▶ 0:19:37Chair Wicker: The meeting will come to order and I can tell our witnesses we are beginning at 10: 04. We just completed a successful, bipartisan markup of several nominations, so we were working even though we are a minute or two late. I welcome our witnesses and their families. I thank them for being here this morning. I will say what I've said for months and months at the kickoff of most of our hearings.
▶ 0:20:06Chair Wicker: The united states faces the most dangerous threat environment since world war ii. It bears repeating. In these challenging times I'm grateful that the individuals here today have stepped up to serve. Mr. platte moring iii has been nominated to be the inspector general of the department of defense. He is a retired lieutenant colonel and bronze star recipient. He served with distinction in the pennsylvania army national guard.
▶ 0:20:36Chair Wicker: He now teaches political science at the citadel under the first trump administration Mr. moring was the deputy general counsel of the department of defense. He worked in private practice as well with the department of justice. Welcome to you, Mr. moring. We look forward to hearing about how Mr. moring intends to ensure transparency, accountability, and clear communication with congress in these duties.
▶ 0:21:09Chair Wicker: Ms. kirsten davies has been nominated to be chief information officer of the department of defense. Ms. davies has over 15 years of executive cybersecurity and technology leadership with experience at five global and fortune 250 companies. If confirmed she will bring expertise in designing and leading comprehensive security reforms and a digital transformation initiatives. Ms.
▶ 0:21:33Chair Wicker: Davies will help implement advanced technologies at the speed of commercial industry without compromising security standards. I look forward to hearing her views on modernizing our cyber defenses, rapidly integrating cutting-edge capabilities, and ensuring our war fighters have the technological edge they need to depend -- to defend our nation. Mr.
▶ 0:21:59Chair Wicker: James mazol has been nominated for the under secretary of defense for research and engineering. This role, it is critical to ensure that our technology outpaces that of our adversaries. Mr. mazol has house and senate experience in national security and technology policy. He is therefore uniquely qualified to support the department and be a true partner with this committee to work hand-in-hand with congress. The U.S.
▶ 0:22:28Chair Wicker: Must accelerate our efforts to develop field and to transition operationally relevant capabilities to our war fighter, including everything from artificial intelligence to biotechnologies. We must leverage and steer our he advantages, such as private capital, to our national security objectives. We must do so in critical technology so we can surpass china's efforts. I'm confident Mr.
▶ 0:22:53Chair Wicker: Mazol is the exact person we need to help us integrate promising technologies at scale. I will have the honor of seeing a bit more about Mr. mazol later on. I look forward to hearing his testimony about his vision for how we can act to make progress in this area. Mr. derrick anderson has been nominated to be the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low intensity conflict.
▶ 0:23:25Chair Wicker: If confirmed he will serve as the principal civilian advisor to the secretary of defense on special operations, counterterrorism, and irregular warfare-related matters. This assistant secretary role is also responsible for overseeing the training, equipment, and readiness of our nation's special operations forces. Mr. anderson was the first and his family to attend and graduate from college.
▶ 0:23:50Chair Wicker: Following his graduation he went on to serve the nation in uniform as an army infantry officer and a green beret. His experience in uniform and in the private sector gives me confidence he will do an excellent job. I look forward to hearing Mr. anderson describe his priorities for our special operations enterprise. With that, I turned to my colleague, ranking member reed.
▶ 0:24:17Sen. Reed: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Good morning to our witnesses and congratulations on your nomination. Let me also welcome your family members. I think one of the requirements in this white house is that children have to be adorable and well behaved. So far, so good. Mr. moring, you are nominated to be the secretary-general of defense. This defense is among the most consequential oversight roles in our government.
▶ 0:24:41Sen. Reed: The american people rely on the ig to guard against waste, fraud, and abuse and hold accountable those who misuse the enormous power and resources of the pentagon. I must be direct. You have been nominated by a president who has shown outright hostility to the role of the secretary-general. In his first week in office president trump fired your predecessor along with every other inspector general in the federal government. Not because of poor performance, but because they did their job, in fact, too well.
▶ 0:25:12Sen. Reed: He has repeatedly demanded political loyalty from those. Equally troubling is the broader record of the administration. President trump has consistently shown a willingness to bend or ignore the law when it suits him and has shown hostility to independent oversight. Mr. moring, you have lead a long and distinguished career as a staff judge advocate and military lawyer. I trust you will understand this fraught situation.
▶ 0:25:41Sen. Reed: I will ask you to share your view on the importance of the inspector general independence and whether you pledge to execute the duties of this office independently and professionally. Ms. davies, you are nominated to be the department's chief information officer. The principal advisor on information technology and national security systems. If confirmed you will face several severe challenges.
▶ 0:26:06Sen. Reed: First, the software fast track initiative requires a 90-day framework to modernize outdated peer kermit systems that are slow and opaque -- procurement systems that are slow and opaque. You'll need to drive this across acquisition, research, and intelligence while safeguarding supply chains and at the same time the department of defense has struggled for years to hire I.t. Professionals to work in software development, cybersecurity operations, and acquisition.
▶ 0:26:34Sen. Reed: This challenge has been compounded by the widespread workforce cuts and contract cancellations. These actions risk slowing modernization rather than accelerating it. Ms. davies, I would ask how you plan to address each of these complex issues. Mr. mazol, you are nominated to be deputy under secretary of defense for research and engineering.
▶ 0:26:57Sen. Reed: He will oversee investments in modernization like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and electronics. Maintaining our lead over china and russia in these fields requires addressing several challenges. You must advocate for modernization while balancing near-term readiness, requiring close coordination with the undersecretary of acquisition and military services.
▶ 0:27:24Sen. Reed: Equally important you will need to overcome the department's so-called valley of death, insuring research innovations become operational capabilities. This means strengthening ties between research activities and service acquisition programs and investing in the people and infrastructure of darpa, the defense labs, and test ranges. I hope you will share your views on these responsibilities at this pivotal moment. Mr.
▶ 0:27:49Sen. Reed: Anderson, you are nominated to be assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict. If confirmed, there several urgent issues you will need to address. To begin, the law requires timely and substantive notification to congress of sensitive military operations and access to executive orders. Under president trump, these obligations have been routinely ignored. -- ignored, disregard oversight, and erodes trust.
▶ 0:28:21Sen. Reed: In particular the administration's recent strikes on vessels in the caribbean represent, in my view, blatant violation of international and domestic law. In february, the white house designated two dozen cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This designation, however, does not grant new authorities for military targeting. Given the large number of U.S.
▶ 0:28:43Sen. Reed: Military assets that have been deployed to the caribbean, it's clear that the administration intends to continue such operations, but skirting law and denying transparency to the american people risks a dangerous escalation with international ramifications. Mr. anderson, if confirmed you will be at the center of the situation and it will be your responsibility to ensure the law is followed.
▶ 0:29:06Sen. Reed: I will ask your views on the operations in the caribbean and request your commitment to follow the law, no matter how uncomfortable that position may become. Again, to all of our nominees, thank you. I look forward to your testimonies. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:29:21Chair Wicker: Thank you, Mr. ranking member. At this point it is customary for other members of congress to come in and sit at that desk in front of us and introduce particular individuals that we have a particular interest and history working with. For today's purpose Mr.
▶ 0:29:49Chair Wicker: Mazol has done me the honor of asking him to be that person. So, I will make a few extra remarks about Mr. mazol from the dais, followed by senator cotton to make another individual introduction. I am flattered, james. I am delighted to introduce today's nominee, Mr. james g.
