Opening Statements

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on nuclear forces and atomic energy defense activities programmatic updates. 

Rep. DesJarlais remarks as prepared for delivery:

The Strategic Forces subcommittee meets today to receive testimony on the policies and programs related to nuclear forces and atomic energy defense activities.

Appearing before the subcommittee we have:
 
Ms. Teresa Robbins, the Acting Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration
 
Dr. Brandi C. Vann, who is currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs, within the Office of the Secretary of Defense
 
Ms. Andrea Yaffe, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy within the Office of the Secretary of Defense
 
Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe, the Director of the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs Office, and
 
Lieutenant General Andrew Gebara, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration for the United States Air Force.
 
Thank you all for being with us today.

While the topline numbers of President’s budget request for fiscal year 2026 have been released, programmatic information has not yet been made public.

This means our witnesses will be unable to comment on specific levels of funding for individual programs, as was the case in last week’s hearing on missile defense activities.
 
Nevertheless, we appreciate your being with us today to testify about our nuclear forces, and look forward to hearing from you about how we are sustaining our legacy capabilities and the progress we are making toward modernizing our deterrent.
 
The scale of this challenge cannot be overstated.
 
As a result of previous decisions to delay and defer modernization, both the Air Force and the Navy find themselves sustaining submarines, missiles and bombers longer than ever before, while simultaneously carrying out major development efforts to recapitalize each leg of the triad.
 
The same is true for the National Nuclear Security Administration, which continues to operate in facilities that date all the way back to the Manhattan era – such as the Beta 2 facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex in my state of Tennessee – while also rebuilding its production complex and restoring the nation’s ability to build nuclear weapons.
 
However, while sustainment and modernization are both necessary and foundational efforts, it is also clear that they are not sufficient to meet the dynamic new nuclear threat environment.
 
China’s nuclear breakout has fundamentally transformed the security landscape.
 
Russia’s nuclear stockpiles continue to grow, as well, and the return of great power competition has replaced the bipolar post-Cold War environment of relative geopolitical stability and declining nuclear arsenals with a new tripolar environment that is less stable and more competitive.
 
This was not the future we anticipated when the plan for nuclear modernization was developed.
 
We must adapt to these new challenges and supplement our modernization plans with tailored capabilities to address the changing threat environment.
 
We look forward to hearing more from our witnesses about these issues and – before turning to the Ranking Member for his opening statement – Dr. Vann, it’s my understanding that you will be retiring from government later this year.
 
On behalf of the subcommittee, thank you for your many years of service.
 
I now recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Moulton, for his opening remarks.