[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6212326,"mediaKeyId","3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575","parentId",3685656,"title","Senators press Army on transparency after Black Hawk collision; Army cites ongoing investigations","audioSeconds",68,"startMs",2389030,"endMs",2457815,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575&start=2389&end=2457","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575/thumbnail_2389030.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212326/Senators-press-Army-on-transparency-after-Black-Hawk-collision-Army-cites-ongoing-investigations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212326-0366001c81ce4ed451a223bd9feec531/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405742&Signature=T0sPwPqD17m0qsElB8LmWRBkrVjLLdSuJRRsl4NAItKKWL6ge6JjO8wgv4uBB4jq5X~JDh2F7xW41-xEngDUAWvQLL9LSNwGz5JHWr1KJ2dKYMA87kf7wdk9n0T0aGrOit9M0-afCY3bMn3wCtMw9gt-IJrfzdclBITqEyR6m-o8ZLvJ99tPPagYRgBYnUecik1fD1bswrT1sOigon04IZ2VCDzIZP8dFfiI-EAZOacbMDndrgxPOJEbo7nCXVedV81zUM9jYzfUF5vVkkCUR8hxGR5bJ4hczyb85HhHtA0eShEW2Bh1QI6OqmWx5yRjf-m~Iju4yNMZ9sNsq4R4NA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services","date","2025-06-05T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Reid told the committee that families of the victims of the Jan. 20 collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk and a commercial flight were frustrated by a perceived lack of direct communication from Army leadership.

“The family members have expressed to me significant concerns by the lack of transparency and direct communication with the Army, specifically army senior leaders,” Senator Reid said. He asked Secretary Driscoll to commit to establishing direct points of contact with the families.

Secretary Driscoll responded that the incident “is a tragedy” and that the Army is “doing everything we can to learn from the incident to ensure that it never occurs again.” He said both the NTSB and the Army are conducting investigations and that “the best advice we've received from counsel to date is to let those play out.”

Chief of Staff Randy George described immediate operational changes taken after the crash, including altered flight routes and increased coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. “The biggest thing is the flight routes have completely changed...Immediately we had, we made adjustments,” George said, and added the Army was working closely with the FAA and improving ADS‑B communications.

Ending: Senators called for continued contact with families and more public explanation of safety changes; Army leaders said they will follow up and provide additional details as permitted by ongoing investigations and counsel.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","To receive testimony on the posture of the Department of the Army in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Future Years Defense Program ","oneSentenceSummary","Senators asked Army leaders to improve direct communication with families of victims from the January collision between a Black Hawk and a passenger jet. Army officials said investigations are ongoing and described immediate safety steps taken after the crash.","taxTitle","Armed Services: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1987,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6212331,"Senators press Army over proposed southern border deployments and use of Guard for immigration enforcement",1959,1273610,3233135,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575&start=1273&end=3233","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575/thumbnail_1273610.jpg","/articles/6212331/Senators-press-Army-over-proposed-southern-border-deployments-and-use-of-Guard-for-immigration-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212331-e0ef4c66c4eed7681adffccc6b83ac2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405742&Signature=NcXNVqgKMEU1oculJLoled19~30hCexoSEZKMNq1s2J~rC9eIoH00b6OOZzMw4Nv3ufPLPQ1NXIHdrsxgT-G9YIj9W5a4mQFtbC5aCS7o1U6JzfcEyUhRB4UVrtfcHGV9t-IUPsXBKNexkVf8dezCoLLnWTyO88fNLPf3YTZMCCVoKUIoHl83mvczHS8qeU8GH5E~MVN1iPJ~p150~CuxbvfottUQrj3ek-t1VuvfDfOc8oxI6htJ33I8Cq~uNmedlWZGgwRky7c70ZBdO7iMAbdvIJKRS~LTCyKs7Q~4TwtXVLv~RaTFLz~7yxlhVGMzPfpaXi8pmruwGn-r0kp7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several senators told Army leaders they were deeply concerned about plans reported to move more than 10,000 active‑duty soldiers to the southern border and an administration request that could place up to 20,000 National Guard members on interior immigration enforcement tasks.

