Key Takeaways
- •The FY2027 budget request includes $1 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account in the base budget for the first time, ending historical reliance on congressional add-ons.
- •Gen Steven S. Nordhaus (Chief, National Guard Bureau) stated the Guard provides 20 percent of the joint force while operating on less than 4 percent of the total defense budget.
- •Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) questioned why no witnesses had visited Ukraine, arguing that limited observation of drone warfare hinders the military's ability to adapt to modern conflict lessons.
- •Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-DE) and Republicans agreed on supporting Ukraine but disagreed on using the partisan budget reconciliation process, which Coons argued creates uncertainty for the industrial base.
- •Congress will consider duty status reform to simplify pay and benefits across 30 different statuses, aiming to improve retention and medical readiness for Guard and Reserve members.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing examined the fiscal year 2027 budget request and operational posture for the National Guard and reserve components of the U.S. military. As the Department of Defense (DOD) navigates a complex global security environment marked by conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the hearing focused on the critical role these "citizen-soldiers" play in homeland defense and overseas operations. The discussion emphasized the need for modernization, predictable funding, and personnel reforms to ensure the Guard and Reserve remain a lethal, integrated part of the joint force rather than a secondary "backup" component.
Key Testimony & Policy
The witnesses collectively emphasized that while the Guard and Reserve comprise a significant portion of the total force—for instance, the National Guard represents 20% of the joint force—they operate on a disproportionately small fraction of the DOD budget. A major policy highlight was the inclusion of $1 billion for the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA) in the base budget request for the first time. Historically, Congress has added this funding manually; Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and other witnesses praised its inclusion as a vital step toward concurrent modernization with the active component.
Modernization of specific platforms was a central theme. RDML Richard Lofgren, Acting Chief of the Navy Reserve, and Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, Chief of the Air Force Reserve, advocated for the rapid recapitalization of the C-130 fleet. Specifically, the Navy Reserve is seeking to replace aging C-130 "Tango" models with the KC-130J Super Hercules to support contested logistics. Lt. Gen. Healy expressed concern that the Air Force Reserve is "hollowing out" due to disproportionate divestment, noting that 77% of its fleet is over 39 years old. Additionally, Gen. Nordhaus discussed the bedding down of Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Guard to ensure divisional interoperability with the Army.
Personnel policy and medical readiness were also prioritized. The witnesses strongly supported "Duty Status Reform," a proposal to consolidate over 30 different service statuses into nine to ensure "equal pay for equal work" and simplify benefits administration. Gen. Nordhaus and Lt. Gen. Healy highlighted the "dental readiness" crisis, noting that the current $1,500 cap on dental care for non-active status members often prevents reservists from deploying, as a single major procedure can exceed the limit. They urged Congress to expand TRICARE Reserve Select access to improve overall force health.
The State Partnership Program (SPP) was lauded as one of the DOD’s most cost-effective tools. Gen. Nordhaus noted the program has grown to 116 global partnerships, facilitating long-term relationships between state National Guards and foreign militaries. Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-DE) and Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) both emphasized the program's value in building partner capacity in regions ranging from the Baltics to the Caribbean.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) opened the hearing with a sharp critique of the administration's "slow" adaptation to drone warfare lessons from Ukraine. He pointedly asked the witnesses if any of them had personally visited Ukraine to observe the conflict; none had. Sen. McConnell argued that the lack of direct observation by military leadership hinders the U.S. ability to implement cutting-edge technology like the Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net System (ULCANS) and counter-UAS systems.
Sen. Coons expressed bipartisan frustration with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), criticizing the use of budget reconciliation for defense spending. He argued that requesting $350 billion through a partisan reconciliation process creates "distraction and chaos" and fails to provide the defense industrial base with the predictability needed for long-term planning. He also criticized the administration for imposing hiring freezes and OPM-level interference on civilian hires within the reserve components.
A significant portion of the Q&A focused on "Operation Epic Fury" in the Middle East. Lt. Gen. Robert D. Harter, Chief of the Army Reserve, detailed the impact of the attack at Shweiba in Kuwait, which killed several Army Reserve soldiers. This prompted a discussion on the urgent need for counter-drone technology. Lt. Gen. Harter noted that the Army Reserve is using NGREA funds to procure anti-drone kits and will test 17 different technologies during the upcoming "Operation Sentinel Justice" exercise.
