At today's House Appropriations Committee hearing, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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00:00Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to focus, Mr. Secretary, on my question on submarines and our national security, our military shipbuilding, and as I said specifically, submarines, critical investment for national security and for the economy of my home state of Connecticut.
00:20This is a yes or no question, Mr. Secretary. Do you agree that continued investment in the Department of Defense in submarine production is, in fact, critical to the United States' national security and military readiness?
00:33Very critical.
00:34Okay. So, yes, thank you, and we agree.
00:37There will continue to be a critical asset to deter adversaries, sustain the advantage we have in undersea domain, and the Defense Department should continue to support these programs.
00:47What is the status of the Department's investments in submarine programs?
00:5314% increase in FY26 on the Columbia and a substantial increase in the Virginia as well.
01:01So we're ensuring a submarine industrial base that has been left behind, that has been neglected, is fully invested to make sure we're speeding up on funding the submarines.
01:12More than half, and you can go back to last December, but I want to move on.
01:16Do you know where our submarine production currently stands and whether current production is sufficient to bridge the gap between current fleet size and projected need?
01:28There is a gap, but we believe we are closing it, ma'am. Yes.
01:31And if you can get to us the information about how, in fact, that you can close that gap, because we do not have any information or data that can substantiate what you're saying.
01:47Your department's initial budget proposal includes incremental funding for the Columbia-class submarine.
01:56Is that going to raise alarm bells across the Defense Industrial Base by signaling a lack of commitment to the program?
02:02No, we could not, ma'am.
02:03We could not be more committed to Columbia.
02:07The centrality in the triad, ensuring it delivers on time, it's central to the deterrent and the base of the United States.
02:16Do you know how much of a financial hole this will create for the Defense Industrial Base?
02:21Will there be a financial hole for the Defense Industrial Base in 2026?
02:25Certainly not.
02:28Based on our projections, there is not a hole.
02:30We're investing in Columbia robustly.
02:32Okay, without numbers, it's my understanding the department is planning to move $3.1 billion for the Columbia-class from 2026 and spread it over 2027 and 2028.
02:45This creates a serious problem for industry in the short term and hampers shipbuilders' ability to reach an adequate production rate.
02:53Have you been in contact with Electric Boat or with Huntington Ingalls about your plans?
03:00Almost every day.
03:01Our Deputy Secretary of Defense, alongside our Secretary of the Navy, are actively engaged with all of our shipbuilders and shipyards to make sure their needs not only are being met,
03:11but their shortfalls are being addressed so that we can enclose that gap in real time, which has existed.
03:16So that you can really lay out for us the information and what we would like to get, you know, what this committee needs to take a look at,
03:28because I know you believe that submarines are important, as I do,
03:31but getting the specific information about where we stand, what the production rate is, what gaps there may be.
03:43We're willing to listen to all of that, because in fact, in contrast to what your earlier statement was,
03:48we have in fact supported mightily the submarine industrial base from this committee.
03:55That has not been neglected.
03:57Do you have a plan for making the investments necessary to ramp up submarine production to the necessary elections?
04:05Excuse me, I would just tell you, as part of the December continuing resolution,
04:10Congress included $5.7 billion for the Department to put on contract for two additional Block 4 and one Block 5 Virginia-class submarines.
04:21The Navy advised members that these funds were required to be placed on contract by February of 2025,
04:28yet the Department did not put funding for the two additional Block 4 boats on contract until April 30th.
04:35So do we have a plan, do you have a plan, for making the necessary investments to ramp up submarine production to the necessary levels?
04:45And what is that plan?
04:47Ma'am, first of all, I want to thank this committee for the flexibility alongside FY25 and the continued resolution.
04:54Well, I would hope you would thank this committee for the funding that it had made.
04:56A lot of flexibility provided on the submarine industrial base.
04:58We have made a serious investment.
05:01So your first statement is inaccurate.
05:04We have focused squarely on submarines.
05:07And we now want to know where that is going and what your plan is for the continued advancements to meet production levels
05:15and make sure that that is an area that's covered for our national security.
05:21Ma'am, I fully acknowledge the investment this committee has made in shipbuilding.
05:24And the challenge is our department, under the previous administration, squandered a lot of that.
05:28Please, I want your plan.
05:32I've had difficulties with the prior administration, and I don't mind calling them out.
05:37What is your plan for the future?
05:39Can we get that in writing and on paper so that we know where you're going?
05:42Because we don't have anything today.
05:44We have zip, nada, and knowing where you're going.
05:47You can talk percentages.
05:49You can talk about whatever you want.
05:50But unless this committee sees dollars and cents and where you're going and what your plan is,
05:55then we may reconsider what you need to do to go forward.
05:59Give us the details.
06:01Congresswoman, we have the details, and we will provide them for you.
06:03Well, then let's have them.
06:04Before we, and my hope is that we could get to it before we go to a markup within a few hours here today.
06:13I yield back my time, Mr. Chair.
06:14Gentleman and Lady yields back her time.
06:17The Dean of the House, Chairman Rogers.
06:20Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
06:22Welcome, gentlemen and lady.