WEBVTT 00:02.660 --> 00:04.660 Ok , good afternoon , everybody . I 00:04.660 --> 00:06.771 want to thank everyone for joining us 00:06.771 --> 00:09.104 for this kickoff event . As we roll out , 00:09.104 --> 00:11.271 President Biden's fy 25 budget request 00:11.271 --> 00:13.327 for the Department of Defense . This 00:13.327 --> 00:15.549 afternoon we have joining us at 35th se 00:15.549 --> 00:17.716 Deputy Secretary of Defense , Kathleen 00:17.716 --> 00:19.938 Hicks and the 12th vice chairman of the 00:19.938 --> 00:19.239 Joint Chiefs of Staff , Admiral 00:19.250 --> 00:21.469 Christopher Grady , Deputy Secretary 00:21.479 --> 00:23.257 Hicks will provide some opening 00:23.257 --> 00:25.479 comments and then she'll be followed by 00:25.479 --> 00:27.590 Admiral Grady who will also provide a 00:27.590 --> 00:29.757 few comments . Once they're finished , 00:29.757 --> 00:29.319 I'll call on members of the audience 00:29.329 --> 00:31.551 for questions and with that , I'll turn 00:31.551 --> 00:33.551 it over to Deputy Secretary Hicks . 00:33.551 --> 00:35.662 Terrific . Thank you to Eric and good 00:35.662 --> 00:37.829 afternoon to everyone . Um It's really 00:37.829 --> 00:39.885 a pleasure to be with you here today 00:39.885 --> 00:41.829 alongside Admiral Grady to discuss 00:41.829 --> 00:43.662 President Biden's fiscal year 25 00:43.662 --> 00:45.885 defense budget request . I'd first like 00:45.885 --> 00:48.107 to take a moment to recognize that as I 00:48.107 --> 00:50.218 stand before you today , Congress has 00:50.218 --> 00:52.551 not yet passed the fy 24 defense budget . 00:52.830 --> 00:55.052 So before I begin , I want to highlight 00:55.052 --> 00:57.110 how devastating the failure to pass 00:57.119 --> 00:58.979 last year's budget request is to 00:58.990 --> 01:00.879 ensuring our national defense and 01:00.879 --> 01:03.549 global security last year , the 01:03.560 --> 01:05.671 department released the most strategy 01:05.671 --> 01:08.540 aligned budget in dod history . It 01:08.550 --> 01:10.819 allocated critical resources consistent 01:10.830 --> 01:13.099 with our defense priorities as outlined 01:13.110 --> 01:15.589 in the 2022 national defense strategy 01:15.599 --> 01:17.720 and the President's national security 01:17.730 --> 01:20.330 strategy , we buckled down and did our 01:20.339 --> 01:22.459 homework . Our primary goal was to 01:22.470 --> 01:24.526 fortify our national defense against 01:24.526 --> 01:26.581 emerging and enduring threats to our 01:26.581 --> 01:28.692 nation and the international order as 01:28.699 --> 01:31.309 we know it . First and foremost , the 01:31.319 --> 01:33.610 fy 24 budget treats our pacing 01:33.620 --> 01:35.731 challenge to the People's Republic of 01:35.731 --> 01:37.787 China with the urgency . It requires 01:37.787 --> 01:39.790 directing resources to sustain and 01:39.800 --> 01:42.599 strengthen us deterrence . It delivers 01:42.610 --> 01:44.930 a combat credible joint force , one 01:44.940 --> 01:47.162 aimed at deterring and have called upon 01:47.162 --> 01:48.996 defeating foreseeable and future 01:48.996 --> 01:50.940 threats . And it makes a series of 01:50.940 --> 01:52.996 investments in our most powerful and 01:52.996 --> 01:55.830 valuable asset are people and ensuring 01:55.839 --> 01:58.230 that we can recruit , retain , train 01:58.239 --> 02:00.183 and equip them so that they remain 02:00.183 --> 02:02.309 resilient , ready and focused on 02:02.319 --> 02:05.370 fulfilling their mission . Congress's 02:05.379 --> 02:07.970 inability to pass the Fy 24 budget . 02:07.980 --> 02:10.160 Holding back much needed funding 02:10.190 --> 02:12.199 hinders our ability to execute that 02:12.210 --> 02:14.820 strategy . The department has no way 02:14.830 --> 02:17.690 around that reality . Instead , we have 02:17.699 --> 02:19.421 been strapped with a series of 02:19.421 --> 02:21.779 continuing resolutions . Crs are a 02:21.789 --> 02:23.900 significant constraint on our ability 02:23.900 --> 02:25.789 to advance our defense strategy , 02:25.789 --> 02:27.956 forcing the department to operate with 02:27.956 --> 02:29.845 one hand tied behind our back for 02:29.845 --> 02:31.880 months out of the year . Even as we 02:31.889 --> 02:34.020 confront new and evolving security 02:34.029 --> 02:37.100 challenges each and every day , we 02:37.110 --> 02:39.240 cannot continue this cycle of 02:39.250 --> 02:42.830 continuing resolutions . We also cannot 02:42.839 --> 02:44.672 continue punting the ball on our 02:44.672 --> 02:46.895 supplemental funding request in support 02:46.895 --> 02:49.117 of Ukraine in its fight against Russian 02:49.117 --> 02:51.283 aggression . And we cannot continue to 02:51.283 --> 02:53.450 stall an approved supplemental funding 02:53.450 --> 02:55.617 for Israel and humanitarian assistance 02:55.617 --> 02:57.728 in Gaza to help contain the spread of 02:57.728 --> 03:00.061 conflict and promote regional stability . 