Congressional Testimony
Here's a look at documents involving congressional testimony and member statements
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Treasury Secretary Bessent Testifies Before Senate Finance Committee
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from a June 3, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request:* * *
Chairman Crapo, Ranking Member Wyden, and members of the committee, thank you for convening today's hearing. I'm grateful for this opportunity to discuss President Trump's 2027 Budget, which builds on this Administration's progress in unleashing a new era of economic expansion.
I last appeared before this Committee just a few weeks before the Senate passed the Working Families Tax Cuts. So, on the heels ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Finance Committee released the following testimony by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from a June 3, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request: * * * Chairman Crapo, Ranking Member Wyden, and members of the committee, thank you for convening today's hearing. I'm grateful for this opportunity to discuss President Trump's 2027 Budget, which builds on this Administration's progress in unleashing a new era of economic expansion. I last appeared before this Committee just a few weeks before the Senate passed the Working Families Tax Cuts. So, on the heelsof the most successful filing season in IRS history, I'd be remiss if I did not begin by thanking the Committee for helping to deliver this once-in-ageneration bill to the President's desk.
This Tax Day, under President Trump, we celebrated how much more money hardworking
Americans kept, not how much the government took. Over 62 million tax returns claimed at least one of President Trump's signature new tax cuts--No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, no tax on American car loan interest, and an enhanced deduction for low- and middle-income seniors.
All told, the average refund increased by over 11 percent, with total refunds increasing by 18 percent.
But as important as what this legislation achieved--is what it prevented. If opponents of the Working Families Tax Cuts had their way, our economy would have absorbed the largest tax hike in its history--over $5 trillion. 90 percent of American taxpayers would have seen their standard deduction slashed, while 40 million families would have seen their child tax credit halved.
Instead, this Committee held the line, and the American people had a better Tax Day because of it.
Notably, President Trump's pro-growth policies don't stop at putting more money back in the pockets of working- and middle-class families--they extend to placing the American Dream within closer reach of their children. For context, nearly 40 percent of Americans have no exposure to U.S. equities. No stake in the companies they help to build; little share in the wealth they help to create. Trump Accounts represent a profound reimagining of that arrangement. They will ensure that every American child can benefit from private ownership and compound growth; that every American baby, in short, is born a shareholder. To date, nearly 6 million Trump Accounts have been opened, with 1.4 million eligible for the $1,000 seed contribution.
Of course, as his tax cuts deliver relief for working-class Americans, President Trump's economic agenda is bolstered by two other distinct but reinforcing levers: trade and deregulation.
Let me briefly address both in turn.
First, the President is undeterred in his determination to open markets for U.S. goods and services while rebuilding U.S. manufacturing capacity. Over the 12-months ending March 2026, the trade deficit for goods declined by $369.8 billion compared to the same timeframe ending March 2025. The economy has added 313,000 net new private sector jobs and 13,000 manufacturing jobs in the past two months. Firm capital expenditures rose at an annual rate of over 17 percent in the first quarter. And companies are investing trillions to build and expand here at home. American industry is winning again to the benefit of American workers.
A whole-of-government approach, meanwhile, is coupling our manufacturing revival with a great regulatory reset. Properly calibrated regulation is essential for economic growth, capital formation, employment, and higher wages. So, at the outset of this Administration, President Trump set the ambitious benchmark of slashing ten existing regulations before issuing a single new one. In 2025, we shattered that goal with a ratio of 129-to-1. And as a result, deregulatory actions generated more savings last year than in those of the prior Trump Administration combined.
Separately, any one of our initiatives on tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation would be substantial.
Taken together, they are transformative. Before President Trump took office, our trading partners exploited America's markets, our regulatory state smothered businesses, and our tax code was poised to punish workers and job creators. Today, his policies are driving lower taxes, bigger paychecks, and broader prosperity. So, I thank this Committee for its partnership in this critical work, and I look forward to building upon our strides through the President's Budget for the year ahead. Thank you.
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Original text here: https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/060326_bessent_testimony.pdf
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Crapo Issues Remarks at Hearing on FY 2027 Budget Request for Treasury
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following remarks from June 3, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Treasury:* * *
"Thank you, Secretary Bessent, for appearing before the Committee today to discuss the President's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget for the Treasury Department and the Administration's broader economic agenda.
"A central part of that economic agenda is driven by the landmark bill enacted by Republicans last year.
"The Working Families Tax Cuts not only provided historic tax ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following remarks from June 3, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Treasury: * * * "Thank you, Secretary Bessent, for appearing before the Committee today to discuss the President's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget for the Treasury Department and the Administration's broader economic agenda. "A central part of that economic agenda is driven by the landmark bill enacted by Republicans last year. "The Working Families Tax Cuts not only provided historic taxrelief for working-class Americans but also made permanent critical pro-growth tax policies that are already increasing domestic investment and boosting economic growth.
"The magnitude of this success to date was made possible by the work of Treasury and the IRS in publishing immediate guidance on the new and restored tax policies in the lead-up to the 2026 filing season.
"I appreciate all the hard work from Treasury and IRS employees to release that initial guidance as quickly as they did.
"Doing so provided rules of the road for the tens of millions of people claiming at least one of Republicans' signature new tax cuts, from no tax on tips and overtime, to increased tax relief for seniors.
"Contrary to the Democrat narrative that the law only benefits the wealthy, these policies were claimed by over 60 million working-class Americans--nearly half of all filers.
"At the end of the tax filing season, over 7.5 million workers claimed the tips deduction, more than 29 million workers benefitted from no tax on overtime, and more than 35 million seniors' tax burdens were reduced, with an average additional deduction of over $7,500.
"Additionally, over 5.5 million children have already been signed up for Trump Accounts, in large part due to Treasury's work to implement and promote the program.
"These savings accounts offer an important opportunity for young Idahoans and children across the country to begin building financial security.
"Hardworking Americans kept more of their money this tax filing season and millions of people got more money back compared to previous years.
