Jeanne Shaheen Questions DoD Nominee on Steel Tariffs' Impact on Defense Industry

Impact of Steel Tariffs on Defense Industry

• ⚠️ Senator Shaheen highlighted the significant impact of President Trump's steel tariffs on companies like New Hampshire Ball Bearings, which supplies the aerospace and defense industries.
• 📈 The lead time for steel has reportedly increased from 20 weeks to two and a half years due to tariffs and uncertainty, stressing the defense industrial base.
• 💰 Domestic suppliers have increased prices significantly because of the tariffs, and access to supply from allies has been hindered, affecting both cost and availability.

DoD Nominee's Response to Tariff Concerns

• ❓ Senator Shaheen questioned how the Department of Defense (DoD) plans to track the impact of these tariffs on the defense industrial base and address steel shortages.
• 🤷 The nominee, Admiral Papano, stated he was not aware of specific analyses conducted by the industry-based policy office regarding the tariffs' impact.
• 🤝 If confirmed, the nominee committed to providing any existing analysis and working with Senator Shaheen on specific requests for analysis concerning companies and technology areas affected by the tariffs.

NNSA Cooperation with Ukraine

• 🇺🇦 Admiral Papano acknowledged the importance of the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) cooperation with Ukraine, particularly in monitoring Russian-occupied power plants and training Ukrainians to detect radiation releases.
• 🔍 He stated that if confirmed, he would ensure NNSA provides the necessary tools and capabilities for verification and monitoring as desired by the administration.