• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy Biden’s Pentagon nominee grilled on selling of border wall parts, Chinese spy balloon: ‘Caught flat-footed’
Economy

Biden’s Pentagon nominee grilled on selling of border wall parts, Chinese spy balloon: ‘Caught flat-footed’

by January 25, 2024
by January 25, 2024 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp
Join Fox News for access to this content
Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account!
Please enter a valid email address.
By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

President Biden’s nominee for second-highest civilian position in the U.S. Air Force was grilled by Congress on Tuesday regarding the Department of Defense’s selling off of border wall parts, as well as the handling of the Chinese spy balloon, among other issues impacting national security. 

Melissa Dalton, who has served as the Pentagon’s Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs since 2022, appeared before the Senate Committee on Armed Services on Tuesday as she’s being considered for a second time for the role of Under Secretary of the Air Force. Biden nominated her for the Air Force’s No. 2 civilian role in September, but because the Senate didn’t act before the end of the year, the White House renominated Dalton this month. 

In his opening statement, Ranking Member Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., raised concern that Dalton ‘has virtually no experience with the Air Force.’ 

‘Ms. Dalton, the Air Force and Space Force both possess insufficient capacity and capability to meet their growing mission sets. This is the case even as we march toward a state of maximum vulnerability in the Pacific. The last confirmed appointee to the post that Ms. Dalton has been appointed for was not focused on this challenge. She created division in our military instead of prioritizing readiness and modernization,’ he said. ‘If Ms. Dalton is confirmed, I hope that she will not do the same. Regrettably, her performance in her current position gives me pause.’

While Dalton has been at her post, Wicker charged, the ‘Department of Defense was caught flat-footed as a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed the continental United States and flew over military sites,’ and ‘when Congress sought more information, she, along with others at the Department, evaded Constitutionally-authorized oversight.’ 

Wicker also raised concern over Dalton’s handling of the Pentagon’s responsibilities at the southwestern border. 

‘At one point, the Department of Defense was spending $130,000 every single day to store, instead of use, border wall construction materials,’ he said. ‘They were already manufactured, they were ready, and yet we were spending $130,000 to store them. Meanwhile, illegal migration broke records. Later, we found out that the Department of Defense had initiated a process in which these panels would be auctioned for pennies on the dollar — a clear effort to circumvent emerging Congressional intent as the FINISH IT Act was being added to the NDAA. That act was added to the NDAA; it is now the law of the land.’

Specifically, Wicker took issue with Dalton failing to deliver the Homeland Defense Planning Guidance until the end of 2023 — over a year after the release of the National Defense Strategy. 

‘This track record casts a shadow on this nomination,’ he said. 

Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., was also among the Republicans to challenge Dalton about the border, as well as the Chinese spy balloon, which entered U.S. airspace over Alaska, crossed through Canada and then over the continental United States, reportedly gathering key intelligence about U.S. military sites, before it was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

‘This was under your watch. Were you in the direct chain of command in regards to the decision not to shoot the balloon down until after it had left American airspace?’ Rounds demanded. 

Dalton admitted she was one of the officials advising Austin, adding that ‘the best military advice to not shoot down over U.S. territory came from our U.S. senior military officials.’ 

Noting that at the time Dalton’s nomination to hold her current role passed the same committee in 2022, she was ‘not controversial,’ Rounds said that since then, ‘two items have happened that now call into question that confidence.’ 

Regarding the spy balloon, Rounds warned, ‘This is an area you will be challenged on this particular one because it’s a question of judgment and recommendations being made. I think that between now and the time that a vote is held on your nomination, I think you’ve got some work to do to regain the confidence of a lot of the members on this committee.’ 

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., also pressed Dalton on when she first was made aware of the spy balloon. 

Dalton testified she first heard of the balloon on Jan. 27, 2023, the same day as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. 

‘My initial advice was that we absolutely needed to understand what capabilities were on the PRC high altitude balloon. NORAD NORTHCOM was tracking it and characterizing it, but we needed to get to the bottom of what it was doing, what its intentions were,’ she said. 

Cramer pressed Dalton on why it was not ‘instinctive’ for her to ever initiate an internal review of all the policies and processes, including the siloing of various intelligence agencies, in the aftermath of the incident, adding that it took the Senate Armed Service Committee to do so. 

‘Did it ever occur to you, ‘Gee, this is something we should maybe dig into a little bit and see where our failings are’?’ Cramer posed. 

After insisting the department had incorporated the ‘lessons learned’ in the development of the homeland defense policy guidance over the last year that was signed by Austin in December, Dalton was again grilled on what she would have done differently in the event of the crisis itself. 

‘We as a community could have had better national level integration at the local level — what I saw in the early days of the PRC HAB was that we were very well wired for responding to hurricanes, to wildfires, and that is the day-to-day existence for defense supported civil authorities, but it hadn’t been since World War II that we had an incursion over U.S. territory from a foreign adversary, and so getting that national to federal to state and local integration happened, but I think in real time we could have been more expeditious about it, and we will do so going forward,’ she said. 

‘It’s OK to have been wrong,’ Cramer told Dalton. ‘A correction is what we’re looking for.’ 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
You Might Also Like
  • Republicans roll out new national voting law, warn Americans to watch out for Democrat deception
  • Shadow campaigns: 7 Democrat candidates who could step in if President Biden drops out of 2024 race
  • Iowa Legislature adjourns after most key GOP agenda items become law
  • AOC faces House ethics probe over Met Gala, watchdog finds ‘substantial reason to believe’ violations occurred
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
First lady Jill Biden invites Texas woman who sought illegal abortion to State of the Union address
next post
Lara Trump predicts US won’t be ‘the same country’ if GOP voters don’t rally behind Trump to defeat Biden

You may also like

Cotton endorses Trump, says ‘everything has gone to hell’ under...

January 4, 2024

Tribal sovereignty push flops in Maine as Gov. Mills’ veto...

July 7, 2023

Sen Paul says Ukraine aid package would ‘tie the hands’...

February 13, 2024

Top House Dem resigned from leadership after colleagues voiced ‘discomfort’...

October 3, 2023

New York Gov. Hochul silent as state lawmakers pass bill...

June 14, 2023

Democratic darlings Schiff and Porter kick off an ugly, expensive...

January 29, 2023

Which social media platforms have banned Trump and why? An...

August 5, 2024

Three top takeaways from the Senate Energy committee hearing on...

September 8, 2023

Israel-Hamas war: IDF uncovers evidence of Hamas developing precision missile...

January 8, 2024

Keisha Lance Bottoms announces departure from White House role

February 28, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right Now

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025
    • U.S. foreign tax bill sends jitters across Wall Street

      May 30, 2025
    • Amazon taps Xbox co-founder to lead new team developing ‘breakthrough’ consumer products

      May 30, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,765 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,472 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,451 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,432 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,308 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,581)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right...

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,581)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Biden calls Trump a ‘convicted felon,’...

    June 4, 2024

    Conservatives revolt against Johnson-Schumer deal to...

    January 9, 2024

    DeSantis lands endorsements of two high-profile...

    May 12, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here