Ranking Member Senator Reid told the panel he was “very skeptical of the administration's deployment of more than 10,000 soldiers to the southern border,” and said soldiers’ training and readiness have already been affected by border missions. Senators Shaheen and Hirono cited a Department of Homeland Security memo seeking Guard personnel for investigative and canvassing missions and asked who would pay and under what authorities those troops would operate.

Secretary Driscoll and Chief of Staff George said they had received requests and were working through planning details. Driscoll told the committee that the Army has been asked to provide soldiers for missions and that “we are...prepared to respond to emergencies,” but that specific accounting and reimbursable authorities would require follow‑up. When asked whether Guard personnel would be used for core law‑enforcement tasks such as arrests and detentions, witnesses repeatedly said they had not seen operational details that would direct such tasks and said legal limits—including Title 10 and other authorities—govern employment of military personnel.

Senators urged the Army to provide clearer cost estimates, state sourcing, and legal explanations for any proposed domestic employment of soldiers and Guard members—and several urged that the Department of Homeland Security bear the cost if Homeland Security tasks are requested.

Ending: Army officials pledged to follow up with the committee on costs, funding accounts and a more detailed description of the missions and constraints that would govern any deployment to interior immigration enforcement.","Multiple senators raised concerns that deploying active‑duty brigades and thousands of National Guard personnel to interior immigration enforcement would strain readiness and exceed military mission authorities. Army leaders said details remain in planning and pledged to follow up with cost and legal explanations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6212335,"Committee hearing highlights urgency of counter‑drone, electronic warfare investments",7673,1570605,9244545,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575&start=1570&end=9244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575/thumbnail_1570605.jpg","/articles/6212335/Committee-hearing-highlights-urgency-of-counterdrone-electronic-warfare-investments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212335-33f0eb5e4971daa4410846a27a980ae5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405742&Signature=O7xapIhO9Yay8POHRvLJwRWInU8vOWciMlWwsSCdhzFAZ7V9Vu~4~rr~QSXjgw~jGp7UmUN~hoWugBfDvL819UBM3KSzz8VNw~Wdc1OPjLk3i0PmdVyxGYsLP555EenXmgJNJ6Pfc21QSMt4NuUV~t~rDw9gafQYLtAu0Acx12jIGY3P7ZBs0sbHbicL~AoH4aSt1PRw1cO369zH0vsQvYjoX9M4CIyGYwD~d0SJXoxrJX8HzfsdwTVspGSAXJU1t8D7uFw8ZbCcUiq38c0JOuSTUHBHsJIrAuyXB74~JMDa1vwt8-OqxZIYuewDmPq9oPhNooSt8NAHXxLsIFH78w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and Army leaders at the hearing pointed to recent events in Ukraine to underline the rapidly changing character of war and the urgency of fielding counter‑UAS and electronic warfare capabilities.

Secretary Dan Driscoll described how a recent Ukrainian operation used swarms of inexpensive drones to strike high‑value targets, saying that “at a cost of a mere tens of thousands of dollars, Ukraine inflicted billions in damage.” He and Chief of Staff Randy George said the Army needs acquisition flexibility to buy capability portfolios rather than single, long‑running programs.

Committee members and witnesses discussed the industrial‑base challenge of producing large numbers of small unmanned aerial systems at an affordable price. Chief of Staff George noted the volume of commercially produced drones abroad and said the U.S. needs to scale parts such as motors and controllers domestically.

Senators also raised electronic warfare test and evaluation capacity. Senator Kelly warned that planned reductions at the Army Test and Evaluation Command could “disproportionately impact the Army's primary electronic warfare test and evaluation center,” the Electronic Proving Ground at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and said the proving ground’s unique geography and federally protected airspace are essential for high‑power EW testing.

