ND North News

The Senate Armed Services Committee recently held a hearing to review several key nominations for positions within the Department of War. The nominees included Timothy D. Dill for Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Dr. Maurice L. Todd for Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness, Michael Payne for Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE), and Alexander J. Velez-Green for Deputy Under Secretary of War for Policy.

Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who chairs the SASC Airland Subcommittee, directed questions at Michael Payne regarding whether independent assessments at CAPE are sometimes influenced by program advocacy rather than objective analysis. Cramer expressed concern that such assessments could be compromised by selectively choosing operational scenarios that favor or disadvantage specific defense platforms.

When asked if this issue occurs at CAPE, Payne responded: “At times in the past, yes, I have seen CAPE take on an advocacy role that I think is inappropriate for an independent analytic organization,” adding, “If confirmed, you have my commitment that my priority would be focusing CAPE on its true mission, which is being an advisory, not a policy making or decision-making organization.”

Cramer also questioned Alexander J. Velez-Green about comments reportedly made by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby suggesting the British Royal Navy should reduce its presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the summer, the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales operated in the Pacific amid these discussions.

Velez-Green declined to comment directly on private discussions between governments but cited public statements from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: “it is most important for our European allies to focus on their home theater as they work to build out their capacity.” He elaborated further: “That is the guidance that the Secretary has offered in a public setting, and my personal view is, I think that does make a lot of sense because we believe in a NATO that is as strong as possible,” he said. “That is a sincerely held view. My personal belief is we have an interest in NATO being as strong as possible on an enduring basis, with the United States deeply engaged. But for that to happen, especially as we face the rise of China, our allies simply have to step up and focus those resources where they're needed most.”

Cramer pressed Velez-Green about whether such statements were coordinated with U.S. allies or with the State Department: “There are other agencies for whom international relationships are the higher party, not at least, which, of course, is the State Department,” Cramer stated. “And so I'd be interested to know if this position was reconciled with the State Department, or if this was just again a private conversation to your point, or for that matter if other allies were consulted—allies that welcome the British having a ship in the Pacific.”

Velez-Green replied that his office remains focused on military matters but works closely with interagency colleagues to maintain ongoing cross-agency communication.

The hearing also addressed reports about a pause in U.S. aid shipments to Ukraine following remarks from Austin Dahmer regarding assistance reviews within DOW policy publications.

Velez-Green clarified: “I can say categorically, the policy leadership neither ordered nor even recommended a pause to any weapons shipments to Ukraine as it was reported,” he said. “Full stop, no caveats. That reporting was completely inaccurate in substantial part because we do not have the authority to order any adjustment to weapons deliveries one way or the other. I am aware of brief disruptions to certain deliveries as a result of capabilities review...but I am not aware of a pause ordered by the Secretary to any of the weapons shipments at the time.”

“Well," Cramer concluded during questioning about conflicting reports from official releases and nominee statements regarding aid delivery pauses,"we may have to dispute terms and titles but it’s a DOD news release.”