East Central Alabama News

U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Adam Smith (D-WA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, along with Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Joe Courtney (D-CT), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, have issued a statement in response to reports that faulty welds were knowingly made to U.S. Navy vessels.

“It is deeply concerning to learn that faulty welds may have been knowingly made to U.S. Navy submarines and aircraft carriers," the statement read. "The House Armed Services Committee is investigating how this occurred. The safety of our sailors is our top concern, and we need to immediately understand any risks associated with the faulty work."

The representatives emphasized the need for immediate answers from the Department of Defense regarding how they plan to protect U.S. Navy vessels against tampering. They stressed the importance of transparency with Congress in addressing these issues.

"Absolute transparency with Congress is essential," they stated. "These vessels are critical to U.S. defense in the Indo-Pacific – we must ensure that these vessels are protected against any bad actors seeking to put U.S. national security or our service members at risk.”