Ranking Member Shaheen Opening Remarks at Hearing on Arms Control and Transforming International Security Functions at the State Department

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered opening remarks at a full committee hearing, "Arms Control and Transforming International Security Functions at the State Department." In her remarks, Ranking Member Shaheen questioned Thomas DiNanno, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, on the U.S. levels of munitions stockpiles in the wake of President Trump's war with Iran and efforts to continue providing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.

You can watch her opening remarks here.

"Last Thursday, almost three weeks into this war against Iran, the Administration pushed through more than 16 billion dollars in arms sales to the Middle East, and they did that by using emergency authority to bypass normal Congressional review," said Ranking Member Shaheen. "This is an emergency with respect to our munitions and weapons, I believe. And I think it is one driven by a lack of planning and a clear strategy. The United States is running through munitions as well here at home. In some cases, we have only about a quarter of the interceptors we need. I've been in briefings, and it is still not clear what the end goal of the war in Iran is. Without a clear end goal, we are making real tradeoffs about where our resources go."

Ranking Member Shaheen highlighted the impact that these tradeoffs in how the United States allocates its resources in having on conflicts elsewhere in the world, including Ukraine.

"We've seen these tradeoffs are already showing up in Ukraine, where it continues to adapt and is currently advancing against Russian forces," continued Ranking Member Shaheen. "But U.S. support has become less predictable, and allies are increasingly stepping in to purchase or backfill American-made arms. According to Ukrainian officials, over 80 percent of their strikes are now carried out by drones. The battlefield is moving toward autonomous systems and drone swarms. [...] But unfortunately, the support that we have in the U.S. is not keeping pace."

Finally, Ranking Member Shaheen warned of the risks of major arms control agreements lapsing, like New START, in the context of the threats posed by China and Russia to the United States.

"Talks on future arms control arrangements have stalled," Ranking Member Shaheen said. "There is broad agreement that a multilateral approach that includes Russia and China is best. But, as we know, that is not viable right now. And China has consistently opposed joining such negotiations. In practice, that gives China an effective veto over progress that we could make with Russia and on other fronts. Waiting for perfect conditions while things are moving in the wrong direction is not a plan."

The Ranking Member's remarks, as delivered, are below.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And welcome Under Secretary DiNanno. Now that I know about your history, I'll consider you an honorary Granite Stater. So, we're delighted to welcome you to the hearing today.

Last Thursday, almost three weeks into this war against Iran, the Administration pushed through more than 16 billion dollars in arms sales to the Middle East, and they did that by using emergency authority to bypass normal Congressional review. What we know is that our Gulf partners are burning through interceptors at a staggering rate-using in a day what the United States produces in a year. We met with a number of our Gulf partners last week and heard that they are concerned about the availability of munitions.

This is an emergency with respect to our munitions and weapons, I believe. And I think it is one driven by a lack of planning and a clear strategy. The United States is running through munitions as well here at home. In some cases, we have only about a quarter of the interceptors we need. I've been in briefings, and it is still not clear what the end goal of the war in Iran is. Without a clear end goal, we are making real tradeoffs about where our resources go.

We've seen these tradeoffs are already showing up in Ukraine, where it continues to adapt and is currently advancing against Russian forces. But U.S. support has become less predictable, and allies are increasingly stepping in to purchase or backfill American-made arms.

According to Ukrainian officials, over 80 percent of their strikes are now carried out by drones. The battlefield is moving toward autonomous systems and drone swarms. In fact, Senator Kaine and I just were in a hearing that was classified, but is going to become open, but it was about how we're developing some of those developmental munitions, which are what we have been seeing in Ukraine, and among our adversaries in Iran, from Russia, from China. But unfortunately, the support that we have in the U.S. is not keeping pace.

And it does not stop with Ukraine. The broader security environment is becoming more dangerous. Russia is expanding and modernizing its nuclear capabilities. As we know, the Chairman alluded to the New START treaty has been suspended that ends inspections and provides increasing uncertainty. Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus-moving them closer to NATO and raising the risks. And we are hearing from a number of our NATO partners who are very concerned within the next five years Russia intends to advance on a NATO country. It's also testing new underwater nuclear systems that are harder to track and control.

At the same time, China is also rapidly expanding its nuclear capabilities. It's constructing more than 300 new missile silos, and it's growing its arsenal with little transparency and outside any arms control framework.

And at the same time, the arms control framework that has helped manage these risks is breaking down. Talks on future arms control arrangements have stalled.

There is broad agreement that a multilateral approach that includes Russia and China is best. But, as we know, that is not viable right now. And China has consistently opposed joining such negotiations. In practice, that gives China an effective veto over progress that we could make with Russia and on other fronts. Waiting for perfect conditions while things are moving in the wrong direction is not a plan.

Mr. DiNanno, the Bureau of Arms Control and International Security has gone through a major reorganization that was supposed to bring clarity and focus. I hope we will hear this morning how you are approaching this and what is guiding your decisions.

I look forward to hearing your perspective. Thank you.

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