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Washington, D.C. – This week, the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee held hearings with leadership from the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Army to discuss military readiness, priorities, and the strategic posture forward. With evolving threats and emerging domains, lawmakers emphasized the importance of a unified defense approach that aligns capabilities across land, air, and space to deter aggression, respond rapidly, and maintain lethality.
Good afternoon. The subcommittee will come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the first Fiscal Year 2026 Budget hearing for the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. I will begin by recognizing myself for an opening statement.
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.
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.