"Over $320 billion was refunded to taxpayers, an 18 percent increase from the last filing season--I note that again, an 18 percent increase from the last filing season--with an average refund of nearly $3,300--more than an 11 percent increase.
"And even the average refund amount does not tell the whole story; many working-class Americans who owed money when filing in prior years instead received a refund this year because of the Working Families Tax Cuts.
"Treasury's initial guidance has also helped the business provisions of the Working Families Tax Cuts, like full expensing for equipment and factories, to drive domestic investment, higher productivity and higher wages for American workers.
"Nearly 26 million small businesses now have increased confidence thanks to a permanent, pro-growth 20 percent tax deduction.
"Estimates find that permanence will create 1.2 million jobs annually and boost smallbusiness GDP by $750 billion over the next decade.
"The permanent restoration of full expensing for U.S. research and development will support domestic innovation and growth by large and small businesses alike.
"To maximize that growth, taxpayers need additional clarity from Treasury and the IRS so that they can plan and invest with certainty. Issuing final guidance for these tax provisions will provide that certainty and further encourage domestic investment.
"Implementing the new provisions from the Working Families Task Cuts was no small task, but the 2026 tax filing season proceeded smoothly for tens of millions of Americans.
"I look forward to hearing from you about plans for a successful filing season next year as more work is done to implement the law and technological investments are made to modernize the IRS.
"Regarding IRS modernization, Ranking Member Wyden and I released the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act earlier this year.
"This bipartisan bill, with more than 60 provisions and supported across the tax community, is focused on modernizing the IRS, improving the taxpayer experience and strengthening taxpayer rights.
"Many Finance Committee member priorities are included in the bill, along with a series of long-requested provisions from tax practitioners as well as the National Taxpayer Advocate.
"I look forward to advancing this legislation in the very near future and welcome any comments from you on the bill.
"Beyond tax administration, I am hopeful for similar support as we move forward on other priorities with a bipartisan foundation in this Committee, such as establishing clear and durable tax rules for digital assets.
"Mr. Secretary, we are very glad to have you with us today and look forward to your remarks."
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Original text here: https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/060326_crapo_statement.pdf
National Reconnaissance Office Director Nominee Mason Testifies Before Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the following testimony by Roger Mason, President Trump's nominee to be director of the National Reconnaissance Office, from a June 2, 2026, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner and distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and to consider my nomination to be the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.
I want thank President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and Director Gabbard for their trust and confidence in me to return to government ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the following testimony by Roger Mason, President Trump's nominee to be director of the National Reconnaissance Office, from a June 2, 2026, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner and distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today and to consider my nomination to be the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. I want thank President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and Director Gabbard for their trust and confidence in me to return to governmentservice and fulfill such an important national security position.
Family is my bedrock and I am grateful beyond words for their support, sacrifice, and unconditional love. First, I want to thank my parents who instilled in me the importance of being accountable, the value of hard work, and promise of education. I am here today with my remarkable wife of 30 years--Colleen. She inspires me every day and sets the example of selfless service to others for our family. Together, we are incredibly proud of our three children, John, Joseph, and Caroline who are now beginning new chapters in their own lives built on those same values.
I was born only a few miles from here in Alexandria and have since been a life-long resident of Virginia. Growing up, my parents pressed the importance of education with my sister and I and we became the first-generation college graduates on either side of the family. For me, applying science to solve hard problems across numerous disciplines was the passion for learning. This drive resulted in earning a PhD in engineering physics from the University of Virginia which gave me a strong base to begin a career in national security. In my first job after graduate school, I led teams to develop and deploy remote sensors into a global system linked by satellites for national security missions. Simply put, I fell in love with the mission and devoted the next thirty-two years to serving it through government and industry.
Over these three decades, I honed my leadership experience, skills, and abilities to enable me to bring the right leadership for this moment in time to the National Reconnaissance Office.
As president of a space and intelligence business, I led a multi-billion-dollar organization with over 4,500 employees that provided advanced manufacturing, products, services, and solutions for every phase of space-based missions.
I was honored to serve as the first Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Systems and Resource Analyses, driving strategic capability investments, developing intelligence community requirements, and conducting independent cost analyses for all major systems acquisitions. In that role, I gained valuable insight across all intelligence missions from the strategic to the tactical, from counterterrorism to foreign military combat capabilities, and everything in between.
Today marks an incredibly exciting time for space not seen since the NRO began the dawn of space intelligence in the 1960s. We are in a space renaissance where the pace of technology advancement, speed of innovation, and promise of the future has drawn unprecedented investments from many sectors. The future of space and how our Nation can use it for good seems limitless. Today, NRO embarks on a new journey to fundamentally change how spacebased intelligence is done.
The future of space, however, is also contested. Adversaries are in a race to build their own capabilities as well as counter-space measures capable of denying our Nation's critical space missions.
If confirmed, my priorities will focus on elevating NRO's strengths and emphasizing three major areas: (1) Accelerate the next generation space architecture that combines proliferated and exquisite capabilities to produce integrated intelligence data at mission speed; (2) Enable NRO to push the leading edge of space technology and innovate faster; and (3) Ensure enterprise-wide resilience from space vehicles to the ground and everything that connects the agency.
These priorities will only be achieved with a vibrant, mission-focused workforce and critical strategic partnerships. The NRO workforce is the heartbeat of the organization and demands the full attention of its leadership to attract, develop, grow, and retain its world class talent. To deliver success, NRO strategic partnerships with the military, intelligence agencies, and our allies are essential. And, we must continue to work closely with an expanding space industry.
All of these relationships must be built with strong communications, transparent processes, and a spirit of problem-solving.
Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner, and distinguished members of the committee, I conclude these remarks by giving you my commitment that, if confirmed, I will bring the best of energy and skills in service to the Nation, to lead the NRO with the strength it deserves and the future vision it demands. Thank you for your time today and I look forward to answering your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/os-rmason-060226.pdf
Senate Finance Ranking Member Wyden Issues Statement at Hearing on FY 2027 Budget Request for Treasury
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement from June 3, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Treasury:* * *
It was just a matter of time before the Trump administration set the new high-water mark for public corruption in America, and that moment arrived a little more than two weeks ago with the settlement of Trump's ridiculous IRS lawsuit. This hearing is the first opportunity for Congress to examine it.
