Hearings to examine the nominations of Michael Payne, of Virginia, to be Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Alexander Velez-Green, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Under Secretary, and Timothy Dill, of Ohio, and Maurice Todd, of Florida, both to be an Assistant Secretary, all of the Department of Defense.

Armed Services Committee

2025-11-06

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This hearing evaluated nominees for key Department of War positions: Alexander J. Velez-Green for Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy, Maurice L. Todd for Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness, and Michael D. Payne for Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, along with Timothy D. Dill. The session focused on their qualifications, commitment to national defense strategies, and their adherence to transparency and legal frameworks if confirmed [ 00:07:24-00:07:31 ]

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[ 00:38:55-00:39:10 ]

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. Nominees also affirmed their commitment to applicable laws, ethical conduct, and providing timely information to Congress [ 00:08:36 ]

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Themes

"Peace Through Strength" and National Defense Priorities

The nominees underscored a commitment to the President's "peace through strength" doctrine, emphasizing the restoration of peace through military strength and a robust warfighting organization [ 00:07:54-00:07:58 ]

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. Key priorities highlighted by Mr. Velez-Green included defending the U.S. homeland, strengthening deterrence against China, increasing burden-sharing with allies, and vitalizing the defense industrial base . Dr. Todd emphasized restoring the "warrior ethos" through lethality, meritocracy, and accountability to deter and prevail against threats .

Congressional Engagement and Transparency

Several committee members expressed frustration regarding a perceived lack of consultation and transparency from the Department of War, differentiating it from mere notification [ 00:22:15-00:22:24 ]

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[ 00:55:20 ]

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[ 01:24:54 ]

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. Concerns were raised over the AUKUS review, the National Defense Strategy, the Global Force Posture Review, and communication with allies regarding troop movements . Mr. Velez-Green acknowledged these frustrations and committed to proactive engagement and consultation with Congress if confirmed [ 01:13:19-01:13:25 ]

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Role and Independence of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE)

Michael Payne addressed concerns about CAPE potentially operating beyond its mission and indicated his intent to focus the office on independent analysis . He acknowledged that some legal requirements for CAPE have not yet been implemented [ 00:12:29-00:12:53 ]

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. Mr. Payne committed to ensuring CAPE provides clear, consistent, and auditable data, streamlines cost reporting, and avoids taking on advocacy roles inconsistent with its advisory function [ 00:39:44-00:40:08 ]

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[ 00:44:51-00:45:04 ]

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Strategic Focus and Resource Allocation

Discussions highlighted the challenge of balancing homeland defense with global commitments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Mr. Velez-Green stated that China remains the pacing threat for force management while also defending the prioritization of homeland defense against narco-terrorism [ 00:30:23-00:30:38 ]

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. Concerns were raised about resource diversion to South America potentially impacting Indo-Pacific readiness . The importance of U.S. interests in the Middle East and the necessity of NATO allies stepping up for their own defense were also discussed . The strategic significance of the Arctic, particularly for homeland defense and missile defense, was affirmed .

Readiness and Modernization

Dr. Todd outlined his responsibilities to assess total force readiness, enhance data analytics, align military training with national priorities, and protect warfighters through high safety standards . The potential impact of non-reimbursable border missions on readiness was noted . There was a commitment to fully modernize nuclear forces, including NC3 systems [ 00:24:11 ]

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. Dr. Todd detailed methods for evaluating strategic readiness against China, focusing on data, training, and contingency planning .

Use of Force and Legal Authority

Committee members pressed Mr. Velez-Green on the statutory authority and legal rationale for lethal operations against designated narco-terrorist organizations in the Caribbean and Pacific . Mr. Velez-Green affirmed the President's directive to stop narco-terrorist operations but largely deferred questions on legal specifics to the Office of General Counsel . Senator Kaine expressed significant concern over Mr. Velez-Green's reluctance to confirm involvement in discussions about such strikes or a potential land invasion of Venezuela, interpreting non-denials as affirmations [ 00:58:50-00:58:50 ]

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Tone of the Meeting

The meeting maintained a largely professional, albeit serious, tone. There was notable tension and frustration expressed by several committee members regarding a perceived lack of transparency and communication from the Department of War, particularly concerning policy decisions and information sharing with Congress [ 00:22:15-00:22:24 ]

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. Mr. Velez-Green's guarded responses, often deferring to other offices or declining to comment on sensitive matters, appeared to exacerbate this frustration among some senators [ 00:57:01-00:57:01 ]

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. Conversely, some senators voiced support for the nominees and the administration's strategic policy shifts, framing them as a necessary move towards realism in foreign policy [ 01:04:43-01:04:56 ]

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. The nominees generally committed to improving engagement and working collaboratively with Congress if confirmed [ 01:19:12 ]

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[ 01:20:03-01:20:04 ]

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[ 01:20:07 ]

