1 00:00:00,119 --> 00:00:02,175 Chairman Wicker , ranking McMurray , 2 00:00:02,175 --> 00:00:04,286 and distinguished committee members , 3 00:00:04,286 --> 00:00:06,341 General Albin and General Saltzman , 4 00:00:06,341 --> 00:00:05,760 I'd like to thank you for the 5 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:07,427 opportunity to talk today and 6 00:00:07,427 --> 00:00:09,689 personally I'd like to . Uh , give my 7 00:00:09,689 --> 00:00:12,500 sincere thanks for , uh , the support 8 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:14,667 during the hearing process and glad to 9 00:00:14,667 --> 00:00:16,444 be back here so soon . Uh , the 10 00:00:16,444 --> 00:00:18,500 Department of the Air Force is at an 11 00:00:18,500 --> 00:00:20,722 inflection point . We are engaging in a 12 00:00:20,722 --> 00:00:20,700 fast-paced race for technology 13 00:00:20,700 --> 00:00:23,239 superiority against a well-resourced 14 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,319 strategic opponent . However , we 15 00:00:25,319 --> 00:00:27,440 simultaneously face personnel and 16 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:29,329 platform challenges affecting our 17 00:00:29,329 --> 00:00:31,440 immediate readiness . We must balance 18 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,607 our requirements to generate readiness 19 00:00:33,607 --> 00:00:35,829 and project power today with imperative 20 00:00:35,829 --> 00:00:37,829 to rebuild our military and develop 21 00:00:37,829 --> 00:00:39,884 capabilities so that we can continue 22 00:00:39,884 --> 00:00:41,940 deterring our adversaries tomorrow . 23 00:00:41,940 --> 00:00:43,996 Our fiscal priorities are focused on 24 00:00:43,996 --> 00:00:46,051 addressing the balance between these 25 00:00:46,051 --> 00:00:48,051 realities and supporting the United 26 00:00:48,051 --> 00:00:50,218 States national security objectives as 27 00:00:50,218 --> 00:00:52,384 outlined in interim national strategic 28 00:00:52,384 --> 00:00:54,440 guidance . The scope and severity of 29 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,662 the threat to our homeland and national 30 00:00:56,662 --> 00:00:56,549 interests are significant and 31 00:00:56,549 --> 00:00:58,569 increasing . We now face one of the 32 00:00:58,569 --> 00:01:00,791 most dangerous security environments in 33 00:01:00,791 --> 00:01:03,013 our history . The Department of the Air 34 00:01:03,013 --> 00:01:05,069 Force has structured for a long term 35 00:01:05,069 --> 00:01:07,125 strategy around belief that China is 36 00:01:07,125 --> 00:01:09,180 our pacing threat . And this reality 37 00:01:09,180 --> 00:01:11,236 directly influences the department's 38 00:01:11,236 --> 00:01:13,236 fiscal priorities . China's defense 39 00:01:13,236 --> 00:01:15,291 budget has nearly doubled during the 40 00:01:15,291 --> 00:01:17,458 past 11 years , growing 6% annually on 41 00:01:17,458 --> 00:01:19,730 average . US defense spending has grown 42 00:01:19,730 --> 00:01:21,650 around 3% over the same period , 43 00:01:21,860 --> 00:01:24,099 increasing below the inflation level 44 00:01:24,099 --> 00:01:26,321 over the last 5 years , and many of our 45 00:01:26,321 --> 00:01:28,488 ally partners , defense spending rates 46 00:01:28,488 --> 00:01:30,879 are even lower . These these 47 00:01:30,879 --> 00:01:33,101 limitations have allowed China to start 48 00:01:33,101 --> 00:01:34,990 closing the gap in capabilities . 49 00:01:35,379 --> 00:01:37,046 Defending the homeland is the 50 00:01:37,046 --> 00:01:38,990 departments of the Air Force's top 51 00:01:38,990 --> 00:01:41,157 priority . We will do so by continuing 52 00:01:41,157 --> 00:01:43,046 to modernize our nuclear forces , 53 00:01:43,046 --> 00:01:45,101 especially through the Sentinel B-21 54 00:01:45,101 --> 00:01:47,212 long range standoff weapon programs , 55 00:01:47,212 --> 00:01:49,157 as well as the nuclear command and 56 00:01:49,157 --> 00:01:51,101 control communication that support 57 00:01:51,101 --> 00:01:53,599 these systems . We are also e eager to 58 00:01:53,599 --> 00:01:55,821 support the president's golden dome for 59 00:01:55,821 --> 00:01:57,932 America while still in the conceptual 60 00:01:57,932 --> 00:01:59,988 stage , there's no question that the 61 00:01:59,988 --> 00:02:02,210 Department of the Air Force will have a 62 00:02:02,210 --> 00:02:04,432 significant role in this project . Over 63 00:02:04,432 --> 00:02:06,377 then our next priority is to deter 64 00:02:06,377 --> 00:02:08,529 China and others . We will do this 65 00:02:08,529 --> 00:02:10,640 through investing in our people , our 66 00:02:10,640 --> 00:02:12,640 readiness , and our posture with an 67 00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:15,369 Indo-Pacific region . We believe that 68 00:02:15,369 --> 00:02:17,910 our people are and will continue to be 69 00:02:17,910 --> 00:02:20,440 our nation's key competitive advantage . 70 00:02:20,729 --> 00:02:22,840 We're working to train our airmen and 71 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:24,673 guardians to confront the brutal 72 00:02:24,673 --> 00:02:26,451 challenges that warfare without 73 00:02:26,451 --> 00:02:29,039 sanctuary presents . We are emphasizing 74 00:02:29,039 --> 00:02:31,039 readiness standards by creating new 75 00:02:31,039 --> 00:02:32,817 inspections , assessments , and 76 00:02:32,817 --> 00:02:34,983 exercises geared towards preparing our 77 00:02:34,983 --> 00:02:36,817 personnel for this environment . 78 00:02:36,817 --> 00:02:38,761 Finally , we are strengthening our 79 00:02:38,761 --> 00:02:40,706 posture within a specific region , 80 00:02:40,706 --> 00:02:42,595 conducting high level operational 81 00:02:42,595 --> 00:02:44,817 exercises that will test our ability to 82 00:02:44,817 --> 00:02:46,600 deploy and operate in austere 83 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,767 environments . Lastly , the Department 84 00:02:48,767 --> 00:02:50,600 of the Air Force is preparing to 85 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,489 provide critical capabilities and 86 00:02:52,489 --> 00:02:54,433 forces to our joint war fighter in 87 00:02:54,433 --> 00:02:56,378 order to defeat our adversaries if 88 00:02:56,378 --> 00:02:58,544 deterrence fails . We will concentrate 89 00:02:58,544 --> 00:03:00,656 our efforts in two areas . First , in 90 00:03:00,656 --> 00:03:02,600 our ability to fight tonight , and 91 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,822 second , in our ability to fight in the 92 00:03:04,822 --> 00:03:07,044 future . Through our current and future 93 00:03:07,044 --> 00:03:09,044 investment , the department aims to 94 00:03:09,044 --> 00:03:11,100 establish a balanced high low mix of 95 00:03:11,100 --> 00:03:12,933 combat capabilities optimized to 96 00:03:12,933 --> 00:03:14,878 project power both from within and 97 00:03:14,878 --> 00:03:16,779 outside . Of adversary threat 98 00:03:16,779 --> 00:03:18,835 environments , the Department of the 99 00:03:18,835 --> 00:03:21,057 Air Force is also looking to streamline 100 00:03:21,057 --> 00:03:23,001 our force wherever possible . This 101 00:03:23,001 --> 00:03:24,890 includes finding creative ways to 102 00:03:24,890 --> 00:03:27,112 remove excess infrastructure and retire 103 00:03:27,112 --> 00:03:29,279 obsolete inventory . We also recognize 104 00:03:29,279 --> 00:03:31,446 our need and responsibility to pass an 105 00:03:31,446 --> 00:03:33,612 audit as soon as possible , and we are 106 00:03:33,612 --> 00:03:35,820 working to make that a reality . The 107 00:03:35,820 --> 00:03:37,660 Department of the Air Force is 108 00:03:37,660 --> 00:03:39,716 extremely proud of all of our airmen 109 00:03:39,716 --> 00:03:41,882 and guardians defending our nation and 110 00:03:41,882 --> 00:03:44,729 its interest every hour of every day . 111 00:03:45,059 --> 00:03:46,781 We commit to working with this 112 00:03:46,781 --> 00:03:48,837 committee to secure the FY 26 budget 113 00:03:48,837 --> 00:03:50,860 request which will directly support 114 00:03:50,860 --> 00:03:52,582 airmen and guardians and their 115 00:03:52,582 --> 00:03:54,693 uncompromising mission . We thank you 116 00:03:54,693 --> 00:03:56,860 for your time and look forward to your 117 00:03:56,860 --> 00:03:56,220 questions .