Rogers named House Armed Services Committee chairman

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) has been named chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, marking the first time a member of Congress from Alabama will helm the panel, according to a statement from his office.

Rogers' advancement to the chair follows two years he spent as the committee’s ranking member when Democrats held the House majority.

“I am honored to have been selected by my House Republican colleagues to serve as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,” he said in a statement. “Our nation faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. In order to deter these threats and remain the most feared force in the world we must ensure that our military focuses on lethality and capability. Over the next two years, the House Armed Services Committee will provide our warfighters with the resources and weapons they need to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary anywhere in the world.”

Rogers also said he plans to target “misguided” Biden administration policies that serve a “social agenda.”

“Those in charge of these initiatives will come before the committee to explain how they will protect our national security,” he said. “We will leave no stone unturned in holding the Biden administration accountable.”

Meanwhile, Rogers statement comes after a contentious election for House speaker in which he had to be physically restrained after lunging toward Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Rogers later apologized.

However, the speaker’s election, which Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) ultimately won by cutting various deals with a small number of Republican holdouts, has led to concerns that the GOP will cut defense spending in the coming year.

Rogers and Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), who is expected to chair the House Appropriations Committee, have said they will not stand for any cuts to national security spending.