WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today participated in a full committee hearing examining the nomination of Gen. Randy A. George to be the next chief of staff of the United States Army.

In his remarks, Wicker observed that the Army is taking many steps forward in the procurement of advanced munitions and platforms. Despite that progress, Wicker expressed concern about the primary challenge that the Army faces – it is being stretched thin as its mission set grows.”

“It is no secret that this is a very dangerous national moment, perhaps the most dangerous national security moment since World War II – a claim affirmed by the many leading general and flag officers who have testified here before this committee. The Army must resource multi-theater deterrence missions, expansive work with allies and partners, and a large homeland defense mission set,” Wicker said. “The Army is stretched this as its portfolio grows.”

Wicker also emphasized the challenges the Army must address related to dropping recruitment numbers and an eroded defense industrial base. The Mississippi senator once again highlighted his focus on listening to the needs of general officers so that the committee can better work to deliver their requirements.

“I am encouraged to see that parts of the Army are diligently revitalizing our industrial base. But I remain disappointed that we are not doing everything in our power to resource them,” Wicker said. “In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, we could invest an additional $1.4 billion into the Army’s munitions industrial base, and every penny of that would be well-spent… Tell us what you need, and we’ll try to give it to you.”

Read Senator Wicker’s full opening statement below or watch it here.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And General George – I extend my congratulations to you and your family on your nomination.

I also welcome your wife, Patty, and I understand she is your West Point sweetheart, as well as your children Grant and Andrea and their spouses, Hannah and Timothy. Welcome to you all – I am going to have a little family reunion myself this weekend and so it is good to see a family together.

The president has nominated you, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army General, to take the post of Chief of Staff, pending Senate confirmation, which I hope will come quickly.

I believe you are a great choice for this role and its associated duties. Your leadership is battle-tested, as the Chairman has already mentioned, having served in several major military operations throughout your career. You have also worked alongside a range of allied and partnered militaries – experiences that will surely be of value in our global military competition with the Chinese Communist Party and the Russian Federation.

It is no secret that this is a very dangerous national moment, perhaps the most dangerous national security moment since World War II – a claim affirmed by the many leading general and flag officers who have testified here before this committee. The Army must resource multi-theater deterrence missions, expansive work with allies and partners, and a large homeland defense mission set. The Army is stretched this as its portfolio grows.

During the war in Ukraine, the United States Army has acted as a NATO shield to further aggression. The Army’s constant and enduring presence in Central Europe has proved essential for deterrence, disaster response, logistics operations, and military-to-military training missions, including with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Mississippi’s own National Guard is in Europe now, supporting these causes. I welcome your thoughts on what else the United States could do to enable Ukrainian success, including your thoughts on the provision of ATACMS and area denial munitions.

However, we cannot discount the many struggles the Army faces. And again, the Chairman has indicated an interest in these troublesome facts.

Recent reporting indicates that the Army is set to miss its Fiscal Year 2024 recruitment goal by more than 30 percent. The Army has also been delinquent, General, in delivering Congress its Total Army Analysis. The purpose of the Total Army Analysis, General, is to give us lawmakers a more accurate picture of future unit organization projections for the service. I am going to be asking if you can give us some assurance – the legislative branch will be given some respect in following the law in this regard.

The Army has improved its procurement process in recent years, but there is more room for progress. I am encouraged to see that parts of the Army are diligently revitalizing our industrial base. But I remain disappointed that we are not doing everything in our power to resource them. In Fiscal Year 2024 alone, we could invest an additional $1.4 billion into the Army’s munitions industrial base, and every penny of that would be well-spent. This funding could establish a steady production line for Switchblade 600 weaponized drones, buy another Patriot missile defense launcher, and expand the capacity of the production line for extended-range GMLRS.

There is also much more to be done in the Indo-Pacific. The European Deterrence Initiative funded a wholesale change in Army force posture in Europe, and we need a similar change in the Indo-Pacific. We have yet to make the investments necessary to build the Army posture we need in the First Island Chain. In particular, I am worried about the state of our logistics plans, for which the Army has the functional lead. General, I would like to hear your articulation of the Army’s role in the Pacific, including in contested logistics, and what help you would like from Congress in achieving this vision. Tell us what you need, and we’ll try to give it to you.

As the country’s largest and oldest military service, the Army will inevitably play an integral role in the future of our national defense around the globe. I am hopeful that you are prepared to lead it through this dangerous period. And I look forward to your testimony. Thank you, sir.