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Secretary of the Air Force Troy Mink , 

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Air Force Chief of Staff General David 

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Alvin , and Chief of Space Operations 

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General Chan Saltzman testified before 

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a Senate Defense Subcommittee on the 

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Defense's 2026 fiscal year budget 

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request , prioritizing homeland defense 

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and reinforcing the Indo-Pacific . The 

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Department of the Air Force is at an 

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inflection point . We are engaged in a 

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fast-paced race for military 

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superiority against a well-resourced 

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strategic opponent . We simultaneously 

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face personnel and platform challenges 

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affecting our immediate readiness . We 

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must also balance our requirement to 

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generate readiness today with the 

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requirements to deter our adversaries 

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in the future and if necessary when 

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decisively in conflict . Mink 

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highlighted the recent US strike on 

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Iran as an example of what is possible , 

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but also what is at risk unless 

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Congress ensures sufficient 

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uninterrupted funding . General Alvin 

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also highlighted the recent strike and 

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what could happen without a short and 

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consistent funding from Congress . As 

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the world saw on June 21st , no other 

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service can match what the Air Force 

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delivers , effects anywhere on the 

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globe at any scale on minimal notice . 

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Alvin told senators the budget request 

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for 2026 is designed to build a force 

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aligned with today's operational 

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realities . We don't just need more air 

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force , we need a more capable one . We 

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need more tooth and less tail , a force 

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that can deliver rapid , decisive blows 

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and reposition quickly . General . 

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Saltzman expanded on the necessity of 

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funding from the perspective of space 

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power . The space force has been asked 

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to accept new responsibilities and new 

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missions . These new missions require 

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new resources or we will face tough 

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choices between delayed readiness , 

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reduced capacity , or unaddressed 

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vulnerabilities . The lawmakers agreed 

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with the three leaders that the 2026 

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financial spending plan needs to be 

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approved to keep pace with the evolving 

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needs of national security . That is 

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your look around the Air Force . I'm 

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Technical Sergeant Lewis Kokonis .