▶ 0:30:15Chair Wicker: Mazol, here with his wife deborah, his son jack -- who is well behaved. Thank you, Mr. ranking member. His mother, toni, who is also acting very -- behaving leap correct today. Has been nominated to serve as the under secretary of defense for research and engineering.
▶ 0:30:43Chair Wicker: It's clear to me and everyone who has worked with him that he is ready to assume this role. The reason I say this with such confidence is that I have witnessed his competence and character. Mr. mazol joined my staff in 2017 and served there with distinction until the beginning of this year. When I led the sea power subcommittee, Mr. mazol led by response to the epoxy episodes naval aviators were facing.
▶ 0:31:12Chair Wicker: He also helped me draft and implement the surface warfare enhancement act after U.S. sailors were killed in worship collisions. I was so impressed with james' work that I tapped him to be the policy director of my commerce staff when I became chair.
▶ 0:31:30Chair Wicker: In that role he led a team focused on aviation, space, science, technology, issues he helped craft aviation safety legislation following the 737 max crashes, and he helped me direct more research funding to institutions in typically overlooked states. In 2023i once again appointed him to be policy director, this time for my armed services committee staff.
▶ 0:31:55Chair Wicker: Once again, he handled research, engineering, science, and technology portfolios. In addition to that work Mr. mazol helped develop and negotiate the ndaa, run committee activities, and lead the sask team. His history demonstrates his readiness for this role. Most members of this committee are intimately familiar with his service this year and before.
▶ 0:32:27Chair Wicker: That has made him even more prepared. James mazol is brilliant, he is strong, he is scrupulously honest, and I could not be more delighted to speak on behalf of him today. So, Mr. mazol, I will now turn to you for your opening statement. After that, senator cotton will be recognized.
▶ 0:32:52Mr. Moring: Thank you, chairman. Chairman wicker, ranking member reed, members of the committee, I appreciate the opportunity to come before you as the nominee for the deputy under secretary for research and engineering, that position that serves as the deputy chief technology officer. Chairman wicker, thank you for that incredible introduction. After many years of sitting behind you it is a bit surreal to be sitting down here.
▶ 0:33:20Mr. Moring: Thank you for taking a chance on a young house ld eight years ago. It was an honor to serve you, past and present, including my former colleagues on this committee. I'm grateful to my family, friends, and colleagues for your support. Today I'm joined by my mother, my wife, and our five-year-old son. Deborah and diamond on capitol hill 10 years ago. The marvelous Mrs.
▶ 0:33:45Mr. Moring: Mazol is an outstanding wife and mother and her daily sacrifices have allowed me to continue pursuing a career in public service, including this potential role. I'm grateful to secretary hegseth for selecting me at the beginning of the second trump administration to perform the duties, the department's eto position, deputy cto position upon the honorable michael's
▶ 0:34:15Mr. Moring: Confirmation. As a senior advisor to the honorable neil michael now. In addition to my congressional rules, performing the senior roles has provided me with significant insight into and experience shaping budgets and programs. Perhaps most important they have given me a greater appreciation for the technological challenges facing the department.
▶ 0:34:40Mr. Moring: Make no mistake, the united states is running a race against china for 21st century technological supremacy. As the department's cto plays a critical role. Congress has charged our and a with establishing policy on supervising and unifying defense and engineering, including tech development and transition. This congressional mandate shapes what I believe constitutes four significant areas for r and e.
▶ 0:35:13Mr. Moring: Ensuring the er and eat budget is wisely invested and aligned to the department's priorities from basic research to developmental tasks. R&e faces the formidable task of overseeing and venturing in the right direction over $150 billion in the r&d budget annually spread across hundreds of programs and thousands of projects. Second, in alignment with president trump's ai action plan, making the department an ai-first organization from the enterprise level to the tactical edge.
▶ 0:35:43Mr. Moring: Third, improving the speed of tech development and transition into operational capabilities. It is important that the department and r&e not miss the opportunity to leverage the explosion of private capital invested into defense technology. Fourth, serving as the trusted source of unbiased deep technical expertise across the department.
▶ 0:36:06Mr. Moring: R&e should continue to be the office that senior leaders continue to turn to when needing to make informed technical decisions and hard choices. At the macro level I viewed the role as deputy undersecretary in simple terms. Help the department catch up and surpassed china and other adversaries and potential opponents in critical technology areas where we may have fallen behind, and widen our lead in areas where we remain ahead.
▶ 0:36:33Mr. Moring: To me that his peace through strength in technological overmatched. I look forward to helping the deputy carry out his duties. I look forward to the opportunity and thank you for your question.
▶ 0:36:48Chair Wicker: Senator cotton will now be recognized to introduce Mr. anderson.
▶ 0:36:56Sen. Cotton: Thank you, Mr. chairman. I'm honored to introduce to the committee a true american patriot and the nominee for assistant secretary of war for special operations and low-intensity conflict, derrick anderson. Derek and I first crossed paths more than a decade ago. We each served at the old guard of arlington. He also served our nation honorably in the third infantry division and the fifth special forces group and recently in the washington dc army national guard.
▶ 0:37:26Sen. Cotton: Throughout his time in the military derrick received numerous awards including a bronze star and meritorious service medal. He also learned multiple honors and recognitions, including the ranger cab, special forces tab, and master parachutist badge. I worked with derrick on legislation to rectify a previously unknown weapons systems flaws that jeopardize the safety of our men and women in uniform.
▶ 0:37:51Sen. Cotton: Through these efforts I saw how deeply derrick cared about the brave men and women of our military and their families. Derrick has continued to dedicate his time, talents to his fellow americans. Most recently in the white house as the acting assistant secretary of the army for man and reserve affairs, and earlier as a director of counterterrorism at the national. Throughout his career derrick's dedication to our great nation has been evident and I'm pleased to support his nomination.
▶ 0:38:22Sen. Cotton: I strongly encourage my colleagues to do the same. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:38:26Chair Wicker: Now, Mr. anderson, your opening statement, sir.
▶ 0:38:31Mr. Anderson: Mr. chairman, ranking member reed, distinguished members of the armed services committee thank you for the opportunity to appear before you as the nominee to serve as the assistant secretary of war for special operations and low-intensity conflict. I would like to begin by expressing my deep gratitude for the trust and confidence president trump has placed in me to once again serve our great nation.
▶ 0:38:56Mr. Anderson: I would like to express my gratitude to vice president vance, secretary of war hegseth, and undersecretary colby. I appreciated my engagements with you and your staffs over the last weeks, and if confirmed I look forward to deepening this relationship. Specifically to senator cotton, a fellow member of the old guard, thank you for the years of mentorship. I am sincerely blessed to have your support and appreciate the introduction.
▶ 0:39:20Mr. Anderson: To my friends and family who join me today, to include those who were unable to make it but supported me through my life and career, thank you. To my mom and grandma, I cannot thank you enough for the love, support, and inspiration you've given me to allow me the opportunities I have today. I don't think any of us could have predicted some 40 years ago as we drove across the hills of west virginia to virginia that we would be sitting here today. To my fellow green beret and grand father, thank you for pushing me at every juncture in my career.
▶ 0:39:53Mr. Anderson: Most importantly, to my fiancé maggie, who is sitting behind me an accomplished attorney an army reservist in her own way, she sacrificed so much to allow me to pursue my dreams. Thank you so much, sweetheart. I want to thank the men and women of the military past and present whose courage and dedication inspire all of us every day. My commitment to this role is to my family' as long lineage of military service.
▶ 0:40:20Mr. Anderson: My father served as an mp and my stepbrother in afghanistan as a U.S. marine. Two uncles were U.S. marines and two great uncles were army infantrymen in vietnam, including my uncle who earned a bronze star and purple heart. 9/11 changed the trajectory of my life. I joined rotc at virginia tech and became the first person in my family to earn a college degree. As an infantry officer I earned my ranger tab and deployed to iraq.
