US Military Commanders GRILLED on Cartel Strikes & Border Security

Описание: Watch the intense FY27 Posture Hearing featuring US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) leadership as they face tough questions from Congress on homeland defense, border security, and counter-cartel operations.

00:02 - 09:09 | Opening Statements
Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith outline the committee's focus. The Chairman praises recent efforts to secure the border and target cartels via Operation Southern Spear. The Ranking Member presses for concrete metrics of success regarding drug interdiction, questions the financial costs of these new operations, and raises early concerns about the domestic use of the military.

09:10 - 22:30 | Military Leadership Testimony
Mr. Joseph Humeyer, Gen. Greg Guillot (NORTHCOM), and Gen. Francis Donovan (SOUTHCOM) detail their strategic imperatives:

Mr. Humeyer: Highlights a historic shift in prioritizing the Western Hemisphere, noting record-low border encounters and a 56% drop in fentanyl flows.

Gen. Guillot: Discusses NORAD modernization, the establishment of Joint Task Force Southern Border, and the push for advanced counter-drone (UAS) capabilities.

Gen. Donovan: Outlines SOUTHCOM's focus on imposing "total systemic friction" on cartels, fielding modernized expeditionary forces, and denying adversary footholds in Latin America.

22:30 - 33:09 | Strategy & Metrics of Success
Lawmakers press leadership on how success against drug cartels is actually measured. Leadership explains that they are focusing on the reduction of illicit vessel movements and the decline in domestic overdose deaths, rather than solely on the total volume of drugs seized.

33:13 - 48:50 | Border Technology, Operational Costs, & Readiness
The committee explores the integration of autonomous sensors and AI at the southern border to assist Customs and Border Protection. Lawmakers heavily scrutinize the financial sustainability and equipment wear-and-tear of operations like Southern Spear and Absolute Resolve. The section also covers the readiness of the Air Force's tanker fleet to support both homeland defense and global power projection.

48:53 - 59:09 | International Alliances & Adversary Influence
The committee evaluates the strategic necessity of partnerships with Canada (NORAD) and Denmark (Greenland) to secure the Arctic. Operations shift to SOUTHCOM, where lawmakers express deep concern over China’s expanding footprint through dual-use infrastructure investments—like ports and space facilities—and Russia's lingering influence in the region.

59:11 - 01:07:45 | Rules of Engagement & Resource Security
A legal debate ensues regarding the authorities used to target cartels, distinguishing between Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs). Commanders confirm that "no quarter" (no survivors) orders are unlawful and would not be followed. The conversation also touches on the "Golden Dome" missile defense architecture and China's dominance over critical minerals.

01:07:45 - 01:22:42 | Domestic Surveillance & Diplomatic Posture
Lawmakers raise sharp questions about mass surveillance programs, data privacy, and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). Additionally, representatives ask commanders to reconcile aggressive executive rhetoric—such as statements about "taking" Cuba or Greenland—with actual military plans, with commanders confirming no plans for invasions exist.

01:22:46 - 01:42:50 | Advanced Threats, Weather Data, & Airspace Disruptions
Topics shift to NORTHCOM's ability to track hypersonic weapons and Russian submarines. A critical exchange highlights how vital NOAA meteorological data is for military operations, warning against budget cuts to weather services. Furthermore, lawmakers demand answers regarding a breakdown in communication between the DOD, DHS, and FAA that led to unannounced airspace closures in El Paso during counter-UAS laser testing.

01:42:52 - 02:13:38 | Domestic Deployments & Legal Compliance
The final portion of the hearing features intense scrutiny over the constitutionality of deploying federalized troops to American cities. Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that blocked such deployments

[Timestamps]
0:00 - Opening Statements: Border Security & Operation Southern Spear
09:10 - Military Leadership Outlines Strategic Directives
22:30 - Questioning the Metrics of Success Against Cartels
33:13 - Border Tech, Defense Costs, & Tanker Readiness
48:53 - Securing the Arctic & Countering China in the Americas
59:11 - Legal Debates on Rules of Engagement & Targeting
01:07:45 - Domestic Surveillance & Diplomatic Posture
01:22:46 - Hypersonic Threats & the Importance of Weather Data
01:42:52 - Heated Clash Over Domestic Troop Deployments

Defense Now | March 2026
   • DN March 2026  

House Armed Services Committee testimony.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES
03.17.2026

Film Credits: U.S. Southern Command