1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,336 Uh , Chairman McConnell , uh , Ricky 2 00:00:02,336 --> 00:00:04,929 Coons , uh , Chairman Collins , and 3 00:00:04,929 --> 00:00:07,207 distinguished members of the committee , 4 00:00:07,207 --> 00:00:07,130 thanks for the opportunity to come down 5 00:00:07,130 --> 00:00:09,750 and talk about the FY 27 budget request . 6 00:00:10,170 --> 00:00:12,319 So I'm proud to represent the 680,000 7 00:00:12,319 --> 00:00:14,430 airmen , guardians , and civilians of 8 00:00:14,430 --> 00:00:16,486 the Department of the Air Force , as 9 00:00:16,486 --> 00:00:18,541 well as their family and their loved 10 00:00:18,541 --> 00:00:18,370 ones . After the events of the past 11 00:00:18,370 --> 00:00:20,259 years , Operation Mid at Hammer , 12 00:00:20,259 --> 00:00:22,426 Absolute Resolve , Eva Curry , I don't 13 00:00:22,426 --> 00:00:24,592 think anyone doubts that our Air Force 14 00:00:24,592 --> 00:00:26,814 and Space Force are the most capable in 15 00:00:26,814 --> 00:00:28,814 the world . But today we are in the 16 00:00:28,814 --> 00:00:30,926 middle of a generational shift in how 17 00:00:30,926 --> 00:00:33,037 we employ air power and space power , 18 00:00:33,037 --> 00:00:35,092 uh , advances in autonomy , adaptive 19 00:00:35,092 --> 00:00:37,314 manufacturing , AI , microelectronics , 20 00:00:37,314 --> 00:00:39,370 and more gives unique opportunity to 21 00:00:39,370 --> 00:00:41,037 drive down costs and drive up 22 00:00:41,037 --> 00:00:42,870 effectiveness across the board . 23 00:00:42,870 --> 00:00:44,870 However , our adversaries recognize 24 00:00:44,870 --> 00:00:46,981 that opportunity every bit as much as 25 00:00:46,981 --> 00:00:48,537 we do . Those adversaries , 26 00:00:48,537 --> 00:00:50,759 particularly China , are modernizing at 27 00:00:50,759 --> 00:00:52,926 a very rapid pace . To stay ahead , we 28 00:00:52,926 --> 00:00:55,148 must innovate faster in everything that 29 00:00:55,148 --> 00:00:57,148 we do . That means staying ready to 30 00:00:57,148 --> 00:00:59,426 fight tonight , next month , next year , 31 00:00:59,426 --> 00:01:01,592 next decade . Unfortunately , the past 32 00:01:01,592 --> 00:01:03,759 25 years , the DAS budget has been the 33 00:01:03,759 --> 00:01:06,092 smallest relative to GDP in the history . 34 00:01:06,092 --> 00:01:08,259 Uh , at the same time , the nation has 35 00:01:08,259 --> 00:01:10,259 asked more of it . Uh , to meet its 36 00:01:10,259 --> 00:01:12,370 mission's needs , needs , the DAF was 37 00:01:12,370 --> 00:01:14,592 forced to shortchange both foundational 38 00:01:14,592 --> 00:01:16,926 readiness and much needed modernization . 39 00:01:16,926 --> 00:01:19,092 The fiscal year 2027 , the president's 40 00:01:19,092 --> 00:01:20,981 budget breaks that pattern with a 41 00:01:20,981 --> 00:01:23,199 $338.8 billion dollar request for the 42 00:01:23,199 --> 00:01:26,220 DAFF , a 34% increase from last year . 43 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,887 I'll start with our investments to win 44 00:01:28,887 --> 00:01:30,720 the fight tonight . Foundational 45 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,942 readiness . Boosting readiness requires 46 00:01:32,942 --> 00:01:34,664 increased and stable funding , 47 00:01:34,664 --> 00:01:36,776 particularly given the age of many of 48 00:01:36,776 --> 00:01:38,639 our platforms . The FY 27 budget 49 00:01:38,639 --> 00:01:41,120 request increases our foundational 50 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,760 readiness investment by 34% , providing 51 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,819 the jump needed to truly recover . 52 00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:48,350 We're also looking at ways to operate 53 00:01:48,350 --> 00:01:50,183 more efficiently by accelerating 54 00:01:50,183 --> 00:01:52,350 decision making , reducing barriers to 55 00:01:52,350 --> 00:01:54,350 entry for industry , and leveraging 56 00:01:54,350 --> 00:01:56,406 innovative contract structures . The 57 00:01:56,406 --> 00:01:58,461 DAF's lean budget over the years has 58 00:01:58,461 --> 00:02:00,183 also resulted in a $50 billion 59 00:02:00,183 --> 00:02:02,319 facilities maintenance backlog . This 60 00:02:02,319 --> 00:02:04,041 is compounded by the way we've 61 00:02:04,041 --> 00:02:06,152 tradition in Milon , which results in 62 00:02:06,152 --> 00:02:08,375 cost , which results in costs more than 63 00:02:08,375 --> 00:02:10,041 double that of the commercial 64 00:02:10,041 --> 00:02:12,208 construction world . To reverse this , 65 00:02:12,208 --> 00:02:14,208 the FYT . 27 budget requests nearly 66 00:02:14,208 --> 00:02:16,375 doubles investments in both MLCcon and 67 00:02:16,375 --> 00:02:18,449 facility sustainment restoration and 68 00:02:18,449 --> 00:02:21,210 modernization which when coupled with 69 00:02:21,210 --> 00:02:23,266 the new authorities granted to us by 70 00:02:23,266 --> 00:02:24,988 Congress , thank you , such as 71 00:02:24,988 --> 00:02:27,099 progressive design build will address 72 00:02:27,099 --> 00:02:29,321 the check will address the shortfalls . 