will remain committed to that plan and to moving forward with that plan. As we look at the at the upcoming years, I will, senator, um and the other is the K C 46 the continuing issues with getting that tanker online. Aziz, you know, the most recent one is the remote vision system, which still is not fixed in a way that allows those tankers to fly and do the refueling mission that is so critical again, I would hope that you will stay on that issue with Boeing and make sure we get those planes right so that they can do the refueling that we’re paying for them to do. Uh, I will absolutely stay on this on this issue. I think it’s critical. It’s a critical component of our overall force and s. So I think it’s it’s important that, uh, that we continue to press and and get this capability to where it needs to be great. And I hope you will come up to New Hampshire and visit both of those installations at some point in your tenure. If confirmed, um, I would like Toa ask you about Afghanistan next, because as we look at where we are in Afghanistan, the treaty or the agreement, I don’t know what we want to call it because clearly the Taliban is not complying with what have been announced as concessions that were made as part of that agreement. Also, the failure of that agreement to take into consideration the role of women and minorities in Afghanistan that have been so important as they have written a new constitution. And as we look at ending conflict there, one of the things we know from the data is that when women are at the table and negotiations that there is a 35% better chance that those peace agreements will last 15 years or longer, so this isn’t just for the optics. It looks great to have women at the table. It’s about how do we ensure that those negotiations are long lasting? And I wonder if you could talk about what you would like to see at this point in Afghanistan? Is we think about how do we withdraw there in a way that leaves a country that enshrines some of the changes that have been made to support a new constitution and all of the effort that’s been put in there by the United States and so many other countries in the world? Well, Senator, I certainly would like to see, uh, this conflict in with the negotiated settlement on. I think we’re gonna make every effort, uh, that we can thio to ensure that that happens. I would also like to say up front, uh, I am truly grateful for the sacrifices of the thousands of men and women that have gone through Afghanistan and and given so much sacrifice so much, uh, to your point, their work has made a difference. Um, but I think this conflict needs toe come to a you know, and then And, you know, we need to see a agreement reached on, uh, and took it accords with what the President elect wants to see. I think we want to see in Afghanistan in the future that does not present a threat to America. So focus on on some kind of terrorism issues. I think in the future, I think would be helpful. Thank you. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Thank you. Senator Shaheen and, uh, via WebEx. Senator Fisher. Thank you, Mr Chairman. And welcome General Austin. This committee has consistently her testimony, including from every stratcom commander who has appeared before this committee since I’ve been a member recommending against making unilateral reductions to our nuclear forces. Do you agree that making you know unilateral reductions is unwise? Senator, I’m having a tough time. Yeah, the volume seems not to be high enough. If anyone knows how to adjust that this good time to do it. Let me see if I dio That sounds better. Do you hear me? OK, Yes. Okay. I was asking sir about making unilateral reductions to our nuclear forces. Uh, do you agree that making these reductions unilaterally is unwise? I think that we should, uh, you know, I look forward. Thio getting on board of confirm and having a nobility to kind of look under the hood and see exactly what we’re doing with our nuclear forces. Eso uh, once I’ve had a chance to do that, Senator, I would love to come back and discuss it with you in your answer to some questions that were sent over to you. You said that you said, I believe it is in the national security interests of the United States and its allies and partners to resume formal, verifiable arms control agreements that reduced the nuclear threats from Russia in China. Is that correct? That’s correct. So reduction should be made through negotiated, verifiable agreements, not unilaterally. Is that right? That’s correct. Okay. Thank you, sir. Um, another fact that has been consistently emphasized by civilian officials and military leaders in both the Obama and Trump administration’s is that nuclear modernization cannot be delayed any further. Speaking in 2016, President Obama’s secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, put it in the following way. The fact is, most of our nuclear weapon delivery systems have already been extended decades beyond their original expected service lives, so it’s not a choice between replacing these platforms or keeping them. It’s really a choice between replacing them or losing them. That would mean losing confidence in our ability to deter, which