Views from the Hill

Early reactions from lawmakers to the Obama administration's new defense strategy are rolling in.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee:

The highest priority of the U.S. government and the Congress is to provide for our national defense. This objective will undoubtedly be influenced by budget realities, especially in this time of fiscal crisis, but the one thing we truly cannot afford is a budget-driven defense strategy. The current and emerging global threats to our national security are more complex than at any time that I can recall. Therefore, I will closely, carefully, and thoroughly review the defense strategy that the President announced today and examine whether it meets our national security objectives.

I understand the need for reductions in defense spending, but we must also address the broader cultural problem plaguing our defense establishment: the waste, inefficiency, and ineffective programs that result from an overly consolidated military-industrial-Congressional complex. We must eliminate the shameless cost overruns that characterize too many of our defense programs. We must cut Congressional earmarks and pork-barrel spending on programs that the military does not request and does not need. And we must continue to identify greater efficiencies in our defense budget.

The United States must continue to lead the world in order to ensure our economic prosperity and national security, which is vital to the future of our country and the opportunities we provide to our children and grandchildren. For that reason, when it comes to how we fund and procure our defense programs, business as usual will not cut it. I intend to ensure that our national defense strategy and budgets continue to strengthen America in its position of global leadership.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee:

Today’s announcement marks the conclusion of an important strategic analysis of the threats that our country faces today, as well as in the future and how we can best address those threats moving forward. It represents a synopsis of the global threat environment, and presents a broad strategy to address those threats.

This review comes at an important time. Congress has been engaged in an ongoing debate about how best to meet the spending reductions stipulated in the bipartisan Budget Control Agreement without undermining our national security objectives. I have consistently said that we can rationally evaluate our national security strategy, our defense expenditures, and the current set of missions we ask the military to undertake and come up with a strategy that requires less funding and strengthens national security. I believe this review provides a framework to achieve that goal.

Not only does the strategic review clearly articulate the threats we face, but it also shows that simply spending more money on defense does not necessarily makes us safer – spending more wisely and effectively does.  Clearly, we do not have an endless amount of resources, and that should be taken into consideration, but it should not be the driving force behind our national security strategy. As demonstrated by the strategy laid out today, the Administration fully understands this fact.

The Administration has put together a significant string of foreign policy successes, including the death of bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, the elimination of much of al Qaeda's leadership, the end of the war in Iraq, and supporting the uprising in Libya.  Today's announcement lays out a strategy that will enable the United States to build on those successes and confront the threats of today as well as in the future, wherever they may emerge.

Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), House Armed Services Committee chairman:

This is a lead from behind strategy for a left-behind America. The President has packaged our retreat from the world in the guise of a new strategy to mask his divestment of our military and national defense.  This strategy ensures American decline in exchange for more failed domestic programs. In order to justify massive cuts to our military, he has revoked the guarantee that America will support our allies, defend our interests, and defy our opponents.   The President must understand that the world has always had, and will always have a leader.  As America steps back, someone else will step forward.

An honest and valid strategy for national defense can't be founded on the premise that we must do more with less, or even less with less.  Rather you proceed from a clear articulation of the full scope of the threats you face and the commitments you have.  You then resource a strategy required to defeat those threats decisively. One does not mask insufficient resources with a fuzzy world view and a strategy founded on hope and a hollow force.

Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), House Armed Services readiness subcommittee chairman:

This morning, the Administration released an eight-page document that purports to be a strategy review of our nation's defense. Cloaked by the simplicity of this review is the reality of an increasingly complex array of threats faced by our nation, ranging from terrorists, to rogue states and emerging national competitors seeking to thwart the United States' global reach.  Unfortunately, this review dangerously fails to identify risks assumed by drastic budget cuts.  This laundry list of vague 'priorities' is not a strategy for superiority; it is instead a menu for mediocrity.  And while we agree with the President that it is indeed time to shift our national security focus toward the Asia-Pacific, it is difficult to effectively project power in the region while at the same both Congress and the President are actively dismantling the greatest military the world has ever known.  The President can now claim this document as a 'review' of national security priorities, but I fear that it serves simply as as political cover for an Administration more committed to a stimulus-style domestic agenda than it is to preserving a strong national defense.

Rep. Tom Rooney (R-FL):

Over the last several months, we have heard dire warnings from our top military chiefs and even from Secretary Panetta about the serious consequences of defense cuts of this magnitude. I took their warnings very seriously, and I’m disappointed that the President is apparently willing to accept the grave risks of massive defense cuts.

The President’s new strategy relies on the flawed assumption that by retreating from the world and reducing the size of our military, we can make our threats go away. This strategy of appeasement has never worked. Shrinking and weakening our military made us less safe under Presidents Carter and Clinton, and it will make us less safe under President Obama as well.

I believe that America should speak softly and carry the biggest stick. A strong, effective military is critical to deterring our enemies, keeping America safe and preserving our interests around the world.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA):

This new defense strategy announced by the Administration today misses the mark. It leaves several questions unanswered, asks for unacceptable “trade-offs” from a force that will be asked to do more with less, and potentially compromises commitments to U.S. allies. I have long-stated that our military must be driven by sound strategy, not budgets, and that our top priority must be the safety and security of this nation. This announcement today lays the groundwork for a future military strategy driven by budget cuts.

We cannot ignore challenges with our fiscal future, but also must be vigilant to evolving 21st century threats from those who wish us harm. My resolve is to ensure that this nation does not face unacceptable risk or is put in a situation where our military is not resourced to do the job the country needs it to do. Our men and women in uniform must be equipped with the necessary equipment, support and benefits they need and deserve. I will be looking carefully at not only this strategy but also the Fiscal Year 2013 Department of Defense budget to be released in February and will continue to support policies that keep America as the leading global force.