▶ 0:00:11Just sit down. Good job. Take over from another one.
▶ 0:10:12Today's hearing will come to order. The subcommittee meets today to review the department's fiscal year 2027 budget request for nuclear forces and atomic energy defense activities. Welcome and good afternoon to our witnesses. As you are all aware, we are scheduled to have a vote series beginning at 4:00 p.m. Uh so I'm not going to run down all your names. We can see them. And uh but I it will certainly when we recognize you.
▶ 0:10:37Our plan is to accomplish as much as we can over the next hour and or so and then we'll adjourn the hearing when votes begin. Uh we will not reconvene for a classified session though we're happy to schedule this at a later date uh as needed in order to maximize time for members' questions. I will ask each of our witnesses to limit their opening remarks to 3 minutes.
▶ 0:10:59Uh I will forego an opening statement but before turning to the ranking member, I want to recognize uh that this hearing will be Admiral Wolfe's final appearance uh in uniform before the committee. After nearly four decades of service to the nation including eight years as the director of SSP, he will be retiring later this year. Admiral Wolfe uh has testified before this subcommittee every year since 2019 and this panel has benefited greatly from his wisdom and counsel.
▶ 0:11:29And as I have I personally from our meetings. Uh so, thank you, Admiral, and we wish you all the best in a well-deserved retirement. With that, I now recognize the ranking member, Mr. Moulton, for his opening Thank you, Chairman DesJarlais, and given our compressed schedule today, I ask unanimous consent that my complete opening remarks be entered into the record. I would like to take a moment to welcome Honorable Brandon Williams and General White to the subcommittee.
▶ 0:11:58This is there's critical work that must be done across both of your portfolios, and your sound management is critical to making sure we get this right. I would also like to recognize Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe and Lieutenant General Andy Gabara for their steadfast leadership and work they have done for this subcommittee. Admiral Wolfe, I want to thank you for your 38 years of service to our nation.
▶ 0:12:21As the Director of the Navy's Strategic Systems Program Office for the past 8 you have shown what consistency and commitment to mission can provide, and I personally thank you for the transparency and candor you have offered to Congress. I wish you and your family well in retirement, and and lastly, General Gabara, congratulations on your new role as the Director of the Air Staff. I look forward to continuing to work together. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
▶ 0:12:48Thank you, and I also, as we spoke I think just yesterday, congratulations to we'll now turn to our witnesses. Your prepared testimony will be made part of the record, but you will each have 3 minutes to make some opening remarks. Mr. Williams, we'll begin with you, and after that, we'll just move down the line.
▶ 0:13:10You're Chairman DesJarlais, Ranking Member Moulton, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the President's fiscal year 2027 budget request for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Mr. Chairman, a written statement has been provided, I respectfully request that it be submitted for the record. Without objection.
▶ 0:13:32NNSA's fiscal year 2027 budget request is $32.8 billion and represents President Trump's vision of America first grounded in peace through The request supports the full and rapid modernization of all three legs of the nuclear triad.
▶ 0:13:49It provides critical funding for the revitalization and recapitalization of production infrastructure and maintains America's critical edge in national security It also supports a robust non-proliferation and counter tipper portfolio that serves as America's shield against nuclear and radiological attack while advancing the president's energy dominance objectives.
▶ 0:14:15Finally, it builds on NNSA's long-standing partnership with the US Navy in support of the nuclear fleet, my the strongest force for peace and freedom on Earth. In an unprecedented era where we face two peer nuclear powers, keeping America safe cannot mean business as usual. The days of stewarding an ever-aging nuclear stockpile as NNSA's primary mission are over.
▶ 0:14:43Under President Trump's leadership, NNSA will return to its Manhattan Project roots as an organization focused on weapons production to meet Department of War requirements for America's strategic Our non-proliferation and counterterrorism capabilities will serve as the first and last line of defense against nuclear or radiological attacks.
▶ 0:15:04The growing global interest in nuclear power and technology will be met by America American nuclear industry and And our naval reactors program will maintain America's unmatched asymmetric advantage in naval nuclear propulsion Our ballistic missile submarines will remain the silent sentinels guarding our assured second strike capability while our attack submarines and aircraft carriers will bring American power anywhere on Earth to protect our vital interests.
▶ 0:15:33The men and women of NNSA constitute the greatest scientific and engineering organization in human It's an honor to lead them in service to the United States and under President Trump's leadership. Thank you and I look forward to your questions. I yield back the balance of my time. Thank you for your remarks. I will now turn to Dr. Catholic for your statement.
▶ 0:15:54Chairman DeJarle, ranking member Moulton, members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today regarding US nuclear I appeared before you with a message that is stark and sobering. For the first time in our nation's history, we will face the challenge of deterring two nuclear peers, China and Russia, as well as regional powers with growing capabilities. This is not a hypothetical future problem. This is a now crisis.
▶ 0:16:21China's engaged in a breathtaking opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal while Russia, with the largest nuclear arsenal, continues to modernize its forces integrating new kinds of weapons into its strategy for nuclear coercion. Both countries have sophisticated theater nuclear weapons significantly outnumbering the US. Add to this challenge is North Korea whose missiles now can reach the American homeland. The picture becomes alarmingly clear. We're in a new and more dangerous era.
