FEDERALhearing transcript

Review of the 2016 Budget for U.S. Special Operations Forces

Original title: [H.A.S.C. No. 114-24]SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN AN UNCERTAIN

January 1, 2015

military budget special operations national security defense spending fiscal year 2016

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing establishes the budgetary and strategic priorities for U.S. Special Operations Command for fiscal year 2016, directly influencing the funding levels and operational capabilities available to special forces units.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Special Operations Forces personnel

The budget request determines the funding for training, equipment, and family support programs for these service members.

U.S. Department of Defense

The department is responsible for executing the budget and managing the operational requirements discussed in the hearing.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2015.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This hearing transcript documents a 2015 meeting of the House Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities to review the fiscal year 2016 budget request for the U.S. Special Operations Command (). Lawmakers and defense officials discussed the strategic role of special operations forces in addressing global threats and the impact of defense on military readiness.

Key Facts

The hearing was held on March 18, 2015, to review the fiscal year 2016 budget request for U.S. Special Operations Command.
The subcommittee discussed the impact of defense sequestration on the ability to train and equip special operations forces.
The hearing addressed threats from state and non-state actors, including Russia, Iran, Al Qaeda, and the Islamic State (Daesh).
The committee emphasized the importance of family support and suicide prevention programs for service members.
The hearing included testimony from Michael D. Lumpkin (Assistant Secretary of Defense) and General Joseph L. Votel (Commander, SOCOM).
The record includes post-hearing questions submitted by members Brooks, Hunter, and Wilson, and responses from the witnesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this hearing?

The hearing was conducted to review the fiscal year 2016 budget request for the U.S. Special Operations Command and to discuss the strategic challenges facing special operations forces.

Who testified at the hearing?

The witnesses were Michael D. Lumpkin, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict, and General Joseph L. Votel, Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Hybrid Warfare

The hearing highlights a strategic pivot in 2015 toward addressing hybrid and asymmetric threats from state actors like Russia and non-state actors like Daesh.

U.S. Special Operations Command

Connected Entities

personMichael D. Lumpkin“Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict”Map →

organizationU.S. Special Operations Command“The military command subject to the budget review”Map →

organizationHouse Committee on Armed Services“The congressional committee overseeing the hearing”Map →

personJoe Wilson“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities”Map →

personJoseph L. Votel“Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz5
Current news / social attention level

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