03:00.061 --> 03:02.061 And we cannot pass up on a critical 03:02.061 --> 03:04.172 opportunity to support our allies and 03:04.172 --> 03:06.061 partners in the Indo Pacific with 03:06.061 --> 03:07.895 supplemental funding for foreign 03:07.895 --> 03:10.061 military assistance and financing . So 03:10.061 --> 03:12.283 we need Congress to come together . The 03:12.283 --> 03:14.339 world is watching what we do in this 03:14.339 --> 03:16.450 moment . It's tracking whether we can 03:16.450 --> 03:18.672 unite and overcome the headwinds facing 03:18.672 --> 03:20.895 our national security and our democracy 03:20.895 --> 03:23.006 and our adversaries in particular are 03:23.006 --> 03:24.895 observing our willingness to step 03:24.895 --> 03:27.006 forward for our allies and partners . 03:27.006 --> 03:29.130 So we must continue to make progress 03:29.139 --> 03:30.929 critical to rejecting power and 03:30.940 --> 03:33.162 protecting our people in our republic . 03:33.162 --> 03:35.384 Progress that will stoke innovation and 03:35.384 --> 03:37.329 bolster our ability to upgrade our 03:37.329 --> 03:39.496 systems , acquire new capabilities and 03:39.496 --> 03:42.089 launch new initiatives , progress that 03:42.100 --> 03:44.267 increases the resilience and lethality 03:44.267 --> 03:46.610 of the joint force . Progress that 03:46.619 --> 03:48.770 advances our multi domain power , 03:48.779 --> 03:50.723 strengthening our ability to deter 03:50.723 --> 03:52.779 strategic attacks against the United 03:52.779 --> 03:55.020 States , our allies and partners and 03:55.029 --> 03:57.029 progress that enables us to develop 03:57.029 --> 03:59.320 capabilities and operational concepts 03:59.330 --> 04:01.830 needed to deter aggression pace to the 04:01.839 --> 04:03.960 growing multi domain threat posed by 04:03.970 --> 04:06.589 the PR C in the Indo Pacific . This 04:06.600 --> 04:09.369 progress cannot wait . Our nation must 04:09.380 --> 04:11.491 meet its responsibility to our forces 04:11.491 --> 04:13.889 to pass on time appropriations so that 04:13.899 --> 04:17.279 these goals can be realized this year's 04:17.290 --> 04:19.779 fy 25 defense budget request at 04:19.790 --> 04:23.739 $849.8 billion would build on 04:23.750 --> 04:25.583 an advance generational military 04:25.583 --> 04:27.639 investments we've put in motion over 04:27.639 --> 04:31.269 the past several years for the fourth 04:31.279 --> 04:33.501 year in a row . Our budget furthers our 04:33.501 --> 04:35.668 goals to defend the nation , take care 04:35.668 --> 04:37.557 of our people and succeed through 04:37.557 --> 04:39.640 teamwork unlike our prior budgets . 04:39.649 --> 04:42.399 However , the fy 25 request is capped 04:42.410 --> 04:44.243 by the Fiscal Responsibility Act 04:45.549 --> 04:47.716 because of these statutory caps and as 04:47.716 --> 04:49.929 good stewards of taxpayer dollars , we 04:49.940 --> 04:52.529 made smart responsible choices to work 04:52.540 --> 04:55.489 within those limits . The result is a 04:55.500 --> 04:57.769 strong focus on executability and 04:57.779 --> 04:59.809 necessary emphasis on near term 04:59.820 --> 05:02.529 readiness and people investments . But 05:02.540 --> 05:05.049 to be clear , we must grow the defense 05:05.059 --> 05:07.170 budget in the out years of our future 05:07.170 --> 05:09.281 years defense program . If we want to 05:09.281 --> 05:11.170 achieve the goals of the national 05:11.170 --> 05:13.226 defense strategy , especially in the 05:13.226 --> 05:15.570 face of rapid modernization by the PR C . 05:17.040 --> 05:18.818 Now , budgets are statements of 05:18.818 --> 05:20.707 priorities and we used a rigorous 05:20.707 --> 05:23.299 process guided by our strategy to 05:23.309 --> 05:25.642 arrive at the resourcing determinations . 05:25.642 --> 05:28.540 We've made that process included close 05:28.549 --> 05:30.839 dialogue and collaboration among senior 05:30.850 --> 05:34.079 dod leaders representing every defense 05:34.089 --> 05:36.320 component , military service and 05:36.329 --> 05:39.350 combatant command . Together , we 05:39.359 --> 05:41.399 remained singularly focused on 05:41.410 --> 05:43.670 identifying the programs and plans that 05:43.679 --> 05:45.735 best meet the demands of today's war 05:45.735 --> 05:47.649 fighters and their families while 05:47.660 --> 05:49.950 making smart investments in the future . 05:51.500 --> 05:53.556 That's vital because since day one , 05:53.556 --> 05:55.760 Secretary Austin and I have emphasized 05:55.769 --> 05:59.040 the urgency to innovate . One key focus 05:59.049 --> 06:00.605 in innovation is overcoming 06:00.605 --> 06:02.730 institutional challenges that inhibit 06:02.739 --> 06:05.130 our ability to accelerate delivery of 06:05.140 --> 06:06.980 critical capabilities to the war 06:06.989 --> 06:10.059 fighter at speed and scale . That's the 06:10.070 --> 06:12.237 goal of replicator including its first 06:12.237 --> 06:14.250 focus area on all domain triable 06:14.260 --> 06:16.760 autonomous systems and many similar 06:16.769 --> 06:19.102 initiatives the department has underway . 