Calvert Remarks at Rules Committee Hearing on H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026
Thank you, Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member McGovern.
It is a pleasure to appear before the committee today in support of H.R. 4016, the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. I know our time is relatively short, so I will try to be brief.
H.R. 4016 provides $831.5 billion for the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. While this is flat relative to discretionary funds enacted in fiscal year 2025, coupled with the recently enacted reconciliation act, it provides nearly $1 trillion to modernize and sustain our armed forces.
Today’s threat environment continues to grow more complex. Russia remains an aggressive actor. China’s values continue to clash with ours as they advance their military capabilities. Now more than ever, the United States requires strategic investments to defend and protect the American people. Preventing harmful actors’ aggression amplifies the need to develop and field capabilities that provide America the military advantage we need.
First, this bill champions America’s military superiority in a variety of ways. It enhances investments in 5th and 6th generation aircraft such as F-35’s, F-47’s, and F/A XX. The bill prioritizes modernization of the nuclear triad, through investments in the B-21 Raider, the Columbia Class Submarine, and Sentinel. This bill also provides approximately $13 billion for missile defense and space programs in support of the Golden Dome effort.
Innovation and our defense industrial base workforce remain cornerstones to providing America’s competitive edge. This bill builds off successful prior initiatives through a combined funding of $1.3 billion spread across the DIU, the Office of Strategic Capitol, and APFIT. Furthermore, $1.5 billion is provided to support the maritime industrial base, by investing in critical supply chains and workforce training.
Drug trafficking including fentanyl remains a very serious crisis across the United States and poses a national security threat. This bill protects the homeland, with this in mind. It combats international actors who facilitate drug trafficking and manufacturing by investing $1.15 billion in counter drug programs, including increasing funding for the National Guard efforts.
Following the administration’s lead, this bill leans forward on shaping a more efficient and effective Department of Defense by reducing $6.5 billion and almost 45,000 civilian full-time equivalents to capture Workforce Acceleration and Recapitalization Initiative efforts. Critically, this bill also requires detailed reporting on the Department’s allocations in reconciliation to ensure funding is spent how Congress intended it.
This bill continues to care for our troops and their families by including a 3.8 percent basic pay raise for all military personnel. It also continues historic pay raises enacted in fiscal year 2025 for junior enlisted servicemembers.
These investments are neither duplicative nor superceded by the important provisions enacted in the reconciliation package, but rather complementary by design through close coordination among committees through the last several months.
However, the bill was drafted under unprecedented circumstances, without the benefit of timely and complete justification materials that typically accompany the President’s Budget request. Nonetheless, the bill is reflective of key Departmental requirements and programmatic priorities, while still maintaining a fiscally responsible stance. The passage of this bill is the next step to provide critical funding for the Department of Defense in fiscal year 2026.
We cannot slow down. Dynamic global threats require us to continue to press on, which is why we seek support today.
With that, I thank you and look forward to the committee’s questions.