we can’t afford in today’s volatile security environment. More recently, Admiral Richard, the current Stratcom commander in his posture statement last year testified that quote many of the modernization and sustainment efforts necessary to ensure that deterrence viability have zero schedule margin and are late to need end quote. He went on to state that cannot afford more delays and uncertainty and delivering capabilities, and must maintain a focus on revitalizing our nuclear forces and the associate ID infrastructure. Uh, General, is this also your understanding of the modernization schedule? Well, I again e misunderstood your first part of the first part of the question there when you were when you started out. What I wanted to tell you was, I really look forward to getting into the details of the nuclear modern modernization program. Uh, you know, if if confirmed and you know, I really would like to say to be ableto look at the details of exactly what we’re choosing to invest in on the timelines associated with that, and I would love to come back to you and discuss that with you. Okay. I would have your insure assurance, though, that you would of course, uh, be visiting with the current Stratcom combatant commander as well as previous ones about the need to make sure that we have these platforms that we need. And also, that would be a top priority. Senator e. I guess I’m kind of surprised by your answer, General, When when the chairman asked you about the triad specifically about maintaining an effective nuclear triad of land, air and sea based platforms, Um, I thought your answer was yes. We have to maintain that effective nuclear triad. Is that correct? That’s correct, Senator. And I realized that that you do have to review, um, where we currently are in modernization. But I would think under having an understanding that every administration and every stratcom commander and also our our secretaries of defense have been adamant that we cannot fall behind on this. Um, your answer that you would have to get back on me is somewhat surprising. I understand it za complicated topic. Um, but it is a 60 year old foundational concept that we have here. Yes, Senator. And I think I think that we’re in agreement that this is a priority. This needs to remain a priority. What I was just conveying was the specific timelines of which pieces are are being, uh, uh, resourced. At what rate? Uh, those things I would really like to get into details and have a further discussion with you on. But there’s no question that I consider this to be a priority, and it will remain a priority. And I look forward Thio getting with, uh, stratcom commander and having a discussion in detail. Well, thank you, I hope. Also, if you are confirmed, you will be a strong advocate for the National Nuclear Security Administration. Being ableto receive sufficient funding so that they can meet the Department of Defense is need. I will be and thank you. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Thank you, Senator Fisher. Now via WebEx, Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Mr Chairman. It for Austin. A President elect Biden made overturning President Trump’s ban on open transgender military service a day one priority. Can you confirm your commitment and tell the committee how you plan to reinstate open service? I support the president’s plan. Our plan Thio toe. Overturn the ban. I truly believe, senator that, as I said in my opening statement, that if you are a fit and you’re qualified to serve and you could maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve. And you can expect that, uh, that I will support that throughout. Thank you, Mr Austin. When we met together, we talked at length about the scourge of military sexual assault in the military. We talked about how this has been an issue for decades, and in fact, we talked about all the efforts of the Department of Defense has made over the least the last decade that I’ve been on the Armed Services Committee to try to eradicate it. Every secretary of fence defense, um, from the last 25 years has said there is a zero tolerance for sexual assault in the military. But every time they say, there’s zero tolerance, we look at the facts. We look at the evidence, we look at how many sexual assaults are committed, how Maney go to try alehouse money, any conviction, and we don’t seem to improve at all. In fact, last year the Department of Defense announced a record number of sexual assaults reported by or against service members and the lowest conviction rate for their assailants on record. In your opinion, does this reflect good order and discipline within the military? Does this reflect enhanced military readiness? Senator, I take the the issue of sexual assault seriously and personally and to To your point, Senator, I think we put a lot of effort into this, and I’m grateful for all of the effort that you have personally put into this and this committee has put into this. But we have not gotten better, and we have to get better and we will get better. We have toe. We have to go after the culture. We have to go after the climate way. This is a leadership issue. It’s a readiness issue, and it starts from the