WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today participated in a full committee hearing discussing the posture for U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

In his remarks, Wicker emphasized the need to compete with adversaries like China and Russia, while also reiterating his support for sustained growth in the defense budget as President Biden prepares to send his own budget to Congress.

“The United States faces the most complex and daunting set of security challenges since the height of the Cold War, and our witnesses today are on the frontlines of those challenges,” Wicker said. “From the Chinese Communist Party’s unprecedented military build-up and growing hegemonic ambitions, to Russia’s brazen and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, our adversaries are testing American resolve. Our foremost adversary and competitor, the Chinese Communist Party, has stressed both SOCOM and CYBERCOM in ways we never imagined a decade ago.” 

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Christopher Maier, SOCOM Commander Gen. Bryan Fenton, and CYBERCOM Commander Gen. Paul Nakasone testified before the committee.

Read Wicker’s opening statement as delivered below or watch here.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman for that very fine and thorough statement. I very much appreciate that. And I would like to thank our witnesses for being with us once again.

The United States faces the most complex and daunting set of security challenges since the height of the Cold War, and our witnesses today are on the frontlines of those challenges. From the Chinese Communist Party’s unprecedented military build-up and growing hegemonic ambitions, to Russia’s brazen and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, our adversaries are testing American resolve.   

Our foremost adversary and competitor, the Chinese Communist Party, has stressed both SOCOM and CYBERCOM in ways we never imagined a decade ago.  Last year, General Nakasone said the Chinese advances in cyber operations are “unlike anything [he has] seen before.” He also noted the People’s Republic of China is a more difficult adversary than the Soviet Union because they are much more tolerant of risk, so this presents new challenges to our deterrence posture.  

Although Beijing may be our foremost adversary, others are not far behind. The cyber capabilities of Russia, Iran, and North Korea have continued to surprise many.   

I would appreciate an update on DoD’s work to implement a Zero Trust architecture and provide defensive cyber tools across the department and the industrial base. I also look forward to discussing how collaborative cyber activities with our allies and partners, such as hunt forward operations, have helped to identify vulnerabilities, mitigate threats, and strengthen our network defenses. 

Military success in cyberspace depends on the readiness of our cyber mission forces. I hope to hear about how we can improve our cyber force readiness and accelerate development of cyber capabilities, particularly on the offensive side. 

General Fenton is no stranger to the determination of the People’s Liberation Army, having served as commander of our special operations forces in the Pacific and the deputy commander of INDOPACOM. His challenge is twofold: to build a force capable of enhancing our deterrence and warfighting in the Western Pacific, even as the threat environment facing our nation demands that SOCOM should remain fully engaged in the fight against violent Islamic terrorist groups across the world, from Africa to South Asia. His command’s work is critical to our country’s security and is often the first to respond to our nation’s most pressing unforeseen emergencies.   

In the 2022 National Defense Strategy, General Fenton’s forces have been asked to assume significant risk. I think this committee will want to ensure his command is fully resourced to mitigate that risk to the degree possible, and I would also ask General Fenton and Mr. Mayer whether their authorities and resources in the upcoming year are sufficient for mission tasks. What is clear to me is that the role and importance of special operations forces is only increasing as the nature and complexity of threats facing our nation increase. The resources we provide to Special Operations Command should reflect that reality. 

Our first job in this Committee is to provide the tools our military needs to deter and, if not successful, they are to defeat these threats.?There is no doubt that continued real growth in the defense budget topline above inflation remains essential to our national security. This requires action now, not later. Our adversaries are not waiting. Neither should we.  

This Committee led the bipartisan charge to increase the defense budget in last year’s cycle. Mr. Chairman, I frankly have little confidence that the administration’s budget request this year will be sufficient. If it is not, this committee will again need to step up to ensure that our military has the resources it needs to defend the nation.  

So, thank you Mr. Chairman, and thanks to our witnesses. I look forward to hearing from them.