Hey everyone , good afternoon! Sorry for the delay , just need a moment here . So , I ' ve got a few updates to share and then I ' m all ears for your questions . Last week , the Senate passed a bipartisan national security bill that , if approved by the House , would benefit America ' s interests and values . This bill would provide military aid to Ukraine , support Israel , and strengthen our presence in the Indo - Pacific region . It ' s also important for our defense industry . We ' re urging Congress to pass this bill quickly to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression . The failure to pass it would only benefit Putin . We need the House to act swiftly when they return from recess on February 28th , as certain federal agencies will run out of funding soon . This uncertainty is not good for our military operations and is a distraction for our servicemembers and their families . We ' re still operating under a continuing resolution , which limits our ability to fully implement our National Defense Strategy . Operating under these resolutions has cost us valuable time and resources over the years . Our national security is at risk and the department is unable to modernize due to limited funding and restrictions on launching new programs . We need to take action and stop being held back for several months each fiscal year . Congress can best support the department by passing funding bills quickly and consistently . We need funding that is predictable , sufficient , sustained , and timely . Now , I ' m ready to answer your questions . Tara , looks like I didn ' t get the memo about wearing red today . I see all the ladies in the front row are wearing red . Next time , I ' ll make sure to wear something new on Thursday . We ' re aware that it ' s in the region . Yeah . It seems like it ' s moving back toward the Red Sea , if it ' s not already there . Is it U . S . policy to not interfere with the Iranian spy ship? Because it seems like the Houthis are targeting more accurately now that it ' s back in those waters . Well , this ship has been in the region for a while , even before this weekend . Iran has always had some type of presence there . We don ' t really disclose our policy regarding the ship , but we ' re definitely aware of it . We track and monitor it . There was more activity this weekend , but we ' ve been able to intercept some of the UAVs and missiles that the Houthis have launched . So I won ' t give an intelligence assessment on whether the Iranian ship is helping the Houthis target U . S . ships . And on a separate note , if Congress passes the supplemental , we can quickly deliver weapons to Ukraine . Regarding the MQ - 9 Reaper , it was downed off the coast of Houthi - controlled areas in Yemen on February 19th . It appears to have been shot down by a Houthi surface - to - air missile . CENTCOM is looking into recovery options , but as of now , it hasn ' t been recovered . I ' ve seen some reports of the Houthis showing a video of it , but I can ' t confirm that at this time . Now , onto Iraq , given Kata ' ib Hezbollah ' s prominence in the PMF and the PMF ' s role in the Iraqi government , is the U . S . The government is worried that the weapons and security assistance we send to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense might end up in the hands of PMF and Kata ' ib Hezbollah fighters . But we have confidence in our monitoring efforts in Iraq and work closely with the ISF . We ' re pretty sure we ' re coordinating well with the Iraqi Security Forces . As for the Osprey crash investigation , the cause of the failure is still being determined , so Ospreys are not flying at the moment . We ' ll let the services decide when it ' s safe for them to fly again . As for the strikes in Yemen , I don ' t have an updated count on the missile launchers and missiles destroyed since February 15th , but as of February 20th , the U . S . is continuing its efforts . They ' ve taken 32 self - defense strikes , with the most recent one happening yesterday . So there was a report from Reuters over the weekend saying that the leader of Iran ' s Qud Force went to Iraq and talked to some of the militias they support , and told them to ease up on attacking the U . S . , and there hasn ' t been one since February 4th . So do you think Iran is actually being helpful in reducing attacks on U . S . troops? Well , we know Iran still supports militias in Iraq and Syria , the Houthis , and Hezbollah . We haven ' t seen any attacks in Iraq and Syria since February 4th , but there has been an increase in attacks from the Houthis on U . S . forces and commercial shipping over the weekend . So if Iran does have a role to play , they ' re definitely not doing it when it comes to the Houthis . Brad , do you have a question? Thank you . Can you tell us which other cities in Ukraine might be in danger of falling after