United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
Committee of the United States Senate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
FormedJanuary 2, 1947
ChairRoger Wicker (R)
Since January 3, 2025
Since January 3, 2025
Ranking MemberJack Reed (D)
Since January 3, 2025
Since January 3, 2025
Seats27 members
| Standing committee | |
|---|---|
Active United States Senate 119th Congress | |
| History | |
| Formed | January 2, 1947 |
| Leadership | |
| Chair | Roger Wicker (R) Since January 3, 2025 |
| Ranking Member | Jack Reed (D) Since January 3, 2025 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 27 members |
| Political parties | Majority (14)
|
| Jurisdiction | |
| Policy areas | Defense policy, military operations |
| Oversight authority | Department of Defense, Armed Forces |
| House counterpart | House Armed Services Committee |
| Website | |
| www | |
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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]
- Aeronautical and space activities pertaining to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems or military operations.
- Common defense.
- Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force, generally.
- Maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal, including administration, sanitation, and government of the Canal Zone.
- Military research and development.
- National security aspects of nuclear energy.
- Naval petroleum reserves, except those in Alaska.
- Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the Armed Forces, including overseas education of civilian and military dependents.
- Selective service system.
- Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.
Members, 119th Congress
| Majority[5] | Minority[6] |
|---|---|
|
|
Subcommittees
| Subcommittee Name | Chair[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
Committee on Naval Affairs, 1816–1947
Committee on Armed Services, 1947–present
Denotes acting capacity. |
| Name | Party | State | Start | End | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chan Gurney | Republican | South Dakota | 1947 | 1949 | |
| Millard Tydings | Democratic | Maryland | 1949 | 1951 | |
| Richard Russell | Democratic | Georgia | 1951 | 1953 | |
| Leverett Saltonstall | Republican | Massachusetts | 1953 | 1955 | |
| Richard Russell | Democratic | Georgia | 1955 | 1969 | |
| John 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[11] | 2003 | |
| John Warner | Republican | Virginia | 2003 | 2007 | |
| Carl Levin | Democratic | Michigan | 2007 | 2015 | |
| John McCain | Republican | Arizona | 2015 | 2018[12] | |
| Jim Inhofe | Republican | Oklahoma | 2017 | 2018 | |
| 2018 | 2021 | ||||
| Jack Reed | Democratic | Rhode Island | 2021 | 2025 | |
| Roger Wicker | Republican | Mississippi | 2025 | present | |
Historical committee rosters
111th Congress
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
Source: 2010 Congressional Record, Vol. 156, Page S6226
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking 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
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
Source: 2011 Congressional Record, Vol. 157, Page S557
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking 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
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
Source: 2013 Congressional Record, Vol. 159, Page S296
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking 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
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
| Subcommittee | Chair | Ranking 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
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
116th Congress
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
117th Congress
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
Source:[13]
118th Congress
| Majority[14] | Minority[15] |
|---|---|
|
|
