United States Senate Committee on Armed Services

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Senate Armed Services Committee
Standing committee
Active
Seal of the United States Senate.svg
United States Senate
119th Congress
History
FormedJanuary 2, 1947
Leadership
Chair Roger Wicker (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking member Jack Reed (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Structure
Seats27 members
Political partiesMajority (14)
  •   Republican (14)
Minority (13)
Jurisdiction
Policy areas Defense policy, military operations
Oversight authority Department of Defense, Armed Forces
House counterpart House Armed Services Committee
Website
www.armed-services.senate.gov
    Chair Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Warner (R-VA) listen to Admiral Mike Mullen's confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in July 2007; the Armed Services Committee is charged with overseeing the U.S. Senate's confirmation hearings for senior U.S. military. United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, Levin D-MI & Warner R-VA, 7-31-2007.jpg
    Chair Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Warner (R-VA) listen to Admiral Mike Mullen's confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in July 2007; the Armed Services Committee is charged with overseeing the U.S. Senate's confirmation hearings for senior U.S. military.
    Armed Services Committee senators Joe Lieberman, Carl Levin (chair), and John McCain listen to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus deliver his opening remarks for the fiscal year 2010 budget request in June 2009. US Navy 090604-N-5549O-031 U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman, left, Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and John McCain listen to Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus.jpg
    Armed Services Committee senators Joe Lieberman, Carl Levin (chair), and John McCain listen to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus deliver his opening remarks for the fiscal year 2010 budget request in June 2009.
    The committee's Don't Ask, Don't Tell hearing on December 2, 2010; U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates greets Ranking member, John McCain. Defense.gov News Photo 101202-N-0696M-047 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates greets Sen. John McCain prior to testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Dec. 2 2010. Gates.jpg
    The committee's Don't Ask, Don't Tell hearing on December 2, 2010; U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates greets Ranking member, John McCain.
    The Committee on Armed Services' hearing on sexual assault in the military on June 4, 2013 At table to the right, from left, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Robert Papp; Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Vaughn A. Ary, the staff judge advocate to the commandant of the Marine Corps; Commandant of 130604-A-HU462-217.jpg
    The Committee on Armed Services' hearing on sexual assault in the military on June 4, 2013

    The Committee on Armed Services, sometimes abbreviated SASC for Senate Armed Services Committee, is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy (as pertaining to national security), benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System, and other matters related to defense policy. [1] The Armed Services Committee was created as a result of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 following the U.S. victory in World War II. The bill merged the responsibilities of the Committee on Naval Affairs, established in 1816, and the Committee on Military Affairs, also established in 1816. [1]

    Contents

    Considered one of the most powerful Senate committees, its broad mandate allowed it to report some of the most extensive and revolutionary legislation during the Cold War years, including the National Security Act of 1947. The committee tends to take a more bipartisan approach than other committees, as many of its members formerly served in the military or have major defense interests located in the states they represent. [2] The committee's regular legislative product is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has been passed by Congress and signed into law annually since 1962. [3]

    The current chair is Republican Roger Wicker of Mississippi, and the ranking member is Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island.

    Jurisdiction

    According to the Standing Rules of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects are referred to the Armed Services Committee: [4]

    1. Aeronautical and space activities pertaining to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems or military operations.
    2. Common defense.
    3. Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force, generally.
    4. Maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal, including administration, sanitation, and government of the Canal Zone.
    5. Military research and development.
    6. National security aspects of nuclear energy.
    7. Naval petroleum reserves, except those in Alaska.
    8. Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including overseas education of civilian and military dependents.
    9. Selective service system.
    10. Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.

