Defense department weapons testing office's future under scrutiny by legislators due to Trump administration's nominee
The Defense Department's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) workforce has been significantly reduced, following a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The reduction, which eliminates all contractor support, was justified by Hegseth in a May 27 memo, citing the identification of redundant, non-essential, non-statutory functions within DOT&E that do not support operational agility or resource efficiency.
The staff has been cut from about 94 people to 46, including 30 civilians, 15 uniformed personnel, and one Senior Executive Service leader. The changes are projected to save approximately $300 million annually, mostly by eliminating contracts with federally funded research and development centers and other contractors.
However, the deep cuts have raised concerns among defense experts and lawmakers. Critics, including former DOT&E chief scientist Greg Zacharias, warn that cutting about 80% of the workforce will significantly impair the office’s mission to ensure new weapons work as intended. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed have called the downsizing “dangerous,” highlighting that the office is now operating with only about 26% of its previous staff and 20% of its prior budget.
They caution that these cuts could prevent the DOT&E from effectively identifying deficiencies in new military programs before deployment, potentially endangering troops by fielding inadequately tested weapons. The DOT&E oversees a portfolio of hundreds of major weapon programs, including critical systems like the M1A1 Abrams tank, B-21 bomber, and upcoming platforms, making its oversight role vital for defense readiness.
Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) emphasized the need to modernize the test and evaluation process, arguing that the cuts "properly refocused the office on its original statutory purpose rather than the excessive bureaucratic obstacle it had evolved into." He also supports an agile pathway to provide the director with more oversight across systems' lifecycle while preserving the independence of the test and evaluation office.
Amy Henninger, who has been nominated to lead the DOT&E office, has pledged to "always come before you and tell the truth" in her role. She has also announced plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the office's portfolio, workload, and workforce capacity.
Senator Jack Reed expressed concern that the reduced resources of DOT&E may prevent it from providing adequate oversight for critical military programs. He believes that the reduction in DOT&E could be damaging to military accountability and oversight.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about the office's ability to adequately test weapons and called on Hegseth to reverse the decision, stating that the reduced DOT&E may risk operational awareness and taxpayer dollars.
In a June 17 letter to Hegseth, Sen. Elizabeth Warren expressed doubts about whether oversight decisions would be guided by objective standards and warned that the cuts could undermine cyber testing.
The committee understands the importance of maintaining the independence of the test and evaluation office while improving its efficiency and effectiveness, according to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). The confirmation hearing for Amy Henninger is pending.
- The deep cuts to the Defense Department's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) workforce have sparked concerns among defense experts and lawmakers, who warn that the reduction could prevent the DOT&E from effectively identifying deficiencies in new military programs before deployment.
- Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed have criticized the downsizing of the DOT&E, arguing that the reduction in staff could potentially endanger troops by fielding inadequately tested weapons and compromise military accountability and oversight.