Avdiivka? Because last week , the Pentagon said the situation there is still critical . Unfortunately , Avdiivka was a strategic withdrawal by Ukraine to save their artillery and ammunition . If we don ' t get the funding we need from the House to pass the Senate supplemental , we won ' t be able to provide the necessary support to Ukraine , and they ' ll have to make decisions on which cities they can defend with their current resources . I can ' t predict that from here , it ' s up to the Ukrainians to decide . But they ' re in a desperate fight for their lives and their country , and that ' s why we ' ve been urging Congress to act since October . So we ' ll keep pushing them to do their job . Are there any other cities under threat right now? Like . . . they ' re currently at war , so there are definitely other cities under fire and at risk . You can ask the Ukrainians about that , but they probably won ' t give away their battle plans . They ' re on the front lines , fighting every day to defend every inch of territory . But I can ' t speak about specific cities . Lara , do you have a question? Thanks . Has Secretary Austin looked at the findings of the 30 - day review yet? And can you tell us if any action will be taken based on those findings? Are you asking if there will be any recommendations?Singh: We ' re working towards implementing the recommendations from the 30 day review , but I don ' t have more details to share at the moment . The review is with the Secretary and once he ' s done reviewing it , we ' ll provide more information . As for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding , we don ' t disclose specific numbers on deliveries to Ukraine . The Pentagon is cautious about drawing down inventory without replenishment funds from Congress . It ' s a risk we can ' t afford to take . Alright , next question from Jeff Schogol , Task & Purpose: Given that the DOD is under a Continuing Resolution , does it have the funding and authorities to replenish the weapons used to shoot down Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea? And is the Navy ' s use of so many missiles causing a deficit for INDOPACOM? Have there been discussions about why we don ' t just put out $4 billion of PDAs assuming we ' ll eventually get funding , maybe not soon? Well , we can say we ' ll get funding eventually , but we ' ve been sounding the alarm since October . It ' s already February , and the two - year anniversary of Russia ' s invasion of Ukraine is coming up . We don ' t know when we ' ll get the funding . We ' re currently having discussions at the Secretary ' s level and across different agencies , but we need Congress to give us a supplemental . That ' s what ' s being talked about . And as you know , we don ' t even have a Fiscal Year 2024 budget approved yet . We ' re about to start conversations about FY ' 25 , so we ' re really operating with one arm tied behind our back and not able to provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs in this critical time . And you ' re seeing the direct impact of that on the battlefield . Yes , I ' ll take some phone questions and then come back to the room . Chris Gordon: Thanks Sabrina . With the U . S . losing another MQ - 9 over Yemen , does the DOD consider these expendable? Has there been a decision to take more risks with these assets for the greater good? Why not use manned platforms that don ' t fly as low and slow and pose a risk of being shot down? Ms . Singh: No , Jeff . Thanks for the question . Again , we need a budget passed and a supplemental passed . We ' re about to enter the FY . Ms . Singh: Thanks for the question , Chris . Again , these platforms are available to the Commander , and he makes the decisions . Whenever we fly these , there ' s always a certain level of risk to ensure the freedom of navigation and uphold the rule of law . And of course , we care about that risk . These platforms are worth millions or billions of dollars . We use them to keep commercial mariners safe and protect our U . S . service members in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden . So , there is a risk involved , but it ' s something we ' ll continue to do to maintain freedom of navigation , uphold the rule of law , and ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden . We ' re currently operating under a Continuing Resolution , so we have what we need for now but it ' s not unlimited . We definitely need Congress to help us out with our interests in the CENTCOM AOR , dealing with challenges from the PRC , and supporting Ukraine . As for recent attacks on U . S . Forces , we will continue to hold those responsible . Regarding Iran ' s involvement with militia groups , our assessment is that Iran doesn ' t want a wider conflict but they do support destabilizing groups in the region . As for the situation between China and Taiwan , we don ' t want