    Members, 119th Congress

    Majority [5] Minority [6]

    Subcommittees

    Subcommittee NameChair [8] Ranking Member [8]
    Airland Kevin Cramer (R-ND) Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
    Cybersecurity Mike Rounds (R-SD) Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    Emerging Threats and Capabilities Joni Ernst (R-IA) Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
    Personnel Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
    Readiness and Management Support Dan Sullivan (R-AK) Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
    Seapower Rick Scott (R-FL) Tim Kaine (D-VA)
    Strategic Forces Deb Fischer (R-NE) Angus King (I-ME)

    Leadership

    Committee on Military Affairs, 1816–1947

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    John Williams Democratic-Republican Tennessee 18161817
    George Troup Democratic-Republican Georgia 18171818
    John Williams Democratic-Republican Tennessee 18181823
    Andrew Jackson Jackson Democratic-Republican Tennessee 18231825
    William Harrison Adams Republican Ohio 18251828
    Thomas Benton Jacksonian
    (1828–1837)    		 Missouri 18281841
    Democratic
    (1837–1841)
    William Preston Whig South Carolina 18411842
    John Crittenden Whig Kentucky 18421845
    Thomas Benton Democratic Missouri 18451849
    Jefferson Davis Democratic Mississippi 18491851
    James Shields Democratic Illinois 18511855
    John Weller Democratic California 18551857
    Jefferson Davis Democratic Mississippi 18571861
    Robert Johnson Democratic Arkansas 1861
    Henry Wilson Republican Massachusetts 18611872
    John Logan Republican Illinois 18721877
    George Spencer Republican Alabama 18771879
    Theodore Randolph Democratic New Jersey 18791881
    John Logan Republican Illinois 18811886
    Joseph Hawley Republican Connecticut 18871893
    Edward Walthall Democratic Mississippi 18931894
    Joseph Hawley Republican Connecticut 18941905
    Francis Warren Republican Wyoming 19051911
    Henry du Pont Republican Delaware 19111913
    Joseph Johnston Democratic Alabama 1913 [9]
    George Chamberlain Democratic Oregon 19131919
    James Wadsworth Republican New York 19191927
    David Reed Republican Pennsylvania 19271933
    Morris Sheppard Democratic Texas 19331941
    Robert Reynolds Democratic North Carolina 19421945
    Elbert Thomas Democratic Utah 19451947

    Committee on Naval Affairs, 1816–1947

    NamePartyStateStartEnd
    Charles Tait Democratic-Republican Georgia 18161818
    Nathan Sanford Democratic-Republican New York 18181819
    James Pleasants Democratic-Republican Virginia 18191823
    James Lloyd Adams-Clay Federalist Massachusetts 18231825
    Robert Hayne Jacksonian South Carolina 18251832
    George Dallas Jacksonian Pennsylvania 18321833
    Samuel Southard Anti-Jackson New Jersey 18331836
    William Rives Jacksonian
    (1836–1837)    		 Virginia 18361839
    Democratic
    (1837–1839)
    Reuel Williams Democratic Maine 18391841
    Willie Mangum Whig North Carolina 18411842
    Richard Bayard Whig Delaware 18421845
    John Fairfield Democratic Maine 18451847
    David Yulee Democratic Florida 18471851
    William Gwin Democratic California 18511855
    Stephen Mallory Democratic Florida 18551861
    John Thomson Democratic New Jersey 1861
    John Hale Republican New Hampshire 18611864
    James Grimes Republican Iowa 18641870
    Aaron Cragin Republican New Hampshire 18701877
    Aaron Sargent Republican California 18771879
    John McPherson Democratic New Jersey 18791881
    James Cameron Republican Pennsylvania 18811893
    John McPherson Democratic New Jersey 18931895
    James Cameron Republican Pennsylvania 18951897
    Eugene Hale Republican Maine 18971909
    George Perkins Republican California 19091913
    Benjamin Tillman Democratic South Carolina 19131918
    Claude Swanson Democratic Virginia 19181919
    Carroll Page Republican Vermont 19191923
    Frederick Hale Republican Maine 19231933
    Park Trammell Democratic Florida 19331937
    David Walsh Democratic Massachusetts 19371947

    Committee on Armed Services, 1947–present

      Denotes acting capacity.

