Defense & National Security

Today, the United States faces a more diverse range of serious threats than at any point in our history. I believe protecting the country from these threats is the first duty of the federal government, which requires the United States to maintain the most lethal, agile, and robust military in the world.
I know how important a properly funded and functioning military is to our nation and our military families. To maintain our competitive edge on the world stage, it is Congress' responsibility to ensure the Pentagon's budget reflects the threats we face from traditional nation-states, terrorists, and all who seek to wreak havoc on the American dream and our allies.
In recent years, we have taken steps to rebuild our military, give our troops well-deserved pay raises, and bolster border security. I introduced legislation to ensure special operators who are serving in combat receive the same tax relief as other service members, and my legislation to increase funding for our Special Forces and to ensure soldier pay adequately reflects modern warfare demands was signed into law.
Representing service members and families is the honor of a lifetime. I am grateful for their bravery and sacrifice to protect America and our interests. It is due to the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform that the United States sustains a world-class force, capable of taking the fight to the enemy and winning. I will continue working to support our bases, our troops, and their families.
More on Defense & National Security
Frank Larkin and Leroy Petry
For active-duty military at Fort Bragg or veterans across the Tar Heel State, Veterans Day 2021 was especially hard. The combination of the troubled pullout in Afghanistan earlier this year, coupled with increasingly pessimistic views of the economy and the waning yet still present pandemic, meant that this often-isolated population felt especially vulnerable.
U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) are encouraging North Carolinians to help combat the rising epidemic of veteran and active-duty military suicides. In a press conference Tuesday, both highlighted Nov. 21, 2021 as National Warrior Call Day, a day of outreach to veterans and service members to express thanks for their service and connect them with support resources.
WCTI, by Lucy Nelson and Jordan Honeycutt
JACKSONVILLE, Onslow County — Politicians in our state are calling for Nov. 21st to be designated ‘National Warrior Call Day’ to raise awareness on suicide prevention among veterans and active-duty service members.
Senator Thom Tillis and Congressman Richard Hudson said there needs to be more of an individual focus on each veteran and service member in terms of treating them based on what they experienced, and checking in on their needs consistently.
By Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — An estimated 20 active-duty service members or veterans die by suicide every day, and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis and 8th District Congressman Richard Hudson said Tuesday that the nation needs to do more to push that number to zero.
Laura Douglass
The $778 billion Department of Defense funding bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month includes a number of measures that could impact the greater Fort Bragg community.
U.S. Rep., Richard Hudson, whose district includes Fort Bragg and about half of Moore County, praised some of the provisions, such as a 2.7 percent pay raise for troops in addition to a basic needs allowance for low-income servicemembers. The legislation would also fund $27.2 million in infrastructure projects at Fort Bragg.
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03), alongside Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH-02), and Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08) have sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to inquire about the status of Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller in response to significant public concern.
Lt. Col. Scheller has gained notable media attention this month after he openly criticized the Biden administration for their handling of the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.
The letter reads:
The Honorable Carlos Del Toro
Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Awr Hawkins
Reps. Richard Hudson (R-NC), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), and 161 other lawmakers sent a September 29, 2021, letter to House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging the removal of the red flag provision from the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
A resolution honoring the 13 servicemembers killed in the attacks at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Aug. 26, was introduced Thursday by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr and Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D.
Among those killed was Army Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, believed to be the last American military fatality in the 20-year U.S. war. He was assigned to the 9th Battalion, 8th Psychological Operations Group based at Fort Bragg. Knauss and his wife, Alena, resided in Pinebluff.