Ayotte Highlights Debt as National Security Threat at Armed Services Hearing

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today highlighted the threat posed by America's growing national debt at a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee. During a nomination hearing, the president's nominee to serve as the next Army Chief of Staff -- General Martin Dempsey -- echoed Ayotte's concern that America's debt is a preeminent national security threat.

"If we don't restore fiscal sanity to Washington and reduce our national debt, I'm concerned that rising debt payments will begin to significantly crowd out the finances we have to protect our nation and its interests," said Ayotte. "Our deteriorating fiscal situation also stands to impact the ability to fulfill our commitment to our active duty troops and America's veterans who have sacrificed so much for us."

In questioning General Dempsey, Ayotte noted a comment made earlier this year by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said that America's burgeoning debt is the country's greatest national security threat.

Ayotte secured a commitment from General Dempsey to review a Government Accountability (GAO) report released earlier this week on waste in government. Commenting on the hearing, Ayotte said: "We must ensure our military remains the best manned, trained and equipped in the world. At the same time, we must identify and eliminate redundancies within the Department of Defense that waste taxpayer money and fail to increase our national security."

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