Focus on Operational Capabilities and Innovation, Not Just Major Weapons Programs
Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) today urged Congress to prioritize the allocation of anticipated supplemental defense funding towards urgently needed technologies for troops in the field, rather than focusing solely on large-scale weapons programs. He anticipates over $100 billion in supplemental defense funding to be available through budget reconciliation.
Combatant Commanders’ Expertise: A Key to Effective Spending
Speaking at the McAleese and Associates conference, Wittman, chair of the House Armed Services tactical air and land power subcommittee, advocated for directing a significant portion of the funds to combatant commanders directly involved in current operations. He stressed the importance of addressing immediate capability gaps, arguing that operational commanders possess a superior understanding of those needs compared to legislators. He specifically emphasized the need for funding „attributable, expendable systems,” alongside necessary investments in larger programs such as submarine construction.
Budget Reconciliation and Funding Levels
Congress is pursuing a budget resolution to secure additional funding for key Trump administration priorities through budget reconciliation. While the House proposes $100 billion and the Senate $150 billion in additional defense funding, Wittman anticipates the final figure will fall between these amounts, likely closer to $100 billion.
Boosting Innovation and Technology Adoption
Wittman highlighted the need for increased funding to accelerate the work of organizations like the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Office of Strategic Capital, which focus on incorporating innovative technologies from outside the traditional defense industrial base. While expressing an open mind on consolidating similar innovation-focused offices, he stressed the importance of substantially increasing funding to expedite the delivery of innovative technologies to the warfighter.
Addressing Navy Shipyard Workforce Challenges
Wittman also discussed his ongoing engagement with OMB Director Russ Vought on the Navy’s Shipyard Accountability and Workforce Support (SAWS) proposal. This proposal aims to expedite funding for submarine construction to allow prime contractors to increase worker wages. While acknowledging OMB concerns regarding funding mechanisms, Wittman expressed optimism that OMB could facilitate a faster disbursement of funds to address workforce challenges than Congress could achieve through traditional appropriations.
Drone Incursions: A Sign of Adversary Probing
Wittman addressed the issue of recent drone incursions over U.S. military bases. He believes these incidents represent deliberate probing actions by adversaries seeking to assess U.S. counter-drone capabilities and responses. He cited the complexity of some incidents, such as the prolonged drone flights over Langley Air Force Base, as evidence that these are not isolated incidents or the work of hobbyists. Although declining to divulge classified information, he underscored the need to treat these incidents as serious attempts to gather intelligence on U.S. defenses. He indicated that a whole-of-government approach is required to address these challenges and strengthen counter-drone capabilities, while also minimizing risks to civilian life.
