Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, delivered the following opening remarks at a
hearing on Department of Defense missile defense and defeat programs.
Rep DesJarlais’ Statement As Prepared For Delivery:
Good afternoon and welcome to you all – we appreciate you being with us today.
I want to begin by recognizing the service of our air and missile defense operators.
In recent weeks, they have served with great distinction.
Most of all, their courage and proficiency have saved lives.
We salute them.
This is the first subcommittee hearing to be held since the President’s budget request for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year was released.
While we continue to await programmatic details, I was pleased to see the topline levels reflect a strong investment in missile defense capabilities.
Three areas are worth highlighting.
First, the Missile Defense Agency’s budget for research and development would grow substantially to over $12.3 billion – an increase of more than 50% since President Trump took office.
This reflects a renewed focus on MDA’s core mission of advancing technology, which is long overdue.
Second, this budget invests about $23 billion in the production of missile defense interceptors, which makes up almost half of the Department’s broader munitions acceleration initiative.
While conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have proven the importance of magazine depth, funding for interceptor production has been inadequate for years.
As production lines operated at – or near – minimum sustaining rates, our industrial base withered.
Just two years ago, the previous administration proposed ending production of the Navy’s SM-3 Block “one B” interceptor.
Congress rejected this decision and provided additional funding to continue production, but we were unable to address the root cause: an ever-growing gap between the munitions demands of the modern battlefield and the production capacity we were budgeting for.
President Trump’s 2027 budget represents the first serious effort to course-correct and rebuild our nation’s munitions production capacity – this is critical for our missile defense enterprise.
Third, building upon the historic investment this committee made through last year’s reconciliation bill, the 2027 budget seeks over $17.5 billion for the Golden Dome initiative to protect the homeland from air and missile defense threats.
However, funding for both of these critical initiatives – interceptor procurement and Golden Dome – is part of the Department’s $350 billion mandatory spending request, which depends on the outcome of a broader political process that is less predictable.
As the budget landscape evolves in the weeks and months ahead, I hope our witnesses will continue to work with this committee to convey the importance of this funding and to clearly communicate the consequences that would come with failing to provide it.
I also want to express my appreciation for the Department’s efforts to improve communication with this committee about its Golden Dome plans.
Challenges remain, and “over-classification” will need to be addressed.
However, the increased engagement by General Guetlein and Mr. Berkowitz on this topic is welcome and deserves acknowledgment.
General Gainey, I understand you will be retiring this summer after 36 years in uniform.
We thank you and your family for all that you have done on behalf of our nation.
And, General Guillot – just in case this is the last time we see you – I want to also express our thanks to you for your 37 years of service to this country.
We have enjoyed working with you both and have benefited greatly from your unwavering professionalism and candor.