▶ 0:40:48Mr. Anderson: Following my time at the third and for -- third infantry regiment I earned my green beret , leading two special forces and two companies over five deployments, including bahrain, jordan, lebanon, israel, and afghanistan. Following my time on active duty I earned a law degree from georgetown university, clerked for two federal judges, and worked at a top law firm while serving in the national guard.
▶ 0:41:14Mr. Anderson: If confirmed, I will be the secretary of war's principal civilian advisor for special operations and low intensity conflict matters. I believe my background makes me qualified because I understand from various points of view with the operations community requires to be successful. It helps that many of my colleagues continue to serve. While I remain accountable to the president, secretary, and congress, my brothers and sisters have my number and they will one hold me accountable.
▶ 0:41:44Mr. Anderson: Terrorist in the various actors did not wake up and say america is now focused on x, y, z and we will leave them alone. That is why the enterprise must be flexible, agile, and resource cognizant. We are no longer at war in the traditional sense in places like iraq and afghanistan, we must build irregular warfare technologies to be prepared for the next conflict.
▶ 0:42:05Mr. Anderson: As such, so calm has a unique task to make sure that we find, fix, and finish those entities that choose to target the united states so that we as a country can focus on our long-term threats. I recognize the importance of working closely with congress.
▶ 0:42:20Mr. Anderson: Is the honor of my life to be given this opportunity to continue this service to our great nation and I look forward to responding to your questions and discussing how we can work together to support family members, civilians, who make the special opportunit operations community. -- the special operations community.
▶ 0:42:39Chair Wicker: Congratulations on your nomination and engagement. Have you set a date?
▶ 0:42:45Mr. Anderson: We do, senator. We have it in november.
▶ 0:42:49Chair Wicker: Very good. We expect you to keep that. Mr. moring, please top that. Be recognized, sir.
▶ 0:43:08Mr. Moring: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Chairman wicker, ranking member reed, distinguish members of the committee, good morning and thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as the president's nominee to serve as inspector general of the department. It is a high honor and a distinct privilege to be considered for this role.
▶ 0:43:32Mr. Moring: First and foremost I recognize my wife susan without whose love and support I would not be here today. My daughter lee and her navy veteran husband blake are behind me today and are a tremendous source of encouragement and kind assistance. My son william serves as a mental health counselor in denver, colorado and couldn't be with us here today.
▶ 0:43:59Mr. Moring: I would also like to acknowledge the cadets and my former students at the citadel who made the journey to the nation's capital to witness this most important advice and consent process. The motto of the citadel is honor, duty, and respect. If confirmed I will continue to uphold these core values as the inspector general. I am grateful to the president for his special trust and confidence.
▶ 0:44:29Mr. Moring: That he has placed in me by this nomination. I'm also thankful to the secretary for his endorsement. In preparation for today's hearing I have given considerable thought to the role of the office of inspector general. My approach to the fulfillment of its mission of promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in department programs.
▶ 0:44:53Mr. Moring: In this reflection I was led to the oft quoted bible verse micah chapter six verse eight. What does the lord require of you? To act justly. To love mercy. And to walk humbly. This verse is a call to action emphasizing the importance of justice, mercy, and humility and one's relationships.
▶ 0:45:18Mr. Moring: If confirmed, this verse will instruct my performance of this very important position. I will painstakingly pursue the facts of each matter with the intent on achieving justice and accountability within the department.
▶ 0:45:35Mr. Moring: At the same time, if confirmed I will extend professional courtesy to all department employees with the idea of preserving their dignity, respect, and constitutional rights in the conduct of impactful audits, evaluations, inspections, and reviews. I will, if confirmed, strive to remain transparent, open, helpful, considerate, resilient, and most of all independent.
▶ 0:46:05Mr. Moring: My commitment to the department is rooted in my family' as long lineage of patriotic service to our nation. My multiple generation great grandfather and his brother signed the trial and resolves in 1775 prior to the adoption of the declaration of independence, vowing to take up arms and risk their lives and fortunes in maintaining the freedom in the
▶ 0:46:36Mr. Moring: North carolina colon -- north carolina colony. Others observed in the north carolina militia during the revolutionary war and the war of 1812. Both of my grandfather served our country in the army and merchant marines in world war I. My father and father-in-law both served in occupied germany and austria following world war ii. It has been my lifelong intent to continue this tradition of service to our great nation.
▶ 0:47:06Mr. Moring: To that end my career has involved a variety of experience, which, if confirmed, prepares me to take on this new appointment. I've been employed in the executive branch, judicial branch, and teaching law school and college courses. The primary focus of my legal work in private practice and department of justice was the investigation and prosecution of fraud. On active duty with the U.S.
▶ 0:47:33Mr. Moring: Army in afghanistan, my duty assignment was rule of law officer for operation enduring freedom, developing a constitutional criminal procedure code and judicial system for that war-torn country. If confirmed, it will be my honor to protect and advance the office of the inspector general in support of the constitution of the united states of america, the men and women of the department, and of the great citizens of this country.
▶ 0:48:00Mr. Moring: If confirmed, I also pledge to work with this committee and congress to ensure that the legislative branch is fully informed of the activities of the office of inspector general. Thank you again for your time today at this hearing, and I welcome your questions.
▶ 0:48:19Chair Wicker: Thank you for that fine testimony. Were the trion reserves signed -- resolves signed before or after the halifax resolves?
▶ 0:48:35Mr. Moring: They were first, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:48:38Chair Wicker: Ms. davies, you are recognized for your opening statement.
▶ 0:48:43Ms. Davies: Good morning chairman wicker, ranking member reed, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you as the nominee to serve as the chief information officer of the department of war. I'm grateful to president trump and his confidence in me and secretary hegseth for his trust. I want to recognize many treasured people supporting me today.
▶ 0:49:06Ms. Davies: My dear friends who have traveled to be in person to traveled to be in person . My dad who served in the eighth about attachment in vietnam watching at home for his health, my dear cousin, extended family members, brother, close friends watching online right now. My mom, my greatest supporter, is peering over the balcony of heaven. I'm thankful beyond words for the presence and grace of my lord and savior, jesus christ.
▶ 0:49:33Ms. Davies: People know me as a leader with a unique blend of heart and head. I'm passionate about the work I do, solving complex problems, and accomplishing what many claimed would be impossible. I a purpose driven and excellence focused. I lead analytically using data-driven insights. I am precise when planning, agile in delivery, and drive measurable results. I bring an extensive background in industry.
▶ 0:50:01Ms. Davies: I am unique as I have multi-vertical experience across multinational and fortune 500 companies. Some of the industry's largest and most complex networks and supply chains. For nearly two decades I have led change, transforming organizations for the digital age, building cyber defenses, tackling tech debt, and innovating at scale.
▶ 0:50:26Ms. Davies: I have applied key principles across my career that if confirmed I will also bring to the department, build a strong culture, it can night a bias for action, and lead with and drive accountability. While living in africa to establish one of the largest banks on the continent, eyelid -- I lead end to end operations building the cyber from scratch.
▶ 0:50:56Ms. Davies: Extensive migration to the cloud and tech innovations. President trump has set the charge for america to dominate in innovation, especially ai, the head of our adversaries. Digital transformation and data optimization are critical building blocks for ai. I have successfully led this work at scale and am a known innovator.
▶ 0:51:18Ms. Davies: For consumer goods conglomerate with a footprint in 100 90 countries eyelid cyber and tech risk reduction across enterprise I.t., our entity, manufacturing, and the global supply chain. I spearheaded a cultural movement to embed cybersecurity as a safety requirement from the top floor to the shop floor, a massive shift or manufacturing. Secretary hegseth said cyber will be part of every single way we plan and look at the world.
