Key Takeaways
- •Frank Donovan (Commander, United States Southern Command) confirmed the U.S. is tracking a Russian destroyer heading to Cuba following the successful military operation to capture Nicolas Maduro.
- •Gregory M. Guillot (Commander, United States Northern Command) reported that Joint Task Force Southern Border reduced illegal immigration to historic lows using expanded military authorities and capabilities.
- •Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) questioned Guillot on the legality of deploying armed troops to polling places, prompting the general to affirm he would refuse such an unlawful order.
- •Sen. Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) praised aggressive counter-cartel strikes, while Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) questioned the strategic effectiveness and high casualty rates of these maritime operations.
- •Congress will evaluate funding for the Golden Dome missile defense architecture and critical infrastructure repairs at Guantanamo Bay during the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act cycle.
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Hearing Analysis
Key Testimony
The Senate Armed Services Committee met on March 19, 2026, to examine the posture of the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The hearing, chaired by Sen. Roger F. Wicker (R-MS), focused on the evolving threat landscape in the Western Hemisphere, characterized by the advanced military capabilities of the People's Republic of China (China) and the Russian Federation (Russia), the persistent influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran), and the destabilizing activities of South American drug cartels. The committee received testimony from Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, Commander of NORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and Gen. Frank Donovan, Commander of SOUTHCOM.
Gen. Guillot’s testimony centered on the "Golden Dome for America" program, a layered missile defense architecture designed to protect the homeland from ballistic and cruise missile threats posed by China, Russia, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). He highlighted the operational success of Joint Task Force Southern Border (JTF-SB), which he credited with reducing illegal border activities to historic lows through the use of unique military capabilities. Gen. Guillot also discussed the newly established Joint Interagency Task Force Counter-Cartel (JIATF-CC) and the role of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) in developing counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology. He emphasized the strategic importance of Greenland, which was recently added to NORTHCOM’s area of responsibility (AOR), and the command's deepening cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark) and Canada.
Overview
Gen. Donovan, who had been in command for 43 days at the time of the hearing, addressed the aftermath of Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He reported on his recent meeting with the new Venezuelan leadership, including Delcy Rodriguez, and noted that the U.S. embassy in Caracas has been reopened under Chargé d’Affaires Doe. A significant portion of the discussion involved Operation Southern Spear, a maritime counter-drug operation that has resulted in 156 fatalities from 45 airstrikes on suspected trafficking vessels. Gen. Donovan also introduced his four strategic imperatives: strengthening hemispheric command and control, imposing "total systemic friction" on cartels, fielding modernized autonomous forces, and denying adversary footholds in the region.
The hearing revealed sharp partisan divisions regarding the domestic use of the military and the legality of kinetic operations. Ranking Member Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) questioned Gen. Guillot regarding the deployment of federal troops to U.S. cities and the potential for military presence at polling places. Gen. Guillot affirmed that under 18 USC Section 592, it is illegal to deploy armed forces to polling locations except to repel "armed enemies of the United States," and he committed to refusing any unlawful orders to do so. Democratic members, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ), expressed concerns over the lack of transparency regarding the legal authorities for Operation Southern Spear’s lethal strikes and the potential for civilian harm. Sen. Kelly specifically questioned the strategic effectiveness of boat strikes compared to addressing fentanyl flows at land ports of entry.
Conversely, Republican members like Sen. Wicker and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) praised the aggressive posture against the Maduro regime and the cartels. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) focused on the "Trump corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, advocating for increased U.S. presence in Greenland and the Caribbean to displace Chinese and Russian influence. Gen. Donovan highlighted the critical need for infrastructure investment at Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), noting that hurricane damage has left the base with only one working pier, which hampers its role as a maneuver hub for counter-cartel operations.
Key Testimony
Several organizations were central to the testimony. NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM were the primary subjects, with their commanders detailing shifts toward "campaigning" against non-state actors and near-peer competitors. China was frequently cited as a malign actor seeking control over critical infrastructure like the Panama Canal and the port of Chancay in the Republic of Peru (Peru). Russia was discussed in the context of its military advisors in South America and naval deployments to the Republic of Cuba (Cuba). The Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (A-Triple-C) was identified as a new 18-member partnership, including the Republic of Chile (Chile), aimed at regional security. The Economic Defense Unit (EDU) and the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) were mentioned as tools to provide economic incentives to partner nations to counter Chinese influence. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were referenced regarding their coordination with NORTHCOM on border security and the transfer of counter-UAS laser systems, which Gen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY) noted had faced coordination issues with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Notable Exchanges
Notable exchanges included Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) securing a commitment from Gen. Donovan that SOUTHCOM is not currently rehearsing for a military invasion or regime change in Cuba. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) received confirmation that the defense of Hawaii is integrated into the Golden Dome architecture. Sen. Slotkin and Sen. Gillibrand pressed the witnesses on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the "kill chain," with both generals committing that a human would remain "on the loop" for all lethal targeting decisions and that AI would not be used for domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens.
