Appropriators question DOD plan to shrink operational test office amid acquisition concerns

Chairman Calvert opened a line of questioning on June 10 about a recent Department of Defense review that the department said would reduce civilian personnel at the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) by roughly 74% and cut the office's budget by about 80%.

The chairman said DOT&E was created by Congress in 1983 "to centralize and strengthen operational testing" and cited historical examples where independent testing revealed flaws that required program corrections. He pressed Secretary Hegseth on how the department would preserve independent, impartial testing if services performed more testing internally.

Secretary Hegseth said the review was part of a department-wide effort to remove duplicative processes and accelerate fielding. He told the committee the department had identified areas where DOT&E had "bloomed and expanded" beyond its original scope and that services and joint staff would continue to conduct testing and evaluation. Hegseth said the changes are intended to "right size" DOT&E so it provides oversight without adding unnecessary delays to fielding capability.

Members said they support eliminating waste but asked for assurances that safety, suitability and independent verification would not be compromised for speed. The secretary agreed to preserve the office's core mission while seeking efficiencies and to provide further details to the committee.