Hearings to examine the nominations of Anthony Tata, of Florida, to be Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, and Katherine Sutton, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary, both of the Department of Defense.

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to consider the nominations of Tony Tata for Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and Ms. Sutton for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy. The hearing focused on key policy issues including military personnel readiness, recruitment challenges, cyber threats from China and Russia, and the need for robust cyber defense and offensive capabilities. Testimony highlighted Tata's extensive background in military command, civilian leadership, and education, with a strong emphasis on ensuring service member well-being and operational readiness. Ms. Sutton, a veteran of cyber policy and technology, discussed the importance of advancing cyber capabilities through innovation, artificial intelligence, and interagency collaboration. The committee expressed concerns about political interference in military appointments, the administration's abrupt purges of senior officers, and the need to maintain civilian control and nonpartisan leadership in defense operations. The hearing underscored the urgent need to modernize military personnel systems, strengthen cyber defenses, and ensure transparency and accountability in national security decision-making.