Opinion Pieces by Rob

We find ourselves at an unprecedented time in history — one that demands material progress in transitioning critical commercial technology into the U.S. Department of Defense. As the largest ground war since World War II rages on NATO’s borders—a war to which the United States has already committed $15 billion in security assistance to Ukraine at the time of writing—our own… Read more »

In recent years, lawmakers on the Armed Services Committees in Congress have attempted to work with Republican and Democratic administrations to strengthen the posture of the United States military in the Indo-Pacific and confront the challenge posed by China. Yet U.S. efforts to truly align resources accordingly have been frustrated since President Barack Obama’s… Read more »

As Congress returns to Washington after spending the last two weeks out of session, we find ourselves with just three session weeks left in Washington to complete our legislative business before we adjourn again on July 29 for six weeks of August recess. I know the value of spending time in our districts, which is why I make the almost two hour drive in from my home in Montross,… Read more »

Congress must deliver an NDAA that meets the world as it is By Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01) July 7, 2022 Breaking Defense The House and Senate are currently working to deliver robust defense funding for Fiscal Year 2023. Each Chamber continues to advance their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), reflecting the sense of urgency that is… Read more »

What it looks like when competing with China comes last By Rep. Rob Wittman June 17, 2022 Defense News When U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attempted to lay out the Biden administration’s stance toward Taiwan in his recent speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he reaffirmed the president’s commitment to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.… Read more »

Opinion: Biden defense budget compromises American security By. Rep. Rob Wittman May 21, 2022 The Virginian-Pilot   We are at a turning point in our nation’s history. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated his clear rejection of post-Cold War global order through his ferocious invasion into a sovereign nation. China remains the pacing challenge through their threat to… Read more »

Rob Wittman column: We must unleash American energy independence To read this online in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Click Here. One consistent message I hear from constituents throughout Virginia’s 1st Congressional District and folks throughout the entire commonwealth is American families are feeling the pain of soaring inflation and skyrocketing energy costs in a very real… Read more »

The 30-year shipbuilding plan from the Biden Administration does not reflect our legacy or prevent a vision for our future. Instead, this plan would abandon key tenants of American naval power, shirk congressionally mandated shipbuilding requirements, break faith with our shipbuilding-industrial base, and put the Navy on a path of near-term decline during a pivotal decade for confronting… Read more »

The Department of the Navy needs a serious, strategy-driven shipbuilding plan; and Congress must provide full, consistent funding to turn that plan into real ships. Read my Op-Ed on this issue from the U.S. Naval Institute - Proceedings below. Russia’s aggressive and intolerable invasion of Ukraine serves as a wakeup call for the United States. Russian leader Vladimir Putin… Read more »

For over 50 years, Coast Guard Station Milford Haven has protected life and commerce throughout the waterways of the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and the middle Chesapeake Bay. All that could change if the Coast Guard’s budget plan to downgrade their presence in the region isn’t stopped. Recently, the Coast Guard announced plans to reduce operations out of Mathews County, a decision… Read more »