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Undersecretary Elbridge Colby defends 2026 National Defense Strategy as members press on Iran, munitions and allied burden-sharing
Summary
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Undersecretary Elbridge Colby defended the 2026 National Defense Strategy's focus on homeland defense, the Indo'Pacific and burden-sharing while members pressed him about Operation Epic Fury in Iran, depleted munitions stocks and the Pentagon's consultation with Congress on force posture changes.
Undersecretary Elbridge Colby told the House Armed Services Committee that the 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) implements a "flexible realism" approach that prioritizes defending the homeland, deterring China in the Indo'Pacific, encouraging allied burden-sharing and mobilizing the U.S. defense industrial base.
"The animating purpose of this strategy was to put into reality the logic of President Trump's 'America First, peace through strength' approach," Colby said in his opening statement, summarizing the four pillars the Department is pursuing.
The hearing quickly shifted to immediate operational questions. Members pressed Colby about Operation Epic Fury, the administration's recent military campaign against Iran. Several representatives asked whether the campaign was compatible with the NDS's stated priority of pacing the People's Republic of China in the Indo'Pacific, and whether the campaign had specific, time-bound objectives.
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