▶ 0:51:48Ms. Davies: If confirmed I will passionately drive this forward. For a global 50 manufacturing giant, I lead a multiyear transformation across security, eliminating excessive policies, dismantling ivory tower silos, and collaborating on what is now arguably the leading approach to industrial control systems security. Challenging the status quo and gracefully employing targeted comment disruption is necessary for modernization.
▶ 0:52:16Ms. Davies: These are hallmarks of my career. America's war fighter readiness and lethality depend on secure, resilient, modernized systems and innovative technical and cyber capabilities. The department has challenges to overcome. It is weighted down with legacy systems and unoptimized data. There are great people, but at today's speed of change skills must constantly be refreshed and future fixed. New entrants with innovative tech solutions struggle with red tape and lack of access.
▶ 0:52:48Ms. Davies: Cyber attacks are pervasive. America's adversaries are motivated and capable to inflict massive impact, and there is little deterrence. Great change is needed in this time and hour. If confirmed, my priorities will be to actively address tech that at the department, surgically prioritizing modernization initiatives which support readiness.
▶ 0:53:10Ms. Davies: I will work across the department to embed the building blocks of ai, supporting data supremacy and decision dominance for our war fighters, partners, our lives. I will forge the next generation of industry partnerships. I will work across the department and interagency and I will bring a voice to the war fighter into the very dna of the office of the cio. Thank you for considering my nomination. I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:53:37Chair Wicker: Thanks to all three of you. At this point I ask -- thanks to all four of you. I ask you to answer at the same time this question, the questions we have to ask all of our civilian nominees. Just a yes or no.
▶ 0:54:01Chair Wicker: Do you adhere to applicable laws governing conflicts of interest? Have you assumed any duties or taken any actions that would presume to appear the outcome of the confirmation process? Exercising our legislative and oversight responsibilities makes it important that this committee, its subcommittees, and other appropriate committees of congress to testimony, briefings reports, records, and other information from the executive branch on a timely basis.
▶ 0:54:31Chair Wicker: Do you agree, if confirmed, to appear and testify before this committee when requested? Do you agree to provide records, documents, and electronic communications in a timely manner when requested by this committee, its subcommittees, or other appropriate committees of congress and to consult with the requester regarding the basis for any good-faith delay or denial in providing such records?
▶ 0:54:57Chair Wicker: Will you ensure that your staff complies with what is established by this committee for records reports and other information, including timely responding to hearing questions for the record? Will you cooperate in providing witnesses and rivers in response to congressional requests? Will those witnesses and prefers be protected from reprisal for their testimonies and briefings?
▶ 0:55:28Chair Wicker: That concludes those standard questions. Now, I recognize myself for four or five minutes for individual questions. Let me ask this of all four of you. Much of the funding for the defense reconciliation bill is unspecific and would technically be at the discretion of the department, though we have provided recommendations for them. A quick yes or no.
▶ 0:56:00Chair Wicker: From each of you, for getting down here, do you commit to following congress' spending recommendations in defense reconciliation unequivocably?
▶ 0:56:10Mr. Moring: Yes.
▶ 0:56:12Ms. Davies: Yes.
▶ 0:56:15Mr. Mazol: Yes.
▶ 0:56:17Mr. Anderson: Yes.
▶ 0:56:19Chair Wicker: Ms. davies, the department has historically struggled to adopt information technology at the speed of relevance. For example, software applications can take anywhere from four months to two years to go through all of the required security and compliance processes at dod.
▶ 0:56:43Chair Wicker: I am encouraged by the various initiatives, like software fast-track and others that the department announced last year. Yet the delivery of meaningful change is the key. How would you leverage your somewhat unique experience to give us a quantum leap in making this accomplishment?
▶ 0:57:04Ms. Davies: Chairman wicker, thank you for the time we spent in your office in preparation for this.
▶ 0:57:12Chair Wicker: Closer to the microphone. That is much better.
▶ 0:57:19Ms. Davies: This is a very important topic, you are right over the target. Speed, innovation, and agility are hallmarks in industry that we see. We run the clock based upon quarterly revenue and projections, things like that. In my history in roles I have driven a lot of the bias for action. If confirmed to the principles that I will bring to this role are a lot of what I demonstrated in my past.
▶ 0:57:46Ms. Davies: The agility for speed, driving principles of adoption, interoperability I believe is quite critical for the department across the software applications themselves. I look forward to partnering with you on this important subject.
▶ 0:58:00Chair Wicker: We will expect a change from the department in that regard. So, you have your marching orders. Mr. anderson, thanks for your service. You will play a key role in ensuring U.S. special operations forces are trained and equipped to deal with what we are facing now. What lessons have we learned from ukraine, israel, and ongoing conflicts?
▶ 0:58:33Mr. Anderson: Senator, spending time in that area as a former green beret, I can tell you we have a lot of great networks and opportunities within that region. We are constantly learning from the ukrainians, specifically in the operations when it is dealing with the counter uas, uav systems, and we are seeing some of the technologies that israel is able to provide.
▶ 0:59:02Mr. Anderson: If confirmed, I think those connections, ability to work with our counterparts and empowering them as well will be critical for the special operations community to be successful.
▶ 0:59:12Chair Wicker: To what extent is it a major factor that in both of those instances -- and I wasn't limiting my question to them -- but in both of those instances the defenders are fighting for their own soil, their own land?
▶ 0:59:37Mr. Anderson: What has been interesting -- not being in the position, but understanding it from open source and having friends who have operated in the area -- one of the interesting things specifically that we have noticed and been able to learn from is, one, the ukrainians are fighting on their own soil which makes it a very different operational environment.
▶ 1:00:00Mr. Anderson: Additionally, when we talk to the counter uis and uav systems, what I have seen is their ability to adopt and make the uav systems at a cheaper price. As an operator we used older more expensive drone systems. They are able to do it cheaper and faster. That is a huge lesson learned that the special operations committee could push forward.
▶ 1:00:31Chair Wicker: They push forward because they have to. I will make this observation. It is significant to me that in both of those situations they a re being opposed by larger efforts led by people who claim that neither of those countries have a right to exist. I think that is very significant. Thank you for your answers. Mr. reed, you are recognized.
▶ 1:01:04Sen. Reed: Thank you Mr. chairman. Mr. moring, welcome. I think the president has made a very wise choice. You have such extensive experience. I thank you for your service. Particularly as the commander of rule of law officer in enduring freedom you had to face in reality difficult decisions about does the law overcome command etc.
▶ 1:01:34Sen. Reed: Can you elaborate on that? If you are confronted with a problem that the administration or anybody wants to pursue and you find legal objections, you have an obligation to say you can't do that. Is that fair?
▶ 1:01:55Mr. Moring: Thank you, chairman -- ranking member read for the opportunity to comment on that issue. I appreciate the time that you spent with me in your office yesterday discussing some of these issues. There is inevitably going to be conflict in the conduct of the office of inspector general.
▶ 1:02:22Mr. Moring: I imagine there will be times when there will be disagreements, just as I experience when I was the rule of law officer in afghanistan. The best way to resolve those conflicts is by meeting face-to-face with the individuals with which we disagree and try to find common ground. I did that in afghanistan in a combat situation and not even speaking the same language as the people I was trying to work towards a consensus.
▶ 1:02:55Mr. Moring: I will try to carry that same perspective into my role if confirmed as inspector general.