06:19.529 --> 06:22.260 So even under the fy 25 cap , we 06:22.269 --> 06:24.500 continue to make investments in basic 06:24.510 --> 06:26.350 research , advanced technology 06:26.359 --> 06:28.410 experimentation , artificial 06:28.420 --> 06:30.253 intelligence and cyber and space 06:30.253 --> 06:32.670 capabilities . And we are committed to 06:32.679 --> 06:35.309 robust procurement , sending strong 06:35.320 --> 06:38.630 market signals to industry . Take for 06:38.640 --> 06:40.779 instance , space last year , our 06:40.790 --> 06:42.957 investments in space capabilities were 06:42.957 --> 06:45.799 the largest ever . The fy 25 budget 06:45.809 --> 06:48.031 continues . The department's commitment 06:48.031 --> 06:51.059 to space investing nearly $34 billion 06:51.070 --> 06:53.339 to keep space safe for military , 06:53.350 --> 06:56.929 civilian and commercial operations in 06:56.940 --> 06:58.884 support of our first ever national 06:58.884 --> 07:00.790 defense industrial strategy were 07:00.799 --> 07:03.070 increasing investments in casting and 07:03.079 --> 07:05.570 forging more than double that of last 07:05.579 --> 07:08.559 year . Other key investments focus on 07:08.570 --> 07:10.792 strengthening our munitions and defense 07:10.792 --> 07:12.681 industrial base and improving the 07:12.681 --> 07:14.903 resilience of our supply chains so that 07:14.903 --> 07:16.959 we can deliver what our war fighters 07:16.959 --> 07:19.760 need when they need it . For example , 07:19.769 --> 07:22.429 the fy 25 budget request makes an 07:22.440 --> 07:24.496 historic investment in the submarine 07:24.496 --> 07:26.662 industrial base to increase production 07:26.670 --> 07:29.750 and reduce backlogs will continue to 07:29.760 --> 07:31.760 work together to increase munitions 07:31.760 --> 07:33.549 investments . And I appreciate 07:33.559 --> 07:35.781 Congress's partnership in ensuring that 07:35.781 --> 07:37.837 we have the authorities . We need to 07:37.837 --> 07:40.059 get the right capabilities in the hands 07:40.059 --> 07:41.892 of our war fighters , allies and 07:41.892 --> 07:44.369 partners . Top of their list is 07:44.380 --> 07:46.602 Multiyear Procurement Authority , which 07:46.602 --> 07:49.309 is a proven and powerful tool to meet 07:49.320 --> 07:51.619 immediate threats , support the defense 07:51.630 --> 07:54.589 industrial base and surge and maintain 07:54.600 --> 07:58.170 munitions procurements . We've awarded 07:58.179 --> 08:00.235 our first four multiyear procurement 08:00.235 --> 08:02.250 contracts . We've made significant 08:02.260 --> 08:04.482 investments in the munitions industrial 08:04.482 --> 08:06.769 base and we know that multiyear 08:06.779 --> 08:09.001 procurement will be even more effective 08:09.001 --> 08:11.001 when we receive appropriations that 08:11.001 --> 08:12.668 allow us to move out on these 08:12.668 --> 08:16.089 authorities . Our investments will go 08:16.100 --> 08:18.267 toward deepening our relationship with 08:18.267 --> 08:20.267 our allies and partners . And these 08:20.267 --> 08:22.559 robust investments reflect our nation 08:22.589 --> 08:25.160 at our best , sparking innovation 08:25.459 --> 08:27.515 leading with our allies and partners 08:27.515 --> 08:29.515 and defending our democracy against 08:29.515 --> 08:32.929 those forces that would do us harm our 08:32.940 --> 08:35.739 fy 25 budget request also upholds our 08:35.750 --> 08:38.140 commitment to our people , the service 08:38.150 --> 08:40.440 members , military families and 08:40.450 --> 08:42.979 civilians who work tirelessly to defend 08:42.989 --> 08:45.700 this nation day in and day out . As 08:45.710 --> 08:48.130 Secretary Austin said our success in 08:48.140 --> 08:50.196 defending the nation and maintaining 08:50.196 --> 08:52.919 readiness is inexorably linked to their 08:52.929 --> 08:55.950 success . That's why this budget 08:55.960 --> 08:58.309 focuses on their economic stability and 08:58.320 --> 09:00.219 family support . The cores of our 09:00.229 --> 09:03.409 taking care of people initiatives . The 09:03.419 --> 09:05.659 budget funds must pay items related to 09:05.669 --> 09:07.836 quality of life and quality of service 09:07.836 --> 09:10.570 such as a 4.5% pay raise for our 09:10.580 --> 09:12.869 service members that builds on raises 09:12.880 --> 09:14.880 for the past three years in a row , 09:14.880 --> 09:18.400 including last year's 5.2% pay raise . 09:18.669 --> 09:21.190 With this budget , our service members 09:21.200 --> 09:24.320 will have received an 18% increase in 09:24.330 --> 09:26.530 base pay during this administration . 09:27.679 --> 09:29.320 But we know that competition 09:29.330 --> 09:31.441 compensation excuse me about is about 09:31.441 --> 09:34.059 more than just pay . It's about 09:34.070 --> 09:35.792 increasing the number of child 09:35.792 --> 09:37.737 development centers where military 09:37.737 --> 09:39.959 families can educate their Children and 09:39.959 --> 09:41.792 the number of providers in those 09:41.792 --> 09:44.039 centers . It's about the conditions on 09:44.049 --> 09:47.119 ships and in barracks . It's about what 09:47.130 --> 09:48.963 we're doing to build healthy and 09:48.963 --> 09:51.570 resilient communities and that's why 09:51.580 --> 09:53.849 the must pay items in this budget also 09:53.859 --> 09:56.460 include basic housing allowance , 09:56.469 --> 09:59.450 increases facility investments in safe 09:59.460 --> 10:01.729 quality family housing to enhance 10:01.739 --> 10:03.517 deterrence and improve critical 10:03.517 --> 10:06.380 operational infrastructure , making 10:06.390 --> 10:08.640 health care , healthy food and child 10:08.650 --> 10:11.020 care more accessible including 10:11.030 --> 10:13.520 increasing pay for childcare providers 10:13.770 --> 10:15.690 and building a safer workplace , 10:15.700 --> 10:17.644 including efforts to combat sexual 10:17.644 --> 10:19.659 assault and to prevent suicide and 10:19.669 --> 10:22.950 eliminate barriers to care . All must 10:22.960 --> 10:25.429 haves not nice to haves that enable our 10:25.440 --> 10:27.384 total force to thrive so that they 10:27.384 --> 10:31.159 maintain focus on their mission and it 10:31.169 --> 10:33.391 doesn't end there . We are only able to 10:33.391 --> 10:35.558 successfully defend the nation because 10:35.558 --> 10:37.780 of the support of the American people . 