Reed Statement on Hegseth Plan to Cut Pentagon’s Test and Evaluation Office

WASHINGTON, DC—This week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced his intention to significantly reduce the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, including slashing its workforce, budget, and resources. The DOT&E office is responsible for testing and validating weapons and platforms across the Department of Defense.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response:
“Secretary Hegseth’s decision to gut the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation office is reckless and damaging to military accountability and oversight. For decades, DOT&E has played a vital, legally mandated role in safeguarding the integrity of major defense programs and ensuring military systems are effective before they are put into warfighters’ hands.“The Secretary has given no logical reasoning for this action, and I am concerned that this move appears retaliatory, driven by Mr. Hegseth’s opposition to some of DOT&E’s recent, legally required oversight decisions. With staffing reduced to a skeleton crew and limited contractor backing, DOT&E may be unable to provide adequate oversight for critical military programs, risking operational readiness and taxpayer dollars. This kind of politically motivated interference undermines independent oversight and leaves warfighters and the public more vulnerable to untested, potentially flawed systems.”