East Central Alabama News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed gratitude for the cooperation and hard work of all members involved in the hearings on the Department of the Navy's Fiscal Year 2025 budget request. Rogers stated, "Today we complete our FY25 budget and posture hearings with the Department of the Navy. I want to thank the Ranking Member and all the Members for their cooperation, hard work, and dedication as we worked through 26 hearings in 13 legislative days."

During the hearing, Rogers highlighted concerns regarding the budget proposal, stating, "The President is requesting a one percent increase for the Department the Navy. Factoring in inflation, that amounts to a two percent cut." He further noted the significant impact of the proposed reduction in shipbuilding, mentioning, "The President is seeking to build a paltry 6 battle force ships in FY25. At the same time, he wants to retire 19."

Rogers expressed disappointment over the Navy's shipbuilding delays, stating, "It is entirely unacceptable that nearly every single major shipbuilding program is experiencing significant schedule delays." He emphasized the importance of addressing these delays promptly, saying, "We expect the Navy to provide us with a detailed plan to address these delays as soon as possible."

The Chairman also raised concerns about the readiness of the fleet, citing issues with maintenance and operational tempo. Rogers highlighted the strain on readiness, stating, "Maintenance availabilities are taking much longer than planned, inhibiting our ability to project power." He also pointed out the challenges posed by the current operational tempo, noting, "The Navy is quickly using up missiles, burning through fuel, and extending deployments as it defends the Red Sea and Israel from Iran’s terrorist proxies."

In conclusion, Rogers stressed the significance of preparing the Marines for potential conflicts, stating, "Preparing our Marines to be successful in a potential conflict with China is critically important."

The hearing shed light on various challenges and areas of concern within the Department of the Navy's FY25 budget request, prompting discussions on the need for strategic planning and resource allocation to address these issues effectively.