Let's zoom out to get a full appreciation of how dirty this ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement from June 3, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Treasury: * * * It was just a matter of time before the Trump administration set the new high-water mark for public corruption in America, and that moment arrived a little more than two weeks ago with the settlement of Trump's ridiculous IRS lawsuit. This hearing is the first opportunity for Congress to examine it. Let's zoom out to get a full appreciation of how dirty thiswhole situation has been.
Donald Trump sued his own administration for $10 billion over a tax return leak that happened on his watch. A judge appeared ready to toss the lawsuit, so Trump rushed a settlement for his own personal gain.
The acting attorney general went out yesterday and said they're not moving forward with the $1.8 billion insurrection slush fund.
The other part of this settlement apparently remains in place, and that's the part that represents the bigger direct benefit to Trump.
Todd Blanche let Trump off the hook for potentially $100 million in back taxes by cancelling what's reported to be a long-running dispute with the IRS. Then he let the entire Trump family and the Trump organization off the hook for any tax crimes they may have committed in the past. As of right now, everybody in America is subject to audit -- except the Trump family.
Unfortunately the Senate Republican Leader was quoted this morning saying that this is business as usual, a standard settlement. The reality is, he's totally wrong. Two former IRS commissioners have confirmed this is completely unprecedented.
It's the ultimate case of an ultra-wealthy individual living under one set of rules while everybody else lives under another -- a crooked double standard benefitting Trump and his family.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ryan Carey (202) 224-4515
June 3, 2026
I take it as an admission of his own guilt when it comes to tax cheating. Trump and his family have been stuffing every dollar they can grab into their own pockets. If everything was on the level, he wouldn't need Todd Blanche to get the IRS off his back.
Secretary Bessent owes this committee an explanation of what the Treasury knows about this dirty settlement, given that his department was involved from beginning to end. Treasury was a defendant and a negotiator in the lawsuit, it was informed by IRS attorneys that Trump had no real case, and it sure looks like Treasury's top lawyer quit his job in objection to the settlement.
This is an abuse of the IRS that goes way beyond anything we've seen in the past. My view is, this committee needs to investigate on a bipartisan basis. Blanche allegedly dropping the insurrection fund doesn't change that.
What's truly shocking about this corrupt deal is that it comes while so many families are fearful about the economy. Inflation is up, wage growth is down, and the job market is flatlining. The Trump administration seems not to care.
Last week Secretary Bessent was asked during an interview about price increases caused by the Iran war.
He said, "It's been less than $200 in extra gasoline costs ... all the Democrats want to talk about now is beef and gasoline."
You might think a political leader couldn't get any more dismissive of people's economic concerns, but Trump topped it himself.
When asked if "Americans' financial situations" made him think about ending the war he started, Trump replied, "Not even a little bit." He continued, "I don't think about Americans' financial situation. I don't think about anybody."
And then he rambled through his ever-changing goals in this quagmire of a war. No sympathy for struggling families at all from this president.
Americans are increasingly spending down their savings and going into debt to get by. The people running the country are ratcheting up the cost of living with wars, tariffs and cuts to health care and basic services.
It's cold comfort to somebody who's had to max out their credit cards to feed their kids that Trump might get his face on a $250 bill. But that's the kind of priority the Treasury Department is focused on these days.
Even outside of economic matters, the Treasury Secretary is way out of step with the American people.
There's no better example than the fact that he's been covering up a massive file of Epstein financial records for a year and a half, denying access to committee investigators, and lying in public about their significance. That subject alone deserves its own hearing. Senate investigators are trying to find out who paid Epstein for girls. Secretary Bessent is preventing that from happening.
The bottom line is, in this administration, the machinery of government works for the benefit of Donald Trump before anybody else.
That's the corrupt framework that produces insurrection slush funds, protects pedophiles and dismisses the concerns of people who are worried about being able to make rent and feed their families.
So there's a lot for the committee to discuss today. I look forward to Q&A.
A web version of this statement is here (https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/wyden-slams-trumps-audit-immunity-deal-demands-answers-from-bessent).
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Original text here: https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/060326_wyden_statement.pdf
Assistant Secretary of VA for Information & Technology Nominee Shatswell Testifies Before Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Gary Shatswell, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs for information and technology and chief information officer, from a June 3, 2026, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and distinguished Members of the Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as the nominee to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am deeply ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following testimony by Gary Shatswell, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs for information and technology and chief information officer, from a June 3, 2026, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Blumenthal, and distinguished Members of the Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as the nominee to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Information and Technology and Chief Information Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am deeplygrateful to President Donald J. Trump for this honor and for his confidence in me and am thankful to Secretary Douglas A. Collins for his trust.
I sit before you, a man who loves God, my family, and my country.
So, I begin with God. I am filled with gratitude to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose words have guided my life. In John 15, He says, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
Those words describe the ethos of every man and woman who has worn this
Nation's uniform, placing something larger than themselves above their own comfort, safety, and in some cases, their lives. If confirmed, honoring their service and sacrifice will be a guiding light.
To my family, I want to acknowledge my three amazing children who are watching online. Julia, Elizabeth, and Garrison, I love you more than words and am so proud of who you are and how it shows up in your faith, service, and work.
My family name, though uncommon, has deep roots. John Shatswell built a home in Ipswich in 1635. Thomas Shatswell was a drummer for the patriots in the Revolutionary War. Colonel Nathaniel Shatswell fought for the Union in the Civil War. Of the eight boys in my father's family, six served, including my father. My Uncle Kenny returned from Vietnam wearing a Purple Heart. I have cousins, nieces, and nephews who have served.
Before my father passed, I took him regularly to the VA in Tacoma, Washington, and saw firsthand what the VA means to those who served and those who love them.