▶ 1:03:00Sen. Reed: I think that is exactly the right approach. If you times you come to a situation where the chain of command may disregard or best legal advice, that puts you in quite a dilemma, I would assume. That is something you will have to be conscious of every moment as you go forward and I think you know that. Thank you. Ms.
▶ 1:03:26Sen. Reed: Davies you are extraordinary background -- you have been everywhere and it done everything when it comes to cyber. One of the areas you will encounter is classified programs, which is something that I don't think you have a lot of experience with. Can you give us an idea of how you will approach the issue of classified programs you deal with?
▶ 1:03:45Ms. Davies: Ranking member reed thank you for the opportunity to meet with you yesterday and expand on this. In my history I have dealt not with classified programs from the government perspective, however with sensitive information, detailed intellectual property, health care information, things like that. The approach that I will take will be similar if confirmed to what I've done in the past, which is a risk-based approach.
▶ 1:04:11Ms. Davies: That means that when you have data networks systems that are extraordinarily more sensitive, in the government case classified, there is a different approach. You put the shoulder of security more rigorously and proactively behind those things that are significantly more classified. I have extensive experience in this and if confirmed I will bring that principled approach to that as well.
▶ 1:04:38Sen. Reed: Thank you. Mr. anderson, you just indicated to chairman wicker that you will provide reports and information if required, and also follow the law in terms of the statutory requirements to inform congress.
▶ 1:05:05Sen. Reed: There are a number of legally required notifications, including operational actions in the special forces. Do you commit -- do you commit to following these? As I said in my opening remarks we haven't received the kind of detailed information we should, and I hope you take that seriously. Your comments, please.
▶ 1:05:33Mr. Anderson: Like my colleagues, I want to thank you for taking the time to meet in your office and have discussions. You have my commitment if confirmed as the assistant secretary of war for special operations and low intensity conflict that I will follow all applicable laws.
▶ 1:05:48Sen. Reed: Thank you. When you go in, you should look at the situation, because that's not happening now in my perspective. So, please. The other factor that I alluded to that we could follow up with is our operations in the caribbean need to be analyzed.
▶ 1:06:14Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator reed. Senator rounds.
▶ 1:06:23Sen. Rounds: First, let me begin by thanking all of you for your offer of service to our country. Mr. mazol, and Ms. davies, I've discussed the spectrum with you privately, but as I promised I would like to ask you about it in this public forum.
▶ 1:06:39Sen. Rounds: I have heard from over 30 senior dod officials in hearings over the past two years, including the secretary of defense, chairman of the joint chief scum every service chief, and eight combatant commanders -- joint service chief, every service chief, and eight combat commanders. Would have an extremely detrimental impact on our war fighting capabilities.
▶ 1:07:05Sen. Rounds: The department of the navy alone estimated that relocating their systems to a different spectrum band would cost them $250 billion and perhaps take 20 years. Secretary hegseth has said that he would go to the mat when necessary for spectrum capabilities that he believes are an absolute requirement for the dod, and the men and women in uniform.
▶ 1:07:32Sen. Rounds: Does the department have capabilities which require the 3.1 gigahertz and 7.4 gigahertz bands of the spectrum that would play a critical role in the conflict with the prc?
▶ 1:07:52Mr. Moring: Yes -- Mr. mazol: yes.
▶ 1:07:58Ms. Davies: I'm not aware of this. If I am confirmed I look forward to being fully briefed and supporting the president and secretary and a national security needs for the spectrum.
▶ 1:08:07Sen. Rounds: If confirmed, will you speak out and defend the 3.1 to 3.45 gigahertz and 7.4 to eight .4 gigahertz bands of the spectrum if there are attempts to force other federal and commercial users into those bands in a way that impacts dod capabilities?
▶ 1:08:28Mr. Mazol: Yes, senator.
▶ 1:08:30Ms. Davies: Yes, senator.
▶ 1:08:32Sen. Rounds: Mr. mazol, one final follow-up on spectrum as it pertains to golden dome. Will architecture require increased usage of the band of the spectrum across the united states?
▶ 1:08:47Mr. Mazol: Senator, I would defer on the specifics to the direct reporting program manager for golden dome. As I look at the president's executive order, his vision for golden dome and the exacting requirements in that executive order, I can't imagine a situation where we would need less access and less frequent access to spectrum in the bands that you described.
▶ 1:09:15Sen. Rounds: It would be fair to say then that forcing the department to share the lower three and a seven and eight bands of the spectrum in a suboptimal way would negatively impact the golden dome? Is that what you're saying to us today?
▶ 1:09:34Mr. Mazol: That is what I am saying.
▶ 1:09:37Sen. Rounds: Thank. Mr. mazol, we have discussed the importance of integrating ai into dod capabilities throughout the joint force. Do you agree that integrating ai-enabled systems and capabilities is essential to developing a superior kill web to the prc that which ever has a superior kill web is likely to prevail in a conflict?
▶ 1:10:04Mr. Mazol: I agree with that assessment. Since I have been in the department since the beginning of the administration and become familiar with this technology, I believe that the U.S. military that is forged in the ai revolution will be much different than the force we have today.
▶ 1:10:25Sen. Rounds: I agree. Mr. anderson, the cyber try it provides powerful operational synergy but integrating these capabilities across different commands can be challenging. One of the biggest hurdles to full synchronization -- what are the biggest hurdles to full synchronization and how do we overcome them?
▶ 1:10:50Mr. Anderson: Thank you for the question an opportunity to speak about some of these issues in your office. I believe that the triad of it cyber, space, and special operations community has a unique opportunity. Specifically when we look at information operations. We talk about how it provides a value proposition.
▶ 1:11:13Mr. Anderson: If we -- if the department is not working in conjunction within those three realms we will be leaving a lot on the table when it comes to assets and opportunities. If confirmed, it will be a priority to work with my counterparts in the department within cyber and the space community to make sure we have that synergy.
▶ 1:11:30Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator rounds. Senator king.
▶ 1:11:34Sen. King: Thank you, Mr. chairman. There seems to be confusion because several of you mentioned that you were going to work for a department that doesn't exist. The name of the department is the department of defense. That was established in the national security act of 1947 and amended in 19 49. I will commend to you 10 usc. If that name of the department is going to change it has to start here.
▶ 1:12:04Sen. King: Congress has established the name of the department, the department of the fence, and I hope you understand that is who you are going to work for. Not some other department that several of you have mentioned in your testimony. Mr. moring, you're being appointed to a position that is an anomaly in any government. That is an independent watchdog over the government itself. I guess my first question is, do you need this job?
▶ 1:12:29Sen. King: Because your predecessor was summarily fired without cause and without the statutorily required notice to congress. Will you take the necessary actions to look at waste, fraud, and abuse and abuse of illegal actions by the department in your job without fear of retribution?
▶ 1:12:54Mr. Moring: Yes, senator. I will in an independent and objective manner as required by the statute.
▶ 1:13:05Sen. King: You understand that that is a solemn obligation. We cannot be in the department every day. We cannot be in touch with whistleblowers, people of concern. You are performing an essential function in the department, and I believe that you are eminently qualified to do so and understand that responsibility, but I would like a renewal of that commitment of independence, fearlessness, and calling them as you see them.
▶ 1:13:38Mr. Moring: Senator king, as we discussed senator king, as we discussed you have my commitment to be everything that you just described. It has been a hallmark of my legal career to provide independent, unbiased legal advice whether it is to a client, commander, or the general counsel of the department.
▶ 1:14:00Sen. King: I believe you will do that and for that reason I will support your nomination. Mr. anderson, what is the authority for the lethal strikes on the ships in the caribbean that have recently been carried out by the administration, that I believe would fall under your jurisdiction and the new position you are being nominated for?
