Ranking Member McCollum Remarks at United States Army Oversight Hearing

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Ranking Member of the Defense Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the subcommittee's oversight hearing on the United States Army:

Mr. Secretary, General George, welcome to the Committee’s discussion about the Army’s plans to transform for the future. As the Chairman pointed out, we are excited and interested in hearing your plans.

As I said yesterday in our hearing with the Air Force, the fiscal year 2026 budget process is off to a very rough start. We have just over four months left until the end of FY 2025. And the Department still has not agreed upon a final spend plan with Congress.

The “skinny budget” for next year has been released, but we don’t know what the numbers are based off of yet. There are rumors the full budget may not be released until June. That puts us in a very difficult position in getting our job done. And I know both Ranking Member DeLauro and Chairman Cole want to get our job done on time. That’s why yesterday, we were unable to discuss the Air Force and Space Force budget priorities in detail. They just do not have the information.

Likewise, it is disappointing that we will be unable to discuss the Army’s priorities and programmatic details for FY 26 at this time, and I know you share that concern. I hope that you will reach out to the committee, to the Chair and I as soon as details are released. 

Last week, you both presented the Army Transformation Initiative – which will include changes to warfighting capabilities, force structure and program activities. We do need to make changes, and I know that you want to move quickly. 

However, any successful transformation proposed by the Services is only going to be made possible with an open dialogue with the United States Congress, and the people of this country. That means you must work with us, with industry and with military communities involved. Bypassing any of these vital steps will only create questions, and create delays. Something I know you don’t wish to have happen. And I know you want to put to rest any confusion, and I know it’s not your desire to provoke anxiety. But not doing this in a forward, transparent manner could end up doing exactly that. 

I look forward today to hearing more details on the Army’s Transformation Initiative and how this differs from implementing the Army 2030 Initiative. Mr. Secretary, you also have proposals for agile funding for counter small unmanned aerial systems, network capabilities, civilian workforce decreases, and activities on the southern border. Your plate is full.

The Committee needs to understand these in depth – and the costs associated with them.

As I said yesterday in a hearing with reference to Golden Dome, this committee does not fund concepts. I don’t do that in my personal life, and I do not do that with the taxpayers’ money. So, the sooner you have more details, the happier we all will be.

As I said yesterday with the Air Force, I am deeply concerned that cuts to civilian personnel will have detrimental effects on the execution of contracts and other vital paperwork.  We are already living with the impacts of what happens when civilians take a buyout. 

What does that mean? It means contracts aren’t signed on time, the mission doesn’t get done on time, the program falls further behind and it costs the taxpayer more. I am also concerned that these cuts will shift responsibility of completing these tasks onto the same military personnel that you would like to see on the training field, and we would too.

Again, I welcome you both to the Committee, and I look forward to hearing your testimony.

I yield back.

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