Finally, to my country. I was raised in an extraordinary family that formed my love for America. We traveled extensively, singing Gospel music. When I was 10 years old, we toured Europe, including behind the "iron curtain." I remember feeling the oppression as we crossed those borders, and I remember how the next time I recited the Pledge of Allegiance, tears ran down my face. American freedom became real to me.
Since joining VA as Senior Advisor to Secretary Collins on December 1, 2025, I've met with senior leadership in the Central Office, medical centers, clinics, and cemeteries around the country. I sat with many Veterans and heard their stories. That time of listening was invaluable. From my industry experience, I began asking, "What if?"
* WHAT IF we connected with Service members when they enlist and stayed present through active duty, transition, and the rest of their lives? No one left behind.
* WHAT IF we eliminated repeatedly asking Veterans for the same information?
* WHAT IF rather than digitizing old paper processes, we reimagined them as digitally native?
It has been a blessing to witness the breadth of support this country provides our Veterans, but frankly, we can and must do better when it comes to information technology.
My conversations with leadership and individual contributors have revealed a few common themes:
* We need a culture of transparency and accountability, achievable through agile program management, which will also accelerate mission delivery. We must go faster.
* Regarding artificial intelligence, we need clear, bright-lined guardrails of security and privacy, enabling a green light to drive productivity and human decision making.
* We need to leverage our enterprise data as a strategic asset, strengthening security and unlocking benefits we cannot yet fully envision.
My resume highlights 30 years of executive leadership, hypergrowth, and turnaround management. Yet, there are countless untold stories; for example, I created and taught the first web development course at Microsoft. I ask hard questions and do hard work. I've had the privilege of meeting with several of you, and those conversations about improving service to our Veterans have deepened my commitment. If confirmed, I will support the Secretary and this Committee to prioritize, execute, and deliver.
In loving God, my family, and this country the thread of service is in my DNA.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear today, and to be considered for this position. I look forward to answering your questions.
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Original text here: https://www.veterans.senate.gov/services/files/19CB7F1E-9434-4DF5-A1AA-D090A36251BA
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence & Research Nominee Vance Testifies Before Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the following testimony by Michael Vance, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of State for intelligence and research, from a June 2, 2026, confirmation hearing:* * *
Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to be considered for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research.
I have too many people to thank to give everyone the credit they deserve for getting me ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the following testimony by Michael Vance, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary of State for intelligence and research, from a June 2, 2026, confirmation hearing: * * * Chairman Cotton, Vice Chairman Warner, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am honored to be considered for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research. I have too many people to thank to give everyone the credit they deserve for getting meto this point, but I do want to express my gratitude to the President for his confidence, and to the Secretary of State for the trust he has placed in me.
I would also like to thank my wife, Alessandra, for her patience and loving support over the course of my career. She is with me here today, along with my oldest son Wyatt. I also want to thank my parents for the example they have set for me in life.
My mother, a retired Dickenson County, Virginia school teacher, taught me the value of an education. My father, a former coal miner turned small business owner, taught me about hard work and dedication to family. I know they are watching today from home with my three youngest children, Morgan, Ellis, and Mabel.
Finally, I would like to thank the many colleagues from across the Intelligence Community, the State Department, and the White House who have offered
encouragement throughout the nomination process.
If confirmed, it would be a tremendous privilege to lead the Bureau of Intelligence and Research - an organization with a proud tradition of analytic rigor, independence, and service to U.S. foreign policy. INR plays a unique and indispensable role within the Intelligence Community. Its officers provide objective, policy-relevant all-source intelligence analysis and support rooted in deep expertise and an understanding of diplomacy, ensuring that policymakers receive assessments that are candid, timely, and free from political influence.
At a time of increasing global competition, persistent conflict, and rapidly evolving technological challenges, the demand for high-quality intelligence has never been greater. If confirmed, my foremost priority would be to safeguard the integrity and independence of INR's analysis, while ensuring it continues to meet the needs of the Secretary, the Department, and Congress.
I also recognize the critical importance of partnership - within the Department, in the Intelligence Community, and with our friends and allies overseas. INR's value is magnified when it understands the Department and its needs, collaborates effectively across agencies, and integrates diplomatic insight with intelligence collection and analysis. If confirmed, I would work to strengthen those relationships.
Equally important is our responsibility to Congress. I am committed to transparency, timely engagement, and forthright communication. Robust oversight strengthens our intelligence institutions, and I would view my relationship with Congress as essential to the bureau's success.
Finally, I would be deeply mindful of our obligation to the dedicated public servants of INR. Their expertise, professionalism, and quiet dedication underpin the bureau's reputation for excellence. If confirmed, I would prioritize supporting and developing this workforce, ensuring they have the tools, leadership, and trust necessary to carry out their mission.
Thank you again for considering my nomination. I look forward to your questions and to the opportunity to serve our country.
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Original text here: https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/os-mvance-060226.pdf
Agriculture Secretary Rollins Testifies Before House Agriculture Committee
WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The House Agriculture Committee released the following testimony by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins from a June 4, 2026, hearing on supporting farmers and ranchers through trade, nutrition policy and farm security:* * *
Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished members of the Committee: I appreciate the opportunity to be back before you to provide an update on the Department of Agriculture since we last met nearly one year ago. I am proud of the work we are doing, under the bold leadership of President Trump, to put our hardworking farmers, ranchers, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 10 -- The House Agriculture Committee released the following testimony by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins from a June 4, 2026, hearing on supporting farmers and ranchers through trade, nutrition policy and farm security: * * * Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished members of the Committee: I appreciate the opportunity to be back before you to provide an update on the Department of Agriculture since we last met nearly one year ago. I am proud of the work we are doing, under the bold leadership of President Trump, to put our hardworking farmers, ranchers,and rural communities back at the center of policymaking and the national conversation. Truly, it has never been more important that we continue to put first the men and women who work the land, tend livestock, and call the heartland home. As Thomas Jefferson correctly noted, agriculture is our "wisest pursuit." More than just an economically vital industry, it helps make our very freedom possible. If we wish future generations to enjoy the same blessings of liberty that have characterized our nation for 250 years, we must fight for the prosperity of American agriculture with every ounce of our being. That is exactly what we have done over the past 15 months, and it is what we will continue to do.
