Calvert Remarks at Budget Hearing on Department of Defense

Today, the Subcommittee will convene for an open hearing to receive testimony from The Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Mr. Jay Hurst, Acting Under Secretary of War Comptroller. Mr. Secretary, General Caine, and Mr. Hurst, a warm welcome to you. Thank you for your service to our great nation and thank you for appearing before the Subcommittee today. 

I want to first acknowledge the extraordinary demands we place on our all-volunteer force and on the military families who bear the weight of service alongside their loved ones. Quality of life and care for our service members and their families are central to our mission to continue to ensure the finest fighting force in human history. We owe everything to their sacrifice and send our thanks that they have answered the call to serve. 

This hearing addresses issues that are deeply interconnected and collectively define the national security challenge of our time. 

Let me begin with the budget. We want to be good partners with the Department to ensure that our men and women in uniform have every resource they need. But I have serious concerns about how this bifurcated budget splits discretionary and mandatory funding on some of the highest priority programs.  We had significant gaps in needs for our warfighters that we had to address in the FY26 appropriations process because of the way mandatory was requested and enacted. This Subcommittee needs to understand how the resources requested in this budget translate into real and measurable improvements in warfighting capability.  We also need to understand the consequences of this funding approach.  We owe that level of accountability to the American taxpayers.

Next, on readiness, the picture demands our honest attention. Across multiple domains, including munitions, shipbuilding, innovation, and aviation, questions persist about whether we are building the depth and resilience required for a high-end conflict.  We have made progress in some areas, and I want to acknowledge the Department’s efforts to address these questions. However, progress is not the same as capability delivery and capability delivery is what this moment demands.

Finally, that brings me to the threat environment we currently face. The world has grown more dangerous, more complex, and more interconnected in its risks.  China is modernizing its military at a pace and scale that is alarming.  Russia continues to wage a brutal war of aggression. And while Iran and their proxies have been dealt a severe blow, they remain a threat.   

Threats to Taiwan, Ukraine, NATO, Israel, our partners in the Gulf, and our allies across the globe are not abstract concerns.  They are tests of American credibility and resolve. This Subcommittee believes deeply in the power of deterrence, but deterrence must be credible, and credibility must be funded.

Finally, Mr. Secretary, both you and your Deputy must be commended for your commitment to reforming, modernizing and prioritizing innovation at the Department.  I have been here a long time, I have watched Administrations come and go, and I promise you that there are bureaucrats who are trying to wait you out. You must demand accountability at every level of your organization to ensure that the change you have demanded is taking place. Your call to move more quickly, inject competition and allow new entrants to participate requires rigorous and persistent oversight. Otherwise, the forces in the Pentagon will simply snap back to status quo which does not serve our warfighters, or the U.S. taxpayer.

Again, thank you for being here. The members of this Subcommittee take our oversight responsibilities seriously and we believe the American people deserve straight answers on these consequential questions.  I look forward to an honest conversation on how we are matching resources to priorities and honoring our commitments to meet the moment. I now recognize the distinguished Ranking Member, Ms. McCollum, for her opening remarks.