Yellowhammer Times

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to review the Department of Defense budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The discussion included topics such as military modernization using artificial intelligence, standards for military personnel, and future warfighting strategies.

During the hearing, Tuberville addressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on issues related to law enforcement and public safety in California. He said, “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for being here today. Mr. Secretary, thanks for looking out for the law enforcement and the millions of people in California that still love this country and want this country to survive and not the radicals that wave non-American flags, that protest in the streets, tear things down. It is ridiculous and thank you for doing what you’re doing, you and President Trump. It’s getting out of hand.”

Tuberville also discussed his role as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Personnel subcommittee, focusing on recruitment efforts and improving conditions for military personnel. He stated, “[I’m] chairman of the [Senate Armed Services] Personnel [sub]committee. Thanks for your recruiting. You’re doing great. Keep looking out after the quality of life [of our troops]. Please do that. We’ve done research after research. We did give a raise. We wanna continue to give raises. These first-year staffers in this building make tens of thousands [of] dollars more than first-year military personnel. That’s not right. We need to change that. It’s an all-volunteer army and thank you for working towards that.”

When asked about ongoing reviews of military standards, Hegseth responded: “It is ongoing and very close to fruition. We’ve reviewed standards, specifically on Combat MOSs first to ensure that we haven’t seen a reduction in pursuit of quotas or any other agendas. So, standards are being moved back to where they were at their highest level, gender neutral. And then we’re looking at overall fitness standards, overall grooming standards, overall basic standards across our formations that we believe have slipped certainly under the previous administration, but over decades. But we’re being very careful about it too. We don’t wanna make big changes that are wide-sweeping that have unintended consequences. So, we’re looking service by service, but also trying to simplify and clarify as much as possible. High standards, clear standards that set us apart.”

Tuberville acknowledged his appointment to the Air Force Board of Visitors: “Thanks for your help on putting me on the Air Force Board of Visitors […] and I look forward to going out soon, it is very important. We understand we do have problems in the Air Force Academy, and we’re going to get those straightened out one way or another.” He also thanked both Hegseth and former President Trump.

Addressing General J. Daniel Caine about joint force transformation efforts within branches like the Marine Corps and Army Transformation Initiative aimed at preparing U.S forces for future conflicts, Tuberville asked about involvement from Joint Staff leadership.

Caine replied: “Sure. Thanks for the question. As the services carefully consider what they need to look like, one of my primary jobs is a global integrator... I appreciate the leadership of both of those services... So we’re deeply involved in all that.”

The hearing concluded with Tuberville raising concerns about opportunities for service academy athletes wishing to play professional sports before fulfilling their service obligations: “This is right up my alley here... West Point this year had a young man that was drafted to play baseball... but we are disallowing a young man at West Point to go to Major League Baseball...”

Hegseth responded: “Coach, we will review that yes.”

Tuberville represents Alabama in several Senate committees including Armed Services.