As many of you are aware, the Trump Administration inherited a farm economy that saw the cost of doing business skyrocket. Commodity prices plummeted from 30-year highs. Farm income experienced historic declines. And our farmers saw no new trade deals and inherited a forecasted $50 billion U.S. agricultural trade deficit.
From Day One, we went to work. By rightsizing government. By cutting red tape. By reforming and modernizing outdated programs and infrastructure. By expanding market opportunities for farmers both abroad and here at home. By restoring the integrity of programs under USDA's purview. By defending our producers from politically motivated lawfare. By making crystal clear that farm security is national security. And by taking some of the toughest, deep-seated threats to the very foundation of our freedom and prosperity head on.
Notably, President Trump has already secured 19 new trade deals and frameworks, cutting the forecasted agricultural trade deficit by nearly 42 percent. We have delivered more than $30 billion in timely assistance to farmers, and have combatted pest and disease threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza and New World screwworm to ensure our food supply remains safe, secure, and affordable. We have reformed the Adverse Effect Wage Rate to lower labor costs, and we have undertaken a massive reset of our nation's nutrition policy through the Make America Healthy Again agenda.
Further, President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts Act, as supported by House Republicans, delivered a much-needed landmark victory for farmers and ranchers, by increasing reference prices for the first time in over a decade, adding up to 30 million new base acres for farm safety net programs, saving two million family farms from the death tax, and providing greater program integrity for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other advantageous provisions.
While we have clearly made tremendous progress, I want to acknowledge that such a seismic reroute cannot happen overnight. As such, I hope we will continue to work together to build upon the great progress together. Since the beginning of second Trump administration, USDA's Office of Congressional Relations has processed over 2,400 Congressional inquiries and more than 300 Congressional letters. We have also helped provide over 400 congressional briefings, and have gladly taken countless phone calls, all in the spirit of working together collaboratively on behalf of our nation's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Putting Farmers First
Chief among our top priorities has been providing our farmers with the short-term support they need to survive. We have rapidly provided disaster and economic aid, ahead of our statutory deadlines. Through the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers Program, we have also driven historic, targeted, and direct relief to farmers and ranchers. This is in addition to Congressionally directed programs such as the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP), the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), and the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP), just to name a few. Since January of 2025, USDA has delivered billions of dollars in assistance and support to American farmers to help them weather rising input costs, devastating storms, and unfair trade practices that have been levied against American producers for decades.
Our farmers deserve timely support and first-rate customer service. For too long, the status quo was slowing things down and driving costs up. The Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area alone was running on over 500 separate outdated systems, managed by more than 1,000 contractors, and costing taxpayers over $1 billion every year for FPAC IT alone. So, we took an assistance application system that was siloed, outdated, and burying our farmers in red tape, and we transformed it with our "One Farmer, One File" initiative that I introduced in February at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio. Now our farmers can utilize a single, streamlined record that follows them throughout the entire USDA system. Those who attended USDA Deputy Secretary Vaden's roundtable participated in a brief tutorial of the application, and we cordially invite any other interested member to visit either USDA headquarters or their local office and see the software in action.
The very first program running fully on this new platform was the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which committed $11 billion in targeted support to American row crop farmers. In the first four days after applications opened, we witnessed 50 times more producers sign up online than ECAP did over its entire five-month sign up period last year. Adoption is up over 5,000 percent and several billion dollars have already been obligated, faster than any program ever before.
As stated before, the Working Families Tax Cuts was the largest working-class tax cuts in history and championed several pro-farmer provisions, including historic reforms such as increasing reference prices for the first time in over a decade, improving crop insurance by enhancing coverage and lowering premiums, making the higher death tax exemption permanent for 2 million family farms, permanently doubling small business expensing under Section 179, and so much more.
Empowered by President Trump, we have implemented bold Deregulatory Agenda for American Agriculture and Consumers. Fewer onerous regulations means that our farmers, ranchers, and foresters have more freedom to do what they do best. For USDA specifically, we have proposed rules to speed up lines at poultry and swine processing plants, streamline seven separate USDA regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act into one rulemaking, and in partnership with Secretary Burgum and the Department of the Interior we are making it easier for livestock to graze on federal lands--just to name a few. Across the federal government, this administration has cut 129 regulations for every new one--netting $211.8 billion in cost savings.
Input costs remain top of mind for our farmers, including fertilizer availability. This is a long-term problem that demands both short- and long-term solutions across government for a now consolidated industry, which saw prices rise as much as 99% in little more than a year between January 2021 and April 2022. Indeed, the entire Cabinet is working on solutions. The 60-day Jones Act temporary waiver and subsequent 90-day extension that President Trump issued this spring boosts shipping flexibility from port to port, helping to ease short-term supply pressures. President Trump also directed EPA Administrator Zeldin to revise Diesel Exhaust Fluid regulations to better prioritize farmers' access to agricultural productivity and equipment reliability over climate change mandates. The administration recently lifted sanctions on Venezuela to catalyze additional investment capacity, another meaningful short-term action. And just last week, the Department of Transportation waived trucking Hours of Service Rules. This common sense 90-day waiver is ensuring the supply chain stays resilient by enabling greater operational flexibility across over 30 states to facilitate U.S. production and distribution of critical fertilizer products. This step is vitally important, as over 50 percent of all fertilizer tonnage moves by truck, and all fertilizer touches a truck at least once.
And while it has been a busy first half of the year in terms of our work to harness input costs, these efforts were well under way last year. In September 2025, USDA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Justice Antitrust Division to ensure that farmers have access to competitive, affordable, inputs.