to see any escalation and I would recommend speaking to the parties involved for more details . The Japanese government is also engaging with North Korea . Does the Pentagon support Japan ' s diplomatic outreach? Are they concerned that it could undermine the defense cooperation between Japan , South Korea , and the US? Ms . Singh: We support diplomatic outreach to North Korea . If they are willing to engage in conversations , we welcome that as it would contribute to regional stability . Q: Hi , Sam LaGrone , USNI News . Ms . Singh: Hi , Sam . Q: Over the weekend , the Coast Guard announced that they had seized underwater drone components believed to be from Iran for the Houthis . We also saw the first report from CENTCOM of a lethal attack drone intercepted by US forces in the region . Is this a technical escalation or are these more advanced attacks and weapons? Can you give us an idea of where these capabilities fit in the spectrum of what the Houthis have? Ms . Singh: You can certainly see that they are acquiring sophisticated technology and capabilities from Iran . Their attacks are becoming more sophisticated . CENTCOM reported on Saturday that they used an underwater unmanned vehicle for the first time to launch an attack . So , their attacks and weapons are indeed becoming more advanced , and we know Iran is supplying them . Q: If their attacks are becoming more sophisticated , what impact are your strikes having? If they are improving after being struck , what is the effect? Ms . Singh: They used a more sophisticated capability than before , but every time we initiate a dynamic strike , we are eliminating another surface to air missile from their arsenal . The same cannot be said for them . We are successfully shooting down missiles , UAVs , and now underwater unmanned vehicles . However , sometimes their attacks do get through . It ' s worth noting that one of the ships they targeted was carrying grain for Yemen ' s starving population . They claim to be targeting ships connected to Israel or the US , but they are putting their own population at risk . So , our dynamic and coalition strikes definitely have an impact . But we never said we ' re completely wiping out all their capabilities . We know they have a big inventory and warehouse , and they ' ll continue to use them . Yeah , go ahead Q: I have two related questions . How concerned is this building about China ' s activity against US national security? MS . SINGH: Are you referring to something specific or just in general? Q: In general , because there have been a lot of hacking incidents involving China in the news . MS . SINGH: I understand . We keep an eye on China ' s activities . I don ' t have specific information regarding your question , but in general , we don ' t want conflict with China , although we recognize the competition . There have been discussions at various levels of government , and we are concerned about any activities , which is why we have a strong presence in the Indo - Pacific . Q: But China is expanding in the South Asia region , and smaller nations , including Taiwan , are worried . They have questioned whether China is monitoring Taiwan ' s assistance from Capitol Hill or any aid packages . What is the current situation regarding China ' s monitoring of this? MS . SINGH: Yes , China is indeed monitoring . Many countries around the world are currently watching . That ' s why it ' s important for Congress to fulfill its duties . We need the Supplemental funding to support our commitments in the Indo - Pacific , as well as support Ukraine and Israel ' s fight against Hamas . However , we can ' t do that without the necessary funds . Moving on , yes Q: Last week , it was reported that two Cuban hostages were killed in a US airstrike in Somalia . Do you have any information on that? MS . SINGH: Yes , I have seen the reports , but I don ' t have any information to provide at the moment . Yes , Mike Q: Sabrina , this week the European Union launched Operation Aspides to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks . The fact that this mission is running alongside Prosperity Guardian , does it suggest that some nations believe the US - led effort is insufficient in protecting shipping? MS . SINGH: No , the EU is forming its own coalition of countries . MS . SINGH: I don ' t have the exact costs of Houthi weapons , but I can tell you that without the support of Congress , a budget , or a supplemental funding , things will not be sustainable . We may have to make cuts to continue funding our operations in the CENTCOM AOR and supporting Ukraine . That ' s why we keep pushing Congress to give us the funding and support we need , so we can keep doing what we do - protecting our service members and making sure commercial shipping can flow through the region safely . Thanks , everyone . 30:33 .

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