Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s questions.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, questioned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Caine at a hearing to review the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Defense.
HIGHLIGHTS:
ON STRONG MILITARY RECRUITMENT NUMBERS:
SENATOR CAPITO: “I’m very proud of this fact, that the recruiting goals that have been falling short – with the exception of the Marine Corps, I want to give them a shout out – you said that they are higher.”
SECRETARY HEGSETH: “There was plenty of pre-criticism that certain groups would not be interested in joining the military in this environment, and we’ve seen the exact opposite. Because for us, it’s not about women or men or black or white, it’s about we want the most qualified Americans possible in our ranks.”
SENATOR CAPITO: “When you’re talking to recruiters, what’s the difference?”
SECRETARY HEGSETH: “The difference is a Commander in Chief they believe in.”
ON MAINTAINING SPACE SUPERIORITY:
SENATOR CAPITO: “I think a powerful, destabilizing force would be if China were to get the superior hand in space. General Saltzman has said that he feels that we do not have what we need to fight on our terms…I would imagine in your National Defense Strategy, but also reflected in your budget…how does this match with the need for us to become space dominant?”
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