11.26.24

Sullivan Calls for Return To Core Mission of the Pentagon: Lethality and Winning Wars

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) backed calls for serious reforms at the Department of Defense (DOD) and a return to the priorities of winning wars and lethality in an interview on Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy on Fox News. Senator Sullivan also discussed the importance of the Constitution’s advice and consent process, and praised the growing national security team put forth by President Trump that aims to restore peace through strength and to reestablish deterrence with America’s adversaries.

“We need to get back to the core mission of the Department of Defense: That's lethality, that's winning wars, that's peace through strength,” Senator Sullivan said. “I just retired this year from the Marine Corps. I've been in for 30 years, so I saw firsthand some of the woke stuff that was happening with regard to the Biden administration. We had a Secretary of the Navy who was more focused on climate change than ship building. One of President Biden's first executive orders after his inauguration wasn't focused on lethality, winning wars. It was focused on transgender surgery for active duty troops. We need to get back to the mission of the Pentagon, which is to win our nation's wars and create the most lethal force in the world to deter war.”

Senator Sullivan has frequently criticized the Biden-Harris administration for their misaligned priorities that exhibit weakness towards America’s enemies and has pushed for reform within the DOD and Pentagon.

Click here to watch the full interview.

SULLIVAN: President Trump Should Get the Cabinet He Wants

TREY GOWDY: Where is the line in your judgment between deference and acquiescence? Some of your colleagues promise a fair confirmation process, even a deferential one, while others have indicated they will vote yes on all nominees. Period. So where's the line to you?

DAN SULLIVAN: Well, Trey, first greetings from big, snowy, beautiful Alaska, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the viewers. Look, my view on this is the US Senate has a constitutional role to play, certainly. You know, and it's also a testament to our founders.

The advice and consent process has really served America very well for over 200 years. At the same time, I'm a strong believer in the fact that the president should get, in general, the Cabinet that he wants, particularly in an election like we just saw with President Trump, that was overwhelmingly in favor of his agenda that he laid out.

So it is the balance between making sure the president gets the Cabinet he wants. He picks the Cabinet. We have our advice and consent process, we go through that, but also to make sure that we're getting highly qualified Cabinet officials. And I think in the case of who President Trump has put forward thus far, I think it's looking very strong in that regard. 

GOWDY: Is there ongoing dialogue between the president-elect and the Senate?

SULLIVAN: Oh, I think so. And look, I mean, the Senate gives its advice and consent, as you mentioned, consent is the actual vote, but advice is just that. And when nominees come before committees, there's a lot of advice in terms of hearings, but also the meetings beforehand.

I think a lot of senators weigh in with the president and his team, hey, this could be a good candidate, not just for Cabinet officials, but for deputy secretaries, undersecretaries, so there's a lot of back and forth, and I think that's actually really healthy.

As I mentioned. I think the process itself has really helped our country over 200 years. It really shows the brilliance of our founders.

Sullivan: Pentagon Must Return to Core Mission: Lethality and Winning Wars

GOWDY: When it comes to the military, what is the difference between disruption and reform versus destruction? Or, as the general said, getting rubble rather than reform. What's the key to you?

SULLIVAN: Well, look, I think the Pentagon is in dire need of reform, serious reform, particularly after the four years of the Biden-Harris administration.

And you know, in my discussions with Pete Hegseth, one of the things that I really like, and by the way, it's this National Security team, not just Pete Hegseth, but Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Mike Waltz as National Security adviser, this is a strong trio that the President has put forward.

But here's the key thing, from my perspective, Trey. We need to get back to the core mission of the Department of Defense: That's lethality, that's winning wars, that's peace through strength.

You know, I just retired this year from the Marine Corps. I've been in for 30 years, so I saw firsthand some of the woke stuff that was happening with regard to the Biden administration. You know, you had a Secretary of the Navy who was more focused on climate change than ship building. One of President Biden's first executive orders just one or two days after his inauguration wasn't focused on lethality, winning wars. It was focused on transgender surgery for active duty troops.

So look, we need to get back to the mission of the Pentagon, which is to win our nation's wars and to create the most lethal force in the world to deter war, and I think Pete Hegseth is very focused on that, and that is a refreshing change, a critical change that the American people want and we need in the Department of Defense.

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