73 00:02:29,321 --> 00:02:31,432 Second , production , particularly of 74 00:02:31,432 --> 00:02:33,377 munitions . While we retain enough 75 00:02:33,377 --> 00:02:35,377 munitions worldwide to meet mission 76 00:02:35,377 --> 00:02:37,599 needs , we need strong factory lines to 77 00:02:37,599 --> 00:02:39,654 sustain and bolster our stockpiles . 78 00:02:39,654 --> 00:02:41,543 Therefore , this budget leverages 79 00:02:41,543 --> 00:02:43,766 existing commercial production capacity 80 00:02:43,766 --> 00:02:45,932 and takes full advantage of multi-year 81 00:02:45,932 --> 00:02:47,821 procurement for our most critical 82 00:02:47,821 --> 00:02:49,988 munitions , totaling 39,000 weapons of 83 00:02:49,988 --> 00:02:52,559 all types by FY 33 . We are also 84 00:02:52,559 --> 00:02:54,919 developing weapons almost as capable as 85 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,086 our high ammunitions but at a fraction 86 00:02:57,086 --> 00:02:58,960 of the cost and with much higher 87 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,182 production rates . I'll note that while 88 00:03:01,182 --> 00:03:03,460 the money in this request is essential , 89 00:03:03,460 --> 00:03:05,516 time is our most precious resource , 90 00:03:05,516 --> 00:03:07,349 and the department will focus on 91 00:03:07,349 --> 00:03:09,516 companies that can scale quickly while 92 00:03:09,516 --> 00:03:11,627 still broadening the industry base to 93 00:03:11,627 --> 00:03:13,849 ensure competition in the future . That 94 00:03:13,849 --> 00:03:16,016 leads me to number 3 , modernization . 95 00:03:16,016 --> 00:03:18,071 The DAFF is currently engaged in the 96 00:03:18,071 --> 00:03:20,127 broadest program of modernization in 97 00:03:20,127 --> 00:03:22,293 its history . Well , not every program 98 00:03:22,293 --> 00:03:24,516 has been perfect , we have already seen 99 00:03:24,516 --> 00:03:26,182 a lot of success with our new 100 00:03:26,182 --> 00:03:28,349 proliferated space architectures , the 101 00:03:28,349 --> 00:03:30,349 collaborative combat aircraft , the 102 00:03:30,349 --> 00:03:32,460 F-47 B-21 , our command and control , 103 00:03:32,460 --> 00:03:34,571 and our data management systems . The 104 00:03:34,571 --> 00:03:36,349 FY-27 request accelerates those 105 00:03:36,349 --> 00:03:38,349 successes . Implies lessons learned 106 00:03:38,349 --> 00:03:40,740 from them across the board . To that 107 00:03:40,740 --> 00:03:42,407 end , we are transforming our 108 00:03:42,407 --> 00:03:44,518 acquisition system . We're empowering 109 00:03:44,518 --> 00:03:46,184 our new portfolio acquisition 110 00:03:46,184 --> 00:03:48,289 executives and their teams with the 111 00:03:48,289 --> 00:03:50,511 authorities , resources and talent they 112 00:03:50,511 --> 00:03:52,789 need to accelerate capability delivery . 113 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,602 We have delegated nearly every 114 00:03:54,602 --> 00:03:56,769 authority we are legally allowed to do 115 00:03:56,769 --> 00:03:59,600 so down to the PAEs . We are realigning 116 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,767 portfolios to match mission outcomes . 117 00:04:01,767 --> 00:04:03,839 Our end state is all DA acquisitions 118 00:04:03,839 --> 00:04:06,240 aligned within the PAE structure to 119 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,296 ensure consistent , simplified , and 120 00:04:08,296 --> 00:04:10,462 rapid decision making across the Space 121 00:04:10,462 --> 00:04:12,684 Force and the Air Force . Finally , our 122 00:04:12,684 --> 00:04:14,684 most decisive advantage remains our 123 00:04:14,684 --> 00:04:16,796 people , the airmen and guardians who 124 00:04:16,796 --> 00:04:18,962 make everything possible . This budget 125 00:04:18,962 --> 00:04:21,129 invests in them . This includes a 5 to 126 00:04:21,129 --> 00:04:23,351 7% pay increase , larger bonus pools to 127 00:04:23,351 --> 00:04:25,573 incentivize high performing civilians , 128 00:04:25,573 --> 00:04:27,851 and increases in military and strength , 129 00:04:27,851 --> 00:04:29,684 and a 300% increase in dormitory 130 00:04:29,684 --> 00:04:31,629 investments . In conclusion , this 131 00:04:31,629 --> 00:04:33,407 budget represents a disciplined 132 00:04:33,407 --> 00:04:35,629 strategy to meet our threat . While the 133 00:04:35,629 --> 00:04:38,160 FY 27 budget represents a major 134 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,309 increase in our budget , we are ready 135 00:04:40,309 --> 00:04:42,929 to execute . Much of the new funding 136 00:04:42,929 --> 00:04:44,985 will accelerate mature programs with 137 00:04:44,985 --> 00:04:47,130 established contracts . Regardless of 138 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:49,170 the final total , we will remain 139 00:04:49,170 --> 00:04:51,392 accountable and transparent to Congress 140 00:04:51,392 --> 00:04:53,614 and the American taxpayer . Thank you , 141 00:04:53,614 --> 00:04:54,489 and I look forward to your questions .