WASHINGTON – After the Trump administration promised the largest Pentagon budget ever focused exclusively on “lethality and readiness,” Republicans and Democrats on the Hill and top military brass underscored in hearings Wednesday and Thursday that much of the budget must be spent on supporting troops with child care, medical services and training.
“Sustaining a healthy and effective military goes beyond simply meeting recruiting missions. It requires a commitment to the well-being and long-term readiness of every single service member,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) said.
These hearings came just days after President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced their pledge to propose the first-ever $1 trillion defense budget. With that announcement, Hegseth posted Monday on his personal X account: “(PS: we intend to spend every taxpayer dollar wisely — on lethality and readiness).”
The Senators and officers emphasized that a successful military would still need enhanced care for active duty personnel and their families, the improvement of recruitment standards, and the strengthening of the military’s technological and cybersecurity capabilities to compete with global adversaries, notably China. These hearings provided critical insights into where lawmakers and officers alike hoped the proposed $1 trillion defense budget would be allocated. Republicans and Democrats embraced the idea that “lethality and readiness” would only be possible through the care of service members.
Witnesses from five of the six branches of the military were present. Tuberville, who opened the personnel subcommittee hearing, emphasized the importance of military personnel and lawmakers working together, especially as the executive switched from plans for layoffs to promising the largest budget.
“I think we should all know that those who volunteer to serve in and out of uniform are the backbone of our national defense, and this is a critical discussion as we prepare for the NDAA for fiscal year 2026,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Caroline M. Miller of the U.S. Air Force stressed the importance of providing childcare, sexual assault and harrasment prevent training, and extensive mental health resources in order for service members to be well-equipped to do their jobs.
“We continue to target barriers to well-being and overall readiness in areas including economic security, access to quality child care, sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention, and suicide prevention efforts,” she said.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) also connected the military’s readiness and lethality to addressing child care shortages, educational benefit access and the importance of protecting service members from financial scams.
“Failing to address these shortfalls threatens retention and will drive out the military families we need,” she said.
During the hearing, lawmakers expressed concerns about declining recruitment quality in order to meet quota. Tuberville noted that “many of the services have lowered their standards to meet requirement goals.”
Tuberville questioned the success of recent Army and Navy prep courses. And asked about the status of a 60-day review being conducted to ensure everyone is held at the same equal standard based on occupational demands.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) said the growing military capabilities of adversaries like China add urgency to these concerns.
“China boasts the world’s largest Navy and also has an air force that is capable of denying the U.S. air superiority in the first island chain,” he said.
Each military branch present noted their duty to deliver high quality service regardless of past recruiting issues. Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman Jr. of the U.S. Navy noted that after Covid-19 the Navy had to learn again on how to recruit successfully.
“Our sailors stand ready as a lethal fighting force to deter or confront any adversary. You and every American can be proud of your Navy and this team,” he said.
Tuberville raised concerns about continued critical staffing shortages in military hospitals and clinics.
“This combined with lower enlistment standards means the force is more susceptible to health issues like obesity and mental health challenges,” he said.
Shifting focus from personnel issues, the discussion moved to cybersecurity. The growing threats in the digital domain have placed unprecedented demands on the U.S. military to safeguard its systems and networks.
During the Armed Services cybersecurity subcommittee hearing, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William J. Hartman emphasized that while the Pentagon has made meaningful progress in cybersecurity and training to identify potential threats, the mission is being slowed down by broader bureaucratic delays.
“Continuing resolutions, hiring freezes, and transitions between one combatant command, support agency and other, slow down the process,” Hartman said. “But we have a plan. We’re executing it, and it’s all about the ecosystem that we have to build that provides precise intelligence.”
The growing focus on cyber security echoes the military’s strategic direction with continued missions in the Indo-Pacific region and U.S. Forces Korea. This is particularly in response to the threat of the People’s Republic of China.
“We’ve been given acquisition authorities, we’ve been given Joint Force trainer authorities, and all those things are enabling us to evolve the command in a way that better enables us to compete with China or any other adversary,” Hartman said.
Army Gen. Xavier T. Brunson said strengthening the trilateral alliance among the U.S., South Korea and Japan, and growing partnerships with nations like the Philippines, would be crucial for maintaining stability in the region.
“The key asymmetric advantage our nation has over China is our network of allies and partners,” he said.
These three Senate hearings set the stage for passing the biggest defense budget ever at a time when the Trump administration enacts far reaching cuts on much of the rest of the government.
“It’s time to make a generational investment in our national security. I do believe that view is bipartisan,” Wicker said. “We need real growth in the FY26 budget request, in addition to a historic defense reconciliation package.”
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