top and we gotta work from the bottom is, well simultaneously. So, therefore, is your answer. Yes, that it does not reflect good order and discipline and does not affect does not reflect the readiness that you would like your service to have. That’s correct, Senator. Furthermore, the most recent Pentagon survey on the topic found that 64% of sexual assault survivors who reported their crime perceived some form of retaliation for reporting that crime often from the exact chain of command that’s supposed to protect them. This number is statistically unchanged from 2016. Does this suggest to you adequate progress on what the top brass has promised to dio year after year? Do you believe that this is sufficient progress? I absolutely do not believe that it is progress, Senator. Well, given the total lack of progress or accountability within the military justice system, do you believe that a new approach must be taken? Because as we discussed the recent events at Fort Hood, a new approach is clearly warranted. Believe that way. Need to do better terms of investigation and and prosecutions. And, uh And I think, uh, we have to look at this holistically. And I know that you know that President Elect has committed to standing up a 90 day commission to really look at this soup to nuts. And I look forward to the, you know, to the read out of that commission. But I won’t wait for 90 days to get after this as I indicated. That starts with me and you can you can count on me getting NAFTA this on day one. Well, to be honest, President elect Biden said Much more than that, he promised much more than a commission, he said. In fact, when asked directly by Protect our defenders Nancy Parrish, if he would support quote moving the military justice system into the 21st century by allowing military prosecutors to make prosecute prosecution decisions for non military crimes seriously felonies like rape, murder and child abuse. End of quote. And that President elect Biden, in response, said quote yes, yes, yes, end of quote. So do you share President elect Biden’s commitment to move prosecutorial decisions outside the chain of command and giving that decision to train military prosecutors? I would like if confirmed, I would like to work with the chain of command and very rapidly assess what things, uh, that there are that need to be. We need to be fixed or addressed, and I’d like to make those recommendations and provide those assessments, Thio the president elect. But you do agree that we can’t keep doing the same thing that we’ve been doing for the past decade. I absolutely agree with that, Senator, I absolutely agree with that. Do I have your commitment to be relentless on this issue. Until we can end the scourge of sexual violence in the military, you have my commitment. Okay, I now like toe move thio Civil military relations. Mr. Austin’s scholars rightly argue that the secretary of defense plays a critical role in maintaining balanced civilian military relations by explaining the military’s activities to the public secretary. Mattis, another recently retired general who required a waiver to serve, did not embrace this role. According to Bob Woodward’s book Fear, Mattis grew so tired of being asked to appear on Sunday shows that he threatened to send Sean Spicer to Afghanistan. Mr Austin, can you commit to following in the footsteps of your predecessors and regularly appearing on TV to explain to Americans where the administration has asked service members to risk their lives and why I fully understand and appreciate the role that Secretary of Defense has and communicating with the American public Senator and you have my commitment that, uh, that I will establish a good relationship with the media and provide them the access and the information required to do their job of reporting out to the American people. Thank you, Mr Austin. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Thank you. Senator Gillibrand. Senator Cotton. Congratulations, General Austin on your nomination. And thank you for your parents today, especially for your four decades of military service. Unfortunately, I must announce that I oppose the waiver of the seven year cooling off period. My decision reflects not at all on you personally or your record, which I respect. Rather, I believe Congress should no longer grant such waivers at all. I supported the waiver for General Mattis with reservations four years ago, which I quickly came to view as a mistake. And I have since regretted, for that matter. Upon further reading of historical record, I now believe the waiver for General Marshall in 1950 was also a mist ake under no foreseeable circumstances. Can I imagine supporting such a waiver again again? General Austin, My reasons for this decision are distinct and separate from your nomination. And put simply, my reasons are the same reasons we have a cooling off period for recently retired generals in the first place. Some of those reasons are simply affect, not something that you can address or about which you can grant reassurance others. You can give reassurance. I’ll give you that opportunity in a moment. Among those concerns I have that I don’t think can be addressed are the