In addition to input costs, between 2020 and last year, labor costs increased 44%, partly thanks to a portion of the U.S. Department of Labor's 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rate rule that required unnecessarily high wages for workers on some farms. Thankfully, last August a federal court in Louisiana vacated the relevant portion of the rule, an important ameliorative measure after four years of the Biden Administration's disastrous labor policies. That's why USDA partnered with the Department of Labor to craft an Interim Final Rule that reformed the Adverse Effect Wage Rate methodology for the H-2A program, saving farmers over $2 billion annually in labor costs.
Protecting and Promoting Livestock and Poultry
When I appeared before you last year, Americans were understandably concerned about the high price of eggs. From my first day in office, we went to work on an aggressive, five-pronged approach to combat avian flu and bring costs down. Our comprehensive $1 billion plan is working. We have doubled down on biosecurity and funded $100 million in innovative solutions through our HPAI Grand Challenge to see what additional tools we might be able to employ to combat this disease. Compared to this time last year, HPAI cases in commercial poultry and turkey flocks have decreased by 61%, with affected birds being reduced by 46%. That's significant for farmers who need certainty that their flocks won't get sick, and for American families that need affordable food. Since its peak last spring, the wholesale price of eggs has dropped over 90%. And speaking of affordability, the cost of other staples has continued to go down as well for everyday Americans. For example, a USDA Economic Research Service analysis of Circana retail scanner data from the week of May 10, 2026, shows the cost of fresh berries is down 13%, fresh avocados are down 19%, chicken breasts are down 2.4%, cheese is down 5.6%, and butter is down 13.4% all since the start of the Trump Administration.
Over the past year we have also worked at warp speed to ward off another major threat to our livestock producers: the New World screwworm. Since I was last before this committee, USDA has made substantial progress across both our offensive and defensive New World screwworm strategies. We have significantly expanded sterile fly dispersal capacity, advanced next generation tools, strengthened surveillance with more than 8,000 traps and more than 57,000 screenings along the border, and completed audits and rapid response actions inside Mexico. We thank our partners at the Department of Health and Human Services, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for nine emergency use authorizations and three conditional approvals for animal drugs to prevent or treat New World screwworm in multiple species. In February, I was with Governor Abbot to open a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas. In April, we officially broke ground on a new sterile fly production facility also in South Texas. By moving at Trump speed, this facility will be operational by the end of next year and able to produce 300 million sterile flies a week once at full capacity.
Finally, we are working with our partners across the government to do everything we can to manage and monitor the wildlife movement from Mexico into the United States. By bolstering our offensive and defensive capabilities and remaining vigilant against this threat to our ranchers, we continue to be ready in the event that screwworm comes north.
While we protect our producers here at home from threats to their operations, we are also promoting homegrown American meat, poultry, and egg products. On National Ag Day in March, USDA launched a national public awareness campaign to promote the voluntary "Product of the USA" label that went into effect on January 1, 2026. When consumers see this label on a meat, poultry, or processed egg product, they can be confident it was entirely born, raised, harvested, and processed here in the United States. No shortcuts. No exceptions. No confusion. And we are already seeing this voluntary label be adopted at ranches across the country. I saw it firsthand last week at Applewood Farm in Scott Township, Pennsylvania, on national television recently for direct-to-consumer sales such as with Riverbend Ranch, and even in grocery stores, including the local Fareway I visited in Des Moines last month. In the coming months, we will continue working with our producers, processors, and retailers to promote use of this label and help level the playing field for our farmers and ranchers by supporting products that are 100% American made.
Opening Markets for American Agriculture
We are also working nonstop to ensure our farmers can compete and win in global markets through America First trade policies that level the playing field. I am pleased to report that USDA, after inheriting a nearly $50 billion forecast agricultural trade deficit and zero new trade deals under the last Administration, predicts that the agricultural trade deficit will decrease by 42%. The Trump Administration has signed 9 new agreements on reciprocal trade, successfully securing zero-tariff access for U.S. products in a handful of countries like Indonesia as well as purchase commitments for cotton, soybeans, and wheat in markets like Bangladesh; and obtained billions of dollars' worth of investment commitments from countries like Japan. Just a few weeks ago, China also agreed to resume poultry imports from 17 states and renew listings for 425 U.S. beef facilities. For beef, this significant step is expected to restore up to $165 per head in added value for exports of variety of meats that are not preferred by U.S. consumers. This market access is an immediate win, but also a long-term win, as it provides consistency in exports so ranchers can have confidence to invest in their operations and rebuild the herd, which has seen historic lows.
Working with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, we've also supported wins for our producers through the elimination of non-tariff trade barriers. Apple producers from Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia can now sell their apples in Thailand, a $5 million opportunity. The new Namibia market also represents a $15 million opportunity for poultry growers in Georgia and Arkansas. We also convinced Australia to open the market for U.S. beef for the first time in two decades, Costa Rica to streamline its dairy access, Japan to recognize U.S. heat-treated poultry products and streamline import approvals for U.S. almonds, and India to reduce its bourbon tariff by 50 percent.
Looking ahead, USDA will continue to build on this momentum, improve foreign market access for U.S. producers, and address the remaining agricultural trade deficit. We still have more to do, but already these trade wins are supporting rural jobs and helping reduce the agricultural trade deficit.
Food and Nutrition
In partnership with Secretary Kennedy, I am proud to say President Trump is carrying out the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy through the Make America Healthy agenda. Whether flipping the traditional food pyramid upside down by prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, or finalizing stocking standards for authorized SNAP retailers, President Trump and my Cabinet colleagues are prioritizing better health. USDA's largest line item by far is what we spend on our nutrition programs, and taken together, USDA spent nearly $400 million dollars per day across our 16 nutrition programs in fiscal year 2025.
