Cole Remarks on FY25 Budget Request for the Air Force and Space Force (For The Record)

Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. It is a pleasure to be here.

I want to thank the witnesses for joining us to discuss the Department of the Air Force’s budget for Fiscal Year 2025.

General Allvin, welcome to your first hearing in front of this Subcommittee. You have certainly taken over as Chief of Staff for the Air Force at a pivotal time.

We are confronting major challenges: Budgets are tight. Tough decisions have been made, and ultimately, risk has been assumed in this budget.

I will have questions later about where some of those risks have been taken and the types of costs they could create.

We are reminded daily that the world order can no longer be assumed. We must invest in modernized air and space platforms and maintain our technological advantage. We also must do so with constrained resources. It’s no secret that the Committee and Department face difficult choices.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a disconnect between the acquisition and budget communities. There’s also a lack of confidence – to some extent – in the message the Department is sending with this year’s budget, despite the lower-than-desired top line.

For example, some of the new platforms are not projected to come online until long after you are looking to divest older ones. It is simply taking us too long to acquire new aircraft – all while our adversaries are growing their military quantities and capabilities at staggering rates. Even with this understanding, the Air Force is proposing to retire capable aircraft.

I support the Department’s efforts to pivot some missions from aircraft to space. Space assets are projected to offer great capabilities for our warfighters, but they have not been delivered yet. As with most things, it’s not prudent to put all of our eggs in one basket. We will need to maintain air capability up to –and even after – space is fully operative.

The E-7 is emblematic of these concerns. The Air Force needs to transition quickly onward from the aging E-3, whose service life is ending. Space capabilities for airborne early warning and battle management are nascent and should not be solely responsible for these missions. And yet, procurement of the E-7 is delayed.

This is a similar refrain with other key capabilities like the Sentinel program. I look forward to hearing how you plan to address these concerns.

Another issue I’d like to discuss is the Department’s recruitment numbers. People are the backbone of our military. Without them, investments in modern technologies mean little. It’s important that we continue to invest in recruitment and retention efforts.

I will say I am encouraged by the increased investments in our fighter jet inventory, next-generation technologies like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and our nuclear enterprise.

With a focus on advancing military readiness and ensuring our Airmen and Guardians are supported, my priority remains fostering a strong posture forward.

Again, I want to thank you for being here today. I look forward to your testimony.

I yield back.