Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., is making tougher Pentagon oversight a central part of his effort to reclaim the House Armed Services Committee chairmanship. His agenda targets the Trump administration’s military operations abroad, troop deployments to American cities and spending by the Department of War.

In a Wednesday letter to Democratic colleagues, Smith called for more public testimony from senior War Department officials. He also proposed restoring a dedicated oversight subcommittee to examine military policy and spending.

Smith listed strikes in the Caribbean and the U.S. war with Iran among his leading concerns. He called the Iran war “illegal” and argued that Congress must reassert its authority under what he described as a “runaway Executive Branch.”

The Washington Democrat also questioned whether a defense budget exceeding $1 trillion is necessary. His letter placed spending oversight alongside his broader objections to the administration’s military operations and use of executive authority.

Smith won reelection in his district on Tuesday and currently serves as the committee’s ranking member. Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican, chairs the committee.

Democrats took control of both the House and Senate in this week’s midterm elections. New committee chairs will be chosen for the next legislative session, giving Smith an opportunity to seek the position he previously held from 2019 to 2023.

Smith sharply criticized the Trump administration’s national security approach, particularly its use of military force and unilateral action. He characterized the administration’s view as one that believes “might makes right” and contended that this approach has destabilized the globe and alienated the United States.

Instead, Smith called for a strategy that emphasizes partnerships and military deterrence while avoiding expensive conflicts. His letter presented that approach as an alternative to the policies he attributes to the Trump administration.

Spending priorities are another major element of Smith’s bid. He advocated greater investment in inexpensive munitions, uncrewed systems, drone defenses and missile defenses while still acknowledging the need for advanced weapons systems.

A Congressional Budget Office analysis found that the war with Iran has consumed as much as two thirds of the U.S. missile interceptor stock. According to that analysis, restoring the depleted stock could take at least five years.

The United States has used interceptors costing millions of dollars per missile to counter adversarial drones built for a fraction of that price. Smith argued that the Pentagon must better balance costly platforms with cheaper capabilities that can be expended.

Smith also took aim at President Trump’s proposed fleet of battleships. “We need an appropriate mix of high-end survivable systems and lower-cost attritable capabilities, not a fleet of nuclear-powered battleships as proposed by the President,” he wrote.

Contracting practices also drew Smith’s attention. He called for closer scrutiny of how the Pentagon awards contracts and distributes financial support to private companies, including whether those decisions benefit taxpayers or reflect favoritism.

Smith acknowledged congressional attempts to streamline the Pentagon’s heavily bureaucratic acquisition process. However, he maintained that lawmakers still need visibility into how defense dollars are spent, particularly while the military invests in new weapons systems.

Despite his sweeping criticism of the administration, Smith said he remains committed to passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act. He nevertheless acknowledged that working with Republicans would be “extraordinarily difficult.”

The annual legislation establishes military policies and funding levels. It remains unfinished this year after Senate Democrats blocked a procedural vote in July amid disagreements involving the Iran war and provisions concerning Israel.

Smith’s chairmanship campaign therefore combines demands for more public testimony, a restored oversight subcommittee, closer contracting scrutiny and a different mix of military investments. Whether he returns to the committee chair will be decided as Democrats select leaders for the next legislative session.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Conservative Scoop. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.