▶ 0:16:51The 2023 Strategic Posture Commission highlighted the inefficiencies and risks we have allowed to fester in our nuclear enterprise. For too long, we've operated under a business as usual model that reflected a benign security environment. Programs were delayed, hard decisions deferred, and taking in risks of were avoided. Now, we must flip that model.
▶ 0:17:12We have to act with urgency while we take steps to to risk appropriately to confront these The President's FY 2027 budget request request prioritizes the nuclear deterrent as the foundation foundation of America's defense and increases by $11.4 billion the previous year's budget for this for our nuclear deterrent. As Secretary Hagel said said recently, nothing else matters if we don't get this right.
▶ 0:17:41We must accelerate our critical submarine, missile, bomber, and NC3 programs whenever possible to deliver the next generation capabilities to the warfighter as soon as possible. We must also accelerate slicker men, develop additional theater nuclear forces as well. Such capabilities are essential to managing escalation, ensuring the US is never subject to blackmail.
▶ 0:18:04Finally, we must supercharge our defense industrial base, returning the US to the world's premier arsenal, capable producing at scale, with speed, and with unmatched quality. The cost of investing in our nuclear forces and supporting capabilities and infrastructure is significant. However, the cost of failure is a world where the risk of miscalculation, catastrophic conflict is unacceptably high. That is the price we cannot afford to pay.
▶ 0:18:29We owe it to the warfighter, to the American people, and our posterity to ensure that our arsenal freedom remains ready, reliable, and resolute. The time to act is now. Thank you, and I look forward to your questions. Thank you, Dr. Cadillac, and and before I introduce General White, I just want to tell a story about he and I traveling to Minot, North Dakota, to show the airmen there that we were tough and we could come up there and and deal with the harsh winters of Minot, North Dakota. We stepped off the plane, it was 71 degrees.
▶ 0:19:00So, we tried. But anyways, with that, I recognize General White. Thank you, sir. Chairman DeLauro, ranking member Moulton, and distinguished members of the committee, I'm honored to appear before you, and thank you for the opportunity to testify on the vital work of the direct reporting portfolio manager of critical major weapon The office was established by Secretary Heckseth to provide urgent unified focus on a select group of weapon systems critical to the nation's defense.
▶ 0:19:24Sentinel ICBM, Minuteman 3 ICBM, B-21 Raider, F-47 and CCA family of systems, and the VC-25B. All require a higher level of leadership and operational urgency to ensure their timely delivery and execution.
▶ 0:19:39Ultimately, my portfolio represents 28 billion of the Department's FY27 budget In alignment with the National Defense Strategy, the DPM's role is twofold: relentlessly prioritize the programs most consequential to the security and prosperity of the American people, and to drive the acquisition process transformation necessary to equip the US military with the world's most decisive and lethal warfighting capabilities.
▶ 0:20:03Success demands an outcomes-focused As India states, the United States should never will never be left vulnerable to nuclear blackmail. The bedrock of homeland defense is a robust and modern nuclear deterrent. As such, [clears throat] it is imperative that US modernization programs proceed with urgency to include fielding of the Sentinel and B-21 weapon systems.
▶ 0:20:25On the B-21 program, I'm happy to report recent progress with the award of two additional low-rate initial production lots, and a recent agreement with Northrop Grumman that will increase annual production capacity by 25%. Additionally, B-21 is on path with its flight test campaign. The first aircraft remains on track for delivery to Ellsworth Air Force Base in 2027. With a planned fleet of at least 100 I am grateful for the continued support from Congress on this program, and I want to advocate for sustained funding moving forward.
▶ 0:20:56The FY27 budget request of 7 billion includes investments for flight test, modernization, and procurement of aircraft and support systems. Regarding the land-based leg of the nuclear triad, the Department is committed to ensuring Minuteman 3 force remains safe, secure, and effective until Sentinel is fielded. Over 2 billion is allocated annually for operations and sustainment with crucial FY27 investments to ensure weapon system continues to meet requirements until its retirement.
▶ 0:21:21I can report to you that Sentinel program is advancing with clear purpose on a path to its milestone B decision by the end of 2026 and initial operational capabilities in the early Recent milestones achieved to date include taking the first Minuteman 3 silo offline for transition, assembling first three-stage ground test missile, and a breaking and breaking ground on a prototype launch silo. The first missile pad launch is scheduled for 2027.
▶ 0:21:47The FY27 budget request of 6 billion includes investment in air vehicle development, launch silo, and launch to the prototyping, flight test execution, and necessary facility and infrastructure upgrades. Thank you again for your continued support and resourcing for these critically important programs. I look forward to your questions. Thank you, General. Uh, now recognize Vice Admiral Wolfe.
▶ 0:22:08Chairman DeJarlis, ranking member Moulton, and distinguished members of this subcommittee, it's an honor to be I'd like to begin by assuring you that the Navy's nuclear forces, the bedrock of our national security, are safe, secure, effective, and credible. SSP is entrusted to provide cradle-to-grave life cycle support to three critical programs: the Trident 2 D5 strategic weapon system, the Navy conventional prompt strike hypersonic program, and the nuclear armed sea launch cruise missile.
▶ 0:22:37These are three of our nation's highest priority acquisition programs, and with your support, they ensure the Navy is delivering peace through strength. As the most survivable leg of the nuclear triad, the ballistic missile submarine force provides an unyielding foundation for assured response against any adversary. That force stands at a critical juncture.
