FY26 Defense Priorities: Advancing Military Strength and Readiness
Washington, D.C. – Today, Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) underscored the critical need to prioritize military readiness, innovation, and lethality during opening remarks at an oversight hearing with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. Lawmakers emphasized their continued focus on directing FY26 investments to strengthen America’s defense and honor our commitments to America’s brave men and women in uniform.
Subcommittee Chairman Calvert said, "The work we do in this Committee has never been more important. We are navigating an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment, with adversaries like China and Russia pursuing aggressive actions, and challenges in regions like the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and beyond. Our military must be prepared to meet those challenges, and that preparation requires substantial investments in both personnel and equipment. But we must also be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Balancing national security priorities with fiscal responsibility is a delicate but necessary task. Mr. Secretary, I commend you for quickly hitting the ground running in focusing on your key priorities of reviving the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, reestablishing deterrence, and ensuring the defense of the homeland."
Full prepared statement can be read here.
Chairman Cole said, "We convene at a time of significant global uncertainty. The threats facing America are diverse and evolving – and demand a strong, agile, and effectively funded Department of Defense. As Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, my primary responsibility is to ensure that taxpayer dollars are allocated wisely and effectively to safeguard our security. First, I want to address the readiness of our armed forces. We must ensure that our troops are fully equipped, trained, and prepared to meet any challenge. I am particularly interested in the current state of our defense industrial base and the steps being taken to address any identified shortfalls in being able to meet production demands. Next, I want to address the modernization of our military capabilities. It takes us too long to acquire new weapons systems – meanwhile our adversaries are rapidly developing advanced technologies. We must not surrender our technological edge or allow our forces to be underequipped and outgunned."
Full prepared statement can be read here.
Secretary Hegseth said, "I'm also proud to represent and serve our warriors and their families. Today, as they do every day, they are keeping America safe. They're defending the homeland. They're standing up and deterring communist China, and we're working hand in glove with allies and partners to achieve peace through strength. I'd actually like to start by thanking this Committee and Congress for your bipartisan leadership to give our troops a big pay raise in 2025. This included an additional 10.5% raise for our junior enlisted service members, E1 to E4. Thank you also for supporting other initiatives that will improve quality of life for our warriors and their families. With the focus on our troops and their loved ones, I've directed additional actions that will further improve their quality of life. These include making historic investments in improving the living conditions in barracks and base housing, reforming the PCS process to reduce the cost and stress of moving, and improving the quality of care provided by the defense healthcare system. Now, the best part of my job is meeting and interacting with troops and their families. I hear their concerns. I know how it feels to face those challenges. I've been there recently. Each of these initiatives responds to feedback that I've received from the force, and I'll keep listening, and looking for ways to improve their quality of life. Under President Trump's leadership, this budget puts America first and gives our warriors what they need… To carry out the President's mission, we have 3 core priorities, as was mentioned: restore the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and re-establish deterrence."
Full prepared statement can be read here.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Caine said, "Today's hearing reflects our shared commitment to maximize efficiency, accountability, and lethality to our taxpayers' investments, ensuring that every expenditure increases the survivability of our Joint Force, providing our war fighters with the advanced capabilities and capacity and cutting-edge technologies required to dominate our adversaries. I have deep gratitude for everyone in this room and your commitment and cooperation to help us deliver the capability and capacity for our 2.8 million members of our Joint Force, the civilians that serve alongside us, and, of course, their families. All are required to work together to deliver, as the Secretary said, peace through strength. It is my responsibility as Chairman to understand the global set of conditions, advise the Secretary, and integrate our Joint Forces to confront and manage risks worldwide… We are relentless in our pursuit of innovation and technology that allows us to deter our adversaries at every opportunity, while ensuring we're positioned to win on the battlefields of the future when called upon."
Full prepared statement can be read here.
With the FY26 Defense Full Committee markup scheduled for later this week, the House Appropriations Committee is taking action to ensure our defenders are equipped, trained, and prepared to protect the United States. America must continue to lead with strength against our adversaries, invest in capabilities to confront and defeat threats, and uphold a free and safe nation.
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