Cole Remarks at Oversight Hearing for the United States Navy and Marine Corps

Thank you, Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum. 

Welcome to the three of you. Mr. Secretary, congratulations on your appointment. Admiral Kilby, General Smith—it’s an honor to have you before us today. I want to extend my gratitude to you for your commendable and continuing service to our country, and to the men and women in uniform. 

Today, our Navy’s mission has never been more consequential or expansive. From the contested waters of the Indo-Pacific to the turbulent Red Sea, our Navy and Marine Corps are on the front lines of deterring aggression, projecting power, and upholding the rules-based international order.

We are all deeply grateful for the bravery and professionalism shown by our Sailors and Marines—especially those operating today in harm’s way in the Middle East. The Navy’s persistent operations in the Red Sea, under extremely dangerous and demanding conditions, have prevented countless attacks on international shipping and ensured the continued flow of commerce. These missions have not come without cost, and they are a stark reminder that our naval forces must be ready to respond decisively across the full spectrum of conflict.

While we await the full details of the White House’s budget request for the Department of Defense, this hearing will serve as an opportunity to address a range of issues that face the Navy and Marine Corps today.

One area of particular concern is the state of our shipbuilding enterprise. We continue to see troubling delays in the delivery of key platforms—including the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, the Constellation-class frigate, and the Virginia-class attack submarines. These delays not only impact operational readiness, but they also create a growing strategic risk at a time when China is expanding its fleet at an unprecedented pace.

This is not a new concern. The Trump Administration rightly recognized the importance of recapitalizing our fleet with its executive order aimed at revitalizing American shipbuilding to better position the force to achieve a 381-ship Navy. While that goal remains aspirational, it should continue to guide our efforts as we consider how to strengthen industrial base capacity, streamline procurement timelines, and demand greater accountability in program execution.

We will also want to hear more about the Navy’s evolving posture in the Indo-Pacific—particularly in light of China’s coercive actions near Taiwan, in the South China Sea, and beyond. Maintaining a forward, flexible presence in the region is essential to deterring conflict and reassuring our allies and partners.

The growth of unmanned systems—on the surface, undersea, and in the air—is another area of intense interest. The Department has made strides in experimentation and prototyping, but the path toward large-scale integration remains unclear. We will want to know how unmanned platforms are being incorporated into the fleet, what operational value they’re expected to provide, and on what schedule they will deliver.

Turning to the Marine Corps, we appreciate the continued implementation of Force Design 2030, which reflects a bold and forward-looking approach to modernizing the Corps for distributed operations in contested environments. We look forward to hearing from General Smith about how Force Design is progressing, what challenges remain, and how the Corps is adapting to lessons learned from exercises and real-world operations.

Strategic deterrence is also a key focus of this hearing. In addition to its role as the steward of the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad, the Navy is also responsible for maintaining the TACAMO mission—our survivable airborne communications link between national leadership and nuclear forces. 

As the Navy moves forward with the recapitalization of this critical capability through the E-XX aircraft program, it is essential that the Department stay on track and avoid the cost and schedule issues that have plagued other major acquisitions. We are also aware of recent discussions about potentially transferring elements of the TACAMO mission to the Air Force. This subcommittee will want to understand the rationale behind such a move, its impact on operational effectiveness, and what it could mean for program stability going forward.

Of course, none of these platforms, strategies, or technologies matter without the people who bring them to life. Recruiting and retention remain pressing challenges across the force. Both the Navy and Marine Corps have had to grapple with difficult operational tempos, quality-of-life issues, and a competitive labor market. We will continue to support efforts to improve housing, family support programs, and health care for our service members.

I want to close by thanking each of you, again, for being here and for your service. I also want to thank the dedicated men and women of your branches—uniformed and civilian alike—who continue to operate in every corner of the world on behalf of the American people.

We look forward to your testimony and a frank discussion about the challenges you face and the resources you need to meet them.

Again, thank you for being here today. 

I yield back.