Key Takeaways
- •Rep. Jackson (R, TX-13) advocated for increasing the USSOCOM budget to $20 billion annually to reverse a 14 percent decline in purchasing power since 2019.
- •Admiral Frank Bradley (Commander, United States Special Operations Command) stated that SOCOM must modernize in lethal autonomy and the "irregular triad" of cyber, space, and special operations.
- •Rep. Crow (D, CO-6) pressed Derrick Anderson (Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict) on a 15-6 investigation into a strike on an Iranian school.
- •While both parties supported increased funding, Rep. Scott (R, GA-8) challenged the department's plan to cut 3,000 billets in intelligence, logistics, and psychological operations.
- •The hearing established that FY2027 priorities will focus on leveraging new acquisition authorities to accelerate the delivery of autonomous systems and counter-influence capabilities to special operators.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations met on March 18, 2026, to review the challenges and resource priorities for the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for Fiscal Year 2027. The hearing focused on the increasing operational tempo (optempo) of Special Operations Forces (SOF) as they transition from two decades of counterterrorism (CT) dominance to a more complex role in Great Power Competition (GPC) against adversaries like the People's Republic of China (China), the Russian Federation (Russia), and the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran).
Organizations & Entities
Chairman Ronny Jackson (R, TX-13) and Ranking Member Jason Crow (D, CO-6) expressed bipartisan concern regarding SOCOM’s budget, which they characterized as stagnant. Chairman Jackson noted that while SOF requirements have increased by 35 percent, purchasing power has decreased by 14 percent since 2019. He advocated for a "steady state" budget of at least $20 billion annually to ensure SOCOM can modernize without cannibalizing its research and development funds. The witnesses, Honorable Derrick Anderson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (SOLIC), and Admiral Frank Bradley, Commander of USSOCOM, emphasized that SOF represents only 3 percent of the joint force and 2 percent of the Department of Defense (DOD) budget, yet provides "outsized strategic value."
Overview
Admiral Bradley identified his top priorities as maintaining readiness for crisis response and modernizing for contested environments. He introduced the concept of the "Irregular Triad," which integrates Special Operations, Cyber Command (Cybercom), and Space capabilities to counter "ubiquitous technical surveillance" and operate in the virtual domain. Secretary Anderson highlighted the maturation of SOLIC’s oversight role, granted by Section 907 authorities in previous National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs), which allows SOLIC to advocate for SOF with "service-like" authority within the DOD.
A significant portion of the hearing addressed the human element of the force. Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R, TX-8) spoke passionately about the physical and mental toll on operators, questioning the efficacy of the SOF Human Performance Training Centers. Admiral Bradley described these centers as holistic facilities that integrate the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program, allowing injured operators to rehabilitate alongside their teams to reduce stigma and accelerate return-to-duty times.
Notable Exchanges
The subcommittee also scrutinized recent operational setbacks and force structure changes. Rep. Austin Scott (R, GA-8) and Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R, AZ-8) questioned the planned reduction of 3,000 billets, which Secretary Anderson confirmed would primarily affect intelligence analysts, logistics staff, and psychological operations. Rep. Scott expressed concern that cutting information warfare capabilities would hinder the U.S. ability to counter Russian influence in Africa, specifically the activities of the Wagner Group. Additionally, the loss of access in the Republic of Niger was discussed as a challenge to counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.
Overview
Ranking Member Crow raised a critical oversight issue regarding a February 28 strike on a girls' elementary school in Iran that reportedly killed 175 civilians. Secretary Anderson confirmed that while a preliminary investigation is complete, a formal "15-6" investigation is currently being conducted by a general officer outside the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) chain of responsibility to ensure impartiality. Rep. Crow also pushed for clarity on lethal autonomous weapons; Admiral Bradley affirmed that while SOF leverages autonomous technology, the "law of armed conflict" requires a human to remain the final decider in the kill chain.
