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Committee presses nominee on munitions stockpiles, industrial base and installations including Hawthorne
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Summary
Senators asked Dan Driscoll how he would ensure munitions stockpiles and the defense industrial base meet sustained demands and how he would address Army facilities and MilCon delays, citing Hawthorne Army Depot and multi-billion-dollar repair backlogs.
Senators at the confirmation hearing asked Dan Driscoll how he would restore munitions stockpiles, stabilize the defense industrial base and accelerate military construction and repairs.
Senator Cynthia Lummis and others highlighted that recent conflicts show how quickly munitions are consumed and asked whether the Army’s stockpile plans and industrial base can scale for sustained operations. Driscoll said the United States retains agile manufacturing capacity but conceded it has atrophied and pledged to "use this moment to figure out how do we create sustainable, scalable solutions" and to work with the committee on replenishment and funding strategies.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen and other members noted the National Security Supplemental provided relief to the industrial base but asked whether the Army will include depot and demilitarization investments in future budget and unfunded priority lists. Driscoll committed to a deep dive on munitions readiness, and to working with senators on funding and lessons learned from recent demands such as assistance to Ukraine.
Members also raised the Army’s facility backlog and MilCon timelines. Chairman Wicker referenced a facility backlog "of more than $100,000,000,000" and said FY2025 increased barracks maintenance funding but that decades of neglect cannot be fixed quickly. Senator Tuberville and others cited differences in time and cost on similar projects (for example, two warehouses with divergent timelines and costs) and urged experimentation with operation-and-maintenance funds under repair-by-replacement pilots. Driscoll said he would prioritize being a good steward of taxpayer dollars and consider alternative authorities to speed needed construction.
On ordnance infrastructure, Senator Jacky Rosen asked specifically about Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada, which stores and demilitarizes munitions. Driscoll pledged to take a deep dive and invited senators to visit Hawthorne; he committed, if confirmed, to consider depot investments as part of the Army’s planning.
Why it matters: Munitions readiness and depot capacity affect the Army’s ability to sustain allied and U.S. operations. The Army’s facilities backlog and slow MilCon delivery timelines were raised as immediate problems for soldier quality of life and readiness.
What’s next: Driscoll said he would work with the committee to refine budget priorities and to seek scalable industrial-base solutions if confirmed. Senators requested follow-ups and briefings.
