BURSTDemocrat Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) shouted at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday over a lack of information on funds allocated for Navy submarines.
Workforce and capacity issues have delayed the release of two classes of submarines specifically manufactured to combat nuclear attacks.
“What is your plan for the future? Can we get that in writing and on paper so that we know where you're going? Because we don't have anything today. We have zip, nada, in knowing where you're going,” DeLauro yelled at Hegseth.
Earlier in the House Appropriations Committee hearing, Hegseth accused committee members of not supporting the submarine program but later attempted to thank them for investments.
“Ma'am, first of all, I want to thank this committee for the flexibility alongside FY25 and the continued resolution,” he told DeLauro.
“Well, I would hope you would thank this committee for the funding that it had made. We have made a serious investment,” the former House Appropriations Committee chair said.
“Your first statement is inaccurate. We have focused squarely on submarines,” she continued.
"And we now want to know where that is going and what your plan is for the continued advancements to meet production levels and make sure that that is an area that's covered for our national security.”
Instead of providing numbers, Hegseth flagged complications he said arose from the previous administration.
“Ma'am, I fully acknowledge the investment this committee has made in shipbuilding. And the challenges our department under the previous administration squandered a lot of that by not investing properly,” Hegseth said.
DeLauro returned to grilling Hegseth about his plan.
“Please, I want your plan, I've had difficulty with the prior administration and I don't mind calling them out,” she told Hegseth, moment before yielding back her time, negating his response.
DOD uses private contractors to build ships and would need $530 million to complete the construction of its first two underwater crafts in the new class of nuclear-powered, submarines according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Hegseth announced in April that he cut $5.1 billion in contracts from the Pentagon's budget.
House Republicans are backing legislation that would increase Pentagon spending by $150 billion, pushing the total defense budget for fiscal 2025 to more than $1 trillion if passed.