The following organizations were identified and discussed: - United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM): The primary subject of the hearing, discussed regarding its $20 billion budget target, modernization needs, and high operational demand. - United States Department of Defense (DOD): Referenced as the parent agency responsible for SOCOM’s budget submissions and the broader National Defense Strategy. - Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (SOLIC): Discussed in the context of its "service-like" oversight and advocacy role for the SOF enterprise. - People's Republic of China (China): Identified as the "pacing challenge" and a primary driver of SOF modernization. - Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran): Discussed as a regional threat and the site of a controversial strike on a school currently under investigation. - Civilian Protection Center of Excellence (CPCOE): Mentioned by Rep. Crow regarding concerns that its resources and personnel have been significantly reduced. - United States Army (Army): Discussed regarding the 3,000-billet reduction and its role in housing the majority of psychological operations forces. - Wagner Group (Wagner): Referenced as a Russian proxy force exerting malign influence on the African continent. - Republic of Niger (Niger): Discussed regarding the loss of U.S. military access and its impact on regional counterterrorism. - Republic of Iraq (Iraq) and Syrian Arab Republic (Syria): Mentioned in the context of ongoing force drawdowns and continued counter-VEO missions. - Russian Federation (Russia): Identified as a state adversary using information warfare and proxy forces to destabilize partners. - United States Central Command (CENTCOM): Mentioned as the command currently investigating the civilian harm incident in Iran. - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan): Referenced regarding the historical context of SOF missions and the impact of the 2021 withdrawal. - United States Air Force (Air Force): Mentioned regarding its special tactics units and the need for service-to-service collaboration on modernization. - United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC): Discussed regarding internal restructuring of information operations and psychological operations. - French Republic (France): Mentioned in the context of being pushed out of Africa by Russian information warfare. - Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Venezuela): Cited as the location of "Operation Absolute Resolve," described as a highly sophisticated joint force raid. - United States Navy (Navy): Referenced regarding SEAL teams and the physical toll of maritime special operations. - United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Mentioned by Rep. Luttrell regarding the transition of operators from active duty to veteran status. - National Security Agency (NSA) and United States Cyber Command (Cybercom): Identified as key partners in the "Space-SOF-Cyber" triad. - United States Africa Command (AFRICOM): Mentioned regarding the strategic importance of maintaining mil-to-mil relationships in volatile regions.
The hearing concluded with a transition to a classified session to discuss specific operational details and sensitive budget justifications.
Transcript
I ask unanimous consent that the chair be authorized to declare recess at any time. Without objection, so ordered. Today we will hear from our witnesses on U.S. Special Operations Forces and Command on challenges and resource priorities for fiscal year 2027. The optempo for special operations continues to put demands on the force, even with the major force drawdowns from Iraq and Afghanistan almost five years ago. Recent consolidation and downsizing of forces in Syria and Iraq bring only minor relief as our special operations forces continue counterterrorism efforts against violent extremist organizations, military proxies, and non-state actors in both of those countries, as well as an increase of optempo on the continent of Africa, ongoing operations in the Western Hemisphere, and now requirements related to the ongoing operations supporting the fight in Iran. Special operators have adapted to meet the challenges of an evolving landscape of great power competition in every corner of the globe, while continuing to aggressively attack violent extremist organizations and transnational criminal networks, all in an effort to protect the homeland. Our adversaries are using cutting-edge technology, economic incentives, and illicit activities to attempt to gain footholds in every geographic combatant command's area of responsibility, and the battlefield has become increasingly contested and denied by the proliferation of peer adversary capabilities and malign influence. All while our crisis response force has been called upon repeatedly over the past few years to execute exquisite challenging missions that only they can conduct. Special operations continue to be one of our most valuable tools in our toolbox, used to showcase our dominance, to impose cost on our adversaries, to reestablish deterrence, and to provide the nation with a position of advantage should deterrence fail. We ask a lot of our special operations forces, and the demands both on and for them will only continue to grow. It is critical we provide these elite operators and all that support them with the resources that they need. I was disappointed in the fiscal year 2026 budget submission for SOCOM from the Department of War. This committee worked diligently with SOCOM to provide critically needed resources to fill the gaps from over a decade of stagnant flat budgets through the reconciliation process, only to have then have the department submit a budget with a reduction to SOCOM, making the budget a wash and still flat. SOCOM's purchasing power has been reduced by 14 percent since 2019, despite increasing demand for support worldwide. I am, however, optimistic about President Trump's direction to include a significant increase in the fiscal year 2027 defense budget and what this will mean for SOCOM in the future. I look forward to reviewing the budget and putting SOCOM on a path that increases to get them to a steady state of at least $20 billion annually in their budget. We look forward to hearing how Congress can best support SOCOM such that you can continue to provide the high return on investment the nation requires while simultaneously modernizing for the challenges of the future. Our witnesses today are the leaders in the special operations community. I want to welcome the Honorable Derek Anderson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, Office of Secretary of War, and Admiral Frank Bradley, Commander of the United States Special Operations Command. In the interest of time, I am going to ask the witnesses to keep their opening remarks to five minutes or less so we have sufficient time for questions and answers. I think you may have a combined opening statement; if so, then make it 10 or 15 minutes. With that, let me thank our witnesses again for appearing here before us today and for your time, and I now recognize Ranking Member Crow for any opening remarks he might have.
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