10:37.780 --> 10:39.780 We work to earn and maintain their 10:39.789 --> 10:42.380 trust each and every day by being good 10:42.390 --> 10:44.840 stewards of taxpayers hard earned 10:44.849 --> 10:47.119 dollars . And we know that a good 10:47.130 --> 10:49.650 measure of trust lies in our progress 10:49.659 --> 10:52.010 toward a clean audit . I'm proud to 10:52.020 --> 10:54.187 highlight that several weeks ago , the 10:54.187 --> 10:56.169 US Marine Corps became the first 10:56.179 --> 10:58.190 military service to achieve a clean 10:58.200 --> 11:00.890 audit , the level of rigor and 11:00.900 --> 11:03.409 discipline and teamwork involved in 11:03.419 --> 11:05.475 achieving this milestone serves as a 11:05.475 --> 11:07.599 model for teams across the department 11:07.609 --> 11:10.390 moving forward and brings us one step 11:10.400 --> 11:12.969 closer to achieving an overall clean 11:12.979 --> 11:16.099 report by 2027 . As required by law , 11:17.500 --> 11:19.349 we will continue to improve our 11:19.359 --> 11:21.799 performance and optimize our processes , 11:21.809 --> 11:23.880 practices and systems across the 11:23.890 --> 11:25.979 department to deliver the nation's 11:26.099 --> 11:29.260 warfighter and taxpayers as effectively 11:29.270 --> 11:32.239 and efficiently as possible . This 11:32.250 --> 11:34.472 budget advances our nation's defense in 11:34.472 --> 11:36.694 the face of an historically challenging 11:36.694 --> 11:38.780 strategic resource and operational 11:38.789 --> 11:41.969 environment . Our military readiness 11:41.979 --> 11:44.090 depends on our ability to pass timely 11:44.090 --> 11:47.700 appropriations , fy 24 fy 25 and every 11:47.710 --> 11:51.049 year thereafter . So I cannot emphasize 11:51.059 --> 11:53.409 this enough . We need predictable , 11:53.619 --> 11:57.049 adequate , sustained and timely funding , 11:57.059 --> 11:59.820 full stop . We cannot afford any more 11:59.830 --> 12:02.530 lost time time that we cannot buy back . 12:02.890 --> 12:05.112 So we urge Congress to work together to 12:05.112 --> 12:07.510 pass this budget request and last 12:07.520 --> 12:09.353 year's and the national security 12:09.353 --> 12:11.489 supplemental too , with the requisite 12:11.500 --> 12:13.389 urgency that our nation's defense 12:13.389 --> 12:16.349 demands with the right tools and timely 12:16.359 --> 12:19.099 resources . We can meet all of our well 12:19.109 --> 12:21.053 established defense priorities and 12:21.053 --> 12:23.053 outpace our competitors as we've so 12:23.053 --> 12:25.229 carefully planned and together we will 12:25.239 --> 12:28.659 thank you . Thank you , Secretary Hicks 12:28.669 --> 12:30.947 and thank you for your leadership . So , 12:30.947 --> 12:33.169 on behalf of the chairman and the joint 12:33.169 --> 12:35.280 force , welcome here to this briefing 12:35.280 --> 12:37.113 today . And it is a privilege to 12:37.113 --> 12:39.336 represent the 2.1 million total force , 12:39.336 --> 12:41.447 soldiers , sailors , airmen , marines 12:41.447 --> 12:43.558 and Guardians . As we discussed , the 12:43.558 --> 12:45.558 Department of Defense's fiscal year 12:45.558 --> 12:48.690 2025 president's budget request like 12:48.700 --> 12:51.369 our fy 23 and 24 submissions . Before 12:51.380 --> 12:53.880 this , we are approaching the fy 25 12:53.890 --> 12:55.890 budget request with our national 12:55.900 --> 12:58.020 defense strategy and our national 12:58.030 --> 13:00.252 military strategy . At the front of our 13:00.252 --> 13:02.669 mind as our north star , our 13:02.679 --> 13:06.570 $849.8 billion budget pride prioritizes 13:06.580 --> 13:08.880 national security through integrated 13:08.890 --> 13:11.739 deterrence , campaigning and building 13:11.750 --> 13:13.917 enduring advantages to ensure that the 13:13.917 --> 13:15.806 joint force is able to defend the 13:15.806 --> 13:19.679 homeland deter strategic attacks and 13:19.690 --> 13:21.746 aggression all while positioning the 13:21.746 --> 13:24.039 joint force to prevail in conflict if 13:24.049 --> 13:26.880 necessary . Our strategy driven 13:26.890 --> 13:29.039 approach is focused on the security 13:29.049 --> 13:31.460 challenges of today while also 13:31.469 --> 13:33.691 modernizing the joint force to meet the 13:33.691 --> 13:36.500 challenges of tomorrow . Delivering on 13:36.510 --> 13:38.732 the strategic discipline that is at the 13:38.732 --> 13:41.219 heart of the national military strategy 13:42.210 --> 13:44.909 for integrated deterrent . The fy 25 13:44.919 --> 13:48.239 budget requests funds critical to uh 13:48.250 --> 13:51.349 investments in our national enterprise 13:51.359 --> 13:53.359 that nuclear enterprise and missile 13:53.369 --> 13:55.979 defense along