▶ 0:22:57Decades of strategic foresight have delivered an unparalleled capability, but to maintain our advantage in the face of evolving threats, we must build on these decisions and prioritize the modernization of our nuclear infrastructure and our industrial base. A strong domestic industrial base is the foundation of a credible deterrent.
▶ 0:23:18Using resources authorized by this committee, SSP is actively working to revitalize this national asset, ensuring the timely production and delivery of strategic weapon system components while fostering American jobs and technological superiority. Our modernization needs cannot succeed without investing in research and development, the critical skills for our workforce, and the facilities needed to produce, sustain, and certify our strategic systems. Our infrastructure is also at an inflection point.
▶ 0:23:49Existing facilities are reaching their 30-year recapitalization windows as we enter into a once-in-a-generation modernization of both the Trident weapon system and the ballistic submarine platform. Over the past year, Navy has made incredible progress moving forward with development of the sea-launched cruise missile as the program moves at an extremely aggressive pace to deliver both a limited operational capability and an initial operational capability.
▶ 0:24:17Strategic deterrence is critical to this nation. It is the foundation of national security strategy and is a top priority of the Secretary of War. In order to accomplish our mission of sustainment and development, SSP must have trained, skilled employees on board. Systems do not design, test, and build themselves. People do, which makes our people our greatest asset.
▶ 0:24:40As the 14th Director of Strategic Systems Programs, I am honored to represent them, and I have absolute faith and confidence in the systems we deliver due to the proficiency and professionalism of these dedicated service members and civilians who have made strategic deterrence their life's work. The 15th director will inherit a legacy of proven success that will enable the command to grow and take on challenges we have not yet begin to imagine.
▶ 0:25:06With continued congressional support and stable on-time funding, the Navy will continue to effectively defend our nation and preserve peace for future generations. This, as you pointed out, sirs, will be my last time sitting in front of this committee. I'd like to thank you for your support of SSP and more specifically your support of me during my time as director. You allowed us to accelerate these critical national programs.
▶ 0:25:31I'm humbled and honored to have been entrusted to lead an organization so critical to our national security. I am proud of the work my team and I have accomplished over the last 8 years that I have been director of SSP and indeed across my 38 years in the Navy.
▶ 0:25:45Thank you for the opportunity to testify and I look forward to your Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today.
▶ 0:26:16In partnership with our teammates across the war department and the NNSA, the airmen and guardians of the Department of the Air Force work tirelessly to maintain the essential nuclear deterrent our nation requires. Their unwavering professionalism and dedication to the United States nuclear mission ensures the foundation of our national security remains strong. Our strategic deterrent is at a critical inflection point. The urgency we face to modernize and recapitalize is heightened by an increasingly complex and challenging environment.
▶ 0:26:44The members of the subcommittee are very aware of the expanding Chinese and North Korean nuclear arsenal and Russia is nearly complete with their nuclear This era is not a return to the Cold War. It represents a new paradigm defined by the challenge of multiple nuclear armed competitors.
▶ 0:27:00The systems we rely on for deterrence are decades past their planned lifespans, and we must promptly modernize them or face critical The path forward is not just replacing our legacy systems, but doing so with an approach that is both fiscally responsible and strategically sound. To meet this challenge, the Department of the Air Force is executing a comprehensive, once-in-a-generation recapitalization of nearly our entire nuclear enterprise.
▶ 0:27:25Completion of these programs are essential, and until they come online, we must continue to fully sustain our current systems to ensure there is no gap on our nation's strategic deterrent Your continued and timely support is both appreciated and is a fundamental requirement to ensure our strategic deterrent remains credible now and into the future. As I assume a new role as the Air Force Director of Staff in the coming weeks, this will be my last posture hearing before this subcommittee.
▶ 0:27:50I want to express my appreciation to all of you for your partnership and support of the Department of the Air Force and the nuclear enterprise. It's been an honor to testify before you, representing our airmen and our guardians. I look forward to your questions. Thank you, sir. And we wish you best of luck in your new We'll now turn to member question, and I'll start by recognizing myself.
▶ 0:28:12Uh there has been plenty of public discussion about potentially increasing the procurement of the B-21 bombers based on the changing threat environment. However, we've had comparatively little dialogue about increasing procurement plans for other nuclear modernization programs, even though those plans were similarly established with a very different threat landscape in mind, and well before China's nuclear breakout.
▶ 0:28:39Do you think we need to reconsider procurement quantities across the other nuclear modernization programs, such as the Sentinel ICBM, Columbia-class submarine, and long-range standoff cruise missiles. Uh if you could comment on Sentinel B-21, General White, uh and then Dr. Kadlec, if you would comment on the other programs. Thank you, Chairman. And I think the answer to the question is analysis is always something we keep at the forefront.
▶ 0:29:07As we think about the continued evolution of the threat, um we have programs of record that we believe represent the threat as they stand and as it evolves, but I don't think we can stand still just like our adversaries aren't standing still. So, working with Dr. Kadlec and with the policy enterprise, largely we turn to them and we provide data and that analysis working with both STRATCOM and Global Strike Command to make sure we have those numbers right. So, my my commitment to you is to work within the enterprise to continue to analyze those numbers.
▶ 0:29:36Um I do think that while they are programs of record, it is inherently important that we continue to do that analysis as the threat continues to evolve while we balance that with what our policy partners have to do in the business that they do. So, that that would be the the short of it, but so my commitment to you is to continue that that analysis and continue communicating and working with with this subcommittee to make sure we have information. Dr. Kadlec, over to you. Uh thank you, General White. And in in terms of your question, Mr.
