WASHINGTON – This week, Congresswoman Elaine Luria questioned key Department of Defense and Navy leadership during two House Committee on Armed Services (HASC) budget hearings. Throughout both hearings, Congresswoman Luria emphasized key Navy readiness and shipbuilding issues.
On Wednesday, the Committee examined the Fiscal Year 2021 Department of Defense budget request. Throughout the hearing, Congresswoman Luria pressed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper for answers on military readiness. Congresswoman Luria noted that in the Department of Defense’s (DOD) annual performance report, the top priority was to “improve the Department’s ability to measure, assess, and understand readiness.” The Congresswoman then asked the Secretary of State how the DOD can work toward readiness if they cannot even define it.
“It is impossible for us to move toward the goal of military readiness if we cannot even define or measure this critical concept,” Congresswoman Luria said. “While I appreciated Secretary Esper’s response, that indicated DOD now has a better understanding of readiness, it was not reflected in the DOD’s annual performance report. It is important that DOD defines and provides metrics for readiness, so that we can evaluate its needs and promote our national defense.”
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