▶ 1:14:22Mr. Anderson: I appreciate the question. I was not involved in the operation, nor do I know the details. What I have seen on the news in small clips, and what I can tell you is that in my capacity as a green beret, I understand the complexities of planning operations and the different factors but I was not involved in it.
▶ 1:14:44Sen. King: But don't you think that one of the early things that you should've assessed and you listed all those things and the first is is this a legal action? Would that be part of your calculation?
▶ 1:14:59Mr. Anderson: I was not involved.
▶ 1:15:00Sen. King: I am talking in the future. You might be in this job and be order to strike another ship in the caribbean. Are you going to ask a question about the legal authority for the strike?
▶ 1:15:12Mr. Anderson: Certainly and in my capacity we always have legal opines and shops on the operations. So if confirmed, I will comply with all laws and regulations and ensure that we have input from all portions of the department.
▶ 1:15:28Sen. King: I have been urging for years stronger interdiction of drug smuggling coming in through the southern ocean. But, interdiction is different than a lethal strike. It is a question of what is the authority. We should have notification back and forth to congress because this is a post -- this is how it supposed to act under the war powers and constitution.
▶ 1:15:56Sen. King: It is the president's job to be commander in chief and our job to declare war. I hope that it will be the first to look into if you are confirmed. You and I discussed that I think you have one of the most important jobs in the united states government which is thinking about the next war. And, we have been woefully behind in things like hypersonic and also frankly drone technology and ukraine has proven that.
▶ 1:16:25Sen. King: Talk to me about the importance of additional scientific research and supporting scientific research throughout the department, but also throughout our ecosystem of research, including our universities. If we lose the ai race, we are sunk. And it is based entirely on research and development, which is your job.
▶ 1:16:48Mr. Mazol: Senator, I had the opportunity this week to visit with a couple of amazing americans involved in the midnight hammer strike. I reflected on the fact that the technology used to execute that strike has its origins, all of it in basic research, which the department relies heavily on our universities to perform as well as our defense labs.
▶ 1:17:17Mr. Mazol: You have my commitment and certainly my understanding that the research that we do in our universities and labs has real operational impact and if confirmed, I am committed to ensuring that we have the resources that we need in our universities and labs.
▶ 1:17:36Sen. King: The simple fact is that the first country to implement the new technology is the one that wins the war. Your job is to be sure that is us. Thank you Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:17:47Chair Wicker: Thank you gentlemen. Senator scott.
▶ 1:17:52Sen. Scott: Thank you. Congratulations to each of you out of -- on your nominations. You have every ability to be successful. So I look forward to your confirmation and the great work that you will do. One thing that has disappointed me is the inability of our military branches to conform to something as simple as an audit. I could not sell stock without an audit.
▶ 1:18:20Sen. Scott: If I could not audit my financials no one would give me a dime. The banks would not lend me money and no shareholder would invest and I would have been kicked off the new york stock exchange. So, I have no comprehension of how somebody can be the leader of a branch of the U.S. military, knowing that your obligation is to do an audit and you did not do it.
▶ 1:18:44Sen. Scott: The marines did it and they took it seriously recently when they testified it was night and day. The marines were committed to whatever their responsibility was and got their stuff done. As a nominee for the inspector general at the department of war, you will oversee audits and protects the department from waste, fraud and abuse. Why is it important for the pentagon to pass an audit?
▶ 1:19:11Mr. Moring: Thank you for the question. For all of the reasons that you mentioned, accountability, transparency, and responsibility to the taxpayer.
▶ 1:19:24Sen. Scott: So, why aren't they doing it? I mean, why can companies all over this country do it and our military cannot? Why is that?
▶ 1:19:40Mr. Moring: The systems in place that the components are using is not necessarily compatible with the programs that they used to do the necessary accounting processes.
▶ 1:19:57Mr. Moring: And, in order to correct that, there has to be a departmentwide effort and cooperation between the secretary, comptroller, and my office to emphasize that this committee in congress has made it a statutory requirement to produce a clean audit by fiscal year 2028.
▶ 1:20:23Mr. Moring: And it will be, if I am confirmed, a top priority of the office of inspector general, to help coordinate and collaborate on that effort.
▶ 1:20:31Sen. Scott: Even though it is an obligation, so what you're saying is we were making progress to get it done but there has been no accountability?
▶ 1:20:43Mr. Moring: From what I have read publicly, every year there are recurring material deficiencies in the financial statements prepared by some of the defense components.
▶ 1:20:58Mr. Moring: It is a mystery to me why we have those recurring deficiencies, but, I will direct the individuals in my office responsible for the auditing process to try to better work with the military components to correct these material deficiencies, so that they can produce sound financial statements, and in turn, the office of inspector general can
▶ 1:21:29Mr. Moring: Produce a clean audit.
▶ 1:21:29Sen. Scott: Going back to senator king and accountability, do you feel comfortable that if you see there has not been the commitment to getting it done do you feel comfortable that you will be very direct to make sure that people will be held accountable to get the audit accomplished?
▶ 1:21:48Mr. Moring: Under the inspector general act I am supposed to have access to the secretary frequently. And I will make that an agenda item each and every time I meet with the secretary.
▶ 1:22:02Sen. Scott: And you will be completely transparent with us if you do not believe we are headed in the right direction or someone is not doing the job or we are not putting in the process is to get it done?
▶ 1:22:14Mr. Moring: Each step, if I see a significant progress is not being made to correct these deficiencies, I will make congress and this committee aware of it.
▶ 1:22:26Sen. Scott: Do you have any feel for how long it will take for a roadmap to get there?
▶ 1:22:31Mr. Moring: Candidly, I do not. I am going to have to meet with my deputy inspector general for the audit and map that out.
▶ 1:22:40Sen. Scott: Thank you.
▶ 1:22:42Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator warren.
▶ 1:22:46Sen. Warren: So, if you are confirmed as inspector general, he would be the pentagon top cop on the beat for waste, fraud and abuse power. The government should work through the people and that is something that all of us should agree on. But president trump has purged ig's, including your predecessor.
▶ 1:23:11Sen. Warren: So it is extra important for us to understand what -- whether or not you will be an independent watchdog. And one piece of that is holding big defense contractors accountable. In 20 24, the dod inspector general reported that boeing charged the air force unfit -- unreasonable prices under a c17 contract.
▶ 1:23:38Sen. Warren: A soap dispenser cost 80 times more in the charge to dod they commercially available. But, we do not know the actual dollar amount. Was that eight dollars -- $80 or $8,000. Because the air force, we do not know how they charge because the ig redacted the dollar figures.
▶ 1:24:04Sen. Warren: This lack of transparency from the ig helps contractors hide how much they are price gouging the military. And it makes it harder for all of us to do our job on accountability. If you are confirmed, and I am just following up on senator scott's question but with specificity.
▶ 1:24:27Sen. Warren: If you are confirmed would you commit to being transparent with the american people about how much these companies are overcharging dod?
▶ 1:24:35Mr. Moring: Senator, it is a mystery to me how and 80 daughter soap dispenser that you can buy at target and boeing spells -- cells to the department at $1500.
▶ 1:24:50Sen. Warren: I want to know that you will report the actual numbers are not black them out. Would you give us more ability to do oversight? Can I get your -- your commitment on that.
▶ 1:25:02Mr. Moring: I can and I will be as transparent as the law allows.
▶ 1:25:06Sen. Warren: The law lets you put those numbers. I will hold you to that. Based on its investigation, the ig recommended having the contractors fess up when they are hiking prices so I introduced a bipartisan bill, the transparency in government pricing act with senators ernst, slotkin and grassley to do just that and I hope we will get this
▶ 1:25:36Sen. Warren: Bill signed into law. The ig has to be independent from contractors, and from dod leadership. Now the bipartisan request of chairman wicker and ranking member green -- reed, we are investigating whether secretary hegseth disclosed classified information.
