WEBVTT

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Secretary of the Air Force Troy Mink ,

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Air Force Chief of Staff General David

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Alvin , and Chief of Space Operations

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General Chan Saltzman testified before

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a Senate Defense Subcommittee on the

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Defense's 2026 fiscal year budget

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request , prioritizing homeland defense

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and reinforcing the Indo-Pacific . The

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Department of the Air Force is at an

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inflection point . We are engaged in a

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fast-paced race for military

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superiority against a well-resourced

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strategic component . We simultaneously

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face personnel and platform challenges

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affecting our immediate readiness . We

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must also balance our requirement to

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generate readiness today with the

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requirements to deter our adversaries

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in the future and if necessary when

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decisively in conflict . Mink

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highlighted the recent US strike on

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Iran as an example of what is possible ,

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but also what is at risk unless

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Congress ensures sufficient

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uninterrupted funding . General Alvin

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also highlighted the recent strike and

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what could happen without a short and

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consistent funding from Congress . As

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the world saw on June 21st , no other

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service can match what the Air Force

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delivers , effects anywhere on the

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globe at any scale on minimal notice .

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Alvin told senators the budget request

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for 2026 is designed to build a force

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aligned with today's operational

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realities . We don't just need more Air

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Force , we need a more capable one . We

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need more tooth and less tail . Force

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that can deliver rapid decisive blows

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and reposition quickly . General Chance

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Saltzman expanded on the necessity of

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funding from the perspective of space

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power . The space force has been asked

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to accept new responsibilities and new

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missions . These new missions require

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new resources or we will face tough

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choices between delayed readiness ,

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reduced capacity , or unaddressed

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vulnerabilities . The lawmakers agreed

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with the three leaders that the 2026

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financial spending plan needs to be

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approved to keep pace with the evolving

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needs of national security . That is

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your look around the Air Force . I'm

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Technical Sergeant Lewis Kokonis .