Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) said he’s had it with Pentagon leaders rendering major decisions about the size and shape of US armed forces without, apparently, the benefit of adequate data to back up their choices. Moreover, when members of Congress ask for data and explanations, they get evasive answers or none at all, he asserted. “There’s a lot of slow rolling going on . . . and it needs to stop,” Webb told defense reporters Wednesday in Washington, D.C. There has to be “balance” in the system between Administration decisions and Congress’ approval, said Webb. That’s why he said he has put a hold on Pentagon nominations until he gets some answers—specifically about the decision to axe US Joint Forces Command, which is headquartered in Norfolk, Va.
The nominee to lead U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency touted the value of the organizations’ dual-hat command structure and urged caution toward creating a dedicated cyber military service in written testimony to Congress released Jan. 15.