▶ 0:30:03Chairman, the short answer is yes, we should reconsider the procuring quantities across the domain. And and I just want to highlight just a couple in that With the replacement of the Ohio-class submarines with Columbia, we're actually losing some potential capacity and capabilities since the Columbia will have fewer missile tubes than the Ohio. So, that's just one example.
▶ 0:30:25And as details in the FY27 budget request show, we're putting more money to increasing the buy of LRSOs and starting to buy long lead items for Columbia to increase the number of boats to at least 15. On B-21, I'm I still firmly stand with General White's efforts to look at the requirements and determine the right number.
▶ 0:30:46Clearly he has identified the role that Admiral Richard plays as the commander of Stratcom and also the Air Force in terms of determining that number. We've heard from Admiral Richard and Admiral Paparo recently about a number north of 100, but again I look forward to doing looking at the analysis and looking at the numbers and supporting General White's efforts in this domain. Thank you.
▶ 0:31:11General White, Congress has used flexible funding structures in the past to support modernization efforts for example with tanker Do you think these concepts could have value and help accelerate or increase efficiency when it comes to nuclear Thank you Chairman and and the answer to that is a resounding yes.
▶ 0:31:30I think anytime we can get greater flexibility with funding it allows us a lot more freedom of maneuver within these programs to make sure we can deliver on our commitments number one and number two making sure we can address real time threats. I'll tell you foundationally part of the idea behind the program was making sure we had processes in place that allowed us greater flexibility.
▶ 0:31:54This is the one area where we really need to focus some attention because of that flexible funding again it makes it much easier especially when larger portfolios have numerous program elements. It makes it a lot easier to to take action in order to to address near time threats as well as steer programs into to mission outcome. So certainly sir any any opportunity we have to get that flexibility we will welcome it. Dr. Kehler do you have anything to add to that?
▶ 0:32:20Yes sir I do and I want to just reaffirm what General White said but also have been having been a beneficiary of Congress's flexibility in funding during Operation Warp Speed I personally can experience the the opportunities that come by giving latitude to to move and take care take advantage of opportunities and minimize risks.
▶ 0:32:44Clearly, there's a role for Congress to be notified and informed of these these activities when they do happen, but I think there's an example in the defense domain with the sea-based deterrence where you could act you can enable act and identify opportunities again and align activities with our colleagues at DOE and NNSA with the rapid capabilities team to accelerate not just simply a platform, but a total capability with the warheads that NNSA
▶ 0:33:14provides. Okay, I'm going to ask one more question Seth and I'll Administrator Williams and NNSA's budget request for fiscal year 2027 is a significant increase over the current fiscal year. Can you talk about why this increase is necessary and the growing level of effort NNSA is undertaking on the road to restoring our scientific and production capabilities and building the modern responsive nuclear enterprise that the nation needs. Thank you for the question Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:33:44Yes, there is a significant need for The truth is is that America's nuclear weapons enterprise is at an inflection point in history. We are transitioning from the last 30 plus years of a of the existing stockpile which is as capable as ever, but we're shifting from that model to a modern 21st century production model which is necessary to meet the rising
▶ 0:34:14threat. That looks like in fact I would say even in history it's the perfect time to do this because we have new tools available to us in the form of artificial intelligence and a very committed workforce. Just a remarkable 70,000 Americans that are patriotic that are working diligently down this path.
▶ 0:34:33So, I think just to for the sake of time, I would say that we're just at this transition point in history and we have not made those investments in the past and we need to make those investments now. I I yield and I now recognize the ranking member Mr. Moulton for his question. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I'm going to pick up right where you left off with that question that sounded like it was written by the administration.
▶ 0:34:59Uh and give you some more time to go into why there's a 35% increase in the budget because my understanding is that you're not building any more weapons. And in fact, some weapons programs you're requesting zero dollars for because they've been covered in last year's reconciliation bill. So, what exactly are you buying with this 35% Ranking member, thank you for the question.
▶ 0:35:27I think if you look back to the early 1960s, you'll see that the nuclear weapons enterprise consumed about 6% relative to the Department of Defense budget even as we ramped up spending for the Department of Defense for the Vietnam War. Today, that number is about 3%. So, we're actually spending half of what we spent a generation ago to build the same capability.
▶ 0:35:55That is the whatever's necessary to deter our adversaries. what we're building is we are replacing infrastructure for manufacturing. We manufacture a unique set of things for our nuclear stockpile. They are not small things, whether that's depleted uranium or Look, we all know this. We know all this and I appreciate the historical footnote. What are you buying? Um Just a specific question. Just give us some example.
▶ 0:36:23You're seven billion There's a lot I can buy for seven billion dollars. There's a lot of gas at inflated prices that Americans can buy for $7,000,000,000. So, just tell us what are you buying for $7,000,000,000? We accelerating the plutonium pit mission in Los Alamos. So, a lot of those are glove boxes. We are building a training center and equipping a training center for the workforce at Savannah River.
▶ 0:36:50We're continuing the modernization, the transformation I should say of the MOX facility at Savannah River into the two-site solution for pit production to include Savannah River. We are doing reinvesting in a number of the scientific instruments that are necessary to continue to stay ahead of our adversaries, to continue to monitor the stockpile, and um that's just a small taste.