Overview
The hearing concluded with a focus on upcoming legislative needs for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Gen. Donovan indicated he would seek resources to transition SOUTHCOM from a "training command" to a "combatant command" structure, while Gen. Guillot emphasized the need for modernized fourth-generation fighters, such as the F-15EX, to support homeland defense. No specific follow-up deadlines were set, though a classified session was frequently referenced for deeper discussion on Iranian degradation and specific cartel intelligence.
Transcript
The committee will come to order. Thank you all for being here. The committee meets today to receive testimony on the posture of the United States Northern Command and the United States Southern Command. We are joined by General Gregory Guillot from the U.S. Northern Command and General Frank Donovan for the U.S. Southern Command. I want to thank our witnesses for appearing today and for their decades of service to our nation. Thank you, gentlemen. Protecting the homeland is the first and most important duty of the federal government. Without a credible and effective homeland defense, there can be no United States of America for our 250th anniversary. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union represented the only true threat to the United States homeland. Today, the threat environment is much more complicated. Both Russia and China possess a range of nuclear, conventional, space, and cyber capabilities that threaten the U.S. homeland. Iran and Sunni jihadists remain intent on carrying out terrorist attacks in America. Tehran and Pyongyang have conducted cyberattacks against our critical infrastructure, and cartels are using innovative methods to traffic drugs and humans across our borders. All these adversaries share a common goal: to reduce our influence in the Western Hemisphere and to harm Americans at home. To counter these threats, we need a coordinated homeland defense strategy. It must weave together conventional defenses and new partnerships with allies and partners in our region, and we certainly appreciate our allies and partners. We are poised to make great progress on Golden Dome and similar efforts to protect the homeland from incoming drone and missile threats. I enthusiastically support these efforts. Golden Dome will reduce the threat posed by ballistic and cruise missiles from Russia, China, and North Korea. I look forward to hearing how General Guillot is working with the Golden Dome team to make these defenses a reality. In particular, I'd like to learn how his coordination with the Joint Interagency Task Force 401 will help counter the threat of small drones. I also applaud NORTHCOM's professionalism in support of the Department of Homeland Security. This has helped reinforce our border and helped stop virtually all illegal immigration, a singular achievement. We know that homeland defense does not stop at our border with Mexico. More than 100,000 Americans are killed annually in drug-related deaths. These immense and tragic losses come at the hands of South American cartels. Cartels contribute to violence, undermine regional stability, and are linked to human trafficking, weapon smuggling, and financial crime. I commend SOUTHCOM for its execution of Operation Southern Spear, which is helping to stop narcoterrorists from bringing drugs to our shores. It is also deterring future traffickers from attempting the same. I hope General Donovan can expound on the department's efforts to coordinate more closely with our Central and South American partners to fight back against cartels. China, Russia, and Iran all target the Western Hemisphere in their influence operations. Xi Jinping seeks to control telecommunications systems, critical infrastructure such as the Panama Canal, and major deepwater ports such as Chancay in Peru. China has also expanded defense cooperation across South America through arms sales, police training, and space and cyber partnerships. Likewise, Russia is selling arms, providing military advisors, and expanding intelligence cooperation to South American nations. In exchange, it gets permission to deploy Russian military aircraft and naval vessels to the region. Together, China and Russia exploit local corruption and partner with hostile authoritarian regimes like Cuba and Nicaragua. They build influence and gain political leverage to target the United States close to home. We must resist these malign influence campaigns in our neighborhood, and that's what we're about today. I'd like to hear General Donovan's ideas about how we can do so, especially through increased coordination with the Economic Defense Unit, intelligence community, and the Office of Strategic Capital. So expect that question. I commend the Trump administration for the decisive action it has taken to reassert U.S. interests near the homeland, including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. I strongly support the more aggressive counter-drug strategy. This must emphasize border security, cripple the cartels, and expand security partnerships with Latin American countries in order to eliminate safe havens for the illicit networks that plague our hemisphere. So thank you, gentlemen, for being here, and I now recognize my friend and colleague, the ranking member, Senator Reed.
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