In Defense Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Questions Army Leaders About U.S. Involvement In Israel-Iran Conflict, Advocates For Rock Island Arsenal
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the U.S. Army. During the hearing, Durbin questioned U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George about the Trump Administration’s approach to the conflict between Israel and Iran before concluding his speaking time by urging the officials to make full use of Rock Island Arsenal’s production capacity.
“Currently, Israel is engaged in conflict in Gaza with Hamas, but more recently, in Iran. My question is, what is the role of the United States as this war unfolds between Israel and Iran?” Durbin asked. “The reason I think the question is relevant is that there’s been some inquiry of the White House of what the President has meant by recent statements, when he’s referred to ‘we’ in reference to Israel’s role there… What is to be our future involvement in the Israeli-Iran conflict?... [Have] there been any efforts made or changes made in terms of positioning troops, equipment, or other resources in anticipation of an invasion of Iran?”
Durbin also asked for clarification on when, specifically, the President may have made any decisions to position American troops and assets to the Middle East to potentially join Israel’s assault on Iran.
General George indicated that the Army has increased its footprint in the region to defend American interests and consistently shifts resources to ensure that trained and ready forces are prepared for any placement or situation. Secretary Driscoll also offered to follow up with more information in a classified setting.
Durbin has expressed serious concern about the potential for President Trump to entangle the U.S. in another conflict in the Middle East. Durbin has long supported Israel’s self-defense and condemned Iran’s history of backing militant groups in the region. He was also the lead Democratic sponsor of the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007, from which the key petroleum sanctions eventually became the basis to pressure Iran to negotiate the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Durbin led the defense of this historic agreement in the Senate, which became an effective measure to restrict the country’s dangerous nuclear program until President Trump rashly withdrew from it during his first term, an ill-advised decision that has since allowed Iran’s nuclear program to advance and set the stage for this unnecessary conflict. In addition, Durbin plans to join the war powers effort by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to prevent a war with Iran without congressional approval, as mandated by the Constitution.
Durbin then pivoted to the Rock Island Arsenal, encouraging Secretary Driscoll and General George to utilize the arsenal to its full capacity.
“I’d just like to make a plea. The men and women of the Rock Island Arsenal have responded when asked, over and over again, when it came to up-armoring Humvees in the early stages of the war in Iraq. They were there even before the private sector could respond. I hope as you move forward that you will turn to their expertise and give them an opportunity to bid into some of this work, to save us money, and to continue to make this the strongest defense in the world,” Durbin said.
Durbin has long been a champion for Rock Island Arsenal and its modernization and workload efforts. In March, Durbin introduced bipartisan legislation to boost workload at U.S. Army arsenals, including Rock Island Arsenal. The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act would incentivize private industry to partner with arsenals by giving preference to public-private partnerships in Army contracting. As no workload requirement currently exists for Army arsenals, the legislation would provide arsenals with a more predictable, sustained workload throughout the year and allow them to keep costs low while remaining competitive with private industry in the manufacturing or procurement of defense products. He also led Quad Cities lawmakers in a letter to Secretary Driscoll this week ask requesting information about the Army’s modernization strategy, “Army Transformation Initiative,” and urging against job losses at the Arsenal.
Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s question in Committee is available here for TV stations.
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