United States Senate Committee on Armed Services

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Senate Armed Services Committee
Standing committee
Active
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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
    Chairman 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
    Chairman 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 come from. [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)

    Chairs

    Committee on Military Affairs, 1816–1947

    ChairPartyStateYears
    John Williams Democratic-Republican Tennessee 1816–1817
    George M. Troup Democratic-Republican Georgia 1817–1818
    John Williams Democratic-Republican Tennessee 1818–1823
    Andrew Jackson Jackson Republican Tennessee 1823–1825
    William Henry Harrison Adams Ohio 1825–1828
    Thomas H. Benton Jacksonian/Democratic Missouri 1828–1841
    William Preston Whig South Carolina 1841–1842
    John J. Crittenden Whig Kentucky 1842–1845
    Thomas H. Benton Democratic Missouri 1845–1849
    Jefferson Davis Democratic Mississippi 1849–1851
    James Shields Democratic Illinois 1851–1855
    John Weller Democratic California 1855–1857
    Jefferson Davis Democratic Mississippi 1857–1861
    Robert Ward Johnson Democratic Arkansas 1861
    Henry Wilson Republican Massachusetts 1861–1872
    John A. Logan Republican Illinois 1872–1877
    George E. Spencer Republican Alabama 1877–1879
    Theodore Randolph Democratic New Jersey 1879–1881
    John A. Logan Republican Illinois 1881–1886
    Joseph R. Hawley Republican Connecticut 1887–1893
    Edward Walthall Democratic Mississippi 1893–1894
    Joseph R. Hawley Republican Connecticut 1894–1905
    Francis E. Warren Republican Wyoming 1905–1911
    Henry A. du Pont Republican Delaware 1911–1913
    Joseph F. Johnston Democratic Alabama 1913 [9]
    George E. Chamberlain Democratic Oregon 1913–1919
    James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr. Republican New York 1919–1927
    David Reed Republican Pennsylvania 1927–1933
    Morris Sheppard Democratic Texas 1933–1941
    Robert R. Reynolds Democratic North Carolina 1942–1945
    Elbert Thomas Democratic Utah 1945–1947

    Committee on Naval Affairs, 1816–1947

    ChairPartyStateYears
    Charles Tait Republican Georgia 1816–1818
    Nathan Sanford Republican New York 1818–1819
    James Pleasants Republican Virginia 1819–1823
    James Lloyd Adams-Clay Federalist Massachusetts 1823–1825
    Robert Y. Hayne Jacksonian South Carolina 1825–1832
    George M. Dallas Jacksonian Pennsylvania 1832–1833
    Samuel Southard Anti-Jackson New Jersey 1833–1836
    William Rives Jacksonian/Democratic Virginia 1836–1839
    Reuel Williams Democratic Maine 1839–1841
    Willie P. Mangum Whig North Carolina 1841–1842
    Richard Bayard Whig Delaware 1842–1845
    John Fairfield Democratic Maine 1845–1847
    David Yulee Democratic Florida 1847–1851
    William Gwin Democratic California 1851–1855
    Stephen Mallory Democratic Florida 1855–1861
    John R. Thomson Democratic New Jersey 1861
    John Hale Republican New Hampshire 1861–1864
    James Grimes Republican Iowa 1864–1870
    Aaron Cragin Republican New Hampshire 1870–1877
    Aaron A. Sargent Republican California 1877–1879
    John R. McPherson Democratic New Jersey 1879–1881
    James Donald Cameron Republican Pennsylvania 1881–1893
    John R. McPherson Democratic New Jersey 1893–1895
    James Donald Cameron Republican Pennsylvania 1895–1897
    Eugene Hale Republican Maine 1897–1909
    George C. Perkins Republican California 1909–1913
    Benjamin Tillman Democratic South Carolina 1913–1918
    Claude A. Swanson Democratic Virginia 1918–1919
    Carroll S. Page Republican Vermont 1919–1923
    Frederick Hale Republican Maine 1923–1933
    Park Trammell Democratic Florida 1933–1937
    David I. Walsh Democratic Massachusetts 1937–1947

    Committee on Armed Services, 1947–present

    ChairPartyStateYears
    Chan Gurney Republican South Dakota 1947–1949
    Millard E. Tydings Democratic Maryland 1949–1951
    Richard Russell Jr. Democratic Georgia 1951–1953
    Leverett Saltonstall Republican Massachusetts 1953–1955
    Richard Russell Jr. Democratic Georgia 1955–1969
    John C. Stennis Democratic Mississippi 1969–1981
    John Tower Republican Texas 1981–1985
    Barry Goldwater Republican Arizona 1985–1987
    Sam Nunn Democratic Georgia 1987–1995
    Strom Thurmond Republican South Carolina 1995–1999
    John Warner Republican Virginia 1999–2001
    Carl Levin Democratic Michigan 2001 [10]
    John Warner Republican Virginia 2001
    Carl Levin Democratic Michigan 2001–2003 [11]
    John Warner Republican Virginia 2003–2007
    Carl Levin Democratic Michigan 2007–2015
    John McCain Republican Arizona 2015–2018 [12]
    Jim Inhofe Republican Oklahoma 2018–2021
    Jack Reed Democratic Rhode Island 2021–2025
    Roger Wicker Republican Mississippi 2025–present

    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 chairmen to serve during this period and Republican chairmen 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. ↑ 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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