with space capabilities 13:55.989 --> 13:57.989 which will allow the joint force to 13:57.989 --> 14:00.045 address key modernization priorities 14:00.045 --> 14:02.156 while also ensuring that we build the 14:02.156 --> 14:04.539 capabilities to support critical kill 14:04.549 --> 14:06.880 webs . And it continues to invest in 14:06.890 --> 14:09.059 priority areas that will enable the 14:09.070 --> 14:11.292 department to strengthen our cyberspace 14:11.292 --> 14:13.650 activities and to expand our long range 14:13.659 --> 14:16.289 fires capabilities to support 14:16.299 --> 14:18.239 campaigning . The department is 14:18.250 --> 14:20.417 investing in readiness initiatives for 14:20.417 --> 14:22.799 operations , training and maintenance 14:22.809 --> 14:25.440 while also prioritizing exercises and 14:25.450 --> 14:27.450 experimentation that will allow the 14:27.450 --> 14:29.890 joint force to support our critical 14:29.900 --> 14:32.250 theaters including indo paycom and 14:32.260 --> 14:34.669 Europe we do this through investments 14:34.679 --> 14:36.512 in things like missile defense , 14:36.512 --> 14:38.235 resilient , communications and 14:38.235 --> 14:40.123 interoperability initiatives . So 14:40.123 --> 14:42.346 critical with our allies and partners , 14:42.346 --> 14:44.568 the joint force also looks to build out 14:44.568 --> 14:46.790 our enduring advantages . This includes 14:46.790 --> 14:49.012 investing in our people , the center of 14:49.012 --> 14:51.479 the universe . It is also a means for 14:51.489 --> 14:53.880 us to continue to fund in invasion 14:53.890 --> 14:56.299 through replicator and other efforts . 14:56.690 --> 14:58.770 Meanwhile supporting the defense 14:58.780 --> 15:01.669 industrial base and supply chains , 15:01.880 --> 15:03.491 using multi year procurement 15:03.491 --> 15:05.890 authorities reduces costs and provides 15:05.900 --> 15:07.979 a consistent demand signal to our 15:07.989 --> 15:11.190 industry partners as we still await the 15:11.200 --> 15:13.799 fy 24 appropriations , I want to 15:13.809 --> 15:15.976 reiterate that the joint force is best 15:15.976 --> 15:18.679 positioned to maintain and build on our 15:18.690 --> 15:20.880 enduring advantages . When we receive 15:20.890 --> 15:23.789 sufficient , timely sustained and 15:23.799 --> 15:26.419 predictable funding and a return to 15:26.429 --> 15:28.880 predictable and routine resourcing will 15:28.890 --> 15:30.723 help ensure that the joint force 15:30.723 --> 15:32.946 continues to meet the nation's national 15:32.950 --> 15:36.049 security needs . Our current strategic 15:36.059 --> 15:38.170 advantage gives us confidence against 15:38.170 --> 15:40.960 any adversary but our competitors and 15:40.969 --> 15:42.802 our adversaries have not stopped 15:42.802 --> 15:44.950 advancing their capabilities . So we 15:44.960 --> 15:47.799 must continue to adapt , advance and 15:47.809 --> 15:50.609 innovate at speed and at scale across 15:50.619 --> 15:53.409 all domains , prioritizing China as the 15:53.419 --> 15:56.219 pacing challenge and Russia as an acute 15:56.229 --> 15:58.820 threat . Our strategy driven budget 15:58.830 --> 16:01.299 does exactly that it recognizes the 16:01.309 --> 16:03.179 need to invest in key areas to 16:03.190 --> 16:05.523 translate the national defense strategy . 16:05.523 --> 16:07.690 The national military strategy and the 16:07.690 --> 16:09.468 joint war fighting concept into 16:09.469 --> 16:11.820 operational capabilities required to 16:11.830 --> 16:14.880 deter our strategic competitors while 16:14.890 --> 16:17.057 resourcing our strategy and making the 16:17.057 --> 16:19.539 necessary investments . The joint force 16:19.549 --> 16:22.320 can and will remain the most capable 16:22.330 --> 16:24.619 force in the world for decades to come . 16:25.239 --> 16:27.350 So , thank you for joining us today , 16:27.350 --> 16:29.406 madam secretary . Thank you for your 16:29.406 --> 16:31.517 leadership and your words today . And 16:31.517 --> 16:31.500 again , it is my distinct privilege to 16:31.510 --> 16:33.859 be here and represent the commitment 16:33.869 --> 16:36.109 and the dedication of our entire joint 16:36.119 --> 16:38.500 force . Ok . Now we'll go to questions 16:38.510 --> 16:41.090 Tara up from a P HI , Secretary Hicks . 16:41.099 --> 16:43.321 I wanted to first ask about Ukraine , a 16:43.321 --> 16:45.488 senior defense official who briefed us 16:45.488 --> 16:47.710 in advance of this budget said that dod 16:47.710 --> 16:49.766 is actually about $10 billion in the 16:49.766 --> 16:51.877 hole when it comes to Ukraine . And I 16:51.877 --> 16:53.988 wanted to get your thoughts on how do 16:53.988 --> 16:56.210 you replenish that ? How do you get the 16:56.210 --> 16:56.059 munition stocks back to where they need 16:56.070 --> 16:58.679 to be without a supplemental ? And if 16:58.690 --> 17:02.690 we go into another cr um and then uh 17:02.700 --> 17:04.890 for admiral Grady , um I wanted to see 17:04.900 --> 17:06.900 if you could just talk , talk to us 17:06.900 --> 17:08.956 about the readiness impact of having 17:08.956 --> 17:12.530 yet another cr on ship availability on 17:12.540 --> 17:14.707 squadrons , getting flight hours , the 17:14.707 --> 17:17.119 real life impacts that uh you see in 