following. First, the perception that these waivers are now routine, not extraordinary. Senator Reid said in 2017 that he wouldn’t support another waiver, and they should only happen. Quote Once in a generation, no matter what we say, though, if we approve to waivers in just four years, our actions will speak louder than our words. Second, the perception among flag officers that a four star bill it isn’t a career capstone. Some generals and admirals may begin to think if they play their cards right, they, too, could become a secretary in just a few years. I don’t think that’s good for the force or for the country. Three. The perception among the American people that military, the military expertise of our general officers is the same as national security expertise more broadly, and that the latter resides chiefly in the military, which I also believe is unhealthy for our democracy and for the perception the perception of potential army favoritism. There’s a 41 year officer in the army. Many observers may disbelieve that you can hang up the Army green, rightly or wrongly, if you make the right decision for the Army over the other services. And those services advocates may say it’s because of favoritism. Make the correct decision for another service against the Army, and the Army’s advocates will say, You’re protecting your flank against such charges of favoritism. Neither one of those may be true in the case, but I believe it’s unavoidable. Those concerns alone are weighty and enough for me to oppose this waiver, as I should have done four years ago. But there are still more reasons behind the cooling off period. As I said, though, you can give reassurances about some of these concerns, and I want to give you the opportunity to do that. First. Secretary of Defense is not a partisan job, but it is very much a political job. Bob Gates is a good example. He served in a Republican and Democratic administration with great political skill. We, of course, expect our generals like you and General Mattis to be a political, but our troops deserve a secretary with the political skills and willingness to fight for them, whether within the Pentagon against its bureaucracy within the Cabinet and fights over policy and budgetary resource is or against parochial members of Congress. So, General Austin, what can you say to address this concern? If, for instance, John Kerry wants to sacrifice our force posture on China’s periphery in return for ephemeral promises from China to reduce emissions in 2070 or if Jennifer Granholm wants to rob the nuclear security budget to fund pie in the sky green energy programs, or simply if the Office of Management and Budget wants to cut the military’s budget, how would you manage such inherently political disputes? Well, certainly in terms off, providing resource is for the military. My goal is toe. My job is to defend this thing, this country if I’m confirmed as secretary of defense. And so I believe that we need to have the adequate resource is to be able to do that. Uh, in order to help me get my work, the issues and make my points throughout the inter agency Number one, I’ll develop good, great relationship with my partners in State and O, N. B and other places. Number two. I’ll hire the right people to be on my staff to make sure that they’re working with me, uh, Thio and crafting the right language to be able to be successful in this dialogue. Thank you, General. Have confirmed. I do urge you to be a forceful political advocate for the department and its interests, both inside the Cabinet and with the Congress is Well, a second concern I’d like you to address is that the secretary also holds a public office. Bob Gates routinely held on camera press briefings about major decisions, new policies, public controversies and so forth. Those have been almost non existent for the last four years. General Austin have confirmed, or you commit to hold regular on camera press briefings? Yes. Were you also commit to appear on television programs to explain the key issues of the day as Senator Gillibrand raised? Yes. Thank you. Ah, third and final concern I want you to address is that a recently retired general is apt to bring with him much of his former military staff. Perhaps recreating his last command is a kind of Supreme Combatant command also likely to rely too much on the joint staff. General Austin, could you please discuss if confirmed how many of your former military staff from your various senior commands you plan to hire and how you will balance the joint staff with civilian appointees? The services and the combatant commands the key village for, uh, for my staff. Uh, all of those positions are being We’re looking at filling all of those positions. If I’m confirmed with experience senior civilians that again, I’ll empower Teoh be able to get their job done. Thank you again, Journalist. In my concerns about these waivers don’t bear it all on your nomination or your record of service to our nation, for which I have the highest regard. I thank you again for answering the call of duty to your country. Thank you, Senator Cotton. Senator Blumenthal. Thanks, Mr Chairman. Uh, General Austin. Mr. Austin, thank you for being here today. Thank