Elizabeth Warren Presses Biden’s Deputy Defense Nominee on ‘Unconscionable’ Military Spending While 400,000 Americans Died of Covid

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) pressed Kathleen Hicks, President Joe Biden’s deputy defense secretary nominee, during her confirmation hearing on Tuesday — questioning the “unconscionable” funds spend on the military while 400,000 Americans died of the coronavirus.

“I have been very critical about the size of the defense budget. It’s long been a concern of mine. But after last year, watching more than 400,000 fellow Americans die, tens of millions unemployed due to Covid-19,” Warren said to Hicks. “Millions more lined up at food banks, and even millions more that are on the threshold of losing their homes and being put out on the street. Spending $740 billion a yeaar on this one piece of the federal budget is unconscionable.”

Warren continued to condemn the federal government for over spending on the military while underspending on civilians and public health measures amid a global pandemic.

“Let me ask the question this way, Dr. Hicks, do you believe that we can find ways to lower the top line budget number and then spend that money more effectively without sacrificing our security,” Warren asked.

Hicks acknowledged the devastation of this past year, but noted that government can and should still spend money on the defense that the United States needs.

“So my view to the direct question is, I do think there are ways for the defense department to be more efficient, to be more effective,” Hicks said, promoting operational concept advancement.

Asking for clarification on the answer, Warren asked if Hicks was implying that the defense team can reduce military budget without sacrificing the nation’s security, as long as both parties work together.

“Yes, and so long as we’re willing to make some decisions that may incur risk themselves,” Hicks replied.

Watch above, via C-SPAN.