17:17.130 --> 17:21.089 the forces . Uh So , uh thanks very 17:21.099 --> 17:23.210 much on the issue of the supplemental 17:23.210 --> 17:25.210 and in particular , the $10 billion 17:25.210 --> 17:27.266 replenishment that would be provided 17:27.266 --> 17:29.449 for under that supplemental . Um We 17:29.459 --> 17:32.390 don't foresee a uh likely alternative 17:32.400 --> 17:34.567 outside of uh the supplemental funding 17:34.567 --> 17:36.511 or having that money added into an 17:36.511 --> 17:39.489 appropriation bill in order to achieve 17:39.500 --> 17:41.719 uh the replenishment that we need . So 17:41.729 --> 17:43.840 we are absolutely laser focused right 17:43.840 --> 17:45.785 now on , on making the case to the 17:45.785 --> 17:48.007 American people about the need for that 17:48.007 --> 17:50.062 supplemental , about the $50 billion 17:50.062 --> 17:52.173 roughly of investment that flows back 17:52.173 --> 17:54.770 to the US economy um and supports 17:54.780 --> 17:56.891 businesses large and small throughout 17:56.891 --> 17:59.560 the country . Um And also helps warm up 17:59.569 --> 18:01.569 our industrial base for our own war 18:01.569 --> 18:03.458 fighters so that they can get the 18:03.458 --> 18:05.625 munitions they need in a timely manner 18:05.625 --> 18:07.791 when crises arise . So what happens if 18:07.791 --> 18:09.902 you don't get the replenishment , you 18:09.902 --> 18:12.125 don't get the 10 billion , we don't get 18:12.125 --> 18:11.569 the 10 billion . We would have to find 18:11.579 --> 18:13.801 other means . Uh We , right now , we're 18:13.801 --> 18:15.968 very much focused on the need for that 18:15.968 --> 18:18.260 supplemental . Yeah , continuing 18:18.270 --> 18:20.650 resolutions are always a challenge and 18:20.660 --> 18:22.827 uh and certainly it , it , it requires 18:22.827 --> 18:24.882 us to make difficult decisions going 18:24.882 --> 18:26.882 forward . You're very familiar with 18:26.882 --> 18:29.104 things like new starts and how it might 18:29.104 --> 18:31.438 impact uh personnel initiatives or , or , 18:31.438 --> 18:33.604 or shipbuilding and ship maintenance . 18:33.604 --> 18:35.604 As you , as you point out munitions 18:35.604 --> 18:37.827 production , replenishment , those kind 18:37.827 --> 18:39.716 of things um as to our ability to 18:39.716 --> 18:41.827 maintain readiness . Um as the deputy 18:41.827 --> 18:43.882 said , readiness and what we need to 18:43.882 --> 18:46.049 fight tonight remains at the forefront 18:46.049 --> 18:48.104 of uh of our budget deliberations uh 18:48.104 --> 18:50.327 this year and I'm pretty confident that 18:50.327 --> 18:52.327 we will be able to maintain thing , 18:52.327 --> 18:54.619 things like uh flying hours and uh and 18:54.630 --> 18:56.797 ship depot maintenance going forward . 18:56.797 --> 18:58.908 We have to keep a really close eye on 18:58.908 --> 19:00.852 it though , because sometimes that 19:00.852 --> 19:03.074 becomes a bill payer . Uh Thanks to the 19:03.074 --> 19:02.790 secretary and the chairman that has not 19:02.800 --> 19:04.856 to this point . And uh we'll , we'll 19:04.856 --> 19:07.369 watch it very closely . We'll go to 19:07.380 --> 19:09.602 Mike Stone from Reuters . Next thanks . 19:09.602 --> 19:13.420 Um uh madam secretary , 19:13.660 --> 19:16.239 I don't see a line in this budget for 19:16.250 --> 19:18.439 replicator . Can you tell us uh what's 19:18.449 --> 19:20.910 gonna be spent this year next year on 19:20.920 --> 19:22.976 project replicator ? And for Admiral 19:22.976 --> 19:24.976 Grady , can you tell us the top two 19:24.976 --> 19:27.087 things that China should take note of 19:27.087 --> 19:29.359 in this budget ? Uh There's a huge 19:29.369 --> 19:32.060 increase , for instance , in um long 19:32.069 --> 19:34.550 range anti ship missiles . Are there 19:34.560 --> 19:36.838 other things that we should look at as , 19:36.838 --> 19:38.893 as sending a signal to deter China ? 19:38.979 --> 19:41.510 Sure . So um I , as I've said publicly 19:41.520 --> 19:44.599 before the level of effort spending to 19:44.609 --> 19:47.729 think about and replicator in fy 24 is 19:47.739 --> 19:51.089 around uh 500 million in an fy 25 is 19:51.099 --> 19:53.729 around 500 million . That's sort of the 19:53.739 --> 19:55.906 sum total of what we anticipate . This 19:55.906 --> 19:58.239 is a pathfinder . It's largely about 19:58.250 --> 20:00.949 reducing barriers inside our system in 20:00.959 --> 20:03.126 a process that the vice chairman and I 20:03.126 --> 20:04.969 run . Um But obviously there are 20:04.979 --> 20:06.979 dollars associated with getting the 20:06.979 --> 20:10.540 actual um uh thousands on the 18 to 24 20:10.550 --> 20:13.079 month timeline out the door . It is my 20:13.089 --> 20:16.469 um uh fervent view that uh follow on to 20:16.479 --> 20:18.810 that is a significant investment 20:18.819 --> 20:21.339 potential that is not about replicator . 