▶ 1:26:01Sen. Warren: Under law the ig must report to the head of the agency cases of "particularly serious or flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies" and then the agency head must report it to congress within seven days. This is called the seven day letter. It has been used in republican and democratic administrations.
▶ 1:26:27Sen. Warren: If confirmed, will you commit to issuing a seven day letter if you believe the signal gate investigation or any other work being conducted by your office is being improperly interfered with?
▶ 1:26:41Mr. Moring: The short answer is yes. The seven day letter I have read in the inspector general act is one of the tools and the toolbox is available. It is one of the authority is one of the authorities given to the inspector general.
▶ 1:26:56Sen. Warren: I appreciate that and you had me at yes. The dod inspector general must act independently. So let me get in one more quick question. Earlier, secretary hegseth's office implemented a new policy requiring dod officials to sign nondisclosure agreements before they can work on projects.
▶ 1:27:21Sen. Warren: These agreements can have a chilling effect, which is why federal agencies are prohibited from implementing nda's without including an anti-gag provision to protect whistleblowers. This language informs the employee that they still have the right and obligation to report abuses to congress and to your office.
▶ 1:27:45Sen. Warren: If you are confirmed, and your office learns that these nda's violate the law, will you make those findings public as soon as possible and report to us about them?
▶ 1:27:55Mr. Moring: The short answer is yes. I could elaborate if you like.
▶ 1:28:00Sen. Warren: I think the chairman would take yes for an answer.
▶ 1:28:04Chair Wicker: Absolutely. And of course witnesses can supplement their answers on the record. Senator budd.
▶ 1:28:16Sen. Budd: I enjoyed our time in office. China produces 90% of the world's rare earth magnets which is a critical vulnerability to our national security. North carolina is home to one of the only if not the only U.S. companies making rare earth magnets that are 100% decoupled from china.
▶ 1:28:40Sen. Budd: I am interested in how, if confirmed if you would walk -- work with the office of strategic capital and the undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment to ensure the complete -- the critical supply chain.
▶ 1:28:54Mr. Mazol: Thank you for bringing up the office of strategic capital which is a direct report, and ose, as its first deal out of the gate was involved in the mountain pass deal. And it provided a significant direct loan as part of the deal.
▶ 1:29:16Mr. Mazol: They are major opportunities for osc to play a role, noting that the reconciliation bill devotes significant funding for osc predicate -- credit subsidies. If confirmed, I would look for opportunities to work with entities like darpa and other direct reports that are doing interesting work in the critical mineral space.
▶ 1:29:39Sen. Budd: You mention some of the other offices, and there are multiple offices that report to rne, that seek to innovate advanced technologies. You will oversee a bunch of units overlooking emerging tech. I am all about innovation but I concerned about duplication.
▶ 1:30:00Sen. Budd: If confirmed what ways would you encourage cooperation as well as others like strategic capabilities office to accelerate innovation and in stove pay -- and stovepipes but eliminate duplication?
▶ 1:30:14Mr. Mazol: I agree that coordination between the innovation entities that are both at the osd level and services and is very important. If confirmed, you have my commitment to ensure we are working with osc and strategic capabilities office and others and meeting with them regularly to understand their portfolio programs and understand there is
▶ 1:30:44Mr. Mazol: No duplication.
▶ 1:30:45Sen. Budd: Thank you. Mr. anderson, thank you for your service to our country. When you served at special operations command I think sometime in north carolina, you know it is home to numerous soft units vital to winning wars. We focus on irregular warfare and great power competition. How do you expect the budget and in force structure to change?
▶ 1:31:12Mr. Anderson: First and foremost, thank you for the opportunity to speak about this with you in your office. As we discussed, the special operations community and forces brings an interesting value proposition. One of those things of being a former operator who lived that timeframe, we had 20 years or more in places like iraq and afghanistan.
▶ 1:31:40Mr. Anderson: I think this is a great opportunity for the special operations committee to reevaluate themselves and how they are structured. I would say there is another unique opportunity where we can go back to some of our irregular warfare capabilities. I mention my grandfather in the beginning.
▶ 1:31:59Mr. Anderson: He is one of those I would say the old green berets of the snake eater generation where we had them going to places like laos and cambodia, and building up forces, and having them conduct operations. At the end of the day, we are attempting to work our way out of a job and if confirmed those are some of the priorities I would put forward.
▶ 1:32:24Sen. Budd: Information operations as a space that the chinese have prioritized and are clearly leveraging to getting -- to gain advantage to persuade local populations. But here's the question. What role can you play an information cult -- information warfare to counter our adversaries?
▶ 1:32:44Mr. Anderson: Thank you for that and it has to be integrated into special operations in order to combat adversaries like china. What I can say from a high level is that while we might necessarily -- not necessarily win a conflict we can certainly lose it.
▶ 1:33:06Mr. Anderson: It is very critical that the special operations community, one of the biggest values that we have are things that we have that our benefit is truth within the special community and the united states. That builds incredible credibility. As we shift, using that credibility and those years of working with our partners will be absolutely critical as we move forward.
▶ 1:33:31Sen. Budd: Thank you.
▶ 1:33:32Chair Wicker: Thank you. Senator budd, in your opinion, was the trianon resolves, the first direction -- direct -- declaration of independence and the colonies or the halifax?
▶ 1:33:55Sen. Budd: I will have to take a poll on that.
▶ 1:33:59Chair Wicker: Senator slotkin. You are recognized.
▶ 1:34:04Sen. Slotkin: Welcome. Mr. anderson, I want to follow up on the conversations about the ships that the U.S. fired upon in the last couple of weeks. Without clear explanation, we have not been briefed or had a hearing on this. And the full video of the encounters has not been released.
▶ 1:34:30Sen. Slotkin: Back in april, we had the acting director, the man who was filling the job that you are now applying for and I told him what I will tell you. I have not -- I have no problem with these groups designated foreign terrorists organizations. Fentanyl is killing just as many people if not more as any terrorist group.
▶ 1:34:56Sen. Slotkin: But I have a problem with a lack of transparency and potential violations of international law. The U.S. government has a way of interdicting ships. The U.S. coast guard uses patrol boats and helicopters and they are able to shoot out a motor and then indict all of those people and show the drugs that they have secured. They did this back in april.
▶ 1:35:22Sen. Slotkin: The coast guard seized 76,000 pounds of drugs off of ships in one encounter and showed all of that to the world. I guess my question is, you will be informing the chain of command. You will be an important voice in that conversation.
▶ 1:35:48Sen. Slotkin: And, we are hearing that there are individual folks in uniform involved in these operations who are asking for legal cover because they believe that they potentially violate the law. My question is, if folks in uniform as you used to be come forward and say I am concerned about these operations, could you provide me a piece of paper with legal cover saying I will not be personally responsible for violating international law,
▶ 1:36:18Sen. Slotkin: Will you provide that?
▶ 1:36:18Mr. Anderson: First and foremost, I am unaware of the details within the operation and I have not been briefed.
▶ 1:36:26Sen. Slotkin: But you will want the job and in two or three weeks you want to be in the hot -- she will be in the hot seat. I do not want to talk about the past. If a soldier or seaman, says it is really squishy. And I want your legal cover that I will not be held personally liable which you can imagine no one in uniform wants to be held personally liable, will you provide such a cover?
▶ 1:36:53Mr. Anderson: Not being in the position I would not understand the legalities.
