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WASHINGTON – During a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) confirmation hearing today, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) pressed Dr. Kathleen Hicks, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Deputy Secretary of Defense, on the cost of delaying nuclear modernization efforts. Senator Cramer has been using his seat on SASC to ensure the timeline for replacing the Minutemen III’s housed at Minot Air Force Base with the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent intercontinental ballistic missiles stays on track.
“I want to ask you about the cost piece, particularly as it relates to the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent,” said Senator Cramer. “Any delay to that effort would seem to have a detrimental monetary impact.”
Dr. Hicks acknowledged the concerns Senator Cramer presented and committed to reviewing this issue once confirmed.
“We certainly seem to have today a challenge with regard to making some investment decisions that have been delayed and delayed and delayed, and I understand there comes a point at which one needs to make a decision,” said Dr. Hicks. “I am not daunted by that reality.”
Senator Cramer also highlighted the importance of the Grand Forks Air Force Base and its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission.
“There are only two bases left between Michigan and Montana along the northern tier. The Arctic Mission is very important. Obviously Minot plays an important role in that, as does the Air Force base in Grand Forks,” said Senator Cramer. “You and I talked about the importance of ISR, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, and some other places, and some of the cannibalization – as I see it – taking place to make room for these more modern systems.”
In additional remarks, Senator Cramer raised the issue of budget transparency within the Department of Defense and invited her to Grand Forks and Minot to see their Air Force bases once she is confirmed. Senator Cramer spoke to Dr. Hicks last week regarding her nomination and announced he would support her during today’s hearing.