20:21.349 --> 20:23.349 That is about what the services are 20:23.349 --> 20:25.405 gonna be able to do on autonomy once 20:25.405 --> 20:27.349 we're able to lower those barriers 20:27.349 --> 20:29.689 through that initial investment . So I 20:29.699 --> 20:31.755 I think any adversary should look at 20:31.755 --> 20:33.977 the budget and notice at least three or 20:33.977 --> 20:35.699 four things . The first is the 20:35.699 --> 20:37.755 continued sustainment of funding for 20:37.755 --> 20:39.643 the uh nuclear enterprise and the 20:39.643 --> 20:41.755 reprioritization and uh modernization 20:41.755 --> 20:43.977 of the nuclear triad that shows you our 20:43.977 --> 20:46.143 strong commitment to the importance of 20:46.143 --> 20:48.310 that of that mission area . Secondly , 20:48.310 --> 20:50.255 is space . Um The Deputy secretary 20:50.255 --> 20:52.421 talked about that . Um And as we think 20:52.421 --> 20:54.588 to the future and where we're going to 20:54.588 --> 20:54.079 win , I think it would become one of 20:54.089 --> 20:56.579 our great uh uh asymmetric advantages 20:56.589 --> 20:58.645 along with the undersea . So I would 20:58.645 --> 21:00.922 look hard at what we're doing in space . 21:00.922 --> 21:02.978 Um And then uh I guess the third one 21:02.978 --> 21:04.922 would be the readiness that I just 21:04.922 --> 21:07.089 talked about 100 and 47 billion out of 21:07.089 --> 21:09.200 849 . That's a big chunk of money and 21:09.200 --> 21:11.311 readiness . So we are ready right now 21:11.311 --> 21:13.339 uh for a fight tonight . OK , Tony 21:13.670 --> 21:15.837 Cacio Bloomberg . One quick question . 21:15.837 --> 21:18.010 There's $500 million for Taiwan . It's 21:18.020 --> 21:21.369 the first time ever PD A . Can you talk 21:21.380 --> 21:23.713 a little bit about the rationale for it ? 21:23.713 --> 21:26.010 Is it a message to China and why 500 21:26.020 --> 21:28.290 million versus some other larger figure 21:28.510 --> 21:30.788 for Adam o'grady is the head of the JR ? 21:30.788 --> 21:32.343 Were there any in the joint 21:32.343 --> 21:34.454 requirements Oversight Council ? Were 21:34.454 --> 21:36.677 there any investments that you're , you 21:36.677 --> 21:38.869 pushed in the 25 budget to reflect 21:38.880 --> 21:41.040 lessons from the Ukraine War that the 21:41.050 --> 21:44.849 United States needs to counter . So on . 21:44.859 --> 21:46.915 Um presidential driving on authority 21:46.915 --> 21:49.489 for Taiwan , we were provided authority 21:49.719 --> 21:53.709 um in the 24 NDA A um I believe uh uh 21:53.719 --> 21:56.949 24 . Um And so this was our first 21:56.959 --> 21:59.530 opportunity the 25 budget to be on 21:59.540 --> 22:02.079 cycle to put forward funding in support 22:02.089 --> 22:04.969 of that authority . Um We believe 500 22:04.979 --> 22:07.201 million is executable . It represents a 22:07.201 --> 22:09.290 strong uh down payment on the 22:09.300 --> 22:12.339 authorized level . And o obviously fits 22:12.349 --> 22:14.516 with , we need to fit within the , the 22:14.516 --> 22:16.460 Fiscal Responsibility Act cap . So 22:16.460 --> 22:18.682 that's how we got to the amount there . 22:18.682 --> 22:20.793 What it will do for us is allow us uh 22:20.793 --> 22:23.739 just as the uh replenish for Ukraine 22:23.750 --> 22:26.540 allows us , it provides that backfill 22:26.550 --> 22:28.661 for the services for anything that we 22:28.661 --> 22:30.717 provide to Taiwan . We then would be 22:30.717 --> 22:32.839 able to look at how to keep ourselves 22:32.849 --> 22:35.199 ready in those same areas . So that 500 22:35.209 --> 22:37.640 million will allow us to backfill 22:37.650 --> 22:40.000 ourselves for um items that we might 22:40.010 --> 22:42.640 provide to Taiwan . Yeah , lots to 22:42.650 --> 22:44.539 learn from uh what's happening in 22:44.539 --> 22:46.817 Ukraine right now . Um And as you know , 22:46.817 --> 22:49.039 the J Rock takes a look at all of those 22:49.039 --> 22:51.094 things and they make recommendations 22:51.094 --> 22:53.261 based on capability gaps that we might 22:53.261 --> 22:55.317 assess . We don't necessarily direct 22:55.317 --> 22:54.989 funding , it can't direct funding , but 22:55.000 --> 22:57.510 we identify uh gaps in which then can 22:57.520 --> 22:59.631 be lead to requirements . I think too 22:59.631 --> 23:01.742 that I would point to you are uh both 23:01.742 --> 23:04.979 manned and unmanned systems . Um 23:04.989 --> 23:06.989 And uh particularly in the unbanned 23:06.989 --> 23:09.211 systems , how we deliver effects on the 23:09.211 --> 23:11.267 battlefield , whether they're ISR so 23:11.267 --> 23:13.211 sensing on the battlefield or then 23:13.211 --> 23:15.045 delivering kinetic and un uh non 23:15.045 --> 23:17.100 kinetic effects . Both of those then 23:17.100 --> 23:19.045 are something I think we're really 23:19.045 --> 23:22.160 learning um in the , in the situation 23:22.170 --> 23:24.170 in Ukraine and oh , by the way , it 23:24.170 --> 23:26.337 isn't just in one domain , it's across 23:26.337 --> 23:28.337 all domains to include the maritime 23:28.560 --> 23:30.770 being funded , any investments in this 23:30.780 --> 23:33.359 budget , you could point to reflecting 23:33.369 --> 23:35.536 on what you just said . Yeah , I think 23:35.536 --> 23:37.758 what uh uh if , if you were to lurk the 23:37.758 --> 23:39.980 work of the uh of the joint counter UAs 23:39.980 --> 23:42.147 office and the work that they're doing 23:42.147 --> 23:44.258 to uh which is also playing out in uh 23:44.258 --> 23:46.369 in the situation in the Middle East , 23:46.369 --> 23:48.425 you can see where those requirements 23:48.425 --> 23:50.647 