In each of these nutrition programs, we will continue to aggressively root out fraud and punish bad actors. For example, over the past year, USDA's Special Investigations Unit, in conjunction with Federal law enforcement partners and USDA's own Office of the Inspector General, has conducted operations targeting criminals that defraud taxpayers by stealing SNAP benefits. Already, we have made over 900 arrests, over 120 convictions, and $132 million in restitution. In recent months, USDA, together with partners in Federal law enforcement, coordinated retailer sweep operations across Cleveland, Cincinnati, Denver, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle, and the District of Columbia. Hundreds of undercover investigations elicited dozens of administrative actions and disqualifications. Separately, this fiscal year to date, more than two thousand SNAP authorized retailers have committed program violations. My message has been clear: if you steal from the American taxpayer, you will be located, prosecuted, and punished. This work, and so much more to come, is highlighted through our partnership with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud led by the Vice President. As of February 2026, there are 4.9 million fewer Americans on SNAP than when President Trump took office. For the first time since 2020, the SNAP rolls are below 40 million. This positive trend aligns with strong employment numbers, and the reforms found in H.R. 1.
Protecting and Preserving American Farmland
From Day One I have also been clear that farm security is national security. Last summer, we launched our National Farm Security Action Plan that boldly integrates agriculture into a national security strategy for the first time ever. Our plan, which has largely already been implemented, treats foreign ownership of farmland, animal disease defense, and strengthened food supply chains as the major national security issues that they are.
Threats to our farmers have come not only from foreign nations, but from their own government as well. Previous administrations engaged in an unprecedented amount of lawfare and weaponization of government against rural America. To address this issue, last spring I worked with the Department of Justice to remove politically motivated criminal charges against the Maude family in South Dakota. They were caught up in a dispute over 25 acres their family had worked for decades. And in October, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and I saved Andy Henry's 175-year-old farm in Cranbury, New Jersey from eminent domain as the result of the state's unworkable housing mandate. These were significant victories, but our work isn't finished. We are currently fighting for Wade and Teresa King of Washington State, who have been targeted with $250,000 in fines by senior officials at the Washington Department of Ecology for normal ranching activities. We are also fighting for the farmers and ranchers in Potter Valley, California, who are facing the loss of two critical PG&E dams should the licenses go unrenewed.
All of this strong work is cataloged as part of USDA's Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework, which is designed to combat politically-motivated lawfare.
Right-Sizing the Department
Over the past year, USDA has initiated a comprehensive reorganization of our agency. Our goal is to align with President Trump's vision of right-sizing government and putting the taxpayer first. USDA's top priority is and always must be supporting the men and women of American agriculture. This reorganization will allow us to better serve that mission by streamlining runaway bureaucracy and moving core operations closer to the communities we serve. I was proud to announce the planned disposal of the South Building, signaling the beginning of the reorganization. Our proposed structural changes are long overdue and respond to years of fiscal pressures, workforce constraints, and rising operational demands.
Upon my arrival at the Department, we found that it was significantly overstaffed, over budget, and supportive of extraneous diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and climate programs irrelevant to supporting an America First agricultural policy. The prior administration had hired employees and created programs with abandon--and with no viable way to sustain them. For example, as a result of the unsustainable hiring, the previous administration secured voluntary separation approval for 7,000 Forest Service employees, many hired with temporary Inflation Reduction Act funds. This approval is one of many examples of how little the previous administration cared about its fiscal constraints. The reorganization currently underway corrects years of mismanagement, including the elimination of unnecessary bureaucracy and an aggressive review of the Department's physical footprint.
The Next 250 Years
Our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities serve the vital role of feeding, fueling, and clothing our entire nation and the world. Even more importantly, however, they sustain a set of values that make our very way of life possible, and our nation unlike any other. Like the pioneers who forged westward and settled this nation, our farmers and ranchers helped build civilization from wilderness, and to this day they fulfill God's command to till the earth. As we celebrate 250 years of freedom, including at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall this summer in front of the People's Department, I hope we will continue to fight together for the men and women who help make our country great. As St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, "let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart" (6:9). Thanks to President Trump's tireless dedication to our nation's farmers, ranchers, and producers, we are already reaping unprecedented accomplishments from coast to coast, but the best is yet to come.
I look forward to your questions.
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Original text here: https://agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/testimony_secretary-rollins_06.04.2026.pdf
Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs Bass Testifies Before Senate Armed Services Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel released the following testimony by Keith M. Bass, Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, from a May 20, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request:* * *
Chairman Tuberville, Ranking Member Warren and distinguished Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today, alongside other leaders of the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Personnel & Readiness (OUSW(P&R)). I am here to discuss how the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 President's Budget (PB) for the Military Health System ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel released the following testimony by Keith M. Bass, Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs, from a May 20, 2026, hearing on the fiscal 2027 budget request: * * * Chairman Tuberville, Ranking Member Warren and distinguished Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today, alongside other leaders of the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Personnel & Readiness (OUSW(P&R)). I am here to discuss how the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 President's Budget (PB) for the Military Health System(MHS) will improve the readiness and lethality of our warfighters.
I am proud to represent the more than 130,000 men and women who serve in our MHS.
As we meet today, American warfighters are deployed around the world keeping our nation safe and our military medical forces are deployed alongside them, sustaining their health and readiness and providing care for illness and injury. For years, the MHS operated under significant structural uncertainty by delayed purchased-care liabilities, workforce transitions, DHA consolidation, shifting beneficiary utilization and temporary funding mechanisms that obscured underlying cost growth. The President's Budget prioritizes stabilization and baseline validation to prepare for and overcome the modern threats our forces are encountering and to best meet the military medical needs of those who serve.
MHS PRIORITIES
As the Secretary stated in his posture testimony, MHS priorities are focused on supporting a robust and efficient MHS, the bedrock of a ready force. Critical resources and initiatives sustain warfighter health and medical readiness as well as the readiness of our medical forces. As you know, we are conducting a holistic review and evaluation of all our programs for effectiveness. This includes a continuous assessment of Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) using key performance indicators such as access to care, quality of outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.
Aligning Staffing and Resources In Support of Readiness
The MHS must ensure that our military medical force is able to maximize the readiness of the force and provide the best opportunities to develop and sustain the clinical skills required in garrison and on the battlefield. As Secretary Hegseth stated last month, our primary objective is to ensure that every warfighter is prepared to deploy and that our medical force itself is proficient in the critical skills needed for combat.
