Transcom tells House panel U.S. mobility forces need recapitalization; lawmakers debate Jones Act and 10-ship cap
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Summary
Gen. Randall Reed told House Armed Services subcommittees that U.S. air-refueling and sealift fleets are aging and require recapitalization. Members pressed Transcom on shore-to-port networks, civilian mariner shortfalls and whether to lift a statutory 10-ship limit for used-ship purchases.
Gen. Randall Reed, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, told a joint hearing of House Armed Services subcommittees that U.S. mobility forces face “an increasingly contested logistics environment” and need a coordinated recapitalization of air-refueling, airlift and sealift capabilities.
Reed testified that long lead times for new ships and aircraft mean the United States must begin recapitalization plans now. “US Transcom was created as a purpose built force to provide the essential surface, ocean, and airlift capacity to project and sustain American power anywhere in the world at any time,” he said, describing Transcom’s role as the nation’s transportation and sustainment command.
The commander's comments came amid sustained questioning from members who pressed for near-term and long-term fixes. Ranking Member John Garamendi and Rep. Trent Kelly both singled out the KC-46 tanker program and the aging KC-135 fleet. Reed warned recapitalization must continue without interruption, saying parts shortages and aging airframes make sustaining older tankers harder and slower. He also told members the average age of the remaining KC-135 fleet will be “67 years old.”
Several members pressed Reed about sealift capacity and a statutory limit on purchases of used foreign ships. Reed and multiple lawmakers expressed support for the Jones Act and for efforts to grow U.S. maritime industrial capacity and mariner pools. Lawmakers discussed the SHIPS Act and recent National Defense Authorization Act provisions supporting new-build sealift; several asked Transcom for detailed justification if Congress is to lift the current 10-ship cap on foreign purchases.
Representative Austin Scott and others argued buying younger used roll-on/roll-off ships could quickly replace vessels that Reed said are “well over 50 years” old, while Rep. Kelly and others stressed the long-term need to rebuild domestic shipbuilding so future demand signals will sustain yards and mariner pools. Reed said buying used ships can complement new-build programs, and he asked for predictable, sustained demand signals to encourage domestic shipbuilding.
Members also raised related mobility issues: vulnerabilities in bulk fuel storage and delivery, the strategic highway and rail networks that move equipment from forts to ports, and port capacity for ordnance and high-explosive shipments. On fuel, Reed said Transcom is assessing infrastructure with theater partners and increasing attention to cyber vulnerabilities in transportation networks. On ports and the domestic distribution system, Reed noted many critical links fall under state or local control and require ongoing coordination.
Lawmakers asked about civilian mariner shortages that affect Military Sealift Command and the Maritime Security Program. Reed said the immediate pool can meet an initial response but warned of sustainability problems during a protracted conflict because of insufficient crews to rotate operations.
Reed also described enterprise-level reforms inside Transcom — including a push toward an enterprise resource planning approach — intended to improve sustainment, logistics visibility and auditability across many legacy systems.
Transcom did not request new, specific appropriations on the record during the unclassified session; members repeatedly asked the command to provide written details on ship types, timelines and quantities that would justify statutory changes and procurement choices. Lawmakers closed the unclassified portion of the hearing and said they would reconvene for a classified session on logistics and force posture later.
Looking ahead, members asked Transcom to supply detailed schedules and cost estimates for ship acquisitions, and to coordinate with the Maritime Administration and services on the implementation of new-build programs and workforce growth. Reed said he would use “whatever tool is available” to secure needed capabilities, including submitting an unfunded priorities list if appropriate.