Chairman Wicker told members in open session that reconciliation language contains funding for small drones and for one‑way attack drones. Several senators asked for follow‑up, classified briefings and more specific program guidance so the Army can push effective countermeasures to soldiers faster.

Ending: Witnesses agreed to accelerate prototyping and to brief the committee on the results of field tests; several senators sought classified follow‑ups on specific systems and funding details.","Senators and Army leaders cited recent Ukrainian operations and Russian use of drones as proof of the need to accelerate counter‑UAS, electronic warfare and adaptable acquisition. Lawmakers also flagged the unique testing role of Fort Huachuca’s Electronic Proving Ground.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6212339,"Senators press Army on munitions shortfalls and future of arsenals",377,3492279,3869735,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575&start=3492&end=3869","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575/thumbnail_3492279.jpg","/articles/6212339/Senators-press-Army-on-munitions-shortfalls-and-future-of-arsenals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212339-d7ffa23dec54132330e0a5d97f849e1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405742&Signature=l0VspfAUOT82BQCOoDysPGltuBeSa7Y82n1Hx~0zcvU4461i5jASQsZZfql0uh~56Tp0HcAICu4clxKGoKn3ltKmiz17K6X22rTN9diqIAj1ohRKWr9agN0~cIwVVwKFpQ2iTWQmaUGrBWJXxGD4qPh0CAvDwYI~~2a0In-Kz5o4FJ9TsJaoJoL5RyTvoT~aakT5PS4y40WOxVP~U26Hq5yuPZgA4VQ53IRGc8H3wyEFmdKO8fx~4RrNE4pARUYZnABxa1kJHvTo1Zyef9aDs-Dg79ljKRAQnQMW8N1Nvc13I2PPEOmQn5fu3k0GOCqr-wDPhOUUEPcahm63F76XJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators at the Armed Services Committee hearing pressed Secretary Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff Randy George over what members described as a national munitions crisis and how the Army plans to use its arsenals, ammunition plants and depots to scale production.

Senators described the organic industrial base as essential to producing munitions that private industry may not find profitable to make. Senator Cotton and others referenced specific depots and arsenals; Senator Budd urged expansion at facilities including Pine Bluff Arsenal, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant and Hawthorne Army Depot.

“Given all the money we spend on the Pentagon, it's unacceptable that we would ever run out of ammunition,” Senator Budd said, calling for an urgent plan to restore munitions stockpiles. Driscoll agreed the situation is “worse than I thought” after roughly 100 days on the job and said the Army’s ATI focuses on “modernize[ing] the organic industrial base to generate the ammunition stockpiles necessary to sustain national defense during wartime.”

Committee members asked directly about potential depot closures named in internal memos. Chairman Wicker read aloud a list of facilities that had been listed as potential sites for closure or repurposing, including Pine Bluff Arsenal, Bluegrass Army Depot and Red River Army Depot, and asked whether the Army planned to close them. Driscoll replied that the service is “creating a plan to look at what we can do with them with shifting work from them as one of the options” and acknowledged the need to preserve the industrial base if funding is available.

Lawmakers urged the Army to work with Congress on tradeoffs and on measures—such as workload guarantees or incentives for private‑industry partnerships—that would keep arsenals viable. Senator Duckworth and others flagged Rock Island Arsenal and sought detailed personnel and timeline answers for proposed consolidations; Driscoll said those staffing analyses were still in progress but that he expected net growth in technical capacity in some locations.

