Overview
- Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan declined to discuss recent Venezuela-related actions and Caribbean boat strikes, saying he has not been involved in SOUTHCOM planning in his current SOCOM role.
- Donovan said the Western Hemisphere pivot will require more resources and a review of SOUTHCOM headquarters capacity to sustain logistics and operations.
- Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd acknowledged he is not a technical specialist, said he would lean on expert teams, and endorsed keeping the NSA director and CYBERCOM commander dual-hatted.
- CYBERCOM and the NSA have lacked a Senate-confirmed leader since Gen. Timothy Haugh was fired in April 2025, and SOUTHCOM remains under acting commander Lt. Gen. Evan L. Pettus after Adm. Alvin Holsey’s retirement.
- Lawmakers pressed both nominees for specifics, Rudd pledged to follow the Constitution on surveillance authorities, and senators from both parties signaled likely approval with a vote yet to be scheduled.