Rounds Questions General Mattis on Sequestration and Military Readiness in Confirmation Hearing
General James Mattis is Nominated to be Next Secretary of Defense
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned General James Mattis during his confirmation hearing to be the Secretary of Defense.
“Sometimes I think we misunderstand in this country that the number one priority that we should be looking at is the defense of our country, because if we’re not free, nothing else really matters,” said Rounds at the hearing. “When you talk about sequestration, we seem to have a misunderstanding that somehow expenditures for defense should be equalized with expenditures for non-defense discretionary spending. Would you care to state your opinion and how you would advise the president with regard to sequestration and the elimination of those caps, and what it would mean to the United States military?”
“Senator, I understand the need for solvency and security because no nation in history has maintained its military power if it did not maintain its fiscal house in good order,” replied General Mattis. “At the same time, I believe that this country has got to be prepared to defend itself. The idea of a government of the people, by the people and for the people remains a radical thought in many people’s minds in this world. We’re going to have to be able to fight for it. So as a result of that, I believe we can afford survival. I don’t believe in mathematical calculus that basically makes the Congress spectators as cuts come in and you don’t have control over that…I don’t want Congress in a role where sequestration is making decisions for you.”
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