Both Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace tossed cold water on a bipartisan effort to give the National Guard Bureau chief a seat on the JCS. Testifying before a budget hearing of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Rumsfeld said, “The Army includes the total Army and the Air Force includes the Total Air Force; … to begin to segment them inside the Joint Chiefs of Staff is not a good idea.” Pace told the lawmakers that such a move would be “disruptive” and “would do a disservice to the country,” since the effort over the last 20 years has been “to kludge together a joint force.” Pace did suggest that the Commission on the Guard and Reserves should consider whether the current rank structure is “appropriate.” Legislation, introduced by Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), would make the NGB chief a four star, as well as elevate the position to the JCS.
House, Senate Unveil Competing Proposals for 2026 Budget
July 11, 2025
Lawmakers from the House and Senate laid out competing versions of the annual defense policy bill on July 11, with vastly different potential outcomes for some of the Air Force’s most embattled programs.