WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement outlining the priorities of the HASC Democrats in the coming Congress.
“My Democratic colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee and I are ready to hit the ground running in the 120th Congress and the top priority will be to conduct vigorous oversight of the Department of Defense and the Trump Administration. As a start, we must demand public transparency and accountability from senior Pentagon officials through increased public testimony. I also believe it is important to reestablish an Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee to help support the committee’s work.
“The list of potential oversight topics is long, but the illegal war against Iran is top of mind for me and the American people. So too are sweetheart deals and favoritism to certain entities and individuals. We must dive into any waste, fraud, and abuse by examining contracts and other financial support awarded to private companies. The list continues with the unauthorized military strikes in the Caribbean and Latin America, the deployment of the military to U.S. cities, and the blatant and corrosive politicization of our Armed Forces and purging of the ranks based on loyalty and ideology are high on the list.
“I continue to listen to voters regarding costs.We must push for the development of a more realistic and sustainable approach to our national security—one that does not require a defense budget in excess of $1 trillion or one paid for with draconian cuts to critical domestic programs. We also need to reform the way resources are spent and accounted for. Investment in new weapon systems must take lessons learned from recent conflicts and provide relevant capabilities in a more cost-effective manner. I also believe the bipartisan efforts on acquisition reform should continue.
“Finally, another cornerstone for this committee has focused on the people who are the heart of our national defense—service members, civilian personnel, and their families. We need to ensure we are recruiting, developing, and retaining the military and civilian talent we need by providing the benefits and standard of living they need. And we need to address the Trump Administration’s sustained assault on the federal workforce and his promotion of loyalty to a political ideology over competence for key senior military and civilian positions, and the erosion of the apolitical foundation of the armed forces.
“I am confident that we can address these issues and many more in the coming Congress. I also look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure a return to our duty of oversight as a coequal branch of government that is responsible for providing for the common defense and our national security.”
“My Democratic colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee and I are ready to hit the ground running in the 120th Congress and the top priority will be to conduct vigorous oversight of the Department of Defense and the Trump Administration. As a start, we must demand public transparency and accountability from senior Pentagon officials through increased public testimony. I also believe it is important to reestablish an Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee to help support the committee’s work.
“The list of potential oversight topics is long, but the illegal war against Iran is top of mind for me and the American people. So too are sweetheart deals and favoritism to certain entities and individuals. We must dive into any waste, fraud, and abuse by examining contracts and other financial support awarded to private companies. The list continues with the unauthorized military strikes in the Caribbean and Latin America, the deployment of the military to U.S. cities, and the blatant and corrosive politicization of our Armed Forces and purging of the ranks based on loyalty and ideology are high on the list.
“I continue to listen to voters regarding costs.We must push for the development of a more realistic and sustainable approach to our national security—one that does not require a defense budget in excess of $1 trillion or one paid for with draconian cuts to critical domestic programs. We also need to reform the way resources are spent and accounted for. Investment in new weapon systems must take lessons learned from recent conflicts and provide relevant capabilities in a more cost-effective manner. I also believe the bipartisan efforts on acquisition reform should continue.
“Finally, another cornerstone for this committee has focused on the people who are the heart of our national defense—service members, civilian personnel, and their families. We need to ensure we are recruiting, developing, and retaining the military and civilian talent we need by providing the benefits and standard of living they need. And we need to address the Trump Administration’s sustained assault on the federal workforce and his promotion of loyalty to a political ideology over competence for key senior military and civilian positions, and the erosion of the apolitical foundation of the armed forces.
“I am confident that we can address these issues and many more in the coming Congress. I also look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure a return to our duty of oversight as a coequal branch of government that is responsible for providing for the common defense and our national security.”
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