Senator Slotkin on AI, Iran War Funding, DHS Shutdown
Senator Elissa Slotkin voiced strong concerns about the ongoing conflict with Iran, questioning the administration's unclear objectives and the massive $200 billion war funding request. She also introduced legislation to establish crucial guardrails for the Pentagon's use of Artificial Intelligence and expressed frustration over the DHS funding shutdown.
Slotkin Questions Iran War Strategy, Demands Clarity on Objectives
Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA intelligence analyst with extensive experience in the Middle East, expressed significant concerns regarding the current conflict with Iran and the Trump administration’s handling of it. Speaking on NBC News’ “Here’s the Scoop,” Slotkin highlighted a critical lack of clear objectives from the President and his cabinet. “It’s really hard to know whether you’ve ‘won’ or achieved your objectives if you can’t even be clear about what your objectives were for going in,” she stated. This ambiguity, she argued, makes it impossible to gauge the success of the operation.
Slotkin pointed to Iran’s continued ability to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz as evidence that the U.S. has not effectively mitigated Iran’s power projection, despite potential impacts on its nuclear and missile programs. “If we can’t move, you know, a ship full of fertilizer through the Strait of Hormuz, then Iran holds a veto power over the United States and everybody else,” she explained. This situation, she believes, means the U.S. is not in a strong position in the conflict.
Skepticism Over $200 Billion War Funding Request
The senator voiced strong skepticism about the administration’s anticipated $200 billion supplemental funding request for the war. Slotkin contrasted this with the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, where the largest supplemental request was $90 billion, despite a much larger troop and equipment presence. “They’re asking for $200 billion today,” she noted, adding that she is skeptical they have thoroughly assessed their needs, especially after receiving an additional $150 billion in July on top of a nearly $1 trillion defense budget.
While committed to reviewing any official documents presented, Slotkin indicated it would be difficult to vote in favor of the funding without seeing concrete details. “I’m skeptical that they’ve looked through the couch cushions and aren’t just, you know, inflating in a serious way what they need,” she said. She emphasized the need for objective assessment in national security matters but concluded, “As of this moment, I don’t think you can say, we’ve won at this point.”
Slotkin Proposes AI Guardrails for Pentagon Use
In light of concerns about the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence in warfare, Senator Slotkin has introduced legislation to establish clear guidelines for the Pentagon’s AI applications. The “AI Guardrails Act” aims to codify rules for AI use, ensuring human engagement in life-and-death decisions. “It shouldn’t be up to either a private company or anyone’s Secretary of Defense to define the left and right limits. It’s congressional responsibility,” she asserted.
The bill specifically calls for human involvement in launching lethal strikes, prohibits the use of AI for mass surveillance within the U.S., and prevents AI from launching or detonating nuclear weapons. While some of these points currently exist as Department of Defense guidelines, Slotkin stressed the importance of making them law. She noted that finding a Republican co-sponsor proved difficult, with some offices hesitant due to political concerns about appearing to push back against the Pentagon or the President.
DHS Funding Gridlock and Call for a Deal
Addressing the ongoing partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Senator Slotkin expressed frustration over the lack of a resolution. She stated that a deal, which would have funded all DHS operations except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was close to being finalized. “We thought we had a deal. We thought we were within like 12 or 24 hours of a deal where we fund everything but ICE,” she recalled.
Slotkin criticized the President’s rejection of the proposed deal and what she described as Republican colleagues attempting to shield ICE. “It’s very hard to negotiate a deal with Senate Republicans when they keep getting undercut by the President,” she commented. As a representative from Michigan, a state with TSA employees affected by the shutdown, Slotkin affirmed her readiness to fund DHS. “We’re ready to deal. We’re ready to stay and fund that if we need to, whatever,” she concluded, emphasizing the need to move past political gamesmanship.
Source: 'Ready to Deal': Sen. Elissa Slotkin on the DHS Shutdown – March 25 | Here's the Scoop (YouTube)
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