Organizations Mentioned
- **National Guard Bureau (NGB):** Represented by Gen. Nordhaus, the NGB was discussed as the primary combat reserve for the Army and Air Force, providing 20% of the joint force on 4% of the budget. - **United States Army Reserve:** Lt. Gen. Harter highlighted the component's role in providing 95% of the Army's bulk fuel distribution and its recent casualties in the Middle East. - **United States Navy Reserve:** RDML Lofgren advocated for the Navy Reserve's unique role in long-range intra-theater lift and the need for KC-130J recapitalization. - **United States Air Force Reserve:** Lt. Gen. Healy warned against the "disproportionate divestment" of aircraft and the aging state of the Reserve fleet. - **The Boeing Company:** Mentioned regarding the KC-46 tanker and the ongoing delays in the Remote Vision System (RVS 2.0) retrofits. - **Office of Management and Budget (OMB):** Criticized by both Sen. McConnell and Sen. Coons for its handling of defense funding through reconciliation and civilian hiring restrictions. - **Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):** Discussed in the context of North Dakota’s unique status as a T-REX site for drone testing due to FAA radar feed access. - **United States Marine Forces Reserve:** Gen. Anderson noted that the Marine Reserve provides 30% of total force capability but faces "poor" infrastructure conditions at training centers.
What's Next
The subcommittee set a one-week deadline for members to submit additional questions for the record (QFRs), with witnesses required to respond within 30 days. Future discussions are expected to focus on the specific costs of Operation Epic Fury, which Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) noted should be captured in a supplemental request rather than absorbed into the baseline budget. The committee will also monitor the "MOB 9" and "MOB 12" basing decisions for KC-46 and C-130J aircraft, respectively.
Transcript
The subcommittee will come to order. With the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process now underway, we are here today to receive testimony on the posture of the National Guard Bureau and reserve components. Thanks all of you witnesses for being here. General Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Lieutenant General Robert Harter, Chief of the Army Reserve. Rear Admiral Richard Lofgren, Acting Chief of the Navy Reserve. Lieutenant General Lonnie Anderson, Commander of the Marine Forces Reserve. And Lieutenant General John P. Healy, Chief of the Air Force Reserves. This will be General Healy's final posture hearing with the subcommittee, so I want to thank him, his wife Kathy, for decades of dedicated service to our nation and the lasting impact he will leave on the force. So gentlemen, welcome, we look forward to candid discussion about the President's budget request for fiscal year 2027. The President's intention to significantly increase overall investment in national defense is certainly good news, but the details beneath the top line will determine whether the U.S. military can train, equip, deploy, and sustain a force capable, actually capable, of deterring serious threats. The Guard and Reserve are critical to the homeland defense, security cooperation with allies and partners, and readiness to meet aggression with an overwhelming response. Obviously, ongoing operations in the Middle East offer a tragic reminder that a majority of the service members killed in action since March 1st have been members of the Guard or Reserve. And I know the subcommittee's deepest sympathies are with their comrades and their families. Of course, current conflicts also offer urgent lessons about the future warfare. This is not just a responsibility of the active component. Secretary Driskell observed last week that Ukraine has, quote, "fundamentally altered how humans engage in conflict," and that, quote, "we are learning a lot from them," end quote. I think the Secretary's observation is spot on, but the value of these lessons will hinge on our own ability to actually apply them. Our adversaries, for their part, are applying them. Iran has used lessons from Russia's war and applied them against us in the Middle East. The U.S., on the other hand, has been slow to adapt. Why could that be? Well, in part because two administrations in a row have limited the number of military advisors who could visit Ukraine. It's hard to learn if you do not observe. It's also hard to deepen cooperation with Ukraine while cutting assistance at the same time. That's why Republican majorities in Congress voted both to authorize and, more importantly, appropriate $400 million in assistance for fiscal year 2026, this year. And we expect that the Department will obligate and expend those funds in accordance with congressional intent. The current strategic landscape suggests that the demand for highly trained, well-equipped citizens in uniform, like the ones currently operating in CENTCOM, isn't likely to decrease anytime soon. But the Guard and Reserve's ability to perform these official missions, to answer the call, depends on your access to modern capabilities and stable funding. So I'll be curious to hear what lessons you're deriving from current conflicts and what you're doing to implement them across your commands. I was encouraged that the President's budget request includes increased funding for military personnel, operation and maintenance, and most notably, the National Guard and Reserve equipment account. Congress has historically carried the water for this account, which helps to modernize the equipment available to both the Guard and the Reserve, but it is included in the base budget request actually for the first time. These are important requests of commitment, but you know better than anyone that it'll be hard to meet multi-year modernization targets without stable funding. And on that front, I've repeatedly, repeatedly warned the Department and even more importantly, OMB, that one-time shots of reconciliation dollars simply cannot stand in for continuing annual appropriations. So we owe it to the men and women of our armed forces to reliably provide ample funding for the common defense year after year by strong bipartisan support. With that, let me turn to Senator Coons.
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