are translating into how we think about 23:50.647 --> 23:53.010 that . Fight Louis Martinez from ABC , 23:53.020 --> 23:55.589 please . I'm Secretary um Chairman 23:55.599 --> 23:57.766 Rogers is already out with a statement 23:57.766 --> 23:59.932 saying that while this budget keeps up 23:59.932 --> 24:02.155 with the Fiscal Responsibility Act , uh 24:02.155 --> 24:04.099 he says it's not keeping pace with 24:04.099 --> 24:06.210 inflation uh as a top line . And with 24:06.210 --> 24:08.432 four adversaries , I'd just like to get 24:08.432 --> 24:10.377 your thoughts on that because he's 24:10.377 --> 24:12.599 looking forward um as as to future that 24:12.599 --> 24:14.377 actually the way this budget is 24:14.377 --> 24:16.432 structured right now uh puts us at a 24:16.432 --> 24:18.599 disadvantage in the future . And A I'd 24:18.599 --> 24:20.655 like to ask you about uh the Red Sea 24:20.655 --> 24:22.655 operations . Uh What is the current 24:22.655 --> 24:24.488 burn rate for operations there ? 24:24.488 --> 24:26.710 Because if you already have , let's say 24:26.710 --> 24:28.877 more than 200 uses of million , excuse 24:28.877 --> 24:30.988 me , 200 uses of missile anti missile 24:30.988 --> 24:33.469 systems . Um How uh how are you able to 24:33.500 --> 24:36.250 replenish that in the future ? Uh Given 24:36.260 --> 24:38.371 all the other constraints that you're 24:38.371 --> 24:40.699 under for Ukraine as well ? Ok . So the 24:40.709 --> 24:42.876 Fiscal Responsibility Act is the law . 24:42.876 --> 24:46.020 Um We also think it represents an 24:46.030 --> 24:48.310 opportunity to get timely 24:48.319 --> 24:50.650 appropriations . And as I commented 24:50.660 --> 24:54.199 here , that's our priority uh on time 24:54.209 --> 24:57.000 adequate appropriate um um 24:57.010 --> 25:00.760 appropriations , the uh back and forth 25:00.770 --> 25:03.160 over top line inevitably will occur 25:03.170 --> 25:05.170 over the course of the , the coming 25:05.170 --> 25:07.392 congressional cycle . We obviously look 25:07.392 --> 25:10.160 forward to engaging Congress . Um But I 25:10.170 --> 25:12.114 just really have to stress what we 25:12.114 --> 25:14.003 believe in , in this department , 25:14.003 --> 25:15.892 whatever can get us to actually a 25:15.892 --> 25:17.959 bipartisan agreement that produces 25:17.969 --> 25:20.479 appropriations is high priority for us . 25:20.569 --> 25:23.719 So if that's the fr A , um and as I 25:23.729 --> 25:25.949 said , it is already the law that is 25:25.959 --> 25:28.250 absolutely fine with us . I will also 25:28.260 --> 25:30.560 stress , as I said in my comments , we 25:30.569 --> 25:33.050 believe we need out year growth that , 25:33.060 --> 25:35.510 that fr A for 25 we can make the 25:35.520 --> 25:38.469 strategy work um As long as we can 25:38.479 --> 25:40.400 realize that out year growth , um 25:40.410 --> 25:42.660 particularly for some of the longer 25:42.670 --> 25:44.781 term investments that we have to grow 25:44.781 --> 25:47.003 capabilities . For example , after 2030 25:47.003 --> 25:49.114 capabilities that would produce after 25:49.114 --> 25:52.650 2030 . Yeah , thank you . Uh The 25:52.660 --> 25:54.771 situation of the Red Sea is a dynamic 25:54.771 --> 25:56.938 one as you know , I'm sure you've been 25:56.938 --> 25:59.271 following it . Um , you talk about , uh , 25:59.271 --> 26:01.493 the , uh , munitions expenditure rate . 26:01.493 --> 26:01.449 So certainly something that we , uh , 26:01.459 --> 26:03.570 we watch very closely , very proud of 26:03.570 --> 26:05.681 the , of the work of your joint force 26:05.681 --> 26:07.848 at sea . Um , and , and what they have 26:07.848 --> 26:10.181 been able to do to protect shipping and , 26:10.181 --> 26:11.903 uh , and really to back up the 26:11.903 --> 26:14.015 international rules based order there 26:14.015 --> 26:16.181 and freedom of navigation as to the as 26:16.181 --> 26:18.292 to the burn rate . I see we won't get 26:18.292 --> 26:18.050 into the specifics of , you know , what 26:18.060 --> 26:20.282 we're shooting and how much suffices to 26:20.282 --> 26:22.393 say I'm very comfortable that we have 26:22.393 --> 26:24.560 enough of what we need and that we are 26:24.560 --> 26:26.727 a learning organization . And so as we 26:26.727 --> 26:29.004 apply the concepts of defense in depth , 26:29.004 --> 26:31.060 it isn't always an expense of SM two 26:31.060 --> 26:33.227 missile they could shot at a UAs we've 26:33.227 --> 26:35.338 learned how to use other systems , uh 26:35.338 --> 26:37.616 and , uh have rapidly adjusted to , uh , 26:37.616 --> 26:39.838 uh this concept of defense att . Um And 26:39.838 --> 26:41.949 that's what gives me great confidence 26:41.949 --> 26:41.520 that we'll be able to sustain that as 26:41.530 --> 26:43.752 long as it takes to change the calculus 26:43.752 --> 26:45.808 over there . Ok . We're about out of 26:45.808 --> 26:47.919 time . So I think we're gonna wrap it 26:47.919 --> 26:49.752 up right there . I do appreciate 26:49.752 --> 26:52.030 everybody for coming , uh , for coming . 26:52.030 --> 26:51.589 And I wanna thank , uh , Deputy 26:51.599 --> 26:53.877 Secretary Hicks and vice chairman , uh , 26:53.877 --> 26:55.988 Grady as well . Thank you very much . 26:55.988 --> 26:55.900 Thank you .