News
February 3, 2025

Tuberville Questions Army Nominee on Huntsville Construction Delays

Caroline Raffetto

WASHINGTON – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) questioned Army Secretary nominee Dan Driscoll regarding prolonged construction delays at military facilities, particularly at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Tuberville emphasized the need to expedite the construction process to ensure efficiency in military projects, which he argued is critical for both cost-effectiveness and readiness.

The specific issue raised by Tuberville concerned the construction of a military warehouse at Redstone Arsenal. The project, with a budget nearing $56 million, is projected to take an astonishing 48 months – roughly four years – to complete. In contrast, Tuberville pointed out that an FBI facility, costing $40 million, is set to be finished in just over a year and a half. The Senator expressed his frustration, saying, “The military warehouse is going to cost almost $56 million and it’s going to take 48 months—four years—to build this. Where the FBI facility is going to cost $40 million and take only basically a year and a half. We (have) got a problem. Okay? How on earth does this make any sense?”

Tuberville, Britt set to question ...
Driscoll, visibly taken aback by the concern, acknowledged the issue and expressed a desire to investigate the cause of the delays. He stated, “This made my blood boil,” emphasizing the importance of fiscal responsibility and the impact of such delays on both the taxpayer and the soldiers who rely on these facilities. “The Army has a limited budget to begin with,” Driscoll explained. “We have to be good stewards of the American taxpayer’s dollars. And when we are not, it is both the taxpayer and the soldier—and these soldiers are my friends—it is my friends that live in these barracks and raise their families there.”

Tuberville also raised questions surrounding military recruitment and pay, urging Driscoll to ensure that the Army provides adequate incentives for new recruits. As part of this discussion, Tuberville highlighted the Army’s pilot training programs, particularly at Fort Novosel, Alabama, which trains vertical lift Army pilots. He asked Driscoll about the new standards and curricula for pilot training being introduced by the Army.

Driscoll explained that the evolving nature of threats and advancements in military technology necessitate an updated approach to pilot training. “We need to make sure that our aircraft systems are more advanced, and that includes updating our training to align with those advancements,” he said. “I would wanna get briefed on this and do a deep dive with the team to figure out how we are going to position ourselves and what training we need for the next one day to five years until we can get to a better state.”

Tuberville’s questions reflected a broader concern about military efficiency and the importance of readiness, particularly in light of growing technological challenges and shifting global threats. His questioning underscored his belief that government agencies must operate more efficiently, particularly when it comes to military projects that directly affect national security and taxpayer dollars.

In closing, Driscoll assured the committee that he would work to ensure that the Army operates more efficiently and that the training and resources provided to soldiers are continually updated to meet the demands of modern warfare. He also emphasized that these efforts would not only benefit the military but would also support the broader objective of being accountable to the American public.

At the end of the hearing, a vote on Driscoll’s confirmation was not immediately scheduled, and committee members expressed their intentions to continue evaluating his qualifications before moving forward with the nomination. Tuberville’s questions and concerns, especially regarding the military construction delays, are likely to remain a key point of discussion in the weeks ahead.

News
February 3, 2025

Tuberville Questions Army Nominee on Huntsville Construction Delays

Caroline Raffetto
Construction Industry
Washington

WASHINGTON – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) questioned Army Secretary nominee Dan Driscoll regarding prolonged construction delays at military facilities, particularly at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Tuberville emphasized the need to expedite the construction process to ensure efficiency in military projects, which he argued is critical for both cost-effectiveness and readiness.

The specific issue raised by Tuberville concerned the construction of a military warehouse at Redstone Arsenal. The project, with a budget nearing $56 million, is projected to take an astonishing 48 months – roughly four years – to complete. In contrast, Tuberville pointed out that an FBI facility, costing $40 million, is set to be finished in just over a year and a half. The Senator expressed his frustration, saying, “The military warehouse is going to cost almost $56 million and it’s going to take 48 months—four years—to build this. Where the FBI facility is going to cost $40 million and take only basically a year and a half. We (have) got a problem. Okay? How on earth does this make any sense?”

Tuberville, Britt set to question ...
Driscoll, visibly taken aback by the concern, acknowledged the issue and expressed a desire to investigate the cause of the delays. He stated, “This made my blood boil,” emphasizing the importance of fiscal responsibility and the impact of such delays on both the taxpayer and the soldiers who rely on these facilities. “The Army has a limited budget to begin with,” Driscoll explained. “We have to be good stewards of the American taxpayer’s dollars. And when we are not, it is both the taxpayer and the soldier—and these soldiers are my friends—it is my friends that live in these barracks and raise their families there.”

Tuberville also raised questions surrounding military recruitment and pay, urging Driscoll to ensure that the Army provides adequate incentives for new recruits. As part of this discussion, Tuberville highlighted the Army’s pilot training programs, particularly at Fort Novosel, Alabama, which trains vertical lift Army pilots. He asked Driscoll about the new standards and curricula for pilot training being introduced by the Army.

Driscoll explained that the evolving nature of threats and advancements in military technology necessitate an updated approach to pilot training. “We need to make sure that our aircraft systems are more advanced, and that includes updating our training to align with those advancements,” he said. “I would wanna get briefed on this and do a deep dive with the team to figure out how we are going to position ourselves and what training we need for the next one day to five years until we can get to a better state.”

Tuberville’s questions reflected a broader concern about military efficiency and the importance of readiness, particularly in light of growing technological challenges and shifting global threats. His questioning underscored his belief that government agencies must operate more efficiently, particularly when it comes to military projects that directly affect national security and taxpayer dollars.

In closing, Driscoll assured the committee that he would work to ensure that the Army operates more efficiently and that the training and resources provided to soldiers are continually updated to meet the demands of modern warfare. He also emphasized that these efforts would not only benefit the military but would also support the broader objective of being accountable to the American public.

At the end of the hearing, a vote on Driscoll’s confirmation was not immediately scheduled, and committee members expressed their intentions to continue evaluating his qualifications before moving forward with the nomination. Tuberville’s questions and concerns, especially regarding the military construction delays, are likely to remain a key point of discussion in the weeks ahead.