Our Missile Defense System Could Be "Over-Matched'

Press Release

The House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL), held a hearing this week on the fiscal year 2016 missile defense budget.

The purpose of the hearing was to evaluate our country's needs as we move forward to ensure we have the proper ballistic missile defense system in place and have the funding to ensure it is a reality.

Rogers questioned Vice Admiral Jim Syring, Director, Missile Defense Agency on what the funding cuts for the Department of Defense really mean when it comes to defense of our homeland. Syring's response is further proof that these irresponsible cuts pose a clear and present danger to the defense of the homeland.

The Admiral warned, "[t]o me, now you're starting to jeopardize our future capability in terms of what we're able to say to the American people in our ability to defend the homeland. With the development and testing that I see going on with North Korea -- very specifically -- and the pace and the progress that they're making, I'm in serious jeopardy without those improvements going to NORTHCOM Commander and advising him that the system is over-matched. That would be the path that we're on if we don't do these improvements between now and 2020. The system will be over-matched."

After the hearing, Rogers said he still has serious concerns regarding these funding levels.

"This hearing reinforces why I feel so strongly about sufficiently funding the DoD and why I cannot support the House Budget Committee's current budget proposal until it does just that. The United States of America is on its way to losing its military edge, not just in terms of the ability to project power, but to even defend the homeland. This situation is intolerable," Rogers said.

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