▶ 0:37:19very hard to see a training center Savannah River River facility that that thanks to my colleague from South Carolina here has been regularly funded on by this subcommittee costing $7,000,000,000. Well, that was one of the many things that I mentioned. I did not ascribe $7,000,000,000 to that one project.
▶ 0:37:41There is nothing in your list that that struck me as something that should even cost a billion dollars. Ranking member, I I would invite you to come down and see the scale and scope of the nuclear weapons enterprise at Savannah River at any of our sites. You would be welcome. I think you would be amazed at what a class one nuclear facility looks like, how it's constructed, the exquisite work done by the I'm I'm happy to I'm happy to take that trip.
▶ 0:38:05Yes, sir. You You would enjoy that. We would enjoy try to hold you accountable. I'm happy to. Right? And and not give you softballs, but actually have ask tough questions on behalf of the American taxpayer. And um I think the American taxpayer would just like to know what we're getting. Your enterprise was a target of DOE. Right? Elon Musk came in and said, "Let's cut money I I from your from your from your
▶ 0:38:29That was before I was sworn in, but I I don't believe that's true. Well, you it was not true? Yes. I I I don't believe that we were specifically or a target of DOE. Okay, well, then then perhaps we can give you a little historical footnote because you were. There were personnel cuts. There were other cuts made to to to your And the whole point was that we can save money there. So, what's the answer?
▶ 0:38:58I mean, are are we is this a place where we can get more efficiencies in government or is it a place where we need to spend more money? We I think we need some clarity on that. Uh General White, I appreciate the conversation that we had earlier about how you intend to get the Sentinel program back on um and some of the changes that you're making to the acquisition strategy to try to make it more cost-efficient. One thing I always come back to is the importance of competition. It's by far the best way to force contractors to get down their costs.
▶ 0:39:28So, can you talk about some of the ways in which you're making sure that the Sentinel program is structured to support maximum competition over the course of the development, fielding, and sustaining of the system? thank you, Ranking Member Moulton. Absolutely. And I think a couple of things that as I looked uh came up on the program and and did the research stirring into it and understanding exactly how the contract structures were, one of the things I recognized is we had this very very vertical structure.
▶ 0:39:55And what we've done is built architecture in in the restructure to find opportunity specifically as it relates to construction and areas where after we get design complete, we can open the aperture that to have competition. One of the other areas I'm paying very close attention to is making sure we build a software architecture that allows us to have uh an opportunity to be able to compete into the future rather than typically what we normally do is we have software that is just it is very stovepiped in a sense.
▶ 0:40:25Northrop Grumman is working with us on that building that architecture making sure it's open. If that architecture remains open and we are sure of that which I can tell you we are doing that what that hard work right it allows us to continuously compete the systems and subsystems as we continue to sustain and maintain the system into the future. Well, I think you're going to find bipartisan support for that approach on this committee after the debacle of the F-35. So, thank you for that general and Mr.
▶ 0:40:50Chairman, I yield I thank the ranking member [clears throat] and I'm now pleased to recognize the distinguished mental uh gentleman from South Carolina, Joe Savannah River Wilson. Hey, and and um Chairman Dr. Desjardins, thank you very much and ranking member Seth Moulton, thank you for always bringing up about the Savannah River site. It's a beautiful place to visit. Hey, it's a Hey, you all know where it is. It's across the river from the Augusta National Golf Course. So, you can place it there.
▶ 0:41:19Uh with that in mind, I want to thank the witnesses for being here today and indeed we face a increasingly complex threat environment from more criminal Putin's murderous war in Ukraine to the Chinese Communist Party's largest peacetime military build-up in history along with North Korea's continued nuclear advancements in both missile and nuclear capabilities.
▶ 0:41:41These threats are an increasing ability to threaten our American families and our allies and particularly interested in how the Department of Defense and National Nuclear Security Administration are sustaining and modernizing the nuclear triad at a speed and scale.
▶ 0:42:01And to me, this is particularly important because as we address the different threats, there is good news and that is my view is as we address the challenge of work work criminal Putin, Chinese Communist Party, and North Korea. I'm grateful that President Donald Trump has courageously destroyed the threat of the nuclear capability of Iran.
▶ 0:42:21As he was advised by Envoy Steve Whitcomb of Tehran having 11 nuclear bombs, he responded decisively to a regime at war with America for 47 years, murdering and injuring thousands of Americans. Additionally, all political parties in America have supported Iran must never have a nuclear capability. With that in mind, we must ensure the nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, effective, and ready to promote peace through strength.
▶ 0:42:51With that in mind, uh Secretary, former Congressman, Navy veteran Williams, the Trump uh nuclear posture review committed to producing 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030, and also, quote, "A delay of this would result in the need for a higher rate of pit production at a higher cost." End of quote. I'm grateful for the two-site solution for the plutonium pit production uh to include the Savannah River Site.
▶ 0:43:20I'm the only member of Congress who's actually worked at the Savannah River Site, so I know firsthand the capabilities of the personnel there. With that in mind, do you agree the longer it takes to achieve pit production goals, the higher the required production rate and cost will be? And what risks are there that pose to meeting the deterrent requirements of this decade? Uh Mr. Wilson, thank you for your question, and thank you for your support for the nuclear deterrents mission.
▶ 0:43:49It's utterly critical uh for that kind of leadership to ensure that future generations are safe from the nuclear threat. Um we are committed at NSA to the two-site solution uh for restoring pit production uh to the United States. Uh frankly, it is a good news story. Uh, we have been able to move out quickly and much more aggressively at the Los Alamos site.