▶ 1:36:58Sen. Slotkin: I would offer that you get familiar. This is a very live issue. I understand you have no involvement in the past, but this could be your job in three weeks. We have asked the mexican government to step up their involvement in stopping these cartels and the huge amounts of drugs coming across.
▶ 1:37:20Sen. Slotkin: If the mexican navy saw a group of american fishermen that they thought was -- were suspicious of potentially moving drugs and they moved into kill the 15 american citizens without contacting you were going through normal procedures, would you be ok with that? Because that is what you are asking for.
▶ 1:37:43Sen. Slotkin: You understand as a former military man that what we do in combat, there is reciprocity and we are concerned about what other militaries will do to us because we opened the door. Are you ok with the mexican navy killing 15 american fishermen off of san diego if they are suspicious that they are carrying drugs?
▶ 1:38:03Mr. Anderson: It would be irresponsible for me to engage in hypotheticals.
▶ 1:38:07Sen. Slotkin: This is not a hypothetical. This is the issue you will be asked to touch. I want to capture that fentanyl and I would love it if the trump administration showed us the full video and that these men did not have their hands up and they were not waving a white flag or turning around and getting out of there and show us the drugs. The president said there were all kinds of drugs. Show us the video that he is alluding to. Will you commit to showing us a video publicly?
▶ 1:38:37Mr. Anderson: If confirmed for the assistant secretary I can commit to being transparent.
▶ 1:38:44Sen. Slotkin: Well, my suggestion is that we have a briefing on this issue. This is a fundamental issue of the committee and I would ask that you get smart on the legal individual authorities because of individual folks are held personally liable you should be taking accountability for that.
▶ 1:39:03Chair Wicker: Just noting, senator slotkin, each witness has answered in the affirmative to this question do you agree to provide records and electronic communications in a timely manner while requested by this committee and etc..
▶ 1:39:21Sen. Slotkin: Do you understand that that is video, just to clarify?
▶ 1:39:26Chair Wicker: Electronic communications and documents and records. I think each witness has answered in the affirmative.
▶ 1:39:34Sen. Slotkin: I look forward to the video.
▶ 1:39:37Chair Wicker: And they will be obligated to follow. Senator kaine.
▶ 1:39:43Sen. Kaine: I will continue the line of not inquiry but I want to follow-up. 25 of us in the senate wrote a letter to the president a week ago and asked questions about these operations in the caribbean. Give us the evidence that these boats were carrying drugs. Tell us who was on the boats. Tell us what your legal authority was to take a military strike that had not been authorized by congress.
▶ 1:40:13Sen. Kaine: The question is why did you decide to attack rather than interdict. If you interdict you get evidence. You seize the drugs and get evidence by having access to people which lead you to go after the kingpins and the real muscle behind these operators. If you destroy a boat, it makes an impact, but you do not get the evidence.
▶ 1:40:40Sen. Kaine: It might actually be counterproductive in fighting narco trafficking to destroy rather than to seize a boat. We asked the president to give congress answers to these questions, which are fundamental questions about an article one branch's responsibility to be engaged with decisions about military action and we gave the white house seven days to answer and they were not hard questions. They have not answered and seven days expired yesterday.
▶ 1:41:10Sen. Kaine: We have no indication that they will answer which will likely lead to a war powers resolution and a required vote in congress. And sometimes when a vote is required the administration will begrudgingly provide information. I credit what senator wicker said. Each of you have said you will provide information to congress.
▶ 1:41:32Sen. Kaine: But as a basic question as should the united states be engaging in military action, putting the lives of our men and women who serve at some risk, the article two branch should not stiff arm the article one branch. And that is why I'm sure that senator slotkin and so many other members are concerned. There might be answers that would satisfy us.
▶ 1:41:55Sen. Kaine: But I can tell you when the questions are not answered, we end up with real suspicion about why they are not being answered. I want to ask you this question. I know that many have asked you questions about the independence of the ig role and the ranking member talked about the administration's decision to fire ig's right out of the gate has caused folks to have concern.
▶ 1:42:23Sen. Kaine: Assure the committee and me that you will be independent and that you will also congress informed as ig's showed have the work you are doing.
▶ 1:42:32Mr. Moring: Senator, thank you for the question and the opportunity to meet with you and I really enjoyed our session. You have my personal pledge to be independent and objective. And the statute itself and the inspector general act provide certain safeguards to ensure the independence of the inspector general.
▶ 1:42:56Mr. Moring: The ability to initiate an investigation on the own determination of the inspector general that it is necessary, and then also if a secretary determines that investigation is not warranted and it is not being blocked for national security reasons the inspector general can still go ahead. I pledge to you to follow the letter and tenor of the statute.
▶ 1:43:24Sen. Kaine: One other question. You would be the ig of the largest ig operation. I think you compete with hhs but you are probably the largest. I believe that the complement of employees is about 1500.
▶ 1:43:44Sen. Kaine: I asked you the question yesterday how many of those employees have accepted the redesign offer and how much is that likely to shrink the workforce of your office.
▶ 1:43:56Mr. Moring: After I left your office yesterday, I got the answer to the question. The workforce had a high watermark of 1800 as a result of the deferred resignation program and it has been reduced by 200.
▶ 1:44:12Sen. Kaine: 1600.
▶ 1:44:14Mr. Moring: And there have been some people subject to the layoffs of probationary employees. I do not have the number for that.
▶ 1:44:23Sen. Kaine: That is helpful. Mr. anderson, I will ask you a question for the record because it is not better to be on the fly but I will tell you what it is about. The gao did a report about high risk training oversight and recommended that special forces take a number of actions to reduce injuries and even fatalities in high risk training operations. That was a year ago.
▶ 1:44:52Sen. Kaine: And a number of the recommendations have not yet been implemented, so I will ask a question of for the record about what might you do to implement those recommendations so we can do appropriate training to bring down the risk of injury to our troops and special forces. I will submit that for the record to you. Thank you.
▶ 1:45:11Chair Wicker: This concludes our question and answer. Let me say this, first of all to Mr. ranking member. I do not know when I have seen a more impressive slate of witnesses. And so I appreciate that they are willing to serve and I appreciate them being here today. Let me see that -- say this Mr.
▶ 1:45:38Chair Wicker: Moring, how many of your former cadets did you bring today?
▶ 1:45:44Mr. Moring: There are three alumni of the citadel part of my mock trial team serving in the military now as active duty officers. They are seated right here, marcos quinn, thomas and steve. And then I have the four cadets that the college was kind enough to buy plane tickets for and bring up here. They are also members of my mock trial team.
▶ 1:46:12Chair Wicker: That is excellent. You know, you have an obligation to follow a statute that is very difficult. You may very well be called on to give unwelcome advice. And also, in your testimony, you have committed to follow the sixth chapter of the old testament book of micah.
▶ 1:46:42Chair Wicker: And I appreciate that. Let me say when you are faced with tough decisions, and you will be, undoubtedly, if you live up to the sixth chapter of micah and the statute, you will be doing them proud. Thank you. This concludes our hearing for the information of members.
▶ 1:47:09Chair Wicker: Questions for the record will be due within two business days of the conclusion of this hearing. Mr. ranking member.
▶ 1:47:17Sen. Reed: I just want to thank you Mr. chairman and commend the witness is for taking on huge responsibilities. And I look forward to working with them.
▶ 1:47:30Chair Wicker: Let me say this to anyone listening. The questions about what happens in the caribbean are going to have to be answered. This committee has congressional oversight responsibility. Members are entitled to ask the questions they have asked.
▶ 1:47:54Chair Wicker: The answers will be given, and I think it is important for every american to understand that obligation. Thank you and we are adjourned. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]