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Participants

Transcript

A
Alexander J. Velez-Green
leadership.  I believe deeply in the President's determination to restore peace through strength, with a real desire for a durable peace on terms that leave Americans better off, but also recognition that we can only achieve that peace from a position of military strength.  It is an extraordinary honor to be part of the President's administration, and I am deeply grateful for the President's confidence in nominating me for this role.   I would also like to thank Secretary Hegseth for his support and for his clear-eyed, thoughtful, and courageous leadership.  Under the Secretary's direction, the Department is rightfully returning to its roots as a warfighting organization, as the President has instructed.  It has been a privilege to be part of the Secretary's team, and I am deeply grateful to be considered for this opportunity to continue to support his critical work at this critical time.  To Under Secretary Colby as well, I owe my very deep gratitude.   The Under Secretary is a brilliant thinker, strategist, and leader.  He is also a good and decent man, mentor, and friend.  It has been a true honor to support him for many years, and I am honored even more to be considered to serve as his deputy.   Finally, I could not be here at all if not for the love and support of my wife, Megan, who is here with me today.  Through countless long hours, late nights, and weekends spent at work away from her and our loved ones, she has stood behind me every step of the way.  And I can never thank her enough for her support and the sacrifices that she has made so that I can serve my country.  I would also like to sincerely thank my parents, my sister, and other family and friends, many of whom are here today, and to whom I am forever grateful.   to my parents especially, to my mother, who was born to Puerto Rican migrants in an apartment in Hell's Kitchen and went on to be a social worker and serve on our town's Board of Education, and to my father, who grew up in a Jewish family in the Bronx and went on to become a teacher.  Anything I have accomplished or will ever accomplish, it will be because of the lessons that they taught me about being good to others, about hard work, determination, and overcoming adversity, and about the value of serving our fellow Americans.
A
Alexander J. Velez-Green
My family's story, from humble beginnings in New York to this seat in our nation's capital, I've been all around this world, and that story is only possible right here in the United States.  For them and for that, I'm incredibly grateful, and it is my sincere honor to be considered for this opportunity to give back, especially in a period of such historic consequence on the world stage.  Members of this committee, if you will allow me,   The role of Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy is to support the Under Secretary of War for Policy as he informs and helps to advance the Secretary's priorities in line with President Trump's common sense, America first, peace through strength agenda.  With respect to those priorities, Secretary Hegseth has been very clear.  The department is laser focused on defending the U.S. homeland, strengthening deterrence against China in the Indo-Pacific, increasing burden sharing with America's allies and partners,   and supercharging our nation's defense industrial base.  In my view, each of these efforts is critical in its own right.  And together, I believe they offer a path for the department to deliver on President Trump's intent not only to defend our nation's homeland, but also to achieve and sustain peace around the world.  They do so first by ensuring that the joint force is always ready and able to defend our nation's interests against the most consequential and difficult threats that we face.  At the same time,   These lines of efforts position the department to work more closely with allies and partners around the world, building on the president's historic success at Hague and making these relationships stronger, more equitable, and more sustainable than they've been in decades, if not longer, which is good for the United States, of course, but also vitally important for allies and partners with whom we've worked together closely for many years, and I believe we should for many years to come.   In closing, under President Trump's leadership at the direction of Secretary Hegseth, I believe that we have an opportunity to restore peace through strength, not just in this hemisphere but around the world, through a combination of focused, revitalized American military power and the fuller engagement of our allies and partners.  And if I am fortunate enough to be confirmed for this role, you have my fullest and strongest possible commitment to dedicate myself to that effect.
A
Alexander J. Velez-Green
Thank you very much again for your time and your consideration.   I look forward to your questions.
Thank you very much, Mr. Velazquez.  Dr. Todd, you are recognized.
M
Maurice L. Todd
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and distinguished members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, it is an honor and privilege to appear before you as the President's nominee for the Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness.  I want to thank the President for this opportunity.  I'm honored by the President's nomination and his trust.   I am grateful for the time many of you have spent with me in recent weeks and thankful for the committee's attention to my nomination.  I also thank Secretary Hegseth and Under Secretary Tata for their support.  In contemplating the duties of the Assistant Secretary of War for readiness would entail, shall I be confirmed, I recalled President George Washington's words in his first annual address to Congress in 1790.  To be prepared for war is the most effectual means of preserving peace.   Now, more than 200 years later, these words continue to ring true, capturing President Trump's vision to achieve peace through strength.  Further, as Secretary Hegseth and the department work to restore the warrior ethos through a refocus on lethality, meritocracy, and accountability, if confirmed for this position, I will be laser focused on ensuring that the total force is ready to deter, and if called upon, to prevail against the most dangerous threats to American interests.   To that end, if confirmed, I will dedicate my full attention to the following responsibilities.  I will assess the readiness of the total force to execute the interim national defense strategic guidance, inform department strategic planning and resourcing, and support congressional reporting requirements.  I will enhance readiness data analytics capabilities to provide the president and the secretary with decision advantage critical to global operations.   I will align military training and exercise investments with our national priorities to effectively build greater lethality and execute all domain warfare.  And I will protect our war fighters in readiness by promoting the highest safety and occupational health standards.
M
Maurice L. Todd
Working collaboratively across the department, a focus on these efforts will reinvigorate our war fighting capabilities and competitive advantages to ensure we can achieve strategic objectives across threats and time horizons.   If confirmed, I look forward to bringing over 40 years of experience in international security affairs, focused on the defense of our country and the safety of the American people.

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