▶ 0:44:13Um, that's mission is succeeding at a tremendous pace and we are going to produce uh, more pits there uh, faster and in a greater quantities than anyone imagined. Uh, but that's uh, only tees up the need to get the Savannah River site online and producing as quickly as possible. Uh, as you know, the training facility uh, is also coming online.
▶ 0:44:35That's going to support uh, both acceleration at Los Alamos, even though the training will be at Savannah River, uh, as well as uh, getting set up for the Savannah River site. So, um, we are uh, on track on that mission.
▶ 0:44:50I would say that we have some challenges to meet the 80 pits per year by 2030 that uh, Congress has mandated, but uh, through our transformation objectives, we are moving out on that mission and I have to tell you the workforce has responded absolutely admirably in uh, stepping up to the challenge and need of the nation. And Mr. Secretary, I'm really grateful. The communities I represent are so supportive of the efforts of everyone here because we know how critical it is for peace through strength.
▶ 0:45:16And Admiral Wolfe, uh, we have a real issues with the industrial base. Uh, what do you recommend that we do to get the industrial base back on track? Sir, thanks for that question. Yeah, I think I think what the department has done as we start to look at standing up these portfolio acquisition executives that are running these programs.
▶ 0:45:36I think what we've done in the Navy as far as putting a focus on um, what Admiral Gaucher is doing with the PAE undersea warfare and Durpham submarines, getting getting that focus and then doing the invest the smart investments not just with our with our uh, subs, but with the primes particularly, uh, getting them where they need to be. So, I think we're doing everything that we can. The department is pushing really, really hard.
▶ 0:46:01Um, everybody's focused on that and it we just got to continue to ramp up to get all of these platforms delivered. Thank all of you for your General Yells back. Now, please recognize General from California, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to all for your distinguished service.
▶ 0:46:19Uh, as the representative of Palmdale's Plant 42, I'm uh, excited about um, the continued good progress of the B-21 program and I can tell you all that uh, our community is 100% behind this program and looking forward to supporting it as uh, as we potentially ramp up.
▶ 0:46:36Um, uh, General, like you and I had a chance to discuss the the capability of the 412th and to make sure that it is uh, properly uh, staffed to uh, carry out the wide range of critical testing programs. I know that uh, you're on top of that and so I don't think there's anything that we need to talk about on that on that front.
▶ 0:47:01I did however want to talk to you about a small detail that I hesitate to raise with somebody who is responsible for whatever it is uh, $30 billion, $60 billion of uh, of uh, which is traffic around Plant 42. because we have had such growth in that site, it's it's not really built to have that and and we we now have huge traffic uh, jams uh, or significant traffic jams outside of the facility.
▶ 0:47:27Um, this is not a uh, in the grand scheme of your challenges, it's not really that big a deal, but it's a big deal to the folks uh, the good men and women who are uh, working hard and who are now stuck in in these things and so I wonder whether I might be able to work with somebody on your team just to try to address this challenge because it it does affect thousands of folks who are working on this important program. Well, thank you, Congressman, and first of all, I I couldn't agree more.
▶ 0:47:50The community effort that goes into making something of this order of magnitude like building the B-21 uh, is critically important and uh, the last thing we want to do is be an inconvenience for the community as we continue to ramp up for this. So, what I'll do is we'll get back with you.
▶ 0:48:05I'll get you name of who you can work with and I'll work with my Northrop Grumman counterparts as well who obviously have a big presence there and then work on ways there are different things we can do in terms of shift work and and how we we transfer times and and try to ease some of that traffic burden. So, we'll get together with the team and we'll reach out to your team and make sure we can we can address some of this. I'd appreciate that. I think the community and the workers themselves would would really appreciate that.
▶ 0:48:31The only other questions that I had was just it seems like as a country we have got to deal with the issue of workforce preparedness for all of our programs whether it's submarines, whether it's bombers, all these things and I think I just wanted to express from the perspective of Congress we want to be a partner to you as we deal with this nationwide challenge, right? Because you know, you talk to Joe Courtney you're talking about the subs, you talk about the B-21.
▶ 0:48:58We have a huge challenge to train up and motivate young people and and middle career people to join these super important tasks. So, I don't know if any of you have any particular genius ideas that Congress should be pushing harder on but this seems like a crucial point to enable us to build at the pace that we know that we need to do to compete with our peer competitors. Yes, sir.
▶ 0:49:22I will say the department at large has really been going after this particular piece as it relates to both skilled and unskilled labor and we're having some success. I will tell you I think the biggest piece of this is continued focus. And with that continued focus especially as it ties to these larger programs, making sure we can we can have positions that not only do we have to fill just within the government side of the ledger, we also have to address the same challenge with the industry side and often we find ourselves competing with each other.
▶ 0:49:51So, I think a couple of things. Continued focus, making sure we have programs and helping people understand what the opportunities are both on the industry side and the government side, and then continuing working with communities and making sure we can get get folks positioned where they can compete well into these spaces. We've had some really good success specifically out in in your area as it relates to working on some of these challenges and even working with some of the local community colleges and such.