you for your extraordinary career of service, which I deeply respect and admire. My opposition of the waiver is not personal. It’s a matter of principle and I want toe move on to the merits of the policy issues that will confront you if confirm. In my view, you have expressed clearly and cogently your commitment to strengthening civilian control over the military, which you would implement. It confirmed. First, I have been deeply alarmed, as have been many of my colleagues by the rise of white supremacist and extremist ideology in the military. You and I have discussed it. The latest signs are, in fact, that two National Guard members have been removed from their duties regarding the inaugural because of their potential links to extremists sentiments organizations. Uh, last week, I lead 13 of my colleagues in a letter to the Department of Defense Inspector General asking for an immediate intensive investigation of the prevalence of white supremacy and extremist ideology. I’m asking for your commitment that you will cooperate with and support that investigation. Shortly after our letter, the Department of Defense indicated it was going to do an evaluation of this issue. But I want an intensive investigation and action to counter it. And I look forward hopefully to working with you in countering and combating this very important threat. I certainly look forward to working with you on this, Senator. I think this is critical. Uh uh. I would share a story with you that from my past where when I was a lieutenant colonel working and probably the finest one of the finest organizations in the Army. 82nd Airborne Division. What? We woke up one day and discovered that we had extremist, uh, elements in our ranks. And they did bad things that that we held certainly held them accountable for. But we discovered that the signs for that that activity were there all along. We just didn’t know what to look for, what to pay attention to. But we learned from that. And I think this is one of those things that that’s important to our military to make sure that we keep a handle on. Make sure our leaders are doing the right things, that they’re taking care of their troops. They understand. They know their troops, and we can never take our hands off the wheel on this. This has no place in the military of the United States of America. Thank you very much. I really appreciate that answer you mentioned in your testimony the importance of the Chinese threat, the need to focus on it. But the most recent attack on our country was by Russia, which for months literally intruded, interfered and attacked our nation in cyberspace, in part because, as General Nakasone testified to us, our adversaries do not fear us. That’s exactly what he said in the cyber domain. I’d like to ask you to commit to conducting a top down review of our cyber operations, including the ODS posture and structure, and to making our adversaries pay a price when they attack us, as the Russians did through solar winds. You have my commitment that I will conduct that that review. I think that there is a review ongoing now to really ascertain what transpired. You know, I’ll join that if confirmed in stride. And I really look forward to understanding with clarity what what really happened. And I truly believe that, um, well, the FBI and the NSA have given Russia credit for this. They have attributed thistle activity to Russia, and if that’s the case, I think Russia should be held accountable. That’s my personal belief. Thank you. Uh, environmental action and climate change are more important than ever. I know the President elect is going to focus on it. As you and I have discussed in our meeting. The Department of Defense has an immense role to play. I welcome your comments on P fasts and the increasing resilience of our military installation, I’d like to work with you on a total program or planned for the Department of Defense beyond the magnitude of what is done now. And I know you’ve indicated your interest in it, so I’m not going to ask questions about it. But I do think that the use and procurement of clean energy, the energy efficiency steps that diode can take will not only save dollars, it will save energy and environmental values and provide leadership for the whole world. I want to focus on, uh, military sexual assault, which my colleague, Senator Gillibrand, It’s so well before and say that I’m working on legislation that would create liability for perpetrators and for the Department of Defense for sexual misconduct in among service members so that the survivors would have a right of action. It would be empowered to take action. Will you support that kind of legislation, sir? Well, I certainly look forward to reviewing what’s in the legislation, Senator. And, uh, and I would love to have that discussion with you once I’ve had to get up the ability to do that and I just want to take a moment to thank both you and Senator Gillibrand for the tremendous work, especially Senator Senator Gillibrand, for the work that you have both done to counter sexual assault in our ranks. Uh, and if confirmed, I look forward to working with both of you on this issue. I appreciate that point. Let me just say, uh, I