May 12, 2022
Press Release
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, Lead Republican of the House Armed Services Committee, asked General James McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, how inflation is impacting the Army. Gen. McConville conveyed to the House Armed Services committee that he is ‘very concerned about the impact of inflation on our soldiers and families.’
Yesterday, Admiral Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, told the House Armed Services Committee that he is concerned about inflation and noted that it “adds another stressor to this budget.”
Previously, Rogers led HASC Republicans in urging the Biden administration to present Congress with a budget request 5% above the rate of inflation. Rogers and Senator Jim Inhofe both expressed their concern that the Department of Defense was not doing enough to address inflation.
Previously, Rogers led HASC Republicans in urging the Biden administration to present Congress with a budget request 5% above the rate of inflation. Rogers and Senator Jim Inhofe both expressed their concern that the Department of Defense was not doing enough to address inflation.
A transcription of the exchange is below:
Lead Republican Rogers: “General McConville, we had Admiral Gilday here yesterday testifying about the impact of inflation on his service and what it's done to raise the cost of shipbuilding, MILCON, fuel, and housing for the people. How is it affecting your service?”
Gen. McConville: “Well Congressman, I'm very concerned about the impact of inflation on our soldiers and families, our most important weapons system and, you know, as I’m sure as the other folks testified, the budget was planned around about a 2% inflation rate, and I'm not an economist or a comptroller, but here's what I do know. I know that in the budget, we wanted to give our soldiers and families, and our civilians, a 4.6% pay raise that was based on the employment cost index, and we wanted to give them a subsistence increase that was based on the USDA food cost. We wanted to get BHA and all these type things. And that number is a lot less than 8%. I don't know what it's going to be. But this affects our soldiers and families buying power. And you know, we would like to see them have that capability because we're in a war for talent and we want to take care of our soldiers and families. Thank you.”