▶ 0:50:17Those are the type of successes I think is what's going to drive us to a place where we have the workforce we need to address some of these Thank you, and I agree. Any other
▶ 0:50:27Yes, sir. I If I could just add to that. So, from my perspective, it's it's identifying opportunities to to train that workforce. I agree with General White. Once we get them in the door, but we've got to find opportunities to train them because this is a new workforce. This is a generational change that we're going through, and if if Congress helps us to find those opportunities as where we identify, maybe do some early testing, okay? Get ahead of this.
▶ 0:50:52Let these teams learn through actually building things and testing those We tend to set our programs up so that everything is success-oriented, okay? We've got to We've got to identify those opportunities. And if it doesn't go so well, that's okay. What I can tell you is what we've learned on our programs, we are going to get so much learning and we are going to train that next generation of workforce that when it really matters, they will be ready to go to address those challenges. Thank you. I agree.
▶ 0:51:20Congressman, if I if I may, just uh Refer to the chairman here. Refer. Go ahead. Thank you. in my home state now of Tennessee, uh Roane State uh com- community college has done an ex- exceptional job of workforce development for the growing nuclear industry around Oak Ridge. So, I think there are pockets of success, um you know, that that could speak to your office and please reach out if we can uh help facilitate uh communication there. Great.
▶ 0:51:48I think what we see is that it's working in a few places and if we can share those lessons, maybe we can help the country. I yield back. Thank you, Mr. Kelly.
▶ 0:51:55Thank you. The chair now recognizes gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Mesmer. Thank you, Chairman, and and thank you for the witnesses for being here today. First off, Vice Admiral Wolf, you're going to be missed. It's been great working with you. Dr. Cadillac, uh thank you for your our discussions last week. I look forward to continuing to collaborate. Uh some may view the fact that there was no funds requested for SLCM in the 27 FY27 budget as reflecting a lack of commitment to the program.
▶ 0:52:22Can you confirm that the administration is fully committed to developing and deploying a nuclear sea-launched cruise missile? Yes, sir. The the administration is fully behind this. I think evidence of that is that if you look at the five-year defense plan, you'll see funding throughout that period, even though there's no funding identified for FY27. Okay. Thank you. Administrator Williams, can you confirm that you share the same agreement? Uh yes, sir, I do.
▶ 0:52:47Uh that the um funding from the reconciliation process is carrying the project forward at pace. We're ahead of schedule and we're going to be able to deliver warhead, W80-5, ahead of the Navy's needs. Okay. We're on track.
▶ 0:53:04Yep. Thank you for confirming that. Dr. Cadillac, do you expect to seek resources for the SLCM in FY28? Yes, sir. Okay. Administration Administrator Williams, same question for you, but for the warhead. Uh yes, sir, absolutely. Okay. Dr. Cadillac, the SLCM program envisions a cruise missile capability, but over the long term, do you see a need for a theater nuclear capabilities beyond legacy design cruise missiles?
▶ 0:53:30Yes, sir, there is a need and it's been expressed well both by combatant commanders and by STRATCOM. Super. Thank you. General Gabara, I know this committee is focused on recapitalizing the MH-139 for nuclear security and personal transport. What is the plan for recapitalizing the ground vehicles that support that same mission? Congressman, thank you for the question. So, we do have a plan to refurbish ground vehicles, not just in the missile fields, but throughout our Air Force.
▶ 0:54:01One of the challenges we've had in the past is treating these that are really mission vehicles as if they're just kind of generic vehicles. And what we need to do is have a a more plan that the missile field vehicles that have many, many miles put on them every year is not the exact same as a vehicle kind of at the local base that is only occasionally used. And so, we've done some pretty aggressive work to try and mainstream that.
▶ 0:54:26Always more work to do, but we are I'm much more comfortable with where we are on that than we were, say, 2 years ago when I began this job. [clears throat] Is the JLTV important for that ground ground-based support? I think the JLTV absolutely is important, has a role. It is not the only vehicle that needs to be put in. There are based on the various missions of the various vehicles in the field, that is not a one-size-fits-all, but it is absolutely part of it. Perfect.
▶ 0:54:53Do you know the your goal for the JLTV fleet Sir, I'd like to get back to you afterwards with the exact numbers. Perfect. And does the does the Army's divestiture of that program affect the Air Force's ability to to keep that program efficient? I believe we're still going to be in good shape. Okay, thank you.
▶ 0:55:13General White, as you recalibrate the Sentinel program and infrastructure needs to be both both mission capable and cost effective, have you been engaging across your university laboratories for for potential novel solutions to the construction mission We have started the process of actually doing that specifically as it relates relates to water issues at each of the site locations cuz we know a lot of these universities have a lot of experience, especially from a local perspective.
▶ 0:55:41We'll continue to use that as well as looking at other novel ideas we might use for constructions. Um we're just now in the early phases of the of the design of what we call the launch control centers, and that's where we're going to start seeking additional help and and guidance in areas where it could be helpful. We saw, for example, in our trip to Minot, uh Minot is very different than what we see at FE Warren. So, using those local um that local expertise is going to be instrumental in helping us make sure we can deliver on the construction and infrastructure side.
▶ 0:56:09Well, this may be a bias on my part, but as a Purdue University engineering graduate, your team might want to reach out to the PARC Infrastructure and Innovation Lab, as they're working on the exact kind of innovative solutions and methods that'll help bring cost and and cost down and and timelines speed up. So. Yes, sir.