We have made investment and resource prioritization decisions that ensure we meet these needs and have initiated strategies that increase complex care and re-attract beneficiaries to select military hospitals and clinics. In addition, we are seeking to enroll more of our over 65, "TRICARE FOR LIFE" population at these same facilities under the TRICARE Plus program.
We are also expanding DoW and VA partnerships that allow both departments to deliver joint healthcare services, optimize the use of clinical and non-clinical resources, and enhance access for patients across both systems. DoW and the VA have 179 sharing agreements involving 23 co-located facilities and other key sites where the sharing of complex cases offers military healthcare professionals more opportunities to treat VA patients in an effort to increase clinical case volume and complexity for skill sustainment. As just one example of this approach, collaboration between the William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss, TX, and the VA hospital in El Paso, TX, has enabled surgeons there to perform more than 1,000 additional surgeries.
Improving Medical Facilities
DoW is committed to making its hospitals and clinics the best choice for our patients' healthcare needs. The MHS owns approximately 3,000 buildings totaling nearly 34 million square feet. The average medical facility in the system is over 40 years old. As in any large and aging system, we must address maintenance issues that impact healthcare operations and access to care. When unanticipated issues occur, they become the highest priority of my office, and we allocate our resources to solve the problem. I am grateful for the additional funds that Congress allocated last year to help us address critical infrastructure needs in FY26 and FY27, and we are directing those resources to the highest prioritized infrastructure needs.
Strengthening Combat Support Responsibilities
Our proposed budget fully funds our critical combat requirements to include, but not limited to, blood programs, joint trauma care, public health, medical logistics and critical medical research and development programs. Congressional support for emerging technologies and scientific advancements are providing the MHS with the opportunity to more rapidly develop and deploy capabilities that address long-term gaps. For example, investments in virtual and digital health technologies offer immediate assistance in addressing access to care challenges on geographically remote or medically underserved communities. However, these same technologies offer strategic value for providing medical combat support services to deployed forces in contested spaces or otherwise geographically dispersed forces. We will continue to invest in these areas to ensure our medical forces are ready to save lives on the battlefield, return our warfighters safely home, and restore them to the fight.
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Resilience
The DoW's is systematically addressing potential risks to access for mission-critical medicines where there is exclusive or significant reliance on foreign nations for raw materials and manufacturing. We are employing a whole-of-government strategy to mitigate risks and establish aligned interagency investments in proactive risk identification, supplier diversification, procurement reform, and advanced domestic manufacturing technologies to build a resilient and secure pharmaceutical supply chain for the warfighter. We are engaging with industry partners to explore innovative technologies such as continuous manufacturing and 3D printing to onshore production capabilities.
Addressing Brain Health and Mental Health Needs
While Military Health System (MHS) advancements exist across the full spectrum of medical capabilities, I want to briefly highlight specific initiatives to prevent, treat and support brain health and mental health.
In recent years, the Department continues to study and address brain injuries resulting from low-level blast overpressure (BOP) from firing heavy weapon systems or explosives in combat or training environments. Concerns regarding repetitive sub-concussive BOP and its effects on brain health have resulted in significant research investments to improve warfighter health and mission readiness. In early 2025, the Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness released the memorandum, "Department of Defense Performance Measures of Managing Brain Health Risks from Blast Overpressure" that set forth criteria and performance metrics to gauge the progress of mitigating risks. Lessons from recent conflicts are showing an increase in top-down wounds caused by drones that can inflict complex, multi-site trauma to the head, neck, and extremities.
This evolving threat landscape is one of the reasons why we are advancing our "Warfighter Brain Health 2.0" initiative. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and its industry partners have translated insights from injury trend analysis into new clinical practice guidelines for managing penetrating brain injuries. Our investments also focus on developing strategies and interventions that build psychological resilience and emotional fitness, which are crucial for recovery from injuries such as BOP-induced trauma.
DoW monitors cognitive health and performance of warfighters to help ensure cognitive dominance and protect brain health in battle and training. Monitoring cognitive function throughout a Service member's career provides an early warning system for detecting cognitive changes in time for proactive intervention. As of March 2026, we completed more than 316,000 initial baseline assessments from 15 initial entry locations. That means all armed forces new recruits now have a baseline assessment on record. By the end of Fiscal Year 2027, we will have expanded cognitive screening to the entire active and reserve force.
Cognitive testing will be repeated at least every five years for all Service members, Active and Reserve. Military Departments have the authority to direct more frequent assessments for those personnel determined to have increased risk to hazards that may threaten brain health.
Expansion of the cognitive monitoring program will improve the Department's ability to manage the total health of the force.
The MHS is finding innovative ways to expand access to mental health services. The BRAVE Telehealth Program was created to increase access to mental health care by providing virtual low-acuity mental health services in areas with fewer mental health resources. This allows local mental health experts to focus on patients with more acute needs. BRAVE offers service members in those areas around-the-clock access to care through secure virtual telehealth services.
The MHS is advancing other innovative, data-driven approaches to proactively address the mental health crisis. The SAFEGUARD initiative, led by clinical subject matter experts at USUHS, uses machine learning to analyze Department of the Army records and predict suicide risk among soldiers. This approach enables tailored interventions to ensure support is delivered when and where it is most needed.
I am grateful for the ongoing support that this Committee has provided to the Department and to the MHS in support of our service members, their families and all who have served. The FY27 PB reflects the solemn obligation we have to all who are entrusted to our care.
Thank you again for the opportunity to address you today and briefly highlight our priorities and programs. I appreciate your vital support to the MHS and look forward to answering your questions.
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Editor's note: President Trump, by executive order on Sept. 5, 2025, said he wanted to call the Department of Defense the Department of War. However, only an act of Congress can change the name of the agency, and Congress has not acted. Targeted News Service will use the designations presented on the agency website going forward.
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Original text here: https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/bass_testimony.pdf