welcomed and appreciate your focus in your written remarks in answer specific questions on the need to focus on our suppliers. Our supply chain, our workforce, our defense industrial base two very important to Connecticut, where we are the submarine capital of the world had electric boat and where a trained workforce is especially important. But the supply chain equally so And I’d like you toe review because I’m out of time legislation that I proposed that would give the mayor of the District of Columbia the same powers that governors have over the National Guard. Because a lot of the very unfortunate lack of planning and coordination between federal and local agencies that has been on display over recent months, in my view is attributable to the lack of that power on the part of in effect the locally empowered official here. Thank you. Thank you. Senator Blumenthal. Senator Ernst. Thank you, Mr Chair. And thank you so much, general, for being here today. We certainly appreciate your commitment and your service to our great nation and thank you for stepping forward with this nomination. I just want to briefly touch upon the issue of sexual harassment, sexual assault as Senator Gillibrand and and Senator Blumenthal just did. We had a conversation about this last week. Thank you very much for that. Um, but part of that Fort Hood report that came forward stated that the military readiness requirements superseded the need to protect our service members. What are your feelings as to that statement? And then how do we move forward and correct that, Senator, I I earnestly I honestly don’t believe that these two issues are mutually exclusive. We absolutely have to take care of the men and women that are in our ranks, you know, a failure to do so. I mean, we are about people in the military. We have the greatest best equipment in the world, and and and I get that. But this is about people, Uh, you know, if We don’t take care of our people. It’s really, really tough to do the job at hand, and that’s to defend this country. And so I do not see these two issues as being a Todd’s with each other. I think we have to do both and we have to do them both. Well, I truly appreciate that. I fully agree our military readiness does not have to suffer because of sexual harassment. We can take care of that issue and also still be the best fighting force in the world. So I appreciate your stance there. Um, I today had such a great honor. Um, I retired from the Iowa Army National Guard in 2015, and we have a number of those tremendous men and women serving right outside our doors today, and it was my honor to go out in front of the Capitol and reenlist about 15 of our Iowa Army National Guardsman a great honor for me. But the importance of our National Guard has really been on display the last year or so, as we have seen numerous troops deployed in support of fighting forest fires in California for deployments and mobilization, supporting cull vid 19 activities, whether it’s food distribution to food banks, making sure that vaccines were distributed to our communities. We have seen tens of thousands of our soldiers and airman mobilized. Um, they were there, they responded, and they did it quite quickly. Uh, and I’ll emphasize that point again that the National Guard they mobilized and they were there quickly, even beyond the capacity of their active counterparts. Eso whether it was working for FEMA helping those local health clinics, um, you know, distributing food. As I said, our National Guard members stepped up and again today, we we witnessed them out on our capital mall, keeping our nation’s safe so that we here in Congress can do our duties. So no matter what happens, whether it’s response to riots or violence or other types of activities, they are mobilizing for us. And so what we have learned over the last year is that they do come to us quickly in response to these domestic missions. Um, now what further changes or reforms could be made to make sure that our National Guard are treated equally because of their important role for our United States, but treated equally with their active duty count. I’m still equipment. When it comes to read Penis, what can we do to make sure that they’re on par with their active duty counterparts? Well, there are, as you know, being a having been a guard member for quite some time. There are some challenges in terms of the amount of days that you have to actually conduct that training. Uh, but quite frankly, you know, over the last two decades, we’ve seen our great guard members work shoulder to shoulder in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, and we’ve seen we’ve seen a, uh, a difference in the quality of equipment. Early on, I think we close that gap now. I think I think we’re doing better. There’s there’s mawr that we can do. Uh, but we’re gonna have to continue to work through these challenges. There are no easy fixes, but this is one thing that I’ll work with with the services on to make sure that that you know where we are giving our guard the very best finest of equipment we are giving them good quality training opportunities on. We are recognized recognizing them for the great work that they’re doing