Ending: Driscoll and George pledged ongoing coordination with the committee on munitions scaling, depot workload and potential legislative or budgetary steps to modernize the organic industrial base.","Lawmakers pressed Army leaders about ammunition shortfalls and plans for arsenals including Pine Bluff, McAlester and Hawthorne. Secretary Driscoll and General George pledged to work with the committee on options to modernize the organic industrial base.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6212345,"Army leaders outline broad transformation plan, say reductions will fund modernization",991,925940,1917785,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575&start=925&end=1917","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685656-644ef4eb0953f121ea0f87d38e269575/thumbnail_925940.jpg","/articles/6212345/Army-leaders-outline-broad-transformation-plan-say-reductions-will-fund-modernization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212345-7b939a2652a7313b968d9eeb26fdcdfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770405742&Signature=klmCCOBuxIebkoU5ovdWI5VenXgCVAfogX9bBpV3Ml5Fjzhwb3m4OPIFxW6C0Ee4IxBqE6oidMnh4jClwd6NCgwz6nGq0~pb5OoEfYQI5iAQUJsIeTATfr1rsCzYnS2cTxD0Ul9aS10t1~OiBXhi6jjQh8s8pMrzYJSVyBmYMkcA5n18Dd3dajXXgohUGO8Cw6FrAldJMkVP6Eqkx7sVIqOIn1DHw91yMG2NB74Ga4w~WLA0SuZzhA41EQBQDClvkNbbW~~ceB-tBGS7tSK94cuUA6~i3cfbPAT7yehzdpaIZFqTkk~E7cUg2JHdp7H~Oa8saBft6YyD4rMAefZViw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Randy George told the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Army’s posture that the service’s Army Transformation Initiative, or ATI, would reduce overhead and civilian positions and redirect money to emerging war‑fighting priorities.

The initiative seeks to reallocate resources toward long‑range fires, air and missile defense, counter‑UAS and electronic warfare while working within an expected flat topline. Driscoll said the plan is intended to “make us into an army that is lean, agile, and relentlessly focused on empowering its soldiers.”

Committee members said the changes could be substantial and asked for detail on the implementation plan. The initiative, as described during the hearing, includes headquarters consolidations, business‑system modernization and reductions in civilian and headquarters personnel that officials said came from identifying redundancies. Ranking Member Senator Reid and others pressed Driscoll and George for the analysis behind the cuts and the timeline for execution.

“Cutting and consolidating headquarters. For instance, we're gonna reduce geo structure, cut 1,000 positions from our own staff here in DC,” Chief of Staff Randy George told the panel, describing one example of the proposed reductions. Driscoll acknowledged a larger civilian reduction figure discussed in the hearing—about 23,000 positions—and said leaders did not start from an arbitrary target but from examining duplicative functions.

Both witnesses asked for congressional partnership and for authorities that allow the Army to buy capabilities faster. Driscoll urged the committee to give the service “the flexibility to make decisions that keep pace with the rapid advancements in technology and the evolving nature of warfare,” while committing to oversight and to providing the analysis members requested.

Committee members also raised concerns about possible downstream effects on readiness and the defense industrial base if divestments proceed too fast. Senators asked for additional briefings and for data supporting the projected savings and the effects on specific missions.

If formally adopted, some aspects of the initiative would rely on budget decisions still pending in the Department of Defense. Driscoll and George said further details and implementation schedules will be provided as planning continues and requested follow‑up sessions with the committee.

Ending: The witnesses left the committee with a pledge to return with more detailed implementation plans and analyses. Several senators said they would schedule follow‑up meetings to examine the data behind workforce and headquarters cuts before Congress considers related appropriations or statutory changes.","Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff Randy George told the Senate Armed Services Committee the Army Transformation Initiative would cut headquarters and civilian positions to shift money into modernization, while urging Congress to give flexibility and oversight as changes are implemented.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senators press Army on transparency after Black Hawk collision; Army cites ongoing investigations

Senators press Army over proposed southern border deployments and use of Guard for immigration enforcement

Committee hearing highlights urgency of counter‑drone, electronic warfare investments

Senators press Army on munitions shortfalls and future of arsenals

Army leaders outline broad transformation plan, say reductions will fund modernization