Columbia News

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) expressed his support for the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Policy and its role in advancing President Trump’s America First foreign policy. The hearing included discussion about recent criticism directed at the Department of War’s policy office.

Senator Schmitt addressed concerns about transparency and communication, stating: “Mr. Chairman, let me just say, from the outset, […] I’ve watched the evolution of some of the criticism [against] this administration and particular actors, and I think much of the criticism — which is cloaked in terms of transparency and communication — really is just an effort to undermine a shift in our foreign policy orientation, which I support, to realism, as opposed to some of the failed points of view that have dominated permanent Washington over the last thirty years. That’s how I see it. Now people can disagree. That’s how I see it.”

Schmitt questioned Alexander Velez-Green, nominee for Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy, about accusations that Under Secretary Elbridge Colby and his team were undermining administration goals. Schmitt said: “So, the point of my questions, Mr. Velez-Green, that I want to ask you — in recent months, there has been speculation and criticism aimed at Under Secretary of War [Elbridge] Colby and his team — much of it anonymous, misleading, and divorced from reality. Some have suggested that the policy office [at the Department of War] is freelancing or undermining the President’s agenda. Nothing could be further from the truth. These attacks don’t reflect a policy dispute as much as a resistance from those invested in maintaining a foreign policy status quo that has repeatedly failed the American people. I think it’s important to set the record straight. The job of the policy arm of the Pentagon is to provide informed recommendations to the decision makers in the chain of command — President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. In no way are they undermining the President, the Secretary or the administration’s defense policy objectives. On the contrary, these are professionals who translate the President’s directives into cohesive strategies and generate the forces to achieve them. You’ve been in this business for a while; I want to give you an opportunity to speak for yourself. But there’s been much about these tired tropes about isolationism, which is a joke […] What [the administration is doing] is refocusing on the homeland and the Indo Pacific. Do you think we should abandon NATO? What about Europe? Do you think we should abandon Europe?”

Velez-Green responded: “No, Senator. In the strongest possible terms.”

Schmitt continued by discussing burden sharing among allies: “Okay. I think part of this discussion is — instead of just flowery rhetorical verses that have been spun for a while — Europe does need to step up more for their own defense. This conversation about burden sharing — people laughed at President Trump about this [in his first term] — but it’s actually happening. This is good for us. It’s good for Europe… Now they are stepping up in a much more meaningful way.”

He also addressed claims regarding aid decisions related to Ukraine and military deployments: “Of course, media is constantly coming after President Trump and his team for this policy shift… We’ve even they’ve even claimed that you oppose sending a carrier to Middle East for Operation Midnight Hammer…”

Velez-Green replied: “Senator, I would just offer that reporting on each of those episodes was inaccurate… For instance…the article with respect to Under Secretary's alleged position about forces to support Operation Midnight Hammer was opposite reality…I categorically…stated that reporting that policy ordered or even recommended pause in shipments weapons Ukraine was inaccurate…That remains my position […] There’s paper trails for most this…”

Schmitt asked whether focusing on domestic priorities prevented engagement elsewhere: “The last question…I’ve heard consternation…that focusing on homeland sort taboo topic…Somehow our focus on homeland precludes us from focusing on Indo-Pacific…”

Velez-Green answered: “Senator...we’ve been directed do both…and that exactly what we are doing from force management perspective...there not belief that do these things we have abandon rest world…I think actually doing that would be counterproductive because we do have interest rest world…the simultaneity problem...is real...So we do need stay engaged…I believe how can achieve enduring peace through strength.”

Schmitt concluded by thanking committee members.