House subcommittee hears special-operations commanders on SOF role, limits and gaps in great‑power competition

Chairman Jackson convened the House Armed Services subcommittee hearing to review the role of U.S. Special Operations Forces in great‑power competition and to question component commanders on capabilities, demand and shortfalls.

The witnesses — Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga, commander of the United States Army Special Operations Command; Lieutenant General Michael Connelly, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command; Major General Peter Huntley, commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC); and Rear Admiral Milton Sands, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command — told the committee that SOF provide unique access, persistent presence and partnership‑building that are central to competing below the level of open conflict.

The commanders said SOF are already modernizing doctrine and units to operate in contested and denied environments, but they warned that current budgets, acquisition timelines and limited authorities constrain the speed at which they can put lessons learned and new technology into the hands of deployed operators. "We must position our people in the proximity to the problem with the right authorities and right resources to identify emerging capability gaps, pioneer solutions, and disseminate lessons learned to all theaters," Lieutenant General Jonathan Braga said.

Why it matters: Members said the committee needs to understand whether SOF have the authorities, funding and acquisition agility required to counter long‑term, state‑level competitors that blend military, informational and economic instruments. Ranking Member Crow highlighted the war in Ukraine as an example of rapid tactical and operational change that requires fast feedback loops from the battlefield into procurement and training.

Key claims and details

- Scope and presence: Braga said U.S. Army Special Operations Command represents about 36,000 personnel, with roughly 3,000 soldiers deployed daily and activities in about 80 countries. He described SOF as "global sensors" that sustain generational partner relationships.

- Relative cost and return: Speakers repeatedly framed SOF as a relatively small portion of parent service budgets that delivers an outsized operational return. Braga said USASOC receives about one‑half of one percent of the Army's budget; Lieutenant General Michael Connelly said AFSOC accounts for "less than one‑half of one percent" of the Air Force budget and a small portion of SOCOM's budget; Rear Admiral Milton Sands said Naval Special Warfare is "less than 1% of the Navy's budget and 14% of SOCOM funding." The witnesses characterized SOF as high‑return investments but said strain is growing as demand rises.

- Demand and capacity: Commanders told the committee requests for special operations support are increasing faster than forces and materiel can be provided. Braga offered to provide an exact count of unfulfilled requests in a follow‑up; several commanders said they are operating at or near maximum capacity and must make prioritization tradeoffs.

- Modernization and speed: A recurring theme was a mismatch between rapid, theater‑level innovation (for example, commercial unmanned systems, AI‑enabled tools and information‑environment techniques) and slower, formal acquisition and depot modification timelines. "By the time we get a fleet of 50 aircraft updated to where they need to be, the technology's already irrelevant," Lieutenant General Connelly said. Commanders asked for more flexible, faster paths to move lessons and modular commercial technologies into operational use.

- Information and gray‑zone operations: Members pressed commanders about countering foreign influence and disinformation. Rear Admiral Sands said Naval Special Warfare's non‑kinetic maritime activities and access to undersea and maritime spaces provide unique leverage in the information and influence domains. Members cited Mali as an example where disinformation shaped outcomes before truthful reporting could reach local publics; witnesses urged faster authorities and training for partners to respond to information operations.

- Partnership and whole‑of‑government integration: Several witnesses stressed that SOF success depends on coordinated country‑team activity with State Department, USAID and other U.S. government actors. Commanders said partner training and exchanges produce long‑term relationships that pay dividends in crisis and competition.

- Recruitment and retention: Witnesses described retention as generally high across SOF communities and recruitment as stable but with room for improvement. Commanders called for better national‑level outreach and highlighted the particular challenges of recruiting specialized communities (e.g., special tactics, maritime teams).

Committee concerns and requests

Members repeatedly asked about: (1) the number of unfilled combatant‑command requests for SOF; (2) procurement and modification timelines that slow fielding of urgent capabilities; (3) authorities that allow operators to act quickly in denied and contested environments; and (4) the need for interoperable, persistent presence with allies to blunt adversary influence. Braga said he would provide exact unmet‑request numbers in a follow‑up to the committee.

What the hearing did not produce

There were no formal votes, legislative measures or committee directives recorded in the open session. The subcommittee adjourned the open hearing to a classified session for further questioning.

Looking ahead

Members said they will press the services for more precise data on unfilled requests and for options to shorten acquisition timelines or expand flexible funding and authorities at theater levels so operators can convert lessons into capability faster. Several lawmakers expressed interest in legislative changes to give commanders greater agility in contested environments.

Ending: The open portion of the hearing concluded when Chairman Jackson said the panel would continue in a classified session. Witnesses and members thanked service members and families for their service and sacrifice.