▶ 0:56:27Glad to share that contact if you need Um Admiral Wolfe, thank you and your office for engaging with myself and my team concerning the SLCM program and the support voiced here by Dr. Ted Lack and Administrator and reconciliation use of the of Congress has given the program. Uh last year in this committee, we provided some tools to reduce costs, schedule risk, and integration of SLCM into the Virginia class submarine.
▶ 0:56:53Notwithstanding operational implications with such an action, would implement integration of future nuclear theater weapons be cheaper and faster in an Ohio or Virginia class or or Virginia class sub? I'm sorry, what was the question, sir?
▶ 0:57:08Would it um would it be less expensive to integrate future nuclear theater weapons in an Ohio in a multiple all-up-round canister of a Ohio class or Virginia class sub? So, certainly for Virginia, we we are looking at what the best option is to to have a canister.
▶ 0:57:25Um as you as you will know, as we've talked about, um for the limited operational capability, we're going to use the same canister that we are designing for what will go into our Virginia payload module because that's the quickest way to get that integrated into that submarine. So, that's the path we're on. We're always looking at what additional options could we have to make this the most effective and cost and technical way to develop these solutions. Yes, sir. Thank you. And I'm overtime, so I yield back. I I thank the gentleman.
▶ 0:57:56The chair now recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico, Mr. Vasquez. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to our witnesses for being here with us The United States is the safest and most powerful country on Earth, and it needs to stay that way. Responsibly managing our nuclear weapon systems plays a key role in maintaining our nation's safety and power. New Mexico is at the heart of our nation's nuclear program. Southern New Mexico in my district is home to the Trinity site, the birthplace of America's nuclear program.
▶ 0:58:24Los Alamos National Laboratory was founded solely to carry out the Manhattan Project, and it was there that America successfully built the world's first nuclear weapon, and today maintains a critical role in our nuclear program. And just outside of my district in Albuquerque is Sandia National Lab, a cutting-edge research site whose primary mission is to ensure the US nuclear arsenal is safe, secure, reliable, and ready to fully support our nation's deterrent policy. I visited the lab numerous times, and the work the team is doing there is truly groundbreaking.
▶ 0:58:54New Mexicans are proud of the role that our state plays as a cutting-edge hub for research and development in US nuclear weapons strategy and deterrence. But, our state has also seen the devastating impacts that nuclear testing and development has had on generations of New Mexicans. On July 16th, 1945, nearly half a million New Mexicans were awakened by that deafening explosion, and they were unknowingly exposed to deadly radiation as a result of the first above-ground nuclear test in the United States.
▶ 0:59:22The fallout from the Trinity site rained radioactive ash throughout the state, poisoning crops, livestock, and our These communities became known as downwinders, and they continue to be impacted decades later by debilitating health effects, including rare cancers, infertility, and death. That's why I pushed through this committee, the Downwinder Commemoration Act, which directs the Department of Defense to establish memorials at White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and White Sands National Park, honoring New Mexicans that were impacted by the Trinity test.
▶ 0:59:52Because if we don't learn from this history, we're doomed to repeat it. I'm extremely concerned that last the president stated he would like to resume nuclear testing, and that Defense Secretary Hegseth stated that the resumption of nuclear testing was a quote, "Very responsible way to maintain nuclear deterrence." There's nothing, I believe, very responsible about subjecting Americans to decades of debilitating health impacts, and it raises severe concerns about this administration's openness to restarting live or above-ground testing
▶ 1:00:22of nuclear weapons. We don't need to do this. Our country can rest assured that our nuclear stock power remains safe, secure, and effective, thanks to the advanced work done by labs like Los Alamos and Sandia in New Mexico. Resuming live tests would not enhance national security. Rather, it would undermine decades of our own scientific achievement, erode global nonproliferation norms, and impose unnecessary financial and environmental burdens.
▶ 1:00:48So, I stand firmly against any return to above-ground nuclear testing, and am against repeating those same mistakes of the past that have already caused so much harm, and are now costing taxpayers millions and millions of dollars through the recently passed and expanded RECA bill. Under Secretary Williams, can you definitively state the United States, through NNSA and DOD, will not resume above-ground nuclear testing?
▶ 1:01:12Uh the only the president of the United States has the authority to um commence either recommence nuclear testing, and he alone um uh, uh, make all of those decisions. I will say that my family is from New Mexico. My father is a down-winder as you described uh, in Roswell uh, 1945.
▶ 1:01:30Um, and that the NNSA performs more than a thousand tests every year on our stockpile and all the different components and systems to ensure that they are incredibly effective uh, as designed for the um, for the mission that they perform. So, we uh, I can tell you that our stockpile is uh, absolutely ready.
▶ 1:01:54I can tell you that our adversaries know that our stockpile works as advertised and uh, and it maintains the deterrence today. Thank you, Under Secretary. So, then would you agree that there's no need for above ground nuclear testing? I will do as the President directs. Uh, how about in your own expertise and knowledge and experience with your own family? All of which is in service to the President.
▶ 1:02:15Well, I can't emphasize how uh, unnecessary above ground nuclear testing is with the current technology that you just described uh, and that I know we have in New Mexico to test our nuclear stockpile and its viability uh, to ensure its its safety and deployment. Resuming nuclear weapons testing would undeniably harm the health and well-being of Americans for generations and cause long-term, irreversible, and environmental damage. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank you and uh, we actually finished a little ahead of schedule.
▶ 1:02:42So, I thank our witnesses for uh, being here today and uh, with that uh, this hearing is