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Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. This hearing comes at a pivotal moment for our national security, as we face an increasingly complex and volatile global landscape. Among the challenges before us, none looms larger than the rising threat posed by China. With its rapid military modernization, expanding global influence, and assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific, China presents a strategic challenge that demands our full attention and a robust response.
Thank you, Chairman Harris and Ranking Member Bishop, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for being with us today. For rural districts like the one I represent in southwest Oklahoma, agriculture is not just a line on a ledger, it’s a reflection of our past, present, and future. American agriculture feeds us, but it also roots families, economies, and the nation’s well-being. You have seen these principles firsthand as you have traveled the country meeting with farmers and ranchers. These hardworking men and women are a testament to resilience and the work it takes to ensure a safe and abundant food supply. I know your recent visit to Oklahoma was a powerful reminder of that, and we hope to welcome you back to the Sooner State soon.
I would like to welcome Secretary Chris Wright to the Energy and Water Subcommittee this morning. Secretary Wright, thank you for joining us today to discuss the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of Energy. Before I go into my prepared remarks, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation for your recent visit to the Oak Ridge Reservation in my district. I’d also like to thank you for maintaining an open line of communication, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with you through this process as we develop our fiscal year 2026 bill.
Good morning. I want to thank you all for being here today for this hearing to review the budget and programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. We are pleased to be joined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. Secretary Rollins, we welcome you to the Subcommittee. I look forward to hearing about your priorities and the work that has been underway at USDA during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration.
Today, the Subcommittee will receive testimony on the posture of the United States Army. First, I would like to welcome our two witnesses, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, and General Randy George, the Chief of Staff of the Army. Mr. Secretary, congratulations on your appointment. I look forward to working with you. General George, thank you for joining us once again.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) led an oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect testimony from Secretary Kristi Noem on a range of pressing issues. Proceedings focused on DHS efforts to secure the border, combat fentanyl trafficking, strengthen personnel recruitment, and protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. I want to thank the witnesses for being here with us today to discuss the current lay of the land for the Department of the Air Force.
Acting Secretary Ashworth, welcome to the Defense Subcommittee. Generals, nice to see you this afternoon. You are sitting before us as the Air Force and Space Force face a critical path ahead. The world continues to be a volatile place, with malign actors challenging American interests near and far. Time is not on our side as our adversaries have been outpacing and outproducing us.
Good afternoon. The Defense Subcommittee will come to order.
The topic of today’s hearing is oversight of the Department of the Air Force. We have three witnesses before us today: Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Gary Ashworth; General David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations. Secretary Ashworth, welcome to the subcommittee. General Allvin and General Saltzman, welcome back. The Administration released the “skinny budget” for Fiscal Year 2026 last Friday. This request includes more than $1 trillion overall for National Defense, however, it does so by assuming $113 billion in funds through reconciliation. The reconciliation process is not a sustainable approach to resourcing defense and is not a substitute for regular appropriations.
Thank you, Chairman Amodei and Ranking Member Underwood, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for being with us today.
Let me begin by commending the brave men and women of this department who stand on the front lines each day to protect the homeland. Under new leadership, they’ve been empowered to fully carry out that fundamental duty. From day one, the Trump Administration has made clear that protecting America is not negotiable—and this White House has taken immediate action to strengthen the security of our nation’s borders and enforce existing immigration laws. The contrast from the Biden Administration could not be clearer. Policies that allowed an open and lawless border have ended, and the message is clear: Illegal migrants—including violent offenders—will no longer have an open invitation. Criminal cartels and traffickers will no longer be enriched.And the safety of our citizens will no longer be put last.
I would like to thank Secretary Bessent for being here today and for his leadership and steady hand over the last several months.
We are living in an increasingly complex world with no shortage of issues. Whether it be taxes or tariffs, rightsizing regulation, or creating a regulatory framework for digital assets, the Department of the Treasury’s role is fundamental to their resolution. If we think about it, this is why the Department of the Treasury was created. The Department is central to maintaining a strong economy, creating jobs, and promoting economic growth both here and abroad.