    Historical committee rosters

    111th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Source: 2010  Congressional Record, Vol. 156, Page  S6226

    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Minority Member
    Airland Joe Lieberman (I-CT) John Thune (R-SD)
    Emerging Threats and Capabilities Bill Nelson (D-FL) George LeMieux (R-FL)
    Personnel Jim Webb (D-VA) Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
    Readiness and Management Support Evan Bayh (D-IN) Richard Burr (R-NC)
    SeaPower Jack Reed (D-RI) Roger Wicker (R-MS)
    Strategic Forces Ben Nelson (D-NE) David Vitter (R-LA)

    112th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Source: 2011  Congressional Record, Vol. 157, Page  S557

    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
    Airland Joe Lieberman (I-CT) Scott Brown (R-MA)
    Emerging Threats and Capabilities Kay Hagan (D-NC) Rob Portman (R-OH)
    Personnel Jim Webb (D-VA) Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
    Readiness and Management Support Claire McCaskill (D-MO) Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
    Seapower Jack Reed (D-RI) Roger Wicker (R-MS)
    Strategic Forces Ben Nelson (D-NE) Jeff Sessions (R-AL)

    113th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Source: 2013  Congressional Record, Vol. 159, Page  S296

    Subcommittees
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
    Airland Joe Manchin (D-WV) Roger Wicker (R-MS)
    Emerging Threats and Capabilities Kay Hagan (D-NC) Deb Fischer (R-NE)
    Personnel Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
    Readiness and Management Support Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)
    Seapower Jack Reed (D-RI) John McCain (R-AZ)
    Strategic Forces Mark Udall (D-CO) Jeff Sessions (R-AL)

    114th Congress

    MajorityMinority
    SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
    Airland Tom Cotton (R-AR) Joe Manchin (D-WV)
    Emerging Threats and Capabilities Deb Fischer (R-NE) Bill Nelson (D-FL)
    Personnel Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
    Readiness and Management Support Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) Tim Kaine (D-VA)
    Seapower Roger Wicker (R-MS) Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
    Strategic Forces Jeff Sessions (R-AL) Joe Donnelly (D-IN)

    115th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    116th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    117th Congress

    MajorityMinority

    Source: [13]

    118th Congress

    Majority [14] Minority [15]

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. 1 2 "History | United States Senate Committee on Armed Services". www.armed-services.senate.gov. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
    2. ↑ Steinhauer, Jennifer. "With Chairmanship, McCain Seizes Chance to Reshape Pentagon Agenda", The New York Times (June 9, 2015). Retrieved June 10, 2015.
    3. ↑ "History of the NDAA". February 3, 2017.
    4. ↑ Rule XXV: Committees, Standing Rules of the United States Senate.
    5. ↑ S.Res. 16 (119th Congress)
    6. ↑ S.Res. 17 (119th Congress)
    7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Independent Senator caucusing with Democrats
    8. 1 2 "U.S. Senate: Committee on Armed Services". www.senate.gov. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
    9. ↑ Died August 8, 1913.
    10. ↑ At the beginning of the 107th Congress in January 2001 the Senate was evenly divided. With a Democratic president and vice president still serving until January 20, the Democratic vice president was available to break a tie, and the Democrats thus controlled the Senate for 17 days, from January 3 to January 20. On January 3 the Senate adopted S. Res. 7 designating Democratic senators as committee chairs to serve during this period and Republican chairs to serve effective at noon on January 20, 2001.
    11. ↑ On June 6, 2001, the Democrats took control of the Senate after Senator James Jeffords (VT) changed from the Republican Party to Independent and announced that he would caucus with the Democrats.
    12. ↑ On leave from December 2017. Died August 25, 2018.
    13. ↑ "U.S. Senate: Committee on Armed Services". Senate.gov. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
    14. ↑ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
    15. ↑ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
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